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Why do I hit my sand wedge so high?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 24, 2026

The reason this type of golfer hits wedges so high and short is the weight of the 56, 58 or 60 degree wedge makes it harder to flip at the exact correct time. When you pick up a sand wedge or gap wedge, it has more weight on the face of the club than a common iron.

Why do my sand wedges go so high?

Most likely you are backing up as you hit them. Instinctively we often fall back feeling like we have to help or scoop wedge shots up into the air. Realize that they will go high because of the loft on the face. To hit good crisp wedge shots that spin you need to make sure that you are hitting down through the ball.

How do I stop my wedges from getting too high?

What to do? To keep the shot down with a high-lofted wedge, play the ball farther back in your stance than normal—nearly in line with your back foot (above). Also, set up in a narrow stance to maintain balance and to prevent overswinging. Staying in control leads to solid contact for predictable ball flight and spin.

How far does the average person hit a sand wedge?

How Far Does The Average Person Hit A Sand Wedge? On average, recreational golfers hit their sand wedge 88 yards (full shot), but the range can be between 70 and 110 yards. Most golfers don't take a full swing with their sand wedge, and since that's the case, your distance could be less.

How do you hit a sand wedge lower?

5 keys to flighting your wedges lower for better control

  1. 1) Maintain a Consistent Angle of Attack. ...
  2. 2) Control your Dynamic Loft. ...
  3. 3) Reduce the Overall Height of the Ball Flight. ...
  4. 4) Manage Spin Rates. ...
  5. 5) Move the Ball into the Pin from Right to Left. ...
  6. The Numbers.
19 related questions found

Why do I hit my wedges so high and short?

The reason this type of golfer hits wedges so high and short is the weight of the 56, 58 or 60 degree wedge makes it harder to flip at the exact correct time. When you pick up a sand wedge or gap wedge, it has more weight on the face of the club than a common iron.

Which wedge is best 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 sand wedge the same as a 56?

A 56-degree wedge is considered a sand wedge and is mainly used for hitting out of the sand and chipping around the green. A 56-degree wedge is one of the most used clubs and is the highest loft an average golfer should carry.

How far should a 70 year old man hit a golf ball?

A 70-year-old man should be hitting a driver anywhere from 180 to 190 yards. This number has grown a bit in the last few years with the introduction of improved driver and shaft technology. At 70 years old, some golfers are having no trouble getting the ball to fly 200 yards or more.

Is a 60 degree wedge hard to hit?

If you simply accelerate through impact, a 60-degree wedge is just as easy to hit as a 55. Play the ball in the middle of your stance and go short backswing to long follow. You'll quickly learn that the lob is the one wedge you can't live without.

Why do I scoop my wedges?

It adds loft to the face of the club and as a result we see a loss of power and consistency. It is usually combined with Casting or Early Release. It is termed Scooping when the club head passes the hands through impact and the student is trying to lift the ball into the air.

Why do I hit my wedges left?

This can be caused by faulty alignments or an over-the-top motion caused from an improper pivot during transition. In order to stop this type of pull, make sure you swing your wedge like you try to every other club — from the inside, never from out-to-in — unless you are hitting a special shot.

Why do my iron shots go so high?

The answer is to get the club more behind your body on the downswing, rather than casting it out across the line. This will create an inside-to-outside swing path, eliminating those high, weak cut shots. Work on starting the downswing with your hips, rather than the shoulders.

What is the best degree for a sand wedge?

Sand wedges (54-56 degrees) are the most versatile wedge you can have while lob wedges (58+ degrees) should only be used by better golfers.

What is special about a sand wedge?

A sand wedge, or sand iron, is a type of golf club, an open-faced wedge primarily designed for getting out of sand bunkers. It has the widest sole of any wedge, which provides the greatest amount of bounce, allowing the club head to glide through sand and avoid digging in.

What degree loft is a sand wedge?

Sand wedge – This wedge has a loft of 54° to 58° and is used in sand areas, as the name suggests. Lob wedge – Finally, the lob wedge has the highest loft of all wedges, traditionally ranging from 58° to 60°, but there are some manufacturers that offer lob wedges of 64°, and even higher.

Can you chip with a sand wedge?

The sand wedge is the wedge that is the best for chipping. With a sand wedge, you can fly the ball reasonably close to the pin, and expect it only to roll a few feet. Sand wedges are great out of the bunker, and they provide a ton of spin even on shots out of the rough.

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.

Can you use a sand wedge to pitch?

Sand wedges are, of course, used primarily to hit out of sand bunkers. But the club may also come in handy in other places. The typical sand wedge is lofted about 56 degrees, so it may be useful for playing short, high pitch shots.

How far should a 60 degree wedge go?

How Far Should You Hit A 60 Degree Wedge? On average, golfers hit their 60-degree wedge 74 yards, but the range can vary between 60 and 100 yards. Longer hitters who take a full swing will typically be close to the 100-yard range but most golfers only take a 1/2 or 3/4 swing with their 60 degrees.

How far should I hit a 52 degree wedge?

How Far Should You Hit A 52 Degree Wedge? On average, golfers hit their 52-degree wedge 100 yards, but the range can vary between 85 and 110 yards. Golfers who take a normal swing with their wedge typically end up close to 110 while golfers who take half swings end up close to 85.

Why do I hit my irons so short?

Practice your alignment, ball position, posture and balance with the help of a professional instructor. Poor fundamentals can cause short shots. Failing to complete your follow through or not properly shifting your weight during the swing also can cause iron shots to fall short.