Spin Factor 3
FACE GROOVES

Now that your wedge swing is capable of spinning shots, and you've proven to yourself the necessity of playing urethane-covered balls, you need to examine the third part of your Backspin Equation. You need to make sure you play with wedges that have good enough grooves to provide the spin you desire.

A high spin-producing wedge must have enough loft and aggressive enough face grooves and friction to engage the ball's cover. Grooves that produce good backspin feature the qualities pictured here.

SPIN SHAPE
In Pelz Golf Institute testing, box grooves (top, right) were proven best for producing spin and stopping shots quickly (see chart, slide 16), followed by U-grooves (bottom), V-grooves (top, left), and worn-out grooves of any shape. Of course, new grooves spin more than old grooves, and clean grooves spin more than dirty ones.