If you've ever looked down at the sole of a wedge and seen a number like '60' stamped into the metal, you’re looking at a critical piece of information that can make or break your short game. That number is the key to unlocking different types of shots, but it's only half the story. This article will break down exactly what that '60' means, explain its equally important counterpart - bounce - and give you practical advice on how to use this club to shave strokes off your score around the greens.
In the world of golf equipment, numbers tell a story, and the "60" on your wedge is the main character. It's simple, direct, and incredibly important.
The number '60' represents the loft of the club in degrees. Loft is the angle of the clubface in relation to the shaft. To picture it, imagine your club sitting perfectly upright, the loft is how much the face is angled 'laid back' from that vertical position. The higher the number, the more the face points toward the sky at address.
A 60-degree wedge, commonly known as a lob wedge, is designed for one primary purpose: to get the ball up in the air quickly and have it land softly with minimal rollout. It's the club you pull out for those high-flyers over a deep greenside bunker or for a feathery flop shot that needs to stop on a dime.
To give you some context, here’s how it compares to the other wedges you likely carry:
While the loft tells you how high the ball will go, it doesn’t tell you how the club will interact with the turf or sand. For that, you need to understand the second number on your wedge - one that's often less obvious but just as important.
If you look closely at the sole of your 60-degree wedge, you might see another, smaller number stamped on it - something like '8', '10', or '12'. This is the bounce angle. If there isn't a number, it will be listed in the club's specifications. Understanding bounce is the single biggest step you can take toward becoming a short-game wizard.
Bounce is the angle created by the sole of the wedge and the ground. Specifically, it’s the angle between the ground and the club's leading edge when the shaft is held vertically. A higher bounce angle means the leading edge (the sharp, front-most bottom edge of the face) sits further up off the ground.
Here’s a simple way to visualize it:
Place your 60-degree wedge on a flat tabletop so the sole is resting on the surface. You'll notice that the leading edge isn't touching the table, there’s a gap. The size of that gap is a direct result of the bounce angle. More bounce means a bigger gap.
Think of it like the hull of a boat. A wider, more angled hull skims across the top of the water. A sharp, narrow V-shaped hull cuts through it. Bounce works the same way with turf and sand. Bounce prevents the sharp leading edge from digging into the ground, allowing the club to glide or "bounce" through the surface instead.
Bounce isn't one-size-fits-all. The right amount for you depends heavily on two things: your typical course conditions and your personal swing style (your angle of attack).
Now that you know what loft and bounce are, you can make an informed decision and start using your 60-degree wedge with confidence.
Don't just grab any 60-degree wedge off the rack. Ask yourself these three simple questions to find your perfect match:
Once you have the right tool, it's time to learn how to use it. Here are three shots every golfer should learn.
This is your bread and butter - a basic, reliable shot from just off the green.
This is the high-stakes, high-reward shot that gets you out of jail.
This is where low-bounce wedges excel and where many amateurs fear to tread.
That '60' on a wedge represents its loft, the engine for high, soft shots around the green. But the less-obvious bounce number is the rudder, determining how your club navigates the ground. Matching your bounce to your swing and course conditions is the real secret to turning your 60-degree wedge from a club of hoping into a dependable scoring tool.
Figuring all of this out for every shot, especially when you're under pressure in a tough lie, can feel overwhelming. That’s why we built our Caddie AI. When you're staring at a weird lie in the rough or are stuck between hitting a high flop or a low chip, we provide instant, expert advice. You can even take a photo of your ball's lie, and our AI will analyze the situation and suggest the smartest club and shot to play, giving you the clarity and confidence to execute with commitment.
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