Basics of Golf Equipment

Wedges have come a long way in recent years. New lofts and clubhead shapes have prompted many players to carry as many as four wedges, for every conceivable situation around the green. If you're just carrying the old reliable pitching wedge, you're missing out on some simple ways to lower your scores. After all, more than 70% of your game is played from 100 yards or closer. More below...

Classic Grind Wedge Improve your short game with a wedge that offers you control, touch and a classic sleek design. The wedge has a unique beveled sole combined with proven shape and bounce design to provide accurate play from any lie. Let the Classic Grind Wedge build confidence in your short game resulting in fewer wasted strokes around the green and lower scores. Price starts from $29.95 and includes Custom Fitting, as well as full Money back Guarantee and a full year of Warranty. Click here to get the Classic Grind Wedge custom fitted for you.

Tour Leader Ladies Wedge Wedge play is all about feel. The Tour Leader wedge features a wider than usual sole. It also allows you to make pure contact on those tough approach shots that can generate headaches at times. Whether you are chipping or hitting short shots these wedges are the leading choice for improving your short game. Price starts from $19.00 and includes Custom Fitting, as well as full Money back Guarantee, and a full year of Warranty. Click here to get the Tour Leader Ladies Wedge custom fitted for you.

Pursuit s510 True Forged The Pursuit s510 scoring wedge is manufactured using a true 5 step high pressure forging process that compacts the carbon steel molecules close together for exceptional feel and control. No manufacturing step is compromised. No players feature missing. A finest Quality True Temper Feather Flight shaft and a Golf Pride Dual Durometer grip complete the story. Price starts from $47.50 and includes Custom Fitting, as well as full Money back Guarantee, a full year of Warranty, and free Shipping within the continental US if purchase is above $99. Click here to get the Pursuit s510 True Forged custom fitted for you.

SGS Oil Can Wedge The Tradition SGS Oil Can scoring wedge features our "Score Grind Sole" that allows shot making flexibility to get the ball close to the hole from a variety of lies. An iridescent polished oil can finish over form formed cast carbon steel offers feel and feedback at an affordable price. Milled score lines generate spin and a green holding trajectory.. Price starts from $29.50 and includes Custom Fitting, as well as full Money back Guarantee, a full year of Warranty, and free Shipping within the continental US if purchase is above $99. Click here to get the SGS Oil Can Wedge custom fitted for you.

	Our Best Tips • Bounce angle • Dig • Gap wedge • Heel-toe camber • Insert • Leading edge • Lob wedge • Loft angle • Pitching wedge • Sand wedge • Scoring • Sole • Sole width • Trailing edge

How Wedges Work

All wedges are characterized by high lofts (typically 45-60 degrees) to increase trajectory, and significant sole weighting to help you penetrate sand or grass. Most are also heavier overall. But that's where the similarities end. Each wedge type has its own characteristics, making it suited to a particular distance or lie.

One important characteristic is the bounce angle. As the name implies, this feature enables the clubhead to "bounce" out of the sand or rough without digging in. If you look at the sole of a sand wedge, for instance, you'll notice that the trailing edge hangs below the leading edge. Bounce is the angle formed by the leading edge and the ground. This tiny angle (maximum 16 degrees) doesn't sound like much, but it's what makes it worthwhile for you to carry a good sand wedge in your bag. Without bounce, you may just stay in that bunker forever. And in general, less experienced players should use a club with more bounce in soft or fluffy lies. Trust me.

As with putters, wedges are the focus of a lot of experimentation in materials and face inserts. Clubheads are often made of softer materials, such as copper or beryllium alloy, to increase feel and touch around the green. Some are intended to rust over time, giving a unique appearance. Manufacturers have also devised unique ways to impart precise spin on the ball and help it hold the green upon landing. The most basic treatment is scoring or sandblasting of the face. U-shaped grooves, which are square at the bottom, are also used. Still another method is to use a different material altogether in the face, such as a super-hard diamond compound.

One major development has been the introduction of the "gap" or "dual" wedge. As manufacturers decreased the loft of the typical pitching wedge to increase its distance (a little sleight of hand), they created a "gap" between it and the next longest club, the sand wedge (see graphic). Thus, in order of distance, the progression is as follows: pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge. They are described here in order.

Pitching Wedge
This club has typically 45-49 degrees of loft and is used for longer approach shots (about 110 yards for men, 90 yards for women). Because it's most often hit from the grass, it has minimal bounce (2-5 degrees). In fact, a lot of bounce would be undesirable in this club, because it would make it more difficult to get the leading edge under the ball, causing you to skull it.

Gap Wedge
This club has typically 49-54 degrees of loft and is used for shots of about 100 yards for men, or about 95 yards for women. Bounce is typically 5-12 degrees. But don't pick a gap wedge at random. Choose a loft that divides the "gap" evenly between your pitching and sand wedges. For instance, if you have a 48-degree PW and a 56-degree SW, buy a gap wedge with 52 degrees. Get it? This club is also known as a "dual" or "attack" wedge.

Sand Wedge
This club has typically 54-57 degrees of loft and is used for shots of about 90 yards maximum for men, or about 80 yards for women. It also has the most unique clubhead of the bunch, with lots of bounce (10-16 degrees) and another feature called heel-toe camber. This is what gives the sand wedge an oval shape on the bottom of the face. Finally, sand wedges have more sole width (the distance between the leading and trailing edge). All these features are designed to reduce the risk of digging in.

Lob Wedge
This club has 57 or more degrees of loft and is used for shots of about 65 yards maximum for men, or 60 yards for women. These clubs, also called "finesse" wedges, are for "touch" shots around the green that need to get into the air quickly and land softly. Bounce is minimal (0-10 degrees), because in these situations there is generally very little room under the ball, and a tiny error can make the club bounce off the ground and cause a skulled shot. It has less sole width and a sharp leading edge. One reason many players like this club is because it allows a full, unimpeded swing to cover a short distance, rather than making you rely on an abbreviated swing. The ball flies short and high.

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Finally discovered a concise description of the four wedges -- their loft, purpose, caveats & advice, glossary of terms. Only a click away after Googling "wedge club". Congratualtions.
Peter Newson (email on file)

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