Story By: Esabella Barba
Before my summer internship, I saw wedge fittings as something reserved for elite golfers and tour professionals, so I had never considered one for myself. After learning about the power of properly fit wedges, however, I realized that assumption could not have been farther from the truth.
My wedge fitting was a personal, tour-quality experience focused entirely on the way I approach wedge play including evaluation, distance gapping, bounce and grind education, and performance.
Step 1: Equipment Evaluation
We started by looking at the wedges I already had in my bag. Based on just their loft, bounce, grind and groovewear, my fitter was able to immediately identify critical gaps that were limiting my game.
Additionally, I began by hitting my most commonly used wedge shots to show where my strengths were and how my mis-hits happened.
This portion would serve as the “before” in a before and after comparison to come.
Step 2: Gap Fitting
Next, we went to the short game area to hit from a variety of yardages and zero in on any setup mismatches. We tested various lofts to make sure I had consistent spacing between clubs, so I wouldn’t be forced to manufacture awkward shots.
My fitter explained how my original gap wedge and pitching wedge only had two degrees of separation and this was causing nearly identical distances with different clubs.
As Bob Vokey advises, a properly-gapped setup features four-to-six degrees of loft separation, so my fitter was able to correct where I had been going wrong and get rid of the dead weight in my bag.
Step 3: Bounce and Grind Fitting
Following that, we experimented with different bounces and grinds, testing each one blindly to see which ones worked best for my swing.
As a golfer who has lived by “It’s not the club. It’s me,” for the past ten years, it was refreshing to learn that I didn’t have to alter my natural tendencies in order to execute around the green.
I had an expert at my fingertips explaining why a lower bounce wedge was what my swing needed, while simultaneously realizing that an effortless swing is possible because I knew instantly that it just felt right.
Step 4: Greenside performance
Finally, it was time to see if my new tools could truly get the job done. We hit all of the necessary short game shots, including pitches, chips and bunker shots with multiple grinds.
By the time my fitting had concluded, not only did I have the tools that would help me be successful on the course, but I had more knowledge, confidence and consistency than I had begun with. Learning how all different aspects of a wedge contribute to better individualized performance opened my eyes to the possibilities for my game.
Your wedge play can make or break your game. Have the courage to seek out the resources that will help you take the next step towards playing your best golf. You have the opportunity to walk away with more than just new clubs. You can leave with a short game plan.
For more insight into a Wedge Fitting Experience, watch the video Titleist Club Fitting Experience: Wedge Focus
