Golf Club Bounce Angle

When looking at the loft of clubs two numbers are often given, particularly in wedges. The first is usually the loft angle, while the second is known as the bounce angle. Most golfers become confused when seeing this second number and don’t know what “bounce” to choose. Bounce simply refers to the measured angle of the sole in relation to flat ground, assuming the shaft is vertical and the club head is in a square address position.

Increasing the bounce angle brings the leading edge of an iron higher off the ground. This allows the club to bounce off the ground, instead of getting hung up in soft turf. Sand wedges have the most bounce angle of any club since they are usually used with steep attack angles. The diagram below shows the basic idea of high and low levels of bounce in wedges.

Boat Analogy

If you have ever gone boating before you will notice the bow of the boat being curved. The shape of the bow aids it in propelling through the water with less resistance. Likewise, bounce on a golf club will help guide the club head through sand, dirt or turf.  The primary goal of bounce is to keep the leading edge of the club from digging too far into the ground. The higher the bounce, the less likely you are to hit a “fat” shot. Bounce also serves another important purpose for advanced golfers using steep attack angles to spin the golf ball. Bounce allows for a shallower divot, preventing the club-head from digging too deep into the ground.

Bounce Levels

So what level of bounce is right for you? Proper bounce will be unique to each golfer. Different swing planes, arcs and angles of attack will require different levels of bounce. Experimenting with different clubs will be key to finding the right amount of bounce. High bounce angle results in the leading edge of the club being too high off the ground. This leads to the club bouncing off the turf and potentially “blading” the golf ball. Low bounce angle often results in the club taking too much ground. To top that off, the amount of bounce needed may depend on course conditions. Soft conditions may result in professional golfers using high bounce wedges. Tight lies or courses in dry areas would call for wedges with low bounce angles.

Sand Wedge Bounce

Sand wedges call for high levels of bounce because of the steep attack angles necessary to promote spin on the golf ball. Steep attack swings call for more bounce since they have a higher probability of taking too much ground. Wedges in general have high bounce in comparison to a set of irons. Standard golf irons (3 iron-9 iron) have between zero and six degrees of bounce – with bounce angle increasing in higher lofts.

High Bounce	Low Bounce
Steep Attack Angles Aggressive Swings Powdery Sand Conditions Soft or Wet Conditions	Shallow Attack Angles Tight Lies Firm Bunkers Dry Conditions

If you are the occasional golfer who just likes to get out and play for recreational purposes don’t put too much thought into bounce. You need to focus more on consistent ball striking over equipment choices. However, golfers with lower end handicaps should consider experimenting with different angles of bounce in their wedges. They may also consider purchasing two different levels of bounce in wedges to account for unique course conditions.