If you’re considering a 60 degree wedge, and wondering if it’ll offer any benefit over a 58 degree wedge, then good news – we’ll help you to learn a little about wedges and which ones are right for you, with this handy guide!
What Is A Wedge?
Wedge is a term used to describe any type of club that helps players make contact with the ball. There are many types of wedges including fairway woods, hybrids, irons, and putters.
Each type of wedge is designed to give players a specific shot. A wedge with a higher loft is better for hitting the ball farther while a wedge with a lower loft is better for making contact near the green.
The length of the wedge determines the angle and depth of the shot. Wedges are typically used to drive the ball into the hole. There are three types of wedges: long, medium and short. The longer the wedge, the straighter the shot. A shorter wedge allows a golfer to slice the ball.
Wedges are used to chip balls into the air. This is done by hitting the ball with the face of the wedge.
The angle of the club face determines how much the ball flies into the air. A 58 degree wedge can chip the ball easily. It’s best used at shorter distances – typically, around 80 yards away from the hole.
When Are 58 Degree Wedges Useful?
You should use your 58- degree wedge for chipping and pitch shots within 80 yards of the green. Wedges designed with 58 degrees of lofts are really good choices for playing on firm courses, especially where there is limited space.
Wedges designed with a 58 degree of loft are also helpful for sand shots.
If your plans include playing on wet bunkers or areas with limited real estate, then wedges designed with 58 degrees will be very useful for shots around the green as well as those within 86 yards of the flagstick.
Wedge Distances
Golf courses are usually measured in yards. Amateur male and female golfers can use a 58 degree wedge to cover distances up to 70 yards. If you try to practice a smooth swing, you’ll be able to get closer to 85 yards. Experts at the game usually get farther than 140 yards.
Wedge Bounces
Wedges work well when you use them correctly. A good bounce helps the wedge get under the golf ball, but the bounce can vary depending on how you swing your club. A good bounce helps your wedge get under the golf balls.
Wedge bounces range from 0-10 degrees. A lower bounce means the leading edge will be closer to the ground at address. This helps the player get a better feel for the ball and make more consistent shots.
Higher bounces are ideal for wet and soft conditions. Bouncing from 10-16 degrees is good for rainy and soft weather.
For a 58 degree wedge, the best bounce typically ranges between 0 and 14 degrees. Your best bounce will likely be somewhere around 11 degrees. However, depending on where exactly on the wedge you strike the ball, this can change.
How To Hit A Wedge Shot
You should always stand behind the ball when you play. Your weight should be evenly distributed between both feet. Your hands should be placed low on the club face, and your wrists should be relaxed.
Hit the ball as hard as you can and make sure that you’re hitting the ball correctly. You should remember to choke your club and use your feet to sink into the grass if there’s any underneath the ball.
A golf swing should be smooth and fluid, but not too fast or slow.
Gripping down the shaft an inch too far can take away five yards, and for some players, a bad grip can take away twenty yards. Swinging positively is the only way you can get good contact with the ball.
A wedge shot requires great hand-eye coordination and a technically sound golf swing. To hit a wedge well, you need to use your core and not your arm muscles.
Lower-lever obliques start the chip motion. Hands, arms and shoulders don’t do anything other than make the club move around.
This technique helps the golfer stay relaxed while hitting the ball.
58 Degree Vs 60 Degree Wedge
Wedge types can seem interchangeable, but you probably actually want to carry a few different types of wedge with you. A 58 degree wedge helps you to hit the ball further than a 60 degree wedge, which can mean that it’s usable in a wider variety of situations.
However, there are times when a 60 degree wedge is a valid choice.
The first 60 degree wedges had very large, heavy soles, and a pronounced front-to-back camber.
They were very difficult to master. Modern 60 degree wedges are easier to use, but they still require a slight change in approach compared to a 58 degree wedge.
A 60 degree wedge is a much more powerful club than a 58 degree wedge.
If you’re hitting shots or chips and thinking you need to clear a big tree or have to land your ball with little green to go with, then a 60 degree wedge is a better club to use. When dealing with a very close pin location, or a very hard and fast green, you’ll want to use a 60 degree wedge.
When To Use A 60 Degree Wedge
A 60 degree lob wedge is an excellent club for beginners who want to play short chip shots. It is also suitable for those who want to get more distance off of their drives.
A lob wedge does not need to be used for a full shot from the fairway as it is too heavy and doesn’t provide enough power for this type of shot.
A 60 degree wedge can be used when the ball is buried in the rough or on hard ground. You can also use a 60-degree wedge when playing bunker shots. A 60 degree wedge can help you to hit shots over bunkers.
In fact, wedge shots are usually played from a bunker, but sometimes players use them from other places as well.
If you’re playing in windy conditions, a 60 degree wedge may be more useful than a 58 degree wedge because it has less loft. Wind tends to push the ball back towards the hole, so having less loft allows you to keep the ball where you want it more easily.
In these conditions, a 60 degree wedge can allow you to generate power without having to worry about losing control over the ball.
If you’re playing on a course with lots of trees, you may find yourself needing to clear them. A 60 degree wedge allows you to clear those trees without having to worry about losing distance by hitting the ball too high.
Which Wedges To Choose?
The first thing you need to do when choosing a wedge is to think about what kind of style you want your game to have. You may be looking for a low-lofted wedge for long drives or an approach wedge that gives you more control over distance. There are different types of wedges for different situations.
For example, a pitching wedge is designed to give you better control over distance than a sand wedge. Wedges should be used by players who want to get the most distance out of them. A player should use the loft of their wedge based on where he wants to hit the ball.
This means that if a player hits the ball into the rough, then he should choose a lower lofted wedge because he doesn’t want the ball to fly too far. But if a player hits the shot into the fairway, then he should pick a higher lofted wedge because he wants the ball to travel farther.
High-lofted wedges are used by many recreational golfers but are difficult to control. Many recreational golfers struggle to make full swings when using them. High lofts require a lot of practice and patience.
You need to learn how to control your swing speed and make sure you’re landing on the right spot. A high lofted wedge is a powerful scoring tool.
Wedge distances vary depending on what clubs you use. You should try to get consistent distances between your wedges.
Which Wedges Should I Carry To Cover What Distances?
Your average golfer will probably never hit more than 9 greens out of 18 in a round. Therefore, you’ll likely score better if you choose clubs designed for shorter distances.
A standard pitching wedge has a loft of around 46 degrees. A standard sand wedge will have a loft of around 56 degrees. Golfers should be carrying three wedges – a pitching, a gap wedge and a sand wedge. They should also have about 4-6 degrees of loft difference between them.
What Do Pros Use?
Professional golfers play with 3 to 4 wedges. Wedge lofts range from 46 to 60 degrees. Players may occasionally use a fifth wedge. Average distances for players hitting pitching wedges are about 130-135 yards,115-120 yards for sand wedges, and 75-95 yards for lob wedges.
Professional golfers use many types of clubs to hit the ball as far as possible. Most of them use woods and irons because they are used to hitting the ball farther than other clubs.
Woods are usually used by professionals when they want to hit the ball longer distances. Irons are used mostly by professionals when they want more control over the shot.
How To Measure How Far You Hit Your Wedges
You should try to be as consistent as possible when you play golf. To accurately measure each shot, you need a GPS measuring device, a smartwatch or a laser range finder.
You should practice hitting the ball with each wedge until you know how far you need to hit the ball to make it go into the hole. After you’ve practiced enough, you should write down the shortest and longest distances that you hit the ball with every wedge.
This will help you choose the right wedge for any shot. You should aim to hit three consecutive shots within 10 yards of each other.
A full wedge shot is generally considered to be about 90 yards. Players who hit those shots consistently are usually better than others. Those who do poorly when faced with an in-between shot tend to slow down too much, leading to bad shots.
So Do I Need A 60 Degree Wedge?
Wedge gaps are very important. You need to add more wedges to your bag than you thought. Wedge choices should be made based on personal preference.
You should choose what you feel comfortable using most often, and not just based on what you see others using. If this means that a 60 degree wedge is a better choice for your play style, then you should be carrying one!
Both of these wedges are useful tools for golfers who need to hit the ball farther than they usually can. A golfer can use different wedges according to what they need – after all, it’s an individual sport! You can choose to use a 60-degree wedge for longer distances or a 58-degree wedge for shorter distances.
Overall, you can probably get away without needing a 60 degree wedge in most cases. However, they make them for a reason – so, if you find that a 60 degree wedge adds something to your golf game, then you should definitely use them!
Conclusion
Your choice of wedge is very much a personal one – after all, nobody will play golf quite the same as you do, and nobody else has your physique! Therefore, you should try out a 60 degree wedge and see if it fits well into your style of play. If so, you might well be glad you added one to your bag!
