The Purpose of an Approach Wedge in Golf
- 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.
- Uses of the Approach Wedge. The approach wedge can be used on shots from 50 to 80 yards. ...
- Distinguishing Characteristics. The approach wedge has a flat bottom, much the same construction as a pitching wedge. ...
What is an approach wedge in golf?
"Approach wedge" is another name for the gap wedge and is the wedge that fits between a golfer's pitching wedge and sand wedge in the progression of lofts.
What is an a-wedge in golf?
A-Wedge or approach is a reasonably new term included in the world of golf recently. The approach wedge, ordinarily known as the Gap wedge or A-wedge, has a loft of 51° to 53 degrees. This wedge gets added when pitching wedge is too much club on the golfer’s approach to the green.
What is a gap wedge in golf?
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.
How far should an approach wedge hit a golf ball?
Lofted at 50 to 54 degrees, depending on the maker, the approach wedge is rated to hit about 80 yards for most amateurs. Adding an approach wedge would drastically increase the chance of landing the ball on the green. Simply using the appropriate club and not changing a swing can lead to more accurate shots.
What does an approach wedge do?
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.
Is approach wedge and sand wedge the same?
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.
What is the difference between approach wedge and pitching wedge?
Pitching wedges have a loft of between 46 and 48 degrees. Approach wedges have lofts between 50 and 52 degrees. The extra loft on the approach wedge helps it to get up in the air, but decreases the distance hit. Pitching wedges also tend to have a lower degree of bounce than gap wedges.
What degree is an approach wedge?
51° to 53 degreesGap wedge – The gap wedge, often referred to as the approach wedge, or the A wedge, has a loft of 51° to 53 degrees.
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.
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.
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.
How far can you use an approach wedge?
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. 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 ...
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What is the difference between lob wedge and approach wedge?
Lob wedges are designed to get the ball in the air very quickly and for getting up and down in tight spots, the approach wedge is more for longer distance attacks. These are very different clubs and I would suggest that if you are looking for a third wedge, the approach wedge is the one you should go for before the lob wedge.
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 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.
How often do pro golfers change their wedges?
Pros change their wedges fairly frequently and some even change them almost monthly or more . The world these guys live in is so different to ours that it is almost not worth paying attention to.
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 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.
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.
What is an approach wedge?
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.
Why was the approach wedge needed?
The approach wedge was needed because manufacturers started lowering the loft of pitching wedges – well, irons in general. However, they kept the loft of sand wedges the same. This created a large gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.
Should every golfer use an approach wedge?
Yes, every golfer should use an approach wedge. That’s unless you want to make the game even harder for yourself.
Approach wedge vs. pitching wedge
We now already know that approach wedges have more loft than pitching wedges. But there’s another critical difference between the two clubs. That’s the bounce.
Approach wedge vs. sand wedge
We already know that approach wedges have less loft than sand wedges. And bounce is another critical difference between these two clubs.
Final thoughts
The approach wedge fills the gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. It was needed because golf club manufacturers lowered the loft of pitching wedges but kept the loft of sand wedges the same—an approach wedge slots in between them.
Why add an approach wedge to a golf swing?
Adding an approach wedge would drastically increase the chance of landing the ball on the green. Simply using the appropriate club and not changing a swing can lead to more accurate shots. Before the beginner realizes it, his handicap had gone down while his skill level remained.
How many yards does an approach wedge hit?
Always swing aggressively during the downswing and turn the hips toward the target. If an approach wedge hits 85 yards at full swing and the target is at 75, beginners normally try to swing slower, hoping to deduct 10 yards from the distance.
How far does a pitching wedge hit?
The pitching wedge is intended to be used in a full swing and for most golfers, land the ball within 80 to 110 yards. It is used when a 9 iron would hit the ball farther than the target distance which may be a body of water, out of bounds, and other undesirable locations. In contrast, the approach wedge is mostly used to hit within 50~80 yards (full swing).
How many quarters to use a pitching wedge?
In the absence of an approach wedge, a golfer needs to train using a pitching wedge in full, three quarters, and a half swing to determine the yardage of each swing. When faced with a distance below the reach of a pitching wedge but greater than that of a sand wedge, the approach wedge is the most convenient choice.
What degree loft is a good golf club?
It has 54 to 58 degrees of loft makes it a good club to slide under, lift the ball, and land it into the green. Using an approach wedge to do that is doable but not easy. It’s best to use the sand wedge for that purpose. The sand wedge is also used outside of the bunker.
Why is plating not good on golf clubs?
That increases ball contact and generates more spin. That, however, is also a negative feature because it leaves the club unprotected and prone to rusts. Other than that, the club boasts of precisely made grooves for the widely sought after ball spin.
Who uses the lob wedge?
One of the golf greats who like to use the Lob Wedge (58~60 degrees) is Phil Mickelson -the master of the short game. Famous for the line, “There’s only one way to chip, a million ways to putt, and a million ways to swing”, he uses the lob wedge for low flight shots that quickly land and rolls towards the hole.
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)
What is a gap 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 ...
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 difference between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge?
Pitching wedge: The lowest-lofted of the wedges (the one that hits the ball the farthest), pitching wedges (abbreviated PW) are usually included in a set of irons. 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.
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.
How many yards is a lob wedge?
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. And these clubs will, when properly struck, produce a very high, arching shot. So if you need to get over a tree, for example, a wedge comes in handy.
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.
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 the maximum loft of a lob wedge?
A lob wedge has the maximum loft that ranges from 60 to 64 degrees. The bounce of a lob wedge could be anywhere between 0 to degrees. You should not hit the full-swing shots with a lob wedge since it will raise the ball too high ad you will not get the desired distance.
How long should a golf wedge be?
Like the other Golf Clubs wedges also differ from each other based on the shaft length. Ideally, the length of a pitching wedge should be 0.25m shorter than the 9-Iron; the gap wedge should be a half-inch shorter than the pitching wedge; the sand wedge should be shorter by 0.75 inches than the gap wedge and the lob wedge should be 1-inch shorter than the sand wedge.
What is the angle between the clubhead and the shaft called?
The angle which the clubhead makes with the vertical plane of the shaft is known as the loft of a golf club. In other words, the angle between the clubhead and the shaft is called the loft. The broader loft allows you to gain more height in your shots but at the same time, this will give you the minimum distance.
What is a gap wedge?
Gap Wedge. A gap wedge act as a bridging wedge between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. The gap wedge’s loft ranges from 50 to 53 degrees and the bounce is between 5 to 10 degrees. The major use of a gap wedge is to hit mid-chip shots. You can reach a distance of up to 65m.
What is the bounce of a pitching wedge?
The Pitching wedge has a bounce between 2 to 5 degrees. The Gap wedge has a bounce between 5 to 10 degrees. The Sand wedge has a bounce of between 10 to 14 degrees. The Lob wedge has a bounce between 0 to 10 degrees.
How much bounce does a golf club wedge have?
Apart from this the bounce also helps you to get a higher flight of the ball. The bounce of golf club wedge varies between 2 to 14 degrees. The standard bounce of different wedges are as follows:
What is a wedge in golf?
Wedges are the club that can provide you with the maximum flight and backspin keeping the ball within the green. A golf club set consist of the following wedges: Pitching wedge: The most common wedge. Gap wedge: The bridging wedge. Sand Wedge: The rescuer wedge.
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 …
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 anglecom…
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. Check the loft of your P…