Do you really need a pitching wedge?

A pitching wedge should be used when on the fairway or rough for approach shots, or when doing some higher trajectory short pitch shots around the green. They are great for creating spin and distance, while also giving you the control you need to keep your short game tight and accurate.

How important is a pitching wedge?

First, a pitching wedge is useful for a variety of situations. You can utilize it for breaking out of a tight spot that demands extra distance. Making simple chip shots is also possible with the pitch wedge. Second, this tool is also suitable for keeping your balls flying lower while still providing enough distance.

What can I use instead of a pitching wedge?

Gap Wedge /A-Wedge:

While this wedge can absolutely be used around the green in a similar fashion as a pitching wedge, the ability to take a full swing and the amount of spin that I can put on the ball makes this my go-to-club when I'm 100 yards out.

Do I need more than a pitching wedge?

Know your pitching wedge loft.

If it's 45 degrees or less, add three more wedges that are spaced apart by no more than 4-5 degrees each. So generally think about putting in a gap wedge that's 48 or 50 degrees, a sand wedge that's between 54 and 56 degrees, and a lob wedge that's between 58 and 60 degrees.

Do I need a sand wedge and a pitching wedge?

Most golfers agree that a sand wedge is essential in your bag. As your experience and skills grow you can look at other wedges but to start with one should have at least a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. The Cleveland CBX 2 Sand Wedge is an example of a quality sand wedge that will work well for most golfers.

Do pros use sand wedges?

80% of the top 100 PGA Tour golfers use 4 wedges with the other 20% using 3. The most common wedge set up used by 51% is a pitching wedge that matches their irons, & 3 specialist wedges including a gap wedge ranging from 50° to 52°, a sand wedge from 54° to 58° degrees & a lob wedge from 58° to 63°.

What type of wedges should I have?

To make it easy, a good rule of thumb is to have about four-degrees of loft between your wedges. So, if your 48-degree pitching wedge flies on average 110 yards, and your 56-degree sand wedge goes about 80 yards, you probably need a 52-degree wedge that carries around 95 yards to fill an important hole in your setup.

Which wedge is best for chipping?

Best Wedges For Chipping 2022

• Ping. Glide Forged Pro Wedge. Check Price.
• Cleveland. RTX ZipCore. Check Price.
• PXG. Sugar Daddy II Wedge. Check Amazon.
• Ping. View.
• TaylorMade. Milled Grind 2 Wedge. Check Price.
• Wilson Staff. Model Wedge. Check Price.
• Cobra. King Snakebite Wedge. Check Price.
• Titleist. Vokey SM9 Wedge. Check Price.

Is a 60-degree wedge worth it?

A 60-degree lob wedge is suited for better golfers and is perfect for launching the ball high in the air and having it land softly on the green. This wedge is ideal for hitting shorter chip shots but should not be the choice for full shots from the fairway.

Do you really need a lob wedge?

Do I need to carry a lob wedge? The short answer to this is no. You don't need a lob wedge in your bag if you learn how to properly use your sand wedge to achieve the desired loft. Yet, many players feel uncomfortable opening their sand wedge to hit soft, high shots as this decreases versatility.

Can you chip with a pitching wedge?

A pitching wedge can also be very useful for chipping around the green. It's best to experiment with different lofts and clubface orientations to get the trajectory you want, whether it be a low roller or a higher shot with less rollout.

What wedge Do pros use around the green?

Lob Wedge. This is a high lofted wedge for very short or high and sharp chips around the green. It generally has a short roll and good control. They generally have a loft of 60 to 64 degrees.

What's the difference between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge?

"In the old days that was okay because most pitching wedges were around 51 degrees. But now they're 45 to 47 degrees while the sand wedge has stayed at 56. That's a two-plus club difference because now the pitching wedge is essentially the loft of a 9-iron."

Is a 10 iron the same as a pitching wedge?

The 10-iron has the same lof as a pitching wedge. But the pitching wedge is a bit heavier and has a more pronounced bounce angle which makes it more versatile than the 10-iron and is why the 10-iron has all but disappeared.

Can a 9 iron be used as a pitching wedge?

As you move through your bag from the short-irons to the pitching wedge, you won't feel a great deal of difference. The 9-iron and the wedge are very similar as you would expect two adjacent clubs in the bag to be. The wedge should be slightly easier to hit, and of course go a little less distance.

How far do average golfers actually hit it?

Driving distance figures from the R&A and USGA's most recent Distance Report show that the average hit by an amateur male club golfer is 215 yards. Five handicaps and below average 240 yards, 6-12 handicaps average 220 yards, 13-20 handicaps average 204 yards and 21 and overs average 187 yards.

What is the rule of 12 in golf chipping?

The Rule of 12 In Golf Chipping. The rule of 12 is a golf chipping technique that explains the exact relationship between the loft on a golf club and the amount of roll you will get on a chip shot. We use 12 yards as the total distance we want the ball to carry on the chip.

What is 52-degree wedge used for?

A 52-degree wedge is considered a gap wedge and is used to fill the gap between your pitching wedge and your sand wedge. Golfers who have a 52-degree wedge in their bag typically have a pitching wedge that's between 47-48 degrees.

How many wedges do pros carry?

Every player on the PGA TOUR is different, but I'd say a large majority carry four wedges in the bag most weeks. The wedge setup is usually pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge. As far as the loft on each wedge, it's all personal preference.

What golf wedges are illegal?

A rule that is more important for wedges is the groove rule originating in 2008. This rule affects all clubs with lofts of 25 degrees and more, which basically means it refers to all the wedges. It banned all wedges with U-shaped grooves, allowing only wedges with V-groove design to be officially used.

What wedges produce the most spin?

Highest Spinning Wedges: Best of the rest

• Bettinardi HLX 3.0: 9,422rpm.
• Sub 70 Forged JB: 9,414rpm.
• Ping Glide 4.0: 9,349rpm.
• PXG 0311 Milled: 9,331rpm.
• Cobra King MIM: 9,304rpm.
• Cleveland RTX ZipCore: 9,289rpm.
• Ping Glide Forged: 9,242rpm.
• Cleveland CBX ZipCore: 9,081rpm.

Is a chipper a legal golf club?

Are Chippers Legal in Golf? Golf chippers are legal because they are iron clubs instead of putters, according to the Equipment FAQ at USGA. However, since they are considered clubs, they must follow the same rules as other woods and irons equipment in the game.

What wedges does Phil Mickelson use?

He uses three PM Grind '19 “Raw” wedges. The PM stands for Phil Mickelson because he helped design the wedges with Roger Cleveland.

How far should you hit a 7 iron?

A standard amateur golfer can hit a 7 iron from 128 yards to 158 yards. The lower range will be for women and senior golfers. To hit the ball over 150 yards in total distance with a 7 iron club, an amateur golfer will have to have a good swing and be physically fit.

What does bounce mean on wedges?

Wedge bounce is the angle created between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole or trailing edge. This is the area of the club that hits through the ground as it contacts the ball. The greater the wedge bounce degree, the higher the leading edge is off the surface at address.