A 68 degree wedge, sometimes called a lob wedge, is a very high lofted golf club designed for hitting short shots around the green. The extreme loft on a 68 degree wedge makes it one of the most specialized clubs in a golfer’s bag. While the lob wedge can be a very useful and versatile club if mastered, it does come with some challenges that can make it difficult for amateur golfers to hit consistently.
What is a Lob Wedge?
A lob wedge, like all wedges, is a subtype of iron designed to hit short shots. Wedges are differentiated from regular irons by their higher loft, which helps get the ball airborne faster on shorter shots. The lob wedge has the highest loft of any wedge, typically anywhere from 60-68 degrees of loft. For comparison, a pitching wedge is around 48 degrees and a sand wedge is 54-56 degrees typically.
The very high loft on a 68 degree wedge means that the face angle is extremely upright, almost perpendicular to the ground at address. This helps golfers generate very high loft and soft landings on finesse shots around the green. The sole of a lob wedge also tends to be wider, which prevents digging.
Pros and Cons of a 68 Degree Wedge
Here are some key pros and cons of using a 68 degree lob wedge:
Pros:
- Very high, soft-landing shots ideal for getting close to pins
- Can hit high chip shots even from tight lies
- Great for lobbing over hazards and obstacles
- Versatile around the green in hands of a skilled player
Cons:
- Steep learning curve to hit consistently
- Not as useful from fairway or rough lies
- Hard to control distance and trajectory
- Higher risk of skulling and blading shots
As you can see, lob wedges are extremely specialized clubs that allow good players to pull off creative and delicate shots, but they can be difficult for beginners to master.
What Makes the 68 Degree Wedge Challenging?
There are a few key factors that make the 68 degree lob wedge more difficult to hit than other wedges and irons:
Extreme Loft
The extreme loft on a 68 degree wedge is the biggest factor in its difficulty. With such an upright clubface, small inconsistencies in your swing get magnified greatly in terms of trajectory and distance control. Good contact is required to get the ball airborne, while poor contact can lead to dramatic mishits. It takes practice and precise technique to master controlling distance and height with such high loft.
Narrow Sole
While lob wedges have a wider sole than typical irons, their sole is much narrower than other wedges like sand or gap wedges. This narrow sole reduces the club’s forgiveness and makes it easier to mishit shots fat and thin. The lack of sole width requires more precise contact to avoid digging.
Heavy Clubhead
Lob wedges tend to have heavier clubheads than similar lofted irons to help lower the center of gravity for a higher launch. However, this heavier head can make it harder to get the club square at impact and maintain control, especially for amateurs with slower swing speeds. The extra weight takes some getting used to.
Short Shaft
The shafts on lob wedges are typically shorter than other irons, usually around 34-35 inches long versus 37-38 inches for a standard 7-iron. This gives you more control but reduces stability and can take some adjustment. The short shaft is less forgiving on mis-hits.
Tips for Hitting a 68 Degree Wedge
Here are some tips to help master hitting shots with a 68 degree lob wedge:
Maintain Light Grip Pressure
Avoid gripping the club too tightly, as tension will make it harder to get the clubface square and deliver crisp contact. Let the club hinge and release naturally through impact.
Play Ball Back in Stance
Position the ball slightly back of center in your stance to ensure solid contact and prevent thin shots. With the steep angle of attack, you need to catch the ball before the bottom of your swing arc.
Don’t Break Wrists Early
Limit early wrist break to prevent closing the clubface too soon. Allow your wrists to hinge naturally in sync with your body rotation.
Make Accelerated Swing Through Impact
The clubhead is heavy, so be sure to swing smoothly and accelerate into the ball through contact to get maximum loft on your shots. Don’t decelerate.
Use Narrow Stance and Open Chest
Set up with your feet closer together than a normal iron shot and open up your chest alignment to help shallow out your swing plane. This helps compensate for the steep angle of the wedge.
Practice Partial Swing Chops and Pitches
Take some practice swings making small, high chops or pitches to a close target. Groove your feel for the short, lofted swing motion required.
How to Hit Specific Shots
The 68 degree wedge can be used for a variety of shot types around the green. Here are some tips for hitting specific lob wedge shots:
High Soft-Landing Chips
For delicate chip shots where you need maximum height and soft landings, use the following technique:
– Play the ball back in your stance
– Make a putting stroke motion keeping wrists firm
– Let the loft of the wedge elevate the ball
– Land ball softly with minimum roll out
Low Chips Under Trees
To keep shots low and avoid overhanging branches:
– Play ball up near your left foot (for righties)
– Make a slightly descending blow keeping hands ahead
– Close clubface to de-loft blade and decrease height
Flop Shots Over Bunkers
For these dramatic, mid-air lob shots:
– Open clubface to add loft and increase launch angle
– Swing out towards target extending followthrough
– Allow extra hangtime and account for backspin bringing ball back
Splash Shots from Tight Lies
To pop the ball out without digging from firm lies:
– Play ball back and grip down the shaft
– Make narrow, vertical swing to bump ball out
– Let clubface snap closed through impact to get ball airborne
Common Mistakes
Here are some typical mistakes amateurs make with the 68 degree wedge:
Flipping Hands
Flipping the hands ahead of impact closes the clubface and kills loft. Maintain wrist hinge until just before impact.
Rushing the Swing
Rushing the downswing increases risk of decelerating into the ball and mis-hitting short. Make a smooth, accelerated tempo.
Gripping Too Tight
Excessive grip tension restricts the clubhead and makes it harder to square the face. Hold the wedge lightly to allow hinging.
Ball Position Too Forward
Playing the ball too far forward encourages thin contacts. Position it just back of center to catch the ball at the bottom of your swing.
Alignment Too Closed
Setting up with shoulders or feet aimed left will tend to close the clubface and can cause pull hooks. Align your body parallel to the target line.
Hitting Down Too Steeply
The already steep wedge doesn’t need extra downward strike. Shallow your plane and sweep the ball for better contact.
Conclusion
In summary, the 68 degree wedge is one of the most challenging clubs for amateur golfers to control because of its extremely high loft and specialized design. However, its versatility around the greens is invaluable if you put in the practice to master it. With a precise swing technique and some adjustments to setup and grip, you can hit a full range of lob, chip, and pitch shots with this club. Be prepared for some mishits at first, but don’t get discouraged. Mastering the 68 degree wedge takes time and practice to hone the specific skills required, but is worth the effort for any golfer looking to sharpen their short game.
How Hard is it to Master a 68 Degree Wedge Based on Handicap?
Here is an estimate guide on how hard it is to master a 68 degree wedge based on a golfer’s handicap:
| Handicap | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Scratch or + handicap | Moderate – Can master with some practice |
| 5 handicap | Moderate to Hard – Will take dedicated practice |
| 10 handicap | Hard – Expect high learning curve |
| 15 handicap | Very Hard – Success may be limited |
| 20+ handicap | Extremely Hard – Difficult to control and use effectively |
In general, higher handicap players will have a much steeper learning curve with the 68 degree wedge compared to strong amateur players or pros. But regardless of skill level, this club requires an investment of time and practice to groove the unique swing motions required. Working on it consistently at the range and practicing short game technique will help lower handicap players master this challenging club.
Recommended Technique Based on Handicap
Here are some handicap-specific recommendations on how to approach practicing with the 68 degree wedge:
Scratch or Low Handicaps:
– Use it strategically to expand shot options and precision; don’t overuse it
– Focus on creativity – flop shots, super high lob shots, specialty shots
– Practice alternate shot shapes – draws, fades, low runners, knockdowns
Mid Handicaps (10-18):
– Prioritize solid contact and avoiding skulls/blades
– Use primarily for lofted chips, pitches, and sand shots
– Don’t try heroic flop shots until you master control
– Spend time chipping from tight lies to improve technique
High Handicaps (18+):
– Consider higher bounce sole design for forgiveness
– Use for greenside chips but avoid full shots from rough
– Focus on making consistent, basic contact to get airborne
– Chip and pitch – don’t bother with full flop shots right away
– May be better servedworking with 60 degree before 68
The key for higher handicap players is to start with the basics and avoid trying low percentage shots until reasonable control is established. Work up gradually from simpler shots to more advanced techniques with the 68 degree wedge.
How Much Use Does a 68 Degree Wedge Get vs Other Wedges?
Here is a comparison of approximate usage rates between a 68 degree wedge versus other common wedges, based on a survey of top instructors:
| Wedge Type | Approx. Usage Rate |
|---|---|
| Pitching Wedge | 45-55% |
| Gap Wedge | 25-35% |
| Sand Wedge | 15-20% |
| Lob Wedge | 5-10% |
As you can see, the 68 degree lob wedge sees significantly less use during a round of golf for most players compared to pitching, gap, and sand wedges. It is utilized primarily on and around the greens, whereas lower lofted wedges are more versatile off the tee, fairway, and rough.
This highlights the 68 degree wedge’s specialty nature – it fills a niche role that the other wedges cannot in playing very high, soft shots around the green. But it is not a club to overuse or rely on without the proper technique. For most amateur players, the wedge setup sees declining usage as loft increases.
Transitioning from Lower Lofted Wedge to 68 Degree
For players looking to add a 68 degree lob wedge to their bag, here are some tips to help transition from using lower lofted wedges:
Gradual Progression in Loft
Going directly from a 56 degree sand wedge to a 68 can be extremely difficult. Consider starting with a 60-64 degree wedge to make the transition more gradual.
Choke Down for Extra Control
Grip down an inch or so on the 68 degree wedge initially to make it feel more controllable as you adjust to the new loft.
Practice Partial Swings
Take some practice swings going only back 3/4 of your normal swing to groove the lob wedge’s shorter swing motion.
Start with Simple Chips and Pitches
Work on straightforward chips and pitches before trying specialty shots requiring open faces or higher skill. Master solid contact first.
Use for Specific Shots
Pull out the 68 degree only when you need its extreme loft – don’t force it into situations where a 56-60 degree wedge would work fine.
Consider Less Bounce
Going from a sand wedge to a 68, try finding a lob wedge with only 4-6 degrees of bounce so it doesn’t change gear effect and digging as much.
Making a gradual transition and not overusing the club will help you successfully integrate a 68 degree wedge into your short game.
