Wedges

How to choose a golf wedge

Read the numbers on the sole. A wedge marked 56.12 is 56 degrees of loft and 12 degrees of bounce. Loft controls how high and how far it goes. Bounce is the angle of the sole and it controls how the club interacts with the turf. Almost nobody explains this and it is the whole decision.

Check your pitching wedge first, then fill the gaps. Modern iron sets have much stronger lofts than they used to, so a pitching wedge can be 43 or 44 degrees. Work out yours, then space your wedges four to six degrees apart from there. If your pitching wedge is 44, a 50 and a 56 covers most of what you need.

Match bounce to your turf and your swing. High bounce, 12 degrees and up, suits soft turf, fluffy sand and a steep swing that takes a divot. Low bounce, 6 to 8 degrees, suits firm turf, tight lies and a shallow swing. Mid bounce around 10 is the safe answer if you play a mix.

Which wedges do you need

• Pitching wedge, 44 to 48 degrees. Usually comes with your iron set. Check the loft, because it sets the spacing for everything below it.
• Gap wedge, 50 to 52 degrees. The most commonly missing club in a golf bag. It fills the space between a strong pitching wedge and a sand wedge, and it covers a yardage most golfers currently have no club for.
• Sand wedge, 54 to 56 degrees. The most used wedge in the bag and not only from sand. If you own one wedge beyond your set, this is it. Look for 10 to 14 degrees of bounce.
• Lob wedge, 58 to 62 degrees. For high, soft shots over a bunker or onto a tight pin. Genuinely useful if you practise with it and a liability if you do not.
• Chippers. A club shaped like a wedge with a putter length shaft, for players who struggle around the green. Not for everyone, but they save shots for the golfers who need them.

Our take on wedges

Grooves wear out faster than anything else in the bag, and worn grooves cost you spin on exactly the shots where spin matters. A wedge is also the cheapest club in the bag to replace. If your sand wedge has been in play for more than three seasons and you play weekly, it is doing less than you think.

Common questions

What does 56.12 mean on a wedge?

Fifty six degrees of loft and twelve degrees of bounce. Loft controls distance and height. Bounce is the angle of the sole and controls how the club moves through turf and sand.

How many wedges do I need?

Two or three, spaced four to six degrees apart. Check your pitching wedge loft first, because modern sets are much stronger than they used to be and the gap below them is where shots go missing.

What bounce should I use?

High bounce, 12 and up, for soft turf, soft sand and a steep swing. Low bounce, 6 to 8, for firm turf and a shallow swing. Around 10 degrees is the safe middle if you play a mix of courses.

What is a gap wedge?

The wedge between your pitching wedge and your sand wedge, usually 50 to 52 degrees. It is the most commonly missing club in an amateur bag.

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• All golf clubs
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Not sure which is right for your game? Every Drummond Golf store offers free MiMatch custom fitting. Our team analyses your swing and matches you to the right specs, at no cost and with no obligation to buy. Find your local store or book a fitting online.