It’s one of the most frequently asked questions from beginner golfers, “which club in my golf set can hit the ball the highest? With 14 different clubs in your golf bag, it can be confusing, particularly for those new to the game.
Which Club Can Hit The Highest?
Contents
If you have obstacles obstructing your view to the green, you will need to pull out the club in your bag with the highest loft: the lob wedge.
The lob wedge has the highest loft and launch angle of any of the 14 clubs you carry in your golf bag and is designed to get the ball airborne quickly and sit on the greens nice and soft.
The lob wedge will also provide you with an incredible amount of backspin, meaning you can fly the ball well past the hole and then spin it back, avoiding any trouble. Typically you would use the lob wedge around the greens for chipping and pitching or, on occasion, in a bunker that may have a high lip you need to clear.
Lob wedges are relatively difficult to master, especially for beginners. Still, once you have put in the practice, the lob wedge can come in handy in many different situations, including getting you out of trouble spots.
How High Is The Launch Angle On The Lob Wedge?
Your lob wedge has been specifically designed to make impact with the golf ball at its steepest angle. This descending blow “launches” the ball quickly and can help you clear obstacles like trees, bushes, and even buildings that are obstructing your path to the green.
Your lob wedge probably has a loft of 60°, which is more than enough to get you out of trouble. That is nearly a 44° difference between most 3 woods, for example, which is at the other end of the loft spectrum. Choosing lofts for fairways woods is just as crucial, although many beginners overlook it.
A 3 wood typically has a loft angle of 16°, but this can vary between manufacturers. The lower the loft, the lower the ball flight and the further the distance. Instead of your lob wedge, which is designed to be played from 100 yards in and get airborne fast.
What Is Launch Angle On A Golf Club?
Launch angles are the precise angle your ball leaves the club and are directly correlated to the speed your clubhead is traveling.
If you can produce consistent launch angles with all 14 clubs in your bag, it demonstrates your ability to be a great ball striker. One of the main reasons golf is so challenging is that every club you hit has a different launch angle; this means the way you swing and attack the ball changes constantly. That’s why choosing the right wedges is critical for your game.
A flop shot which is only made possible because of the 60° loft on your lob wedge, requires you to hit the ball with a descending blow. This descending blow takes advantage of the launch angle and gets the ball up quickly.
One factor that most high-handicappers don’t yet understand is that the faster you swing, the higher your ball flight will be. This is relevant with all 14 clubs in your bag, not just your lob wedge.
Is Loft And Launch Angle Really That Important?
In short, yes, the loft on your golf clubs are all designed to do specific things and allow you to play certain shots. Now, although it might sound self-explanatory, this is the precise reason you have 14 clubs in your bag.
For example, if you are 250-yards from the green, hitting your lob wedge is non-sensical because it will only get you 100 yards closer; however, pull out your 3-wood with a 16° loft, and now you can reach the green.
Alternatively, you’re not going to play a 3-wood if you’re only 80-yards from the green; rather, you would use your lob wedge with a 60° loft angle.
Remember, every club in your golf bag is designed for a specific purpose in mind. From your driver to your lob wedge and every club in between the lofts and launch angles will help you get out of trouble and shoot your best possible score.
Launch Angle And Spin
Did you know that the higher the launch angle of your golf club, the more spin on the ball it will produce? Well, this statement is only partially true because swing speed also plays a significant role in helping to impart backspin.
That’s why no matter how hard you hit your 3-wood or driver, it will never spin on the green as your lob or gap wedge would. Launch angle combined with swing speed will produce spin. I’m sure you’ve seen PGA Tour pros spinning the ball back to the cup; it looks cool but serves a purpose.
For example, if you have short-sided yourself, meaning there’s not much green between you and the pin, you can fly the ball past the pin and use the backspin to bring it back.
