The Important Things About What Is An Approach Wedge In Golf

Golf is a sport that has been played for thousands of years, and it has evolved over the years. Nowadays, golfers are looking for golf clubs that will help them get better at their game. If you’re looking for a new set of golf clubs, you’ll want to find the right set of golf clubs that will help you improve your game.

In this post, we give you all the details about what an approach wedge is, how to find one and how it can help your golf game. It is also an alternative name for a gap wedge having a 47 to 52 degrees loft angle used for overcoming the trouble getting by pitching, especially the trainee golfers. This content will help them to understand the meaning of an approach wedge. We will also explain how you can use an approach wedge to make your golf swing more effective. You can use an approach wedge as a training tool to improve your golf swing.

What is an approach wedge?

Most beginners don’t have enough knowledge of what is an aw wedge in golf, however, the answer is simple. Because the term aw is nothing but an abbreviate form of approach wedge. It is one of the four types of golf wedges available in the market and most golfers carry one or two of them in their golf bags.

The approach wedge is a wedge that is designed to help you get your ball closer to the hole. It is suitable for both left and right-handed players. besides, it allows golfers to lower the yardage of carrying distance that they get while using a sand or pitching wedge.

When manufacturers noticed that with the pitching and sand wedge, golfers can throw the striking balls into the mid-low 40s and in the mid-50s, they thought to craft a more versatile wedge that will help get better results for pitch shots in the par-3 golf course.

What degree is an approach wedge?

An approach wedge is very similar to a gap wedge. In addition, the loft is typically set at a degree between 49° and 55°. However, the majority of wedge designs have a loft of 52°. The AW is used to cover the space between the sand wedge at 58 degrees and the pitching wedge at 48 degrees.

It’s pretty understandable why club manufacturers have been looking for something between an iron and a wedge since they introduced a suitable club design that fits between them. That’s why a few golfers term it as an attack wedge. The most important thing that you have to keep in mind that which degree will suit your skill level because the swinging result varies with the variety of wedge’s degrees.

What is the loft of an approach wedge?

The loft of golf clubs helps to overcome the proper distance gap. That’s why manufacturers design AW wedges with less loft which will be beneficial for beginners and high-handicappers. But low-handicappers or pro or high-skilled players can adjust with any loft angles of the A-wedge.

Usually, an AW and pitching wedges are marketed with a set of iron clubs. So you can use PW like a 10-iron and AW as an 11-iron club. However, the loft angle of wedges is set within 48 to 51 degrees but 50 and 51 degrees AW is very much common in the golfer’s bag. Because this loft allows golfers to get a good swing distance comparing a 9-iron. Moreover, A-wedge can assist golfers to make a full swing with a fast speed getting 9 to 15 yards less carrying distance than the pitching wedge. For this, the AW having 50 to 52 degrees loft is suitable for low-handicappers where less than 48 degrees can help to improve the game skill.

Related; The Ultimate Golf Club Loft Chart For Every Golfer

Approach Wedge Vs. Pitching Wedge

Most golfers consider wedges as a subset of iron clubs, however, there is also controversy about these special clubs. But both golf wedges, pitching, and approach wedge also help to overcome the difficulties of throwing the ball’s line toward the targetted hole. The variation in performance between pitching and approach wedge is stated below.

The pitching wedge is a classic wedge that is designed to strike the ball longer and farther than an approach wedge. That’s why it considers more effective than an approach wedge. When golfers pick a pitching wedge, they get around 4 degrees longer length with a comparatively less loft to get a proper stance at aim than the AW. However, both of them allow players an excellent attack on pins and offer more options for creating putt shots successfully on the green.

Gap Wedge vs. Approach Wedge

However, you will get a different opinion about these two wedges, gap wedge, and approach wedge. Some golfers consider them the same whereas some think that they give a little difference while swinging. Below we state the different attributes of these two wedge clubs.

Gap wedge:

• A gap wedge can be considered as a 9-iron because its loft angle lies between 44 to 54 as used for crafting a 9-iron.
• It can allow golfers to make a high flight of the striking ball with an expected distance of around 100 yards depending on the hole’s distance from the tee box.
• It can help the hitting ball fly over the obstacle on the course like trees, bushes, etc.

Approach Wedge:

• However, an approach wedge can allow the hitting ball to pass more or less 80 yards only, not more than that.
• Its design is perfect for making the final putt because it has a loft angle between 54 degrees and 60 degrees.
• As the loft is so high, the risk of overshooting the target is minimal.

 So which one golfer will pick for their next putt shots totally depend on their choice and playing skill.

Approach Wedge Vs. Lob Wedge

The difference in distance between the lob wedge and approach wedge is pretty large because the lob wedge is quite weaker than the other. Although it’s designed to get the ball in the air as fast as possible, it’s also very useful for accelerating past a defender in tight spaces. But the approach wedge allows getting a long-distance attack at aim. So if you want to choose one of them we suggest the approach wedge as the golf coaches suggest for their trainee golfers. Besides, if you carry both of them then you should use the approach wedge before going with the lob wedge to improve your swing performance.

Approach Wedge vs. Sand Wedge

Because of the criteria of sturdier, the approach wedge provides more carrying distance with a low spin of the hitting ball than the sand wedge. On the other hand, the slightly differently shaped sand wedge allows more bounce which helps the difficulties getting for bunkers on the golf course more comfortably. Yet, to overcome more stress on the over-spinning of the striking ball which may create due to the attacking flagsticks, the approach wedge will be an excellent alternative to the sand wedge.

Callaway Approach Wedge

Callaway’s approach wedge is a hybrid club between a wedge and a sand wedge. It has a very wide sole, which makes it easy to grip and swing. It also has a steep leading edge, which means that it will cut through the grass when you hit it with your club. It also has a large sweet spot, which means that you can get a great shot with this club. It also has a high launch, which means that it will fly off the tee box. These wedges are designed to be more forgiving and provide an easier feel than their previous wedges. The company claims that this new wedge will allow a player to hit the ball higher and farther without losing distance. The most common Callaway approach wedge degree ranges from 48 to 52 degrees.

TaylorMade Approach Wedge

The TaylorMade Approach wedge is a new wedge that is designed to help golfers get more spin on their shots. It has a unique shape that is made from a titanium alloy and has a black finish. Generally, the loft degree of this wedge ranges around 52 to 55 degrees angle. It has been around for a while now and has been a very popular wedge among golfers. It is also designed to be a high-lofted wedge that is great for players who like to hit their wedges high and draw the ball back into the fairway. The unique and patented design features a larger sweet spot and a softer, more forgiving sole than other wedges. The result is a wedge that creates a more aggressive ball flight with a greater chance of reaching the green. It is the perfect wedge for the golfer who wants to take their game to the next level.

FAQs

do I need an approach wedge?

The answer is yes. You need an approach wedge to get the expected golf swing distance. A wedge is a club that has a straight blade. It’s designed to slice the ball and make it go a little farther and is also used to put the ball on the green. The ideal approach wedge for a golfer provides maximum distance on the first swing of the round. A golfer can develop a feel for the correct approach wedge by practicing with a variety of wedges.

how to hit an approach wedge?

The approach wedge is a hybrid between the driver and the pitching wedge. In golf, the approach wedge is used very much like the pitching wedge. When you aim to hit with an AW you should set your stance in the middle in front of the tee box and move your body in a normal way to move your club by creating a descending order while hitting the golf ball. However, some golfers like to press more press on their front foot to get more contact with the ball and the clubface creating more spin of the striking ball.

What is the approach wedge used for?

Wedges can always be very useful around the green for pitching shots that need to run a long swing distance. There are many different options for golfers who are looking to fill a specific distance or shot type on their bag, but one of the best ways to ensure the carrying distance they want to cover is by using an AW wedge. It helps them to play from the right position off the tee and are looking for a particular distance to carry the striking ball.

is an approach wedge necessary?

Whether you use an approach wedge depends on what you’re doing and what you do. A gap or golf approach wedge is a club that is usually swung with all the capability when golfers are trying to achieve a long-distance shot. For most other golfers, the best clubs in the bag are those designed for hitting the ball at high loft-like sand or lob wedges.

How Far Should golfer Hit An Approach Wedge?

For an aspiring golf professional, an AW wedge can be a great resource to help determine how fast you have to play to stay competitive. Most golfers don’t get as far as elite golfers. An average golf player can hit an approach wedge that’s within 90 yards of the flagstick whereas a pro golfer can send the striking ball up to 130 yards and beyond. So it will be more beneficial for beginners if they use a launch monitor to find out their swing speed which will help them in the course get a successful swing performance.

How High Should golfer Hit An Approach Wedge?

From the distance chart prepared by Trackman, we show the height that the tour golfers can send the striking ball. But there have no data about the A-wedge, however, most golfers guess that it may be around 30 yards. Usually, the height will depend entirely on how firmly the player swings it toward the target. If you feel any problem or have a doubt then you should consult with your coach or club pro if you are not sure of your trajectory or if it’s not moving the way it should.

Should Every Golfer Use An Approach Wedge?

If you are a novice or at the training stage, you don’t need to pick an approach wedge for swinging. Because it will be useful for those who have a better understanding of their swing skill and get an additional score on their scorecard. And they play golf professionally and they aim to win the tournament with the lowest score. So beginners or intermediate golfers should try to avoid this advanced type of golf club, named AW or gap or attack wedge. But after achieving better control over your golf club swing skill, you can pick it up at the practice sessions.

What Wedges Should A High-Handicapper Carry?

We don’t think that higher handicappers should carry a full wedge set because it makes them confused with which one they need to strike the ball consistently enough to get the best swing result. Instead of hitting the ball with an approach wedge, they can hit the ball with a sand wedge and pitching wedge simultaneously, which can help them to get the perfect golf stance and everything they need to improve their skill level, and then they can add more wedges if think so.

What Is The Most Popular Wedge On Tour?

Titleist has gone from being the number one ball on tour to winning many more categories, including wedges. Among TaylorMade products, the TaylorMade Golf MG2 wedge is most popular among amateurs, professionals, and PGA golfers than any other wedges available in the golf market. Without TaylorMade, PGA golfers also pick the wedge from the golf gear manufacturers like LAZRUS, Pinemedow, Cleveland, Wilson, and the best seller list on Amazon store.

Short Game Secrets – Approach Wedges Clip

Conclusion

We think that the above discussion about what is an approach wedge and the degrees and loft angle is crucial for getting improvement on golf swing well enough for beginners and struggling golfers.

Still, if you have doubts about your perfect wedge to carry on your bag you can easily visit our website where you will get the best golf wedges used by legendary golfers and also available in the golf market. The most amazing thing is that we choose the most affordable and high-performing models for you.