Wedge buying guides
Beginner Mistakes When Choosing Wedges
Beginners usually need clearer gaps and friendlier bounce before specialty grinds.
Mistake: buying three lofts without a plan
A 52, 56, and 60 can be a good setup, but only if those lofts fit the pitching wedge and the player can use them. Beginners often score better with fewer decisions: a gap wedge for fuller shots, a sand wedge with enough bounce, and one simple short-game technique.
Beginner traps to avoid
- Choosing a lob wedge before learning a basic chip and pitch.
- Buying low bounce for soft turf and then digging everywhere.
- Ignoring the loft of the set pitching wedge.
- Picking worn used wedges because they are cheap.
- Practicing only full swings when most wedge shots are partial.
Beginner truth: A forgiving sand wedge used well beats a tour-style grind used nervously.
A simpler first setup
Start with one wedge for gap shots and one wedge for sand and greenside work. Add a lob wedge only when you know the shot it will play and the course demands it.