What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

[mariner]

I've just bought one on advice (3 wedges at the expense of a long iron). I am 14 hc, short off the tee but make up for it with a fairly tight short game and I thought I'd make this better by getting this wedge.
Now then, what the **** are these clubs for exactly, to teach you how to shank every other shot??
No matter what type of shot I hit, long chip, full pitch, half pitch, explosion from a fluffy lie - one out of 4 was a shank, so much so that it wouldn't even make it to the bag for when I play on Monday, let alone get used to play a shot with.
Actually, it's lucky it didn't end up in the river.
I was slightly better when I put it right back off my back foot, stood open, hooded the face closed and addressed it off the toe.

[LowPost42]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

IMO, 64° wedges are the trickiest club to master largely because they inspire zero confidence - you're pretty sure you're going to hit yourself in the face with it.

Where I found a 64 to be useful was exclusively in short pitch situations - when you're shortsided in deeper rough and the ball is sitting down and you need a bigger swing without much flight. Also useful for short chip shots that need to stop fast and fly a bit of trouble.

In other words, if you're good with your 60 when you're short sided, or don't find yourself short sided too often, you likely don't need a 64.

[rotator]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

I agree with LowPost42 about how difficult it is to master the 64.

It then becomes a percentage situation. If you absolutely need to get the ball up really fast and drop it soft, is it worth the risk of having a 30% chance of pulling the perfect shot off as you intended? Or do you use a less lofted club for a more conservative, but dependable result?

With a lot of practice, you may be able to find more confidence and success with the 64.

I believe the key to hitting these high lofted clubs solidly is to swing on a shallow path coming into the ball, and let the loft and spin get the ball up. You could call it a "U" shape, with the bottom part flattened. You do not want to come in steep, because you would have to be very precise with the leading edge of the blade to nip the ball just right, and not hit thin or fat. You also want your hands leading the club head and not be scooping.

When I have to make a super high lob, I open my 60 wide open and swing with acceleration, keeping the blade open through and past impact. This is also a risk reward percentage shot, but still easier than with the 64.

Ted

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

A lob wedge can be your best friend and/or you worst enemy on a golf course. I sometimes carry a 60* LW, and other times I carry a 62*. One of those two clubs will always in my bag.

The first thing a user of one these clubs needs to remember is not to be afraid to swing it. If you try to get fancy with it, are afraid you are going to hit a bad shot with it, or slow your swing down to much, it will shred your score card, and your mind set.. The next thing is to practice hitting it more than just about any other club in your bag. The reverse is once you know how swing this club, and learn to use it under different conditions it will save you strokes probably more so than any other club in your bag. It will also make you a better putter statistic wise. (shorter putts)

I use mine from any where from 50 yards out to around the fringe of a green. I use these clubs to flop, drop, and stop balls near the hole sometimes when others are using more conventional chipping methods. I also chip, and pitch with it. I use it out of greenside bunkers that have very firm sand (hard pan) in them. Plus it is an easy club to learn to bounce the ball off the club face.

What a person wanting to use a LW should do is just practice their normal full swing with it. Practice it alot. Pretend it is a 6 iron, or something. Try different ball positions with in your stance. Most will find the ball needs to played further back than normal. Remember to release the club through the impact area on a full swing. Try it from different lies to learn where you can, or can't use it. The main thing is don't be afraid swing to swing the club head. The loft will handle everything else for the golfer. And a again (I can't stress this enough) devote plenty of practice time to learning how to use this club before you put it in your bag. It is not a hard club to learn to use. It just has a bad reputation for being a tough club to use. GJS

http://ezinearticles.com/?Golf-Swing...edge&id=426915

[BrianW]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

I use a 60 deg lob wedge and don't know how I would manage without it. As mentioned above it is good for hitting out of wet or compacted sand and due to it's low bounce can be slid under the ball to loft it high and soft over a bunker or tree such that it will stop up on the green.

I find it is best executed using a bunker type shot where the clubface is opened a little, you have to use a body turn and not arms only, I do not let my wrists rotate but keep the clubface pointing along the swing path as long as possible. I also use a long soft swing with my arms finishing high, short jabby swings only fluff the ball a short distance.

[LowPost42]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

Lets make sure we draw a distinction between a 60 and a 64 - I know lots of guys 'good enough' with a 60 that can't hit a 64.

I'm not afraid to full swing my 60 (and never have been). I wouldn't dare with a 64 (and sadly, I've tried. It's magnificent when you actually hit it right with a full swing - you can make it rain - but most times it's a blade that goes 150 yards).

As I alluded to I think the main problem is that there's so MUCH loft that you simply don't trust it to propel the ball forward so you subconciously try to manipulate it.

[BrianW]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

Lets make sure we draw a distinction between a 60 and a 64 - I know lots of guys 'good enough' with a 60 that can't hit a 64.

I'm not afraid to full swing my 60 (and never have been). I wouldn't dare with a 64 (and sadly, I've tried. It's magnificent when you actually hit it right with a full swing - you can make it rain - but most times it's a blade that goes 150 yards).

As I alluded to I think the main problem is that there's so MUCH loft that you simply don't trust it to propel the ball forward so you subconciously try to manipulate it.

I get good value from my PW, GW, SW and LW but see no need for an XW. I can't see what club would be worth exchanging for one.

[LowPost42]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

I get good value from my PW, GW, SW and LW but see no need for an XW. I can't see what club would be worth exchanging for one.

Pelz's theory is that you're not knocking down pins from outside of 200 yards, so you can afford to give up your longest iron (or shortest wood?) for one more scoring yardage tool.

[AussieGolfBoy]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

the best piece of advice i can give you on hitting the 64degree is to go to the driving range and hit 100 balls with it.. you'll be amazed at what a very small amount of practice can do with this club......"you need it"... i'm not just saying that you need it, everyone who has a club like this has to learn to trust it.

i have to agree with what everyone has said already in this thread especially GolfJunkieSr about how a 60 can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

another thing you can do....... ok. so lets say you just bought this club and are having extreme problems with it (which i think you are).... go and have a social or practice round on your golf course and use this club as often as you can.... in a spot where you could use a SW, use ya 64.... put all other wedges away and only use this 1 club....

[BrianW]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

Pelz's theory is that you're not knocking down pins from outside of 200 yards, so you can afford to give up your longest iron (or shortest wood?) for one more scoring yardage tool.

I already carry 4 very useful wedges by sacrificing two longer clubs. I cannot see the point in using five. My 60 deg wedge hits it quite high enough for me.

[bill reed]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

hi
i tried using the 4 wedge system but found that the 60% wedge was hard to use on a full shot and it was ok with the shorter shots but i could get away with using just 3 wedges so i dropped it, with my three wedges i use a 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 swing and that covers everything between 70 and 10 yards.
i do believe in knowing how far you hit each of the wedges with 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 swings as well as the full swing.
the other thing is swing at about 80% to 90% so you have a repeatable swing and can put the ball 9 times out of 10 the distance you want.
work on the distance first then on direction when you can hit that distance 9 out 10 times then work of our set up more.
cheers
bill

[rotator]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

I already carry 4 very useful wedges by sacrificing two longer clubs. I cannot see the point in using five. My 60 deg wedge hits it quite high enough for me.

Hi Brian,

To clarify for the members, I believe you are counting the regular (48-49 deg.) wedge in the four you mention.

I have the same, 48, 52, 56 and 60.

Ted

[golfndawg]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

I bought a 64 deg. (the claw) wedge about 10 years ago. Played 1 round with it, chunked it 3 times in a row and that was the end of that.Come to think of it I chunked alot of shots back then. I still have that club and might mess with it a bit now and see what happens. I also carry 4 wedges (inc. PW) so it might not be necessary but just for grins.

[BrianW]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

Hi Brian,

To clarify for the members, I believe you are counting the regular (48-49 deg.) wedge in the four you mention.

I have the same, 48, 52, 56 and 60.

Ted

Hi ted,

Yes that right, I have Mizuno MP R Nickel wedges, Pitching Wedge, Gap wedge, Sand Wedge and Lob Wedge. They are great tools.

[golfshooter]

Re: What is a 64 degree lob wedge for?

The main problem I had with the 60 was having enough confidence to give it a good full swing and picking the right circumstance to use it.I agree it can be your worst enemy or best friend.It takes a lot of practice to gain the confidence to use it well in a match.I find it great in the sand or rough kikuyu around the green.I must admit there were times when it stayed at home gathering cobwebs.