Golf Wedges & Their Uses

by Sean Quinn

Overview

Golf wedges are specialized irons that help players in short-distance situations and around the greens.
Significance

Golf wedges are used by players in approach shots to the greens and around them. They have shorter ranges and more open faces than the highest numbered club in the bag, the 9-iron.

Pitchng wedge

The pitching wedge is the most common type of wedge, used for shots less than 100 yards. The club presents an opportunity to hit the ball high and soft into a green. It can be used from the fairway, around the fringe of the green or in the rough.
Sand wedge

As oppose to the pitching wedge, the sand wedge has a more open club face and should be hit from further back in the golfer's stance to get the ball out of a sand bunker. It can also be used from the fairway on shots too short for a pitching wedge.
Lob wedge

The lob wedge is one of the newer wedges to find its way into golfer's bags. Rather than use another wedge from just off the green, the lob wedge, with a higher loft, can be used for a high flop shot, which if hit correctly, will not roll after hitting the green.
Famous Ties

Phil Mickelson is the best wedge player in the world in 2009. He carries all three wedges in his bag (and sometimes more) and is a master of the flop shot and hitting a pitching wedge from the rough.

References & Resources