Sharpening your Wedge Grooves to put Spin on the Ball

When we hit the golf ball, the process of the glancing blow of the club face against the ball imparts spin due to the GROOVES on the clubface gripping the ball. So in reality every shot has spin on it. It is the spin on the ball that makes you slice into the trees and hit that hook into a fairway bunker.

The distance balls you can purchase at your local golf shop have a hard cover. The harder the cover on the ball, the further it will go, but the less you are going to be able to spin it on the green. The grooves cannot grab the ball as easily.

On the flip side of the coin are the soft cover balls which the touring professionals play. The soft cover allows the grooves of the clubface to impart more spin on the ball because it is easier to grip.

Also, quicker swing speeds will generate more spin on the ball which is why sometimes you will see a pro golfer spin the ball off of the green.

Groove integrity is key to optimizing spin from your wedges, but how do you know if your grooves are worn to the point where they cannot give you all the advantages the Rules of Golf and technology allow?

The best is to take a magnifying glass - a photographer's loop is ideal - and visually inspect your grooves. Compare the grooves at the center of the face, where impact is made most often, to what they look like at the ends of the grooves, and those at the very top of the face. If you see significant wear, you probably would benefit from new wedges.

Another key is to look at the metal wear on the face of the wedge. On chrome wedges, if the bare meal is exposed, that's another sign that you might benefit from new wedges. On "raw' or other un-chromed wedges, lightly pass your thumb across the face, from one end of the grooves to the other and see if you can feel any depression in the middle. You can also run your finger nail across them and listen for a clicking sound; no clicking means worn grooves

In order for you to keep your grooves clean and sharp you must have the right tools. I recommend the Kdon Golf Club Groove Sharpening Tool. There are other sharpening tools out there but this one works just as well and costs less.


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You should also have a lightweight oil such as Wahl Clipper Oil 4 fl.oz. or Andis Clipper Oil * 4 Fl. Oz. to help lubricate the cutting edge.
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You can also get Kdon Groove Sharpening Tool Replacement Blades if the ones you have get worn out or lost.

1-Clean you club heads with soap and water to remove debris and wipe dry. Place masking/painters tape on the toe, heel and socket of the club, leaving the grooves exposed for servicing. Apply a few drops of lightweight oil to grooves; this will lubricate the cutting edge.

2-Place the shaft of the club on your shoulder and hold the club head firmly in your hand. Place the desired end of the tool in the groove to be sharpened at about a 60-90 degree angle with you dominant hand. Holding the tool in your dominant hand, apply firm downward pressure, pushing the tool thru the grooves towards the socket removing any nicks or rolled over metal. Repeat until the grooves are free of obstructions and sharp. If the grooves are severely damaged it may be easier to pull the sharpener thru the grooves instead of pushing it.

3-Maintain you grooves by placing the groove tool at a 80-90 degree angle to the face and move back and forth thru the grooves. Make sure the tool is firmly seated in the bottom of the grooves. This will keep the walls of the grooves straight and sharp and the bottom of the grooves smooth.

4-It may take 20-30 minutes to recondition badly damaged grooves. Once you have the grooves sharpened it is easy to maintain them after every couple of rounds. Use the tool to clean the grooves in between hits. With some practice you will be able to spin the ball with your new grooves.