Caught short-sided with a bunker between you and the pin? The lob wedge, or LW, is the club designed for exactly these high-stakes, high-and-soft shots. This guide will walk you through what an LW is, precisely when to pull it from your bag, and the step-by-step technique to master the delicate art of the lob shot.
In the family of wedges, the lob wedge (LW) is the one with the highest loft, typically ranging from 58 to 64 degrees, with 60 degrees being the most common choice for amateurs and professionals alike. Its entire purpose is to help you send the golf ball high into the air over a very short distance, allowing it to land on the green with the softness of a falling leaf and minimal roll-out.
But loft is only half the story. The other vital component is the club’s bounce. Bounce is the angle created between the leading edge of the club and the sole (the bottom part that touches the ground). A lob wedge generally has a moderate to high amount of bounce, which is designed to prevent the club from digging into the ground. Instead, it allows the club to “bounce” or skim through the turf or sand, making it incredibly effective for shots from fluffy lies or soft-sand bunkers.
Think of it as the specialist in your golf bag. While your sand wedge is a versatile workhorse, the lob wedge is your finesse tool for surgical strikes when there's trouble in your way and very little green to work with.
Knowing when to use the LW is just as important as knowing how to hit it. This isn't your go-to club for a simple chip-and-run. It's a problem-solver for specific difficult situations. Here are the moments when your lob wedge can be your best friend:
This is the classic scenario for a lob wedge. Imagine a pin position tucked just a few feet over a greenside bunker. Your approach shot missed to the same side as the pin, leaving you with very little green between your ball and the hole. You don't have room for the ball to land and roll. You need to hit a shot that goes nearly straight up and then straight down. This is prime LW territory. The high loft gets the ball airborne immediately and the steep angle of descent stops it quickly.
Whether it’s a sprinkler head, a deep bunker, or just a mound right in your path, the lob wedge is your best bet for clearing obstacles close to the green. You don't have the space to hit a lower, running shot, so you must go vertical. The lob wedge gives you the necessary height to fly over the trouble and still have the ball land softly enough to stay on the green.
Your ball is sitting up nicely in some thick greenside rough. If you try to nip it cleanly with a lower-lofted wedge, you risk sliding straight under the ball and popping it up just a few feet. The high bounce on an LW is perfect here. It allows you to swing confidently, knowing the club will slide under the ball without digging, popping it up and out of the thick grass onto the green.
While the Sand Wedge (SW) is obviously designed for bunkers, a lob wedge with high bounce can be phenomenal from bunkers with very soft, fluffy sand. The bounce helps the sole of the club glide through the sand, splashing the ball out with height and spin. For a high-lipped bunker leading to a tight pin, the extra loft of the LW can be a round-saver.
For every perfect situation for a lob wedge, there's one where it's the absolute wrong choice. Part of being a smart golfer is recognizing these moments and opting for a simpler, higher-percentage shot.
Ready to try it? The technique for a lob shot feels a bit different than a standard chip. It's a motion more focused on using the club's design to do the work. Remember, the goal is to slide the club under the ball, not hit down on it.
Your setup is what pre-sets the high, soft shot shape.
The lob shot should feel more like a release of energy than a forceful hit. Amateurs often make the mistake of getting too "handsy," trying to flick or scoop the ball into the air. Let the big muscles lead.
The lob wedge is a specialized tool that can transform tricky situations into birdie opportunities, but only when you understand its purpose and respect its risks. By selecting it for the right scenarios - like short-sided lies and fluffy rough - and leaving it in the bag for low-percentage shots, you'll manage your game much more effectively.
Figuring out whether it's truly a "lob wedge situation" on the course can be guesswork. This is where modern tools can take the uncertainty out of your decision-making. With Caddie AI, I can analyze the scenario for you, just show me a photo of your lie and your distance to the pin, and I can give you a personalized recommendation on whether the high-and-soft LW is the smart play or if a safer, lower-running chip is in order, helping you make smarter choices under pressure.
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