Approach Wedge Loft and 5 More A-Wedge Answers

30 years ago, a standard pitching wedge had around 50 degrees of loft, which worked nicely with a standard sand wedge with around 55 degrees of loft. Those days, however, are long gone. 

Stronger-lofted irons have a pitching wedge with around 44 degrees of loft, or even less. Even today’s players' irons have lofts around the mid-40s, and that simply does not jive with a 54 or 55-degree sand wedge.

The A wedge was created to bridge the gap between stronger-lofted pitching wedges and the traditional 54-56 degree sand wedge.

The term A wedge is short for approach wedge, and is also commonly referred to as a gap wedge, because it fills the gap between the pitching and sand wedges.

Loft-jacking isn’t limited to irons. Approach wedge lofts used to fall anywhere between 50-54 degrees, but today, depending on the manufacturer, they can range from 47-52 degrees.

Based on some of the most popular models from the main golf club manufacturers, here is an overview of some approach/gap wedge lofts:

As you can see, lofts vary depending on the type of player the club is designed for. The examples given above illustrate the A wedge loft of the whole spectrum of iron types.

As a club that blends your iron set with your wedge set, an approach wedge is very versatile. Here are some uses for which many players rely on their A wedge:

• Full swing shots around 100 yards (depending on swing speed)
• Partial shots inside 100 yards
• Knockdown shots with a lower flight
• Pitch shots that allow for some runout
• Greenside chip shots where a lower trajectory is advantageous

While it can serve a purpose with a full or three-quarter swing from a specific yardage, an approach wedge is also versatile for those little chip and pitch shots around the green, particularly when you have enough green between you and the hole to let the ball run out a bit.

• Approach wedge is more often used for partial shots than full-swing shots
• Approach wedge has a shorter shaft and more loft than a pitching wedge, which offers better control

The approach wedge fills the gap between the stronger pitching wedge, and the more lofted sand wedge. The loft on your approach wedge should be 4 to 8 degrees higher than your pitching wedge, and a full swing with an approach wedge should produce 8-15 yards less distance than with a pitching wedge.

Because the ideal loft of your gap wedge is relative to the loft of your pitching wedge and your sand wedge, it’s important to know the lofts on your specific set of irons. An approach wedge is also typically a quarter-inch shorter than a pitching wedge, which, along with more loft, helps control distance.

In addition to differences on paper between an approach wedge and a pitching wedge, players often prefer to use the two wedges in different ways. Because an approach wedge packs a little more loft and a slightly shorter shaft, many players find it easier to control around the greens than a pitching wedge.

• Approach wedge shots fly lower and farther and have more roll than a sand wedge
• Short game shots with an approach wedge will also fly lower and roll more than with a sand wedge

The approach wedge is designed to fill the gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge, and therefore one of its main purposes is to provide more carry and total distance than your sand wedge. A gap of around 8-15 yards in total distance from full swings is ideal.

However, the differences don’t end there. The approach wedge is typically a quarter-inch longer than the sand wedge, and has between 5-8 degrees less loft, which makes it launch lower, fly farther, and roll out more.

The approach wedge is designed to fill the gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge, and therefore one of its main purposes is to provide more carry and total distance than your sand wedge. A gap of around 8-15 yards in total distance from a full swings is ideal.

However, the differences don’t end there. The approach wedge is typically a quarter-inch longer than the sand wedge, and has between 5-8 degrees less loft, which makes it launch lower, fly farther, and roll out more.

Additionally, a sand wedge is built for specialty greenside shots. Primarily, as you can guess from the name, it is made to be played out of the sand. A sand wedge’s various bounce and grind options indicate the shape and functionality of the sole of the club, and how it’s designed to interact with the ground, be it sand or turf.

Most approach wedges, on the other hand, are an extension of the iron set, and while they provide some nice greenside benefits, they’re not designed specifically to be a go-to tool for these specialty shots.

Accuracy is the key to scoring well. Rather than forcing a full swing with a sand wedge, the gap wedge allows for an easy-to-control 80 percent swing that still flies high enough for the ball to land softly.

The loft on a gap wedge makes it easy to play both chip (bump and run) and pitch shots. Playing a chip shot with the ball back in the stance, and the hands well ahead of the ball reduces loft without closing the face. For a pitch shot, bringing the hands back just ahead of center at address restores loft while keeping the face square to the ball.

Your first step to purchasing an approach wedge is figuring out the lofts of the wedges in your current set. Specifically, your pitching wedge and your sand wedge, since you'll want a gap wedge that splits the difference. 

There's a good chance the loft of your sand wedge is imprinted on the club. You can do a quick Google search for the specs on your irons to find out the pitching wedge loft. You can also find that at most golf retailers by having your loft checked using a loft and lie machine.

Once you know the loft of your pitching wedge, note how far you hit that club with a full swing. Do the same for your sand wedge. 

For example, if your pitching wedge is 43 degrees and you hit it 110 yards, and your sand wedge is 54 degrees and you hit it 70 yards, you know you’re in search of an approach wedge that is around 49 degrees, and will ideally go around 90 yards to fill that gap.

If you own an older set, you can always search to see if an approach wedge was offered originally and look to buy one second-hand.

If you are purchasing a new set of clubs, you will have the choice of having the approach wedge that matches the set, or, going with one of the other wedge models from any manufacturer.