Golf Wedge Buying Guide

As per Golfalot website, a quarter of all golf shots are made with a wedge, so it’s clear that they’re an important part of any golfer’s game.

To put together this buying guide for golf wedges, I want to emphasize that ALL wedges should help you score/make birdies and save pars-not give you more trouble than they’re worth.

If you carry the right type of wedge for each shot, then you’re helping your game rather than hindering it. Scoring becomes much easier when your clubs are working with you instead of against you. For example, you wouldn’t want to use a pitching wedge for a flop shot-the loft on the club just isn’t enough.

Conversely, you also wouldn’t want to use a lob wedge from the fairway because it’s not meant for that kind of shot. It’s all about having the right tool for the job, and that applies to wedges as much as any other club in your bag.

Though they may look fairly basic, wedges are actually quite intricate clubs. You’ll want to do your research before settling on the right type of wedge with all the capabilities that you require. For example, some wedges are designed for specific types of shots while others may offer more versatility.

What is a wedge?

A wedge is a type of golf club that is used for a variety of shots, from short approach shots to longer shots where you need more loft to get the ball over an obstacle. Unlike other clubs, wedges have a higher loft angle, which gives the ball more lift and helps it to stop more quickly on the green.

Types of wedges:

There are four main types of wedges: pitching wedge, approach wedge, gap wedge, and sand wedge.

Pitching wedges: 44° TO 49°

Pitching wedges have the lowest loft of all the wedges and are typically used for shots from the fairway. Approach wedges have a slightly higher loft than pitching wedges and are used for shots from the rough or bunker.

Pitching wedges with a loft between 44 and 49 degrees is best used for hitting full shots into greens or longer chip shots. Most modern sets lean towards a lower-lofted or stronger pitching wedge to blend in with longer-hitting iron designs, while also creating a need or gap for the aptly named gap wedge.

Gap Wedges:50° TO 54°

Gap wedges have an intermediate loft that falls between the pitching and approach wedges, making them ideal for shots that are too long for a pitching wedge but too short for an approach wedge.

Gap wedges are placed in-between the pitching wedge and sand wedge and at times referred to as an attack (AW) or utility wedge (UW). They typically have a loft of 50 or 54 degrees, which makes them ideal for fuller shots. These wedges also offer more distance options near the green for pitches that don’t require a full swing or longer chips.

Sand wedges:54° TO 58°

Finally, sand wedges have the highest loft of all the wedges and are used for shots from bunkers or very deep rough.

The sand wedge, which has a much higher range of 54 to 58 degrees, was designed to help golfers escape from greenside bunkers. The wider and heavier sole design allows for this. In contrast, the pitching wedge is used more for full shots and approach shots while the gap wedge is designed to be a stepping-stone between the two.

Lob Wedges:60° TO 64°

One of the most recent developments in wedge brands is the design of a lob wedge with a much higher loft typically between 60 and 64 degrees. They allow golfers to hit more height and spin shots from closer to the green. It’s generally used to hit chips, flop shots, and bunker shots than full strokes.

Loft:

The loft on a wedge is the angle between the clubface and the ground, and it’s measured in degrees. The higher the loft, the more lift you’ll get on the ball and the shorter your shot will travel.

The loft of a club is the angle at which the club face lies relative to the shaft, and it dictates how far the ball will travel as well as its likely trajectory. Wedges have some of highest lofts in comparison to other clubs. It is important to note that the higher the loft, the shorter your shot will travel.

The average pitching wedge has a loft of around 46 degrees, while an approach wedge has a loft of 50 degrees and a sand wedge has a loft of 56 degrees. Lob wedges can have lofts as high as 64 degrees.

3 to 5 degrees difference:

It’s best to have four degrees of difference between the wedges. If your pitching wedge has a 49° loft, for example, you should have a gap wedge with a 53° loft, a sand wedge with a 57° loft, and a lob wedge with a 61° loft. This way, you can make full swing with each wedge and not have to make significant adjustments in your technique.

Modern iron lofts can typically have between 3° and 5° difference. Consider how many wedges you’ll need in total if you’re using a pitching wedge from your iron set. Some golfers only take two more, while others take three. A high-lofted lob wedge isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

You may play a 55° sand wedge and a 50° gap wedge if you wish to carry two more wedges. You can keep the loft gaps the same by adding a big-loft gap gap wedge and sand wedge with large loft gaps. A four-wedge player might play a 60° lob wedge or decrease the loft gap and play wedges at 50°, 54°, and 58 degrees. Because of the space between your pitching wedge and gap wedge.

Bounce:

The bounce on a wedge is the angle between the leading edge of the clubface and the ground. It’s measured in degrees and dictates how much the club will “skip” or “bounce” when it hits the ground.

The position the club’s sole rests with the ground upon landing is one indicator of the quality of the bounce and usually falls between 0 and 14 degrees. If you want the club to bounce off the surface, causing less dig, then you should use a high-bounce setting when hitting out of soft sand or long grass. If accurate contact is your goal from fairways or hard sand, opt for a lower-bounce setting so that the club will dig deeper into those surfaces.

Many people believe that wedges sit flat on the ground, but this is not fact. When discussing bounce, we are referring to the angle from leading edge to where the sole ofclub actually meets ground. This is called the bounce angle.

Low bounce wedges – 4 to 6 degrees:

The lowness of the bounce is created by a flatter sole, and it’s good for making contact with the ball on tighter lies, like in the fairway or hard-packed sand. It will also help you to control your shot when hitting out of the rough.

Wedges with a bounce angle between 4 and 6 degrees are categorized as low-bounce. If you have minimal bounce, it will be better to use this type of wedge if you sweep the ball while taking a shallower divot. In addition, these wedges perform best on firmer turf conditions (such as links courses) or when encountering heavy, coarse sand in bunkers–particularly those that don’t contain much sand.

Mid bounce wedges – 7 to 10 degrees:

Wedge with more than a six-degree and no more than 10-degree bounce is going to fall into the mid-bounce category. These types of wedges are versatile and can be used in a number of different situations. The increased bounce will help you to get the ball out of deeper lies, like thick rough or soft sand.

High bounce wedges – 10+ degrees:

Wedges with a 10-degree bounce or more are going to be considered high-bounce. These are the best type of wedges to use if you have a steeper angle of attack and take deeper divots. They’re also great for hitting out of deep, fluffy sand.

Sole Grinds:

The grind of a wedge is the shape of the club’s sole. It dictates how the club will interact with the turf or sand, and it can be customized to fit your particular swing and shot-making tendencies.

The sole grind is an extra shaping of the wedge’s sole, which usually happens around the heel or toe. Nowadays, more wedge manufacturers offer different types of grinds to go with the standard wedge sole. This shapes the sole according to certain turf conditions or shots using a machine.

Wedge manufacturers offer a variety of different grinds to choose from, but the most common are:

• Standard Grind: The standard grind is the most versatile and can be used in a variety of different situations. It’s a good choice for golfers with medium to high handicaps.
• Cavity Back Grind: The cavity back grind is designed for better players with a consistent swing. It offers more forgiveness on mis-hits.
• Heel Grind: The heel grind is designed for golfers who tend to hit shots fat (on the heel of the club). It’s also a good choice for those who play on tight lies or difficult turf conditions.
• Toe Grind: The toe grind is the opposite of the heel grind and is designed for golfers who tend to hit shots thin (on the toe of the club).
• S-Grind: The S-grind is designed for players who want more versatility out of their wedges. It can be used in a variety of different situations, and it offers more forgiveness on mis-hits.

Factors that determine Effective Bounce:

• Sole bounce angle: The angle between the leading edge and where the sole of the club meets the ground is called the bounce angle. The higher the bounce angle, the more effective the bounce will be.
• Width Of The Sole: The wider the sole, the more effective the bounce will be.

• Sole Radius from front to back: The smaller the radius, the more effective the bounce will be.
• Material of the sole: Softer materials like urethane or rubber will have more effective bounce than harder materials like steel or aluminum.
•  Leading Edge Grind: The thicker the leading edge, the more effective the bounce will be.
• Bevel Angle: The shallower the bevel angle, the more effective the bounce will be.

Grooves:

Just like the treads of a tire provide grip and control, the grooves on a golf club allow for more spin and precise shot trajectory.

The groove is the channel on the clubface that allows you to hit different kinds of shots. The deeper and narrower the groove, the more spin you’ll be able to generate on your shots.

The USGA has put a limit on how deep and narrow the grooves can be, but there is still a lot of variation between different wedge

Finishes:

As Conforming Golf Club Rule states that a clubface must have grooves that are at least 0.020 inches deep and no more than 0.090 inches wide. The rule also stipulates that the space between each groove cannot exceed 0.030 inches.

Choosing the right finish for your clubs is important in maintaining their appearance and color over time. Raw or unplated finishes are designed to wear down or rust more quickly, which can actually improve friction and spin. Darker finishes look great at first but even,tually the paint will fade on the sole and face, giving it a nice worn-in look if you’re into that sort of thing. Chrome and nickel finishes not only look great for a long period of time but will also help to prevent wear on the face and sole.

Shafts:

Most wedges have steel shafts, though there are some graphite sets of clubs available. Steel shafted wedges usually come with a ‘wedge’ flex, which is actually more like a stiff steel shaft but designed specifically for shorter clubs. This provides maximum feel and accuracy in such a short club, where the flex is less important.

Which and how many Wedges Should I Carry?

The type of wedge you carry in your bag will depend on your individual playing style and the shots you feel most comfortable hitting. That being said, most golfers will benefit from carrying at least a pitching wedge, approach wedge, and sand wedge. In fact, most pro golfers carry 3 o4 wedges.

When you select a set of wedges, make sure the loft between the lowest-lofted iron in your set and each subsequent specialty wedge is only around 4 degrees. That way, there won’t be any big gaps in loft. If you’re unsure which wedges to get, visit a certified club fitter for help.

How to choose the right wedge for you:

Now that you know all about the different types of wedges and what they’re designed for, it’s time to choose the right one (or two) for your game. Here are a few things to consider:

• Your Handicap: If you’re a high handicapper, you’ll want to look for wedges with more forgiveness. This means a wider sole, more effective bounce, and perhaps even a larger sweet spot.
• Your Swing Type: If you have a consistent swing, you can get away with a standard grind or even a heel/toe grind. If your swing is less than consistent, however, you’ll want to look for an S-grind or something with more effective bounce.
• The Type of Shots You Hit: If you hit a lot of flop shots or other high-trajectory shots, you’ll want a wedge with more bounce. If you hit mostly full swings or low-trajectory shots, you can get away with less bounce.
• Your Course Conditions: If you play mostly in wet conditions, you’ll want to look for wedges with more relief on the sole. This will help you to avoid fat shots when the ground is soft.

The Bottom Line:

In summary, the best wedges comes to choosing the right golf wedge for your game, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. The most important things to consider are your handicap, the type of shots you hit, and the course conditions you typically play in.

FAQs

Q: What is a wedge in golf?

A: A wedge is a short-iron club designed for a variety of shots around the green, as well as for teeing off on tight or short holes.

Q: What are the different types of wedges?

A: The four main types of wedges are pitching wedges, gap wedges, sand wedges, and lob wedges.

Q: What is the difference between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge?

A: A pitching wedge has more loft than a sand wedge, and is designed for shots that require less spin and a higher trajectory. A sand wedge has less loft and is designed for shots that require more spin and a lower trajectory.

Q: What is the difference between a gap wedge and a lob wedge?

A: A gap wedge has more loft than a lob wedge, and is designed for shots that require less spin and a higher trajectory. A lob wedge has less loft and is designed for shots that require more spin and a lower trajectory.

Q: What is the difference between an S-grind and a standard grind?

A: S-grind wedges have more effective bounce, making them ideal for players with less than consistent swings. Standard grind wedges have less effective bounce, making them better for players with more consistent swings.

Q: What is the difference between a heel/toe grind and a standard grind?

A: Heel/toe grind wedges have more effective bounce, making them ideal for players with less than consistent swings. Standard grind wedges have less effective bounce, making them better for players with more consistent swings.

Q: What is the difference between lob wedge and sand wedge and attach wedge and approach wedge?

A: Lob wedges have the most loft of any wedge, and are designed for shots that require a high trajectory and a lot of spin. Sand wedges have less loft than lob wedges, and are designed for shots that require a lower trajectory and less spin. Attach wedges have more loft than approach wedges, and are designed for shots that require a high trajectory and a lot of spin. Approach wedges have less loft than attach wedges, and are designed for shots that require a lower trajectory and less spin.

Q: Do I need more than one wedge?

A: It depends on your game. If you hit a lot of different types of shots around the green, you might benefit from having multiple wedges. If you tend to stick to one or two types of shots, you might be better off with just one wedge.

Q: How do I choose the right loft for my wedges?

A: It depends on the type of shots you hit and the trajectory you want to achieve. If you hit mostly full swings or low-trajectory shots, you can get away with less loft. If you hit a lot of flop shots or other high-trajectory shots, you’ll want more loft.

Q: How do I clean my wedges?

A: You can clean your wedges with a soft cloth and soapy water. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, as they can damage the finish of your wedges.

Q: How often should I clean my wedges?

A: It’s a good idea to clean your wedges after every round of golf, or at least once a week. This will help to keep them in good condition and prevent dirt and grime from build up.

Q: What is the best way to store my wedges?

A: The best way to store your wedges is in a cool, dry place. This will help to prevent rust and corrosion. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight or in humid environments.

Q: What is the pitching wedge distance?

A: The average pitching wedge distance is between 100 and 140 yards for men, and 95 and 120 yards for women.

Q: What is the gap wedge distance?

A: The average gap wedge distance is 103 yards, but the range can be between 90 and 120 yards.

Q: What is the sand wedge distance?

A: The average sand wedge distance is is 88 yards and overall, the sand wedge distance ranges from 70 to 110 yards

Q: What is the lob wedge distance?

A: The average lob wedge distance is 73 yards and overall, the sand wedge distance ranges from 60 to 90 yards