The lob wedge is one of the shortest and loftiest clubs in your golf bag. It provides the highest arc on your shot and is an excellent club to get you out of a hazard on the course. Also known as the L-Wedge, the lob wedge is part of the iron family, and comes in a variety of lofts, ranging from 56 to 64 degrees. Those in the higher degree territory are often referred to as ultra lob wedges.

 

Coming in at nearly 20 ounces, the sand wedge is not only the heaviest iron in your bag, it also has the highest loft at approximately 56 degrees. While it’s not a distance hitting club, the average distance ranges from 40 to 100 yards, depending on level of play.

 

Tips on How to Hit Your Lob WedgeLob Wedge Shot

 

Ball Position and Stance: A lob shot is a soft shot that soars high, lands quickly and stops on a dime. The best time to use your lob wedge is when the ball is either really close to the ground or partially into the ground. The higher it is off the ground, the less lofted a club you will need. As the lob wedge has more loft than the sand wedge, it will hit the ball higher.

 

To properly hit your lob wedge, make sure the ball is in a forward position relative to your stance. From there, it is important to let the club do its job. Keeping the club face open, aim it slightly right of the target (if target is open). You will want to align your feet and shoulders slightly to the left of your target. It seems a little contorted, but this stance is best with the open club face.

 

Swing:

Swing the club back slightly to the outside while hingeing your wrists. The further you swing back, the longer and higher your shot will go. Swing the club down along the path of your feet while keeping the club face open as you swing down through impact. Let the club slide under the ball as you swing all the way through impact. Turn your body toward the target as you follow through. Keep the club face open all the way to the end of the swing.

 

During your swing, keep the lob wedge moving aggressively through impact with the ball. Make sure you do not hit up on the ball—it is vital that you hit the wedge down, just like any other iron. If you swing the club right and hit down on the ball, you should see ample backspin, allowing the ball to soar high into the air, landing softly with little to no roll.

 

Like we always say… practice makes perfect. The lob wedge takes a great deal of practice for a player to not only become comfortable with it, but to know when the best time is to use it.

 

While there are different wedges in your bag, the thing that separates your lob from the others is its less pronounced flange on the sole. This allows for the club to easily slide under the ball and offers less bounce when it lands. Lob wedges are mostly used for shots requiring a very high arc—those pitch shots needed to get the ball over an obstacle. Check out more tips for excelling at your golf game.