How to Use a Golf Wedge

A great wedge game is the fastest way to slash your handicap, turning potential bogeys into easy pars. Knowing exactly which wedge to pull and what type of swing to make can feel complicated, but it doesn't have to be. This guide will walk you through the different types of wedges, teach you the fundamental chip and pitch shots, and show you how to handle tricky situations like a pro.

Understanding Your Arsenal: The Four Main Wedges

Walk into any golf shop and you'll see a rack of wedges with different names and numbers stamped on them. This number is the loft of the club, which measures the angle of the clubface in degrees. A higher loft sends the ball higher and shorter, while a lower loft sends it lower and farther. Understanding your set of wedges is the first step toward better scoring.

Pitching Wedge (PW)

Loft: Typically 44-48 degrees.

The pitching wedge is the lowest-lofted and longest-hitting wedge in your bag. Think of it as a natural extension of your iron set. It’s perfect for full shots into the green, usually from 100-125 yards for most amateur players, and for longer "bump-and-run" style chip shots where you want the ball to hit the green and roll out like a putt toward the hole. It produces a lower, more piercing ball flight compared to its higher-lofted cousins.

Gap Wedge (GW) or Approach Wedge (AW)

Loft: Typically 50-54 degrees.

As the name suggests, this wedge bridges the "gap" in distance between your pitching wedge and your sand wedge. Modern iron sets have gotten stronger in loft, which can create a big yardage difference (sometimes 20-25 yards!) between a full PW and a full SW. The gap wedge fills that void perfectly. It's a versatile club for those in-between distances on full shots (e.g., 85-110 yards) and for pitch shots that require a bit more height and stopping power than a pitching wedge.

Sand Wedge (SW)

Loft: Typically 54-58 degrees.

The sand wedge is arguably the most versatile clubs in the bag. While its name implies a single purpose, it’s a brilliant tool from all over the course. Its high loft makes it great for shots that need to get up quickly and stop fast, like pitches over greenside bunkers or hazards. And, of course, it's designed specifically for bunker shots. It has a feature called "bounce" - a wider, curved sole - which allows the club to glide through the sand instead of digging in, lifting the ball out on a cushion of sand.

Lob Wedge (LW)

Loft: Typically 58-62 degrees (or even higher).

This is the specialist club. It has the highest loft in your bag and is designed for maximum height and minimal rollout. The lob wedge is your go-to for shots that require surgical precision, like when you’re short-sided with the pin tucked right behind a bunker or you need to land the ball softly on a lightning-fast green. It produces the classic, sky-high "flop shot," but it also takes the most skill to hit consistently. It can be a savior or a round-wrecker, depending on your confidence with it.

The Two Fundamental Shots: Chip vs. Pitch

Nearly every shot you'll hit with a wedge inside of 70 yards will fall into one of two categories: the chip or the pitch. Knowing the difference and when to use each one is what short-game mastery is all about.

The Chip Shot: Simple, Low, and Reliable

A chip is a shot you use when you're just off the green with a lot of green to work with between you and the hole. The goal is to get the ball onto the putting surface as soon as possible and let it roll out the rest of the way. Think of it as a slightly longer putt, just using a different club face. It's a low-risk, high-reliability shot.

How to Hit a Chip Shot:

• Club Selection: You can chip with anything from a PW to a 7-iron. Use a lower-lofted club (like a 9-iron) when you need more roll, and a higher-lofted club (like a sand wedge) when you need less.
• The Setup:
  • Stance: Stand with your feet much closer together than normal - just a couple of inches apart. This prevents you from trying to generate power by swaying your body.
  • Ball Position: Play the ball toward the back of your stance, just inside your back foot. This helps you hit down on the ball, guaranteeing a clean, crisp strike.
  • Weight Distribution: Lean about 70-80% of your weight onto your front foot. Keep it there throughout the entire swing.
  • Hand Position: Press your hands forward so they are ahead of the ball. This de-lofts the clubface slightly and promotes that "pinch" at impact. Your hands and lead arm should form a straight line with the shaft.
• The Swing: The chipping motion comes from the shoulders, not the hands or wrists. Think of it as a pendulum or a putting stroke. Rock your shoulders back and forth, keeping your wrists quiet and firm. There should be very little, if any, wrist hinge. The length of your backswing dictates the distance of the shot - a longer follow-through for a longer chip.

The Pitch Shot: Higher, More Spin, and More Versatility

A pitch shot is used when you're further from the green (typically 20-70 yards) or when you need to carry an obstacle like a bunker or rough. A pitch has a longer, higher flight than a chip and is designed to land softly with more backspin. It's a miniature version of your full swing.

How to Hit a Pitch Shot:

• Club Selection: This is prime territory for your Gap Wedge, Sand Wedge, or Lob Wedge, depending on how high and soft you need the ball to land.
• The Setup:
  • Stance: Take a slightly wider stance than for a chip, perhaps just inside shoulder-width. This provides more stability for the longer swing.
  • Ball Position: Place the ball in the center of your stance. Moving it slightly forward can add height, while moving it back can produce a lower, more controlled flight.
  • Weight Distribution: Your weight should be more balanced, maybe 55/45 favoring your front foot. You want to feel athletic and ready to rotate.
  • Hand Position: Keep your hands pretty much in line with the ball or just slightly ahead. No need for the dramatic forward press you use when chipping.
• The Swing: This is where it differs大きく. A pitch involves your body rotating and your wrists hinging. As you take the club back, let your wrists hinge naturally. The amount of body turn and wrist hinge will create the power. To control distance, use a "clock system." Think of your arms as the hands of a clock:
  • 7:30 Backswing: A short pitch might only require a backswing where your lead arm is parallel to the ground (waist high).
  • 9:00 Backswing: For a medium-distance pitch, your backswing might go to where your lead arm is parallel to the ground with wrists fully hinged (like an 'L' shape).
  • 10:30 Backswing: Longer pitches will start to feel more like a three-quarter swing.
  The key here is to accelerate through the ball. Keep your body turning toward the target and finish in a balanced position with your chest facing where you want the ball to go.

Specialty Shots for Tricky Situations

Sometimes, the course throws you a curveball. That's when you need a specialty wedge shot in your locker.

The Greenside Bunker Shot

The bunker shot scares a lot of golfers, but it’s simple if you remember one rule: you are not hitting the ball. You are hitting the sand behind the ball, and the displaced sand carries the ball out.

How to Play It:

1. Dig In: Take your stance and dig your feet into the sand for a stable base. This also lowers your body, effectively shallowing out your swing path.
2. Open the Face: Lay the clubface wide open before you even take your grip. You want to see the face pointing toward the sky. This engages the "bounce" on the sole of the wedge.
3. Aim Left: To counteract the open face (which points the club to the right), aim your feet, hips, and shoulders left of the target.
4. The Swing: Make a swing similar in length to a pitch shot, but concentrate on splashing the sand a couple of inches behind the ball. Swing fully and accelerate through the sand. Don't quit on the shot. You'll be amazed as the ball pops up and out 소프트ly.

The Flop Shot

The heroic shot that Phil Mickelson made famous. You use it when you're short-sided and need the ball to go straight up in the air and land with zero roll. It's a high-risk-shot, so practice it well before bringing it to the course.

How to Play It:

1. The Setup: Take your Lob Wedge. Open the clubface as much as you can. Get into a wide stance and lower your hands. Keep the ball forward in your stance.
2. The Swing: This feels extreme, but it's necessarry. You need to make a full, committed, and fast swing. It's not a soft little flick. Hinge your wrists fully and accelerate aggressively through the ball, sliding the clubhead underneath it. The key is to trust the loft and the speed. Hesitation is the enemy of the flop shot.

Final Thoughts

Improving your wedge game all comes down to understanding what each wedge is for and matching the correct technique - the chip or the pitch - to the situation. By mastering these fundamentals and practicing them regularly, you'll gain the confidence to handle any challenge inside 100 yards and watch your scores drop.

As you work on these shots, you'll inevitably run into specific situations on the course that leave you stumped - a tough lie in the rough, an awkward distance, or a tricky pin position. That's where we designed our app to step in. You can describe your situation or even snap a photo of your ball's lie, and Caddie AI will give you instant, pro-level advice on the best club and shot to play, taking the guesswork out of those critical scoring moments.