The majority of golfers at your local course have never broken 85. The average score for the average golfer is much closer to 100. If that’s the case, should these golfers use the same wedges as the pros?
That could be the case for some, but for a lot of people, spending more money won’t perform any better. I’ve used a lot of wedges over the years and this post will go over my favorites for mid to high handicappers.
An Overview: Our Favorite Wedges
You can click on one of the links below to jump to that specific wedge. We’ll talk about the pros and cons of each and give you an alternative wedge to consider.
- Best For High Handicaps: Cleveland CBX
- Best For Mid Handicaps: Cleveland RTX
- Best Complete Set: Kirkland Signature
- Best Chipper: PING ChipR
- Best Budget: Wilson Harmonized
You can also click here to jump to the section where we talk about what to look for when picking a wedge.
Cleveland CBX: Best For High Handicaps
If you’re a high handicap golfer (shoot above 90), you probably use cavity back or game improvement irons. If that’s the case, it might also be smart to use a cavity back wedge.
The design of a game improvement iron is very different than a traditional wedge. This is why a lot of golfers struggle to hit their wedges well, especially on full length shots.
The CBX is one of the most forgiving wedges on the market. The design of the sole (bottom of the club) helps the club glide through the ground and won’t dig in as much. The cavity back design will also hit the ball longer than a traditional wedge.
Cleveland has always made some of the better wedges on the market and I’ve used them from pretty much day #1. Plus, the price is pretty reasonable.
The CBX has been out for a number of years and they’ve all been solid. I’ve used the original CBX as well as the newer ZipCore. Whatever you can find (with the right specs) should perform well.
The one thing I don’t like about this wedge is that it’s not the best for chipping around the green. I find that a traditional wedge (blade style) is quite a bit better for short chips.
When I was a high handicapper, I had a CBX pitching/gap wedge (for full shots) and a RTX sand wedge (for chipping). I liked that combo.
- An Alternative: Callaway CB Wedge (more forgiving but worse for chipping)
- Where To Buy: Buy used on Global Golf or new on Worldwide Golf
Cleveland RTX: Best For Mid Handicaps
If you’re a mid handicapper (shoot in the 80s), you probably don’t need as much forgiveness as when you were a high handicap. Because of that, using a traditional wedge is probably the way to go.
Compared to the CBX, I find this wedge to be better for chipping around the green, especially with tight lies. That said, it’s not going to be as forgiving as the CBX, especially if you hit a lot of fat/chunky shots.
One thing you could consider (if you use game improvement irons) is to use an RTX/CBX combo. Going from a cavity back iron to a bladed wedge might cause problems with full length shots.
Most people only use their gap wedge to hit full shots. You could use the CBX for this. Most people use their sand/lob wedge around the green. You could use the RTX for that.
If you don’t use cavity back irons, you don’t need to worry about this.
Compared to Taylormade and Vokey wedges, Cleveland matches up well. I’ve used a few of the RTX models over the years and they’ve all been awesome.
The price is a bit cheaper and I really don’t believe an average golfer could tell the difference. That’s why it’s my top pick.
- Where To Buy: Buy used on Global Golf or new on Worldwide Golf
Kirkland Signature: Best Wedge Set
If you don’t get out much or you don’t want to spend a lot of money, this is one to consider. The quality and performance isn’t as good as the Cleveland wedges, but for the price, it’s really tough to beat.
What I like about these wedges is that they’re pretty good for all skill levels. I’d say they’re forgiving enough for a high handicapper and versatile enough for a better player.
I’ve tried a few of these wedges under 100 bucks and most of them aren’t that good. The main problem is usually the quality, with the face wearing out quicker than others.
That’s not the case with the Kirkland wedges.
One of the things I don’t like about these wedges is that they only come with 52/56/60 degrees of loft. Most people have a pitching wedge between 43-45 degrees, so that’s a pretty big gap between your PW and GW.
The second thing is that the grip is fine, but not great. It’s a little bit on the thin side and can get a bit slippery. Not a huge deal as it can always be replaced.
- An Alternative: Stix Wedges (graphite shaft) or Lazrus Wedges (50/54/58 degrees)
- Where To Buy: Check price on Amazon or Costco
PING ChipR: Best Chipper
If you’re looking for a wedge that makes chipping around the green easier, this will be the one for you. It’s probably the most forgiving wedge I’ve ever used for hitting bump-and-runs shots.
It’s not a very versatile wedge since it can only be used when you’re close to the green. That said, it does one thing, and one thing really well.
The way it’s designed will stop you from hitting fat/thin shots. We’ve all done it and know the feeling.
It’s almost like a more lofted putter. All you have to do is swing like you’re putting the ball and it’ll pop up and roll out nicely. Keep the game simple and you’ll play better golf.
There’s only one loft setting that this club comes in and that’s 38.5 degrees. Its got a low amount of loft and the reason is that it’s mainly used for bump and runs. It’ll be like chipping with your 9 iron.
I think you’ll definitely need a pitching and sand wedge in your bag to hit shots from further back in the fairway and in the bunker. That being said, if you struggle with getting the ball close to the pin when you’re around the green, I’d highly recommend giving a chipper a try.
Other than the lack of versatility, the other complaint I have is the price. We’ve tested it against other chippers and it’s definitely the best, but it also comes with a premium price tag.
- Read Full Review: PING ChipR
- An Alternative: Read our comparison guide
- Where To Buy: Check price at Golf Galaxy or PGA Tour SS
Wilson Harmonized: Best Budget
If you’re a new golfer or you want to spend the least amount of money possible, this will be the one to look at. Sure, it’s no Vokey or Cleveland, but it’s still really good for the price.
What I like about these wedges is that you can pick the loft you want. With most of the wedge sets, you’re stuck with 52/56/60. A lot of people want a 50 degree. Others want something higher than 60.
You might not even want (or need) 3 wedges. Most people can get away with a PW, GW, & SW.
Even though they’re solid for the price, there are a few downsides to consider. The first is that you can’t change the bounce, loft, or shaft.
The second is that the grip isn’t the best and I’d probably replace it. It’s not terrible, but it’s a little small and doesn’t offer the best grip.
The final thing is that it feels lighter than a premium wedge. Some people want a heavier wedge, some people don’t really care. This is moreso personal preference.
- An Alternative: There isn’t much
- Where To Buy: Check price on Amazon
How To Pick New Wedges
Picking wedges can be more complicated than picking a new driver or set of irons. A lot of it will depend on your skill level, what your needs are, how you swing the club, and what your course conditions are like. This is what you need to think about.
Number Of Wedges
Most people carry 3-4 wedges in their bag. In order of importance, you have the pitching wedge, the sand wedge, the gap wedge, and then the lob wedge.
Pretty much every set of irons will already come with a pitching wedge. The loft will be somewhere between 42-46 degrees (usually 43-44) and they’re one of the most used clubs in the bag.
The second wedge you’ll have to add to the bag is a sand wedge. This is probably the most versatile wedge because it can be used to hit a range of shots (full shots, bump-and-runs, bunker, lobs, etc).
Even with these 2 wedges, you can shoot some solid scores. I think it’s important to learn how to hit different shots with the same club (high, low, half, full).
This is a good start for beginners and high handicaps.
Once you get a bit better (mid handicap range), you’ll want to fill the gap between your PW and SW. This is where the gap wedge comes into play, and is the 3rd wedge to add to the bag.
The wedge that’s optional for a lot of golfers is the lob wedge. I think this should be a specialty wedge that’s only used for specific shots (tight lies & flop shots).
You might look to add this wedge as you get close to single figure handicap. If you’re not, I think chipping with a SW and GW will give you better results.
You can learn more about how many wedges to carry HERE.
Lofts
Once you know how many wedges you want to carry, the next thing to do is pick the lofts. The right gap in lofts will make sure the distances between each wedge is similar.
The first thing you want to do is figure out the loft on your PW. The second is to decide what your highest lofted wedge will be.
If you don’t want a lob wedge (3 wedges), your highest lofted club should be a 56 degree sand wedge. If you want a lob wedge (4 wedges), your highest lofted club should be a 58 degree lob wedge.
If you go the 3 wedge route, you’ll want to get a GW that’s equally between your PW and SW. If your PW is 44 degrees and your SW is 56 degrees, your GW should be 50 degrees.
If you go the 4 wedge route, you’ll want 4-5 degrees between each wedge. You’ll probably want a 58 degree LW, a 54 degree SW, a 50 degree GW, and then your PW.
You can learn more about picking the right loft below:
Cavity Back or Blades
You can get a cavity back iron or you can get a bladed iron. The same goes for wedges. The main difference is that cavity backs are forgiving while blades are better for control.
As a general rule, it’s best to match your wedges and irons. If you use cavity back irons, use cavity back wedges. If you use blade or muscle back irons, use the same wedges.
If you’re irons are forgiving cavity backs and your wedges are unforgiving blades, you might have a tough time with consistency (especially with full shots).
The downside to a lot of cavity back wedges is that they’re chunky. I find that it’s harder to hit delicate chips around the green.
A solution to this is to use cavity back wedges for full shot wedges (PW & GW) and then a traditional wedge for chipping (SW & LW).
You can learn more about cavity backs and blades HERE.
Bounce
Bounce is the angle between the leading edge and the ground. A higher number means more bounce. A lower number means less bounce.
A wedge with more bounce has more of the leading edge off the ground at address. The sole is normally wider and that makes the club “bounce” off the ground.
A wedge with less bounce has its leading edge closer to the ground at address. This is normally better for tight lies and flop shots.
And just so you know:
- Low bounce = under 6
- Mid bounce = 7-10
- High bounce = above 10
As a general rule, if you have a steep swing (take a big divot), you’ll want to use mid-high bounce. If you have a shallow swing (no divot), you’ll want low-mid bounce.
The number you decide to go with will depend on course conditions and what you’ll be using it for. A little bit more bounce on softer courses and a bit less on firmer courses.
If you hit a lot of fat/chunky shots, having a wedge with more bounce will help you out. That’s the most common fault for average players.
You can learn more about wedge bounce HERE.
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