5 Best Golf Wedges for Mid Handicappers in 2023

If you want to improve your golf as a mid-handicapper, dialing in your wedge game is a great place to start. Getting the best wedges for mid handicappers should be the first step towards that improvement.

To fine-tune your wedge game, you want to practice with the best wedges. So, you can get the optimal control closer to the green and give yourself plenty of birdie and par chances during a round.

These are the best wedges for mid handicappers in 2023.

Titleist Vokey SM9 Wedge (Best Overall)

The Titleist Vokey SM9 is the best wedge for mid handicappers. This wedge is all about control around the greens.

That’s down to the center of gravity being moved further forward. It allows golfers to hit wedge shots with a lower flight and more spin, which translates to more control for you.

And more control means wedge shots that land closer to the pin. Not only do they land nearer to the hole, but they stay there.

With new groves cut to the edge, the SM9 maximizes spin. So, your ball will get that zip on the green and won’t roll away further from the pin.

This wedge has lofts ranging from 46 degrees to 62 degrees, with six grind options and five bounce choices. That gives you customization options for your swing and offers ultimate shot versatility.

You’ll love having shorter putts with the Titleist Vokey SM9 in your bag.

Callaway Jaws Mack Daddy 5 Wedge (Runner-Up)

The Callaway Jaws Mack Daddy 5 is a worthy runner-up for the best wedges for mid handicappers. If you want plenty of backspin, this is the wedge for you.

The V-shaped grooves grip the ball upon impact, and the mini groves between the main ones hold it on the face for longer. That gets the ball spinning when it leaves the clubface.

The exceptional spin means more precise shots for you. That’s exactly what mid handicappers want around the greens.

The Callaway MD5 comes in lofts ranging from 46 degrees to 64 degrees. With five unique grinds and three bounce options, you’ll easily find the best wedge for you.

Wilson Harmonized Wedge (Budget Pick)

When it comes to the best wedges for mid handicappers, the Wilson Harmonized wedge has to be our budget pick. At around 50 bucks, you won’t find anything that beats this wedge.

With five lofts to choose from – 50, 52, 56, 60, and 64 – you’re sure to find what you need. Also, it has three bounce options.

It offers excellent performance and consistency closer to the green. And if you need to open the clubface to clear a hazard, the specifically designed sole grind helps you out.

Wilson is a reliable brand that golfers trust. Getting a wedge from them at this price is fabulous.

Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge (Most Forgiving)

The Cleveland CBX ZipCore wedge is the most forgiving wedge for mid handicappers. If you mishit this wedge, you won’t be punished too much.

Its hollow-cavity design gives it beautiful balance and increases MOI for incredible forgiveness. Although mid handicappers often miss the center of the clubface, the forgiveness here gives you the best chance of getting the ball close to the pin.

And chunking shots are a thing of the past with this wedge. That’s down to the ZipCore technology – a lightweight, low-density core at the heart of the club.

UltiZip Grooves are designed to maximize spin. So, your ball will grip the greens.

With lofts ranging from 44-60 degrees, you can easily fine-tune your wedge game. For its forgiveness and overall performance, it’s one of the best wedges for mid handicappers.

TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 (Also Great)

The TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 is also great and must make our list of best wedges for mid handicappers. Its soft but solid feel gives you finesse on short wedge shots and stability on longer ones.

The versatility on offer means you can control your wedges from various lies. It’s as accurate from the rough as it is from the fairway.

A Thick-Thin Design positions the center of gravity for a precise ball flight. That contributes to the amazing control you get with this wedge.

The TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 comes in lofts ranging from 46-60 degrees. Also, it comes in four grind options, including a special Tiger Grind.

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What to Consider When Buying Wedges as a Mid Handicapper

As a mid handicapper buying wedges, you’ll want to consider forgiveness, spin, loft, gapping, grind, bounce, and price.

Forgiveness

You should consider forgiveness when buying wedges as a mid handicapper. Likely, you won’t connect with the center of the clubface as often as you want. Therefore, forgiveness in a wedge is your friend.

Having excellent forgiveness in a wedge means your pitches won’t go too astray when you don’t connect properly. Forgiveness will offer you that extra help with consistency, which gives you the best chance of getting the ball close.

Spin

When buying wedges as a mid-handicapper, it’s important to consider spin. You want your ball stopping quickly on wedge shots into the green.

However, mid-handicappers tend to struggle to create spin with wedge shots. That’s why they need a helping hand.

Buying a wedge that offers optimal spin will give you the best chance of stopping the ball quickly. Often, that leads to closer shots and shorter putts.

Therefore, the best wedges for mid handicappers should perform well on spin.

Loft

The loft of your wedges is essential to consider. As you saw from our picks, wedge lofts can range from 44-64 degrees. That incorporates anything from a low-lofted pitching wedge to a high-lofted lob wedge.

Because there’s such a wide range of wedges, it’s essential to consider what loft you need. It’s not going to be the same for everyone. And that brings us to our next section.

Gapping

Gapping must be considered when buying wedges as a mid-handicapper. It’s the loft progression between each club; for example, a 56-degree sand wedge to a 60-degree lob wedge.

Keeping the same amount of loft between each club is your best bet. So, if your pitching wedge is 48 degrees, you’ll want your approach wedge to be 52 degrees.

Then, your 56-degree sand wedge and 60-degree lob wedge fit perfectly with that 4-degree gapping. This consistent progression helps you out on the golf course. You won’t be stuck between clubs too much; that can make wedge shots very difficult.

Grind

To optimize your wedge play, you must consider the grind. The grind of a wedge relates to the shape of its sole. Different grinds react with the turf in different ways.

Also, different grinds suit various swing types and playing conditions. For example, the C-Grind in the Callaway Jaws Mack Daddy 5 suits firm conditions and golfers who sweep the ball with a shallow divot.

Consider these factors and choose the best wedges for your game and home course.

Bounce

The bounce of a wedge should also be considered. Like the grind, bounce relates to how the wedge reacts with the turf.

Bounce is the angle between the leading edge of a wedge and the lowest part of its sole. And it’s calculated in degrees, just like with loft.

The leading edge sits farther from the ground in a wedge with a high bounce. A high bounce stops the wedge from digging into the ground.

Those who mostly play in soft conditions want a wedge with a high bounce. It’ll keep you from chunking your wedge shots.

Conversely, golfers playing in firm conditions will do better with a lower bounce wedge. Wedges with a high bounce can rebound off the firm turf and cause you to knife the ball.

Price

As a mid-handicapper, it’s a good idea to consider price when buying wedges. The price should be considered with the performance you need, however.

A mid-handicapper who needs a final push to break into low-handicapper territory can benefit significantly from premium wedges. That quality can boost your wedge game and lead to lower scores.

What Wedges Should a Mid Handicapper Have?

A mid handicapper should have a pitching wedge, an approach wedge, and a sand wedge. That is the absolute minimum that every mid handicapper should have in the golf bag. And all the best wedges for mid handicappers on our list provide that.

Of course, some mid handicappers will want to carry a lob wedge. However, it’s tough to use a lob wedge effectively, especially 60-degree and 64-degree lob wedges.

Less skilled golfers will chunk and knife a lot of shots with a lob wedge. That can get you into all sorts of trouble and add unwanted numbers to your round.

The safer bet for mid handicappers is sticking to a pitching wedge, an approach wedge, and a sand wedge.

What are the Easiest Wedges to Hit?

The easiest wedges to hit are forgiving, cavity-back ones like the Cleveland CBX ZipCore. Even if you don’t make perfect contact, the forgiveness in this wedge means distance or accuracy won’t be affected too much. And the cavity-back design helps players launch the ball into the air quickly.

Conclusion

The Titleist Vokey SM9 tops our list of the best wedges for mid handicappers. It offers excellent control and a phenomenal feel to take your game to the next level.

It has exceptional spin characteristics, so you can fire approach shots close to the pin and expect the ball to stick there. Nobody will turn their nose up at shorter putts for birdie or par.

We’ve also got you covered if you want to improve your wedge game on a budget. The Wilson Harmonized is an awesome performer at an unrivaled price.

This wedge is reliable and consistent, allowing you to get the job done without the bells and whistles. And at the end of the day, it’s about improving with the wedges to develop your overall game.

We’re sure you’ll find the best wedges for you from our list.