Wedges are the highest-lofted clubs in a set of golf clubs, designed for short approach shots (for most golfers, 120 yards and in), strokes played out of sand, chip shots and pitch shots, and generally any shot for which the golfer wants the ball to ascend and descend sharply. Show Wedges are also irons, but golfers think of wedges as a sub-set of irons, or as specialized irons. They are often thought of as their own category of golf clubs, in other words. From the 1930s forward, up until the latter part of the 20th century, it was common for even the best golfers to carry only two wedges:
In the late 20th century, as more specialization entered golf, golf companies began making additional wedges. Today, the other two wedges that are common are:
The gap wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge are often sold separately, or, sometimes, as a 3-club sub-set. Sand wedges are sometimes included in a basic set of irons, but it is unusual for a gap or lob wedges to be included in a packaged iron set. Because the focus with wedges is on accuracy—trying to hit a short shot as close as possible to the flagstick—wedges are often referred to as the "scoring clubs." Which Wedges Do Beginners Need?As a beginner, you will not need to concern yourself too much with wedges other than the pitching wedge. Gap wedges and lob wedges are common in the bags of better players, and sand wedges are fairly common for all players. But beginners should not feel obligated to pick up a sand wedge right off the bat. These are specialized clubs for specialized uses, remember, and you'll want to learn how to use the basic clubs first. Once you expand your wedge use, however, the sand wedge should be the first addition. The Characteristics of WedgesWedges feature the shortest shafts and highest lofts of any golf clubs. In fact, wedges are often identified by their loft rather than their name. A lob wedge might instead be called a "60-degree wedge," for example. Sand wedges were invented (generally credited to Gene Sarazen) to make shots out of sand bunkers easier. Typically, sand wedges have lots from 52 to 56 degrees. As lofts on irons have decreased over time (e.g., a 5-iron today might be lofted at 26 degrees, whereas 30 years ago a 5-iron would have been lofted at 32 degrees), it has become more popular to carry additional wedges. A typical lob wedge might have a loft of 60 degrees to 64 degrees. As its name implies, a lob wedge allows a player to "lob" the ball high into the air, from where it will drop steeply down onto the green, with little or no roll. With pitching wedges typically lofted from 42 to 46 degrees, the gap wedge is so-called because it closes the "gap" in loft between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. A typical gap wedge might might be lofted from 48 to 54 degrees. The gap wedge also goes by the names A-wedge, attack wedge and approach wedge. (In the early 2000s, a fifth wedge—usually called an X-wedge—started showing up in the bags of some low-handicappers. X-wedges have the highest lofts of all, 64 to 70 degrees. Today they are still rare outside of the professional ranks, and even most pros don't carry one.) All irons, including wedges, feature a design property known as "bounce angle," often just called "bounce." Bounce is a physical property of the sole of a golf wedge. And bounce is a concept that even golfers who have been playing for decades may not understand, or may misunderstand. So no beginner should worry too much if he hears other golfers talking about "bounce" and doesn't have a clue what it means. You're not required to at this point. So the short version: The amount of bounce a wedge has can make the club more or less resistant to digging into the turf when the club hits the ground in the swing. Different golf course conditions, different uses for the wedge, different types of golf swings require more or less bounce. You can dig into the details, if you wish, in our examination of the role of bounce in wedges. If you do not purchase a sand wedge right off the bat, you'll want to use your pitching wedge for sand shots around the green. When to Use a Wedge for a Golf ShotAs for the appropriate time to use other wedges, that will, of course, be determined primarily by the yardage of your shot. On full shots from the fairway, a typical recreational male golfer might hit a sand wedge about 65-75 yards yards; women, 45-60. A lob wedge would be 40-50 yards for men, 25-40 for women. A gap wedge would fall in between your pitching wedge and sand wedge yardages. And these clubs will, when properly struck, produce a very high, arching shot. So if you need to get over a tree, for example, a wedge comes in handy. Or if you're off the green with a big bunker right between you and the flagstick, a high, arching shot with a wedge is a good choice. Because wedge shots have such a high trajectory, they tend to roll very little once they hit the green. More accomplished players can produce a great deal of backspin with a wedge, causing the ball to back up (or "bite") once it hits the green. Any wedge can also be used for chipping around the green. As a beginner, consider the gap wedge and lob wedge specialty clubs to turn to later in your golf career. A sand wedge is optional for beginners, but will likely be one of the first "add-ons" you purchase if you become addicted to golf. Using WedgesFor some good, basic instruction on the proper ways to use your wedges, see the following features:
And golf instructional video clips relating to wedge use and short game topics are numerous on YouTube. What is a 48 degree wedge called?Pitching wedges are generally in the range of 44 to 48 degrees loft and used for hitting the longest wedge shots into a green. Pitching wedges are also quite handy for short pitch and run shots around the green.
What degree should my gap wedge be?Fitting your gap wedge loft with the proper distance gaps will allow you to hit more full shots. The ideal loft separation between wedges is 4°-6°, resulting in 10-15 yard gaps, so your gap wedge degree should typically be 48°-52°, especially if your pitching wedge loft is 44° to 46°.
Is a gap wedge 50 or 52?A 50-degree wedge is considered a gap wedge and is used to fill the gap between your pitching wedge and your sand wedge. Golfers who have a 50-degree wedge in their bag typically have a pitching wedge that's between 44-46 degrees. The two common wedges people have are pitch and sand wedges.
Is a 5252-degree wedge
This wedge, otherwise known as the gap wedge, was originally used for bridging the gap, pun intended, between the sand wedge and the pitching wedge. This club is best for getting down and up from those areas that are farther away from the green.
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