Are you just starting out playing golf? Maybe you’ve just taken it on as a hobby or new sport if you have a high handicap, which is likely if you are a beginner.
You probably use wedges quite a bit in your game. Here, we will take a look at the best wedges for high handicappers and beginner players.
In general, wedges are used for just about 25% of all shots, which means they are critical to any golf game.
Best Wedges for High Handicappers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Cleveland Golf Men’s Smart Sole 3 Wedge |  EDITOR’S CHOICE |
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Cleveland Golf Men’s CBX Wedge |  BEST VALUE |
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Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge |  BUDGET CHOICE |
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Criteria for Choosing The Best Wedges For High Handicappers
There are a few key features to keep in mind if you are looking for a great wedge, particularly if you are a beginning golfer or just have a high handicap in general.
For beginners, there are plenty of terms with which you should get familiar. Understanding the terminology will help you better find your way around the wedge and ultimately help you understand the club.
You can then find the features most useful to you when you are ready to purchase.
Parts Of The Wedge
When just starting to golf, you likely still have to learn all of the terminologies. A wedge is an iron, usually used to make short shots that require a lot of spinning.
In general, the wedge iron is used mostly for shorter shots in length than 100 yards. When to use a wedge and for what distance shot really depends on the individual golfer and their style and preference of play.
There are four central parts to any wedge. The first is the toe, which is the edge that faces outward. The second is the face, which is the club you use to hit the ball. The third is the back, which most often has a cavity.
Finally, the fourth part is the sole, which is just another word for width. As the thickness increases, the wedge becomes better for use over thicker grass.
Loft
The loft is an important characteristic of any wedge. It is essentially the angle on the wedge. The loft ranges from 46 to 72 degrees.
The wedge you use and choose might be referred to by that angle or by its primary function. Sometimes the name of the wedge and the loft are used interchangeably.
For example, you might hear just the term “sand wedge,” and that just means a wedge that has a loft that is 46 degrees.
Bounce
The bounce is essentially a part of the wedge club. It is the area that makes contact with the actual turf.
So, it makes the club bounce through the surface under that ball. Bounce is commonly used as a name to represent the characteristics of the sole design. These are primarily the sole wedge, rocker: Leading-edge, bounce angle, and camber.
You will most commonly hear the term bounce to represent the bounce angle. This is just the angle from the leading edge to where the sole touches the ground. There is often a misconception that wedges are flat against the ground, but that is not the case.
The bounce angle is actually part of the wedge to prevent it from digging into the ground, either turf or sand, where the shot is being made. And it stops the momentum of the club slicing through the ball.
Types Of Wedges
You can choose to buy a wedge is separately or as part of a full set of golf clubs. The four most common wedges are lob, sand, pitching, and gap.
Lob Wedges
The lob wedge is the newest on the market. It used a high loft, usually somewhere between 60 and 64 degrees. This means that you, like the golfer, can get better height and spin on the ball when you are near the green.
You would mostly d use this wedgy when hitting chips, bunker shots, or flop shops and not so much when trying to make full shots.
Sand Wedges
A sand wedge typically has a loft that ranges from 54 to 59 degrees and was originally made so that you could get out of greenside bunkers given the wider and heavier sole of the wedge. It was actually used for many of the shots that lob wedge now dominates before the lob was created.
Pitching Wedges
The pitching wedge is the most common of the four types. It usually has a loft that ranges somewhere between 44 and 48 degrees. Its primary function is to make full shots and occasionally make some chip shots longer in length.
Gap Wedges
The gap wedge can also be called a utility wedge or an attack wedge, and it usually fills in for the shots that aren’t ideal for the pitching wedge or sand wedge to make. It has a loft that usually ranges from 50 to 53 degrees and is used for full shots.
Best Wedges For High Handicappers
1. Cleveland Golf Men’s Smart Sole 3 Wedge for high handicappers
- Great turn interaction.
- Weight is balanced at the center of the clubface.
- Feel balancing technology.
- Redesigned wider sole.
- Sole is three-tiered for better interaction with the turf.
Pros
What we liked about this product is how easy it is to get a ball into the air. It just makes hitting easier. It is also available in both left and right-handed models.
Cons
What we didn’t like is that it could benefit from more clubhead weight. There can just be a bit too much bounce, especially when getting out of the sand.
This is a great wedge for lowering your score, and we believe it is one of the best wedges for high handicappers. Cleveland Golf has been a leader in this industry for quite some time and has designed this wedge to address the unique needs of high handicap golfers.
The most noteworthy features of this wedge include the overall design of the sole and loft. Also, the redistribution of weight with this wedge allows you to make tighter shots more easily.
Sole
The sole is three-tiered and wider. This is intentional to help give you more forgiveness in your game. There are three activation pads. So, you’ll likely find that you get better interaction with the turf, and you can enjoy playability from all lies.
Loft
The loft is 58 degrees. This is specifically designed so you can make the most important shots, including hitting the bunker. You will probably find that the loft helps you better hit soft, high shots without an open clubface.
Distribution of Weight
This wedge has moved the weight more toward the toe and away from the hosel. This allows you to make together shots with a better overall feel.
2.Cleveland Golf 2018 Men’s CBX Wedge
- Feel balancing technology.
- Cavity design instead of blade design.
- Maximum forgiveness is given the 70 grams of weight around the clubhead.
- V-shape on the sole for great interaction with the turf.
- Lofts range from 46 to 60 degrees, available in increments of 2 degrees.
Pros
What we liked about this wedge is the great, sleek design. It looks great and is of really high quality. It also has some really advanced tech, including the Rotex grooves and Dual-V sole.
Cons
What we didn’t like about this wedge is that it comes with just a single bounce option. It also has a head that is a bit bigger and a sole a bit wider, but those features truly depend on preference.
Cavity Back
Cleveland is one of the most reputable manufacturers when it comes to all things golf. That said, they claim 84% of all golfers are playing with the wrong wedges. For the most part, golfers use cavity back irons but then use tour style bladed wedges. So, Cleveland designed this wedge for those exact golfers.
Wide Dual V-Sole
The sole is both more forgiving and wider than the tour wedge. You’ll experience a smooth glide through the turf without a whole lot of digging. That said, you will still be able to hit many short game shots, which means this wedge is still maintained its versatility.
Feel Balancing
The weight from the hosel has been removed, and along with the tapered sole width, more weight can be felt toward the toe so the center of gravity can be found closer to the face center. This means you get to experience higher consistency along with an overall better feel. When the center of gravity is more toward the heel, the feel is compromised. With this wedge, you won’t experience that.
Read THE TRUTH: Square Strike Wedge Review.
3.Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge – (Best Budget Wedges)
- Aggressive grooves for maximum spin.
- Great grind sole for better accuracy with shots.
- Strong durability gave the true temper steel.
- Sleek finish.
- Modified bounce angle for a dead stop spin.
Pros
What we liked about this wedge is the high durability given its high-quality construction. It also has a great grind sole, which helps increase accuracy in shots.
Cons
We didn’t like this wedge because the wedge is rather small, which makes for a thinner grip. This is a matter of preference, but we prefer a thicker grip.
Wilson is very well known in the golf world, and for a good reason. Their clubs are well constructed, sleek in design, and often offer several features that enhance overall performance. This wedge is no different and follows that trend. It even takes Wilson’s game to the next level to introduce many design features that will give players more options around the green.
Performance
This Wilson wedge makes use of some features that impact spin. To start, the use of aggressive grooves can get you the maximum spin on your shots. Also related to spin, the shape of the blade gives you a modified bounce angle for an even more enhanced spin.
Durability
The construction of this wedge is quite durable and sleek. The head is constructed of stainless steel, and the True Temple steel iron enhances your performance through increased control.
Sole Grind
With this wedge, you can further open the clubface. This means you should be able to hit not only more accurate shots but also higher ones. This should ultimately enhance your overall golf performance.
Blade Shape
The blade shape on this wedge should help you whether on the fairway or in the sand. The shape allows for modified bounce angles for dead stop spin. This is one of the best sand wedges for high handicappers.
4.Pinemeadow Pre 3 Wedge for high
- Clean, classic & stylish look.
- Very durable.
- U-Groove technology for improved trajectory.
- Wide sole with narrowing toward the toe.
Pros
What we liked about these wedges was the really sleek design, which makes a great initial impression. Also, you get three wedges instead of just one.
Cons
We didn’t like the extra time it takes to get used to these wedges’ lightweight nature. It also will take some breaking in when it comes to the grip as well.
With this three-wedge pack from Pinemeadow, you get to experience three different wedges with just one purchase. This is unique and can really help a beginner, or a golfer with a high handicap, to help discern which features they like best in their wedge.
You’ll get some common features in all three, but you will also get some differences as well, which means learning what you like best while also improving your game.
Loft
Each of the three wedges that come in this pack has a different loft angle. So, you’ll get to experiment a bit with this set. The three different wedge lofts are 60, 56, and 52 degrees. They all have just about the same weight, despite the different lofts. Each of them weighs about 300g.
Wide Sole Design
The sole design of these wedges is one of the unique features. All three of the wedges have a wide sole at the bottom, but they also narrow toward the toe. This means that the surface that makes contact with the ball is actually a lot more forgiving than what you’d find with most other wedges.
Shaft
Each of the three shafts in this pack comes with a 125-gram steel shaft, which a low to mid kick point.
5.Cleveland Golf Men’s 588 RTX 2.0 High Handicappers
- Tour Zip Grooves.
- Rotex 2.0 Face Pattern.
- Standard Steel Shaft.
- Bounce Options.
- Sleek Design with the black blade.
Pros
Things we like about this wedge include the super sleek design with a black blade, which really stands out. We also enjoy the several grind options available.
Cons
Things we didn’t like about this wedge are that they feel could be better overall, and a headcover might be a good option to include with the wedge.
Cleveland will almost always have an iron for every golfer, so even beginners can enjoy a nice iron, such as this wedge offered by a reputable manufacturer.
Tour Zip Grooves
This wedge has fourth-generation Tour Zip Grooves. They allow you to move more grass and dirt away from the face so that you can always make clean contact with the ball. The walls on this wedge are up to 8% larger than you can expect to experience from other wedges.
Rotex 2.0 Face Pattern
This face pattern is truly one of the features that make this wedge stand out from the competition. It has a 2-pass micro-milling pattern that builds on of the roughest faces you can get. You’ll get more spin and friction from this face than you ever thought possible. You’ll be making more shots than you expect.
Appearance
This wedge has an incredibly sleek design, setting it apart from much of the competition that all looks the same. You can choose options when it comes to finish, but either one offers a very professional look.
The feel in your hands is also really positive, given that it is just heavy enough to get balls out of deep grass if needed and light enough to have great maneuverability. You’ll have good feedback while also experiencing a super crisp impact.
6.Callaway Golf Men’s Matte Black Wedges for High
- Lofts available in two-degree increments from 46 to 64 degrees.
- Four sole grinds.
- True Temper Dynamic Gold 115 Tour Issue Steel Shafts.
- Premium Finish.
- Groove-in-Groove technology.
Pros
What we liked about this wedge is that it has really great spin and control. It also offers twenty-one loft/bounce combinations.
Cons
We don’t like this wedge because it doesn’t have much availability for left-handed golfers. There is a Platinum-Chrome option for men, along with this black matte finish.
Four Sole Grinds
With four sole grinds, you will find that you can use this wedge regardless of your type of wing or the course condition. In general, if you play your wedge with a square face, you will probably like the W or S grind best.
On the other hand, if you are a player that plays with several different shots, such as closed or square, you will likely enjoy the X, and C grinds best.
Groove-in-Groove Technology
This wedge comes with better spin and increased control for all shots, given Callaway’s unique design of small, large, and micro-grooves.
You won’t find that combination in any other manufacturer’s wedges for high handicappers. Overall, the combination of micro-grooves and square-edged ones gives you a total of 84 contact points, along with a whole lot of spin.
Four Center of Gravity Weights
The club head’s center of gravity moves upward as the loft increased, given the four weight ports and aluminum medallions. You’ll experience a really great sound on each shot, and the feel is really impeccable.
Shaping
This wedge offers a great shape, marked by the compact shape and straight leading edge. It also has a tighter leading-edge radius. This makes for clean contact and a great deal of control. You will also experience a maximum spin.
7.Wilson Staff FG Tour PMP Men’s Golf Wedge
- Tour grind, traditional, or wide sole designs.
- Three finish options.
- Kbs hi-rev 2.0 shaft for higher ball launch angle.
- Precision milled performance.
- Lack of vibration through impact.
Pros
Things we liked about this wedge include the excellent design. This wedge is clearly quite durable. We also like that there are customization options available.
Cons
Things we didn’t like about this wedge include is its lack of great distance control. While it could be improved in this area, you can get used to this feature after some use.
This wedge is offered in either a Tour Frosted option or a Gun Blue PVD. There are also 3 different sole geometries available.
They are traditional, wide or tour and each of them offer their own set of advantages and benefits. Overall, there are a total of 97 combinations from which you can choose to customize this wedge.
Quality
There is a total of 3 different sole options available with this wedge, all adding up to 97 combinations. This means you can absolutely find a wedge that will work for your game, no matter what preferences or style you have.
The three sole grind options are Tour Grind, Wide, and Traditional. The many options related to the loft and sole grinds make this a truly unique product.
Appearance
This wedge has a really great look that is quite appealing to the eyes. The hazy blue finish, which is one option, is really unique as you don’t see many wedges in that color. This wedge can also be custom stamped with any text you want. That text would appear on the back of the club-head.
Overall Feel
You won’t feel a lot of vibration when you make an impact with this wedge. It is durable and sturdy and really holds up to any impact, serving to save your wrists.
8.Tour Edge Golf- 1Out Plus Wedge
- Ultra-heavy head.
- Counter-balanced grip for better stability.
- 90 grams of additional weight in the butt.
- Super-wide sole to make sand shots easier.
- Heavy sole for an easier launch.
Pros
We liked how easy chip shots are with this wedge, mostly because of the super heavy head and counter-balanced grip. That counter-balanced grip helps keep a level of stability when making contact.
Cons
What we didn’t like is that it is only available in a right-hand orientation. It also is quite heavy by comparison, which can be challenging for brand new golfers. This is ultimately a matter of preference, however.
This wedge from Tour Edge offers some really great features for those looking to improve their game. Tour Edge is known for providing great products with good durability. This wedge continues that trend.
Technology
The sole is heavy and super-wide. This makes for an easy launch, particularly out of sand traps and particularly tough lies.
There is also a counter-balance grip to offset the wedge. That grip places the weight above your hands, so you’ll find the face angle to be a lot more stable through the shot. That counter-weight is 90 grams, and it is placed in the butt end of the grip so that it works to balance out that heavier head.
That weighting is a great way to improve stability and the position of the wrist when an impact is made between the wedge and the ball.
Head Design
The head design of this wedge uses a super-wide sole. This helps you to make sand shots a lot easier, probably easier than you’ve ever experienced.
The sole literally glides nearly effortlessly through the sand. You’ll find that you can launch the ball up and out of difficult areas with ease.
9.Cobra Men’s King Satin V Golf Wedge
- Sleek design.
- Progressive milled grooves.
- Variable face roughness for maximum spin.
- Blade height closer to the ground on square and open shots.
- Softer sound.
Pros
What we liked about this wedge was the sleekness of the design. It looks professional and all-business but also offers some impressive performance features.
Cons
What we didn’t like about this wedge is that it is only available for right-handed golfers.
Cobra has only very recently come back to manufacturing wedges, but this one will certainly help them build their reputation up. This wedge focuses mostly on feel and precision in golfing but mixes some unexpected, useful performance features.
Appearance
The look of this wedge is all business. It has a sleek, tour-proven pear shape, giving it a refined feel overall. The finish is glare-reducing and uses premium chrome plating.
Feel
The feel of the Cobra King Wedge is unique. It basically feels and sounds a bit softer given the use of chrome-plated carbon steel.
There is no click-like feel, and the sound is quite muted. This wedge also uses a vibrational flow so that you won’t feel that standard sting you’ve probably already felt, even if you are a beginner.
You’ll experience an overall more forgiving feel with this wedge, regardless of the shot you’re trying to make.
Designed for Performance
Much of the design of this wedge has to do with the look and the sound and feel. That said, there were some performance features snuck into the mix as well.
There are progressive milled grooves used as well as variable face roughness. That roughness helps to maximize spin and control so that you get the best shot possible.
It also just enables more friction between the ball and the club. This small feature enhances the overall performance of the club.
10.Titleist Vokey SM6 Tour Chrome Wedge
- 100% inspected grooves.
- Progressive center of gravity.
- Wide range of grind options.
- Strong trajectory and distance control.
- Custom options.
Pros
Things we liked about this wedge include the wide range of options available for customization. We also really enjoyed how precise the distance control was given the location of the center of gravity.
Cons
We didn’t like this wedge because it isn’t necessarily tailored to golfers with a high handicap, while it offers some really great features.
Titleist is obviously synonymous with golfing. That said, much of the focus of this manufacturer’s products have revolved around lofts and grinds. That trend continues with this wedge. We really like that Titleist continues to improve its products, mostly through consumer’s suggestions and feedback.
Grind
With this S Grind, you’ll experience a great deal of stability on full shots, but you’ll also find that you can remain versatile around the greens as well.
This S Grind wedge is the most ideal for those players who play more square-faced shots. Compared to the SM5 models of this wedge, this more recent model has 3-degrees more bounce as well. So, this is a great upgrade option for anyone who had an SM5 model.
Grooves
The wide grooves on this wedge really serve to produce the maximum spin. And the parallel face texture builds on the consistent groove wedge, so you’ll have a higher tolerance level. And these grooves will stand up to work. You likely don’t need one for practice and one for actual play.
Center of Gravity
With this wedge, you’ll experience a much softer, more solid feel at impact. This center of gravity also means more consistency in your shots.
You want to hit your mark every time, and this wedge can help you do just that, and with a higher level of confidence as well.
Frequently Asked Question and Answered
What is the difference between bounce wedges?
Low bounce wedges have an angle of 4 to 6 degrees. Mid-bounce wedges have 7 to 10 degrees of bounce, and high-bounce wedges have more than 10 degrees of bounce.
What are the different finishes?
Chrome and Nickel finishes will typically keep their appearance looking the same for long. Raw finishes will rust over long periods of time but can lead to a better spin. Darker finishes look sleek when first purchased but often lose their shine as time passes.
Conclusion
There are many options for choosing the best wedges for high handicappers for your game. However, if you have a high handicap, we suggest the Cleveland Golf Men’s Smart Sole 3 Wedge S.
The feel balanced technology and wider sole really make it a great option for anyone who is just starting their hand at golf.
If it is out of your price range and you need something a bit more affordable, you can always choose our budge choice, which is the Cleveland Golf Men’s 588 RTX 2.0 Muscle Back.
