I’ve been looking into getting a new wedge or two and have been trying out a number of different combinations. Most recreational golfers only need 2 or 3 wedges in their bag, so if you had to pick, would it be better to play a 58 or 60 degree?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
As a general rule, average golfers have an easier time hitting a 58 degree wedge compared to a 60 degree. A 58 degree wedge will give most golfers more forgiveness and will also provide more consistent distance control.
That being said, a 58 degree wedge might not be the best choice either. It all depends on what wedges you currently have. I think it’s a good idea to evenly space out your wedges, but we’ll get more into that next.
You can see our favorite wedges for average players HERE.
Should You Use A 58 Or 60 Degree Wedge?
I’ve used both wedges before and it was almost impossible to tell the difference in lofts. I really didn’t hit the 58 degree any farther, but I felt like I was more consistent on full shots.
Around the green is the only time I really used my lob wedge. A 2 degree difference in loft isn’t enough to make much of a difference for chipping, so because of that (and the improved full shot consistency), I stopped using a 60 degree. Butch also agrees:
The average golfer shouldn’t use anything greater than a 58 degree.
Butch Harmon
So, the choice is pretty clear. If you want a lob wedge in your bag, picking a 58 degree will be the better choice for most golfers.
In saying that, a lob wedge might not even be needed. I think the average golfer would shoot better scores if they chipped with their sand or gap wedge (we tested this). A lob wedge should only be used in a specific situation (flop shot, for example).
I’m sure you’ve hit your fair share of fat/thin shots with your lob wedge. Most people will do this less if you chipped with less loft.
The average golfer probably only needs 2-3 wedges:
- Pitching wedge (must-have)
- Sand wedge (must-have)
- Gap wedge (optional)
If you had these 3 wedges, you could hit 90% of the shots you’d have to. Once you got down to low handicap range, you could think about adding a lob wedge.
Let’s say you wanted to have 3 wedges and your pitching wedge is 44 degrees. Here’s your ideal wedge setup:
- 44 degree pitching wedge
- 50 degree gap wedge
- 56 degree sand wedge
The reason this setup works is that each club is 6 degrees apart. That’s enough of a difference to really notice a distance improvement. The main thing it to space your wedges by 4-6 degrees.
You can read one of our other loft guides below:
What Is A 58 Degree Wedge Used For?
A 58 degree wedge is considered a lob wedge and is mostly used for lobbing the ball high up in the air. This wedge can also be used out of the bunker and for chips on a downhill lie.
For most golfers, a 58 degree wedge is the highest lofted club they should use. You’ll want to make sure the bounce of the club is at least 10 degrees. If you don’t know, you can read our guide on wedge bounce.
The higher bounce will stop the club from digging too much into the sand or dirt. That’s why this club is good out of the sand and could also be the best choice for someone who takes too much of a divot (we all know someone who does).
Can you use a 58 degree wedge as a sand wedge? Using a 58 degree wedge out of the sand is a good choice when you’re in a deep bunker or when you need to hit the ball a short distance. The only thing to keep in mind is that you’ll want a wedge that has at least 10 degrees of bounce.
If you’re in the market for some new wedges, a lob wedge is probably the last step. A sand wedge is probably the first step since it’s one of the most used golf clubs in the bag. A sand wedge is either 54 or 56 degrees.
What Is A 60 Degree Wedge Used For?
A 60 degree wedge is considered a lob wedge and is mostly used to launch the ball high up in the air and land softly on the green. Examples could be hitting the ball over water or sand and quickly stopping it on the green.
I used to have a 60 degree in my bag and it did come in handy in certain situations. It was good for hitting little half-swing chip shots or getting the ball over a bunker, but I had a tougher time hitting full shots with it.
That’s why I took it out of my bag and decided to use a sand wedge as my highest lofted club. Should low handicaps use a 60 degree wedge? Yeah, probably. Should the average hacker have one in their bag? I really don’t think so.
Lob wedges are anything above 58 degrees. Phil Mickelson has a 64 degree wedge in his bag for hitting those huge flop shots. Most people just stick to 60 degrees because they’re so much easier to hit consistently.
Can you use a 60 degree wedge as a sand wedge? Using a 60 degree wedge out of the sand is a good choice when you’re in a tall bunker and need to hit the ball as high as possible. Just remember that you’ll want to use a wedge with at least 10 degrees of bounce.
Another thing you’ll want to look at is what wedge grind to use. Things like course conditions and what type of swing you have plays a big role in picking the right option for your game.
You can see our 56 vs 60 degree wedge test HERE.
How Far Should You Hit A 58 Degree Wedge?
On average, golfers hit their 58 degree wedge 80 yards, but the range can vary between 50 and 105 yards. The higher number is for golfers who take a full swing with their wedges, but most golfers only take a 1/2 or 3/4 swing with their wedges.
To find the most accurate number possible, I asked 6 different golfers how far they typically hit their 58 degree wedge. These are the responses I got:
| Golfer | 58 Degree Distance |
| 1 | 75 yards |
| 2 | 50 yards |
| 3 | 80 yards |
| 4 | 105 yards |
| 5 | 75 yards |
| 6 | 100 yards |
| Average Distance | 80 yards |
The range is pretty wide but the main reason is that some golfers only take a half swing with their shorter wedges. These clubs are for control and scoring, not getting max distance.
You’ll have way better control with a shorter swing and should almost never take full swings with this club. Just for reference though, your typical shot should go about 80 yards with this club.
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.
Just like with the 58 degrees, I went out and asked 10 different golfers how far they normally hit their 60-degree wedge. Here are the answers I got:
| Golfer | 60 Degree Distance |
| 1 | 65 yards |
| 2 | 75 yards |
| 3 | 95 yards |
| 4 | 60 yards |
| 5 | 75 yards |
| 6 | 60 yards |
| 7 | 100 yards |
| 8 | 70 yards |
| 9 | 65 yards |
| 10 | 75 yards |
| Average Distance | 74 yards |
The range is tighter than the 58 degrees but is still pretty wide. Part of the reason is that better players normally play a 60 degree wedge. Average players should stick to a 58-degree.
If you were to take full swings with your 60 degrees, your distance should be somewhere around 100 yards. Most golfers swing at 1/2 or 3/4 speed though and that’s why the average number is 74 yards.
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