Best wedge for high handicappers

Improving the short game is the quickest way for a golfer to lower their handicap. So many shots are wasted on the golf course with wedges that don’t get enough launch, don’t land close enough to the pin, and some that only go a foot or two. Misses when you are close to the green are even more aggravating because you feel like you are almost there!

There are some great wedges on the market that are built specifically for high handicappers and beginners. If you are a golfer looking to improve your short game, you are in the right place. We put together a list of what we think the best wedges are for those that struggle when they get close to the green.

Best wedges for high handicapper

LAZRUS Premium Forged Golf Wedge Set

One of the major issues with high handicap golfers is that they don’t carry enough wedges in the bag. So many players are using just a pitching wedge, and this is not enough to be able to hit consistent, high lofted golf shots.

The Lazarus Premium Forged Golf Wedge set comes with a 52, 56, and 50-degree wedge. Each wedge in the setl has milled faces for tremendous spin and control and a large sweet spot to help with forgiveness. The fact that you will get all three wedges matching also helps your set to be consistent.

If you struggle with hitting one shot long, one short, and the other to the left or the right, start by making your golf clubs more consistent, and you will end up quite happy with what the Lazarus premium has to offer.

Pros

• Very fair value for three wedges helps golfers to complete their golf wedge set
• Micro Milled face for better spin

Cons

• Won’t have the same forgiveness that a Cleveland CBX 2 does

Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge

The Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge is a new release to the market, specifically built to help high handicappers get more consistency and forgiveness. We love the Mack Daddy CB because it is a cavity-back design that transitions well from the irons down to the wedges.

The Mack Daddy CB features the Groove in Groove technology which is something that you will also see on the high end wedges. Groove in Groove helps golfers that need a bit of help getting the ball to spin and stop on a putting green.

There are four sole grinds to choose from with the Mack Daddy CB and plenty of loft combinations. You can fill your bag with everything from the pitching wedge down to the lob wedge with what the Mack Daddy CB has to offer.

Pros

• Lots of spin
• Four sole grinds
• Soft carbon steel feel
• Precise center of gravity

Cons

• Black matte finish is hard to find

C3i Wedge

C3i is a lesser-known golf wedge manufacturer; however, this new C3i wedge is helping some golfers with high handicaps make a difference in their game. The great thing about the C3i wedge is that it is very easy to get up in the air.

This means that even when you are trying to hit shots over the lip of a bunker, the design of the C3i is going to ensure that the leading edge makes contact exactly where it is supposed to. There is a very wide sole on the bottom of the C3i, which helps give high handicaps the confidence they need around the greens.

You will not need to open the clubface of the C3i; simply let it do what it is designed to do. Although you may not want to fill your golf bag with C3i wedges, put one in and see what kind of a difference it can make.

Pros

• Can hit cleanly out of a variety of lies
• Good golf club for bunker play
• The bottom of the club helps to increase confidence in the swing

Cons

• Unique looking golf club takes some time to get used to

Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge

At the top of our list is the CBX 2 Wedge by Cleveland. This club did not make it to the top of the best wedges for high handicappers because it is the most forgiving. Instead, it has the best balance of performance, forgiveness, and feel. Just because a person is a high handicapper doesn’t mean they should sacrifice feel and spin around the green.

The CBX 2 is a cavity back design that works well for both full swing shots and shorter shots around the green. You can get the Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge in several different bounce options and many lofts as well.

We love the Tour Zip Grooves that Cleveland put on these golf wedges and the insert that helps to reduce vibration at impact. Higher handicappers need golf wedges that make it easier to get the ball in the air, but most importantly, they need help getting the ball to stop. With the groove design and the spin, these wedges offer the CBX 2 is a wedge that will take you from a high handicapper to a mid handicapper.

Pros

• Forgiving cavity back design
• Available in many lofts
• Lots of spin

Cons

• Not available in other finishes

Ram Golf EZ-Out Super Forgiving Wedge Men’s Right Hand Regular Flex

The problem with golf wedges is that you need to add three or four of them to your golf bag. When you start shopping for wedges, you will see that they are reasonably priced; it’s only when you need to consider purchasing three or four at a time that things can add up.

If you are on a tight budget, but you want a wedge that can get you out of the rough or the sand with ease, the Ram Golf EZ is a great choice. You can purchase this wedge in a lob wedge loft of 60 degrees or a sand wedge loft of 56 degrees. This is another cavity back option, and it has a very large and forgiving clubface.

The differences you may see between an expensive and a cheap wedge are mostly going to be in the feel. You may notice a bit more vibration on a sand wedge like this compared to a higher-priced wedge.

Pros

• Very low price
• Easy to hit out of bunkers
• Don’t need to manipulate the clubface

Cons

• Feel is not as great

Cleveland Smart Sole 4

The chipper style wedges work almost like a putter with a lot of extra loft. Cleveland has been known for making some of the most forgiving golf wedges for high handicappers, and the new Smart Sole 4 is truly a great choice. We love this wedge for beginners who are working on getting the fundamentals in place.

The Smart Sole comes in three different lofts, and the C is the one that we think is best for the higher handicappers. This is a wedge that you won’t use for full shots, but it will teach you the fundaments of how to chip it close around the greens.

You get just the right mix of spin and forgiveness with Smart Sole 4. If you are one of those players that deal with shots running through the green or only going a few feet at a time, the Smart Sole is a series you should seriously consider.

Pros

• Makes chipping much simpler
• Don’t always need full swing shots with these clubs
• Available in Gap wedge, sand wedge and chipper style

Cons

• The chipper style is low lofted and won’t work well out of bunkers

Cobra MIM Black Wedge

The Cobra is a brand new wedge released this year. The technology used to produce this wedge is unique to the golf world. The MIM stands for Metal Injection Molded, and it will provide some of the best spin and feel on the market. The blade style wedge is not always marketed as the best wedges for high handicappers, but the feel and performance can help higher handicappers get better around the greens.

The MIM Black wedge has a precision CNC milled face and grooves. It also comes with progressive spin technology. The progressive spin allows you to get lots of spin on the lob wedge and a bit less on the sand wedge. The progressive spin allows higher handicappers to learn how to play different types of shots, and hopefully, breakthrough into the mid handicap range.

Pros

• Progressive spin technology
• Beautiful black finish that won’t fade
• Impeccable feel
• Available in two grinds

Cons

• Not as forgiving as some models but will provide more performance.

Callaway Sure Out Wedge

Nobody likes to be in a bunker. For high handicappers, bunker shots are going to come up quite often, and they can be detrimental to your score. As you get better at bunker play, you will realize that it is not all that difficult, but in the meantime, leaving a ball in the sand after a few swings are about as frustrating as it gets on the golf course.

The Callaway Sure Out Wedge is built to make sure that you get out of the sand on your first shot. Sand wedges work well when they have lots of loft. The Sure Out is available in a 56, 58, 60, and 64-degree model. You will notice that this is a very open-faced wedge with a thinner leading edge.

Golfers with less confidence in bunkers are afraid to open the clubface and take that powerful swing that carries the ball out. With the Sure Out, you won’t need to think about opening the clubface; you can set up how you are comfortable and let the wedge do the work for you.

Pros

• Aggressive groove pattern
• Lots of spin
• Works well out of the rough-in addition to the sand

Cons

• Not the most versatile for full swing shots

And The Winner Is…

Wedge buying guide

Looking for some different wedges, find our other reviews below:

• Vokey SM8 review
• Best wedge spin
• 60 degree golf wedge
• Best sand wedge for beginner
• Best gap wedge
• Square Strike wedge review
• Types golf wedges
• Sand wedge
• Callaway Mack Daddy Forged Wedge
• Cutter golf wedges
• Best golf wedge
• RTX ZipCore Wedge
• Best 56 degree wedge
• Best wedge for average golfer

What makes a wedge forgiving ?

There are a few things that will add to how forgiving a golf wedge is. The most common thing you will notice is the center of gravity. Forgiving wedges will have a lower center of gravity.

Forgiving wedges are also going to be cavity back and have a larger clubface than the blade-style wedges. Sometimes a wedge with extra bounce will also be considered more forgiving because it allows golfers to get through the grass and get the ball up in the air.

There is no magic formula when it comes to wedges, you will still need to perfect your skill and learn different types of chip shots and pitch shots to get the best results.

What wedges should high handicappers carry ?

High handicappers should carry the same wedges that low handicappers carry. It is crucial to have a pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, and a lob wedge. Sometimes players that struggle with getting consistent distance will fill their bag with extra fairway woods and hybrids. Make sure to leave room for plenty of wedges.

It is important to make sure you have a club that has more than 56 degrees of loft. These clubs will make a big difference when it comes to learning how to get out of all types of sand traps.

Graphite or Steel Shaft?

You should match the shaft in your pitching wedge or irons to the shaft in your wedges. If you are a slower swinging player that uses graphite in all of their clubs, make sure the wedges have graphite as well. Cleveland sells many of their wedges in a stock graphite shaft.