Getting to know about Golf Wedges
Golf Wedges are actually an extension of golf irons. They each have lofts that are greater than a nine iron. Wedges are highly specialized golf clubs. They create high and short shots with backspin so when the ball lands, it has very little roll. To produce backspin on a golf ball is another subject to be discussed later. Wedges are used for accuracy such as chipping or lofting the golf ball out of a sand trap, up and over large obstructions such as trees and onto the green. Typically a set of golf wedges includes the pitching wedge and a sand wedge. As your skill begins to grow, more golfers begin to add a lob wedge or a gap wedge to their bag.
A pitching wedge (PW or P) has a loft around 45 degrees and is used in a similar manner as a short iron. It is not uncommon for pitching wedges to be included in a set of irons. A sand wedge (SW or S) is specifically designed with an underside that skims over sand and avoids digging into the sand. A sand wedge usually has a loft around 55 degrees and is used in sand traps or in the rough. A gap wedge (G, A, D or U) has a loft around 50 degrees and closes the gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. This is the newest type of wedge and there really is no standard design or name for it. It is also known as an attack, dual, utility or approach wedge. A lob wedge (LW or L) has a loft around 60 degrees and is used for short shots usually around 10 – 45 yards. These wedges are designed to lift the ball high off the ground and travel a short distance for difficult recovery, bunker saves and close approach shots. Finally, the high lob wedge (HL) has a loft around 65 degrees and are very specialized for very high angled shots such as the edge of a sand trap.
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