How to Use a Lob Wedge in Golf

The lob wedge is one of the most exciting clubs in the bag - it’s your go-to tool for hitting those spectacular, high-arcing shots that drop softly on the green and stop on a dime. But for many golfers, it can also be intimidating, leading to bladed shots over the green or chunks that go nowhere. This guide will walk you through exactly how to use a lob wedge effectively, turning it from a club you fear into a trusted scoring weapon. We'll cover the foundational techniques for consistent pitch shots and break down how to hit that impressive flop shot when you need it most.

What is a Lob Wedge and When Should You Use It?

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "what" and "when." A lob wedge typically has between 58 and 62 degrees of loft, making it the most lofted club you'll likely carry besides your putter. This high loft is designed to do one primary job: get the ball up in the air quickly and have it land with very little roll.

While a sand wedge can accomplish some similar tasks, the lob wedge is your specialist for situations demanding maximum height and stopping power. You should think about pulling it out of the bag in a few specific scenarios:

• Short-Sided Shots: When you've missed the green and have very little space between you and the hole, you need the ball to stop fast.
• Shots Over an Obstacle: If there's a bunker or a patch of thick rough between you and the pin, the lob wedge effortlessly lifts the ball over the trouble.
• Fluffy Lies in the Rough: When the ball is sitting up in the rough, a lob wedge can slide nicely underneath it, popping the ball out with a soft landing.
• Downhill Greens: Hitting to a green that slopes away from you requires a high, soft shot to counteract the slope and keep the ball from rolling off the back.

Think of the lob wedge as your problem-solver for really tight spots. It's not always the highest-percentage play - a simple chip with a less-lofted club is often smarter - but when you need it, it’s a game-changer.

The Foundation: Grip, Stance, and Setup

A consistent, reliable lob wedge shot starts long before you ever swing the club. Just like in the full swing, your setup dictates a huge part of the outcome. A solid foundation here will make the swing itself feel much more simple and natural.

The Grip: Neutral and Soft

Your hold on the club is your connection to the clubface. For a lob wedge, a neutral grip is perfect. This means if you look down, you should see about two knuckles on your lead hand (the left hand for a right-handed golfer). A strong grip (seeing 3-4 knuckles) can cause you to shut the face and de-loft the club, which defeats the entire purpose of using a lob wedge. Grip pressure should also be light. Imagine holding a tube of toothpaste without wanting any to squeeze out - that’s the kind of soft, relaxed pressure you want. This allows the clubhead to release properly and use its designed loft.

The Stance: Narrow and a Little Open

For a standard pitch shot with a lob wedge, you don't need a wide, powerful base. Set your feet just inside of your shoulders. This narrower stance helps promote a clean turn and prevents you from trying to generate too much power. From there, pull your lead foot back just an inch or two, creating a slightly "open" stance. This pre-sets your body rotation and makes it easier for your hips to clear through impact, which is essential for a fluid, controlled wedge swing.

Ball Position and Weight Distribution

The ball position for a standard lob wedge pitch should be right in the middle of your stance. Placing it right under your sternum is a great reference point. This position allows you to strike the ball with a slightly descending blow, making solid contact before the club brushes the grass.

As for your weight, favor your front foot. Aim for about a 60/40 distribution of weight on your lead foot. This simple lean forward encourages you to hit down and through the ball, preventing the dreaded "scooping" motion that leads to thin or fat shots. By setting your weight forward at address, you can simply maintain it throughout the swing.

The Swing: Your Guide to Two Essential Lob Wedge Shots

Now that the setup is locked in, let’s talk about the motion. There are two main shots you’ll hit with a lob wedge: the standard pitch and the high, soft flop shot. They start from a similar family but have some specific differences.

Shot #1: The Standard Pitch Shot (Your Bread and Butter)

This is the shot you'll use 90% of the time. It’s reliable, consistent, and delivers predictable results from 15-50 yards out. The key here is to think of the swing as a mini version of your full swing, powered by body rotation, not your arms.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Take Your Setup: Follow the steps above - neutral grip, narrow and slightly open stance, ball in the middle, and weight about 60% on your lead foot.
2. The Takeaway: Begin the swing by simply turning your chest and shoulders away from the target. Think about your arms, hands, and the club moving together as one unit. The feeling is that of a small rotation, not a lift with the arms. The length of your backswing will control the distance of your shot. For a short pitch, think about your hands getting to your trail thigh. For a longer pitch, they might go to hip or waist high.
3. Through-Swing and Impact: From the top, just rotate your body back toward the target. Your arms and hands are passive, they are just coming along for the ride. The goal is to allow your chest to turn and face the target at the finish. This rotation will naturally pull the club through the impact zone, creating a clean strike on the ball. You want to feel a gentle thump of the club's sole on the turf just after the ball.
4. The Finish: Hold your finish, balanced and with your chest pointing at your target. Your weight should be almost entirely on your lead foot. The club shaft should be pointing toward the sky, and you should feel stable and in control. This balanced finish is proof of a good, body-driven swing.

Shot #2: The High, Soft Flop Shot (The "Hero" Shot)

The flop shot is an invaluable tool for getting out of tricky situations, especially when you're short-sided over a bunker. It looks complex, but it's based on a few intentional adjustments to your setup and swing. But a word of caution: only attempt this from a good lie where the ball is sitting up. It's not a shot for a hardpan lie or buried in deep rough.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open the Clubface First: This is the most important adjustment. Before you take your grip, rotate the clubface so that it's aiming well to the right of your target (for a righty). This dramatically increases the club's effective loft. Once the face is open, then take your normal grip.
2. Take an "Exaggerated" Setup: Now, widen your stance a little for stability and open it much more than you would for a standard pitch. Your feet, hips, and shoulders should be aimed well left of your target. The ball should be positioned slightly forward in your stance, just inside your lead heel. This setup allows you to swing along Your foot line (out-to-in), but the open face will send the ball toward the target.
3. The Swing: More 'U'-Shaped than 'V'-Shaped: Unlike the standard pitch, the flop shot requires a shallow, U-shaped swing arc. The feeling is that you're sliding the sole of the club underneath the ball. During the backswing, feel a bit more hinge in your wrists.
4. Commit and Accelerate: Here's the part that trips up many players: you must commit to the shot and accelerate the clubhead through impact. It might feel like you’re swinging way too hard, but because the clubface is wide open, a lot of that energy goes into creating height, not distance. Hesitation or deceleration is what causes a chunked shot. Swing through with confidence, letting the high-speed clubhead literally slide right under the ball.
5. Follow-Through: Your hands should finish high, and the clubface should still feel like it's pointing to the sky at the end. Your body rotates through, but the release feels much more driven by speed and the clubhead passing your hands.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the lob wedge is about understanding its purpose and learning the distinct setups and swings for both the reliable pitch shot and the situational flop shot. By focusing on a good foundation, using your body's rotation for power, and being intentional with the shot you choose, you can transform this club into one of your most valuable scoring tools.

When you're out on the course, sometimes the decision of whether to hit a high-flying flop or a simple pitch-and-run isn't obvious. Factors like your lie, the slope of the green, and your confidence all play a part. In those tough moments, getting a clear recommendation can make all the difference, and that's precisely what Caddie AI is designed to provide. You can even take a photo of your ball's lie, and the Caddie will instantly analyze the situation and suggest the smartest way to play the shot, helping you remove doubt and commit to your swing with confidence.