[PHOTO: Stephen Pond]
With the US Open behind us, it means the golf calendar has entered what I consider the best part of the season: links season. The time of year when regular golfers fly away to their mates trips abroad that they’re so excited about, and professional golf begins rolling through Scotland.
So, to get us excited for the start of links season, I wanted to point to a useful chipping tip for the rest of us along the way.
Look at your loft
You’ve probably heard the term “bounce” before. Oversimplified, bounce is a term for the angle and width of the sole of the club. The more bounce you have on your wedge, the less likely your wedge is to dig into the ground – it’ll bounce off it instead.
More bounce is generally helpful because it can prevent chunked shots, but on the dry sandy turf that links golf is played on, it can make life more difficult. The more some golfers reach for their high-bounce lob wedge, the more they find their wedge bounces off the turf and leads to skulled shots.
Grind vs Bounce: A pair of important wedge concepts, explained
So instead, learn to chip with a lower lofted wedge like a 52-degree. With less bounce and less loft, the 52-degree wedge helps dig the club more into the ground, which creates a low, driving ball flight with lots of backspin and crispier contact.
The next time you’re on dry, linksland turf, try reaching for a lower-lofted wedge. It’ll probably help.
