Wedge (Hub)

Golf Glossary

Wedge (Hub)

In short

A wedge is a golf club with a lot of loft, which means a strongly angled clubface. Wedges send the ball high and short and stop it on the green. You use them for approach shots, chips, pitches and bunker shots. The family includes the pitching, gap, sand and lob wedge. This topic page explains the types, loft, bounce and grind, the distance gaps in your bag and offers tips for getting started in the short game.

What is a wedge in golf?

The word wedge describes the wedge-shaped build of the club head, with a clubface that is angled far back. This angle is called loft and is measured in degrees. The higher the loft, the higher the ball flies and the shorter it travels.

Wedges are the clubs for the short game. They bring the ball onto the green from about 100 metres and closer and keep it there. You also play chips and pitches around the green with a wedge, and a wedge gets the ball out of a bunker.

Because a large share of the shots in a round happen close to the green, wedges are, after the putter, among the clubs you use most. Even so, many golfers prefer to practise with the driver and long irons. With a wedge in your hands you often decide the shots that separate par, bogey and double bogey.

The four types of wedge at a glance

There are four common wedge types. Lofts differ by manufacturer and iron set, so the figures below are guidelines.

The names follow no fixed rule. What counts are the numbers of degrees printed on the sole or the hosel. A sand wedge almost always has between 54 and 58 degrees, so the name on the club matters less than the number.

Loft, bounce and grind: the three variables

When you buy a wedge you make three decisions.

Loft decides how high and how far the ball flies. Each wedge therefore covers a range of distances. More under loft.

Bounce is the angle between the ground and the line from the leading edge to the lowest point of the sole, measured with the shaft vertical. It stops the club from digging into the ground. As a guide, a high bounce, often from about ten degrees, suits soft ground, sand and steep swings. A low bounce, often four to six degrees, suits firm ground and shallow swings. More under bounce.

Grind is the shape of the sole. Manufacturers remove material from the heel, toe or trailing edge. That makes it easier to open the face for open-faced shots without the leading edge lifting off the ground. For beginners a versatile grind is usually the best choice. More under grind.

Wedge gapping: how to close the distance gaps

Gapping means the spacing of distances in your bag. The aim is that every distance up to the green can be played with one club, without having to change the length of the swing a lot.

An example: your pitching wedge has 46 degrees and flies about 100 metres with a full swing. Your sand wedge has 56 degrees and flies 75 metres. Ten degrees of difference means a 25 metre gap. With a 51 degree gap wedge you might reach 88 metres, and the gaps shrink to twelve and thirteen metres. These are model figures. It is best to measure your own numbers.

As a rule of thumb fitters often mention four to six degrees of loft between two wedges. Depending on the swing that often means roughly ten to fifteen metres difference on a full shot.

Remember the rule: a player must not start a round with more than 14 clubs or have more than 14 during the round (Rule 4.1b). An additional wedge therefore often means another club has to leave the bag.

Which shot with which wedge?

The choice of wedge depends on distance, lie and green. Some typical cases:

A simple rule for beginners: play the ball as low as you can and as high as you must. Roll is more predictable than flight. A low chip with a pitching wedge usually works better than a risky high shot with a lob wedge.

Getting started and tips: how many wedges do I need?

Beginners usually get by with two wedges, the pitching wedge from the iron set and one sand wedge. If you play more and feel the gaps, add a gap wedge. A lob wedge is worth it only once you can play the other shots with confidence. A club with a lot of loft is harder to strike and forgives less.

A few tips that help in practice:

Step by step you build a wedge system that you can call on under pressure.

Try it at Golf Lounge

How far your wedges really fly is something you can see on the TrackMan range at Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg. It has 32 covered tee positions on two levels, and every one has a TrackMan. It measures carry, total distance, launch angle and ball speed, among other values. That lets you record your distances for pitching, gap and sand wedge. For practice around the green there is also a putting and chipping area.

View the TrackMan range

Frequently asked questions

What is a wedge in golf?

A wedge is a club with a lot of loft, which means a strongly angled face. It sends the ball high and short and stops it on the green. Wedges are used for approach shots, chips, pitches and bunker shots. The family includes the pitching, gap, sand and lob wedge.

Which wedges are there and what loft do they have?

The usual ones are the pitching wedge (about 43 to 48 degrees), the gap wedge (about 48 to 52 degrees), the sand wedge (about 54 to 58 degrees) and the lob wedge (about 58 to 64 degrees). The figures are guidelines and differ by manufacturer and model.

How many wedges do I need in my bag?

Beginners often need only two, the pitching wedge and a sand wedge. If you feel gaps, add a gap wedge. A lob wedge is optional. Keep in mind the limit of 14 clubs in the bag under Rule 4.1b of the Rules of Golf.

What is the difference between loft and bounce on a wedge?

Loft is the angle of the face and decides ball height and distance. Bounce is the angle of the sole and decides how easily the club glides through grass or sand. Both values are usually printed on the club, for example 56 degrees of loft and 10 degrees of bounce.

What is the best way to practise wedges?

Use fixed swing lengths and clear targets. Note how far the ball goes with a hip high, a chest high and a full swing. A launch monitor provides carry numbers and helps with gapping. A coach can check strike and technique. Hit at least ten balls for each step before you write the number down.

All terms on this topic

As of: October 2026

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