What is an approach wedge in golf?
What Is An Approach Wedge This is an extra wedge that, in loft terms, fits between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. Every brand has their own way of describing different wedges so many of you many know this clubs as a gap or middle wedge instead. It is a great all-round wedge that you will use very often if you have one in your bag.
What are the benefits of using a wedge club?
An A Wedge is a golf club that is used for short-distance wedge shots. It is designed with a loft angle of between 46 and 54 degrees giving it a loft range in between a sand wedge and a loft wedge. A Wedges are also called approach or attack wedges.
What should I know about my approach wedge lofts?
An approach wedge is also known as a gap wedge or an A wedge, depending on the manufacturer. The purpose behind the approach wedge is to fill the yardage gap between your pitching wedge and your sand wedge. When the pitching wedge lofts dropped into the mid-low 40s but the sand wedge loft remained in the mid-50s, the need for an approach wedge was born.
What is a lob wedge in golf?
Nov 29, 2021 · An approach wedge, also called a gap wedge, is a golf club that fills the gap between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. Approach wedges have more loft than a pitching wedge but less loft than a sand wedge. This means you’ll be able to hit the pitching wedge the furthest, followed by the approach wedge and then the sand wedge.
What do you use a approach wedge for?
Is approach wedge same as pitching wedge?
What loft is an approach wedge?
How far should you hit a approach wedge?
How do you hit an approach wedge?
What 3 wedges should I carry?
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.Feb 23, 2018
Do you need a gap wedge?
How far should you hit a 60 degree wedge?
What is an approach wedge?
To me the approach wedge is a club for elite golfers or low handicappers who want extra options in their scoring clubs and who know their distances well. It is more of an advanced golfers club so beginners and intermediates don’t need it until they develop their skills a bit more. Approach Wedge Vs. Pitching Wedge.
What is a pitching wedge?
The pitching wedge is designed to hit the ball further than an approach wedge and with a little less spin, it is one club stronger than an approach wedge. It is slightly longer in length with less loft, around four degrees if you are set-up properly.
Which is stronger, a sand wedge or an approach wedge?
The approach wedge is one club stronger than the sand wedge and so will go further with less spin. The sand wedge also has a slightly different shape as it is designed with more bounce to help you escape from bunkers more easily.
How many wedges should I use for short game?
Dave Pelz, the shortgame guru, suggests carrying as many wedges as possible and recommends four or five. Whilst I don’t disagree, I certainly think that you should have at least three wedges. A pitching wedge (48 degrees as standard) an approach wedge (52 degrees as standard) and a sand wedge (56 degrees as standard).
What is a bounce wedge?
Bounce is a really technical specification of modern wedges. It is a measurement of the angle of the leading edge of the club to the ground when the shaft is vertical. It is a feature that helps to stop your wedge from digging into sand or soft ground during the swing.
What is an A Wedge Used For?
An “A” Wedge is a golf club that is used for short-distance wedge shots. It is designed with a loft angle of between 46 and 54 degrees giving it a loft range in between a sand wedge and a loft wedge. A Wedges are also called approach or attack wedges.
Is an A Wedge the Same as a Gap Wedge?
An A wedge is the same as a Gap wedge so don’t let the marketing gurus fool you. Yes, with new technology, golf clubs have been developed over the years and they now have different names for each type of golf club.
The Benefits of Using an A-Wedge Golf Club
We have already talked about that A wedge fills the void between a loft and sand wedge – this is the major factor as it gives a golfer more options for their short game chipping.
The Downsides of Using an A-Wedge Golf Club
A downside with this type of club is that if you’re hitting shots out onto the golf course for precision, they won’t go as far because they have more loft (angle).
What is the Typical Distance Range of an A-Wedge?
The distance range of an A-Wedge golf club is anywhere from 55 yards to 118 yards. Factors affecting your approach wedge yardage include club loft, clubhead speed at impact, the weight of the ball you’re using, and wind.
How to Use an A-Wedge Club
Ultimately what matters for any type of wedge is how well your swing feels while you use it during a game.
Do I Need A Wedge Golf Club?
Although golf is a complicated game, the trick for more consistent chip/bunker shots is to simplify swing mechanics.
Loft of Approach Wedge
The approach wedge generally has a loft of 50 to 54 degrees, though some manufacturers have lofts as low as 46. It has more loft than a pitching wedge and less loft than a sand wedge. It is used on short shots to the green when the golfer wants to hit the ball high and land it softly.
Uses of the Approach Wedge
The approach wedge can be used on shots from 50 to 80 yards. The gap wedge will help the golfer get over bunkers, water hazards and trees and is quite accurate.
Distinguishing Characteristics
The approach wedge has a flat bottom, much the same construction as a pitching wedge. Unlike the sand wedge, the approach wedge is made for hitting off firm surfaces or even the rough -- but not the sand. It is unlike the sand wedge, which has a rounded bottom which causes the club to bounce off the sand and help drive the ball out of the bunker.
About the Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times.
What is an "A-Wedge" Golf Club?
The "A" or "AW" stamped on certain golf clubs stands for "Approach" or "Approach Wedge."
A-Wedge Loft
An A-Wedge or Approach Wedge has between 48 to 51 degrees of loft, with 50 to 51 degrees being the most common.
The Club of Many Names
Depending on the manufacturer, you may see A-Wedges labeled or described as:
What is an Approach Wedge?
Approach wedge, as mentioned earlier, has a versatile structure that fits between a pitching and sand wedge. Certain manufacturers also refer to it as a middle or gap wedge and are most common among golfers at present.
What Degree is an Approach Wedge in Golf?
Approach wedge has a loft of around 50-54 degrees, and a few are as low as 46, depending on the manufacturers. The A-wedge is similar to a pitching wedge as they are mean to cover longer-distance pitches.
What are the Other Names of Approach Wedge?
Commonly known as Gap wedge, Approach wedge has different names by different brands and golfers.
Benefits of Using an Approach Wedge
Approach wedges for your club are popular among golfers due to their versatility and high performance. The gap wedge, as we know, fills the gap perfectly between pitching and a loft wedge.
Best Approach Wedge to Buy
Now that you are aware of the uses of an approach, it is time to make a list of the best A-wedge in the market today. Depending on your requirements and experience in the game, you may pick the best that suits your budget:
What is the Highest Degree Wedge in Golf?
So does the loft degree affect the speed of your ball? Yes, the higher the loft degree, the higher the ball gets shot after you hit. Hence, if you expect your golf ball to fly high, you need to lay hands on a loft of 58 degrees or more.
Approach Wedge vs. Pitching Wedge – The Difference?
Today, golfers have different options available to choose between their desired wedges. Pitching and approach wedge are commonly used golf wedges today and have a few distinct differences.
Is a wedge a golf club?
Wedges are also irons, but golfers think of wedges as a sub-set of irons, or as specialized irons. They are often thought of as their own category of golf clubs, in other words. From the 1930s forward, up until the latter part of the 20th century, it was common for even the best golfers to carry only two wedges:
What is a wedge in golf?
Wedges are the highest-lofted clubs in a set of golf clubs, designed for short approach shots (for most golfers, 120 yards and in), strokes played out of sand, chip shots and pitch shots, and generally any shot for which the golfer wants the ball to ascend and descend sharply.
What are the different types of wedges?
In the late 20th century, as more specialization entered golf, golf companies began making additional wedges. Today, the other two wedges that are common are: 1 Gap wedge: So-named because it falls in-between the pitching wedge and sand wedge in loft. The gap wedge has more loft than a PW, less loft than a SW. 2 Lob wedge: Usually the highest-lofted club a golfer will carry. The lob wedge creates a very steep angle of ascent and descent, for shots that must get up very quickly (perhaps, for example, to get over a tree) and for shots that you want to hit the green with a minimum of roll.
What is a PW wedge?
The PW is considered one of the basic clubs every golfer carries. Sand wedge: Designed specifically to make hitting shots out of bunkers easier. Abbreviated SW. In the late 20th century, as more specialization entered golf, golf companies began making additional wedges. Today, the other two wedges that are common are:
What is a 60 degree wedge?
Wedges feature the shortest shafts and highest lofts of any golf clubs. In fact, wedges are often identified by their loft rather than their name. A lob wedge might instead be called a "60-degree wedge," for example. Sand wedges were invented (generally credited to Gene Sarazen) to make shots out of sand bunkers easier.
What is the loft of a lob wedge?
A typical lob wedge might have a loft of 60 degrees to 64 degrees. As its name implies, a lob wedge allows a player to "lob" the ball high into the air, from where it will drop steeply down onto the green, with little or no roll. With pitching wedges typically lofted from 42 to 46 degrees, the gap wedge is so-called because it closes ...
How many degrees are sand wedges?
Typically, sand wedges have lots from 52 to 56 degrees. As lofts on irons have decreased over time (e.g., a 5-iron today might be lofted at 26 degrees, whereas 30 years ago a 5-iron would have been lofted at 32 degrees), it has become more popular to carry additional wedges.
How Many Degrees Is An Approach Wedge?
The approach wedge generally has a loft of 50-54 degrees, you can customize the loft of the club you buy to provide you with more height on your shots or more backspin from 60-100 yards out from the green.
What Is A 52-degree Wedge Called?
A 52- degree wedge is an approach wedge, it provides golfers with the distance and spin to place shots onto the green from 100-110 yards out. It is lighter than a pitching wedge (44-48 degree loft), providing more accuracy and spin on each shot
What Degree Is A TaylorMade Approach Wedge?
TaylorMade approach wedges usually come in either 50 or 52-degree lofts. You can also purchase customized 54-degree TaylorMade wedges, but it’s best to try to strike an equal balance with all your clubs, so you have an even spread of distance between each of your clubs.
Is An Approach Wedge The Same As A Gap Wedge?
As a whole a approach wedge is the same as a gap wedge, the name differences arrise from marketing some manufactures choose to call them gap wedges whilst others call them approach wedges. Approach/gap wedges provide the difference in loft and distance between a pitching wedge (45-48 degrees) and a sand wedge (54-58 degrees)
