Are you ready to take your game to the next level? Then you should consider buying some new wedges. These are the best golf wedges for Beginners & high handicappers in 2023.
Whether you’re new to the game or an expert, there’s no denying that hitting the ball straight and far is one of the most important aspects of golf. It can be difficult to find the right wedge for beginners, especially if your club selection is limited. Golfers should consider the following wedges for their game:
What is a Golf Wedge?
Research shows that around a quarter of all golf shots are played with a wedge, proving their importance to every golfer. It can be challenging for newbies to understand and use the golf wedge as they struggle to find their rhythm in the game.
So, what is a golf wedge? It is a golf club that belongs to the iron family and is designed to be used in specific situations. A lofted iron is used by golfers within 100 yards of the green. A player’s ability to make accurate short-distance “lob” shots is aided by the high loft, short shafts, and heavy clubheads of the irons.
Due to the evolution of golf wedges over time, a variety of wedges are available depending on the type of shot and distance required. Moreover, wedges come with modified soles that facilitate the movement of the clubhead through soft lie conditions like mud, sand, and thick grass.
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Types of Wedges in Golf
A professional typically carries three to four wedges to an event. The wedge is still an important part of the game, even though it may appear to be a simple club without as many technological advancements as drivers and irons. It’s easy to become confused, however, due to the wide variety of wedges available for various playing scenarios.
In this article, we will discuss the most common types of golf wedges and their applications.
Pitching Wedges
Pitching wedges have the least loft of all golf wedge types since they are one of the most popular.
Pitching wedges typically have a loft between 44 degrees and 50 degrees. If you strike a golf ball properly with a pitching wedge, the ball will fly between 110 and 140 yards.
Most golfers who are trying to hit the green use this type of wedge. When using a pitching wedge, golfers should not expect the ball to roll too far on the green. This is because it is typically used to send the ball high into the air.
Gap Wedge
Wedges of this type also feature shallow lofts. After the pitching wedge, it has the second-lowest loft.
There is a typical range of 46-54 degrees for the gap wedge loft.
Normally, golfers use this wedge to play short shots that are longer than sand wedges. In the right situation, gap wedges can be used between 90 and 110 yards.
You will need to purchase gap wedges as additional equipment since they aren’t included in standard golf clubs.
Sand Wedge
Wedges are designed to allow golfers to hit their balls out of bunkers or sand traps based on their names. As a result, golfers can use these clubs in the rough, sand, or fairway. Moreover, they are designed for versatility and can be used anywhere.
Sand wedges typically feature a loft between 54 and 58 degrees.
When hitting a golf ball with a sand wedge, it will travel about 90 yards. Putting a spin on a ball is also possible due to the shortness of sand wedges.
Lob Wedge
Unlike pitching wedges, lob wedges aren’t included in most standard golf club sets, so most beginners may not know about them. They must therefore be purchased separately by golfers.
Compared to other wedges, lob wedges have the most loft – between 60 and 65 degrees. They are useful when it comes to making precise shots on the green.
With lob wedges, golfers can hit the ball up to 70 yards in the air due to their high trajectory.
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What is a golf wedge bounce?
Your short game is greatly affected by wedge bounce. Here’s what you need to know about wedge bounce You can also find a bounce that’s right for you using the Data provided.
The angle formed between the leading edge and the sole or trailing edge is called wedge bounce. As the club hits the ball, this part of the club hits the ground.
At address, the leading edge is higher off the surface the higher the wedge bounce degree. To ensure optimal contact, control, and ball spin, the wedge bounce and grind should be selected carefully.
A wedge shot can still be properly struck even if you make a mistake, by using bounce as a buffer. This is why Bob Vokey declares bounce as your friend, saying, “Bounce is your friend.”.
Low Bounce Wedges
In bunkers with harder or coarser sand, low-bounce wedges typically range from 4° to 6°. The low bounce wedge gives you the precision you need in the short game because it allows clean ball contact.
You can hit high flop shots with low-bounce lob wedges off tight lies near the green, for instance. For players who swing with a sweeper swing style, low-bounce wedges will also produce shallower attack angles and fewer divots.
Mid Bounce Wedges
Most players play mid-bounce wedges on a firm to normal turf, and their bounce ranges from about 7° to 10°. To achieve precise distance and trajectory control, players tend to choose mid-bounce wedges.
More players can apply this wedge bounce type to a wider range of course conditions, making it the most versatile type of wedge bounce.
In general, mid-bounce wedges are best used with neutral swing styles and moderate attack angles.
High Bounce Wedges
Those wedges with a high bounce are designed for soft turf, fluffy lies, or soft sand bunkers. When playing with a deep divot using a digger swing style and steep attack angle, high-bounce sand wedges are ideal to prevent the leading edge of the club from dragging too much in the sand.
By generating a lot of spins, high-bounce wedges help players improve their short game.
How To Choose the Perfect Wedge?
Your full set of irons, or perhaps a new driver, maybe the focus of your decision to purchase a new set of golf clubs. You should consider wedges when playing your game and shooting your highest scores.
To play well, you should have at least two wedges, a pitching wedge, and a sand wedge. There are four types of wedges that the most successful players in the world typically carry: a pitching wedge, a gap wedge, a sand wedge, and a lob wedge.
It is crucial that you have the necessary golf clubs to execute a variety of shots and get the ball in the hole in the least amount of strokes possible, considering that most of your shots will take place within 100 yards of the hole.
Loft
Golf wedges are primarily characterized by their loft. An imaginary vertical straight line is used to measure the angle of the wedge’s face. A driver’s loft is 9-13 degrees while your lob wedge’s loft is 60-64 degrees.
A golf club with a higher loft will generate more backspin on the golf ball. Due to this, the golf shot has a higher trajectory with less distance because it rises higher into the air. Hence, your wedges (more backspin) can stop faster on the green than your driver (less backspin), even if your driver hits farther than your wedges (less loft).
To cover various short-game shots, most golfers carry a variety of wedges in their bags with different lofts.
If you fly over a bunker to a tight pin position with little green to land the ball on, you can use a 54-degree wedge for most chip shots and a 64-degree lob wedge for flop shots.
Bounce
The bounce of your wedges helps them avoid burying themselves in the turf during chipping, pitching, or bunker shots. Among the parts of a wedge’s bounce are its sole, leading edge, and sole angle, and it is actually the section that actually makes contact with the ground.
When choosing a wedge, you can choose from a variety of bounce options. Start by considering your swing tendency. On your wedge shots, do you dig the ball or sweep it? In this way, you can figure out whether more bounce (for the digger) or less bounce (for the sweeper) is needed.
Low bounce wedges (above 5) have a bounce range of 0 to 14 degrees and are classified into three groups; medium bounce wedges (6 to 10 degrees) and high bounce wedges (10 degrees and higher).
By measuring the angle between the leading edge and the sole, we can determine the bounce angle. Due to the wedge’s bounce angle, the sole sits lower than the leading edge. This makes the sole make contact with the ground. It helps prevent the wedge’s leading edge from digging into the ground.
Sole & Sole Grind
As the wedge sits at the address, its sole is in contact with the ground. The width is usually one or two inches. A machine grinds down the sole to create different shapes that can affect its setting on the ground.
Depending on the shot type, a heel grind can raise the club at the address so it sits lower at the address. The sole grind, however, affects bounce.
In terms of sole grind, a wedge is marked with letters such as “C”, “S”, or “U”. Consider your chip shot and pitch shot styles when choosing the grind for your wedge.
Grooves
On the club head of the wedge, grooves are visible. Recently, the USGA changed rules to change these groove lines, stating that they provided an unfair advantage.
Golf clubs have grooves that enable them to grip the ball, just as tires have treads that make them grip the road. As part of the USGA’s spin regulations, grooves are commonly laser etched onto club faces.
Additionally, they help to create friction with the golf ball to help you gain control of the greens with your short game by generating spin and trajectory.
If you want your chips to perform consistently and produce high-spin golf shots, keep the grooves clean. Keeping the face and grooves of your golf clubs clean is essential to ensuring optimal performance. We recommend carrying a damp towel in your golf bag.
Leading Edge
There are grooves etched into the wedge face to create a spin on a golf ball. Typical wedge faces have a rounded pear shape. Throughout the guide, the leading edge refers to the bottom edge of the club face.
It is common for flop shops to raise the leading edge of their wedges by tilting the shaft back at the address. The leading edge of the golf ball is also raised up higher away from the ground at the address, which can make it more likely that it will be skilled.
You can create a crisper contact with your shaft if you tilt it forward (hands lead ahead of the ball) but also if you attack the ball with chunks and digs.
Finishes
There are many colors you can choose from when purchasing wedges, such as bronze, silver, blackout, or even blueish. This would be known as the finish the wedge received.
The type of finish you choose comes down to personal preference. Which color appeals to you the best and which gives you confidence at the address when you look down at your wedge about to pull off a successful chip or pitch shot?
- Dark Finish – usually black or dark gray with chipped paint across the wedge.
- Chrome & Nickel – this is the silver-colored wedge finish that lasts longer and keeps its appearance.
- Rose Gold & Bronze – also known as raw finishes, tend to rust more over time, thus adding more friction to the wedges.
Shaft
There is a specific “wedge flex” built into the wedge shaft that makes it similar to a stiff shaft. In addition to steel wedge shafts, graphite wedge shafts are also available if the club set is graphite.
You will find that wedges have the shortest shaft length in your golf bag, but this is designed to generate a lot of backspin and height on your shots.
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5 Best Wedges For Beginners
1. Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge
Best Overall Performance Golf Wedge
One of Callaway’s newest game improvement wedges, the Mack Daddy CB is designed to “play easy but bite hard”. As a complement to cavity back irons, the Callaway Mack Daddy CB wedge enhances forgiveness.
Key Features:
- Seamless Transition From Cavity Back Irons: Due to the deep cavity back, slightly larger head, and thicker topline, you’ll have the confidence and control of an iron with the control of a wedge.
- Player-Friendly Sole Grinds: The sole grind is available in two options for better consistency. With a full sole in the lower lofts, you’ll easily interact with the turf like you would with an iron. For more forgiveness out of bunkers and thick rough, the modified W Grind enhances bounce in mid and higher lofts.
- Aggressive Spin and Enhanced Control: A JAWS groove provides precise edge sharpness on every groove, ensuring maximum grip and spin regardless of lie type. Conventional grooves are present in lofts 46° through 52°, and full-face grooves are present in lofts 54° through 60°.
- Premium Shafts & Grips: In addition to a high-performance steel shaft, the all-new KBS Hi-Rev G graphite shaft is available.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Thick rough and sand traps deliver unbeatable performance | It is difficult to make full shots with a wide sole |
| You’ll feel much more confident on the greens with this | – |
| A superb combination of spin, forgiveness, and distance | – |
| It’s just a pleasant feeling | – |
| There is a lot of interest in extended grips | – |
Conclusion:
The Callaway Mack Daddy CB wedge delivers the results players were looking for around the greens: great performance, great consistency, and enough spin for close-in putting.
2. Square Strike Wedge
Best Budget Golf Wedge
The Square Strike Wedge was developed for golfers who struggle with conventional golf wedges when chipping and pitching. Using the Square Strike Wedge, golfers can approach the hole without making a perfect swing by using an almost putting-like motion. The Square Strike Wedge might prove useful to golfers who frequently blad chip shots or chunk wedges.
Key Features:
- To help players eliminate hitting the golf ball fat when chipping and pitching, the Square Strike Wedge features a large chambered sole.
- To help high-handicap golfers with their short game, the Square Strike Wedge encourages a putting-like stroke.
- For all competitive play, the Square Strike Wedge is USGA-compliant.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| This wedge is one of the easiest to hit in golf history | Compared to most traditional wedges, this wedge is much lighter |
| If you prefer a simple short-game approach, this is the club for you | There is no forged clubhead, which can affect the feel of the club |
| In tight lies and on firm sand, great overall performance was achieved | In comparison to other wedges, it is difficult to apply the same spin rates |
Conclusion:
Golf chippers provide forgiveness, while wedges provide loft. Taking some of the complexity out of approach shots and simplifying the short game is what the Square Strike is all about for golfers. The Square Strike Wedge is for golfers who frequently chunk or fatten chip shots. However, for those that simply want to show up and play, the Square Strike Wedge may be the perfect option.
3. TaylorMade Golf MG2
Best looking Golf Wedge
MG2 wedges feature raw faces so that the surface material rusts over time and maintains high spin generation in wet conditions. As part of TaylorMade’s efforts to aid spin and precision around the greens, Raised Micro-Ribs has been added between the grooves. As a result, the friction between the ball and the clubface is further enhanced by the abrasive surface.
Key Features:
- RAW FACE TECHNOLOGY: The face of the MG2 features several innovations designed to maximize spin. ZTP’s RAW Groove Design, along with laser engraving, produces more greenside spin.
- MILLED GRIND SOLE: A human can’t maintain tolerance levels as high as those achieved by milling. As a result, each wedge is ground precisely to provide optimal turf interaction.
- THICK-THIN HEAD DESIGN: The CG location can be optimized by redistributing mass for enhanced feel and precise flight.
- TPU INSERT: Vibration is dampened by the TPU insert in the wedge’s back cavity, creating a solid, positive impact.
- TWO FINISH OPTIONS: Designed to suit the eye of any golfer, this wedge is available in matte black and satin chrome.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Looks great | Golf balls are damaged by very rough faces |
| Good feel and feedback | – |
| Excellent amount of spin | – |
Conclusion:
A Milled Grind 2 wedge gives you ultimate spin control and looks fantastic. If you’re looking for a new wedge, look no further than this one.
4. Titleist Vokey SM8 Wedges
Most Suggested Golf Wedge
A wedge is one of your most significant scoring clubs, and SM8 gives you all the tools you need to hit it closer to the hole from 120 yards and in. There are 23 lofts and bounce options across six different sole grinds, along with high levels of consistent spin, a superior feel, and a great deal of versatility.
Key Features:
- In SM6, distance and trajectory control was refined, and in SM7, the design was reimagined. There is a shift in the center of gravity (CG), resulting in a higher moment of inertia (MOI). A clubface that simply squares up at impact means an improved feel for golfers.
- THE HEOF VERSATILITY Every swing is unique, so each wedge must be tailored to your swing. To create an affordable, high-quality sole grind for players of all levels, Bob Vokey has spent years crafting, developing, and perfecting his Tour-proven sole grinds.
- With the SM8, you can maximize spin and shot control by cutting the grooves right to their edge. To double groove durability, every groove on every head is 100% inspected for conformity and treated with localized heat.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Excellent looks | Takes time to dial in the right loft and bounce options |
| Very durable | A bit pricey |
| Spin milled grooves | Relatively narrow soles |
| Straight flight | – |
| A variety of grind options | – |
| Very accurate | – |
Conclusion:
They are an easy choice for me to put in my bag because of the stylish look and design, as well as the performance they provide. As well as the performance, the sound and feel of the wedges are good. It’s sure there’s one that fits your game among the many finishes, bounces, and grinds offered by Vokey.
5. Cleveland Smart Sole 4
A superb performing wedge With Great forgiveness
Especially on bunker shots, Smart Sole 4 features an enhanced three-tiered sole for ease of movement. The Smart Sole 4 adds versatility and ease to the short game with improved Feel Balancing Technology, aggressive milled grooves, and the new “G” model.
Key Features:
- Enhanced Three-Tiered Sole: In the fairway, rough or out of bunkers, the extra wide three-tiered sole provides maximum forgiveness.
- Improved Feel Balance Technology: The center of gravity of the clubface is moved closer to the center after the weight is redistributed from the hosel. This will provide a better feel and more consistency on all shots.
- Aggressive milled grooves: From any condition, the new aggressive milled grooves increase spin performance.
| Pros: | Cons |
|---|---|
| This golf wedge offers extra-leading edge bounce. | Not ideal for pro-level golfers. |
| The Cleveland Smart Sole 4 wedge provides you with more control and spin. | The price is a bit high. |
| This golf wedge offers both precision and feel. | – |
| Perfect golf wedge for players who are struggling with playing chip shots. | – |
| Great value for money. | – |
Conclusion:
If you want consistency in your short game, these wedges will be ideal for you. With consistency and forgiveness, I will make up for what I’m losing in distance. That’s something I can’t emphasize enough: why would anybody hit a wedge a mile long if they weren’t consistent? If you want to improve your short game, I recommend these wedges.
3 Steps to choosing a good golf wedge
Ensure that the shaft is made of the right material
In terms of consistency in your swing, the shaft of a wedge is fundamental. You will be able to keep your game even by choosing a wedge with the same or similar weight as your other clubs.
Material plays a crucial role here. It is important to consider the material of the clubs when you are purchasing them. You should use a graphite shaft on your wedge as well if you play with graphite clubs. As an alternative, if you play with steel, you should choose a steel wedge.
It is important to choose the loft according to the shot’s requirements
‘Loft’ refers to the angle between the clubface and the shaft. Wedge types are determined by loft, as we discussed previously. High lofts tend to travel higher and further, while low lofts tend to travel shorter distances. In the game, nobody knows better than you what wedge type to use at each moment.
Be sure to study different combinations and keep a bounce in mind
The best approach shots are those hit with the right club. Golf wedges certainly make a difference in your short game, but knowing how to successfully combine them is just as important as buying good ones. To put it simply, this means that having one good wedge is not enough: you need to have different wedges for different types of shots.
You should therefore study the different combinations between wedges and remember that though loft is the main characteristic defining different types of wedges, it is not the only one. For instance, bounce, which is the angle between the ground and the clubface, is very important when it comes to dif
Conclusion
If you are a beginner golfer, the right wedge can make a real difference to your game. You will have more control over your shot and be able to hit it higher and farther than you would otherwise. Your aim will improve with time and practice, so don’t give up on your wedges just yet!
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