Top rated 56 degree wedges

If you ask any serious golfer, they will tell you that the 56 degree wedge is the most important of the wedges in the golf bag. What makes the 56 degree wedge so special?

Versatility.

With an excellent 56 degrees wedge, the wedge shots that you can hit are endless. Golfers can play anything from high flying bunker shots to low pitches that spin on the green. Finding the best 56 degree wedge for your golf bag could be the key to your short game troubles.

Let’s take a look at the best 56 degree wedge options on the market in 2021.

Best 56 degree wedge

Callaway Mack Daddy 5 Wedge

The Callaway Mack Daddy 5 Wedge is not only the best 56 degree wedge on the market; it is one of the best looking golf wedges that we have seen. This wedge is a tour proven model that will be able to control the golf ball with ease.

With the Mack Daddy 5 in your hands, you will benefit from very high spin rates that will help all handicaps stop the ball on the green. If you like the 56 degree wedge, the Mack Daddy 5 is also available in lob wedge, pitching wedge, and even gap wedge lofts.

There are two shaft options from Callaway, the True Temper Tour Issue steel and the Project X Catalyst 80. For those that need graphite in their golf wedge, Callaway has you covered.

Pros

• Impressive new grind options
• Can hit a variety of golf shots
• Progressive head shaping
• Groove in Groove technology

Cons

• Higher price than some other sand wedges on the market

Cleveland Golf- RTX ZipCore Tour Satin Wedge

The Cleveland Golf RTX ZipCore Wedge is a newer release from Cleveland, and it has the impressive UltiZip Grooves. For years Cleveland has been using the Tour Zip Grooves on the wedges, but they changed things up with the new RTX ZipCore.

The UltiZip Grooves are sharper and deeper. This helps players that struggle with consistent contact on their golf wedges. If you want help getting the spin you need around the greens; the RTX ZipCore can make it happen.

In addition, these new wedges have undergone a heat treatment that will help ensure that the wedge stays in excellent condition year after year. These grooves are made to last. The RTX also comes in three different sole grinds, so you can mix up the bounce angle and find the right fit for your game.

Pros

• True Temper Dynamic Gold Wedge Flex shaft
• Impressive golf ball spin
• Built-in forgiveness with a large sweet spot

Cons

• Not as many sole grinds as other golf wedges

Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedge

The Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedge is an excellent option for the mid to higher handicap player that needs versatility and forgiveness in the golf wedge. This is not a blade style wedge and instead more of a cavity back design sand wedge.

The Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge comes in three different sole grinds to help ensure that you have the club that fits the type of golf you play. In addition, the CBX 2 is available in pitching wedge, gap wedge, and lob wedge lofts, so you can fill your bag with these if they are a good fit.

With the Black Satin finish option, there is also less glare from the clubface, and the golf club is a great looking wedge.

Pros

• Impressive feel with the Gelback TPU Insert
• Rotex Face and Tour Zip Grooves
• Black Satin finish option

Cons

• It won’t have the same control as a blade style wedge

Cobra Golf King Mim Black Wedge

Cobra Golf is a bit limited in the wedge options that they put out on the market. Although we love the Cobra wedges, they just don’t produce them quite as fast as other wedges on the market. However, the new Cobra Golf King MIM Black 56 degree wedge is one of the best that we have seen from Cobra.

This new MIM or Metal Injection Molded technology is a stainless steel wedge that allows for precision and pure feel at impact. The classic tour wedge grind is a versatile option that will work on bunker shots and allow for a maximum spin even out of thick grass.

(You can find our review of the Best wedges for backspin here)

Cobra has installed their precision CNC Milled face and grooves, making this a very versatile club. From the looks and the feel of the Cobra Golf King MIM Black Wedge, you can’t go wrong.

Pros

• Progressive spin technology
• Versatile grind
• Allows for maximum spin

Cons

• Not the best 56 degree wedges for forgiveness

Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge

The Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge is one of the most affordable 56 degree wedges on the market. This is one of the more simple designs, yet it is very effective in its ability to help players get the greenside performance they need.

The Wilson Harmonized allows players to hit very high lofted shots that land close to the pin. The True Temper steel shafts are going to make this a versatile and forgiving sand wedge as well. The Wilson Harmonized is a blade shape wedge that can be hit from the rough, fairway, or the sand.

Golfers that are new to the game and want a fairly priced but high performing golf wedge will do quite well with the Wilson Harmonized in their hands. If you need more than one wedge at a time, this is an affordable way to get it done.

Pros

• Great for pitch shots and chip shots
• Impressive feel
• Very low pricing

Cons

• No sole grind options

XE1 Golf Wedge

The XE1 is one of the best 56 degree wedges for golfers that struggle out of the sand trap. If you find that you need a bit of extra help to get the ball to actually leave the trap, the XE1 could be the club that gets it done for you. This wedge has an extra-wide sole, and it will not skip or dig as it comes through the golf shot.

With the XE1, players find that they almost never hit the ball fat. This is because of the impressive glide that you get and the extreme loft options on the XE1. If you want to open the face of this club a bit, it will perform better than most lob wedges on the market.

One of the things we find with the XE1 golf wedge is that beginners use this to help them get out of the sand and then realize the feel is perfect for chip and pitch shots in their short game. Regardless of your handicap, the XE1 is a golf club to keep in your bag.

Pros

• Will not dig into the ground
• It helps for easy bunker shots
• Can eliminate fat shots

Cons

• Unique looking design can be tough to get used to

Callaway Mack Daddy CB

The Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge is one of the most impressive 56 degree wedges for forgiveness. This cavity back style wedge still has some incredible spin from the groove in groove technology.

In addition, there are four sole grinds and a variety of loft options to choose from.

Players with the Mack Daddy CB wedge will feel as though they have plenty of weight in the club head that keeps their golf wedge down and allows for better turf interaction.

In addition, the Mack Daddy CB also has an excellent feel and is available in the Platinum Chrome or Black Matte Finish.

A Mack Daddy CB may not have the same control on chip shots or pitch shots as the Callaway Jaws, yet it works as an excellent option for the mid the high handicap player.

Pros

• Impressive feel for the mid to high handicap player
• Forgiving golf wedge
• Available in a steel shaft or graphite shaft

Cons

• Not as many sole grind options as the Callaway Jaws

TaylorMade Golf MG2 Wedge

The TaylorMade Golf MG2 golf wedge is defined to be one of the best 56 degree wedges for precision and feel. If you like to get to know your sand wedges and hit lots of different shots around the green, this wedge will be your best choice.

The Milled Grind 2 Wedge has a face that will rust over time; this is entirely acceptable and helps give the golf club more of a raw and consistent feel. The way the club is manufactured is to help players get more consistency and better turf interaction.

There is a new TPU Insert in the TaylorMade golf wedge that reduces vibration at impact. If you want a solid feel and impressive control, this is a wedge for your needs.

Pros

• It comes with two finish options
• Great looking blade style wedge
• Impressive on bunker shots and thick grass shots

Cons

• Not a more forgiving sand wedge than some other options on our list

And The Winner Is…

Buyers Guide

Be sure to take a look at our other wedge reviews:

• High handicap wedge
• RTX ZipCore Wedge
• Callaway Mack Daddy Forged Wedge
• Gap wedge
• Types of wedges
• Square Strike review
• Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge
• Beginner sand wedge
• Best golf wedges
• Best 60 degree wedge
• Vokey SM8 review
• Best wedge for an average golfer
• Cutter golf wedges

Now that you have a better idea as to which 56 degree wedges are the best on the market, it’s time to figure out which of these could be the best for your needs as a player. There are some important things to consider when you purchase the best 56 degree wedges.

Since this is the wedge, you will likely use for the majority of your wedge shots, having some knowledge before purchasing is a smart idea.

Spin

The spin on a 56 degree wedge is critical. Regardless of your abilities as a golfer, you will need spin to hit great golf shots.

Look for technology like Tour Zip Grooves or Groove In Groove to ensure that you can stop the ball where you want and spin it back towards the hole.

Blade vs. Cavity Back

The blade style wedge gives golfers more control and versatility. A cavity back style wedge is known for extra forgiveness. Depending on the type of player you are, you must choose a wedge accordingly.

Many of the new hollow cavity designs are great for those that struggle with finding that balance between feel and forgiveness.

Loft Gapping

If you think finding the best 56 degree wedges is tricky, try putting together a complete set of wedges that will work for your entire set of clubs. The loft gapping that you must do in today’s world is a bit more complicated than it has ever been.

Before you decide that a 56 degree wedge is the best choice for your bag, take a look at the lofts of your pitching wedge and gap wedge and make sure that the 56 degree makes sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

With the wedges being such important scoring clubs in the bag, players often have quite a few questions about the way these clubs perform and which ones are going to be the best for their game.

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about the best 56 degree wedges on the market.

How Far Should You Hit A 56 Degree Wedge?

A 56 degree wedge is typically a 75 to 100 yard shot for players. The reason that there is no specific yardage that a 56 degree wedge will travel is that the distance depends on the club head speed of a golfer.

Faster swing speed players will hit the ball quite a bit further than the slower swing speed golfers.

You can see what the average distance is for all clubs, including wedges here.

What Do You Use A 56 Degree Wedge For?

A 56 degree wedge is used for golfers that want to hit pitch shots, chip shots, bunker shots, and even bump and run type shots around the greens. The 56 degree wedge is the most versatile of all the wedges in the bag. Many people call the 56 degrees a sand wedge, but hitting bunker shots is just one of the ways you can use this club.

Is It Better To Chip With A 56 or 60 Degree Wedge?

When deciding which club to hit, it is essential to analyze your lie and to consider your strengths and weaknesses as a golfer. It’s also important to look at the pin location and see if there is much room to work with. For the most part, the 60 degree wedge will work when you don’t have much room on the greens and need to get the ball up and down fast.