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Choosing the right golf wedge for your short game
Have you ever watched a golf game or tournament and wondered how the players hit shot after shot and the ball stops right beside the hole just inches away time and time again. No, they are not golf miracles. The answer is surprisingly simple. The clubs they are using are called golf wedges. They are designed for that purpose and tailored specifically to the golf short game.
70% of shots in a golf game is done from within 150 to 100 yards in. Using the right club is essential or you will be giving away strokes to your competitors or golfing buddies. Your ability to drive over 250 yards from the tee suddenly becomes irrelavant from this point forward on the golf course.
If you have a less than powerful and accurate drive, you will be able to recover sufficiently if you have good short game. The trick is in using specific golf wedges to help you lower your scores.
How do you know if you need wedges and if so, what kind? First off, take a look at your golf bag. If you only have one wedge for your entire golf game then you will need to arm yourself with a better short game to lower your scores.
This is a crucial part of the golf game that will exhibit your overall skill level as a golfer and for you to start gaining ground on the competition or your golfing buddies. Consistency is the key to the short game at this point so the more accurate your shots, the better your game. The way to achieve that is by using specific wedges and lofts tailored to the distance you have to the flagstick.
For example, if you have between 15 and 20 feet, you would want a more lofted club. A lofted club is one with a face that's angled back from vertical such as a sand wedge. The objective is for the golf ball to be lobbed high into the air but land short and into the hole (ideally!) However, in most cases, you would aim to get the the ball on to the putting green as close to the flagstick as possible.
The loft of a golf wedge and its grooves on the club face work together in collaboration to produce a spin rate. The loft of a wedge is simply the angle at which it hits the ball off the ground. This will allow the player to control the trajectory of the ball and amount of roll it produces. This is why loft of golf wedges are offered in varying degrees ranging from 47 degrees to 64 degrees to cater to the surface conditions, distance and the angle required to reach that distance. Read more on the technical details of golf wedges.
What wedges would I need?
Most golfers tend to buy what others are buying. The herd mentality is generally what sustains the golf industry today. Since buying a set of clubs can get technical, you should always buy clubs and wedges on based on their merits and most of all, buy them based on your golfing needs rather than copying what someone else has in his or her golf bag.
Low handicap: Golfers with scores less than ten strokes over par
Recommended: 4 wedges; Akagi 48º Pitching Wedge, Akagi 52º Gap Wedge, Akagi 56º Sand Wedge, Akagi 60º Lob Wedge.
Mid handicap: Golfers in the 11-25 handicap bracket
Recommended: 3 wedges; Akagi 48º Pitching Wedge, Akagi 56º Sand Wedge, Akagi 60º Lob Wedge will help you reduce the score of your short game
High handicap: New Golfers with 26 handicap and higher
Recommended: 2 wedges; Akagi 46º Pitching Wedge and Akagi 56º Sand Wedge
Beginners generally don't need to worry about having each type of wedge represented in their bag, usually just the Pitching and Sand Wedge will be sufficient. The main objective at this point is to for you to learn and enjoy the game of golf first.
More information on the functionality and techical aspects of Akagi golf wedges, click here.
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