There are many differences between golf wedges that affect in which situations you should use them. This will allow you to choose the perfect wedge for a given situation. For example, you’d use a certain wedge for chipping, while you’d use a completely other wedge for pitching. This is why you will usually find sets of 3 golf wedges.
Being familiar with the different degrees of golf wedges and knowing how far wedges of varying degrees can send the golf ball is essential for improving your game and getting the most out of every shot. If you’re looking to make the transition from a beginner to an intermediate, you have to know your wedges well.
What is the degree of an A wedge?
First of all, it’s best to clear up the confusion that might arise around what an A wedge actually is. It’s a relatively modern term in golfing, one which came into existence only a couple of years back, and one that needs further clarification.
The “a” in A wedge most commonly stands for “approach”, and less commonly for “attack”, depending on the person you ask. The A wedge is there to fill in the empty space between the sand wedge of 56° and the pitching wedge of about 48°.
The A wedge is almost the same type of club as the gap wedge, and it can have a loft degree of anywhere between 49° and 55°. However, the usual loft degree for the A wedge is 52°. Just to be sure about the degree of the A wedge, you should always check the manufacturer’s specifications.
What is the highest degree wedge in golf?
Let’s first clarify how loft degree affects the trajectory of the golf ball once you hit it. The higher the loft degree, the higher the golf ball will fly once you hit it. That means that a wedge with a loft of 56° will send your ball flying higher than a wedge with a loft of 48°.
There are four main types of wedges that have distinct characteristics, one of those characteristics being the loft degree. Take a look at the loft degrees of the four basic types of wedges:
- Pitching wedge – The common pitching wedge has the lowest loft, ranging from 46° to 48°.
- Gap wedge – The gap wedge, often referred to as the approach wedge, or the A wedge, has a loft of 51° to 53 degrees.
- Sand wedge – This wedge has a loft of 54° to 58° and is used in sand areas, as the name suggests.
- Lob wedge – Finally, the lob wedge has the highest loft of all wedges, traditionally ranging from 58° to 60°, but there are some manufacturers that offer lob wedges of 64°, and even higher.
The loft degree of the wedge you decide to use greatly affects the movement of the ball off the club, and you should always carefully consider the wedge to use in any given golfing situation. This is the only way to ensure the best possible shot in current conditions.
What is a 56 degree wedge used for?
The 56° gold wedge is more commonly known as the sand wedge. The sand wedge originated in the 1930s, and its creation is usually credited to Gene Sarazen. The sand wedge was designed with a single purpose in mind – to help golfers get out of two dreaded situations:
- You need a sand wedge to get out of horrible sand traps you’ve inadvertently found yourself in.
- You can also use a sand wedge to escape from bunkers around the green if the situation demands it.
Finally, because of the usual 56° loft, a sand wedge can be very helpful when taking shorter approach shots that are about 80 – 100 yards long. There is one vital characteristic of a sand wedge, in addition to the high loft degree, that makes it suitable for these shots.
The sand wedge has a high bounce angle, which makes it extremely effective in tough situations when you’re on soft sand or long grass. Also, you can hit the ball with a sand wedge with less than full strength, allowing you greater control of your shot.
How far should a 56 degree wedge go?
The length a 56° wedge can go depends on other factors in addition to the characteristics of the wedge itself. The single biggest aspect that affects how far your 56° wedge can go is your experience and skill as a golfer.
- If you’re a beginner golfer, you can expect your 56° wedge to send the golf ball flying some 60 – 80 yards.
- Intermediate golfers can achieve a distance of 80 – 100/110 yards with their 56° wedge.
- Finally, professional golfers can cover the distance of 115 – 120 yards with their 56 wedge.
A single golf wedge can achieve varying distances depending on the person wielding them. Almost 50% of all golf play is short play, and that’s where wedges come in handy. That is why you should not focus all your efforts on your drives, but also dedicate equal attention to your chips, puts, and approach shots.
Where can I purchase a premium 3 wedge set to improve my golf game?
Treating yourself to a set of top-quality quality golf wedges is a great start to transforming your game and opening a whole new set of moves that will help you shave a couple of shots off your current game. However, with so many sub-par wedge sets to choose from, it’s easy to make a mistake.
That is why BombTech is here. We offer excellent quality golf clubs at a competitive price by cutting all our overhead costs and bringing premium golf wedges to you online. We want you to have the best possible clubs for the money, which is why we do all we can to bring quality to you at a reasonable price. Check out our stock for a club you like.
And if there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, don’t worry – you can contact us within 60 days of your purchase and return the clubs to us. We care about you and your game.
