How to Use a Golf Club With More or Less Bounce in Wet Fairway Conditions

In golf, bounce refers to the angle between the bottom of the club and the ground. The narrower the bottom of the club, the less turf a golfer will strike when following through on his swing. The amount of bounce a golfer desires depends on the surface in which his ball lies. A golfer's whose ball lies in a thick rough would use a wedge will more bounce than a golfer whose ball lies in a sand trap or on the fairway. Determining what wedge to use on a wet fairway requires a golfer to accurately judge the course conditions.

Instructions

    • 1

      Examine the length of the grass on the fairway. On fairways with thick grass, using a club with higher bounce will allow you to cut through the grass to solidly strike the ball. On fairways with shorter grass, you want less angle on your club so you can get under the ball without making contact with the ground.

    • 2

      Determine how wet the conditions are on the fairway. The wetter and softer the fairway, the more your club will knife into the turf when striking the ball. Normal to soft conditions generally necessitate using a wedge with a standard bounce, while an extremely wet and soggy fairway requires using a club with low bounce so you make less contact with the ground.

    • 3

      Gauge the distance between your ball and the hole, and increase the size of your club to compensate for the wet conditions. Your ball will travel a shorter distance when struck in wet conditions, so use a longer club with less bounce to give you a more controlled swing. Playing well in wet conditions requires more precision than power.

    • 4

      Use a club with the least bounce possible when playing in wet conditions if you generally hit the ball "fat." A fat shot in golf means you leave a large divot behind after each fairway shot. Players who regularly hit the turf while swinging will have a very difficult time playing in wet conditions unless they can get under the ball.

    • 5

      Adjust to the course as you play through each hole. If you find yourself making poor contact with the ball on early holes due to the wet conditions, adjust to a club with less bounce to improve your striking. If you find the course is playing too fast for your liking, begin using a club with more bounce to slow your shots.