When should I use a low-bounce wedge versus a high-bounce wedge?

Low-bounce wedges are helpful on firm, tight turf and for players with a shallow, sweeping motion. High-bounce wedges work better in soft turf, fluffy sand, and for steeper swings that tend to take a bigger divot. Many golfers carry a mix of bounce options so they can match the club to the lie.

Does more bounce always make a wedge more forgiving?

More bounce can be more forgiving for steeper swings and soft conditions, because the sole helps the club avoid digging. But on tight, firm lies, too much bounce can feel like the club is bouncing off the ground into the ball. The right amount of bounce depends on your swing and the courses you play most often.

How many different bounce options do I need in my wedge setup?

Many players do well with one mid-bounce wedge and one higher- or lower-bounce option depending on their conditions. Better players sometimes carry three different bounce/grind combinations. The key is to cover your most common lies, not every possible situation.

Golf Basics · Short Game

What is bounce on a wedge? (and how to actually use it)

Q: What is bounce on a wedge?

Bounce on a wedge is the angle between the leading edge of the club and the lowest point of the sole when the club is in its proper playing position. It influences how easily the club glides through turf and sand versus digging in. Higher bounce tends to help the club skim the ground, while lower bounce lets the leading edge sit closer to the turf for tight lies.

“Bounce” is one of those golf terms that gets thrown around a lot—but most golfers only know they’re “supposed” to have the right bounce without really knowing what it does. The good news: once you understand bounce, a lot of your chunky and skinny wedge shots start to make more sense.

On this page we’ll explain what bounce is, how it affects your shots, how to pick the right bounce for your swing and course conditions, and show some example wedges from Amazon so you can see how bounce is described when you’re shopping.

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep Reach The Green up and running.

Bounce, in plain language

Imagine setting your wedge down behind the ball in its normal address position and looking at it from the side. If the leading edge sits up off the ground a little while the back edge of the sole touches the ground, that’s bounce doing its job.

High bounce: Leading edge sits higher off the ground, sole wants to skim and bounce through the turf or sand.
Low bounce: Leading edge sits very close to the turf, easier to slide under the ball on tight lies—but easier to dig if you’re steep.
Mid bounce: The “in between” option that works for a lot of average swings and normal conditions.

The bounce number (like 8°, 10°, 12°) is just the angle that describes this relationship between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole.

Low vs mid vs high bounce wedges

You don’t have to memorize every grind name from every brand. Start by understanding what low, mid, and high bounce do for you.

Bounce range (approx.)	Typical label	Best for	Potential downside
4°–8°	Low bounce	Firm, tight lies and shallow “sweeping” swings.	Easier to dig if you get steep or play in soft turf/sand.
8°–12°	Mid bounce	Most “normal” course conditions and neutral attack angles.	Not as specialized for extreme soft or super tight lies.
12°+	High bounce	Soft turf, fluffy rough, bunkers, and steeper swings.	Can feel like it “bounces” off very tight, firm lies.

A very simple starting point: make your sand wedge mid-to-high bounce (helpful in bunkers and soft lies), and then use lower or mid bounce in your other wedges depending on your course and swing.

How to choose the right bounce for your swing and course

The “right” bounce is personal, but you can get close without a full tour fitting by being honest about two things: how you swing and where you play.

Your swing: steep vs shallow

Steep / digger: You take big divots and sometimes hit fat. You usually want more bounce to keep the club from digging.
Shallow / sweeper: You “bruise” the turf and take small divots. You can often use less bounce without fear of digging.
Mixed: If you’re not sure, a mid-bounce wedge is typically the safest place to start.

Your course: firm vs soft

Firm fairways & tight lies: Slightly lower bounce and versatile grinds help you nip the ball cleanly.
Soft turf & fluffy bunkers: More bounce keeps the club from digging and helps it slide under the ball.
Mixed conditions: A combo (mid-bounce sand wedge, slightly lower-bounce lob or gap wedge) lets you pick your tool based on the lie.

Once you know roughly where you land on those two spectrums, wedge shopping gets much easier—especially when you’re scrolling through bounce and grind options on a site like Amazon.

Wedge examples from Amazon (so bounce options make sense)

Below are actual wedges pulled from Amazon, filtered to keep wedges only (no groove tools, brushes, or other accessories). We’ve sorted them by customer rating and limited it to the top 10 wedges in our feed so you’re not buried in options.

Click through to see details on loft, bounce, and grind—those dropdowns and spec tables are where you’ll see the bounce numbers we’ve been talking about.

A few standout wedge options (by rating)

These three wedges sit near the top of our Amazon feed for customer reviews. Think of them as a shortcut if you want a modern wedge with fresh grooves and multiple bounce options to pick from.

Wedge	Rating	Price*	Link
Callaway Golf MD5 Jaws Wedge	4.8 ★ (1482)	$114.99	View on Amazon
Yamato Full Face Golf Wedge Set or Individual Golf Wedges 50/52/54/56/58/60 Forged Golf Gap Wedge Sand Wedge Lob Wedge Golf Clubs Milled	4.5 ★ (935)	$36.79	View on Amazon
TaylorMade Golf MG1 Wedge	4.7 ★ (624)	$99.99	View on Amazon

*Approximate price from the feed. Always confirm the latest price and options on Amazon.

Top 10 wedges (Amazon feed)

Here’s the full top 10 wedge list from our feed. When you click into these listings, pay attention to:

The loft (degrees, which affects distance and height).
The bounce number (often in the option name or spec table).
Any mention of grind (how the sole is shaped—M, S, F, etc., depending on the brand).