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Wedges are the clubs which are built to play the attacking game. They could be a very handful in playing pitch, chip, and bunker shots. You can even hit a shot up to a distance of 125m using wedges.
Wedges come with the highest loft and the shortest shaft. They also have the heaviest clubhead. A pro golfer always uses the appropriate wedge matching the purpose of his shot that allows him to roll up on the scoreboard.
Golf Club Wedge Set
A typical Golf Club Wedge Set has four kinds of wedges each differ from the other based on the loft, shaft length, bounce, and the purpose of the shot. Wedges are the club that can provide you with the maximum flight and backspin keeping the ball within the green. A golf club set consist of the following wedges:
- Pitching wedge: The most common wedge
- Gap wedge: The bridging wedge
- Sand Wedge: The rescuer wedge
- Lob Wedge: The widest loft wedge
Golf Wedge: Loft, Bounce, and Shaft Length
The three important feature of each wedge that must be considered while buying a wedge. These features are- the loft, the bounce and the shaft length.
Golf Club Wedges Loft Explained
The angle which the clubhead makes with the vertical plane of the shaft is known as the loft of a golf club. In other words, the angle between the clubhead and the shaft is called the loft. The broader loft allows you to gain more height in your shots but at the same time, this will give you the minimum distance.
Amongst the wedges, a pitching wedge comes with the minimum loft in contrast to this the lob wedge has the maximum loft. Generally, the loft of wedges varies from 47 to 64 degrees.
Golf Club Wedge Degree: Loft
- The loft of a Pitching wedge is about 47 to 50 degrees
- The loft of a Gap wedge is about 50 to 53 degrees
- The lof of a Sand wedge is about 54 to 58 degrees
- The loft of a Lob wedge is about 60 to 64 degrees
Golf Club Wedges Bounce Explained
The angle which the sole of a golf club makes with the ground is termed as the bounce of a club. The curve of a club which you see touching the ground it the bounce. The more the bounce is, the easier to hit the ball.
Apart from this the bounce also helps you to get a higher flight of the ball. The bounce of golf club wedge varies between 2 to 14 degrees. The standard bounce of different wedges are as follows:
Golf Club Wedge: Bounce
- The Pitching wedge has a bounce between 2 to 5 degrees
- The Gap wedge has a bounce between 5 to 10 degrees
- The Sand wedge has a bounce of between 10 to 14 degrees
- The Lob wedge has a bounce between 0 to 10 degrees
Golf Club Wedges Shaft Length Explained
Like the other Golf Clubs wedges also differ from each other based on the shaft length. Ideally, the length of a pitching wedge should be 0.25m shorter than the 9-Iron; the gap wedge should be a half-inch shorter than the pitching wedge; the sand wedge should be shorter by 0.75 inches than the gap wedge and the lob wedge should be 1-inch shorter than the sand wedge.
Golf Club Wedge: Length
- The average length of a pitching wedge is 35.75 inches
- The average length of a gap wedge is 35.25 inches
- The average length of a sand wedge is 34.50 inches
- The average length of a lob wedge is 33.50 inches
Golf Wedge Use Explained
When it comes to uses, the versatility of golf club wedges is unmatchable. You can play a variety of shots with the help of wedges. No matter whether you want to hit a pitch or a chip shot or want to extract the ball from the bunker or long grass wedges are always there in your bag to help you out in all the above situations. Let’s have a look at the particular use of each wedge:
Pitching Wedge
A Pitching wedge has the broadest loft and the longest shaft. The pitching wedge is used to play pitch and chip shots. You can hit the ball up to 125m using a pitching wedge but this wedge will give you the minimum height in your hence it is not advisable to use a pitching wedge to hit bunker shots.
Gap Wedge
A gap wedge act as a bridging wedge between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. The gap wedge’s loft ranges from 50 to 53 degrees and the bounce is between 5 to 10 degrees. The major use of a gap wedge is to hit mid-chip shots. You can reach a distance of up to 65m.
Sand Wedge
A sand wedge is primarily used to hit bunker shots. Thanks to its high bounce that makes to rescue the ball from the long grass a lot easier. The high loft of the sand wedge (between 54 to 58 degrees) allows you to reach a higher trajectory in your shots that is crucial to extract the ball from the sand.
Related post: Best Sand Wedges in 2020
Lob Wedge
A Lob wedge is used to hit high-flight shots. One can use it to hit bunker shots as well. A lob wedge has the maximum loft that ranges from 60 to 64 degrees. The bounce of a lob wedge could be anywhere between 0 to degrees. You should not hit the full-swing shots with a lob wedge since it will raise the ball too high ad you will not get the desired distance.
Related Post: Best Golf Wedges For Mid Handicapper
Related Post: Best Golf Wedges For High Handicapper
Golf Wedges Loft, Bounce, Length, and Usage Summarized
| Wedge | Loft | Bounce | Length | Use |
| Pitching Wedge | 47° to 53° | 2° to 5° | 35.75” | for pitch and chip shots |
| Gap Wedge | 50°° to 53° | 5° to 10° | 35.25” | for mid and chip shots |
| Sand Wedge | 54° to 58° | 10° to 14° | 34.50” | To escape the ball through the sand |
| Lob Wedge | 60° to 62° | 0° to 10° | 33.50” | To get a high flight and to rescue the ball from the bunker |
Golf Wedges Guide For Beginners:
What is a Golf wedge used for?
Golf wedge used to hit chip, pitch, and bunker shots.
Is an approach wedge is the same as the gap wedge?
Yes, approach wedge and gap wedge are the same wedges.
Should my wedges be the same length?
No, each wedge has a different length according to your handicap.