Bounce
Bounce is the angle between the leading edge and the sole of a club — it prevents the club from digging into sand or soft ground.
Bounce sits on the underside of the clubhead and matters above all with the wedge. What is meant is the curvature of the sole: when the club lies on the ground the sole touches it at its lowest point, and the leading edge stands a little higher. This height difference is the bounce angle, measured in degrees. Lots of bounce lets the club glide over sand and soft ground instead of digging in. Little bounce cuts cleanly through firm grass and tight lies. Wedges are therefore offered in versions with low, mid and high bounce, matched to course conditions and swing style.
On the course the bounce often decides the outcome of the bunker shot. An example: your ball lies in the soft sand of a deep bunker. With a wedge with lots of bounce you strike the sand two fingers' width behind the ball, the sole skids through, and the ball floats out of the bunker on the cushion of sand. With little bounce the leading edge digs in, the ball stays put or pops up unpredictably. On hard, thin sand it is the other way round: too much bounce makes the club bounce off, the ball is struck thin and flies over the green.
Typical misconception: bounce is not a quality feature but a fit. If you play soft, sandy courses and swing steeply into the ball you need more bounce. If you play firm courses and swing shallow through the ball you get on better with little bounce. When buying, it is worth looking at the bounce figures next to the loft — both numbers are often stamped on the club. If you are unsure, mid bounce is the safe choice for changing conditions.
FAQ
How much bounce do I need for soft sand bunkers?
In soft, deep sand lots of bounce is your friend, because the sole glides through the sand instead of digging in. You strike the sand about two fingers' width behind the ball, and the ball floats out of the bunker on the cushion of sand. If you generally swing steeply down at the ball, you will almost always do better with more bounce on the wedge.
Is lots of bounce generally the better choice?
No, bounce is not a question of quality but of fit. On hard, thin sand or firm grass a wedge with lots of bounce bounces off and the ball is struck thin. If you mostly play firm courses and swing shallow through the ball, you will get on better with little bounce — in doubt, mid bounce is the safe choice.
Where do I find the bounce value of my club?
On most wedges the figure is stamped directly on the clubhead, next to the loft in degrees. There you will see two numbers such as 56 and 12 — the first is the loft, the second the bounce. When buying it is worth looking at both values, because together they determine how the club behaves in your ground conditions.