Golf Wedge Use Explained
- Pitching Wedge. A Pitching wedge has the broadest loft and the longest shaft. The pitching wedge is used to play pitch and chip shots.
- Gap Wedge. A gap wedge act as a bridging wedge between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. ...
- Sand Wedge. A sand wedge is primarily used to hit bunker shots. ...
- Lob Wedge. A Lob wedge is used to hit high-flight shots. ...
What wedge should you use and when?
When To Use A Pitching Wedge? The golfer will want to use a pitching wedge on the full swing yardages typically between 100 and 130 yards, in some situations where something less than a full swing is ideal and when chipping or pitching around the green. Here is the bulleted list: The Full Swing Pitching Wedge The Less Than Full Swing Pitching Wedge
How far should you hit a 60-degree wedge?
You should use your 60 degree wedge when you are chipping near the green. The three additional factors you need to take into consideration when near the green are your ball lie, the landscape features between the ball and pin, and finally, the hole position on the green.
When to use a 60 degree wedge?
Mar 15, 2004 · When to Use a Wedge for a Golf Shot . As for the appropriate time to use other wedges, that will, of course, be determined primarily by the yardage of your shot. On full shots from the fairway, a typical recreational male golfer might hit a sand wedge about 65-75 yards yards; women, 45-60. A lob wedge would be 40-50 yards for men, 25-40 for women.
What are the degrees of golf wedges?
5 rows · A gap wedge act as a bridging wedge between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. The gap ...
Where should a golf wedge be used?
3:379:00The Beginner's Guide to Golf Wedges - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat's how I like to tell people you want the club a wedge. Especially when you're hitting it toMoreThat's how I like to tell people you want the club a wedge. Especially when you're hitting it to kind of Bowsher the turf. Especially around the Greens. When you're doing chipping.
Do I need a wedge for golf?
For shorter shots, you would have to either consider a lob wedge or play your shot at less than a full swing. Most golfers agree that a sand wedge is essential in your bag. As your experience and skills grow you can look at other wedges but to start with one should have at least a pitching wedge and a sand wedge.Jan 9, 2022
Should you take a full swing with a wedge?
1:495:14How To Hit a Full Swing Wedge - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if that's not wrong by any means but with this full swing would you still want to get our bodyMoreAnd if that's not wrong by any means but with this full swing would you still want to get our body involved like you would a non-normal iron or even our driver.
Do high handicappers need wedges?
High handicappers should carry at least a 56-degree wedge. In addition, it makes sense to have a 52-degree wedge and a 60-degree wedge to have a variety of shots.Feb 7, 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.Feb 23, 2018
Is a 60 degree wedge necessary?
For the average golfer, having both a 56-degree sand wedge and a 60-degree lob wedge is completely unnecessary. A 56 or 58-degree wedge should be a lot more versatile for most and is the highest wedge loft that should be in most bags.
How far should I hit a 60 degree wedge?
On average, a professional golfer will hit a 60-degree wedge about 100 yards. A mid-handicap golfer will probably hit their 60-degree wedge about 50-60 yards. A higher handicap golfer will probably hit their 60-degree wedge about 30-40 yards.
How do you hit a wedge with backspin?
5:2310:41How to MASTER BACKSPIN with your WEDGE SHOTS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd knock spin off the ball. However if you switch around and hit into the wind especially if it's aMoreAnd knock spin off the ball. However if you switch around and hit into the wind especially if it's a strong one you can generate more backspin because the ball is being pushed back towards the player.
Why do my wedges go so high?
Most likely you are backing up as you hit them. Instinctively we often fall back feeling like we have to help or scoop wedge shots up into the air. Realize that they will go high because of the loft on the face. To hit good crisp wedge shots that spin you need to make sure that you are hitting down through the ball.
How do I choose the right wedge?
The key in choosing a set of wedges is to make sure that there are no big gaps in loft between the lowest lofted iron in your set and the first wedge and then also between edge wedge. Try to keep the lofts gaps to around 4 degrees between each club.
How many wedges should a beginner carry?
Most players tend to carry three wedges — a pitching, sand and lob wedge. But if you add a gap wedge, you're already at four.Mar 3, 2021
What wedge is best for chipping?
The sand wedge is the wedge that is the best for chipping. With a sand wedge, you can fly the ball reasonably close to the pin, and expect it only to roll a few feet. Sand wedges are great out of the bunker, and they provide a ton of spin even on shots out of the rough.
What is a Golf wedge used for?
Golf wedge used to hit chip, pitch, and bunker shots.
Is an approach wedge is the same as the gap wedge?
Yes, approach wedge and gap wedge are the same wedges.
Should my wedges be the same length?
No, each wedge has a different length according to your handicap.
How to control a less than full swing pitching wedge?
When you get over the shot, the best way to control the less than full swing pitching wedge is by shortening your backswing, not by taking speed off. Go ahead and make an aggressive approach to the ball and commit to the shot!
What clubs do golfers carry?
The majority of golfers will carry a driver, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges and a putter. One of the most important clubs in the bag is the pitching wedge. Once golfers get inside of a certain distance is when the scoring opportunities present themselves. Even if you are just new to the game and are struggling to make par on occasion, ...
Why does hitting a lob wedge with too much speed result in topping or thinning the ball?
Hitting a lob wedge with too much speed usually results in topping or thinning the ball because there isn’t enough time for proper weight transfer during the downswing. On the flip side, if your swing is too slow it will result in fat shots because there won’t be enough loft on your club head when it strikes the ball.
How many degrees of loft is a lob wedge?
There is more room for error when you have 60 degrees of loft under your belt instead of just 56 or 58 degrees which are other common lob wedges used today.
When to use a 60 degree wedge?
You should use your 60 degree wedge when you are chipping near the green. The three additional factors you need to take into consideration when near the green are your ball lie, the landscape features between the ball and pin, and finally, the hole position on the green.
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 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.
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.
When To Use the Sand Wedge: The Full Shot
Every golfer will have a distance that they carry their sand wedge. For me, this distance is 105 yards with a full swing. Now I could hit it further, but with a simple, well balanced swing with a sand wedge, I can expect the ball to fly 105 yards.
When To Use the Sand Wedge: The Less Than Full Shot
The reality of playing golf is that you frequently do not land on the perfect number. I do not always land on the 105 yard distance for my perfect sand wedge. This is where the golfer needs to be able to take a less than full shot.
When To Use the Sand Wedge: The Pitch Shot
The pitch shot with the sand wedge is from around 10 yards to 40 yards. It is more than a chip, where the ball will be a combination of spending time in the air and rolling out a certain distance as well.
When To Use the Sand Wedge: The Chip Shot
This is similar to the pitch shot, but shorter in overall distance with the ball rolling out more than flying towards the hole. I would recommend creating a system like the one above with the 9 different shots. Being able to substitute different clubs will give you the greatest versatility for scoring opportunities on the course.
When To Use the Sand Wedge: The Sand Shot
Many amateur golfers seem to struggle with the green side bunker shot. The sand wedge can be used on the longer green side bunker shot and I would recommend a lob wedge for the shorter greenside bunker shots.
Next Steps
Get out and pracitce! This is the quickest way to improve your score. Work on these 5 different shots, so you can play with confidence and be able to pull them off when you encounter these shots on the course.
What wedge is used for a bump and run?
Use this club when you have lots of green to work with, as it is best to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. The Pitching Wedge is used more for full shots or for longer bump and run shots.
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.
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 many yards can you hit with a gap wedge?
Full shots with a Gap Wedge will range from 80 to 110 yards. 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 Callaway wedge?
The Callaway JAWS wedge is Callaway’s number one wedge, and as the name states these things have a serious bite to them. This beautiful looking wedge has an extremely good feel as it is made from 8620 Mild Carbon Steel. The JAWS wedge was designed by Roger Cleveland and has two finishes, Platinum Chrome and Tour Grey.
