Why Wedges Are the Most Misunderstood Clubs in Your Bag
Most golfers can tell you their driver loft to the tenth of a degree but have no idea what bounce angle their sand wedge has. This is backwards. Per Arccos Golf data from 150,000+ golfers, shots from 100 yards and in account for 65% of all strokes. Your wedge setup directly determines your scoring ability.
The three variables that define a wedge — loft, bounce, and grind — interact to create a tool for specific conditions and swing types. Here's how to decode all three.
Loft Gapping: The Foundation
Your wedge lofts should create even distance gaps of 10–15 yards between clubs. The most common mistake is having a gap between your pitching wedge and your next wedge.
| Wedge | Typical Loft | Distance (avg male amateur) | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitching Wedge | 43–47° | 110–130 yards | Full approach shots |
| Gap Wedge | 50–52° | 95–110 yards | Fill the gap (hence the name) |
| Sand Wedge | 54–56° | 80–95 yards | Bunkers, pitch shots |
| Lob Wedge | 58–60° | 60–80 yards | Flop shots, tight lies around green |
Step 1: Check your pitching wedge loft (stamped on the club or in manufacturer specs). Modern game-improvement PW lofts have crept down to 43–44°, creating bigger gaps. If your PW is 44°, you need: 48° GW → 52° SW → 56° or 58° LW.
Bounce: The Spec Nobody Understands
Bounce is the angle between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole. It's the "rudder" that prevents the club from digging into turf or sand.
- Low bounce (4–6°): Less sole contact with ground. Best for firm conditions, tight lies, and players who sweep/pick the ball. Increased risk of "blading" shots.
- Mid bounce (7–10°): Versatile for most conditions and swing types. The safe default for most amateurs.
- High bounce (10–14°): More sole contact prevents digging. Best for soft conditions, fluffy bunker sand, and players who take deep divots.
Bob Vokey (Titleist's legendary wedge designer) explains it simply: "Bounce is your friend. It forgives mistakes. Most amateurs need more bounce than they think." If you're unsure, go with mid-to-high bounce. You can always open the face to reduce effective bounce, but you can't add bounce to a low-bounce wedge.
Grind Types: Shaping the Sole
Grind refers to material removed from the sole to change how the club interacts with different surfaces. Major manufacturers offer 3–6 grinds per wedge model:
| Grind | Sole Shape | Best For | Skill Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full / Standard (S) | No material removed, full sole width | Full shots, bunkers, soft turf | All levels |
| Mid (M) | Slight heel and toe relief | Versatile — open/close face | Mid to low handicap |
| Low / C-grind | Significant heel and toe relief | Tight lies, firm turf, shot variety | Low handicap / creative players |
| Wide (K) | Extra-wide sole | Soft sand, fluffy lies, high handicap | High handicap / beginners |
Building Your Wedge Setup
3-Wedge Setup (Most Common)
Best for: Golfers who carry 14 clubs and want room for extra woods/hybrids. PW (stock) + 50° GW + 54° SW.
4-Wedge Setup (Scoring Focused)
Best for: Players who want maximum short-game versatility. PW (stock) + 48° GW + 52° SW + 56–58° LW. This is the most common tour setup — 78% of PGA Tour players carry 4 wedges (per Titleist tour data).
Bounce/Grind by Position
- Gap wedge (48–50°): Mid bounce, standard grind — this is primarily a full-shot club
- Sand wedge (54–56°): Mid-to-high bounce, standard or wide grind — needs to handle bunkers
- Lob wedge (58–60°): Low-to-mid bounce, mid grind — needs versatility for open-face shots
Product Recommendations
Common Mistakes
Sources & Further Reading
- Vokey, B. "Understanding Bounce and Grind." Titleist Vokey Wedge Fitting. titleist.com/vokey
- Arccos Golf. "Strokes Gained Analysis: Where Scoring Happens." arccosgolf.com, 2025.
- Cleveland Golf. "Wedge Fitting Guide: Bounce, Grind, and Loft Selection." clevelandgolf.com
- GolfWRX. "PGA Tour Wedge Setup Data 2024–2025." golfwrx.com
- MyGolfSpy. "2025 Wedge Test: Most Wanted." mygolfspy.com
- TXG (YouTube). "How to Gap Your Wedges Properly — Launch Monitor Data." youtube.com/@txg
