1) Sand conditions

The fluffier and deeper the sand in your bunkers, the wider the sole and/or the more bounce sole angle you need on your sand wedge.  Conversely, the more coarse and shallow the sand, the more narrow the sole and/or the less bounce sole angle you should have on your sand wedge.  These points are true because the wider and more bounce on the sole, the more the sole resists traveling deep into the sand.  In addition, be honest about your swing ability.  The more steeply you bring the wedge down to the sand, the deeper the sole could dig under the ball.  Hence the more steep your angle of attack, the wider the sole and/or the more bounce should be on the sole of your sand club. 

2) Grass conditions

Longer grass and softer turf around the greens as well as the more “wiry grasses” like Bermuda and Kikuyu, the wider the sole and the more bounce sole angle your wedges should have.  In the UK parkland or US style course fit into this category.  Likewise, the shorter cropped the grass or more firm the turf around the greens, the less bounce sole angle and/ore more narrow the sole should be on your wedges.  Running heathland or links courses are easier to play with such wedges.

3) Green design

The more elevated the greens, the steeper the bunker faces, the smaller the greens and the more “dead elephants buried” under your greens (multiple tiered greens!!), the more loft you will want on your wedges to help you get the ball up and to stop the ball on the tier in which the hole is cut.  The flatter and larger the greens, conventional or lower loft is better on the wedges to encourage enough run-up to the hole. 

4) Wedge specifications

Never choose wedges with 3 degrees or less or 6 degrees or more in loft angle between clubs.  This way you always have a club for the shot and you’ll never have to over-hit a wedge, a practice which can destroy wedge accuracy.  And always, always have the lie angles of your wedges adjusted to your posture and swing.  The more the lie is off for your swing, the more off-line you’ll hit the wedges. 

Biography

Tom Wishon is a golf club designer and researcher. Tom Wishon is a former member of the PGA of America who chose to pursue a career in golf equipment design and clubfitting research. While he has been offered the chance to head up golf club design for some of the largest golf club companies in the world, he has chosen to remain within the lesser known segment of the golf equipment industry that focuses on fitting golfers one at a time and building their golf clubs from high quality clubhead, shaft and grip component designs.

During his career he has designed more original golf clubhead models than any other person in the 500 year history of the game. He is also author of two best-selling consumer-oriented books, The Search for the Perfect Golf Club and The Search for the Perfect Driver.

He is Premium Golf Consultant and visits the UK regularly to train professionals in custom fitting and clubmaking.