A golf wedge can change your approach game for the better, allowing you hit more golf balls closer to the pin. In this guide, we go over the absolute best golf wedges you can buy today.
Some of the newest additions to this list include the Mizuno S23 and the new Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2.
For each wedge below, I’ll go over:
- Key features and drawbacks in each option
- How to buy a good golf wedge today
- A detailed summary of each club
Finding the best wedges on the market takes a bit of research and work. If you are struggling with your irons, wedges can help to save your score. They can also make you much more accurate and impressive from that 100 yards and in location.
Regardless of your reasoning behind needing to know the best golf wedges, we have a comprehensive guide for you.
Here are the best golf wedges on the market.
The Overall Best Golf Wedges to Buy Today
- Callaway JAWS Raw (Overall Best Golf Wedges)
- Mizuno S23 (Best Game Improvement Wedges)
- Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2 (Best Cavity-Back Wedges)
- Titleist Vokey SM9 (Best Wedges for Low Handicappers)
- Ping Glide 4.0 Wedges (Best Wedge Spin)
- Cleveland Zipcore (Best Golf Wedges for High Handicappers)
- Callaway Mack Daddy 5 Jaws Wedge (Best Wedges for the Money)
- Cleveland CBX 2 (Best Wedges for Beginners)
- Titleist Vokey SM8 (Most Popular Wedge)
- Mizuno T20 Wedge (Best Blade Wedge)
- Wilson Harmonized (Best Golf Chipper)
Best Golf Wedges
Callaway JAWS Raw
Best Overall Wedges
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KEY FEATURES
- Maximum friction and spin
- Tungsten weighting added for better ball loft
- Tons of customization options for hosel, grind, and loft
KEY DRAWBACK
- Raw wedges tend to rust faster if not properly taken care of
Summary
The new Callaway JAWS Raw wedges are brand new in the lineup and are made to improve the short game of any golfer. These wedges replace the previous Mack Daddy 5 (MD5) wedges in the Callaway family.
The Callaway JAWS Raw wedges are available in either a Raw Face Chrome, or an un-plated Raw Black Plasma option. There is no difference between the two, it just depends if you prefer the chrome look or the black color look when looking down at address.
Raw club faces reduce the material between the golf ball and the grooves on the face in order to maximize friction and spin on the ball. The JAWS grooves help you get a ton of spin.
Callaway JAWS Raw wedges have ultra-sharp grooves at a 37 degree wall angle. They also have included groove-in-groove technology, which features micro-milled grooves at a 20 degree angle to promote even more spin on the golf ball. Callaway is promoting these wedges as a “spin machine” and the most aggressive groove in golf.
For the first time ever, Callaway has added tungsten weighting into the JAWS Raw wedges. Tungsten weighting is becoming more and more popular across the golf world, most notably in irons. Tungsten gives you serious ball flight and launch out of these wedges, letting you use them from more distances than ever before.
The only downside to raw wedges is that they will rust a lot faster than a normal, coated club face. For this reason, you’ll want to take care of your clubs and make sure that they don’t get wet.
Click here to read our full Callaway JAWS Raw review.
Mizuno S23 Wedges
Best Game Improvement Wedges
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KEY FEATURES
- Unique shape design to make launch easier
- Hydro-flow micro grooves for more durability
- Multiple bounce and grind options
KEY DRAWBACK
- Expensive for game-improvement clubs
Summary
To make these irons game-improvement, Mizuno took the issues plaguing amateur golfers and tried to upgrade their wedges to offset them. They created a shorter hosel and added a back cavity that stretches across almost the entire back of the wedge. Doing so pushes the center of gravity lower and more to the center to offset toe hits.
Mizuno also added their patented HydroFlow Micro Grooves in between their Quad Cut Milled Grooves. The HydroFlow Grooves are in their T22 wedges and help channel water and debris away from the club face to ensure you get the best contact and spin on the ball. These grooves are perfect for golfers who like to golf in the early morning and struggle with dew on the grass.
The Mizuno S23 wedges are available in two finishes – a white satin brush chrome and a copper-cobalt, so it all depends on what you prefer. They come in many different bounce and grind options and are available for $160 USD per wedge.
If you are a higher handicap golfer and struggle with mis-hits on your wedges, these S23 wedges will be perfect for you. We would highly recommend trying them out!
Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2
Best Cavity-Back Wedges
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KEY FEATURES
- Full-face grooves for a larger strike profile
- Addition of Zipcore technology
- HydraZip technology features different laser patterns in the grooves
- New few-sole design system based on different wedge lofts
KEY DRAWBACK
- Raw wedges tend to rust faster if not properly taken care of
Summary
Cleveland Golf has done a great job with these CBX Full-Face 2 wedges. Most golfers using cavity back irons do not have a matching set of cavity back wedges. This means they are trying to use blade wedges and not getting the best performance. Cavity back wedges are an excellent option for those golfers looking for more forgiveness on their wedge shots.
The technology that Cleveland Golf uses in their top-of-the-line RTX Zipcore wedges is included on the face of these wedges. They call this HydraZip technology, a type of finish sprayed across the face of the wedge that helps to improve the spin in wet conditions and maximize friction in dry conditions.
Cleveland uses different finishing’s in their loft groupings for this. The lower lofted wedges receive a less rough blast, and the higher lofts receive a rougher blast for a more consistent spin.
Also new in the CBX Full-Face 2 wedge is the addition of the ZipCore technology that Cleveland Golf uses in the RTX wedge lineup. They remove mass from the club’s hosel and replace it with aluminum silicate compound. This compound is quite a bit lighter than the weight of the steel it replaces, which helps to move that weight elsewhere in the wedge head.
Overall, this makes the CBX Full-Face 2 wedge incredibly easy to hit on the golf course. The full-face grooves will catch your eye in a good way. It helps inspire confidence in even the most beginner golfers.
Titleist Vokey SM9
Best Wedges for low handicappers
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KEY FEATURES
- Availability of options
- Bounce and grind choices
- Available in several finishes
- Used by a lot of professional golfers
- Grooves are going to stay in good shape over time
KEY DRAWBACK
- Not the most forgiving wedge
Summary
The Titleist Vokey SM9 comes in as the best overall sand wedge on the market. The top choice for golf wedges is usually going to come down to the Titleist or the Cleveland wedges. These two companies put out some of the best feeling and performing wedges on the market.
The SM9 is the latest release in the Vokey line of wedges that were started by Bob Vokey many years ago. The Vokey wedges have continued to improve and change through the years. Most recently, you will see that the bounce and grinds have become even more specialized.
With the combinations of lofts in these Vokey wedges, there is truly a Vokey SM9 that will work for any player. In fact, some will say that the number of options for specifications on a Vokey wedge is overwhelming.
The SM in the SM stands for spin milled. The concept is that the face of the wedge has a high spin performance capability. The SM9 is intended to have maximum spin. In fact, many golfers that felt as though they could not get the ball to stop or spin on the green have found success with the Vokey wedge.
Although a good portion of your ability around the green will be related to your swing speed, you also need to be using the proper equipment. There is no questioning the fact that the SM9 has been tour tested. This is one of the most popular wedges on the PGA Tour.
One of the major issues that golfers experience with wedges, especially the lower handicappers, is that the grooves start to deteriorate after some time. With a sand wedge being exposed to coarse materials, the club grooves must stay in good shape. The Vokey wedges are exposed to a special heat treatment prior to hitting the shelves. This treatment will keep your grooves in better shape for a much longer period.
Ping Glide 4.0 Wedges
best wedges for spin
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Key Features
- High amount of spin
- A longer club grip
- 8620 steel with elastomer steel insert
Key Drawback
- High price
Summary
The Ping Glide 4.0 irons are brand new for 2022. They have more loft options and grind than other series, making them more precise and suitable for different kinds of golfers. They are designed to bring higher-spinning and lower-launching performance around and into greens.
The combination of the Ping Glide 4.0 Wedges with the precision-milled face and grooves adds more texture and creates higher friction for lower launch and more spin. The grooves are milled at a 20 degree angle in the 50 and 52 degree wedges to maximize the volume on full shots. These wedges feature a tighter radius for more spin on half shots.
There are plenty of opportunities for both beginners and professional golfers to get into their specific needs, with 17 different loft options. Plus, the Ping Glide 4.0 Wedges are available in full for both right and left handers.
The new technology brings a lot more spin to these wedges, making them perfect for around the green. The biggest drawback is the high price, costing you over $200 per club.
Still, you can invest in one or two of the Glide 4.0 wedges and instantly improve your game.
Click here to read our full Ping Glide 4.0 review.
Cleveland Zipcore
Best wedges for high handicappers
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KEY FEATURES
- Has great feel
- One of the best wedges for spin
- Good choice for distance control
- Available in many different lofts
- New Utilizip grooves
KEY DRAWBACK
- A bit of a thicker top-down look than other wedges on the market
Summary
The Cleveland ZipCore wedge is the best overall golf wedge on the market. It is hard to find golf wedges that are a good fit for the lower and higher handicap golfers. Most wedges will either work for one or another. However, this ZipCore has some characteristics that will work for any handicap level.
One of the things that set ZipCore apart is the UtiliZip Grooves. Cleveland has always had impressive wedge and groove technology. They have improved the Tour Zip Groove technology to the new Utilizip Grooves. The most significant change is that the grooves are sharper, deeper, and narrow. Utilizip Grooves help players get more spin.
Another impressive feature of the Cleveland Zipcore wedge is the heat treatment they receive before hitting the shelves. The heat treatment is a way to add some increased durability to the golf wedge. Over time the grooves and the overall shape of your wedge will stay in better condition because of this heat treatment.
Cleveland likes to keep things relatively simple when it comes to sole grinds and bounce options. With the Zipcore, you get to choose between three versatile grinds. The low, mid, and full bounce give players some customization options when choosing the wedge that best suits their game.
For thicker and fluffy lies, go with the higher bounce. If you are a golfer who plays courses with very short turf or hard bunkers, the low bounce will be the best choice. If you put a few of these wedges in your bag, we like the idea of choosing at least one with a full bounce. You want to diversify your equipment a bit to work for any situation you come across in the game.
If your short game is a priority this year, you will enjoy this impressive design from Roger Cleveland.
Callaway Mack Daddy 5 Jaws Wedge
Best golf wedge for the money
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KEY FEATURES
- Impressive turf interaction
- Choice of sole grind
- Very clean leading edge
- The groove in groove technology
- Great for full swing or short game shots
KEY DRAWBACK
- Callaway does not offer a game improvement wedge; this is not the most forgiving
Summary
The Callaway MD5 jaws wedge is our best 60 degree wedge. The whole MD5 Jaws lineup is now on discount because of the new JAWS Raw release. So, you should be able to get yourself a good deal.
With the MD5 wedge you will have lots of versatility. In addition, a new sole grind was released called the W Grind. This is a tour type grind that has lots of playability around the green.
Although the Mack Daddy 5 is a blade type wedge that is going to appeal more towards the mid to low handicappers, it is one of those wedge options that will work for the higher handicappers as well. The Callaway MD5 features the Jaws grooves that provide quite a good grip. The Groove in Groove technology only helps the MD5 get better control of the ball and give players the playability they need.
One of the best things about the Callaway Jaws Wedge seems to be the consistency in the spin. When you are hitting out of the rough, the bunker, or a perfect greenside lie, you still get the spin you need with this golf equipment.
It is worth mentioning that the Callaway Jaws wedges are a progressive design. Therefore if you are purchasing a gap wedge, it is going to be a much smaller design than a 60 degree wedge. The larger design is best for transitioning from the irons to the wedges. This larger style is better for working the ball around the green.
As far as turf interaction, bounce angle, and choice of sole grinds go, the Mack Daddy 5 is an excellent choice for players that are looking to improve their short game this year.
Cleveland CBX 2
Best Wedges for beginners
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KEY FEATURES
- Cavity back design
- Wide sole
- Simple sold grind options
- Available in a wide range of lofts
KEY DRAWBACK
- The feel is not quite as good as the Cleveland ZipCore
Summary
It can be hard to find a golf wedge that is designed for a high handicap player. The high handicap golfer needs a very specific leading edge and a wide sole. When you miss a wedge shot, there are a lot of possibilities for a poor result. Golfers sometimes tend to hit the ball thin and over the back of the green, or they hit behind the ball, and the chip only goes a few feet.
The great thing about the CBX 2 is that it will make these types of misses in golf much less frequent. The CBX 2 is not a blade style wedge; it is a cavity back style with a few different bounce options.
The hollow cavity design is available from a pitching wedge loft all the way down to a high bounce lob wedge. You can fill your bag with these wedges and have lots of versatility in the types of golf shots that you can hit.
The Rotex face on the CBX 2 is how it delivers impressive spin, even considering how forgiving it is. It is crucial for high handicappers to have access to just as much spin off the wedge face. Although spin is thought to be more of a lower handicap golfer feature, it is necessary for all players.
With the CBX 2, you have three sole grind options. This is just enough to give you some versatility without being overwhelmed. We love the ability to transfer from a cavity back type iron down to a wedge-like this CBX 2. Since these are built for higher handicappers the Cleveland is also available in graphite shaft as well.
Titleist Vokey SM8
Most Popular Wedges
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KEY FEATURES
- Lots of grind options
- Easy to pin
- Adjustability in the face
- High bounce and low bounce options
- Feel at impact
SUMMARY
The Titleist Vokey SM8 wedges are yet another winner of our golf wedge categories. The Vokey is both the best sand wedge and the best lob wedge on the market.
When you purchase a Vokey lob wedge , you will want to keep your loft between 58 and 62 degrees. These higher lofted wedges from Titleist are going to have wider shallower grooves. These grooves make a big difference for the clubface and ball interaction. The more connection your ball gets with the clubface, the easier it is to spin the ball.
With the lob wedge, it is crucial to carefully consider the grind that you choose. The K Grind and S Grind are two of our favorites for the Vokey SM8 Lob wedges.
The SM8 is the previous generation wedge, but is still fund in the bag of a lot of PGA golfers.
Mizuno T20 Wedge
Best blade wedge
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KEY FEATURES
- Clean looking wedge
- Best golf wedges for wet weather conditions
- Progressive design
- High spin rates
- Very soft feel
- Ultimate control and workability at any loft
KEY DRAWBACKS
- The sole grind options feel a bit limited
- Not the most forgiving blade style design
Summary
Low handicappers need the best golf wedges for a spin. Since a lower handicap golfer typically has more control over what they can do with a wedge in their hand, they need a very responsive wedge. The Mizuno T20 is one of the best golf wedges on the market for feel, spin, and consistency.
One of the most impressive technologies included in this Mizuno T20 wedge is the new Hydroflow Micro Grooves. The Micro grooves allow for water to be released from the grooves of the wedges. When water gets built up from playing on wet turf, the spin rates will decrease. With lower spin rates, golf balls will have a hard time stopping where you want them too.
In addition to this, all weather playability, the Mizuno has precise CNC milled grooves, wider and shallower grooves, and a very clean top down look. The clean look matches perfectly with any of the iron series that are currently on the market from Mizuno.
As we have seen with some of the other best golf wedges on the market, the progressive design is becoming more and more popular. With progressive technology, the higher lofted wedges will be a bit more rounded and give golfers are fuller and large face to work with. The larger design helps when manipulating the club head for a variety of shots.
As far as the grind is concerned, the Mizuno T20 wedges, you will notice that they are directly tied into the loft of the wedges. This makes for a much simpler choice when filling your bag with Mizuno T20 wedges. You will have the choice between the Satin Chrome or the Blue Ion finish. The Blue Ion is a unique option that will set your clubs apart from some of the other options on the market.
Wilson Harmonized
Best Golf Chipper
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KEY FEATURES
- Very forgiving and easy to hit
- Built for the high handicap golfer
- It makes pitching much simpler
- Very affordable golf club
- The black finish makes it easier to see
KEY DRAWBACK
- The feel is not quite the same as other traditional wedges
Summary
The Wilson Harmonized chipper is the best on the market. A chipper is a bit of a mix between a putter and an iron. The chipper is used for shots around the green that do not need lots of lots. These are produced typically for the higher handicapper that struggles with consistency on the putting green.
The Wilson Harmonized Chipper makes it easy for a player to line up and get their golf shot rolling towards the hole. The golf ball gets up in the air for about a third of the shot and then rolls the rest of the way. The lofts on most chippers will be about the same as the loft on your seven iron.
Not all golf manufacturers make a chipper. Sometimes you need to make sure that the chipper that you are purchasing is legal. If the chipper has two faces on it, the USGA will not consider this to be a legal golf club.
Since this is a more forgiving club designed for the higher handicap player, it is really no surprise that Wilson is the brand behind it. The Wilson products do a great job of helping the newer or higher handicapper to get more forgiveness.
Although it can be hard to get a chipper to spin and stop where you want it, your chances of hitting a real terrible shot are also much slimmer. The Wilson Harmonized is about the same length as a putter and has no face insert. This helps to give it a very stable and solid feel at impact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Golfers tend to have lots of questions about wedges. It can be hard to know which one to use in which lie. It’s also tough to know how high handicappers should approach their wedge game. There is a lot to learn about wedges, and even the lowest handicap players are still learning things each day. Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions about the best golf wedges on the market.
How Many Wedges Do I Need In My Bag?
Most golfers are going to carry between two and four golf wedges. The more wedges you carry, the more versatility you will have when you get closer to the putting green. The best golf wedges are those that allow you to control ball flight, spin, and club face angle.
The most common wedges to keep in your bag are the pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge. For most golfers, the pitching wedge is going to come as part of the iron set. The gap wedge, sometimes called the approach wedge, can either be a part of the iron set or sold as a separate wedge.
Years ago, when golf equipment was not quite as complicated, a golfer may only have a pitching wedge and a sand wedge in their bag. Although lower handicappers could learn how to manipulate these wedges to do what they needed them to do, the higher handicappers struggled.
IF you are new to the game, you can probably get away with having three wedges. However, if you are serious about putting the best golf wedges in your bag and lowering your handicap, four wedges are ideal.
What Wedge Is Best For Chipping?
As we just answered in the last question, a golf wedge should be used to help players create a variety of shots around the green. If you are chipping and pitching correctly, you won’t know which wedge is the best until you stand over your shot to hit it.
To hit a great golf wedge shot, you will need to analyze the lie, the length of the shot, the slope, and the turf conditions. Once you have done this analysis, you can decide on which shots are the most comfortable for you. Only then will you know which wedges are the best for your shot.
If you want a simple answer as to which wedge is the go-to for most people, it would be the 56 degree wedge. This should be a club that feels comfortable and controllable in the hands of a real player.
Who Should Carry A Chipper?
High handicappers are going to have a bit more luck with their golf chipper. High handicappers tend to miss a lot of simple shots around the green. Most have a difficult time with both tempo and feel, and the skulled or chunked chip will come into place.
With a chipper in play, things become simpler. The golfer has much less manipulation of the club face to perform. The center of gravity on the club is also quite a bit lower, and these wedges give just the right amount of height.
Many of the golf chippers on the market will claim that it is nearly impossible to chunk the shot. The fact that the chipper is about the same length as the putter also makes it easier to control. If you are a player who is scared as you approach a green, a chipper can get your confidence back.
What Are The Best Wedges In Golf?
Golfers will debate which wedges are the best golf wedges. This argument can change from year to year as new clubs are released. As you can see from our list of what we thought were the best golf wedges, there is quite a bit of variation.
If you have to pick one brand of wedges that has held its position as being the best of the best, it would be the Titleist Vokey wedges. For many years the Titleist clubs have helped golfers to get more precision, a better feel, and an improved experience around the green.
When new Spin Milled wedges are released, the loyal fans will run to get them; this certainly says something about the technology and how impressive it truly is.
Testing Criteria Used for Evaluation
By now, you should probably have your eye on a wedge or two from our list that could work for your golf game. After all, these are the best golf wedges on the market, and you will have a hard time finding anything that has better performance than these. The only thing left to do is make sure that you get the proper one for your golf bag.
Shaft
Most golf wedges are going to come with a standard steel wedge flex shaft. The wedge flex is going to be an excellent choice for most mid handicappers with average swing speed. If you happen to be a player that has a faster or slower swing speed, you may need to look at custom wedge shafts.
For golfers that play with graphite shafts in their irons, you should very seriously consider getting graphite shafts in your wedges. There is a big difference between the weight of these shafts. If you try and switch from a nine iron that is graphite to a sand wedge that is steel, it will cause tempo and timing issues.
Additionally, if you are a high swing speed player, you must think about getting a stiffer steel flex in your wedge. The stiffer flex is going to help golfers that need to control their ball flight and feel some weight in the head of the club.
Loft
There are several ways to choose the lofts of your golf wedges. You will want to make sure that you have at least 3 or more degrees of loft between your wedges. For instance, if you have a 54 degree gap wedge, you do not need a 56 degree sand wedge.
The best way to figure out the loft that you need in your wedges is to find out what the loft is in your pitching wedge. The pitching wedge will be the starting point for you to base your other wedges on. If your pitching wedge is 43 degrees, look for a gap wedge around 50. If your pitching wedge is 46 degrees, look for something around 52 and build from there.
Proper loft gapping is becoming more and more critical.
Sole Grind
Some golf manufacturers are going to have sole grind options, and others will just offer a versatile grind. If you haven’t noticed, the trend in golf is to get equipment that is custom fit to your needs. Sole grinds are like getting custom fit wedges.
When choosing the right sole grind, you can read recommendations on the manufacturer’s websites. They will list who each grind is for and when you should choose it. You will most of the time select a grind based on the type of turf you play from and what types of shots you like to hit.
The best advice to remember about sole grinds is that you will want to choose a variety for your golf bag. If you end up with a shot off of a hard pan lie or a fluffy grass lie with the ball in the rough, one of your wedges will be a great choice.
Finish
As you have probably noticed, there are lots of choices for finishes on wedges. Some manufacturers will have a shiny or glossy type look, others go with a natural rusty kind of style, and still, others go with the jet black.
The finish of the wedge is probably going to be a bit of personal preference. However, we do recommend going with the darker color if you happen to have a hard time with a glare. Sometimes on sunny days, it can be hard to see the clubhead and the darker finish helps players to focus and see a bit better.
Conclusion
This guide has everything you need to choose the best golf wedges on the market. It’s important to remember that golf clubs are always changing and updating. However, a wedge will not change its technology quite as quickly as something like a driver or a fairway wood.
If you find a great golf wedge, you can keep it in your bag for many years. In fact, keeping the wedge for a while helps you gain confidence in it. The Cleveland Zipcore Wedge stands out as the best overall option on the market. This design will work for the low handicappers all the way up to the beginners.
The best wedge for your golf game is going to be the one that helps you feel, spin, and control. The Utilizip grooves in the Zipcore will allow this to happen.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
