What are a-wedge golf clubs?
Due to a demand for higher precision around the green, golf club makers have started to produce clubs with 50-52 degrees of loft along with the older 48 and 56 degrees of loft on a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. These new golf clubs are normally called gap wedges, or, as I recently learned, A-wedges. What does the “A” stand for?
Do all 8 club Irons come with an approach wedge?
They are typically not included in 8-club base sets of irons, which means you'll probably be shopping for your approach wedge as a separate, standalone purchase. Check the loft of your PW and SW and split the difference to get your best approach wedge loft.
What is an aw in golf?
Quick Answer: An AW is an approach wedge often referred to as a gap wedge by some golfers and companies. The two names basically mean the same thing and can be referred to each other interchangeably. The approach wedge golf club is a popular club that is carried in a 14-club golf bag because of its versatility and usefulness on the golf course.
Are gap wedges compatible with all golf irons?
The short answer, No. Club manufactures nowadays make a Gap Wedge (AW) that fits into the irons set especially with the Game Improvement Iron category, this is because Gap Wedges are used more for full shots these days, so you will need the forgiveness the iron technology has.
What is an aw wedge used for?
Gap wedges are really useful with shots that need a high trajectory due to an object or not much green to work with and the ball can't roll out much. Also, AW can be used to hit pitch and chip shots around the green.
What degree is a Aw wedge?
Approach wedge lofts used to fall anywhere between 50-54 degrees. Today, depending on the manufacturer, an approach wedge usually ranges from 47-52 degrees.
What does 5 PW and AW mean?
When shopping GlobalGolf.com, we refer to the different club makeups with abbreviations such as 3-PW (which would contain every iron from the 3-iron through the 9-iron as well as a pitching wedge) or 5-PW, AW, SW (which would contain every iron from the 5-iron through the 9-iron as well as a pitching wedge, approach ...
Is AW same as gap wedge?
Some manufacturers choose to call them gap wedges while others call them approach wedges. Essentially, they are the same thing. It might be easier for many golfers to simply call the wedge by the loft degree instead of the name given to it.
What degree wedge is best for chipping?
between 52° and 56°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 does 4 AW mean?
4-AW and 5-PW mean the specific clubs that come in a set. an AW is commonly called a “gap wedge” and is usually 50-52 degrees in loft and exists now due to manufactures making the lofts of irons 3-5 degrees stronger than they used to be to aid in distance/marketing.
What does 5pw mean in golf?
thanks. Answer: Hello, The clubs included are 5-pitching wedge and a sand wedge. 5 Iron, 6 Iron, 7 Iron, 8 Iron, 9 Iron, Pitching Wedge, Sand Wedge.
What does P mean on a golf club?
A driver, however, usually has a number such as 9.5 or 10.5 to indicate the loft of the club. Drivers are available in a variety of lofts. Wedges typically don't have numbers. Instead that have letters such as P or PW for pitching wedge and S for sand wedge.
Are steel shafts better than graphite?
Typically, steel shafts are much heavier, more durable and are generally less expensive than their graphite counterparts. They are more often than not made from stainless steel and they tend to weigh in between around 90g-120g. Torque or lateral twisting found in all graphite shafts is lower in steel irons.
How far should a 9 iron go?
120 yardsBeta ProgramClubMen's Average DistanceWomen's Average Distance8-iron130 yards110 yards9-iron120 yards100 yardsPitching wedge110 yards90 yardsSand wedge90 yards80 yards9 more rows•Mar 15, 2022
What 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 most common loft for a sand wedge?
56 degreesSand wedges come in either 54 or 56 degrees, but the most common loft is 56 degrees. If your pitching wedge is 44-45 degrees, having a 50-degree gap wedge and a 56-degree sand wedge makes the most sense. For most golfers, you'll want your sand wedge to have at least 10 degrees of bounce.
What does AW mean in golf?
Quick Answer: An AW is an approach wedge often referred to as a gap wedge by some golfers and companies.
What is an approach wedge?
The approach wedge golf club is a popular club that is carried in a 14-club golf bag because of its versatility and usefulness on the golf course. Although there are many different types and brands of approach wedges, all of them are somewhat similar. Let’s jump into some of the most common questions regarding what an approach wedge is ...
What is the shortest wedge?
Next, an approach wedge or gap wedge goes the next farthest. A sand wedge comes in after that. Finally, a lob wedge is the shortest in terms of distance and highest in the loft category.
What is the range of loft of a wedge?
The normal range of loft than an approach or gap wedge has is 46 degrees to 52 degrees of loft. The range is basically the largest range of degrees of loft that any type of wedge has on the market. It is nice because it gives more options for golf consumers and can accommodate for different types of golfers and their needs.
What swing do you use on short irons?
It involves the ball in the middle of your stance and a steep swing to get the ball up in the air.
How far can a man hit a wedge?
But a rough estimate is that men hit an approach wedge 70 to 110 yards and women are around 40 to 70 yards. Remember, that is a very general estimate.
What is the name of the club called the Approach Wedge?
As noted in the first sentence, "approach wedge" is just another name for gap wedge, and gap wedge remains the most common name for this club (but approach wedge is beginning to catch up).
What is an approach wedge?
The Approach Wedge: What It Is and How It's Used. The approach wedge has a higher loft than the pitching wedge but a lower loft than the sand wedge. Cleveland Golf. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism.
What is the loft of a wedge?
They generally fall into a range of 46 degrees to 54 degrees, and what loft a company selects for its approach wedges will be influenced by the lofts of the pitching wedge in front of it and the sand wedge behind it. You generally want your wedges to have gaps of no more than six degrees in-between them; many golfers prefer only 4-degree gaps or less.
How much loft to add to PW?
Check the loft of your PW and SW and split the difference to get your best approach wedge loft. If you don't carry a sand wedge, then add 4 to 6 degrees to your PW loft and look for approach wedges in that range.
Which wedge has the least loft?
That is to say, of the three clubs the pitching wedge has the least amount of loft and the sand wedge the most, with the approach wedge in-between.
Is an approach wedge a good buy?
If you need an approach wedge to fill the gap between your PW and SW —you feel you need more precision in your scoring clubs and approaches into the green —an approach wedge is a good buy.
What wedge do golfers use?
The technology has changed to the point that golfers use a pitching wedge, an approach wedge and a lob we dge on their trek to the green.
What is an approach wedge?
An approach wedge, also commonly called a gap wedge, is used by golfers when a pitching wedge is too much club on the golfer's approach to the green. Less than 20 years ago, golfers had two wedges in their golf bags - a pitching wedge and a sand wedge.
How far should a pitching wedge hit?
Do the same for your sand wedge. For example, if your pitching wedge is 43 degrees and you hit it 110 yards, and your sand wedge is 54 degrees and you hit it 70 yards, you know you’re in search of an approach wedge that is around 49 degrees, and will ideally go around 90 yards to fill that yardage gap.
How has iron loft changed over time?
Iron lofts as a whole have changed dramatically over the years. For instance, today's 7-iron loft is similar to that of a 5-iron from ten years ago. Changes in both head and shaft technology have allowed irons to decrease in loft while simultaneously hitting the ball higher.
How far should a wedge be from the hole?
A well-struck approach wedge should be able to land anywhere between 10 and 15 feet from the hole and should stop quickly or even back up if the golfer follows through and puts backspin on the ball.
Who is Todd Mrowice?
Todd Mrowice is a Staff Writer for GolfLink. He has been writing about golf for over 10 years including a long tenure at GOLFChicago Magazine. Todd has covered all aspects of the game including travel, products, business, and professional tours.
What wedges were used in golf?
In earlier times, golf wedges were fewer: You had your pitching wedge and you had your sand wedge. For much of golf history — at least after the 14-club limit went into effect — those were the only wedges found in the bags of golfers, even in pros' bags.
What is an A wedge?
The A-wedge is a golf club that is another name for a gap wedge, which is used for shorter and softer shots, and one of the four main types of wedges, which include (from least loft to most loft) the pitching wedge, A-wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge.
Why is the A wedge called the gap wedge?
The reason for the A-wedge's versatility and variety of names is because of the history of golf clubs evolving to include more specific clubs for different situations. In traditional, 8-club golf sets, the pitching wedge was the last club. If a golfer added a sand wedge to her bag, she was left with a large gap in loft between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. The A-wedge filled that gap (hence its more common name: gap wedge).
How to identify a wedge in golf?
A golf club manufacturer might identify an A-wedge by stamping an "A" or "AW" on the sole near the toe of the club, but it's becoming more common all the time to stamp the wedge's degrees of loft there. The "a" in A-wedge stands for either "approach" or (less commonly) "attack," and you might see a manufacturer use one of those names ...
What does the A in a wedge mean?
The "a" in A-wedge stands for either "approach" or (less commonly) "attack," and you might see a manufacturer use one of those names ( approach wedge or attack wedge) instead of A-wedge. As already noted, A-wedge itself is just another name for the gap wedge, a club known by more different names than any other modern club in golf: gap wedge, ...
How many degrees is a gap wedge?
And the gap wedge, or A-wedge, is typically lofted in the low-to-mid-50-degree range but can range anywhere from about 46 degrees to 54 degrees.
What is gap wedge?
Gap Wedges Overview. The Gap Wedge is not some special weapon that will make you hit it closer than another club. A Pitching Wedge was originally invented for pitching and shorter shots towards the green, while a Sand Wedge was originally invented to get out of the sand.
Where is the gap wedge in golf?
All wedges are important, not just the Gap Wedge, but the Gap Wedge can be a very versatile club as it falls right in the middle of the Sand and Pitching Wedge.
What is the difference between a gap wedge and a sand wedge?
Gap Wedge Vs Sand Wedge. A Gap Wedge has more loft than a Sand Wedge, this means the Sand Wedge will go shorter than a Gap Wedge. A Sand Wedge will be used more out of the bunker and for chip shots, where the Gap Wedge will be used more for bump and run shots around the green and full shots.
How far should a gap wedge be between clubs?
Be sure to check the loft of your Pitching Wedge before you buy a Gap Wedge, as you want the gapping to be correct. Aim for 4 to 5 degrees between clubs, this will give you the perfect distance between each club.
What wedge to use for bump and run?
For shots around the green, using a Lob Wedge to get over a bunker or loft it up high will be the better club, but the Gap Wedge is perfect for any bump and run style shots.
How far apart should you gap a pitching wedge?
We suggest picking your Gap Wedge based on the loft of your Pitching Wedge. You generally want the degree to be 4 or 5 degrees apart, this will give you a nice 10 to 12 yard gapping between clubs. So, if your Pitching Wedge is 45 degrees, then you will need to choose a Gap Wedge with a 50 degree loft.
Why was the gap wedge invented?
It’s sole purpose is to fill the gap now created between the Sand Wedge and Pitching Wedge.
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.
Why do golfers use wedges?
Because wedge shots have such a high trajectory, they tend to roll very little once they hit the green. More accomplished players can produce a great deal of backspin with a wedge, causing the ball to back up (or "bite") once it hits the green. Any wedge can also be used for chipping around the green.
What degree is a pitching wedge?
With pitching wedges typically lofted from 42 to 46 degrees, the gap wedge is so-called because it closes the "gap" in loft between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. A typical gap wedge might might be lofted from 48 to 54 degrees. The gap wedge also goes by the names A-wedge, attack wedge and approach wedge.
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 far should a lob wedge be?
A lob wedge would be 40-50 yards for men, 25-40 for women. A gap wedge would fall in between your pitching wedge and sand wedge yardages.
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.
Why are gap wedges called wedges?
Today, the other two wedges that are common are: 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.
Why Use An Approach Wedge?
Loft of An Approach Wedge
- Lofts are not standardized across the golf manufacturing industry, so approach wedge lofts can vary from company to company. They generally fall into a range of 46 degrees to 54 degrees, and what loft a company selects for its approach wedges will be influenced by the lofts of the pitching wedge in front of it and the sand wedge behind it. You generally want your wedges to have gaps of no more than six degrees in-between them; m…
Other Names For The Approach Wedge
- As noted in the first sentence, "approach wedge" is just another name for gap wedge, and gap wedge remains the most common name for this club (but approach wedge is beginning to catch up). But there are other names for it, too. This club is called by more different names than any other club in golf. And golf manufacturers are the ones who decide what to call their versions. In addition to approach wedge and gap wedge, this club is also called an …
Why All Those Different names?
- Marketing. A desire by one manufacturer to be different from another. Who knows. But we wish everyone had just stuck with gap wedge, because all these different names for the same club only creates confusion. Some manufacturers today are even starting to do away with wedge names altogether (at least in marketing) and focus instead on the specs: the loft and bounce anglecombinations available. So instead of labeling the club an approa…
Buying An Approach Wedge
- If you need an approach wedge to fill the gap between your PW and SW—you feel you need more precision in your scoring clubs and approaches into the green—an approach wedge is a good buy. They are typically not included in 8-club base sets of irons, which means you'll probably be shopping for your approach wedge as a separate, standalone purchase. C...