Best Golf Wedge for the Perfect Arch
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Nike Golf Men's VR X3X Dual Sole Wide Golf Wedge -
Adams Idea Hybrid Iron Golf Wedge -
TaylorMade RSi 2 Gap Golf Wedge -
Titelist Vokey Design Spin Milled 5 Lob Golf Wedge -
Buyer's Guide
Although no golfer wants to hit the ball into a sand trap, there are many great options for sand wedges that can easily put the ball onto the green in a prime scoring position. A great sand wedge can reduce strokes by getting the ball out of the trap in one try and close to the pin. These best sand wedges considered were all close to the same loft and bounce, so an accurate comparison can be made between all of the wedges on the market. This list will focus on the features of each best golf wedge in 2022 based on the ease of play, spin imparted on the ball, feel at impact, and overall look.
Best Golf Wedges Worth Considering in 2022
Nike Golf Men's VR X3X Dual Sole Wide Golf Wedge - Best Golf Wedge Overall
The greatness of this particular sand wedge really comes down to a couple really important features. For most players, getting through the longer turf and maintaining control is by far the most difficult thing to accomplish. This wedge features a wide sole and narrow heel to get through deep rough without having the hosel bend, twist, or contort right before the moment of impact.
If that’s not enough, Nike added high-frequency grooves that are deeper and simplify creating spin. This club definitely takes the challenge out of stopping the ball when using the wedge around the green. The weight distribution on this club is also very good because it won’t make you feel like you’re swinging a club that’s heavier in one portion or another.
Adams Idea Hybrid Iron Golf Wedge - Runner Up
Adams has always been known for their innovation and technology in the area of hybrid clubs and this wedge delivers on a level other simply do not. This club features a Cut-Thru Slot design so ball speed isn’t compromised when shots are hit off-center. Similarly, it adds extra distance on all shots including off-center hits, thereby mitigating errors commonly made around the green. There’s also a 44 percent larger face and sweet spot than you’ll find with more traditional wedges. While this isn’t the most-ideal club for exclusively working around the green, it offers a great experience for longer wedge shots.
TaylorMade RSi 2 Gap Golf Wedge - Honorable Mention
This wedge capitalizes on the fact that 76 perfect of shots hit by golfers are mis-hits. The ultimate goal of this club is to mitigate and limit those mis-hits from happening. This is accomplished thanks to FaceSlot technology which creates uniform flexion across the entire face of the club so it will feel like it has a significantly larger sweet spot than other wedges on the market. For a wedge that’s often times played from the rough or fairway on those 50+ yard shots, it really delivers.
This wedge also features ideal weighting for professionals and amateurs alike. The weighting offers a great in-between loft to bridge the gap between the pitching wedge and sand wedge, giving every player a great opportunity to score. The scoring pattern on the sole also makes cutting through the rough on errant shots a little easier.
Titelist Vokey Design Spin Milled 5 Lob Golf Wedge - Consider
The Vokey Design Spin Milled 5 wedge brings more spin than any other wedge in the game, giving players an incredible opportunity to stick it close to the pin on every shot around the green. The tour-inspired TX3 grooves deliver an incredibly soft experience, allowing your ball to land like a feather on the green and cozy right up to the pin. They also have a wide-range of sole shapes, giving this wedge customization options which contour to any players game and skill set. If that isn’t enough, there’s a number of finishes allowing for slightly different feels around the green. The technology and design of the club make this by far the best lob wedge option currently on the market.
Buyer's Guide
Most golfers know the importance of using a good wedge. Though we wish the same number of people knew how to choose them.
To address this issue, we’ve worked on this detailed guide that will teach you exactly how to choose a golf wedge along with some wedge buying tips from seasoned golf experts.
What are the Types of Golf Wedges
There are primarily three types of golf wedges:
1. Pitching wedge
2. Gap Wedge
3. Sand/Lob wedge
Some experts consider sand and lob wedges as separate types but here, we’ll just pair them for convenience. Now, let’s have a look at the difference between all three types of wedges.
Pitching Wedge
A pitching wedge has a loft of around 50 to 46 degrees and is used for full shots or for chipping the ball low and having it roll out. This wedge is also the longest of the lot. The low bounce on a pitching wedge makes it great for full swing shots.
Gap Wedge
A gap wedge has a loft of 52 to 56 degrees and has significant bounce in it. These are ideal for 70-yard mid-wedge shots. You’d want to use a gap wedge when you’re trying to play one of those in-between shots that are somewhere in the middle of a full-swing and a chip.
Sand/Lob Wedge
Lastly, we have the sand wedge which is what we’ve focused on a lot in this article. These wedges are (you guessed it) used when you find yourself in a bunker with soft sand. With a loft of 58 degrees or more, these wedges hit the ball the highest and softest, usually in an attempt to get out of a sand trap. However, you can also use them for hitting high and soft from a regular lie.
Here’s a table that outlines the different types of wedges:
| Pitching Wedge | Gap Wedge | Sand/Lob Wedge |
| 50-46 degrees loft | 52 to 56 degrees loft | 58 degrees or more of loft |
| Low bounce | Medium bounce | High bounce |
| Longest | Mid-way in length | Shortest |
What to Look for When Buying Golf Wedges?
Now that you know about the different types of wedges, you’re ready to learn how to buy them. When compiling products for this article, we looked at the following 3 factors.
Ease of Play
If you’re here, chances are you’re not Dustin Johnson. And for anyone who’s not a pro, we’d always recommend choosing a wedge that offers the maximum ease of play. This means that you should opt for a wedge that keeps your shot in control and doesn’t let the ball roll out onto the green.
Spin
Wedges are specifically designed to add high spin on the ball which allows it to stop in or close to the green. In other words, a wedge with higher spin will often add more control to your shots, which is what you should be aiming for.
Spin is achieved by the grooves on the club face and manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to optimize those groove designs. Generally, wedge designs that offer the most friction include ones with milled faces and microgrooves like the Mizuno Golf JPX S2 Series Approach Wedge.
Feel
Whenever we talk about the feel of a club, we consider the whole experience. From holding the wedge in your hands to the response that it gives right after the shot and the serenity of holding your pose post-swing; it should feel just right. Though this is quite subjective, we did consider it during our product selection for this article by analyzing real customer reviews.
Tips for Buying Your Golf Wedge
We’ve already taught you how to buy a golf wedge. But with the following expert tips, you’re bound to make a much more educated decision when choosing one for yourself.
Gapping: How Many Wedges Do You Need?
According to Jeremy Stone, Marketing Director Vokey Wedges, most pros alternate between 3 (Jimmy Walker) and 4 wedges (Jordan Spieth). The idea is to add consistent gapping in successive wedges. “4-6 degrees (of loft) often reduces 10-15 yards (in distance)” added Jeremy.
By that logic, we recommend going with a 50, 54 and 58 degree wedge combination which should get you 100, 85 and 70 yards respectively. That means you’ll need one of each type of wedge mentioned above; pitching, gap and sand.
Consider the Grind
Most novice golfers focus a lot on the loft and bounce of a wedge, and rightfully so. They are probably the most important factors when choosing a wedge. However, another equally important (and often overlooked) factor is its grind.
The grind of the sole is its manipulation that improves turf contact. So, which grind you choose depends on the turf that you’re most likely to play on.
Here’s a table of grind types and the turf that best suits them:
| Grind Type | Turf Best suited to |
| M Grind | Firm-Medium |
| S Grind | Medium-Soft |
| F Grind | Firm, medium and soft |
| K Grind | Medium-Soft |
| L Grind | Firm |
Prefer Black Finishes
On a warm summer day, chrome wedges can cause lots of glare when addressing the ball. However, opting for a wedge with a black finish can really help in avoiding this problem. This is why I’d prefer the Cleveland Golf Men's Black Wedge over something like the TaylorMade RSi 2 (unless the latter better fits my needs and I’m okay with wearing sunglasses throughout the day).
How Much Should You Spend on Golf Wedges?
Wedges are the least expensive golf club type, with an average price of around $115. But the actual cost of your wedge configuration will depend on the combination that you plan on going with. If it’s going to be a 3-wedge combo, then you’ll be dishing around $350-400 but if you’re going with a 4-wedge combo, then that will cost you around $450-500.
Bear in mind that these are estimates and that the actual cost will depend on which wedges you choose since some wedges can easily cost upwards of $300.
Best Golf Wedge FAQ
Q: What is the most forgiving wedge?
A: Cobra Men’s Big Trusty Rusty is the most forgiving wedge on the market right now. This is due to its laser precision technology that adds maximum spin to the ball and keeps it in control. Not to mention, it has a tri-bounce rounded sole which makes it the most forgiving wedge out there.
Q: What is the best combination of wedges?
A: Pro golf players either go with a 3 or 4-wedge combination. For beginners, we recommend going with a 3-wedge combo as it’ll be easier on the pocket. One particular wedge combination that works well is the 50, 54 and 58 degree which allows a nice variety of loft with consistent gapping.
Q: Which wedges do pro golfers use?
A: Most pro golfers use a 4-wedge combination to cover every possible yardage in the 130-140 yards region. For that, they often opt for a pitching wedge, 52, 56, 60. However, most pros are seen changing their wedge configuration on tour depending on the course that they are playing on.
