Golf Wedge Distances [46, 52, 56 & 60 Degrees Averages]
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Watching golf on TV is fun and entertaining but it can hurt your game by creating unrealistic expectations.
Here’s what I mean…
As you sit on your couch admiring their perfect swings, it’s easy to think they always hit bombs, never miss a green, chip to tap in distances, and make putts from any length.
But if you study the PGA Tour statistics, you’ll quickly realize what you see on TV is simply a highlight reel. They don’t show you the average drives, missed greens, flubbed chips, and missed putts inside ten feet. Don’t get me wrong, these guys are extremely talented and put in a ton of effort, but they’re not perfect either.
One area where amateurs tend to compare themselves with other players (both professionals and other amateurs) is distance. While distance is incredibly important off the tee, it doesn’t matter if you can’t take advantage of good drives with a decent wedge game.
To improve your scores quickly, you need a wedge distance chart. This will make it easier to swing with confidence and take advantage of shots inside 125 yards.
Keep reading to learn the average distances pros and amateurs hit wedges and how to create your own distance chart too.
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Wedges Distance Chart
As you know, professional golfers hit it a long way and average about 300 yards off the tee.
While their distance is impressive, they’re also very creative and can hit tons of different shots with the same club. As an example, sometimes they can hit a gap wedge 150 yards and other times they can make the same club go 110 yards.
There are so many factors when it comes to hitting any club including clubhead speed, lie (rough vs. fairway), wind direction, weather, elevation, type of golf ball, smash factor, and more.
Let’s compare an amateur vs. professional for wedges, assuming it’s a fairway lie with no wind or elevation.
| Wedge | Professional | Scratch Golfer | Avg. Male Golfer |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lob Wedge |
90-110 |
80-105
|
65-85
|
|
Sand Wedge
|
100-120
|
90-115
|
80-100
|
|
Gap Wedge
|
120-140
|
110-130
|
95-110
|
|
Pitching Wedge
|
135-155
|
120-140
|
100-120
|
According to Trackman Golf, the average PGA Tour player hits a PW 137 yards. While the LPGA Tour player hits a pitching wedge 107 yards.
I think 137 yards with a PW is on the low side for professional golfers. It’s not uncommon to see big hitters hit these clubs 150+ yards but we’ll have to take their word for it. Unfortunately, they don’t have data to show the average GW, SW, and LW distances so these are educated guesses.
Ultimately though, it does not matter how far you hit each wedge.
What matters is how well you know your distances and having the right 3-4 wedges to swing with confidence.
Let’s review the four types of wedges and break down how far you “should” hit each club.
Also Read: Stiff vs. Regular Shaft
46-Degree Wedge Distance (Pitching Wedge)
Of the 3-4 wedges in your bag, the pitching wedge will go the furthest thanks to the lower loft. It’s also slightly longer than your other wedges and tends to have a more forgiving clubhead too as it matches your iron set. All of these factors make it the “longest” wedge in the bag.
A typical pitching wedge ranges between 43-48 degrees and can range from 100-120 yards for the everyday golfer. While more skilled players can hit them an extra 10-20 yards.
52-Degree Wedge Distance (Gap Wedge)
The second-longest wedge in the bag is the gap wedge (GW), commonly known as the utility, approach, or an attack wedge. This club is nearly as long as a pitching wedge but has more loft; typically between 50-53 degrees. It fills the gap between your PW and SW and is a very versatile club that is used for all types of shots.
A gap wedge typically travels between 90-110 yards for the average male golfer. While scratch golfers and pros tend to hit it 10-20 yards longer.
Side note: If you need more distance from your gap wedge I recommend buying one that matches the rest of your set. Not only will it be gapped perfectly with your pitching wedge, it will have a larger, more forgiving clubhead. This will also translate to more distance than an aftermarket gap wedge like a Titleist Vokey.
56-Degree Wedge Distance (Sand Wedge)
A club that almost every golfer has in the bag is a sand wedge. While it’s great for getting out of bunkers, it’s versatile and works on full shots or around the greens too.
So, how far does a 56 degree wedge go?
Most average golfers hit a sand wedge between 80-100 yards.
Also Read: 15 Putting Tips To transform Your Short Game
60-Degree Wedge Distance (Lob Wedge)
Lastly, don’t forget about the lob wedge either. It’s the highest lofted club in the bag and a great accessory if you’re the type of player that can hit it consistently. The most common loft for a lob wedge is 60 degrees but it can range anywhere from 58-64 degrees.
So, how far should you hit a 60-degree wedge?
Most average male golfers won’t hit lob wedges beyond 85-90 yards, while pros can hit them over 100 yards. But I wouldn’t suggest swinging hard at too many lob wedges as it can create some bad results.
These clubs are great for skilled players but challenging for higher handicap golfers thanks to the loft and design. Lob wedges are better suited for half or ¾ shots, not full swing shots. They’re also great around the greens if you’re short-sided and need to get the golf ball up quickly and land softly.
If you need a new LW or want to add one to your set, make sure to check out our best 60 degree wedges.
Create Your Own Wedge Distance Chart
Now that you have a better understanding of how far each wedge should go, it’s time to make your own chart. While the numbers above should act as helpful benchmarks, it’s important to identify how far you hit each wedge in your bag.
The best way to create your own distance chart is to use a launch monitor and identify the full distances with each wedge. Then, create 1-2 more distances so each wedge has three numbers depending on the type of shot you play.
This will help you swing with confidence on the golf course as it’s not often you get a lot of “perfect distances.” It’s much more likely you’ll have distances during the round that are in between your wedges and need to hit different types of shots to match the distance, wind, and other conditions.
To start creating your distance chart, hit 10 balls with each wedge and take the average to establish your full shot distance. Next, figure out your ¾ shot, aka a knockdown shot. This is one of the most reliable shots in golf as it has a lower ball flight and doesn’t spin too much.
Plus, it doesn’t require you to change much in your swing either. Simply choke up an inch on the grip and take a less than full swing with another 10 balls to calculate your ¾ knockdown average distance.
If you want to add a third distance, choke up two inches (nearly to the shaft) and take half swings with another 10 balls. Calculate the averages with each wedge and you will have three distances for each club.
Once you have all your wedge distances, write them down in a journal or a note in your phone. As you dial in your distances, you should have much more confidence on the golf course.
Wedge Distance Example
Here’s a look at my wedge setup to give you a better idea of how this works. While I always know these numbers, I still have to factor in the wind, lie, elevation, and more on the golf course.
| Wedge | Full | 3/4 | 1/2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
PW |
135
|
125
|
115
|
|
GW
|
123
|
115
|
108
|
|
SW
|
112
|
105
|
95
|
|
LW
|
92
|
80
|
73
|
Top Questions About Wedges
Do you have additional questions about wedges and dialing in your distances? Check out the top questions and answers below to help you save shots from close range.
Which wedge is best for chipping?
Lower lofted wedges like a pitching wedge or gap wedge are the best clubs for chipping. The lower loft makes it easier for the ball to hit the green and then roll out like a putt.
Conversely, pitch and flop shots are better suited for higher loft wedges like a sand wedge or lob wedge. These clubs make the ball go higher and stop faster once they hit the green.
Should a high handicapper use a 60-degree wedge?
No, most high handicap golfers won’t reap the benefits of a lob wedge. I would suggest holding off an L-wedge until you are a mid to low handicap golfer.
The main reason is that lob wedges are difficult to hit unless you have a consistent swing. It’s easy to flub chips and hit fat shots as the ball can ride up the club face quite easily.
But as you evolve and improve, a lob wedge is one of the most important clubs in the bag. Master your sand wedge first and then test out different lob wedge loft/bounce combinations to see how it might help your short game.
What three wedges should I carry?
One of the biggest decisions when creating your set of clubs is deciding on three or four wedges.
Three wedges is a better choice for higher handicap golfers who need an extra fairway wood or hybrid. Since you have more full swing shots, it’s better to have an extra long club in your bag.
While a four wedge setup is better for lower handicap golfers who have shorter approach shots and need more options. An extra wedge makes it easier to have better distance control from inside 125 yards.
The most common three wedge setup is either PW, GW, SW or PW, SW and LW. But the clubs aren’t that important, it’s the loft of each wedge that is the biggest factor.
If you opt for three wedges, you need to space them out properly from your pitching wedge. For example, if you have a 46 degree pitching wedge, it’s a good idea to carry a 52 degree and 58 degree wedge. This way there are six degrees of loft between wedges and won’t leave huge distance gaps.
Make sure to check out our golf wedge buying guide too.
Should you hit full wedge shots?
Yes, but not as much as you think. The main wedges you will hit with full shots are your pitching and gap wedge. These clubs are meant for longer shots compared to higher lofted wedges.
While you will need to hit full sand and lob wedges at times, it’s not as common or recommended. Higher lofted wedges are harder for the everyday player to hit full and can cost you a lot of shots inside 100 yards.
If you feel like you need to “crush” a SW or LW, club up and hit a knockdown shot with the longer wedge instead. By choking up an inch on the grip and taking a less than full swing, you will likely make better contact and hit more greens in regulation.
Plus, the spin of knockdown shots are much more consistent as it should hop and stop. While full wedges might have too much backspin and actually zip off the front of the green.
Wrapping Up
Knowing what wedges for what distance is critical in playing your best golf. But don’t feel like you need to be a long hitter when it comes to your wedges.
Anytime someone asks me how far I hit any type of wedge, I just laugh and say, “It doesn’t matter.” Because it doesn’t, who cares if you can hit your PW 100 yards or 140 yards. What matters is how well you control your distances and proximity to the hole.
Save the big swings and aggressive swings for drivers off the tee. For wedges, focus on picking a club that you don’t have to swing hard to hit it close.
Do you have multiple distances for each wedge in your bag? If so, how much has it helped your approach shots and scores?
Let us know in the comments below.
Michael Leonard
Michael Leonard is a full-time writer, author, creator of Wicked Smart Golf and +1 handicap amateur golfer. He left his corporate career in 2017 to pursue entrepreneurship and professional golf; since then, he’s competed in 160+ tournament days and went to Q-school in 2019.
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