A full swing shot with an AW/GW should travel shorter than a PW, but further than a SW.Ī standard Pitching Wedge loft is around 46 degrees, while an Approach Wedge/Gap Wedge has a loft closer to 51 degrees. What's the difference between an Approach Wedge/Gap Wedge Vs a Pitching Wedge?Ĭlubs labeled as an Approach Wedge (AW) or Gap Wedge (GW) have more degrees of loft than a Pitching Wedge (PW). Approach Wedge/Gap Wedge Vs Pitching Wedge Whatever the club is called, most players find it is crucial to have a club that fills the distance gap between their Pitching Wedge and Sand Wedge. Wedges bought individually apart from an iron set will usually be stamped with their loft, for example, "50°" or "52°". Ping adds a third name to the mix, stamping their 2nd wedge with a "U" for Utility Wedge. The Club of Many Namesĭepending on the manufacturer, you may see A-Wedges labeled or described as:Īll of these names are used to describe a club intended for the same purpose, to fill the loft gap between a PW and a SW.īrands like TaylorMade and Callaway generally use some form of the A-Wedge designation, while brands like Cobra and Mizuno opt for the slightly more common Gap Wedge name. ![]() It's fairly common to find that blade-style iron sets don't even offer an AW/GW, leaving it up to the golfer to choose the specific wedges they want to follow their Pitching Wedge. ![]() TaylorMade, Cobra, Callaway, and Mizuno Iron Sets Loft Progressionsīetter players playing more bladed style irons may want to choose a more specific 50/52 degree wedge that fits their iron set and compliments their swing and the course conditions they typically play. It's common to find iron sets made for mid to high-handicap golfers include GW/AW options, while bladed iron sets usually stop at PW. Golfers playing game-improvement irons or even less extreme cavity-backed irons will generally want to choose a Gap/Approach Wedge that fits with the rest of their iron set. Game-improvement A-Wedges can have as little as 48 degrees of loft.Ĭheck out the table below to see the progression of iron lofts in game-improvement and more traditional iron sets. Game-improvement irons sets aimed at beginner and high- handicap golfers typically have stronger lofts (less loft) than more traditionalĪs we've covered in our golf club lofts and wedge lofts guides, Approach Wedges designed for low-handicap golfers usually have 50 to 52 degrees of loft. The loft required for proper distance gaps will depend on the design of your irons and the lofts throughout the set. A full swing A-Wedge/GW should then carry 9-15 yards shorter than their PW. swings).īecause you'll be taking so many full or near-full swing shots with your PW and AW, it's crucial that they have lofts that give you good distance gaps in relation to your 9-iron.ĭepending on a golfer's skill level and how fast they swing their clubs, they should hit their Pitching Wedge 9-15 yards shorter than a 9-iron on a full swing. Green, the two lesser lofted wedges will primarily be used for full or fuller partial shots (50%, 75%, 90%, etc. ![]() Unlike Sand Wedges and Lob Wedges that are frequently used for shorter unique shots around the It's helpful to think of your PW as a 10-iron and an AW as an 11-iron. It's also common for golfers to refer to one of these clubs as an "Attack Wedge." A-Wedge LoftĪn A-Wedge or Approach Wedge has between 48 to 51 degrees of loft, with 50 to 51 degrees being the most common.Īn Approach Wedge/Gap Wedge, along with a Pitching Wedge, often comes with a set of irons. The "A" or "AW" stamped on certain golf clubs stands for "Approach" or "Approach Wedge."Īpproach wedges are simply another name for a Gap Wedge (GW), a golf club with a loft between a Pitching Wedge (PW) and a Sand Wedge (SW). In this guide, we'll explain what the "A" stands for, how much loft an A-Wedge has, and its purpose in a golf bag. ![]() Golf wedges stamped with an "A" or "AW" cause a lot of confusion.
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