Summer Grass Strategy Special Feature: How to Choose a Wedge
2026/6/16
- #column
Golf courses have strong grass in the summer.
As summer approaches, the green of the golf course feels dazzling these days.
Are you all enjoying golf?
By the way, have you ever had an experience like this?
A par 5 where you want to aim for a birdie.
The tee shot was a nice shot, right down the middle of the fairway.
I also hit the ball squarely on my second shot and managed to get it to just short of the green!
All that's left is an approach shot that gets close to the pin...
This approach led to a series of unexpected mistakes, resulting in not only a par but even a double bogey.
I'm sure there are many people who feel disappointed.
In this feature, we will discuss how the grass grows and gets stronger.
I'd like to discuss ways to reduce mistakes in the approach.
Three disappointing situations around the green
It's a bit of a rough shot and doesn't reach the green.
I hit the top of the ball and it went over the green.
A difficult approach shot from behind the green remains.
With the bunker over and the pin close by
I succumbed to the pressure and got caught in the bunker.
Just imagining any of those mistakes makes me feel really nauseous.
And usually the next shot requires a very delicate touch, which is mentally exhausting and tends to affect subsequent play.
Is there any way to avoid this situation?
To avoid mistakes... "Observe"
It's important to carefully observe the condition of the grass where the ball is located and how deeply the ball is embedded in the ground.
Observe the ball
The ball is floating.
Be careful not to knock down the Daruma doll. Pay close attention to how you insert the head.
Don't hit the ball too hard. Consider using clubs with a higher loft.
The top of the ball is sticking out.
Be careful not to overdo it.
Imagine mowing the grass in front of the ball.
If the ball is completely submerged
Greed is strictly forbidden! Escape is the priority.
Use a shorter club and slightly close the clubface.
Pay attention to the grain of the grass.
Playing with the ball in the direction of the grain is relatively easy.
Be careful when going against the grain, as the club head is more likely to get caught.
How to deal with different types of mistakes
Roughly
The club head enters from too high up, and the club head enters from the leading edge.
It gets stuck in the ground.
⇒Use the bounce effectively to allow the head to come out smoothly.
top
When trying to lift the ball, the leading edge directly hits the ball.
It hits.
⇒ Insert the club head from above to avoid scooping the ball.
Daruma Otoshi
The club head goes under the ball.
⇒ Assess the ball's position and pay attention to where you bring the club head in.
Bounce selection
→A wedge with a large bounce angle is recommended.
Summer rough offers strong resistance, so the club needs to make contact with the ball without being overwhelmed by the grass's resistance.
High-bounce wedges have a sole that bounces off the ground (the bounce is effective),
It helps to cover up mistakes like fat shots and chunked shots.
Sole selection
→ A wide sole is recommended.
The wide sole allows the club head to glide across the grass like skis, preventing it from digging in too deeply.
It makes it easier to pick up the ball cleanly.
Choose a size
→ A larger face is recommended.
Even when the ball is sitting up on the grass, a large clubface area can cause the club to go under the ball.
This makes it easier to avoid mistakes in the "Daruma Otoshi" game and allows you to approach it with confidence.
Setting
→ The key to success is deciding how many to put in.
Having 3-4 wedges, including a pitching wedge (PW), is very convenient as it allows you to choose the right one for the situation.
