Your choice of wedge can make or break your game – and choosing which ones to add to your bag can be a daunting task.
For the average golfer, using the right wedges can make shots within 120 yards much easier, while choosing the wrong one can cause a lot of frustration.
To be consistent in the short game a golfer needs the right wedge, otherwise he makes the game more difficult than it needs to be.
There are several main types of golf clubs. Drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters are the most commonly allowed categories.
Drivers and fairway woods are the longest clubs in the bag with the lowest amount of loft. These clubs are used to eat the yard and bring you closer to the green.
Irons are also longer than wedges, have less loft, travel longer, and are used for different shots from different lies. They make the most of the golf bag and run successfully in the side yard with multiple sets from 4 irons to putting wedges.
However, there is a big difference between wedges and irons.
Wedges have short shafts, making them easier to control. The length of the club shaft will have a lot to do with how easy or challenging it is to control your shot.
Wedges also have more loft than irons which produce a higher launch. This makes them ideal for shots around the green where you want to be able to use more spin to get the ball to land where you want it to.
Iron sets come with only one or two wedges – a pitching wedge is the most common and sometimes a gap wedge (also known as an approach wedge) is also added.
This means you will probably need to add 1-3 wedges to complete your bag.
Unlike buying a set of wedges, there are many aspects of wedges to consider, including loft, bounce, sole, grooves, length, finish, and more.
How many wedges should you carry?
Carrying four wedges is more common among better golfers who are more likely to hit wedges.
Having an extra wedge makes it easier to hit different types of full or partial shots on close birdie putts.
Medium handicap players can only carry three wedges as they have long shots.
Instead of carrying a fourth wedge, they can get more help by adding more fairway woods, a utility iron, or a hybrid that will help them get to tees closer to the law.
Whether you choose to carry three or four wedges in your set, make sure you drill them properly. The last thing you want is large gaps in distance between clubs that make it more difficult to hit a good score.
If your pitching wedge is 46 degrees and your sand wedge is 56 degrees, for example, that’s 10 degrees of loft separating the two clubs. This can be related to the 20-30+ yards separating each wedge, which can leave some awkward shots on the golf course.
Beginners may benefit from the gradual addition of wedges and may even choose to start with just one wedge in the bag while paying attention to the high angle of your shortest iron.
Wedge clubs are highly customizable and many golfers will benefit greatly from having these clubs professionally fitted.
Grain grinding is not standard across the industry with different brands using their systems so be careful to compare grinding across brands.
