The 9 Best Golf Wedges For The 2023 Season
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A good golf game requires good clubs and accessories paired with your golf game. It’s incredible how a lousy club can harm your swing.
Your golf wedge can impact things like your shot, the span of your shot, and even how the ball peaks and drops. With that in mind, we scoured the market to try to find the very best golf wedges out there.
We wanted to see versatility and quality to know which brands and models you can use to get the best shot from your wedge.
Our Top Picks For The Best Golf Wedges In 2023
- Cleveland CBX2 Black Satin Sand Wedge
- TaylorMade Milled Grind Satin Chrome Wedge Sand Wedge
- Callaway Sure Out 2 Sand Wedge
- Mizuno T20 Satin Sand Wedge Club
- Ping Glide 3.0 SS Lob Wedge
- Titleist Vokey SM8 Tour Chrome F Grind Wedge Club
- TaylorMade Hi-Toe Big Foot Lob Wedge Club
- Callaway MD5 JAWS Chrome S Grind Wedge, Sand Wedge
- Mizuno T20 Blue Ion Sand Wedge Club
While we certainly can’t do much about your skills, we can help equip you with the best golf wedge options and even prepare you for what to look for in a club. Keep reading to learn about the best golf wedges for the 2022 season.
Overview
What to Look for in a Golf Wedge
We have some excellent choices for you, but we wanted to give you some food for thought before sharing our reviews. What is it exactly that makes a wedge tremendous, and how do we determine which ones are the best?
This section will share some buyer’s tips designed to give you some insight to inform you as you browse the options thoroughly.
Type of Wedge
We are sure you know that there are several types of wedges out there.
Here are the most common wedges.
● Pitching wedge
● Sand wedge
● Gap wedge
● Lob wedge
Pitching wedges are probably one of the most commonly used wedges, and when you buy clubs in a set, these are typically part of the package. Pitching wedges can help you chip or bump the ball.
Golfers rarely use gap wedges, but they ultimately can fill the gap between a sand wedge and a pitching wedge when you need something in between the two.
A sand wedge is a wedge you should carry if you only have one wedge in your golf bag. Yes, sand wedges’ primary function is to help get you out of the sand, and the unique head design provides momentum when you need it. They can also be used in the rough, making them versatile.
Finally, a lob wedge is made very similarly to a sand wedge, but it offers just a bit more loft. If you need height or have a tricky shot, the lob wedge might be able to help.
Loft Angle
One crucial element of the best golf wedge is the loft angle. If the loft angle is high, the club’s objective is to launch the ball higher in the air. The higher the launch, the shorter your shot distance will most likely be.
At one time, loft angles were standard to the specific type of wedge, but this is no more. The angles can vary from club to club, so make sure that you know the angle you are getting and the angle you need.
The standard sizes used to be as follows:
● Pitching wedge, 48 degrees
● Approach wedge or gap wedge, 52 degrees
● Sand wedge, 56 degrees
● Lob wedge, 60 degrees
Bounce
Bounce is another angular matter when it comes to a wedge. The bounce is the angle from the club’s face to the club’s sole, making a difference in how the club and ball interact.
See More: Callaway Strata Set Review: 10 Things To Love
The bounce that you need might also depend on your play. If you are prone to sweeping the ball, try an angle between 4 and 6. This bounce also can be beneficial with firm grass, tight lies, bunkers of hard sand, and hardpan.
If you want a versatile bounce, go with a mid-range between 7 and 10 degrees. A loft angle in this area accommodates far more uses and swing characteristics than any other bounce.
If you have a deep rough, fluffy sand, or perhaps a soft fairway, you may want a bounce that is more than 10 degrees.
Blades and Cavity Backs
Most golfers use blade wedges vs. cavity back wedges, although some professional guides recommend that the majority use cavity backs instead. The purpose of cavity backs is to be forgiving to get the best launch even when you don’t hit the ball right.
However, pros and even experienced golfers with low handicaps tend to prefer blades. Blades are known for allowing you to have more control, but they are less forgiving. If you’re playing in the pros, an easygoing swing may not matter as much.
Be sure to choose appropriately for your comfort and skill level.
How Many Wedges Should a Beginner Carry?
When you play, most games and tours have a 14-club limit, which needs to be taken into account when choosing your clubs. In most instances, even low handicap golfers carry only 1-2 wedges, but you can take 3-4 if you have the room for them.
See More: The Best Wedges to Carry in Your Bag
We recommend as a beginner that you start with either just a gap wedge or a sand wedge. These are the most versatile options that will give you the most play. If you only choose one, go for the sand wedge. Every golfer should have a sand wedge at their disposal for those challenging locations.
What Loft Should a Golfer Choose?
Ultimately, this will depend on your preferences and your play. If you’re looking for distance, go with a higher loft. Remember that most wedges have a standard loft for the type of wedge so if all else fails, stick to the standard to be covered in the best way.
Average Price of a Golf Wedge
Golf wedges can vary significantly in price depending on many factors. Wedges are often sold as an individual club but are sometimes part of a club set. Overall, you can find quality wedges for potentially as low as $60. Some of the most premium wedges are as expensive as $350-$400.
Overall, you should plan to pay somewhere around $150 for a good wedge, on average. Always be sure to choose something that works for your budget and your golfing needs.
The Best Golf Wedges Reviewed
We’ve covered many essential elements here, so now it’s time to get down to the real business at hand. We’ve sorted through all of the options so that you don’t have to spend hours researching and trying to figure it out yourself. There is a lot to consider.
We made every effort to provide various options to be something for every need. Below are our top picks for the best golf wedges for 2021.
1. Cleveland CBX2 Black Satin Sand Wedge
This first option is a classic sand wedge that is stunning by design. It has a black satin finish that stands out. It’s clean and elegant with a premium style. The shaft is Wedgeflex flex with a Cleveland Dynamic Gold 115 steel shaft.
This sand wedge is 56/12 with a 56-degree loft and a 12-degree bounce. It has a standard lie angle. You can purchase the club in either right-handed or left-handed, and you can also choose some varying angles if you need to.
The sand wedge has a hollow cavity on the clubhead that gives you both weight and forgiveness. It’s well-balanced and includes a TPU insert for reduced vibration. You can choose from three different sole grinds.
Pros:
● Sleek satin black finish
● 56/12 angles
● TPU insert reduces vibration
● Hollow cavity design
● Smooth and balanced
Cons:
● A sand wedge will pack some spin, so prepare yourself for that possibility when taking your swing
2. TaylorMade Milled Grind Satin Chrome Wedge Sand Wedge
This option makes a great budget-friendly option if you need it. You can’t play with the angles, settings, or even the shaft details like you can with some of the more premier wedges on the market. However, it’s a solid wedge that is well-loved in the industry, and it would certainly make a good option.
On this particular listing, the club is available as right-handed. It has a WedgeFlex flex shaft made with a True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft material. The wedge angles at 56/12, which is a standard sand wedge loft and bounce, respectively.
This wedge is both precise and straightforward. It has a satin silver finish that looks chrome. TaylorMade used machined geometry for the sole, and the edge is exact. The weight is well-balanced, and you get plenty of control.
Pros:
● Budget-friendly model
● Standard design sand wedge
● 56/12 angles
● Precise and controlled
● Chrome silver finish
Cons:
● Limited on variables
● It may not give as much spin as similar wedges
3. Callaway Sure Out 2 Sand Wedge
The third option is another unique find that is almost elegant and modern in design. This wedge has a satin chrome finish enhanced with black and red markings. The Callaway Sure Out 2 is the 2nd version of this club, hence the two, with some original model improvements. It’s another well-rated wedge for some great reasons.
This sand wedge from Callaway has a stiff flex shaft called KBS Tour 90 steel shaft material. It sports a 60-degree loft angle and a 0-degree bounce angle. It is a right-handed model as well. This model was designed for heel relief and a charming shape when you make contact.
It has full-face grooves that take an aggressive approach and give you more spin with a quick stop. In the 2nd generation, Callaway updated the sole to provide a limited bounce angle. This wedge has a comfortable Lamkin step-down grip as well.
Pros:
● Updated 2nd generation model
● Aggressive, full-face grooves
● Plenty of spin
● Comfortable grip
● Increased heel relief for improved play
Cons:
● Labeled as a sand wedge but is more similar to a lob wedge
4. Mizuno T20 Satin Sand Wedge Club
This Mizuno satin sand wedge is a classic. Don’t let the simple design fool you. This wedge packs a punch and is very well-made. You can choose from right-handed or left-handed, and it is all around sleek and shiny with a satin chrome finish on the head.
This sand wedge sports the WedgeFlex flex shaft that is True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour steel materials. The club’s angle measures 56 degrees and 10 degrees for loft and bounce. It holds a standard lie angle. Many of these numbers can be adjusted to your needs and customized.
The model has grain flow HD that utilized an enhanced forging process. This process gives you more grain density at impact, so it is solid and consistent with every effect. The carbon steel is 30% greater strength, and you get excellent feedback from the design.
Pros:
● Carbon steel with 30% greater strength
● Enhanced grain flow for consistency
● An increased spin from surface
● Customizable angles for loft and balance
● Simple and yet effective
Cons:
● The aggressive build may take some getting used to
5. Ping Glide 3.0 SS Lob Wedge
The Ping Glide lob wedge 3.0 is new and improved, and it’s one you don’t want to overlook if you’re in the market for a lob wedge. The term “glide” is a little deceiving because it is a lob wedge and works excellently for that purpose. It will glide on your lob, and it’s smooth to operate.
Made with a WedgeFlex Flex shaft, this club uses Ping Nippon Z-Z115 steel. It’s sturdy and reliable for the long haul. You can choose from right-handed or left-handed. The standard club angles for loft and bounce are 58 degrees and 10 degrees, respectively.
The angles are customizable. The club build is a black dot standard lie. This lob wedge has deep, sharp grooves to help you get more height and more spin. It’s a tour-proven wedge, so it’s been tried and tested by the best players. It’s light and comfortable, and you have total control of your swing with a soft impact.
Pros:
● Soft impact experience
● Deep grooves for complete control
● Lightweight, so it feels comfortable
● Tested by the pros
● Higher accuracy with an MIO head
Cons:
● Some golfers feel as though the shaft is almost too light. Hence, there may be an adjustment period for that
6. Titleist Vokey SM8 Tour Chrome F Grind Wedge Club
We all know and love the Titleist brand, and this tour grind wedge is undoubtedly one to consider. This wedge is 100% custom build, so you get to choose every little standard from angles to shaft materials and even the grip.
Whether you need a pitching wedge, gap wedge, or sand wedge, you can make this option work for you. You can always go with the standard build options, which come with a traditional loft angle and standard grips that are velvet black. The shaft standard is True Temper Dynamic Gold S200 steel.
This wedge is custom-made to your specifications, so there isn’t as much detail to assess, apart from knowing brand quality and understanding the club’s concepts as a wedge. No matter which type of wedge you swing for, you will be delighted with the results.
Pros:
● Quick turnaround time
● Custom built to your specifications
● Longstanding, quality brand
● You get exactly what you want or need in a wedge
● Affordable price for a custom concept
Cons:
● You will need to know what you need or want to get it just right
7. TaylorMade Hi-Toe Big Foot Lob Wedge Club
TaylorMade brings us a club that is uniquely different in style and design. It has a brass finish with a wood-grain effect on the clubhead. It’s sleek and well-made, falling into a premium range for wedge clubs. It looks nice and works well when you put it to action.
This club only comes as a right-handed club, and they made the shaft with WedgeFlex flex and UST Mamiya Recoil ES Smacwrap graphite. It’s a quality wedge in all of the right places. It’s a lob club, so the angles measure 60 degrees for loft and 15 degrees for the bounce.
This club falls under a unique guarantee that gives you 30 days to test it out and return it if the performance isn’t exemplary for you. The Hi-Toe wedge is asymmetric on the grind with a broad and flat sole. The CG pockets are deep to help you get more spin and more control.
Pros:
● Aged copper finish that stands out
● CG pockets are deep for control and spin
● 30-day playability guarantee
● They designed the leading edge to be anti-dig
● High lob angles that impress
Cons:
● A bit above average on the overall cost
● Minimal options for customization
8. Callaway MD5 JAWS Chrome S Grind Wedge, Sand Wedge
There is nothing like the title of JAWS for a wedge to let you know it is rugged and dependable. The golfer can customize this particular club quite a bit to your specifications. You can get any type of wedge, built to varying angles depending on the wedge you choose. You can adjust the loft angle some, but the bounce angle remains the same for the standard.
Players can purchase this club right-handed or left-handed. The shaft comes standard with a WedgeFlex flex and Callaway True Temper Tour Issue 115 Blue S200 steel. It’s sleek, and it is well-made. The head has a shiny silver finish, enhanced with touches of blue color.
This club is named JAWS for the unique and innovative groove design. The grooves have an extremely sharp edge radius that is incredibly precise when put to work. The JAWS grooves are unique to this style and give you all of the spin and control you could want or need.
Pros:
● Unique JAW groove design
● Shiny silver with a touch of color
● Mild carbon steel that is light but durable
● Extremely sharp groove radius
● Ultimate spin and ultimate control
Cons:
● The polished finish shows scrapes and scratches far more than other finishes
9. Mizuno T20 Blue Ion Sand Wedge Club
Let’s wrap up these nine best golf wedges with a bang. Mizuno’s beautiful club has a brilliant blue that stands out uniquely and colorfully without feeling gaudy. It’s a well-made club that is perfect for the sand and other wedge needs as well. It comes with standardized measurements, but you can also customize angles and even club style a bit.
This club is only sold here as a right-handed club. Mizuno made the shaft with the ever-popular WedgeFlex flex. It is built with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue steel, making it durable and remarkable and giving it the perfect overall weight for use.
The sand wedge comes with 56-degree angles for loft and 14-degree angles for the bounce. Remember that these are customizable for your preferences, but these are the standard measurements.
This club doesn’t just look sleek. It is sleek. It has enhanced grain flow with an HD forging process, so you get a soft and solid hit every use.
Pros:
● Utilizes harmonic impact technology
● It stands out by design
● Micro, quad cut grooves
● Customizable to your needs
● Sturdy and reliable
Cons:
● The blue finish may come off with regular usage
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a quality wedge to add to your golf bag, we hope this guide helps you. We made every effort to share versatile options that you can use for various playstyles on the course. Every wedge here is of excellent quality, and they all have unique features and designs to consider.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player with a low handicap, having a quality wedge or a few is essential to playing a good game of golf and being prepared for whatever the game might throw at you.
