The A on your wedge stands for a simple, powerful idea: Approach. This club, also known as an Approach Wedge or occasionally an Attack Wedge, is designed specifically for those full-swing shots that are too long for a Sand Wedge but too short for a Pitching Wedge. This article will show you its exact degree range, explain how it fits into your set, and give you a clear, step-by-step process for choosing the perfect A-Wedge to eliminate frustrating yardage gaps in your short game.
At its core, the A-Wedge is a modern solution to a modern problem. Decades ago, golf iron sets had more traditional lofts. A pitching wedge might have been 48 or even 50 degrees, and a sand wedge was typically around 56 degrees. The gap between them was manageable.
However, in the hunt for more distance, manufacturers started "strengthening" the lofts on their iron sets. That brand-new 7-iron that goes 15 yards farther than your old one? It probably has the loft of an old 6-iron. This same trend has been applied to pitching wedges, which now often have lofts as strong as 43 or 44 degrees.
This creates a huge distance gap. If your pitching wedge has a 44-degree loft and your sand wedge is 56 degrees, you're looking at a 12-degree difference. In real-world terms, that could be a 25-30 yard void in your bag. This is the exact problem the A-Wedge solves.
You may also see this club labeled as a "Gap Wedge" (GW) or a "Utility Wedge" (UW). Fundamentally, an A-Wedge and a Gap Wedge are the same club. They both exist to fill that critical yardage gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.
While there's no single universal standard, an A-Wedge typically has a loft between 48 and 52 degrees. The most common lofts are 50° and 52°. The specific loft you need, however, has nothing to do with what’s "standard" and everything to do with the other wedges in your personal setup. Think of it less as a fixed number and more of a bridge between two other fixed points.
To really understand the A-Wedge, you have to see where it fits in the family. Your wedges are your scoring tools, responsible for the vast majority of shots from around 120 yards and in. Having a cohesive set where each club handles a specific distance is essential for consistency.
A big mistake I see golfers make is trying to force one club to do the job of two. They’ll take their pitching wedge and try to swing easy, or take their sand wedge and try to swing extra hard. This is a recipe for inconsistency, leading to chunked shots, thinned screamers, and a whole lot of frustration. The correct A-Wedge lets you take a confident, full swing and know the ball will travel the right distance.
Forget standard numbers. The only thing that matters is creating consistent gaps for your game and your set. Ideally, you want a 4- to 6-degree loft gap between each of your wedges. This generally translates to a clean 10-15 yard difference between each club when you take a smooth, full swing.
Here’s how to figure out your ideal A-Wedge loft in three simple steps.
This is your anchor point. The loft number is sometimes stamped directly on the hosel (the part of the club head that connects to the shaft) of the club itself. If it’s not there, a quick Google search is your best friend. Просто type in the make and model of your irons (e.g., “TaylorMade Stealth irons specs”) and you’ll find a specification chart from the manufacturer with the exact loft for every club in the set.
Let's say you find out your pitching wedge has a 45° loft.
Now, do the same thing for the next wedge in your bag, which for most amateurs is the sand wedge. Specialty sand wedges (like a Vokey, Cleveland, or Callaway Mack Daddy) almost always have the loft clearly stamped on the sole of the club. It will say "54," "56," or "58."
For our example, let's say your sand wedge has a 56° loft.
Now we have our two goalposts:
The total loft gap between them is 11 degrees (56 - 45 = 11). To create two even gaps, we just need to split that difference.
Divide the total gap by two: 11 / 2 = 5.5 degrees. Now, add that number to your pitching wedge loft: 45 + 5.5 = 50.5 degrees.
In this scenario, the perfect A-Wedge to bridge the gap would be 50° or 51°. This creates a beautifully spaced-out set:
This gapping gives you a dedicated club for three distinct yardages, allowing you to make confident, repeatable swings instead of awkward half-moves.
While loft is the most important factor for distance gapping, two other elements play a big role in how your A-Wedge performs: bounce and overall design.
Bounce is the angle between the leading edge of the wedge and the lowest point of the sole. In simple terms, it's what helps the club glide through sand or turf rather than digging into it. Sand wedges have high bounce (10-14°) to prevent digging in soft sand. Lob wedges also often have high bounce for versatility.
Approach wedges, however, typically have mid-to-low bounce (around 6-10°). This is because they are most often used from the fairway or light rough on full swings. A lower bounce angle helps the leading edge get under the ball cleanly from these tighter lies. It's more versatile for the firm conditions you're likely to encounter on a full approach shot.
You have two main options when buying an A-Wedge:
There's no wrong answer here. For most mid-to-high handicap golfers, the matching Set A-Wedge is an excellent choice because it’s forgiving and easy to hit on full swings. For lower-handicap players or those who prioritize feel around the greens, a specialty wedge is often preferred.
The A-Wedge isn't just another club, it's the missing link in your scoring game. By understanding that its primary role is to bridge the yardage gap between your pitching wedge and sand wedge, you can make a smart, informed decision. Go find the lofts of your current wedges, do the simple math, and you'll know exactly what you need to take the guesswork out of your approach shots.
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