Why do you need custom Wedge fitting? Do you have trouble controlling your shorts shots? Bunkers giving you trouble? You may not have the correct wedges in your bag.
Wedge fitting is a little different from a regular iron fitting. Although some of the specs may be similar a lot of what you will be fit into will depend on what your primary use for your different wedges will be.
Let’s start with the Gap wedge. This is a club that some people still do not carry but should. It is called a Gap wedge because of the difference in loft between a modern pitching wedge and a sand wedge. A modern pitching wedge is now close to 45 degrees where it used to be closer to 50. This has created a gap in loft as the sand wedge has remained at 56 degrees. A typical Gap wedge will be either 50 or 52 degrees and will be used by most (but not all) as a full swing club. This club should create one full club difference in distance from your Pitching Wedge.
Your Sand Wedge will not only be used from sand but will also be most people’s pitching club for those shorter touch shots. The bounce angle on this club needs to be fit to the golfers swing style AND to the conditions of the course they play at most often. More bounce for soft deep sand and softer more lush turf and less bounce for firmer conditions. Then we have the digger/driver type of swing and the sweeper/slider style. Both require different bounce angles on their wedges.
The Lob wedge is typically a 60-degree club although it could vary anywhere from 58 to 64 with some people carrying more than one. This club is used mostly for trouble shots around the green where you don’t have much room to roll the ball after it lands, although more and more you will see good players using this wedge almost exclusively for chipping and pitching but this takes a high level of skill. The bounce angle on this club is fit much the same way as the sand wedge is but it could be different depending on how a golfer plays their trouble shots.
When you visit The KZG Performance Center in Palm Desert for your fitting we will ensure that your wedges are custom fit for your style of play, type of golf course and distances you use them from. This will give you the confidence you should have in your approach, pitching and chip shots.
Brad Whalen
KZG Master Clubfitter, British PGA Professional.