Best Wedges For Mid Handicap Golfers
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With wedge play, we can tell you with the assurance that having the correct tools makes the job easier for the golfer.
The bounce and loft of the wedge may make or break your game, but few people understand how it affects them. If you hit the same three shots with the same loft but simply modify the bounce of the club, the results will be three different. That is how complex wedge play is.
You may make use of the best wedges for mid handicappers to lower the score down inside the strike zone using quality wedges. These are, in our opinion, the greatest golf wedges on the market right now for bunkers, approaches, chipping, and pitching.
Who Is A Mid Handicapper, And What Is The Best Wedge?
We normally refer to someone as a mid handicapper if they have a handicap between 7 and 18, also known as a B flight in the British context. A mid handicapper’s wedges might vary according on their ball striking abilities, as well as their elegance and touch around the greens.
If you play a forgiving set of mid handicap irons, there are more forgiving wedges, such as cavity back wedges, that complement the rest of your bag.
Other types of wedges include blade wedges, which are generally more exact. With a wedge in their hand, mid handicappers can have a wide range of skill. A mid-handicapper may even want different wedges for different shots. A lob wedge for short-distance high approaches. Maybe he wants a chipping wedge with a low bounce and a crisp edge. Is he a fan of a huge fat sole sand wedge for splashing it out of bunkers?
Every mid handicapper must identify their priorities and choose wedges for the areas of their game that will get them into the low 80s and 70s.
How to Make the Ideal Wedge Set
Step 1: Choose The Best Option
3 wedges for consistent gapping
- 50° pitching wedge
- 54° gap wedge
- 58° sand wedge
4 wedges for tiny gaps to plug
- 48° pitching wedge
- 52° gap wedge
- 56° sand wedge
- 60° lob wedge
3 wedges for comfort
- 48° pitching wedge
- 56° sand wedge
- 60° lob wedge
The simplest system is the Three-wedge Consistent Gap method. It also makes room in your bag for another fairway wood or hybrid. Most players will benefit from this because there will be more room in the bag for hybrids and fairway woods for more forgiveness approaching the green.
You have a lot of wedge possibilities with the Four-wedge Micro Gap method. This is a fantastic method for longer hitters who are confident with their drives and can consistently hit the long ball down the chute and have between 150 and 90 yards into greens.
Most individuals have the Three-wedge Random Space system since they have a regular PW from the manufacturer and buy additional wedges separately without knowing about the gap between the PW and SW. This is not an awful method, but it is far from ideal.
Step 2: Choose The Wedges
The majority of wedge manufacturers make wedges in the following lofts:
50° 52° 54° 56° 58° 60° 64°
There is no wrong answer; it all depends on your requirements, BUT…
Avoid the 64° wedges at all costs. They’re terrible and more of a gimmick. You might use this club once in a round and still screw it up!
Choose your wedge maker and attempt to purchase two, three, or four wedges from the same range/manufacturer to ensure uniformity throughout the wedge set. Having a similar feel and distance gapping from the same wedge range can give you more confidence on approach shots.
How to Choose the Best Wedge
Loft gapping
What is your pitching wedge distance on a full shot? What is the distance between the following two wedges? What is the distance between the following wedges after that? Determine the distances and the largest gap to fill.
Bounce
Low bounce wedges work well on hard fairways and narrow lies with grass that is clipped close to the ground. In soft ground, damp ground, and fluffy bunkers, high bounce wedges are favored.
Wedges can have up to 18 degrees of bounce, but on real hardpan and dry courses, a pro or a specific player may hone his bounce to 2 degrees. The bounce you select will be determined by how steeply you hit the ball, the conditions of the courses (soft, hard, or fluffy), and how you play around the greens. Do you prefer chip and runs, floaty shots, or basic chips?
Finish
When you open the blade, you can receive a matte finish wedge to reduce glare from the sun. Aside from silver, there are blue, black, brown, and copper wedges if you want to change things up. Some wedges are made to rust in order to increase the roughness for spin.
Groove Pattern
Some wedges have additional tiny grooves cut into their faces. The grooves themselves must not be overly deep or of a specific shape. U-shaped and V-shaped grooves are available. You want a wedge that will spin but not too much, and that will be harsh on the face but not so much that it will destroy your golf ball covers.
Step 3: Practice
Take your new shoes to the range. Spend a half-bucket, if not a full bucket, on just hitting your wedges. For an hour at a time, practice on the chipping green. Chip the lawn or the roof of your house.
With a good pair of wedges and 2 or 3 hours of practice every week, you’ll be able to lower your score by at least 4 strokes in a couple of months. Guaranteed.
Top 5 Wedges For Mid Handicap Golfers
AT A GLANCE – THE TOP 5 WEDGES FOR MID HANDICAP GOLFERS (SEE ON AMAZON) | |
1. TOP PICK: Cleveland CBX 2 Cavity Back Wedge | |
SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ Hollow-cavity design - Additional weight distributed to the perimeter offers more forgiveness at impact.
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WHAT WE THINK: | |
Cleveland is the most well-known name in golf wedges, and the new generation of the RTX is another superb wedge for the average golfer. Because the majority of us (84%) utilize cavity back irons, it makes sense to supplement the set with cavity back wedges for feel and consistency, and the RTX-3 cavity back irons fit neatly into your set.
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: | |
“I am a 13 handicap that plays with cavity back irons and the main problem with my game is 100 in as well the occasional chunked or skulled wedge so I thought I would try the CBX2 out. I previously played with a Cleveland Rotex 2.0 588 wedge which is a blade. This wedge has a similar feel at address and goes the exact same distance on full swing as my previous 56 degrees but the main difference is more "good misses". From 25 in there were many shots where I would have chunked or skulled the iron but with this wedge, the ball got up in the air and made it to the green. Not a perfect shot by any means but it is WAY more forgiving which of course will lead (hopefully if I can putt) to better scoring. All in all performs as advertised and really anyone over an 8 handicap should probably be playing with a "game improvement" wedge like this one. 5 stars!” | |
PROS ✅ Cavity returns for better shots, even if they are mishits.
| CONS ❌ Reduced shot shaping |
SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ MG2’s face features several new innovations engineered to maximize spin.
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WHAT WE THINK: | |
Taylormade needs to produce specific wedges since their Tour players require them to complete the iron set they sign up to play with, therefore a lot of effort goes into manufacturing them.
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: | |
“My son wanted a 30-degree wedge, so I purchased this for him. He loves the weight and feel of it. Has been practicing chipping with it at the putting green near the driving range. He is very happy with it.”
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PROS ✅ Has a classic and minimalist design
| CONS ❌ Not so forgiving |
SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ Hydro flow micro-grooves: laser etched microscopic grooves help channel away moisture for a maximum spin in wet conditions
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WHAT WE THINK: | |
The Mizuno wedge is frequently the one that hooks you. You play one and keep it for a very long time. There's no doubt about the high quality of these wedges.
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: | |
“I play all of my golf in the early morning and always in heavy dew and my 60 deg wedge here has made a real difference in my game. I'm a believer. I really like this club.”
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PROS ✅ Come in great colors
| CONS ❌ Lots of lofts and bounces |
SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ The Smart Sole 4 makes the short game easier. Featuring an extra wide sole and improved Feel Balancing Technology, the Smart Sole 4 delivers maximum forgiveness and easier bunker play for those needing more short game assistance.
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WHAT WE THINK: | |
The S wedge is available at 58°, which is great for a sand wedge in my opinion - like a love child of a sand wedge and a lob wedge. The Smart Sole has a lot of bounce, which makes every wedge shot more enjoyable. A pitch or bunker shot is nearly impossible to make a mistake on.
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: | |
“Really like this club with regard to shots fifty yards or less including bunker and shots out of the rough. Just ordered the 50 degree gap wedge in this series. I'm a senior golfer and have lost some confidence hitting my regular Cleveland wedges that I've had for some time. This wedge plus the 50 degree just ordered I'm sure will give me no pause for thought when I address shots utilizing these clubs.”
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PROS ✅ Very forgiving
| CONS ❌ Will take a few practices and getting used to
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ Enhanced Three-Tiered Sole - An extra wide three-tiered sole, with added leading edge bounce, provides maximum forgiveness from the fairway, rough or out of the bunker.
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WHAT WE THINK: | |
This is a genuinely unique 42° club designed to assist golfers who struggle to get up and down around the greens, especially if you smash your chip shots frequently. The Cleveland C wedge is a little beauty for getting up and down around the greens. It's a dart thrower inside 120 yards.
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: | |
“The C wedge is as great as the S. Easy accurate and reliable. Great for pitching and chipping.”
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PROS ✅ Extra wide three-tiered sole
| CONS ❌ It will take some practice to figure out how to hit these wedge clubs. |
Final Thoughts
You now have all of the information you need to choose a fantastic set of wedges or simply one to fill a gap. Modern wedges are all quite good, but like with all clubs, it depends on your preferences and needs. Choose wisely, and we hope you can start getting out of the bunker in one stroke and chipping the ball in close.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many degrees is a pitching wedge?
Pitching wedges range in angle from 45 to 48 degrees and are imprinted with a P or PW, and occasionally a 10 iron, as in a Honma set. The pitching wedge lacks the large sole and high bounce of the sand and lob wedges. With that loft, you may utilize a pitching wedge for approach shots to your maximum distance, and it is very helpful as a chipping club around the greens.
In fact, if you’re having trouble with chipping, focus just on the pitching wedge and master it. It will be the club you lean on in the future as you improve your golf game.
What exactly is a gap wedge?
There may be a gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge, which may present some distance concerns on approach shots. You don’t need a gap wedge if you work hard enough; you can learn to hit partial shots with a pitching wedge.
The funny thing is that a pitching wedge can be included in your set, and a sand wedge is frequently included as well. The part that irritates people is that a pitching wedge has a loft of 48 degrees and a sand wedge has a loft of 56 degrees. That’s an 8-degree difference, whereas the other irons typically have a 4-degree difference between them.
That is why it is referred to as a gap wedge: it bridges the space between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. Easy.
How many degrees is a sand wedge?
Sand Wedges are available in 54, 56, and 58 degree degrees. For most players with handicaps ranging from 10 to 24, a sand wedge is the most valuable club. It can be used for chipping, pitching, and sand play. You don’t need a lob wedge unless your course necessitates it for the strokes you need to hit. A normal 56-degree sand wedge will meet the demands of 90% of golfers, particularly those in the mid handicap range.