What is a wedge in golf?
May 24, 2019 · 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. (In the early 2000s, a fifth wedge—usually called an X-wedge—started showing up in the bags of some low-handicappers. X-wedges have the highest lofts of all, 64 to 70 degrees.
What's the difference between a lob wedge and an X-Wedge?
Jan 15, 2012 · Pitching wedges are typically lofted between 45 and 49 degrees, and sand wedges between 54 and 58 degrees. Gap wedges, logically enough, fit in the gap between them – around 51 to 53 degrees. And...
What's the difference between a pitching wedge and a gap wedge?
May 07, 2022 · The primary purpose of an attack wedge is to bridge the yardage gap between your sand wedge and pitching wedge. When the loft of the sand wedge remains in the 50s and pitching wedge lofts go down to the 40s, it is advisable to use an attack wedge. Due to its amazing versatility, you can use it for any type of shot on the golf course.
What is a bounce angle on a golf wedge?
The degree of loft on a golf club influences the trajectory of the ball when the club strikes it correctly—the higher the degree of loft, the more quickly the golf ball goes into the air. Pitching Wedge. Virtually every set of golf clubs come with a pitching wedge, which is a club with between 44 and 49 degrees of loft to the clubface.
What is the X club in golf?
What are the 4 types of wedges?
What is a 52-degree wedge called?
What degree of wedge gives you the most loft?
Does Tiger Woods use a gap wedge?
As such he usually sticks with a model that works for him and right now he uses two TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 models which have 56 and 60 degrees of loft. He appears to be lacking a gap wedge but his sand wedge may be stronger than the 56° it says or his PW may be a touch weaker.
How do I pick the right wedge?
What's a 56 degree wedge?
How far should you hit a 60 degree wedge?
What is a 72 degree wedge used for?
What wedges should a high handicapper carry?
Is a 60 degree wedge hard to hit?
What degree wedge is best for chipping?
What is the loft of a pitching wedge?
(Of course, players can also have the lofts adjusted, just as with their standard clubs.) Pitching wedges are typically lofted between 45 and 49 degrees, and sand wedges between 54 and 58 degrees. Gap wedges, logically enough, fit in the gap between them – around 51 to 53 degrees. And while lob wedges can be more than 60 degrees, the typical lob wedge is 60 degrees while the typical X-wedge is 64 degrees.
What is a wedge in golf?
Golf Wedges Explained. Great wedge play is a major reason Tiger Woods has been so successful. Wedges are the short irons with the most loft. They aren't designed for distance shots; you use them to hit the ball extremely high and land it softly on the green. More than any other club in your bag, wedges are position clubs.
What is a gap wedge?
Gap wedges are especially popular with big hitters who need an extra club to cut the distance difference between their pitching and sand wedges. And lob wedges are popular for shots where the ball must be thrown extremely high and stopped very fast, especially on hard greens or after a green has been short-sided.
What is the difference between a low bounce golf club and a high bounce golf club?
Low-bounce clubs are better for tight lies from the fairway and hardpan; high-bounce clubs work best from soft lies , thick rough and sand. In addition, sand wedges typically have much heavier soles than the other wedges, to better cut through the sand.
What is a bounce on a golf club?
When bought separately, any of the wedges is available with a choice of bounce. Bounce is the angle between the club's sole and the ground during normal setup.
How many types of wedges are there?
There are four recognized types of wedges. Two of these, the pitching wedge and the sand wedge, have long histories and are carried by virtually every player, pro or amateur.
Who is Mike Southern?
He is the author of the instructional golf book "Ruthless Putting" and edited a collection of swashbuckling novels. Southern was trained in electronics at Forsyth Technical Community College and is also an occasional woodworker.
What is the bounce of a wedge?
The wedge typically has low to moderate bounce (0–4°) for fairway and other firm lies, but because of its high loft even 2–3° of bounce will counterbalance the downward force of the wedge's striking face, making a club with this configuration useful in sand as well.
What is the best club for short shots?
Prior to the 1930s, the best club for short "approach" shots was the " niblick ", roughly equivalent to today's 9-iron or pitching wedge in loft; however the design of this club, with a flat, angled face and virtually no "sole", made it difficult to use in sand and other soft lies as it was prone to dig into soft turf. The club most often used for bunker shots was called the "jigger"; it was used similarly to today's pitching wedge, and had a similar short shaft, but its loft was closer to the "mashie" of the day (equivalent to today's 4-iron). The lower loft prevented the club "digging in" to soft lies, but the low launch angle and relatively high resistance to the club moving through the sand to "dig out" a buried ball made recovery from a bunker with this club very difficult. The club was also not ideal for approach shots from a bunker near the green, as a chip shot made with this club tended to roll for most of its distance.
How many wedges are there in golf?
As a result, since the mid-80s the number of wedges available to players has grown from 2 (pitching and sand) to 5 (adding gap, lob and ultra lob), most of which are now available in a wide array of lofts and bounces to allow a player to "fine-tune" their short game with the wedges that best meet their needs. In some cases, with the high degree of customization, companies have done away with the traditional names for each club, and instead simply label each club with its loft and bounce angles. A 52-8 wedge, for example, would have 52 degrees of loft and 8 degrees of bounce, generally placing it in the "gap wedge" class. Most players carry three or four wedges on the course, and sometimes more, usually sacrificing one or two of their long irons and/or higher-lofted fairway woods to meet the 14-club limit.
How many wedges are needed for a 52-8?
A 52-8 wedge, for example, would have 52 degrees of loft and 8 degrees of bounce, generally placing it in the "gap wedge" class. Most players carry three or four wedges on the course, and sometimes more, usually sacrificing one or two of their long irons and/or higher-lofted fairway woods to meet the 14-club limit.
How much weight does a sand wedge weigh?
The modern sand wedge still uses the ideas of high mass, high loft, and bounce angle, but the modern sand wedge clubhead has much higher mass than earlier designs, up to 40oz (2.5 lb, 1.13 kg), to drive the clubhead through the firmer sand found in many courses.
What is a gap wedge?
Gap wedge. A gap wedge is the next higher-lofted wedge after the pitching wedge, and is usually used in a similar manner. It is a newer wedge and so is one of the least standardized as to its purpose and thus its design, but lofts for gap wedges are centered on 52° and have a moderate amount of bounce.
What is a wedge in golf?
In the sport of golf, a wedge is a subset of the iron family of golf clubs designed for special use situations. As a class, wedges have the highest lofts, the shortest shafts, and the heaviest clubheads of the irons. These features generally aid the player in making accurate short-distance "lob" shots, to get the ball onto the green or out ...
How many degrees of difference between wedges?
The rule of thumb is that a player should have four degrees of difference between wedges. For instance, a golfer with a pitching wedge lofted at 46 degrees should have a gap wedge of 50 degrees, a sand wedge at 54 degrees and a lob wedge of no less than 58 degrees.
How many different types of wedges are there?
The individual first taking up golf can become very confused by the different kinds of wedges and what these golf clubs are used for. This is because there are four different types of wedges, each with a different degree of loft, which is the key characteristic that separates one wedge from another.
What is the loft of a lob wedge?
Lob wedges have a loft of between 59 and 65 degrees and are designed to lift a golf ball quickly, then land it with lots of spin. The individual first taking up golf can become very confused by the different kinds of wedges and what these golf clubs are used for.
When was the sand wedge invented?
Sand Wedge. The sand wedge was first made in 1930 for players to utilize to hit a golf ball out of the sand, but it has since been popularly employed to hit the ball from high grass or from a fairway. The loft on a sand wedge ranges between 54 and 58 degrees, and it has a heavy clubhead.
How does a sand wedge work?
The height a sand wedge can make a golf ball go when it is properly played translates into the ball usually stopping quickly after it descends onto the green. Some sets of golf clubs come with a sand wedge, while others do not.
How far can you hit a gap wedge?
The gap wedge is used to hit the ball between 90 and 110 yards, which fills the gap between the optimum distances for pitching and sand wedges. Rather than having to choose between swinging a pitching wedge easy or a sand wedge very hard to make the ball go these distances, a golfer can opt for the gap wedge, which can accomplish ...
How many degrees of loft does a golf club have?
Virtually every set of golf clubs come with a pitching wedge, which is a club with between 44 and 49 degrees of loft to the clubface. The pitching wedge is designed to be able to get under a golf ball on contact, and these clubs are used to hit shots from distances of between 110 and 125 yards. While a professional golfer may hit his pitching wedge ...
What is wedge grind?
Andrew Tursky, Senior Equipment Editor: A wedge grind refers to the shaping of the bottom part of the wedge. It’s the part of the club that actually impacts the ground, so the particular shape of the grind has a huge impact on how your club interacts with the turf. The most common would be a “C grind” which has the toe and heel sections of the sole shaved off a bit to make the sole more rounded. This allows the wedge to play a bit more versatile from different lies and face orientations (open face, shut face, etc.). The only thing you really need to know, though, is that you probably need more bounce on your wedge. More bounce makes the wedge more forgiving and will keep you from hitting those embarrassing chunks and skulls around the greens. Just know that it’s basically impossible to pick out a wedge from a retail store and have it be the perfect wedge grind for you. That’s why I highly, highly recommend a wedge fitting. You need to try different grinds and bounces to figure out what’s best for you.
Can you pick out a wedge from a retail store?
Just know that it’s basically impossible to pick out a wedge from a retail store and have it be the perfect wedge grind for you. That’s why I highly, highly recommend a wedge fitting. You need to try different grinds and bounces to figure out what’s best for you. 2. It helps off different kinds of turf.
Who is Luke Kerr-Dineen?
Luke Kerr-Dineen is the Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF .com. In his role he oversees all the brand’s service journalism spanning instruction, equipment, health and fitness, across all of GOLF’s multimedia platforms.
Who is Jonathan Wall?
Jonathan Wall is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment. Prior to joining the staff at the end of 2018, he spent 6 years covering equipment for the PGA Tour.
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 Do You Think The “A” in “A-Wedge” Stands for?
What Is An “A-Wedge?”
- As the need for having the complete package in any tournament, the manufacturers have continuously improved the club’s design. And an A-wedge stands in between the four PW sets of classic irons for sand and the lob clubs. This wedge normally works for any short and soft shots, among the four main wedge types, including pitching, sand, lob, and A-wedge. The manufacture…
A Gap Wedge – What Kind of Golf Shots Used for?
- If you already have the most basic golf knowledge, you might have the answer to the question, “What is an A wedge used for in golf?” But what exactly a gap wedge can do? As mentioned above, a gap wedge is for any short and soft shots. Other than that, this club (also considered as an approach wedge) is most helpful for shots that need accurate aggressiveness. The name “ga…
What Is The Loft of An A-Wedge?
- As a golfer, you might know what degree is an A wedge in golf. But first, let’s take a look at how A wedge comes out as an fulfillment for your wedge option. In the beginning, when the rule of having 14 clubs as the limitation appears, most gofers, including pro players, only have two wedges that are pitching and sand wedge. During the early 20th century, many golfers added lo…
Final Thoughts
- You might now have the answer to the question of what is an A wedge in golf?After going through this post, you must have been ready for the next golf match using A-wedge like a pro. An A wedge will help you to have a great attract hit in any important match. To prepare yourself for the most fulfilling club, this wedge must have a position on your backpack. What are you waiting for? Get …
Overview
In the sport of golf, a wedge is a subset of the iron family of golf clubsdesigned for special use situations. As a class, wedges have the highest lofts, the shortest shafts, and the heaviest clubheads of the irons. These features generally aid the player in making accurate short-distance "lob" shots, to get the ball onto the green or out of a hazard or other tricky spot. In addition, wedges are designed with modified soles that aid the player in moving the clubhead through sof…
History
The class of wedges grew out of the need for a better club for playing soft lies and short shots. Prior to the 1930s, the best club for short "approach" shots was the "niblick", roughly equivalent to today's 9-iron or pitching wedge in loft; however the design of this club, with a flat, angled face and virtually no "sole", made it difficult to use in sand and other soft lies as it was prone to dig into soft turf. The club most often used for bunker shots was called the "jigger"; it was used similarly to to…
Pitching wedge
A pitching wedge is the lowest-lofted of the named wedges, used to hit a variety of short-range shots. The modern pitching wedge has a loft of around 48° (exact lofts vary by clubmaker and player preference) and little or no "bounce" (angle of the sole to the ground).
The pitching wedge is descended from the "niblick", an obsolete blade-style club with a high loft. As the older naming system gave way to numbered sets in the mid- to late 1930s, the standardiz…
Gap wedge
A gap wedge is the next higher-lofted wedge after the pitching wedge, and is usually used in a similar manner. It is a newer wedge and so is one of the least standardized as to its purpose and thus its design, but lofts for gap wedges are centered on 52° and have a moderate amount of bounce.
The concept of the gap wedge originated when the loft angles of irons were reduced as a result …
Sand wedge
A sand wedge is a type of golf club with a specialized design intended to help the player play the ball from soft lies such as sand bunkers. It has a loft of about 56°, and about 10° of "bounce".
Gene Sarazenwon the 1932 British and US Open tournaments with a new club he had invented that was specialized for sand play. He is hailed as the inventor of the modern sand wedge, which he developed by taking a niblick (9-iron), soldering additional metal underneath the leading edge …
Lob wedge
The lob wedge is a club with a loft of around 60°, typically the highest in a player's bag. It is used for specialized shots requiring either extreme launch angle, short carry distance and/or no rolling distance after impact.
Dave Pelz, a former NASA physicist and golf short-game coach, envisioned the lob wedge in the 1980s as an answer to modern greens, which are designed to be more difficult to approach to a…
See also
• Golf glossary