Equipment

Golf 101: What is bounce?

Published

6 years ago

Sep 7, 2020

Although I could pen a 2,000-word essay on the subject of “what is bounce,” that’s not the goal here. Instead, let’s paint a simple picture.

You are a new golfer looking to buy your first sand wedge because your buddy told you it was necessary. You enter your local shop and start looking at racks of wedges with numbers and letters. Loft? That’s simple enough. But what’s this other number—this “bounce” thing?

What is bounce?

When I explain it to new players, I use Bob Vokey’s “rudder” analogy. For soft sand, you need a bigger rudder (more bounce/wider sole) to move the sound out of the way. On firmer sand, you need a smaller rudder (less bounce/narrow sole) to keep the leading edge under the ball.

Basically, more bounce equals leading edge sits higher off the ground, less bounce means leading sits lower to the ground. Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, but this is for beginners so let’s keep it easy.

This is a VERY simple picture for those that are visual learners

Vokey’s Aaron Dill had this to say:

“Bounce is a combination of sole angles and shape that create forgiveness and versatility for all golfers.”

In simple terms, every golfer fits into a unique profile based on how they deliver the club at impact. Players that are steep tend to need a wedge with more bounce, shallow/sweepy/pickers prefer less bounce.

By the numbers: This is general, OEMs all have their own parameters for Low/Std/High but this will give you an idea

Low Bounce = 4-9 degrees

Std/High Bounce= 10-14 degrees

So when you are buying your first wedge (yes, just one, to begin with, a 56 degree), ask some questions, try some different options and if at all possible, more than any club in your bag, get to know that wedge like the back of your hand. As a new golfer, it will be the first club that will actually help your score.

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5 Comments

Jack Wullkotte

Sep 9, 2020 at 11:03 am

As far as I know, Toney Penna was the first club designer to incorporate bounce in designing iron heads. I believe it was in 1950. Prior to that, most irons had zero or minus bounce and laid wide open with extremely sharp leading edges. Toney also attempted to put 4 way roll on iron heads, but that never materialized. Just a little trivia from a 90 year old man who began working for the MacGregor Golf Co. in 1947.

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Ted Noel

Sep 9, 2020 at 11:02 am

This article is pablum. Bounce is not bounce is not bounce. Take the low bounce wedge and extend it further aft. You will get leading edge rise the same as a high bounce wedge. Thus, the key feature is leading edge rise. You can get it different ways, but your technique will determine how much leading edge rise you need. Further, leading edge shape will affect your shots. A sharp edge is less forgiving, while a more rounded edge will let you get away with some shots.

We need to define wedges by 1) leading edge rise 2) leading edge profile 3) sole grind (for versatility). Bounce angle is worthless.

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- Gebby
  
  Sep 10, 2020 at 7:32 am
  
  Potato -cpotahto, tomato – tomahto
  
  Reply Report comment
Jack Nash

Sep 9, 2020 at 10:39 am

Important to consider bounce when chipping “against” the grain also. Lower bounce digs in more. Good article and explanation.

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Jim

Sep 9, 2020 at 10:22 am

I like the skid plate vs shovel analogy. Bounce is your friend For the average guy.

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Equipment

Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report

Published

19 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.

Joel Thelen

Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.

First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.

Mitchell Meissner

Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.

Whats in the Bag

Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)

Published

20 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.

Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX

7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX

Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

See more in-hand photos of Bud Cauley’s clubs here.

Equipment

Name every set of irons you’ve owned – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

20 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.

@Lamosteve began:

Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine

Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6

Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”

Entire Thread: “Name every set of irons you’ve owned.”