Sand Wedge vs. Lob Wedge: Which To Use for Chipping

A chip shot is a low, short approach shot in which the golf ball briefly goes into the air and then rolls towards the hole. A pitch shot goes higher and doesn’t have as much roll. In this article, I’ll give you some tips on the benefits of using a sand wedge versus a lob wedge for chipping and a few ways to make your short game more accurate. 

Sand Wedge Versus Lob Wedge: Which To Use for Chipping? 

When comparing the sand and lob wedges, the sand wedge is the better club for chipping. Sand wedges have a little less loft than the lob wedge so you can lower the ball’s flight and get more roll toward the pin.  It’s also easier to keep the shot a bit more controlled. 

Lower-lofted clubs such as a gap wedge, pitching wedge and 9-iron are also good for chipping. The lower loft allows for a more compact swing with fewer moving parts.

Sand Wedge Versus Lob Wedge: Which To Use for Pitching? 

The sand wedge and the lob wedge are great for higher-lofted pitch shots. The lob wedge should be used when going over a hazard to ensure enough height. In addition, lob wedges can help when trying to precisely land a shot. 

The lob wedge has more spin and a greater angle of descent. The ball will stop quicker because of it. 

A sand wedge will be one of your go-to wedges for pitch shots. It works great from various distances, can cut through the rough with ease and works great out of the bunker. 

When To Chip With The Sand Wedge? 

Now that we have determined that the sand wedge is probably a little better for chipping than the lob wedge, let’s look at some instances where it would make sense to use it. 

Thicker Grass Between You and The Pin 

The first thing to do here is to analyze your lie. Are there any obstacles between you and the pin? The fewer obstacles you have, the less loft you need. 

However, if you have thicker or uneven grass between you and the pin, the sand wedge is a good option. The lower-lofted clubs may not give the ball enough initial height to clear the obstacles. 

Greens Are Fast

Your chip shot may run past the pin when the greens are fast. By using the extra lift of the higher-lofted wedge, you can stop the ball a little closer to the pin. 

Pin Is Downhill From You 

Getting a ball to stop on a downhill slope can be difficult for high handicappers or those who have a slower swing speed. It’s harder to generate spin with less speed. 

If this describes you and you normally use the pitching wedgefor chip shots, try a 56-degree sand wedge when the hole is downhill. You’ll get more control and have a shorter putt as a result.  

Short is Better Than Long 

Sometimes, being short of a pin on your wedge shots is better than being long. Chipping is all about leaving yourself a simple one-putt. As any great golfer will tell you, a three-foot uphill putt and a three-foot downhill slider are totally different things.

The loft of your sand wedge should help your chip stop quicker and land the ball before the pin. 

Slope WIll Throw Off Your Shot 

If you are hitting more of a bump-and-run chip, take a look at what that first bump will do to the ball. 

Sometimes, on two-tiered greens or greens with a lot of slope, that first bump will throw your ball way off line.

Instead, use the highest-lofted club and hit a chip that gets the ball in the air just a little longer. The extra height will carry the ball over the severe slope.

5 Tips For Better Chips With Your Sand Wedge and Lob Wedge 

The sand wedge is great from a bunker but that’s not the only way you should be using this club. Chipping with the sand wedge has its place. Here are a few tips to make sure your shot ends up near the pin. 

Lean On The Lead Side 

When chipping with a sand wedge of any loft, you want to lean a bit on your lead side (left side for right-handed golfers). This will ensure you hit down and through the golf ball. 

You’ll get a crisper shot and a slightly lower ball flight. Having as much as 60 percent of your weight on the lead side is good for these types of shots. 

Keep The Lead Wrist Firm 

Keeping your lead wrist flat or even slightly bowed through impact is important. This forward press and flat angle will promote a square clubface and more control over the ball flight. 

Take some small swings and try to stop just after impact to make sure you are not flipping your wrists and scooping the ball. 

Practice So You Know The Roll 

Depending on course conditions, your technique and the loft of your wedge, the amount of roll you will get from a chip shot varies. As you get to the lower-lofted clubs, the idea is typically to hit the shot a third of the way to the target and let it roll the other two-thirds. 

You may have to hit the ball about halfway there for the sand wedge because it has more loft. If you decide to chip with your 60-degree wedge, you may need to hit the ball 60 or 70 percent of the way to the target. 

Practice this and pick landing spots to test how far your shots are rolling. 

Pick A Landing Spot 

To follow up on the last tip, make sure you pick a landing spot when playing this chip shot on the course.

You won’t want to aim for the hole because the chip shot is supposed to roll after it hits the green. If you fly your shot all the way to the hole, you’ll have a long putt coming back. 

Don’t forget to read break and slope to give yourself a real chance of sinking this shot. 

Keep The Stroke Simple 

Finally, the chip shot will not have as much loft as a typical bunker shot or pitch shot. It’s supposed to be one of the simpler shots. Try to focus more on the shoulders doing the work (similar to a putting stroke). 

When you get overly wristy, it’s hard to be consistent. Keep the tempo consistent, use the shoulders and clip a little grass just after the ball. 

Final Thoughts 

The sand wedge and lob wedge can be used for chip shots but make sure you understand that they won’t roll as far as other wedges or irons. Plan your shot accordingly, pick the perfect landing spot and you’ll save yourself some strokes around the greens.