To play up to your highest potential, you need the right set of golf equipment, especially golf wedges.
There is nothing more exciting than having an off day of ball striking, yet you still post great scores because of your wedge game.
Indeed, when you are hitting it well and your wedges are working perfectly, you are more likely to have your best rounds ever.
However, if you are new to the game and probably don’t know the right set of golf wedges to buy, you need a few tips to get the best wedges.
Sometimes, even pros have a challenge in picking their wedges. This challenge could be due to the proliferation of technology and variety of models offered in the market.
Regardless of your proficiency level, you have to look deeper into the main factors that make golf wedges right.
You have to ensure that you have even gaps between the loft of your wedges. If you are still confused, don’t worry.
Today, we will walk you through the wedge selection criteria. We will also cover everything that you need to know about golf wedges. So, read on to find out the details.
What Is a Golf Wedge?
Before we can look at various aspects of choosing the right golf wedges, it is important to know what golf wedges are.
It is equally important to understand similar equipment to be able to compare them to golf wedges.
In golf, there are a few key types of clubs. These are drivers, hybrids, fairway woods, wedges, putters, and irons. The longest clubs are fairway woods and drivers.
These clubs also have the lowest loft. Irons are significantly longer than wedges and have less loft. Hybrids are in between irons and wedges.
So, we can summarize as:
- Wedges have more loft than irons, thus producing a higher launch.
- Wedges have shorter shafts, so they are easier to control.
Different Types of Wedges in Golf
Having the right golf wedges will make your game smoother. You will need these pieces of golf equipment for both full and partial shots inside 100 yards.
They can be your go-to arsenal to improve your score. But you have to know which one to invest in. So, here are the main types of golf wedges:
1. Pitching Wedge
The first and the most common golf wedge is a pitching wedge, or just PW.
Most irons come with this kind of wedge and have between 42 and 47 degrees of loft. A unique thing about it is that it matches your irons.
Most players use a pitching wedge for full-swing shots, but that is not limited to that. You can also use it for short chip shots around the green.
2. Gap Wedge
The second type of golf wedges is a gap wedge. As the name suggests, a gap wedge is used to fill the gap between a sand wedge and pitching wedge.
That is why it is sometimes referred to as an attack wedge, utility wedge, or auxiliary wedge.
In some cases, it comes as part of an iron set just like a pitching wedge. But you can also buy it separately.
It is also important to note that gap wedges have more loft than pitching wedges but smaller loft than sand wedges.
They are useful for knockdown shots, full-swing shots, and use in long greenside bunkers.
3. Sand Wedge
A sand wedge is a slightly larger wedge, which is useful for all types of shots. Most people love sand wedges for their versatility.
In other words, you can use them for knockdown shots, full shots, partial shots, around the greens, and even from the sand.
As mentioned above, a sand wedge has a significantly larger loft of about 54 – 57 degrees. However, it’s still less than a lob wedge in terms of degrees of loft.
4. Lob Wedge
The fourth wedge you can buy is a lob wedge (also known as LW). It is a wedge with the highest degrees of loft, usually ranging from 58 to 64, depending on the brand.
On average, most lob wedges are around 60 degrees of loft and are useful for full swing shots. Lob wedges are also great for flop shots, greenside bunkers, and short-sided shots.
What to Consider When Buying Golf Wedges
When choosing the right golf wedge, you have to put into consideration various factors. Let’s look at each of these factors in detail:
Forgiveness
For a beginner, the main important consideration is how forgiving a golf wedge is.
These players struggle the most when it comes to consistency of strike. So, investing in a forgiving wedge will make more sense.
Wedge Loft
One of the most important things to consider is wedge loft. Due to improved iron technology, wedges are different in terms of loft.
Manufacturers deliver wedges that are strong without negatively impacting launch angle. What it means is that wedge lofts should adapt with strong irons.
Wedge Grooves
Grooves are also an important point to consider when selecting golf wedges. They help reduce spin and add more control on shorter shots around the green.
The two types of wedge grooves are normal and full-face.
A normal wedge groove design has grooves at the center of the face. Comparably, a full-face groove design has grooves across the entire face.
The full-face design is more ideal because of improved control and forgiveness.
Finish
It is common for modern wedges to have a copper or black PVD.
These might seem like just cosmetics, but the thing is that darker finishes help to reduce glare.
Sometimes, you may also want to pick a design or color that matches what you already have in your golf bag.
Full Toe vs. Standard
Just like grooves, there are standard or normal wedges as well as full toe wedges.
The full toe wedge shape inspires confidence and helps you deliver more control for all types of shots.
These wedges are more versatile and useful for hitting out of bunkers.
Wedge Bounce and Sole
Bounce is the angle between the trailing edge and the leading edge of your club.
It plays an important role in helping you get the most out of your short game.
Sometimes you have to try different ‘bounces’ to match your swing types (shallow, moderate, steep).
Our Top Picks
1. Callaway CB 2023 Wedge
The CB 2023 Wedge is one of the most forgiving wedges, constructed with ease of use in mind.
The wedge is also available in many lofts with the option of full-face grooves, especially on higher lofted wedges.
2. Kirkland Signature 3-Piece Wedge Set
Buying yourself three additional golf wedges is not cheap, especially if you are targeting top brands. But with Kirkland, you will get premium-looking wedges at reasonable prices.
You may not get the premium benefits offered by high-priced brands, but in terms of basics, you will get more than what you need.
3. Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2 Wedge
Cleveland’s cavity back wedge blends perfectly with modern sets for mid- to high-handicappers.
The wedge set comes with an enlarged head with full-face grooves that combine forgiveness with control. So, it will inspire confidence around the green.
4. Titleist Vokey SM10 Golf Wedge
The Vokey wedges, especially the SM series, have a great feel and are very solid in construction.
Their head shapes are simple and unfussy, making it easy to strike on the course. But unlike some of the above wedges, the SM10s don’t come with full-face grooves.
5. TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 Golf Wedge
TaylorMade is one of the most respected brands, especially with their clubs. Their wedges feature TaylorMade’s signature shape and have full-face grooves.
So, if you are looking for a brilliantly traditional-shaped wedge with a familiar groove pattern, then the MG4 will be your ideal wedge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The main types of wedges are lob, pitching, sand, and gap wedges. All of them have a different loft degree.
As you may have learned above, the degree of loft plays a crucial role in determining your ball’s trajectory.
In other words, the higher the loft degree, the faster the ball will fly into the air.
Modern wedges are designed with ease of use and forgiveness in mind. But some of them are easier to hit due to their design.
In most cases, cavity-back wedges are the easiest to hit because of the game improvement technology and maximized MOI.
Before investing in golf wedges, keep in mind that there is no right or wrong number in terms of the amount of wedges to carry.
The important thing is to understand your ability level and your love for the game.
It will be a waste of money to invest in many wedges and other clubs only to discover that golf doesn’t work for you.
Typically, an iron set includes two wedges: a pitching wedge and sometimes a gap wedge. So, if you need a complete set, you will need to buy additional wedges.
In most cases, you may choose to have three or four wedges.
Also note that having more wedges will make it easier to hit different types of shots.
That is why carrying four wedges seems to be more common nowadays among pro players.
Mid- to high-handicappers tend to carry only three wedges because they have longer approach shot
As a beginner, you might need a lower angle wedge (loft degree), like a 48° and 54°, for your first season.
The reason for working with such a wedge is that it gives you 6° gaps between wedges. For most newbies, this is manageable.
You might need to wait until season 2 and so on if you are to use a 58° lob wedge. A lob wedge is somewhat different to hit, so it might be ideal to use it on your practice time.
Closing Remarks
Golf wedges are an essential part of your golf arsenal that can make or break your game. Irrespective of your ability level, using the right set of golf wedges can help you make shorts inside 120 yards a breeze.
Without the correct wedge makeup, you will rarely have a consistent short game. To succeed, just follow the tips offered in this guide in addition to your own continuous testing.
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