How Far Should You Hit Your Wedges?
Golf has grown more and more in the United States in the last decade.
Right now, there are more than 41 million Americans play the game of golf. That is nine million more people than 2016.
If you are just starting your golf journey, you may realize that there is a wide variety of golf clubs that you can choose from. Those include several different types of wedge clubs and iron clubs.
What is better for distance between a wedge vs. iron? This guide reveals what distance you can get from each club, what type of wedges there are, as well as what is suitable for certain situations.
Types of Wedges
Before we can get into what kind of distance you can get with a wedge, it is important to know what each wedge club is and what you use it for. Situational awareness is crucial for improving your golf game.
Let's take a closer look at some of the wedges that golfers are most likely to use:
Pitching Wedge
This type of wedge tends to have the lowest loft of the bunch. That is because it does not typically go over 48 degrees and strokes stay low to the ground.
A pitching wedge is not made for situations where you are at an awkward angle or in a deep hole. Instead, you need to think of this golf club as one where you chip the ball.
Because of its low trajectory, you tend to use this wedge for medium distances. It is for shots that are too long for a putter but too short for an iron.
To compare this to another sport, think of it like hitting a line drive base hit in a baseball game. If your golf ball is just short of the putting green or on shallow grass, this may be the ideal wedge to use.
Gap Wedge
The gap wedge is one that tends to have a slightly higher loft than the pitching wedge. It ranges from 48-54 inches.
So, what is the purpose of the gap wedge? The name of this one says it all.
You close the gap between your last stroke and the hole with shots that have a range of about 100 yards. Some golfers may prefer to use this type of wedge for short par-3 holes.
It can be the perfect golf club for those distance shots you do not know how to work with.
Sand Wedge
Sand wedges tend to have lofts that are around 56 degrees.
What are sand wedges used for? Again, think about the name of the wedge here.
You will likely notice that there are a lot of sand traps on a golf course. It tends to be one of the worst places that your ball could end up.
Depending on what type of sand trap it is, you may have just put yourself in a deep hole. Sand traps can mean difficult shot angles to try to get the golf ball out of it. It can also mean very limited room for error in some scenarios.
If you approach this correctly, you may be able to hit your ball about 80 yards closer to the hole.
Lob Wedge
The last type of wedge offers the highest wedge degrees of the bunch. It often has a 60-degree loft.
So, what do you do with the lob-wedge? Contrary to the name, it is not exactly known for distance.
It is the type of golf club you use if you want to get a lot of air on your ball. There are a couple of big scenarios during a round of golf where this comes into play.
One of these is when you are right next to a bunker. If you have no choice but to hit the ball straight into the air, a lob wedge can help give you the best chances of getting out of that situation.
Then, you have those times when your golf ball is in the middle of very thick grass. A lob wedge can give you the loft you need to get under that ball and get it out of there.
Iron Clubs
Contrary to wedges, iron clubs are much simpler to understand. They tend to be used for second and third shots on the fairway before you get to the green.
You may even use something like a 3-iron on your tee shot depending on how far away the hole is. There are about seven different irons that you can use. These range from the 3-iron all the way up to the 9-iron.
The 3-iron tends to have a lower loft angle but travels more distance, while the 9-iron does the opposite.
How far can you hit a golf ball with each? It truthfully depends on how good of a golfer you are.
Let's compare an experienced amateur with each iron club as an example. With a 3-iron, this amateur is likely to hit the golf ball over 200 yards. With a 9-iron, the ball is going to be lucky to go over 140 yards.
The yardage difference is somewhat similar for an inexperienced golfer. You tend to be able to hit a golf ball about 50 yards further with a 3-iron compared to a 9-iron at this level.
When should you use each of these irons? You may want to use the higher irons for short par-3 holes. As for the lower irons, they are ideal to use when you have a shot on the fairway that is going to take about 200 yards to get to the green.
Wedge vs. Iron
Which type of golf club is better between a wedge vs. an iron? The answer depends on what skills for the golf course you have, as well as what situations you are put in.
If you want to experiment with golf club distances, you should play a round of golf at Laurel Oak Country Club. We have two beautiful golf courses in Sarasota, Florida for a wide range of golfers to enjoy.
Click here to request membership information about our country club.