Types of golf wedges

Updated on March 29th, 2023 at 04:54 pm

If you look in the golf bag of any professional player, you will see that there are quite a few wedges. Golf wedges take up a large percentage of the clubs that you have in the golf bag because they can be used from so many different areas on the golf course.

If you are looking for new wedges in 2023, it makes sense to understand the different types of wedges and which are the best golf clubs for your game.

The four types of golf wedges are the pitching wedge, gap wedge (or approach wedge), sand wedge, and lob wedge. Within each of these categories, the wedges can have different bounce, grind, and loft options. Therefore when choosing a wedge, there are hundreds of different combinations.

Gap Wedge

This Years Best Gap Wedges

Gap wedges are designed to fill the gap between the pitching wedge and a sand wedge. Most of the time, the Gap wedge will be between 48 to 54 degrees. Some companies are going to call their gap wedge an Approach wedge or A wedge as it is very common yardage to have left into the green. See our recent post on Approach wedge loft here.

Gap wedges are a great solution for longer shots from sand traps. In addition, the gap wedge tends to very often be a 100-yard club for many golfers. Since this distance comes up quite often, people are finding the gap wedge to be a very important golf club in the bag.

Pitching Wedge

A pitching wedge typically has between 45 and 48 degrees of loft. With a pitching wedge, you will typically choose an option that matches the rest of your irons. Lower handicap players tend to sometimes choose a pitching wedge that is blade-style to match with their wedges.

Pitching wedges are used for approach style shots to the green, as well as chipping and pitching. Typically speaking, the pitching wedge will have a bit less launch because of the lower loft. In addition, pitching wedges are designed to be a bit more forgiving than some other wedges in the bag.

Sand Wedge

This Years Best Sand Wedges

A Sand wedge is probably the most common wedge in the game of golf. Many people believe the sand wedge will be the best choice out of a bunker, but truly lots of different types of golf clubs can work from a bunker. Sand wedges have lofts of anywhere from 54 to 58 degrees.

Sand wedges are great for chip shots and pitch shots as it has a clean leading edge and plenty of spin. Many people choose high bounce wedges for sand wedges because the club can get through the sand easier and tends to be quite a bit more forgiving.

If you want to send the ball high and see it last softly on the green, the sand wedge is the perfect club for the job. Most people can hit their sand wedge about 80 yards or so.

Lob Wedge

Last but certainly not least is the lob wedge. Lob wedges typically have between 58 and 62 degrees of loft with the most common being the 60 degree wedge. This club will produce higher shots than pitching and sand wedges, and they will also offer quite a bit of spin. You won’t be able to get as many yards out of your lob wedge as you do other clubs, but the lob wedge is very valuable around the green.

Some golfers get nervous about the lob wedge and believe it is not as forgiving as other wedges in the bag. However, as long as you understand the skills needed to perfect a short game, the lob wedge won’t be a problem.

Having different wedges in your bag will mean you are prepared for any type of shot that can come your way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want even more wedges, look no further:

Here are a few questions that we get asked about the different types of wedges and which will be best for your swing.

What Is The Difference Between An A Wedge and Gap Wedge?

An A wedge stands for an approach wedge, and it is essentially the same thing as a gap wedge. You will find that both of these clubs will allow you to hit the ball a bit further than the sand wedge but not quite as far as the pitching wedge.

The type of wedge you purchase, depending on the sole type and size and the brand, will make the difference between the approach and the gap different. However, these wedges are designed for hitting the same type of golf shot.

What Degree Is An Approach Wedge?

An approach wedge is going to have about 52 degrees of loft. Some of the approach wedges will have 54 or even 50. The most important thing is for golfers to find a club that helps them even out the gaps between their clubs. For instance, if you have a 50 degree approach wedge, you will want to have a 54 degree sand wedge. If you had a 58 degree sand wedge in the bag, the differences between the clubs would be too much and leave it difficult to hit certain length shots.

How Many Wedges Should A Golfer Carry?

Ideally, a golfer should carry four wedges. Each of the wedges should have different lofts and bounce to ensure that the golfer can hit various shots. Whether you are trying to hit flop shots like Phil Mickelson or a bunk and run to keep things safer, the combination of wedge loft, bounce, and grind you have in your bag will make this possible.

Conclusion

The pitching wedge, gap wedge sand wedge, and lob wedge are the four different types of golf wedges that players will carry. (You could also carry the Square Strike Wedge if you are newer to the game and have difficulty chipping and putting). Ensuring that you have a variety of golf wedges and can use them from all different lies will help you become a better golfer.

When you watch golfers win PGA tournaments, you can see that their wedge saves to make the win possible. Almost all of these players are carrying four wedges in their golf bags. Learn to love your wedges and practice with them daily; you will be amazed at what a difference it can make in your golf game. Find out more at AEC Info.

What Are The 4 Types of Golf Wedges?