Wedge
Equipment
Explained Simply
The highest-lofted irons, built for short, high shots around the green and into it. Common types are pitching, gap, sand, and lob wedge — each with more loft than the last.
Example
“From 90 yards you might hit a pitching wedge; from a greenside bunker you'd use a sand wedge; for a high stop-fast shot, a lob wedge.”
Why it matters
Wedges control your scoring zone — the short shots that make up a huge share of your strokes. Knowing which wedge does what saves you shots.
Common beginner mistake
Owning four wedges before you can use them. A pitching wedge and a sand wedge cover almost everything a beginner needs.
Related
beginner
Equipment
Related
- LoftThe angle of the clubface relative to vertical. Higher loft = higher, shorter shots. Lower loft = lower, longer shots.
- Flop ShotA high, soft shot that pops almost straight up and lands gently with little roll. Played with an open, high-lofted wedge when you need to stop the ball fast over an obstacle.
- Bump and RunA low chip that carries a short distance onto the green, then rolls the rest of the way to the hole like a putt — the simplest, most reliable shot from just off the green.
- Bunker (Sand Trap)A hazard area filled with sand. Can appear next to the fairway (fairway bunker) or around the green (greenside bunker). Often called a 'sand trap' casually.