Club Times - June 2021

Don’t Overlook or Undervalue These Critical Tools By: John Breedlove, PGA Professional GOLF

It is common knowledge that PGA tour players are incredible ball strikers, but did you know that even the world’s best players only hit about 13 out of 18 greens in regulation? If the very best players in the world are only able to hit about 65% of greens in regulation, where does that leave the average club player? Well, research data provided by The Grint indicates that a scratch player hits about 57% of greens, 11-15 handicaps average somewhere around 28%, and 25+ handicaps only manage to hit about 12%.

When you think about the game like this, it becomes clear that one of the easiest ways for a higher handicap to lower their golf score is to avoid disaster when they inevitably miss greens with their approach shots. If the average player can simply pitch the ball on the green on their first attempt and take no more than two putts, they can lower their scores dramatically. Just as Raymond Floyd pointed out in his book The Elements of Scoring, the best way to lower your golf score is to avoid shooting high scores. Another interesting take away from these statistics is that there is very little difference between the percentage of greens hit by an average tour pro (65%) and an average scratch player (57%), but there is a enormous difference in the scores they shoot. Part of this can be explained by the difficulty of the course setup for tour events, but perhaps more importantly, it demonstrates the tour pro’s deft touch with a wedge in their hands. Naturally, tour players have spent countless hours honing their technique and skills, but undoubtedly, they also have taken the time to put the proper tools in their bag that allow them to execute challenging shots around the greens. They understand that wedge play is a critical determinant for tournament success, and thus, the significance of selecting the right wedges. Unfortunately, for many amateur players, the wedges in their bag are little more than an afterthought. It is not unusual to see club player’s bags with the most recent driver on the market but wedges from 1990. This is completely backwards!! In fact, statistical data suggest that the value of a short shot is approximately 1.5 times the value of a long shot. How then can so many avid players have a $500 dollar driver, but not invest in wedges that match their game? Consider also that club players hit significantly fewer greens per round, and consequently, are faced with many more chips and pitches per round than the pros. Simply put, if you don’t have the right wedges in your bag, you are making an already difficult game more difficult and impeding your ability to shoot your lowest scores. CHOOSING THE RIGHT TOOLS If you are a serious about the game, it is imperative that you take the time to get fit for wedges that properly match your swing type and skill level. Some key considerations for any golf club, including wedges, are length, loft, lie, shaft, and grip size. Each of these technical specifications can impact your ability to hit the shots that you want around the green. However, there is one wedge specification that is often completely overlooked by average golfers: Wedge Bounce. Bounce is the section of the club that is interacting with the turf (or sand) as