Which degree loft for sand wedge? (56, 58…)

[clemsondds]

I was just hitting some balls this evening and found I hit my 60 degree really well out of bunkers.  So it got me thinking: why is the 56 degree the most common loft for a sand wedge in this modern time. I know a lot of people use their 60 lob as their go to bunker wedge as well. I believe they like the added loft, and can hit more of a squared face bunker shot. But shouldn’t the bounce on a sand wedge be substantially higher than a specialty lob wedge for around the green?  So what if you did a higher sand wedge 58.12 for example, and then maybe a 61/62.08 lob? I wouldn’t hit full shots with either of those, and would need a gap wedge in the 52 area that would handle anything outside of 50 yards.  Thoughts?  Maybe I am way off and 56 is plenty loft.  

[Tasals]

 

 

So thats basically my wedge set up. I go for a 52.10/56.12/62.08 wedge set up, with high bounce on the 56 for fluffy lies and low bounce on the 62 for tight lies. I based my wedge set up on distances for each wedge. my 56 hits about 115 yards on a full swing, goes 80 yards on a half swing, my lob wedge goes 85 yards on a full swing, my 52 hits about 105-110 yards on half swing. I like the option of a bunch of extra bounce in fluffy lies, be it sand or grass. I like that I have consistent distances for different flight options on wedge shots. I still am mainly a 62 out of a bunker guy myself. I kinda always assumed people mixed and matched their wedge bounces, I think in the last witb i saw of scottie sheffler he goes 14 and 6 on his sand and lob wedge.

[elwhippy]

I currently go 49, 54, 58 or 60 depending on course (58 has a wider sole for softer ground / sand). 60 for deeper bunkers. A Vokey or Cleveland fitting would be beneficial. 

[bvanlieu]

IMHO sand is marrying your technique to the club. Meh technique? Bounce is your friend. Great technique? You can hit a 7i to 5 feet.

 

I use higher bounce 60s (10-12), no issue but also a good grind 50/8 opened up gets out of the firm sand very well with a good strike. I generally use a 55/11 for the standard shot, I go to a 60 only if its very short sided/lie makes sense, then for longer use the 50/8 to throw it farther. 

 

I do have both a S and W grind 55, and you can feel the difference in terms of how they go through the sand. I have been trying to work the W more as its more idiot proof for this idiot, but with heavy wet I like a thinner sole to cut through. 

 

 

[Streuner]

I have a 58deg Wedge at home that I am using on courses with deep bunkers and steep walls. In all other occasions i stay with Classic 56/12 

[clemsondds]

6 hours ago, Streuner said:

I have a 58deg Wedge at home that I am using on courses with deep bunkers and steep walls. In all other occasions i stay with Classic 56/12 

Thanks.  What's the bounce on the 58?  Do you feel it's a little more difficult to hit than the 56? Thanks

[DArnie]

58

[clemsondds]

1 minute ago, DArnie said:

58

? Can you expound?  Do you use 58 for sand?  Do you have a lob in addition? 

[DArnie]

Imo a 58 is much more versatile than a 60. It can be used from the fairway and around the greens easier. My opinion. Higher handicaps may want a 60 to hit with a squarer face. 58 is more versatile imo. But what do I know, Class A and given thousands of lessons. 10 degrees of bounce is usually sufficient for many types of sand and around greens. Unless you are a scratch or better it won't really matter, to be honest. If you are, get fitted or try out the different lofts and bounces to find the best combo for the course you play the most. 80% technique and 20% equipment. I'll stop there before I piss off the club hos. 😁

[clemsondds]

3 hours ago, DArnie said:

Imo a 58 is much more versatile than a 60. It can be used from the fairway and around the greens easier. My opinion. Higher handicaps may want a 60 to hit with a squarer face. 58 is more versatile imo. But what do I know, Class A and given thousands of lessons. 10 degrees of bounce is usually sufficient for many types of sand and around greens. Unless you are a scratch or better it won't really matter, to be honest. If you are, get fitted or try out the different lofts and bounces to find the best combo for the course you play the most. 80% technique and 20% equipment. I'll stop there before I piss off the club hos. 😁

Thanks for your input! What other wedges do you have in your setup? 

[Streuner]

8 hours ago, clemsondds said:

Thanks.  What's the bounce on the 58?  Do you feel it's a little more difficult to hit than the 56? Thanks

Less bounce, 8 or 9 I am not sure. It depends on condition but no, not easier or more difficult, just different. Less bounce and more loft is good for me if the surfaces are dry and Hard. More bounce is great on wet soft ground and fluffy Sand at the bunkers. The only thing that is different, the wrong bounce for the Type of ground. For example a deep pot bunker with very soft fluffy Sand. I am not skilled to Open the clubface super wide and Hit a good shot. 

[clemsondds]

Gotcha. Yeh, that makes sense. I don’t play enough really to have two sets. So I’ll need to pick one or the other. I like to have a lob wedge for around the greens, and I know this is crazy but I don’t like using my designated lob wedge in the sand…in my mind it will cause it to wear down the grooves quicker…is that crazy?  So that’s why I’m thinking 58 sand and 61 lob

[Noodler]

The traditional naming of the wedges can lead golfers astray in getting the most optimal setup for the bottom of their bag.  We are lucky that these days we have tons of options for the loft, bounce, and grinds, so that really any combination of characteristics can be used for each wedge to cover all of your bases.  There's nothing stopping a player from having their most lofted wedge also have the most bounce.  What's important is that your wedge choices provide the versatility that works well for your game and the courses you typically play.

Edited May 19 by Noodler

[Stuart_G]

On 5/17/2025 at 12:31 AM, clemsondds said:

Thoughts?  Maybe I am way off and 56 is plenty loft.  

 

I'll use both my 54* and 58* out of the bunkers depending on the type and depth of the sand and even the length or height of the shot needed.   On more rare occasions for longer shots, I might use even less loft, AW or PW.  Never felt the need for more loft than 58^* -  and that's even on a course where the bunkers are more hard pan than actual sand.

Edited May 19 by Stuart_G

[DArnie]

On 5/17/2025 at 9:47 PM, clemsondds said:

Thanks for your input! What other wedges do you have in your setup? 

48, 54 bent to 53, 58

[clemsondds]

Here's my plan right now...tell me what you think.  

46 pw still trying to figure out shaft but will be more like my irons

52.12 F grind still trying to figure out shaft but will be more like my irons

58.14K Grind S200 shaft

62.08 M Grind S200 shaft

The 46 and 52 will be for full shots primarily (anything over 50 yards).  And 58 will be primary bunker shots and also soft conditions. 62 would be my tight lies or finesse shots around green. 

What do you think?  

[Cbfodalo]

I have two sets of wedges , all smmizuno s23 copper cobalt. 

 My gw is 48deg. 

So I have a high bounce 54/12 sw and a 58/8 lob. I use sw in most bunket shots unless I am really deep in a short side bunker. I use the lob when on occasion if I am really short sided. 

 

My other set is.

52/8 aw

56/12 sw 

And 60/10 lw

 

I typically play the 54 and 58 wedges because the set with 3rd wedge means I have to lose a hybrid or my 4i.

I will play the 54 on most green side bunkers and just open face a bit if I need more loft. 

I am building a set of miz mp53 irons where pw is 46deg. So I will probabale put the 3 wedge set into that bag.