how to pick a golf wedges

• The sand wedge (54-56 degrees) should have the most bounce, and the deepest bounce. ...
• The lob wedge (58-60 degrees) should have the least bounce, and the narrowest bounce. ...
• The “gap” wedge (50-52 degrees) should have a low bounce, and medium depth.
• The pitching wedge (46-48 degrees) should also have a low bounce and narrow to medium depth.

What Golf Club wedge to use?

Which Types of Golf Clubs to Choose

• Woods. The driver falls into the category of woods and is an indispensable part of golf. ...
• Irons. When you are looking for more control, irons should be your absolute choice. ...
• Wedges. The pitching wedge is used near the greens and 130 yards around it. ...
• Hybrids. Hybrids have been developed to replace long irons. ...
• Putters. ...

How to choose the right golf wedge?

Wedge Specifications

• Loft. When looking to purchase your wedge, the very first specification to consider is the club’s loft. ...
• Bounce. ...
• Grooves. ...
• Style and Design. ...
• Types of finishes of wedges: Chrome or Nickel: This type of finish is well known for being durable and pleasant on the eye. ...

What wedges should I buy?

• The sand wedge (54-56 degrees) should have the most bounce, and the deepest bounce. ...
• The lob wedge (58-60 degrees) should have the least bounce, and the narrowest bounce. ...
• The “gap” wedge (50-52 degrees) should have a low bounce, and medium depth.
• The pitching wedge (46-48 degrees) should also have a low bounce and narrow to medium depth.

How much for good set of golf clubs?

• When comparing the prices of sets with various numbers of pieces, look at what’s included. ...
• As a beginning player who’s less accurate and consistent with irons, having a set that doesn’t include the even-numbered irons shouldn’t hamper your game much.
• For most players just starting out, a large set is probably bigger than they need. ...

More items...

What wedges are best for me?

Best Golf WedgesTitleist Vokey SM9 Wedge. Our pick. ... Callaway Jaws Mack Daddy 5 Wedge. Best feeling wedge. ... Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge. A superb performing wedge that offers plenty of forgiveness. ... TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 Wedge. ... Ping Glide 4.0 Wedge. ... Cleveland RTX ZipCore Wedge. ... Mizuno T22 Wedge. ... PXG Sugar Daddy II Wedge.More items...•

Is a 50 or 52 degree wedge better?

With only 2 more degrees of loft than the 50 degree wedge, 52 degree wedges fulfills a very similar role in a player's golf bag, but with a few minor differences. More loft means less distance but more spin so a 52 degree wedge is useful for partial shots into the green and for a specific yardage on full shots.

Is 58 or 60 wedge better?

As a general rule, average golfers have an easier time hitting a 58-degree wedge compared to a 60 degree. A 58-degree wedge will give most golfers more forgiveness and will also provide more consistent distance control.

Is a 56 or 58 wedge better?

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.

What degree wedge is best for chipping around the green?

Most people would agree that something around 56 degrees of loft is going to be best for chipping. A wedge with this loft seems to have the right amount of height, spin, and maneuverability to help you get shots around the green completed with ease.

What 2 wedges should I carry?

Therefore, the top two wedges that a beginner should carry in their bags are pitching and a sand wedge.Pitching Wedge. Golf Monthly suggests that a pitching wedge carries an average of 44.5-degrees of loft, making it the strongest lofted wedge on the market. ... Sand Wedge.

What does bounce and grind mean for wedges?

Vokey grinds help you manipulate bounce more precisely: the high bounce wedge grinds like the D and K grinds offer more forgiveness on your wedge shots, while the low bounce L grind helps you create shots around the green. Wedge bounce and grind improves your consistency and control over your wedge shots.

What is a 64 degree wedge used for?

A 64 degree wedge is best used for very short distance shots, or shots where a lot of height is needed. Generally, if you are about 5 yards away from the green, or are on the far side of the green, this club will benefit you greatly. Any distance beyond 40 yards and this club will come up short for green shots.

How far should a 9 iron go?

Golf Club Distances TableCLUBMEN'S AVERAGE DISTANCEWOMEN'S AVERAGE DISTANCE7-iron140 yards120 yards8-iron130 yards110 yards9-iron120 yards100 yardsPitching wedge110 yards90 yards10 more rows•May 6, 2022

What 3 wedges should I carry?

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. These are general guidelines, make sure you're working with your fitter to get the gapping that works best for you. 3.

What club should I chip with?

For a basic chip, use a 52- to 56-degree wedge. Play the ball center, and get your weight forward so your left shoulder is over your left foot.

What is 52 degree 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.

Do I need a 52 degree wedge?

Do You Really Need a 52 Degree Wedge? Yes, all golfers should eventually add a 52-degree gap wedge to their bags. While beginner-level golfers can get away with not having a gap wedge for a while, eventually they will need to add one when they get their distances dialed in.

How far should you hit a 50-degree wedge?

With a 50° wedge, male players tend to cover an average distance of 95 yards. The distance covered by a female golfer is considerably less, traveling 62 yards on average. However, players using Cleveland wedges have achieved even 125 yards with their 50° wedge.

What is the best bounce for a 52 degree wedge?

A low bounce of 8-10° is the best for a 52-degree wedge. Heavy sand bunkers and a firm golf course demand low bounce while high bounce works best when there is soft sand in the bunker and the golf course isn't as firm.

What are the different types of wedges?

Four Types of Wedges. The gap wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge form the different categories of wedges. The most commonly used wedge, the pitching wedge, is often included in the sale of a typical set of irons while the other three types of wedges are usually sold separately.

What are the new rules for grooves on golf wedges?

Deep grooves gave golfers an unfair advantage by creating more backspin. The new rule restricts groove volume and edge radius on wedges, resulting in a higher launch angle and less backspin. As a result of the new rule, you’ll see two types of grooves on wedge – vintage finish and laser-etching.

What is the loft of a pitching wedge?

A club’s loft is the angle at which the club face lies relative to the shaft. The loft dictates how far the ball will travel and its likely trajectory. Wedges have the highest lofts of any club. It’s recommended to have four degrees of difference between wedges. For example, if your pitching wedge has a 48° loft then you should have a 52° gap wedge, a 56° sand wedge and a 60° lob wedge.

How does a sand wedge work?

Made with a heavy club head and specifically designed to slide through sand and tall grass, the sand wedge pops the ball in the air quickly so as to avoid contact that will slow the ball down. In addition to preventing the ball’s contact with sand and tall grass, this high trajectory also limits the ball’s spin so it won’t land on the green and bounce or roll away from the hole. Sand wedges are designed with a loft between 54° and 58° and can travel from 80 to 100 yards.

What is the loft of a lob wedge?

Made popular by flop shot-master Phil Mickelson, the lob wedge lifts the ball high into the air with a loft between 59° and 65°. These tricky shots are great when you’re trying to avoid an obstacle blocking the green or when you need to place the ball ever so gently on the green, as the high trajectory yields a soft landing and limited rolling.

How do grooves work in golf?

The grooves grab the ball just like the tread grips the road, creating spin and producing ideal shot trajectory. The grooves also produce ball- stopping power when contact is made between the ball and the green. A recent rule change instituted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the R&A, a spin-off from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, has eliminated the use of deep grooves in wedges. Deep grooves gave golfers an unfair advantage by creating more backspin. The new rule restricts groove volume and edge radius on wedges, resulting in a higher launch angle and less backspin. As a result of the new rule, you’ll see two types of grooves on wedge – vintage finish and laser-etching.

How far can a pitching wedge travel?

Pitching wedges range between 44° and 49°, and when the average player strikes the ball properly it can travel between 110 and 125 yards. Before advancing your game with the three other wedges, it’s important to learn how to use the pitching wedge first.

How to determine which wedges to keep?

The way to determine which wedges to keep, you have to look at the gap you want between your lofts. As mentioned above, each wedge comes in a range of lofts.

What to do when buying wedges?

The best thing to do when buying wedges is to predetermine the gap you want in your wedges and then try out the different lofts. Whichever one feels the best suited to your game is the one you should stick to.

How far should a pitching wedge be hit?

The pitching wedge comes in a variety of lofts between 44 and 49 degrees. The average players tend to hit the pitching wedge around 110-125 yards, and this is a very important club in your bag as you often find yourself in distances which require a pitching wedge.

What are the different types of wedges?

There are four different types of wedges that can be found in a golfer’s bag, these are the pitching wedge, the gap wedge, the sand wedge and the lob wedge.

How far can a gap wedge go?

The loft on this club varies between 50 and 54 degrees, and this is usually used to cover distances of 80-100 yards, and it can go up to 110 yards as well. This club is crucial as it reduces a margin of error for you having to hit the skin out of a sand wedge or hitting a soft pitching wedge.

Why do golfers use grooves?

The grooves also assist you in the accuracy of your shot as they add more control on the golf ball, ensuring the best shot trajectory as well .

What determines how far a golf ball will go?

The loft of a club determines how far your ball will go and the trajectory it will take in the air.

How to pick out a wedge?

When picking out a wedge, there are many bounce options to choose from. First consider your swing tendency. Do you tend to dig or sweep the golf ball on your wedge shots? This can help you determine whether you need more bounce (digger) or less bounce (sweeper).

How Many Wedges Should I Have in My Golf Bag?

You can have as many wedges as you’d like, there is no formal limit in the rule book. Most golfers carry multiple wedges but seniors tend to carry less wedges in exchange for more hybrids and fairway woods to fit their distance needs on a golf course.

What Degree Loft Should My Wedge Be?

You could also buy a higher lofted wedge like a 60 degree or 64 degree to keep in the bag for extreme situations when high loft is need, like a flop shot.

What is the loft of a golf wedge?

The first major component of a golf wedge is loft. It’s the angle of the face of the wedge compared to an imaginary vertical straight line and measured in degrees. All clubs have loft with your driver being the lowest at 9-13 degrees loft and your lob wedge being the highest at 60-64 degrees loft.

What is the purpose of a wedge bounce?

Bounce. Bounce helps your wedge rebound off the ground so that it doesn’t dig into the turf when hitting chips, pitches, and bunker shots. The “bounce” of the wedge is the section on the clubhead that actually makes contact with the ground and it’s made up of different parts like the sole, leading edge, and sole angle.

Why is the driver's loft higher than the wedge?

The higher the degrees loft, the more backspin the golf club can generate on the golf ball, which makes it elevate higher into the air creating a higher trajectory golf shot with less distance. This explains why your driver (less loft) hits farther than your wedges (higher loft), but your wedges can stop faster (more backspin) on a green than a driver can (less backspin).

How far can a gap wedge be used?

The average male golfer can find the gap wedge useful on full swings from 75-100 yards as well as for chipping around the greens and half pitch shots from 30-70 yards. This club can be replaced in some iron sets for an AW which stands for Approach Wedge and has similar degrees loft.

What is a lob wedge?

A lob wedge utilizes a very shallow club face, allowing for full swings even when close to the green, with the ball traveling very high instead of very far. The majority of all shots on a golf course occur within 150 yards of the green, making a vast arsenal of wedge shots helpful for getting the ball as close to ...

How to increase loft on a golf ball?

Place the ball slightly forward in your stance, while moving your lead foot away from the ball slightly, to open up the club face, increasing the degree of loft. This technique is useful when you need to play a shot at a flag where there is a bunker or rough in the way and you need to stop the ball quickly.

How does loft affect golf?

The higher degree of loft, the greater height your shots will reach, but the shorter distance they will travel.

What does the groove on a golf club do?

The more grooves on the face of the club, the more back spin the ball will have as it leaves the club face. The grooves serve to catch on the ball as the club slices through it, spinning it backwards as it launches it off the face.

Can you play more than one wedge on the golf course?

When more than one wedge will work in a given situation on the course, choose the wedge you are most comfortable playing for each individual shot on the range. For example, if you are more comfortable hitting a flop shot with your lob wedge (where the ball is hit high into the air with a lot of backspin), that is still an acceptable shot, even if there is enough green to play a pitch and run with the sand wedge (where the ball would be skimmed low along the green toward the hole).

What degree is the best wedge for golf?

The sand wedge (54-56 degrees) should have the most bounce, and the deepest bounce. Use this club out of fluffy sand, deep rough, soft dirt, and any other lie that it is near impossible to make crisp contact on. The lob wedge (58-60 degrees) should have the least bounce, and the narrowest bounce.

How many degrees can you get off a golf wedge?

There are just a few major factors that you must consider when purchasing your wedges: Make sure to get your wedges checked at the golf store before purchasing them (believe it or not, stock wedges in golf stores can be off by as many as 3 degrees!!)

How much bounce does a sand wedge have?

If you play in the North where the ground is often soft and lush, it might be smart to carry a sand wedge with 12 degrees of bounce, and a lob wedge with 8 degrees of bounce (keep the recommended depths the same still).

How many wedges does Spieth have?

As you can see, Spieth is one of those players with four wedges in the bag, and with varying lofts, bounces, and grinds. Once you understand and learn how to apply these three elements, buying a set of wedges won’t be quite as intimidating.

What is bounce in golf?

Definition/Purpose of bounce – the amount of bounce describes how fast and how much the wedge repels off the playing surface when it comes into contact with it. This can be advantageous in situations where the turf/sand is fluffy because it prevents the club from digging deep into the surface and slowing the club down.

Which wedge is the most important to get the bounce right on?

Overall, I believe that the sand wedge and the lob wedge are the most important wedges to get the bounce right on, because they will be used most frequently around the greens.

What is gap in golf?

The gap is the difference in loft between wedges. There are many options for you when building your wedge set, but optimally, you will want to carry four wedges, which will allow you to cover your yardage gaps, and also be able to play shots from various lies around the green.

How to choose a wedge for golf?

When you’re choosing the right golf wedge, make sure the shaft is the right type and has the right flex. Consistency in the clubs throughout your bag is important, so if your irons have graphite shafts you’ll probably want your wedges to have graphite shafts too. Likewise, if your other irons have regular-flex shafts, you’ll probably want that flex for your wedges. And don’t forget to try to find shafts that weight about the same number of grams as your other iron shafts. Consistency in your wedge’s shaft is especially important in a gap wedge, since it slots in between your pitching wedge and sand wedge.

What is the best wedge for a golf course?

Course conditions also play an important role in choosing the right golf wedge. If tight lies are common, the bunker sand’s firm and the ground is often hard, choose a wedge with a low bounce angle. Plush grass, powdery soft sand and softer ground make a higher bounce angle the best choice.

How many wedges do pros carry?

Most amateur golfers carry two wedges in their bags – a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. In contrast, most pros carry three or four wedges, adding a gap and often a lob wedge. Four wedges represents almost a third of their clubs, indicating just how important the pros think the right wedges are. But with all the choices out there, how do you know if you’re picking the right golf wedge?

How many wedges do amateur golfers have?

As mentioned above, most amateurs have two – a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. But by choosing the right golf wedge to add to those two, you could improve your short game significantly. There’s a good chance you have a large gap between the lofts of your pitching wedge and sand wedge.

How many degrees are golf wedges?

Wedges have many different lofts (it could be as low as 44 or as high as 64 degrees, with several different lofts in between). Different lofts (and therefore different wedges) are used for different purposes.

What are the factors to consider when picking a wedge?

All of this means there are several factors to consider when you’re picking the right golf wedge: the total number of wedges you should carry and their lofts; the shaft (type and flex); and the bounce angle.

How much loft is 10 degrees?

Because 10 degrees of loft is usually equal to about 30 yards of distance, you’ll have at least that much of a distance gap between your two wedges. That’s far too much, and you’ll probably be taking a lot of half-swings. Partial swings are one of golf’s hardest shots, and you want to avoid them whenever possible.

What is the least appropriate name for a golf club?

Obvious question, right? Actually, not so much. Let me give you an example. One of the least-appropriate names for a club in the modern game is the pitching wedge. Decades ago, this was what we might now think of as a gap wedge, around 50 degrees of loft, and used a lot around the greens. Today, it will most likely be between 43-45 degrees, and for almost all golfers serves as a 10 iron. That is, it is simply a club to go a certain distance, perhaps 15 yards further than a nine iron.

What shafts do pros use in their irons?

Many pros who play x100 shafts in their irons will move to s300s in the short game sticks.

Why is bounce a good friend in golf?

He says that bounce is the friend of most golfers because it adds forgiveness on all sorts of short game shots. Unless you are really hitting your short game practice hard, forgiveness must be a good thing around the greens, right? I mean I know I would rather stand a chance of getting it up an down on a mishit rather than watching the ball shoot across the next tee just they are about to tee off!

Can you use a wedge as a full swing club?

You can call it a gap wedge if you want, but if you are using it as a full swing club to go a set distance again, you should be choosing something that blends seamlessly into the rest of your set. Going from a large cavity back to a bladed wedge when you are attempting to play the same shots with both makes no sense at all.

Do edges look good?

Fortunately, most edges nowadays actually look pretty good as they are. A lot of thought goes into the visual aspect, possibly even as much as the practical side. I might be the exception here, but there is a lot to be said for having clubs that look good. I tend to play better (at least I think i do) with clubs that I like the look of. And even after a terrible round, you will still look great on the clubhouse terrace!

Do golfers pay attention to clubs?

Most golfers still don’t really pay a lot of attention to the clubs they use for this though which is a shame. There are so many choices, from bounce to grind and loft to look that it is worth digging a little deeper. Of course, for most of us, this goes about as far as using the set pitching wedge and maybe gap wedge an then adding a specialist sandwedge (or not).

What Is A Wedge?

Types of Wedges

Wedge Specifications

• Loft
  When looking to purchase your wedge, the very first specification to consider is the club’s loft. The loft refers to the angle of the clubface, which corresponds to a vertical line. The loft of all clubs is measured in degrees, and as we’ve seen, the loft of a club plays a significant role in how the ball …
• Bounce
  The bounce of your wedge is the area on the club that contacts the grass and stops it from digging in, especially in and around the green. The bounce is actually made up of several different components: 1. The Sole 2. The Sole angle and 3. The leading edge One of the most critical fact…

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