Golf Tips » December 1999: Wedge Mania. How many wedges do you need?

I think the hype in the last few years over pitching, sand and lob wedges has gone from the ridiculous to the extreme! High handicap golfers do not have the skill to warrant more than three wedges, and the lower handicap golfer has enough skill, that they also require only three wedges.

1. The Pitching Wedge: Usually about 50 degrees in loft, this club is sometimes called a 10 iron, and should be used for full shots into the green (anywhere from 60 to 120 yards depending on your handicap) and chipping.
2. The Sand Wedge: Usually about 55 degrees, this club should not be restricted to the sand only. This very versatile club can be used from 50 to 110 yards with a full swing, sand play around the green or chipping.
3. The Lob Wedge: Usually about 60 degrees, this is the most versatile club in the bag and can be used for pitching, sand play (out of firm sand) and chipping.

If you have read my articles on pitching, and chipping, you will see that these clubs are used in all situations.

My own clubs: I carry a 50 degree pitching wedge, a 55 degree sand wedge and a 60 degree lob wedge. This provides an equal gap between the three clubs, which then gives me equal yardage not only with my full shots, but it allows me to control the yardage pretty accurately with my pitch shots.

Here is my scale of pitch shots:

• 30 yards – 7 – o clock pitch shot – lob wedge
• 40 yards – 8 – o clock pitch shot – lob wedge
• 50 yards – 9 – o clock pitch shot – lob wedge
• 60 yards – 10 – o clock pitch shot – lob wedge
• 70 yards – 10 – o clock pitch shot – sand wedge
• 80 yards – 10 – o clock pitch shot – pitching wedge
• 90 – 100 yards – full swing – lob wedge
• 100 – 110 yards – full swing – sand wedge
• 110 – 120 yards – full swing – pitching wedge

Each golfer’s yardages will be slightly different, so go out and practice these shots and make a “yardage chart” of your own.

Notice the 10 yard difference in full swings between an easy swing and a hard swing – this way I’m never caught between clubs. This rule applies for all my full swing clubs.

Take any utility clubs like a gap wedge or any wedges that vary by only 2 or 3 degrees out of your bag and add some utility woods. Ladies and Senior golfers particularly can benefit from a 7 or 9 wood much more than having four wedges in their bag. Secondly, make sure that the gaps between your wedges are equal for increased accuracy and lower scores. Have the gaps between your wedges measured at a reputable golf store, and get them to bend them a few degrees up or down if they are not quite right.

I hope I have helped you in choosing the right wedges for your game. With a little bit of practice with these clubs, you should be able to take several shots off that handicap.