Is a 52-degree wedge a pitching wedge?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 25, 2026
Golfers who have a 52-degree wedge in their bag typically have a pitching wedge that's between 47-48 degrees. 52-degree wedges are a lot less common, and the reason is that pitching wedges are normally 44-46 degrees. Having a 6-8 degree gap between clubs is a bit too much, and that's why 50-degrees is more common.
What degree is a pitching wedge?
Pitching wedge – The common pitching wedge has the lowest loft, ranging from 46° to 48°. Gap wedge – The gap wedge, often referred to as the approach wedge, or the A wedge, has a loft of 51° to 53 degrees. Sand wedge – This wedge has a loft of 54° to 58° and is used in sand areas, as the name suggests.
How far should a 52 degree wedge go?
HOW FAR SHOULD A 52 DEGREE WEDGE GO? The average distance for a 52 degree wedge is between 80-115 yards for men. For women, the average distance ranges from 60-80 yards. It all depends on the skill level of the golfer and their length.
Is a 52 degree wedge good for chipping?
What degree wedge is best for chipping? For most golfers, a gap wedge or a sand wedge with loft of between 52° and 56° will produce the most consistent outcome when chipping. This is because you'll be able to play most short-game shots you're likely to come across out on the course.
Is a wedge the same as a pitching wedge?
Pitching Wedge. The pitching wedge is designed to hit the ball further than an approach wedge and with a little less spin, it is one club stronger than an approach wedge. It is slightly longer in length with less loft, around four degrees if you are set-up properly.
25 related questions foundWhat is a 52-degree wedge used for?
A 52-degree wedge is considered a gap wedge and is used to fill the gap between your pitching wedge and your sand wedge. Golfers who have a 52-degree wedge in their bag typically have a pitching wedge that's between 47-48 degrees.
What's the difference between a 52-degree and 56 degree wedge?
Major Differences Between The 52- and 56-Degree Wedges
The 52-degree wedge is mostly used as an approach shot to a hole, where the 56-degree wedge can be considered more of a finesse type shot. These clubs are certainly different enough that you would want to keep both of them in your bag if possible.
What wedge spins the most?
For the 30-yard pitch shot, the MD5 wedge led the way with an average spin of 5,966. The rest of the wedges were all very close with the Titleist SM8 wedge at a 5,574 rpm average next. Finally, for the full shot, the Mizuno T-20 wedge had the highest spin at an average of 10,908 rpm.
How far should I hit my pitching wedge?
Distance. Men typically hit their pitching wedge from 100 to 140 yards, depending on their skill level, while women hit the same club from 70 to 120 yards. Beginners often find they do not achieve these distances, but their distances will increase as their swing improves.
What 3 wedges should I carry?
Most players tend to carry three wedges — a pitching, sand and lob wedge.
Is a 9 iron the same as a pitching wedge?
What is the key difference between 9 Iron vs Pitching Wedge? The loft of the 9 iron is generally about 4 degrees lower than that of a regular pitching wedge. Golfers use the 9-iron to hit longer. Most players hit their 9 iron from 120 to 150 yards.
Do I need a pitching wedge?
A pitching wedge should be used when on the fairway or rough for approach shots, or when doing some higher trajectory short pitch shots around the green. They are great for creating spin and distance, while also giving you the control you need to keep your short game tight and accurate.
What wedges are illegal in golf?
A rule that is more important for wedges is the groove rule originating in 2008. This rule affects all clubs with lofts of 25 degrees and more, which basically means it refers to all the wedges. It banned all wedges with U-shaped grooves, allowing only wedges with V-groove design to be officially used.
Do deeper grooves create more spin?
No grooves don't impart spin
Backspin is generated by the loft of the clubface not the shape, quantity or depth of the grooves on the club. When a ball is hit it gets compressed. This compression and the friction between the ball and the clubface cause the backspin.
What degree is an all wedge?
"Your standard A-wedge or gap wedge loft will fall around the 50 to 52-degree range. Looking at specific TaylorMade irons sets, the P770 A-wedge loft is 51°, P790 A-wedge is 50°, and the 2017 M2 A-wedge loft is 49°."
What angle is a 9 iron?
9-Iron Loft | 37 to 43 Degrees
9-iron is the club where the loft difference between game-improvement irons and irons made for the best players starts to narrow again. The standard loft for 9-irons is 41 to 43 degrees, while game improvement 9-iron lofts often go as low as 37 degrees.
How far should you hit a 7 iron?
A standard amateur golfer can hit a 7 iron from 128 yards to 158 yards. The lower range will be for women and senior golfers. To hit the ball over 150 yards in total distance with a 7 iron club, an amateur golfer will have to have a good swing and be physically fit.
What wedge is used for chipping?
For the average golfer, chipping with a pitching or gap wedge will produce the most consistent shots around the green. Using a gap wedge will be the best place to start for standard chips, but a pitching wedge could work better if the ball is sitting up in the rough.
How do I know what pitching wedge I have?
Pitching wedge: The lowest-lofted of the wedges (the one that hits the ball the farthest), pitching wedges (abbreviated PW) are usually included in a set of irons. The PW is considered one of the basic clubs every golfer carries.
What can I use instead of a pitching wedge?
Gap Wedge /A-Wedge:
While this wedge can absolutely be used around the green in a similar fashion as a pitching wedge, the ability to take a full swing and the amount of spin that I can put on the ball makes this my go-to-club when I'm 100 yards out.
What wedges does Phil Mickelson use?
He uses three PM Grind '19 “Raw” wedges. The PM stands for Phil Mickelson because he helped design the wedges with Roger Cleveland.
How do I pick the right wedge?
The key in choosing a set of wedges is to make sure that there are no big gaps in loft between the lowest lofted iron in your set and the first wedge and then also between edge wedge. Try to keep the lofts gaps to around 4 degrees between each club.
What wedges should a high handicapper carry?
What Loft Wedges Should A High Handicapper Carry? High handicappers should carry at least a 56-degree wedge. In addition, it makes sense to have a 52-degree wedge and a 60-degree wedge to have a variety of shots.