Words: Jacqui Brownson

Once you’re getting closer to the green there are a lot of club choices to help you get the ball close to the pin and (if you’re lucky, in the hole!). 

Why are there so many types of wedges and what are they for? 

Here’s a brief overview of the main wedges people have in their golf bags and what they are used for. Important - most of the time the wedges are the scoring shots.  

Wedge Glossary 

Why are there so many wedges on the market?

To simplify it, wedges come in many different lofts and bounces, usually from 44 degrees to 64 degrees, and bounces between 4 degrees and 14 degrees. 

The loft of a wedge is the angle created between the face of the wedge and an imaginary vertical line. The more loft on the wedge, the more elevation on your shot, resulting in a higher ball flight and less distance.

When you buy a pitching wedge in a standard set, they are normally 44 degrees and the sand wedge is normally 56 degrees.  As you can see there is a big gap of 12 degrees between those two wedges. If you wish to fill that gap, you can get a 52-degree wedge. Wedges in most leading brands are available in every 2 degrees of loft.

Most professional golfers carry three or four wedges to offer variation and selection to their short game. The key is to make sure there are no big gaps in your lofts.

The other option to wedges is bounce. The bounce of a wedge is the area of the club that hits the turf, and then bounces the club through the surface under the ball at impact.  Bounce is the name used in the sole design.  Low-bounce wedges are normally used on harder surfaces around the green and higher-bounce wedges are used in sand and softer turf conditions.

Wedges with little bounce are usually better suited to players who sweep the ball, taking a shallower divot, and firmer turf conditions.

There are, of course, mid-bounce wedges which are a more versatile option, suited to a wider range of conditions and swing types.  

Then we come to the grind and finish of the club.  This is best explained with the picture below showing three different grinds.   

A heel grind will remove material from the heel of the sole to allow the face to sit lower to the ground - so it is easier to open the club face at address.  

Wedges also come in different finishes.  Most of the wedges you see will have a chrome finish however lately there are a lot of raw finishes.  The latter are designed to wear and rust over time, which can improve friction and lead to improved spin.   

Now that we have explained all about wedges, here is a review of the latest and greatest on the market today.

PXG0311 Sugar Daddy II Wedges

PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II wedges are engineered for optimal bounce, insane accuracy and stopping power. These wedges are 100% milled and full-face grooves. The design really helps your short game and the feel you get out of a milled wedge is incredibly soft.

Titleist SM10 Vokey Wedges 

The all-new SM10 wedges are the most widely used on the PGA tour and have a fantastic feel. The loft and bounce and grind combinations are huge.

Titleist SM10 Vokey Wedges 

The all-new SM10 wedges are the most widely used on the PGA tour and have a fantastic feel. The loft and bounce and grind combinations are huge.

Callaway Jaws Raw Wedges 

Callaway wedges, under the banner name of Jaws Raw, are selling unreal. All of my customers love the look and feel of a Callaway Jaws Raw wedge. You can see from the picture below that these wedges are available in lots of different grinds - be sure to check with your local Drummond Golf store which grind is best for you.