Sand Wedge Bounce 10 Or 14? (Finding the Right Bounce)

sand wedge bounce 10 or 14 for tell me more golf and the best bounce

Are you in the market for a new wedge, or looking to improve your short game?

Tell Me More Golf and its team of experts are going to discuss how the bounce of a wedge can affect your golf game. Finding the proper degrees of bounce can be a key to improving your wedge play.

sand wedge bounce 10 or 14 for tell me more golf and the best bounce

Should You Use A Sand Wedge Bounce Of 10 Or 14?


What is the bounce and why should you care? First, it helps to understand what the bounce is and why it is so important. The bounce angle is the degree of the leading edge of the clubface compared to the ground. In other terms, a low bounce wedge has a leading edge that is closer to the ground at address. The leading edge of a high bounce sits off of the ground slightly.

Now that we have that out of the way, we are going to talk about how to choose the bounce for different wedges in your golf bag.

There is no universal answer to which bounce is “better” for your sand wedge. It is a matter of what is best for an individual golfer’s game.

In fact, many PGA Tour players have varying bounces for their pitching wedge through their lob wedge.

The same logic that professionals use to choose the amount of bounce of their clubs can be applied to your game as well.

Finding the Right Bounce for Your Sand Wedge

High Bounce Wedges

(those with 12-14 degrees of bounce) are generally best for those who play in softer course conditions and golfers that tend to take deep divots, meaning they have steeper swing types. My 30+ years in the golf world have shown this to be a good rule of thumb for those who need higher bounce. The reason behind this has to do with the angle of attack in a golfers swing. When the angle of attack with a wedge is steep, players need protection from potentially hitting the shot heavy. High bounce prevents the club from digging into the ground. This makes 14 degrees of bounce good for bunker shots in fluffy sand, for example.

Beginners can also benefit from a higher bounce on their sand wedge. It does provide a bit more forgiveness as they learn different types of shots, especially wedge shots from different distances and lies.

Medium Bounce Wedges 

(those with 7-10 degrees of bounce) are often called mid bounce wedges. These are going to be the best wedges for most golfers because they offer versatility for a variety of turf conditions. 10 degrees of bounce can be good for greenside bunker shots in soft sand. In my experience, I have found a mid bounce wedge provides the most consistent results for chip shots and longer shots from the fairway.

Low Bounce Wedges 

(those with less than 7 degrees of bounce) are often associated more with lob wedges but can apply to the sand wedge as well. These clubs are best in firm course conditions and for players with a less steep or shallower angle of attack. A wedge with low bounce can more easily glide under the golf ball making it great for tight lies, hardpan, and golf courses that are playing dry and fast.

With lower bounce wedges, there is less margin for error because of the risk of the club digging into the ground. For golfers that do typically sweep the ball off of the ground, less bounce is going to help with making clean contact and generating spin.


sand wedge bounce 10 or 14 for 60 degree wedge and finding the golf club

Golfers have a lot of options for different types of wedges. We use our sand wedge the most for short game shots, which means that it is important to find the best bounce for your sand wedge. For the majority of golfers, 10-12 degrees of bounce is going to be ideal. This will allow for versatility and forgiveness in your sand wedge.

A bounce lower than 10 degrees likely is not ideal unless you are playing in a very firm and fast course conditions on a regular basis.

When I played tournament golf in Florida and around the southeast, a slightly lower bounce was great as it was beneficial to be able to sweep the ball off of the ground.

When I worked with Claude Harmon III in Florida, we would focus at least half of our two-hour sessions on taking up less turf with wedge shots. When you can shallow your angle of attack on firm grass, you are able to control the distance of your wedges much easier. In one particular lesson, I had the opportunity to hang out while he finished up with Dustin Johnson. Dustin finished by hitting at least 50 sand wedges off of the ground. The grass where he was hitting was barely bruised to the point where you could barely tell anyone was there.

So to determine the best bounce for your sand wedge, understand your divots and the type of conditions you typically play in. If you have a steeper swing, you likely need a high bounce sand wedge, especially if you are playing in soft conditions.

If you have a shallow path into the ball and take little to no divot, you will benefit from a wedge with less bounce, especially if you play in firmer conditions.

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Choosing Sand Wedge With High Bounce (10 Or 14 Degrees)


Our team at Tell Me More Golf is passionate (obsessed) with understanding different types of equipment and helping golfers determine what is best for them as individuals. As someone that tried every wedge brand and combination of degrees of loft, and bounce angles, I am qualified to get specific on choosing the best high bounce sand wedge.

The Callaway MD5 Jaws sand wedge with 12 degrees of loft is a well-designed club, good for a large number of golfers. The shaping of the leading edge, combined with ideal clubhead weight makes this a forgiving and versatile sand wedge option.

Choosing Sand Wedge With Low Bounce (6 Or 10 Degrees)


While the Callaway sand wedge is a great option at the mid-higher bounce, Titleist excels at designing excellent low-bounce wedge options. Titleist’s Vokey wedge has gotten better year over year. If you fall into the category of player that would benefit from a lower bounce sand wedge, Titleist should be your first stop.

The weighting and design of the Vokey wedges will help you sweep the ball off the ground. You will start to notice that it is easier to control trajectory and distance with these wedges, and that will lead to more confidence and consistency.

Best Bounce For 60 Degree Wedge


When choosing the bounce for your 60-degree wedge, start with 10 degrees. You will typically be using the 60-degree wedge for shots that require a higher trajectory, mostly around the greens. Therefore, you still need some bounce on the club but too much bounce can cause thin shots, while too little bounce can cause the club to dig.

While players like Phil Mickelson have a very low bounce on their 60-degree wedges, that approach is not for the majority of players. You will see more versatility with the low-mid bounce range in a 60-degree wedge (or lob wedge).

Wedge Bounce 10 Vs 12


We have laid out some guidelines that will apply to a vast majority of golfers. It is likely that your pitching wedge will be part of your golf club set so it will have a similar profile to the rest of your irons. With the gap wedge through lob wedge, these guidelines have been proven over time to produce the best results.

Your wedges and your putter are going to be used more than any other golf clubs in your bag. That is why it is so important to find the right bounce and weight in your wedges. If you having trouble choosing a wedge bounce, err on the side of a mid bounce like 12 degrees. The bounce does not have to be the same in all wedges. For example, I have 10 degrees of bounce in my lob wedge and 12 degrees of bounce in my sand wedge. A club fitter can also help. Or, you can reach out to Tell Me More Golf for more individual guidance.

Conclusion: Research by Tellmemoregolf.com

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We have decades of experience at the highest level of golf and have a team that has tested the latest equipment to bring you recommendations to improve your game. Take advantage of our knowledge to advance your own. 

As you gain more understanding of how different club designs fit various golfers, it will help you choose the right clubs and wedges for your own game, answering Sand Wedge Bounce 10 Or 14 questions. Come to Tell Me More Golf to help you improve your wedge game and all other aspects of your golf game.

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Patrick Corley Tell Me More Golf Instructor and Coach
Patrick Corley
From a golf scholarship to a Southern California University, to a private golf coaching career and an instructor position at a nonprofit organization, I’m here to help you get better at golf! With my 50+ years of golf experience; I bring you Tell Me More Golf. A golf coaching website that helps your game with instructional golfing content that’s ultimately geared toward making you a better golfer and having more fun!
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