Golfers who don’t know how to use a lob wedge—or pick the wrong situation—often end up with poor results. To find out if the lob wedge really deserves a spot in your bag, we teamed up with Shot Scope to analyze performance data.
We compared lob wedge approach shots, sand wedge versus lob wedge performance, and even looked at how the lob wedge fares from the bunker. We’ve broken everything down by handicap, making applying the insights directly to your own game easier.
Here’s all the information you need to know about when to use a lob wedge.
Lob wedge approach shots
This table gives insight into what you can expect with approach shots using a lob wedge. This would be more of a full-swing approach and, overall, the “greens hit” percentages are higher than average.
We see this because of proximity to the green. The closer you get, the easier it is to hit the green.
Notice that, as handicaps increase, the lob wedge becomes less effective. If you can dial in your lob wedge for your full-swing approach shots, that’s great but most players prefer sand, gap or pitching wedges with a little less than a full swing to complete the same task.
The most important place to test the effectiveness of the lob wedge is in the short game. The highest-lofted club in your bag should be used around the green.
| Handicap | LW Greens Hit % | LW Avg. Proximity (ft) | LW Shots to Finish | Highest Greens Hit % Wedge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 72% | 38 ft | 2.95 | Lob Wedge |
| 5 | 56% | 55 ft | 3.20 | Gap Wedge |
| 10 | 50% | 56 ft | 3.33 | Lob Wedge |
| 15 | 37% | 60 ft | 3.45 | Gap Wedge |
| 20 | 27% | 65 ft | 3.90 | Sand Wedge |
| 25 | 22% | 73 ft | 3.98 | Sand Wedge |
Short-game shot. Sand wedge versus lob wedge performance by handicap
To see how effective the lob wedge is, we compared it to the sand wedge.
The up-and-down percentages for the lob wedge (not from the bunker) are lower for the low-handicap golfers. When you get to the higher-handicap players, things tend to even out a bit but, overall, up-and-down percentages on these higher-lofted clubs are very low for high-handicap players.
Interestingly, low-handicap golfers also end up further from the hole when using a lob wedge and require more shots to finish.
There is a lot more data to dive into about which clubs to use around the greens. However, we can see that as loft is added, golfers tend to have a more difficult time getting up and down.
A 20 handicap golfer gets up and down 34 percent of the time using a 9-iron and only 18 percent of the time using the lob wedge. A 10-handicap gets up and down nearly 40 percent of the time using a gap wedge but only 13 percent with the lob wedge.
Sometimes, you need the loft of the lob wedge to help get the ball out of thick rough. It’s also good to help stop the ball quickly when you are short-sided. The key takeaway is that any chance you have to take the less-lofted club around the green, take it.
| Handicap | Club | Up & Down % | Avg. Proximity (ft) | Shots to Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | SW | 43% | 13 ft | 2.50 |
| LW | 43% | 13 ft | 2.48 | |
| 5 | SW | 34% | 20 ft | 2.53 |
| LW | 22% | 24 ft | 2.72 | |
| 10 | SW | 23% | 19 ft | 2.69 |
| LW | 13% | 25 ft | 2.81 | |
| 15 | SW | 17% | 25 ft | 2.82 |
| LW | 21% | 23 ft | 2.63 | |
| 20* | SW | 18% | 26 ft | 2.77 |
| LW | 18% | 23 ft | 2.82 | |
| 25* | SW | 9% | 31 ft | 2.84 |
| LW | 8% | 27 ft | 3.06 |
Lob wedge out of bunkers
The Shot Scope data illustrates that lob wedges for greenside shots (not in the bunker) is not the perfect choice.
We still have to look at bunkers.
Hitting out of a bunker is different, and the lob wedge’s additional loft is helpful.
You’ll see in the table below that the lob wedge is the better club to use out of the bunker. Players with the lowest handicaps are using the lob wedge from the bunker. They are getting up and down more often and getting the ball closer to the hole.
If you haven’t used your lob wedge out of a bunker yet, it’s time to start doing it.
| Handicap Range | Club | Up & Down % | % Not Getting Out 1st Try | Avg. Proximity (ft) | Club Usage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | SW | 27% | 5% | 19.9 | 27% |
| LW | 30% | 5% | 18.5 | 67% | |
| 11–15 | SW | 18% | 10% | 24.2 | 41% |
| LW | 18% | 9% | 24.1 | 48% | |
| 21–25 | SW | 12% | 14% | 28.2 | 50% |
| LW | 13% | 13% | 27.7 | 35% |
The bottom line: When to use your lob wedge
This data indicates that keeping your short-game shots lower is more beneficial to your game. Therefore, the lob wedge with its higher loft is not always the best club to use.
The lob wedge can be used from the deep rough as the extra loft can help you escape. It’s also a good club if you have little green to work with and must stop the ball quickly.
However, when you can keep the ball a little lower around the greens and use something like a gap wedge or even a 9-iron, take that chance. You’ll save yourself shots.
Try the lob wedge from the bunker. In most cases, it is more effective than the sand wedge for amateur golfers. It’s the best use of your lob wedge so, if you are going to carry one, use it from the bunker.
Owen
2 years ago
I think its great to have data, it asks provocative questions but I think it can be misleading.
There might be a lot of difference between the courses high handicappers and low handicappers play.
Im sure if your not so good yet, you are more likely to be playing slower greens on easier and cheaper courses where its easier to judge the rollout of a 9i.
I also tend to use something between a 9 or 52 most of the year from <50 yards but that is because its wet and slow for 6 months of the year here