Conquer your lob wedge woes by following this simple tutorial

If you’re a beginner golfer, you’re probably a little intimidated by the lob wedge. That’s not meant as a dig, but the facts are obvious: The high lob wedge makes it one of the hardest clubs to hit.

Hell, even the great Lee Trevino once said that most beginners don’t know “how to use the damn thing” when talking about the lob wedge.

But understanding when using a lob wedge is almost as important as knowing it How. So if you don’t have the confidence or are afraid to use the wrong thing, GOLF 100 Master Instructor Jason Birnbaum is here to help.

gThe video below explains his tips, so check it out!

Master the lob wedge with these tips

“I want to talk to you about when to use the lob wedge, the highest club in your bag,” Birnbaum said. “The only time I want to use this time is when you are close to the green and you have to hit the ball and put it down cool without going out.”

Birnbaum then sets a simple basic follow-through while setting up is most important to hitting the correct lob wedge shot.

“Setting is key, with a really wide position and a forward ball,” he tells me. “Then I’m going to open the clubface a little bit and make this a spread shot, using the back part of the club. [aka the bounce] so that I can go into a slightly explosive place.”

After explaining what the setup should look like with a lob wedge, Birnbaum pulls out a visual so I can better understand the angle of the clubface, attaching a plastic arrow to it to show me where it should be looking at address.

“A lot of times, golfers hit this shot and the arrow goes down or to the left. They are the ones who will come out crying and not stop rolling,” he added. “I want to feel like I’m using my wrist so much that when I go through, the arrow is pointing to the sky.”

The image below shows how the clubface should appear at address when using a lob wedge.

As Birnbaum demonstrates the shot, he reminds me to put the “back of the club in a flat position,” which will help lift the ball and help it sit well in the putt.

“It’s strange because you almost get a little bit of a stab, but with a top-class club and faces open, that’s a good thing.”

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$225

For every shot, every lie, every lesson, there is a balance to your swing. Finding the right grind for your swing and playing conditions will give you the best turf interaction, contact and shot performance. Master craftsman Bob Vokey has spent decades crafting, developing and improving his proven mill travel to fit players of all levels. Anyone can make a wedge, but it takes a master to turn a functional piece of technology into a creative control tool. Bob’s six tour-proven grinds are designed to provide maximum craftsmanship, versatility and consistency, all carefully developed over years of working with the world’s best players. PROGRESSIVE CENTER OF GRAVITY SM9 features a progressive center of gravity (CG) across all lofts, resulting in smooth ball travel, accuracy and forgiveness. Using sharp top lines and varying pipe lengths, the Vokey R&D team increased the CG height at high altitudes, promoting a low, highly controlled flight. The CG is also forward on the face, resulting in increased MOI, a unique feel and a club face that just wants to go up at impact. SM9’s patented Spin Milled Grooves are meticulously designed with a new cutting process to maximize rotation and durability. The process begins by cutting the face down with a high speed saw. Then every groove is cut individually based on the surface and the end; low lofts (46°-54°) are designed with narrow, deep grooves, while high lofts (56°-62°) have wide, shallow grooves. Micro-grooves are individually cut between the grooves, allowing for greater spin on partial shots. Heat treatment is applied to the impact surface which replicates the firmness of the pitch without affecting the feel, making it a tough golf club. The process only ends when every Vokey wedge is tested for high quality and 100% performance.

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Nick Dimengo

Golf.com Editor