There are many different things to think about when you are trying to perfect your golf swing.
In this blog post, we will focus on the pitching, gap, sand, and lob wedge shots. Each of these shots requires a different approach, and it is important to understand how each one works in order to execute them properly.
We will also discuss bounce and loft degrees, and how they impact your shot selection. If you are looking to improve your golf game, this is a must-read blog post!
Types Of Golf Wedges
There are four different types of wedges that you can use in the game of golf. These include:
- Pitching Wedge (PW)
- Gap wedge (GW)
- Sand wedge (SW) &
- Lob wedge (LW)
Each one has its own purpose and requires a different approach when it comes to hitting them correctly.
Pitching Wedge (PW): The pitching wedge is your go-to club for short to medium-length shots around the green. It has the most loft of all of the wedges and is designed to help you get the ball up in the air quickly.
Gap Wedge (GW): The gap wedge is a great club to have in your bag when you are faced with a tricky shot. It has a higher loft than the pitching wedge and is designed to help you get the ball out of tight situations.
Sand Wedge (SW): The sand wedge is used for shots from sand traps or rough terrain. It has more bounce than the other wedges, which helps it stay in contact with the ground longer and get the ball out of difficult situations.
Lob Wedge (LW): The lob wedge is designed to help you get the ball in the air quickly and high for a short shot. It has more loft than any other club, which makes it perfect when trying to hit over obstacles or into tight spaces on course layouts that require precision accuracy to score well.
What Are the Lofts of Golf Wedges?
Wedges are clubs that have a higher loft than most irons. The loft of each club is different, depending on its purpose.
The pitching wedge has a loft that is similar to that of an older 9 iron. It is often used to make shots that are around 100 yards long.
The gap wedge has a loft between the pitching and sand wedges, which makes it useful for shots of around 90 yards.
The purpose of the sand wedge is to get out of bunkers and rough areas with ease, so it has more loft than any other iron or wedge.
The lob wedge is the most lofted club in a golfer’s bag and is used to make shots that are around 60 yards long.
Pitching Wedge Loft
The average pitching wedge has a loft angle of around 46 to 48 degrees, although it can vary by as much as seven degrees.
This club is used for long shots that are up to on average 100 away from the pin. It also makes an excellent chipping club when the distance is covered in under 30 yards.
Pitching wedges are available with either a steel or graphite shaft. They can also have either a regular or stiff flex.
The loft of a pitching wedge can be adjusted to fit the individual’s swing. If the ball is hit too high, then the loft can be reduced by a few degrees to help reduce the height of the shot.
In contrast, if the ball is hit too low, then increasing the loft by a few degrees can help to increase the distance of the shot.
Gap Wedge Loft
A gap wedge has a loft of between 50 and 52 degrees, which is slightly lower than that of a sand wedge.
This club can be used for shots that are up to on average 90 away from the green. It is also a good club to use when chipping from around 40 yards out.
Gap wedges are available with either a steel or graphite shaft, and they can have either a regular or stiff flex.
Like the pitching wedge, the loft of a gap wedge can be adjusted to fit the individual’s swing.
If the ball is hit too high, then reducing the loft can help to reduce its height.
In contrast, if the ball is hit too low, then increasing the loft can increase its distance.
Sand Wedge Loft
The average sand wedge has a loft of around 54 to 56 degrees, although it can vary by as much as six degrees.
This club is used for shots that are up to on average 80 yards away from the pin. It also makes an excellent chipping club when the distance is covered in under 20 yards or so.
Sand wedges are available with either a steel or graphite shaft and have either a regular or stiff flex.
Like the pitching wedge, the loft of a sand wedge can be adjusted to fit the individual’s swing.
If the ball is hit too high, then reducing its loft can help reduce its height.
In contrast, if it is hit too low, then increasing the loft can help increase its distance.
In some cases, a sand wedge with more loft may be used when the ball needs to travel a greater distance.
Lob Wedge Loft
The average lob wedge has a loft of around 58 to 60 degrees, although it can vary by as much as four degrees.
This club is used for shots that are up to on average 60 yards away from the green. It also makes an excellent chipping club when the distance is covered in under 15 yards or so.
Lob wedges are available with either a steel or graphite shaft and have either a regular or stiff flex.
Like the other wedges, the loft of a lob wedge can be adjusted to fit the individual’s swing.
If the ball is hit too high, then reducing its loft can help reduce its height.
In contrast, if it is hit too low, then increasing the loft can help increase its distance.
In some cases, a lob wedge with more loft may be used when the ball needs to travel a greater distance.
Golf Wedge Loft Degree Chart
The following chart displays the loft degrees of various golf wedges and their corresponding loft angles.
| Wedge | Loft (Deg) | Bounce (Deg) |
| Pitching Wedge (PW) | 46–48° | ~2-5° |
| Gap Wedges (GW) | 50–52° | ~5-12° |
| Sand Wedge (SW) | 54–56° | ~10-16° |
| Lob Wedge (LW) | 58–60° | ~0-10° |
What Are the Bounce of Golf Wedges?
The bounce of golf wedges is the angle between the leading edge and the lowest point on the sole. Wedge Bounce Degree allows you to use these clubs from bunkers, fairways, or even grass with no problem.
However, remember that each wedge has a different bounce degree for various purposes. A lower bounce number helps ensure better contact. It also helps make smooth, clean contact with the ground or turf.
As for higher bounce numbers, they allow you to play in bunkers and roughs without damaging your club’s sole.
Pitching Wedge Bounce
A pitching wedge usually has a bounce degree of around ~2-5°. So, a pitching wedge is designed to make smooth contact with the ball.
It removes unnecessary bounce between the clubface and turf when you hit your shot. This allows for an easy swing in different grass conditions.
The less bounce also means that it can easily penetrate hard surfaces or bunkers. It works perfectly on short shots as well as pitching and chipping from a tight lie.
A pitching wedge bounce is usually between the range of ~46-48° loft angle. This helps you get more spin on your ball for landing shots with precise accuracy.
As such, this type of club is ideal for players who like to hit full swings to achieve longer distances (on average 100).
Gap Wedge Bounce
The gap wedge bounce degree is usually between ~5-12°. It has a moderate amount of bounce that helps with versatility around the green.
This club can easily get over any kind of obstruction you may face on the golf course. This includes tight lies, sand traps, and thick roughs.
It can also help with delicate shots and chipping from the fairway.
A gap wedge usually has a loft angle of ~50-52°, which is perfect for hitting the ball straighter towards your target. You can also get more backspin to make sure that it lands softly on the green or pin.
It helps you hit longer shots with some extra roll after it lands. For example, you can use this club to achieve a distance of on average 90 yards or more.
It is perfect for players who like to hit half swings when playing and are usually found in the bags of professional golfers.
Sand Wedge Bounce
A sand wedge usually has a bounce degree of ~10-16°. As such, it can easily dig into the ground or turf without damaging your club’s sole. It also provides more control over your shots around greens and fairways.
You can get out of bunkers with ease when you use this club to hit your golf shots. It also helps you hit high, soft shots that land on the green softly.
A sand wedge usually has a loft angle of ~54-56°. This makes it perfect for hitting long bunker shots or recovery shots from difficult lies. You can also use this club to make delicate chips and pitches when playing from the fairway or rough.
If you hit your shot with a sand wedge, the ball will roll out after it lands on the green or fairway. This helps you achieve longer distances with more backspin and spin control (usually from ~80 yards).
It is perfect for players who like to chip and pitch their ball towards the pin directly from bunkers or difficult lies.
Lob Wedge Bounce
A lob wedge usually has a bounce degree of ~0-10°. It is designed to help you hit high, soft shots that land on the green softly.
It can also be used to hit delicate chips and pitches when playing from within 60 yards on average of the hole.
A lob wedge usually has a loft angle of ~58-60°. The higher degree of loft helps you achieve the most backspin and spin control when hitting a shot.
If you hit your shot with a lob wedge, it will land softly on the green or fairway but won’t roll out after landing.
It is perfect for players who like to chip and pitch their ball towards the pin from within 100 yards of the hole. As such, it is usually found in the bags of professional golfers.
So there you have it – a basic guide on the different types of bounce degrees that are available for your pitching, gap, sand, and lob wedges! Remember to choose the club that best suits your playing style and the conditions of the golf course. Happy swinging!
What Should You Look For In A Wedge?
When looking for a wedge, you want to find one with the right bounce and loft degrees. The bounce is how much the clubhead will “skip” off of the ground when it makes contact, while the loft degrees determine how high the ball will travel.
Ideally, you’ll want a wedge with a lot of bounce and a high loft degree to help you get out of those pesky sand traps.
If you’re having trouble deciding which wedge is right for you, ask a golf pro at your local club for advice. They’ll be able to help you find the perfect wedge for your game. And once you’ve got it, practice, practice, practice! The more time spent practicing, the better you’ll do in tournaments.
If you’re new to the game or just starting out with golf clubs, then it’s best to start off by purchasing a pitching wedge and work your way up from there.
Once you’ve mastered that club, move on to getting another one such as an approach or gap wedge so that you have more options when it comes to your swing.
A pitching wedge is typically going to be the easiest type of wedge for most players because it has a low loft degree and high bounce. This means that there’s less chance of hitting behind or in front of where you’re aiming, which makes this club ideal if you’re just starting out.
It’s also great because it’ll help you learn how to swing correctly without worrying too much about hitting the ball into a sand trap or water hazard.
Once you’ve got the hang of things with a pitching wedge, it’s time to move on to a gap wedge which has a higher loft degree and lower bounce than the pitching wedge.
Conclusion
The bounce and loft of your wedges are important to know because they will help you choose the correct wedge for a given lie.
It’s important to remember that the bounce and loft of your wedges will also impact how high you can hit a golf shot.
Remember, the higher the loft of a wedge, the less bounce it will have. And, visa versa – the lower the loft of a wedge, the more bounce it will have. So make sure you select wedges that complement each other and give you the best chance for success!