golf what loft wedges do you need

To make it easy, a good rule of thumb is to have about four-degrees of loft between your wedges. So, if your 48-degree pitching wedge flies on average 110 yards, and your 56-degree sand wedge goes about 80 yards, you probably need a 52-degree wedge that carries around 95 yards to fill an important hole in your setup.

Full Answer

How to determine what loft wedges you need?

There are a few ways to do this:

• Schedule an appointment with a club-fitter to perform a proper gap test. ...
• Get access to a launch monitor that measures your shots’ distances, either at your local range or your own device. ...
• Invest in a shot tracking device such as Arccos or Shot Scope that measures your shots’ distances as you play golf. ...

How far should you hit a 60-degree wedge?

Depending on the golfer's clubhead speed and ball position in their golf stance, the average distance of a golf ball struck with a 60-degree wedge is about 50-75 yards . Professional golfers can hit their 60-degree wedge around 100 yards while beginning golfers hit their 60-degree an average of about 30 yards .

When to use a 56 degree wedge?

When chipping around the green, golfers like to use a 56-degree wedge when in a sand bunker or when faced with a longer chip. If your ball is in the sand, try using a 54 or 56-degree wedge. These clubs are also known as a “ sand wedge ” and have a larger bounce angle to help pop the ball out of the sand.

What is the standard pitching wedge loft?

What Is the Standard Loft of a Pitching Wedge?

• Loft. A golf club’s loft is a measurement of the angle between the shaft and the clubface. ...
• Pitching Wedge Loft. A typical pitching wedge contains about 45 degrees of loft. ...
• History. The pitching wedge was once golf’s only wedge. ...
• Use. Professional male golfers can typically hit pitching wedges around 130 to 135 yards. ...

Do I need a 52 56 and 60 wedge?

Do I need a 52, 56, and 60-degree wedge? Yes, you definitely need all of these wedges. The 52-degree, the 56-degree, and the 60-degree wedges are some of the most commonly used clubs in golfing.

Is a 52 or 56 wedge better?

The 56- or 60-degree wedge will be a better choice than the 52 when you need something to fly high and land softly. Learning which loft is best for a shot takes a bit of time and what golfers call feel. The higher lofted wedges typically land more softly, and they will not roll as far.

What wedges should an average golfer use?

For the average golfer, having a 56-degree wedge in your bag will be much more beneficial than having a 60-degree wedge. Sand wedges (54-56 degrees) are the most versatile wedge you can have while lob wedges (58+ degrees) should only be used by better golfers.

Do I need 58 or 60 wedge?

Should You Use A 58 Or 60 Degree Wedge? The majority of average golfers find a 58-degree wedge to be more useful because it's easier to hit and is better at controlling distance. 60-degree wedges should only be used by lower handicap or scratch golfers.

Which wedge is best for chipping?

What degree wedge is best for chipping? For most golfers, a gap wedge or a sand wedge with loft of between 52° and 56° will produce the most consistent outcome when chipping. This is because you'll be able to play most short-game shots you're likely to come across out on the course.

What 4 wedges should I carry?

Know your pitching wedge loft. If it's 45 degrees or less, add three more wedges that are spaced apart by no more than 4-5 degrees each. So generally think about putting in a gap wedge that's 48 or 50 degrees, a sand wedge that's between 54 and 56 degrees, and a lob wedge that's between 58 and 60 degrees.

What is the easiest wedge to hit?

The easiest wedges to hit are cavity-back wedges like the Cleveland CBX 2 and the Callaway Mack Daddy CB. This style of wedge makes it easier for players to get the ball up in the air quickly, even without making perfect contact.

What is a 52 wedge used for?

Just like a 50-degree, a 52 wedge will be used for full shots from the fairway or for chip shots where you need both height and roll. A 56-degree might not roll out that well, so that's why you'd want a gap wedge. Can you use a 52-degree wedge as a sand wedge? A 52-degree wedge should only be used in a fairway bunker.

What is a 56 wedge used for?

As its name suggests, the 56-degree sand wedge is primarily used for getting out of bunkers and sand traps. The 56-degree wedge has plenty of loft and this allows golfers to dig the golf ball out of those dreaded sandy lies. The club is uniquely designed to cut right through the sand and lift the golf ball out.

How far should I hit a 60 degree wedge?

On average, a professional golfer will hit a 60-degree wedge about 100 yards. A mid-handicap golfer will probably hit their 60-degree wedge about 50-60 yards. A higher handicap golfer will probably hit their 60-degree wedge about 30-40 yards.

How far should I hit my 56 degree wedge?

84 yardsHow Far Should You Hit A 56 Degree Wedge? On average, golfers hit their 56-degree wedge 84 yards, but the range can vary between 75 and 105 yards. Longer hitters who take a full swing typically hit over 100 yards, but most golfers take a 1/2 to 3/4 swing with their sand wedge.

What is difference between 54 & 56 degree wedge?

What are the differences between the 54 and 56 degree wedges? The main difference between the 54° wedge and the 56° wedge is that the 54° wedge hits 75 to 80 yards, whereas the 56° wedge hits 70 to 75 yards. Both are generally used for the same purposes, however the 54° wedge gets a bit more distance.

How to choose lofts for pitching wedges?

To choose the right lofts for your wedges, you first need to know how far you hit all clubs in your bag, particularly your pitching wedge. It’s important that you know precisely how far you hit each club, not how far you think you do.

How to determine wedge loft?

In determining your ideal wedge lofts, what you’re trying to do is gap your distances evenly inside your pitching wedge. Once you know your distances, then you’ll be able to determine your wedge loft needs. There are a few ways to do this: Schedule an appointment with a club-fitter to perform a proper gap test.

What is the highest lofted club?

Lob wedges are the highest lofted club for most players, usually between 58°-60°. Some manufacturers are making higher lofted lob wedges (as much as 64°). I wouldn’t advise playing anything more than 60 unless you really know what you’re doing.

How many different wedges are there?

There are four different golf wedges (Pitching Wedge, Gap Wedge, Sand Wedge, and Lob Wedge), each with different lofts and a unique purpose. Wedges come with different loft options, grind, and bounce, all of which are important; however, this article will focus specifically on wedge loft.

What is gap wedge?

Gap Wedge (Loft: 48°-52°) Gap wedges, well, fill the gap in between the sand wedge and pitching wedge. Some iron sets come with approach wedges (A-wedge), which is the same as a gap wedge. With the lofts of pitching wedges going down over the years, this has created an even larger distance spread from pitching wedge to the sand wedge.

How to get better at wedge golf?

If you want to play better golf, then you have to get good with your wedge game. It all starts with understanding what wedges you need in your bag and what wedge loft you should be playing with each one. Knowing the distance you hit each club, and understanding the gaps you need to fill, is a critical factor in determining your wedge loft needs. ...

What is the loft of a pitching wedge?

Pitching Wedge (Loft: 43°-48°) Pitching wedges come stock in most iron sets with standard lofts of 43°-48°. More and more golf club manufacturers are decreasing the loft on standard pitching wedges. Years ago, 47°-48° was pretty standard, but now 43°-46° is much more common. This means that golfers are hitting pitching wedges much farther ...

Gaps, Conditions & Ability are the Keys to Wedge Loft Decisions

Before golf technology really took off over the last couple of decades the decision of which wedge lofts to play didn’t really bother the average golfer.

Should I Get a 52 or 54 Degree Wedge?

Lofts in golf clubs are getting ever stronger these days but when it comes to gap wedges it’s still safe to say they generally range from around 50 to 54 degrees of loft.

Should I Get a 54 or 56 Degree Wedge?

Gap wedge lofts today range from between 50 and 54 degrees while sand wedge lofts typically cover 55 to 59 degrees.

Should I get a 56 or 58 or 60 Degree Wedge? A Pro Weighs in

As the lofts of wedges get higher and higher the specialism of the wedge continues to increase.

Should I get a 60 or 64 Degree Wedge?

As we have already discussed high lofted wedges become ever more difficult to hit full shots with and when you are considering lob wedges of between 60 and 64 degrees you are getting to the highest lofted clubs it is possible to buy.

Why is wedge loft important?

Wedge loft is important in this area of the game because you want more options. I strongly recommend that every golfer should visit a knowledgeable fitter at some point, and make sure that you have the proper gapping with your wedge lofts.

How much loft does a steelhead pitching wedge have?

This is exactly why having a gap wedge has become more important. For example, a Callaway Steelhead XR pitching wedge has 44 degrees of loft. You can typically find lofts on a manufacturer’s website. If you had a sand wedge that was 56 degrees of loft, that would leave an enormous gap in yardage between the two clubs.

How many wedges should I have in my bag?

I believe you should have three wedges in your bag (including your PW), at minimum. Let’s say your pitching wedge loft is 46 degrees. You could possibly get away with having a gap wedge at 51 degrees, and then a sand wedge at 56 degrees. Usually, wedges can be bent a degree stronger or weaker to accommodate your preferences as well.

Why do I need to carry four wedges?

Usually, wedges can be bent a degree stronger or weaker to accommodate your preferences as well. I carry four wedges because I want more options around the green. Adding a lob wedge is a great idea for many golfers because it allows you to get the ball in the air quickly without having to manipulate the clubface.

Is there a standard for pitching wedge loft?

It is important to understand that there are no standards in the golf industry for pitching wedge loft. This could greatly affect how many wedges you carry in your bag, and what loft they should be. The trend has been for lofts to go stronger and stronger, which is increasing the distance each player will hit their pitching wedge.

Different types of wedges

This is the most common wedge in the game of golf. Pitching wedges are the lowest-lofted but hit the ball the furthest distance.

How many wedges you need?

The number of wedges you have differs from one player to the next. Some golfers only have one wedge while others may have four.

Choose the wedges

Once you know what lofts of wedges you need, you will have to decide which ones you will purchase. Overall, wedges are all made similarly.

Two-Wedge System

Though wedges traditionally are acknowledged in groups of three — a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, and a lob wedge — many golfers make do with just two. While only carrying two wedges is undoubtedly the most efficient option (and comfortable to lug around if you are without a caddy, of course), you should pick which two very carefully.

Three-Wedge System

Just because you’ve decided to go ahead with the standard three-wedge system doesn’t mean that you are completely covered. Nor does it mean that you are off the hook for planning your setup strategically.

Four-Wedge System

Though you might feel as though you are carrying extraneous weight for no reason, there are plenty of times when an extra wedge in your system comes in handy. Four in your setup is particularly wise if you have extra space after removing an extra-long iron or another club not so regularly used.

How far can you swing a gap wedge?

Personally, the most important thing I get from a gap wedge as a golfer is the ability to take a full swing at around 100 yards from the hole which is arguably one of the most common and important scoring ranges any golfer.

Why use a sand wedge?

As the name suggests, the primary use of the sand wedge is to help golfers escape the sand but it’s heavier weight and large bounce are useful for a variety of different shots. Personally, I like to use the sand wedge when I take most of my chips, especially those around the green.

What is the best club for bump and run chipping?

The pitching wedge is also a great club for bump and run chipping because the low amount of loft allows the ball to fly lower and roll further once it lands on the green.

Do you use woods or irons in golf?

This is standard in golf, whether you’re using woods or irons except when it comes to wedges. Unfortunately, for a novice golfer or even an advanced one, it’s not always obvious what each different type of wedge is used for, and that can be frustrating.

What wedges can be added to a pitching wedge?

However, now when it comes to wedges there are additional options such as gap wedges and lob wedges that can be added to the pitching wedge and sand wedge. One of the factors influencing the decision are the speed and firmness of the greens at many courses today.

How far should you get a lob wedge on a 100 yard green?

The goal on anything inside of 100 yards should be to get it inside of at least 20 feet. Second, you lack some loft around the greens. With the speed of green in addition to many greens being firm, unless you are good at adding loft and opening up a 56 degree wedge, you need a lob wedge that is at least 60 degrees.

What is the loft difference of irons?

The standard loft difference in all of your irons is around 4 degrees. These leaves a gap in your distance control and unless you are good at taking some speed off your of your pitching wedge, you can find yourself in some difficult positions on the the course.

How hot is a pitching wedge?

Gone are the days of just playing the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. The pitching wedge is generally around 48 degrees and the sand wedge around 56 degrees.

Is golf changing for the better?

The game of golf is changing for the better. What was once only a dream for most amateur golfers has not become a reality and affordable. There are several quality options for your own launch monitor to help determine what club is best for your game.

Which wedge has the least loft?

Pitching wedges have the least amount of loft out of all the different types of wedges (48 degrees). This means they’ll have a lower, more penetrating flight compared to the high, soft flight of a lob wedge.

How many degrees of loft is a gap wedge?

The Gap wedge (also known as the approach wedge) usually has 52 degrees of loft. Just like the pitching wedge, this club can be used on approach shots from the rough and fairway, or when chipping around the green.

What is the groove on a golf wedge?

All wedges have grooves etched into the face of the club. These grooves help to “grip” the ball when contact is made, causing it to roll up the club face.

What is loft in golf?

The loft of the golf club refers to the angle it makes between the clubface and the club shaft. It will determine both the trajectory and distance of your shots. In general, the more loft a club has, the more the golf ball will spin on contact.

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Do you need to use the same shaft for your wedges?

In general, it’s a good practice to use the same type of shafts for your wedges as you do with your irons. For example, if you play steel-shafted irons, your wedges should also have steel shafts.