Cameron Champ offers guidance on finding the ideal wedge grind

With multiple grind options available for practically every wedge on the market, it’s possible to find something that’s tailor-made for your angle of attack and short-game preferences. If you’re unfamiliar with the term “grind,” it’s the removal of material from the sole, heel and toe of the wedge head to dial-in turf interaction.

The beauty of many of today’s grinds is the versatility they offer depending on how the wedge is situated in the address position. For example, a wedge could have an overall bounce of 11 degrees from a neutral playing position, but with a shaved down heel, it’s possible to open the face to hit extreme flop shots with a bounce that measures just four degrees.

I bring all of this up because, in my opinion, choosing the right sole grind is just as important as locating the right loft and bounce angle combination.

Tour players like Cameron Champ take the grind on a wedge, along with its versatility, into account when searching for a fresh set of scoring clubs. Evaluating how the sole interacts with the turf reveals the effectiveness of a grind based on how it fits your swing, and the course conditions you typically play.

“Everyone comes into it differently,” Champ says. “For me, when I find something I like I’ve just kept it. So the last year and a half, I’ve played a mid-grind, which is good with grainy and bent grass or poa annua. It’s not too grabby, but it sits flat. I like when the wedge sits directly flat. But sometimes when you do that you get a lot of sharp edges, but we grinded it off to where it’s not super grabby. It has that look and the grind I want and it reacts good.

“That’s for my chipping, though. Some people like less bounce – I have a lot of bounce. I know guys that… one of buddies from college he uses less bounce and he has one of the best short games I’ve seen. But I like more bounce.”

And what happens if you don’t have a world-class PING Tour rep at your disposal to make personalized adjustments to the leading edge or bounce? Get a certified club-fitter involved and see if they can’t work some magic before you spring for a new set of wedges.

With so many knowledgeable fitters in the space, there’s no reason you should go it alone on your next wedge search.

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