As an on-and-off golfer, I didn’t know it would get to a day where I worry about the degree of the wedge. Any recreational golfer can attest to the feeling of excitement and happiness when they first start playing the game. But as we get better, or at least more into it, all of a sudden there’s this new world of technicalities to learn.
One of these things includes understanding the difference between a 54-degree and 56-degree wedge- and what the average golfer should use?
A 56-degree wedge is generally the best club to use with your pitching and gap wedges. A 56-degree wedge will give you an identical distance/gap between your wedges, making it the most adaptable sand wedge. 54-degree wedges are for players with a higher handicap who want an extra 5-10 yards on their shots.
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Which one should I use: 54 Or 56 Degree Wedge?
A 56-degree wedge is better for golfing needs of any average golfer looking to have 3 wedges in the bag. If you want to carry 4 wedges, 54-degree will better distribute the weight and gapping. I recommend the 54-degree for those who have a higher handicap and want to get more yardage on their shots.
When I played both of these wedges, I couldn’t tell the difference between them. A 2-degree loft difference is nothing to worry about. So if you’re caught between the two, don’t stress it! Just pick whichever one you like best.
For golfers such as Jon, he found the 56-degree wedge to be more effective at getting the ball out of the sand. He also found it simpler to get the ball up and over a bunker, tree, or other obstacle and that’s why he plays with a 56-degree wedge.
The decision of which wedge to carry should consider the number of wedges you want to carry and the desired yardage gapping between your clubs. For average golfers, I recommend carrying 3 wedges and having yardage gaps of 10-15 yards between each club. This will give you plenty of options to attack the green from anywhere on the course.
If you have a higher handicap and are looking for an extra 5-10 yards on your shots, go with the 54-degree wedge. If you want the most versatility and identical yardage gaps between your pitching and gap wedges, go with the 56-degree wedge.
Golfing Beginners – Start with 4 or 5 wedges:
If you’re just starting out, I recommend carrying 4 or 5 wedges. This will give you plenty of options to attack the green from anywhere on the course. You can always take a few clubs out of your bag as you get better and start to narrow down which ones you like best.
- 4 Wedges – Pitching wedge (46-48 degrees), Gap wedge (50-52 degrees), Sand wedge (54-56 degrees), Lob wedge (58-60 degrees)
- 5 Wedges – Pitching wedge (46-48 degrees), Approach wedge (49-51 degrees), Gap wedge (52-54 degrees), Sand wedge (55-57 degrees), Lob wedge (58-60 degrees).
As a beginner, you’ll want to start with a higher-lofted pitching wedge and work your way down to the lower-lofted lob wedge. This will give you a good understanding of how each club performs and help you narrow down which ones you like best.
3 Wedges for mid to high Handicap:
If you have a mid to high handicap, I recommend carrying 3 wedges. This reduced number of clubs will help you focus on hitting each one well and make it easier to decide which shots you can and can’t hit.
Pitching wedge (46-48 degrees), Gap wedge (50-52 degrees), Sand wedge (54-56 degrees)
What Is A 54 Degree Wedge Used For?
Use a 54-degree wedge as a sand wedge. A sand wedge is a 54-degree wedge that is used on the green and out of bunkers. A 54-degree wedge is perfect for golfers who have a 58-degree lob wedged and another 50-degree wedge in their bag.
A wedge between 56 and 58 degrees is much more versatile and can be used for a variety of shots. A 54-degree wedge is too specialized and isn’t as versatile.
I have found that a 54-degree wedge is more difficult to hit out of the sand than a 56 or 58 degree wedge and do not use it often. The 54-degree wedge will dig into the sand more and the clubface doesn’t open up as much, making it difficult to get the ball out of the bunker.
A 54-degree wedge is also difficult to hit from the rough. The clubface doesn’t open up as much, making it difficult to get the ball out of the rough and onto the green.
What Is A 56 Degree Wedge Used For?
A 56-degree wedge is also used as a sand wedge with 56-degree loft and is designed to be used primarily in the sand and around the green. The most popular club among golfers is a 56-degree wedge, which has the greatest loft accessible to most golfers.
Sand wedge loft falls between 54 and 58 degrees, giving the golfer a range of different options to approach the shot.
A 56-degree wedge can also be used for other shots such as flops, chips, and pitches. A flop is a high shot that lands soft and stops quickly. This shot is often used when there is little green to work with and you need the ball to stop quickly.
A chip is a low shot that runs along the ground and can be used when you have more green to work with. This shot is often used when you are close to the hole and need the ball to roll up onto the green.
How Far Can You Hit A 54 Degree Wedge?
According to Jon’s analysis of different 8 golfers, the average distance from the tee to the hole for a 54-degree wedge is 92 yards, with a range of 75 and 110 yards possible. A higher number is for golfers who take a complete swing with their wedge, but most people only take a 1/2 or 3/4 swing with their wedges.
The table below shows the actual distances that each of the golfers were able to hit.
| Golfer | 54 Degree Distance |
| 1 | 90 |
| 2 | 90 |
| 3 | 100 |
| 4 | 105 |
| 5 | 75 |
| 6 | 110 |
| 7 | 90 |
| 8 | 80 |
| Average Distance | 92 Yards |
How Far Can You Hit A 56 Degree Wedge?
According to Jon’s analysis of golfing data from 8 golfers, the average distance a golfer hits his or her 56-degree wedge is 84 yards, but the range can vary between 75 and 105 yards. Longer hitters who take a complete swing typically reach over 100 yards with their sand wedge, although most golfers take a 1/2 to 3/4 swing with their sand wedge.
| Golfer | 56 Degree Distance |
| 1 | 75 |
| 2 | 80 |
| 3 | 80 |
| 4 | 80 |
| 5 | 75 |
| 6 | 100 |
| 7 | 80 |
| 8 | 105 |
| Average Distance | 84 Yards |
Hi there! I am Justin, one of the founders here at Golf Bagsy. I have been golfing since I was 12 and have participated in over 50 tournaments since 2018. When COVID took over the golf tournament schedules during the lockdowns, I spent a good amount of time doing research and writing about golf. I also provide part-time coaching for those looking to learn how to play golf and can be reached at justin@golfbagsy.com.