Most golfers know the importance of using a good wedge. Though we wish the same number of people knew how to choose them.
To address this issue, we’ve worked on this detailed guide that will teach you exactly how to choose a golf wedge along with some wedge buying tips from seasoned golf experts.
What are the Types of Golf Wedges
There are primarily three types of golf wedges:
1. Pitching wedge
2. Gap Wedge
3. Sand/Lob wedge
Some experts consider sand and lob wedges as separate types but here, we’ll just pair them for convenience. Now, let’s have a look at the difference between all three types of wedges.
Pitching Wedge
A pitching wedge has a loft of around 50 to 46 degrees and is used for full shots or for chipping the ball low and having it roll out. This wedge is also the longest of the lot. The low bounce on a pitching wedge makes it great for full swing shots.
Gap Wedge
A gap wedge has a loft of 52 to 56 degrees and has significant bounce in it. These are ideal for 70-yard mid-wedge shots. You’d want to use a gap wedge when you’re trying to play one of those in-between shots that are somewhere in the middle of a full-swing and a chip.
Sand/Lob Wedge
Lastly, we have the sand wedge which is what we’ve focused on a lot in this article. These wedges are (you guessed it) used when you find yourself in a bunker with soft sand. With a loft of 58 degrees or more, these wedges hit the ball the highest and softest, usually in an attempt to get out of a sand trap. However, you can also use them for hitting high and soft from a regular lie.
Here’s a table that outlines the different types of wedges:
Pitching Wedge
| Gap Wedge
| Sand/Lob Wedge
|
50-46 degrees loft
| 52 to 56 degrees loft
| 58 degrees or more of loft
|
Low bounce
| Medium bounce
| High bounce
|
Longest
| Mid-way in length
| Shortest
|
What to Look for When Buying Golf Wedges?
Now that you know about the different types of wedges, you’re ready to learn how to buy them. When compiling products for this article, we looked at the following 3 factors.
Ease of Play
If you’re here, chances are you’re not Dustin Johnson. And for anyone who’s not a pro, we’d always recommend choosing a wedge that offers the maximum ease of play. This means that you should opt for a wedge that keeps your shot in control and doesn’t let the ball roll out onto the green.
Spin
Wedges are specifically designed to add high spin on the ball which allows it to stop in or close to the green. In other words, a wedge with higher spin will often add more control to your shots, which is what you should be aiming for.
Spin is achieved by the grooves on the club face and manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to optimize those groove designs. Generally, wedge designs that offer the most friction include ones with milled faces and microgrooves like the Mizuno Golf JPX S2 Series Approach Wedge.
Feel
Whenever we talk about the feel of a club, we consider the whole experience. From holding the wedge in your hands to the response that it gives right after the shot and the serenity of holding your pose post-swing; it should feel just right. Though this is quite subjective, we did consider it during our product selection for this article by analyzing real customer reviews.
Tips for Buying Your Golf Wedge
We’ve already taught you how to buy a golf wedge. But with the following expert tips, you’re bound to make a much more educated decision when choosing one for yourself.
Gapping: How Many Wedges Do You Need?
According to Jeremy Stone, Marketing Director Vokey Wedges, most pros alternate between 3 (Jimmy Walker) and 4 wedges (Jordan Spieth). The idea is to add consistent gapping in successive wedges. “4-6 degrees (of loft) often reduces 10-15 yards (in distance)” added Jeremy.
By that logic, we recommend going with a 50, 54 and 58 degree wedge combination which should get you 100, 85 and 70 yards respectively. That means you’ll need one of each type of wedge mentioned above; pitching, gap and sand.
Consider the Grind
Most novice golfers focus a lot on the loft and bounce of a wedge, and rightfully so. They are probably the most important factors when choosing a wedge. However, another equally important (and often overlooked) factor is its grind.
The grind of the sole is its manipulation that improves turf contact. So, which grind you choose depends on the turf that you’re most likely to play on.
Here’s a table of grind types and the turf that best suits them:
Grind Type
| Turf Best suited to
|
M Grind
| Firm-Medium
|
S Grind
| Medium-Soft
|
F Grind
| Firm, medium and soft
|
K Grind
| Medium-Soft
|
L Grind
| Firm
|
Prefer Black Finishes
On a warm summer day, chrome wedges can cause lots of glare when addressing the ball. However, opting for a wedge with a black finish can really help in avoiding this problem. This is why I’d prefer the Cleveland Golf Men's Black Wedge over something like the TaylorMade RSi 2 (unless the latter better fits my needs and I’m okay with wearing sunglasses throughout the day).
How Much Should You Spend on Golf Wedges?
Wedges are the least expensive golf club type, with an average price of around $115. But the actual cost of your wedge configuration will depend on the combination that you plan on going with. If it’s going to be a 3-wedge combo, then you’ll be dishing around $350-400 but if you’re going with a 4-wedge combo, then that will cost you around $450-500.
Bear in mind that these are estimates and that the actual cost will depend on which wedges you choose since some wedges can easily cost upwards of $300.
Best Golf Wedge FAQ
Q: What is the most forgiving wedge?
A: Cobra Men’s Big Trusty Rusty is the most forgiving wedge on the market right now. This is due to its laser precision technology that adds maximum spin to the ball and keeps it in control. Not to mention, it has a tri-bounce rounded sole which makes it the most forgiving wedge out there.
Q: What is the best combination of wedges?
A: Pro golf players either go with a 3 or 4-wedge combination. For beginners, we recommend going with a 3-wedge combo as it’ll be easier on the pocket. One particular wedge combination that works well is the 50, 54 and 58 degree which allows a nice variety of loft with consistent gapping.
Q: Which wedges do pro golfers use?
A: Most pro golfers use a 4-wedge combination to cover every possible yardage in the 130-140 yards region. For that, they often opt for a pitching wedge, 52, 56, 60. However, most pros are seen changing their wedge configuration on tour depending on the course that they are playing on.