11 Best Golf Wedges in 2023 (Top Picks & Reviews)

As you’re getting closer to the green, you better know what kind of shots you have in your bag. Depending on how far out you are, there’s a different golf wedge you’re going to have to use. If you find that more of your strokes tend to come on approach shots, chances are you don’t have the right kind of wedges. You need to find a line of wedges right for your swing and the conditions you play. This can help you whether you have a low or high handicap and lower it if it is higher.

If you aren’t familiar with all that wedges have to offer, that’s understandable because there are many different kinds of golf wedges. There are several different series of wedges out there that you can use for your approach shots. The last thing you want to do is consistently fail to get up and on the green. So comparing different manufacturers like Titleist, Cleveland, Wilson, Mizuno, and more will help you find the best golf wedges for you.

We will discuss the differences between some series of wedges and all they have to offer while helping you decide which one might be best for you and your game. That way, you’ll get up and down more often to turn bogeys into pars and pars into birdies. 

1. Titleist Vokey SM9 Wedge – (Best Overall)

Made with the superior craftsmanship you expect from a Vokey wedge, this wedge line is one to marvel at. It is the most technologically advanced design that has been put out by Titleist, as it is fit to help you hit any kind of wedge shot you want. Everybody’s swing is different and your swing will need a unique wedge.

There are six grind options and five bounce choices to better customize the wedges for your swing so you can get the most out of each club. You’ll enjoy ultimate shot versatility, as you can pick wedges ranging from 46 degrees all the way to 62 degrees. 

The SM9 has new grooves cut to the edge to maximize spin. These are meant for lower handicap players who know how to utilize spin around the green.

This line also takes the center of gravity and moves it even farther forward to promote a more controlled ball flight. You’re almost guaranteed to make solid contact more often.

“Wedge play is simple, it’s about proximity to the hole. With SM9 wedges, you’re going to hit it closer to the hole, more often.” – Bob Vokey

2. Cleveland RTX ZipCore Golf Wedge (Runner-Up)

A big reason we love this wedge is because of how consistently balls come off of it. Whether you’re giving a full swing, a ¾ one, or just trying to guide the ball up near the green, this can handle it. The ZipCore helps shift the CG (center of gravity) while raising MOI (moment of inertia), which allows you to have better control over your shot. This is offered in a lot of different loft angles as well.

This has a full arsenal of wedges in this line, so you’ll become comfortable with them. Hitting a wedge shot means that you need to hit it well to go where you want it to consistently. Thanks to the ZipCore, it adds spin and enhances control for you. These grooves are sharper and deeper as well as more narrow to give you more contact with them. Your shots will actually bite more with these kinds of grooves.

Notable Features:

• Heat treatment in the impact area
• Three versatile sole grinds
• Similar profile to Dynamic Gold S200
• Raised moment of inertia

Pros:

For starters, you can choose between 12 different angles: 46.1, 48.1, 50.1, 52.1, 54.12, 56.06, 56.1, 58.06, 58.1, 60.06, 60.1, and 60.12. This gives you a wide range to find the exact wedge that you prefer for your swing. The sole grinds provide the finesse you’ll need around the green to keep your ball from rolling past the pin more often than not. The shaft is made from steel, and the grip size is standard to get a true feel for the club. The price varies very little based on the angle so that you won’t be gouged for the various wedges.

Cons:

This is offered in a right-handed orientation.

3. Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge – (Most Forgiving)

Who wouldn’t like wedges that will help you out if you mishit a shot? That’s what you’ll enjoy with the new CBX ZipCore wedges. These are cavity back wedges made for golfers who use cavity back irons. Don’t worry about chunking shots, thanks to the lightweight, low-density core that sits at the heart of the club.

With a hollow cavity design, it’s more balanced and boosts the MOI to improve forgiveness. The weight is in the toe, so you’ll be okay no matter where on the face you strike the ball.

With UltiZip grooves, these will help you maximize your spin and there are two extra grooves per face compared to other Cleveland lines. That will enhance contact. There is a Gelback TPU insert that will absorb vibrations, making each hit feel incredibly smooth.

Choose between 44 degrees and 60 degrees and enjoy the Dynamic Gold Spinner 115 shafts in steel or graphite. 

4. Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge (Budget Pick)

You won’t find a better bang-for-your-buck choice on the market. This allows you to handle pretty much any shot around the green that you’re looking to hit. This has specifically crafted sole grind to allow the player to open up the clubface even more to produce more loft. You can shape your own shots while using either the 56-degree or 60-degree option that is offered. It’s meant to be used in the sand or from 50 or so yards in.

Notable Features:

• Classic blade shape and high polish finish
• True Temper steel shaft
• Sole grind meant to be opened more
• Modified bounce angles

Pros:

The price is obviously the main selling point for these wedges. They are amazingly affordable and are great for mid to high handicap golfers. If you’re not quite sure how it is to get your ball to stop rolling when you hit it, this is the kind of club to help you. The blade shape has a bounce angle to help deaden spin. You can use this in the fairway, rough, or sand and see results. The face is tempered for long-lasting reliability. 

Cons:

The grooves aren’t as deep as other wedges, so you may not get as much backspin as you want. For slower swings, this could cause your ball to be hit shorter than you may want. 

5. Callaway Golf Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge (Great Premium Wedge)

Not only does it have probably the coolest name on the market, but it’s a beautiful-looking club created by Callaway Chief Wedge Designer Roger Cleveland. This features the JAWS groove design, which delivers an extremely sharp edge radius. This means you’ll get more spin on your ball and a more precise shot. It also is the most comprehensive line of Callaway wedges.

Notable Features:

• 23 different loft/bounce combinations
• Made from 8620 mild carbon steel
• Head shaping that’s easy to transition from irons to wedges
• Between 35” and 35.75”

Pros:

You can pick the grind and bounce angle that you want. The C-Grind is easier to play with an open face. The Low Bounce W-Grind is tapered from heel to toe with added heel relief. The S-Grind has a medium-width sole to help you keep the leading edge low through impact. The X-Grind offers a higher bounce, and the W-Grind has a wider center and toe area. This allows you to choose based on the type of turf you normally deal with. The shafts are offered in steel or graphite, and the clubs are great for righties or lefties. There are angles between 46 degrees and 64 degrees, giving you a wide array of wedges. 

Cons:

It can be tough to choose for those who may not know what kind of grind or bounce angle they want. This line of wedges may be best to try out in a store before buying one online.

6. Cleveland Smart Sole G 4.0 Wedge

We all would like to use clubs that we can hit almost anywhere on the course. This wedge is great on the fairway, in the rough, or a sand trap. That’s because the smart sole is a three-tiered one that is wider, allowing you to hit more kinds of shots with the same club. This will feel good in your hands because the center of gravity was moved closer to the clubface. It’s a wedge that many people will be able to utilize heading towards the green.

Notable Features:

• Aggressive milled grooves
• Weight redistributed from the hosel
• The first addition of a gap wedge to this lineup
• Extra-wide sole

Pros:

The consistency of the shots you’re hitting will improve the more you hit this club. It can be used from around 100 yards, as the 50-degree angle will give you the love you need. This has a high toe to provide more distance and a full face to forgive any of those mishits. The shaft and clubface are made from alloy steel, and it has the standard Lamkin grip that Cleveland wedges tend to have.

Cons:

Golfers with a digger top of swing style may hit this club shorter than they intend to.

7. TaylorMade Milled Grind 3

The TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 ranges in loft from 46-60 degrees. And it offers four grind options, including Tiger Grind. The loft and grind options give you 15 different combinations to choose from.

TaylorMade claims the RAW Face Micro-Ribs deliver more spin around the greens. With that technology, the face will rust while the rest of the head maintains a premium finish. The rust is supposed to increase friction to grip the ball even more.

Additionally, the Thick-Thin Design optimizes the center of gravity location for precise flight and enhanced feel. This is down to a thinner top line and additional mass distribution nearer to the top of the spine.

Pros

• Nice high-toe look and a good grip
• Sounds good and delivers a consistent flight
• Interacts well with the turf on impact
• Versatile for different shots, like pitching and bump and runs
• Good feedback from the face

Cons

• Spin isn’t as good as the previous options
• Ball flight on full shots might be too high for some

8. Ping Glide Forged Pro Wedge

If you’re someone who plays plenty of poor weather golf, you may want to consider the Ping Glide Forged Pro Wedges. These are wedges that were engineered to play in all kinds of terrains, as they even repel water.

You’ll see strong friction for your shots around the green in any kind of weather. This will enhance your ability to control spin to get the ball closer to the pin. These feature high spin grooves that are precisely cut to get a handle on your trajectory.

The rounded leading edge with an emphasized heel-toe camber allows you to pull out all kinds of shots when you need to. Easily transition from sand to grass with the smaller club heads. There are multiple lofts ranging from 50 degrees to 62 degrees. Two grind options await you and you can choose a thin or standard bounce.

9. Ping Glide 3.0 Wedge

Moderate attacking golfers will love the Ping Glide 3.0 Wedge. It is engineered with them in mind, as they won’t have to alter their swing to produce results. This has deep, sharp grooves to guarantee more backspin, especially when coming out of the sand. The moment of inertia is higher on this to allow for more control and consistency coming off the clubface. 

Notable Features:

• Lighter and improved system weight for better overall feel and control
• Elastomer insert to deaden impact on hands
• Numerous shaft options
• Large length variety

Pros:

This could be the most customizable wedge line you’ll find. You can cater the entire set to your liking, even down to the dot lie angle, which is unique to Ping. You can choose between different flexibilities of your shafts as well as the material that makes them. Whether you want a gap, lob, pitching, or sand wedge, you’ll find it. The sole grind options are impressive.

Cons:

Players who rely on shallower attack angles and minimal divots may hit a shot too flush and skull it. 

10. Cobra Golf King Mim Wedge

If you’re aiming to get up and down from a bunker or chip closer to the pin than you’ve previously done in the past, this is a club that can help. The Mim stands for Metal Injection Molded, and it is made from 304 stainless steel construction. It is offered in gap wedge, lob wedge, and sand wedge. This provides you with a decent amount of control for anyone who has a mid to high handicap.

Notable Features:

• Three sole grind options
• Six loft angle choices
• Precision CNC milled face and grooves
• Progressive spin technology

Pros:

Just like most wedges, if you hit this properly, you’ll be able to get the backspin that you want. The three sole grind choices are a versatile grind, classic grind, and wide low grind, which will speak to your type of swing. If you have a sweeping swing, a moderate swing, or a digger swing, you can choose accordingly. The shaft option is steel. For beginners, this is a solid choice.

Cons:

This is offered in right-handed orientation only. If you aren’t sure what your swing type is, you may select the wrong sole grind, forcing you not to hit as many shots consistently as you want. 

11. Mizuno T22 Wedge

If you’re looking to have full control over what your wedges are like, the Mizuno T-22 series is right for you. You have so many choices to pick from, as there are lofts from 46 degrees to 60 degrees.

You’ll also be able to pick from nine different bounces, ranging from 7 degrees to 14 degrees.

Four different grind options let you suit the club to your short game. You can also choose between three different finishes: denim copper, satin chrome, and raw. If you choose raw, they will rust over time to give you a vintage look you may be wanting. 

The T-22 wedges feature a more compact profile with a beveled top edge to make them appear thinner and easier to hit. The spin-weighted blade design creates a more consistent spin. The HydroFlow grooves deliver well in wet weather. These were designed hand-in-hand with former world #1 Luke Donald. 

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Previous Year’s/Models of Golf Wedges (That are still great)

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Features That Matter – How to Choose the Best Golf Wedge for You

First off, you need to know which clubs you should have in your bag. Depending on how often you play or how long you play, you may not have a 5 wood or a hybrid in your bag. If you’re confident in your irons or don’t play long courses, then you may not need them. Having the right clubs in your bag helps you know which club you should grab for a particular shot. When it comes to golf wedges, you are probably looking at hitting a wedge from about 120 yards and in, depending on how long you can hit your clubs. From there, you can get creative with your shot and work to put more backspin on it or try and deaden the roll.

Loft

The first rundown you’ll need to know for picking out the right type of wedge is what degree of loft angle you’re looking for. The lower the angle, the longer you’re likely going to hit it, as in, if you’re about 100 yards or so out, you may hit an attack or gap wedge. But from 10 to 30 yards out, a flop shot with a 60-degree wedge or your highest lob wedge may make more sense. Wedges have lofts between 45 degrees and 62 degrees. These are all ideal for chipping and shorter shots. 

Read More: Pitching, Gap, Lob, and Sand Wedge Lofts: A Complete Guide

Grooves

Having sharper grooves on your wedges will help you produce more backspin on the ball. The sharper the groove, the more you’ll be able to trap the ball against the ground on a downward strike, creating backspin. If your grooves are duller, they will force the ball to slide up the clubface, creating less backspin because of the lack of friction. You’ll hear golfers asking their balls to “bite,” which means that they want it to spin back or stop rolling while on the green and, with sharper grooves on a club, that will help with that. 

Grind

Grind will help you be more consistent and accurate around the green and allow you to manipulate your shot the way that you want. This removes material from the club’s sole to increase your ability to make contact with the turf. You’ll see it referred to as sole grind on many club descriptions, as the sole is the club’s trailing edge. You can also use wedge grinds that are better for your swing. Certain grinds are better for bounce, while others tend to work better for those who swing in a more sweeping motion. 

Bounce

This coincides with the grind to help you if you don’t happen to hit the shot exactly how you want it. Bounce is forgiving, as it allows you to get a solid shot if you’re not perfect. Bounce is based on the angle of your wedge’s leading edge and the sole edge. If the bounce degree is higher, then the leading edge’s angle is higher off the surface when you’re about to hit your shot. Low bounce wedges are ideal for flop shots, while mid bounce ones work the best for most players, as they can be applied to many course conditions and swing types. High bounce wedges are designed for softer conditions and will produce more backspin to give you more control around the greens.

Read More: Wedge Bounce Explained: What Is It & How Golfers Use It

Types of Wedges

As we’ve gone through this, you may be wondering what the different loft angles mean. There are four types of wedges: pitching wedges, gap wedges, sand wedges, and lob wedges. Pitching wedges tend to be 44 to 48 degrees. Gap wedges are between 50 to 53 degrees. 

Sand wedges fall between 54 and 58 degrees, and lob wedges are 60 to 64 degrees. You’ll tend to use your pitching wedge and gap wedges from farther distances away and then sand wedges and lob wedges nearer the green, especially from a greenside bunker. 

Pitching wedges are generally chosen when you still have over 100 yards to go, while gap wedges are often chosen around 100 yards and in. Sand wedges and lob wedges can take care of the 70 yards and in range. More moderate swings around the green can get you on and ready to putt. 

Related: Chipping vs. Pitching In Golf: Everything You Need To Know

What Wedges Should I Have in My Bag?

Most people will have a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, and a lob wedge in their bag at a minimum. Those three can get you through a round just fine. A gap wedge isn’t necessary because you can take a more moderate swing with a pitching wedge or try to hit a punch shot with a higher iron to produce the same effect. A pitching wedge will get you closer from farther. A sand wedge will get you out of a bunker. A lob wedge will get you past taller obstacles and harsher rough. You can check out more on which clubs you should have here. 

Conclusion

Wedges are the line of clubs that can dramatically lower your score if you hit them properly. You can save much frustration from flubbing or chunking a chip if you strike your wedge shots properly. Getting in and out of the sand can be a nightmare, but you can do it more effectively with the proper club. You’ll want to know what type of swing you have and what kind of turf you’re going to be playing typically before selecting your line of wedges. The higher the loft angle, the tricker a shot can be to hit. Practicing your wedges will give you a better chance of having a shorter putt.