Golf Wedges Loft, Bounce, Length, and Usage Summarized
| Wedge | Loft | Bounce | Length | Use |
| Pitching Wedge | 47° to 53° | 2° to 5° | 35.75” | for pitch and chip shots |
| Gap Wedge | 50°° to 53° | 5° to 10° | 35.25” | for mid and chip shots |
| Sand Wedge | 54° to 58° | 10° to 14° | 34.50” | To escape the ball through the sand |
| Lob Wedge | 60° to 62° | 0° to 10° | 33.50” | To get a high flight and to rescue the b ... |
What is a gap wedge and do you need one?
The gap wedge is an essential club for a high handicapper to have in the bag. High handicappers should have at least one gap wedge in their bag. The gap wedge is the most versatile club in your bag and should be used for shots from around 100 yards to the green.
What is the Best Bounce for a gap wedge?
- Adjust your stance. When you need a little more height on a gap wedge shot, try moving the ball backward in your stance. ...
- Try a chip shot. Some golfers like using the gap wedge around the green with a half- or quarter-swing. ...
- Put a spin on it. ...
- Lie in the rough. ...
- A gap wedge takes getting used to. ...
What kind of golf wedges are the best?
Follow these guidelines to pick the right wedge:
- Know your skill level. Because that will dictate the kind of wedge you go for. ...
- Consider the loft. Remember, the higher the loft, the higher the ball flight trajectory and backspin. ...
- Pick the right wedge. Generally, there are 4 types of golf wedges. ...
- Select your bounce angle. Bounce angle is equally important. ...
How many degrees is a gap wedge?
Wedges vary based on the loft angle and usually range from 45 degrees to 64 degrees. The degrees are shown on the club heads. In general, the wedges used and their loft angles are as follows: Pitching wedge – 45 to 50 degrees Gap wedge – 50 to 54 degrees Sand wedge – 54 to 58 degrees Lob wedge – 58 to 64 degrees Benefits of two wedges
What shots do you use a gap wedge for?
1:272:04How to Use a Golf Gap Wedge - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you only have a pitching wedge and a sand wedge you should seriously consider purchasing a gapMoreIf you only have a pitching wedge and a sand wedge you should seriously consider purchasing a gap wedge. Because hitting those 115 yard shots with a pitching wedge.
What distance is a gap wedge good for?
How Far Does The Average Person Hit A Gap Wedge? On average, recreational golfers hit their gap wedge 103 yards, but the range can be between 90 and 120 yards. For shorter shots that only require a 1/2 swing, the average distance will be much less.
What is the difference between a pitching wedge and a gap wedge?
Gap / Approach Wedge If your pitching wedge is 46- degrees and your sand wedge 54-degrees there will be a distance gap of about 30 yards between these clubs. A gap wedge is designed to bridge that 30 yard "gap". Your gap wedge will have more loft than your pitching wedge and less loft than your sand wedge.
Can I use a gap wedge as a sand wedge?
Use your gap wedge in a bunker if you are uncomfortable using your sand wedge. The gap wedge can mimic the sand wedge because it has so much of its weight around the bottom of the club. To get the ball out of a bunker, hit the sand 3 to 4 inches behind the ball.
Do high handicappers need a gap wedge?
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. The thing that you have to pay attention to is the loft gapping in the set. Wherever possible, ensure that you are not leaving large loft gaps between clubs.
Do pros use gap wedges?
Looking at the average configurations and lofts, around 60% of pro players use a pitching wedge with 46 degrees of loft, with 48 degrees being the second most common loft option. With gap wedges, the 52-degree loft is used by 42% of players, with 33% opting for the 50-degree model.
Do I need a gap or lob wedge?
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.
Does a gap wedge go further than a pitching wedge?
How Far Does a Gap Wedge/ Approach Wedge Go? The average golfer will hit their approach/gap wedge 10-15 yards shorter than their pitching wedge and 10-15 yards further than their sand wedge. This means that if you hit your pitching wedge 130 yards, a well-struck gap wedge will go 115-120 yards.
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.
Which wedge to use around the green?
For the average golfer, chipping with a pitching or gap wedge will produce the most consistent shots around the green. Using a gap wedge will be the best place to start for standard chips, but a pitching wedge could work better if the ball is sitting up in the rough.
What degree wedge is best for sand?
56-degreeA 56-degree sand wedge is suited for hitting out of the sand or for a golfer who hits behind the golf ball a lot. The higher degree of bounce helps the club glide through the sand or dirt, which makes it the most versatile wedge in the bag.
How far should I hit my 56 degree wedge?
84 yardsHow Far Should You Hit A 56 Degree Wedge? On average, golfers hit their 56-degree wedge 84 yards, but the range can vary between 75 and 105 yards. Longer hitters who take a full swing typically hit over 100 yards, but most golfers take a 1/2 to 3/4 swing with their sand wedge.
How far does the average golfer hit a 52 degree wedge?
100 yardsHow Far Should You Hit A 52 Degree Wedge? On average, golfers hit their 52-degree wedge 100 yards, but the range can vary between 85 and 110 yards. Golfers who take a normal swing with their wedge typically end up close to 110 while golfers who take half swings end up close to 85.
How far should I hit my approach wedge?
about 90 yardsAn average golfer will hit an approach wedge about 90 yards and elite golfers with high speed swings will be closer to 130 yards and beyond. This is something that you need to spend time on a launch monitor figuring out for yourself.
How far does the average golfer hit a 60 degree wedge?
On average, golfers hit their 60-degree wedge 74 yards, but the range can vary between 60 and 100 yards. Longer hitters who take a full swing will typically be close to the 100-yard range but most golfers only take a 1/2 or 3/4 swing with their 60 degrees.
What is the loft of a gap wedge?
A gap wedge, with a loft of 50 to 54 degrees, will hit a ball farther than a sand wedge and shorter than a pitching wedge. How did the gap wedge get its name? Very simply, it is a club that will go further than your sand wedge, but will result in a shorter shot hit with your pitching wedge. Thus, it fills the gap between the two clubs.
How far can a man hit a gap wedge?
As a general rule, men can hit a gap wedge about 100 yards , and women about 15 yards less. Here are some ways that you can practice using your new iron and add to your repertoire.
How many balls do you hit in a pitching wedge?
Start with your pitching wedge and hit 12 balls. Then, assuming that you have a stride of about a yard, walk off the yardage to a point where most of the balls have landed. Also note the height that each ball travels. Do the same thing with your gap and sand wedges.
Can you hit off the turf at a driving range?
First, many driving ranges don't allow you to hit off the turf, relegating you to a life of practicing off of mats. Also, while you will develop some proficiencies by practicing under those conditions, you will not be called on to show as much imagination as you will on a golf course.
How far can you swing a gap wedge?
Personally, the most important thing I get from a gap wedge as a golfer is the ability to take a full swing at around 100 yards from the hole which is arguably one of the most common and important scoring ranges any golfer.
Why use a sand wedge?
As the name suggests, the primary use of the sand wedge is to help golfers escape the sand but it’s heavier weight and large bounce are useful for a variety of different shots. Personally, I like to use the sand wedge when I take most of my chips, especially those around the green.
What is the best club for bump and run chipping?
The pitching wedge is also a great club for bump and run chipping because the low amount of loft allows the ball to fly lower and roll further once it lands on the green.
Do you use woods or irons in golf?
This is standard in golf, whether you’re using woods or irons except when it comes to wedges. Unfortunately, for a novice golfer or even an advanced one, it’s not always obvious what each different type of wedge is used for, and that can be frustrating.
What is a gap wedge?
A gap wedge basically sits between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge in terms of the loft, and therefore in terms of the distance the ball will go.
How far should a gap wedge go?
So it stands to reason that gap wedge is going to fill that gap and it should go 80 yards. And that’s why that gap wedge can be so useful in your bag because if you’ve got 80 yard shot on the golf course, you hit a good full sand wedge it doesn’t reach.
How many clubs can you carry in a gap wedge?
So, if you’ve got space in your bag and space is you’re allowed to carry 14 clubs.
How many degrees of loft is a sand wedge?
And the average sand wedge is around about 54, 55, 56 degrees for most sets of the sand wedge. So, a gap wedge is probably going to be numbered either 50, 51 or 52 degrees of loft.
What is a gap wedge?
The gap wedge is a golf club that is used for distances too short for a pitching wedge and too long for a sand wedge. It has a club head angle that is in between those of its cousins the pitching and sand wedges.
How far can you hit a gap wedge?
Many gap wedges can be hit 90 yards, less than the average pitching wedge shot, which is about 105 yards, but more than the average sand wedge (70 yards), according to Leaderboard.com. Distances may vary between golfers. You should practice hitting your sand and pitching wedges to determine the differences in distance.
What is the difference between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge?
The pitching wedge is usually around 45 degrees while the sand wedge is between 54 and 58 degrees. Golf club makers have decreased pitching wedge loft degrees over recent years, with the gap wedge becoming an option for golfers.
Which is better, steel or graphite wedges?
Steel is more durable than its graphite counterpart, and a steel wedge can help to control the shot. Graphite gap wedges provide extra distance for a golfer while eliminating shock from the shot.
Do you need a gap wedge for sand?
You should practice hitting your sand and pitching wedges to determine the differences in distance. If you're comfortable with the distances with which you're hitting your wedges, you may not need a gap wedge.
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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
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 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:
How far can you hit a shot with a wedge?
You can even hit a shot up to a distance of 125m using wedges. Wedges come with the highest loft and the shortest shaft. They also have the heaviest clubhead. A pro golfer always uses the appropriate wedge matching the purpose of his shot that allows him to roll up on the scoreboard.
