The Squire, Gene Sarazen, is credited with having invented the straight-faced sand wedge back in 1931. In the years since, wedges have evolved to include many different variations on the theme. Today, in addition to clubs designed to make escaping from bunkers easier, there are also pitching wedges, gap wedges, and lob wedges—each with different degrees of loft for executing different kinds of recovery shots as well as shots from different distances. Generally, they line up like this:
- Pitching wedge—47 to 53 degrees
- Gap wedge—50 to 54 degrees
- Sand wedge—54 to 58 degrees
- Lob wedge—60 to 64 degrees
Many players carry four wedges these days, largely because it allows for more precise distance control on shorter approach shots and offers more options for playing recovery shots around the green. Of these so-called “scoring clubs,” the sand wedge may be the most valuable—in part because it can be the most versatile. Along with helping you get safely out of bunkers, the loft of the sand wedge is often ideal for approach shots that need to be hit high and land with spin. And they’re employed just as often on pitch and chip shots played from grass. So while they’re called sand wedges, they really offer a lot more utility than their name suggests.
Choosing the right sand wedge for your game isn’t as easy as just looking for a club that has an “S” stamped on its sole. Along with different loft options, players also need to consider the two aspects of a wedge’s sole design: bounce and grind.
What is “bounce”?
The term “bounce” is used to describe the angle between the lowest point on the club’s sole, the bottom edge of the clubface, and the ground. The more bounce a clubhead has, the less likely it will be to dig into the sand or turf. In deep sand or on soft turf, you might want more bounce (more than 10 degrees). On firmer ground, like links turf, less bounce is typically preferred (4 to 6 degrees). Similarly, if your swing tends to be steep, you may want more bounce in your wedges, while players with shallower angles of attack will typically favor less bounce. Pitching wedges and gap wedges normally have less bounce, since they’re used more often on full-swing shots from the fairway. It’s the same with lob wedges, since players may want to open and flatten their faces to hit flop shots. With a sand wedge, though, more bounce is usually helpful.
What is “grind”?
The term “grind” is used to indicate the additional shaping a club manufacturer has done to the club’s sole to help it to perform better in certain conditions—or for players with different kinds of swings. (It’s important to note: the grind you choose can affect a club’s bounce angle; though they’re different things, they work together.) A club’s grind will also determine the camber and width of its sole; a typical T-grind will have a narrow sole, while a K-grind’s sole is wider (and generally more appropriate for bunker shots). Each manufacturer has its own grind choices to explore. Vokey Design, for example, offers seven different grind options, including the low-bounce L-grind.
Clubmakers have put a lot of thought into the design of today’s wedges, and you’d be wise to do the same when purchasing new wedges. Choosing the right lofts, grinds, and bounce angles for each of the wedges you’ll be carrying can help promote better ball-striking, cleaner contact, and ultimately lower your scores. If you can, schedule a wedge fitting session. The strokes you save will be your own.
Here’s a rundown of some of your top sand wedge choices…
Vokey Design SM10
Vokey Design’s SM10 wedges have been designed to produce a lower, more controlled ball flight, great feel, and lots of spin. The SM10 line offers more than 25 loft, bounce, and grind combinations, with progressive center of gravity placements through the different lofts to give you more controlled and consistent trajectories and tighter dispersion. Their patented Spin Milled process was further refined for 2024 to deliver higher, more consistent spin rates. For a good sand wedge option, check out Vokey’s high-bounce 54.12D. The D grind provides high forward bounce for shots in the square position, while the crescent shape provides for versatility in the open position, allowing for a variety of shots and face angles for greenside shots. This club is ideal for players with a steeper angle of attack who play with a variety of clubface positions. (BUY NOW)
PING s159
PING’s s159 wedges are available in 25 different loft/grind combinations. Their tour-inspired 8620 carbon steel heads feature a soft feel and clean shape with a straighter lead edge for better performance on full shots. Wheel-cut grooves are precision-milled to varying dimensions, depending on loft. The 46-to-52-degree wedges are milled to maximize groove volume for greater control on full shots. The 54-to-62-degree options feature more tightly spaced MicroMax grooves to impart more spin, especially around the greens. PING calls its wide-soled E-grind “the ultimate bunker club.” Available in 54, 56, 58, and 60 degrees of loft, it plays with relatively low bounce on slightly open-faced shots. (BUY NOW)
Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore
Cleveland’s RTX6 ZipCore wedges offer nine loft choices and four sole grind designs. They’re designed for better players, with several features aimed at increasing spin. Their HydraZip faces, with dynamic blast effects for added friction and laser-milled line patterns are specific to the various loft groupings for maximizing spin in wet or dry conditions. Lower lofts get a blast that’s less rough, while higher lofts get a rougher blast and more laser lines to impart more spin. The grooves themselves have Cleveland’s sharpest groove radii to date, and their deeper grooves create space for grass, sand, dirt, and water to evacuate the impact zone. They’ve also shifted the center of gravity and increased MOI to reduce face-twisting and give them more consistent performance and enhanced forgiveness on off-center hits. There are full-face options, too, with grooves from hosel to toe, that can give you the spin you’re looking for on open-faced shots like flop shots. A good sand wedge choice would be the 54-degree mid-bounce (10 degrees of bounce), whose V-shaped sole with trailing edge relief makes it a versatile club that performs well from sand and in many other situations. (BUY NOW)
Mizuno T24
One-piece, grain-flow forged in Japan with HD 1025 stainless steel/boron, Mizuno’s T24 wedges offer the kind of feel you’ve come to expect from Mizuno. A refined topline, loft-specific profiles, and loft-specific groove designs help you fine-tune your shots around greens and from longer range. The lower-lofted wedges have 17 grooves that are narrower and deeper toward the top and bottom of the face, while the higher-lofted wedges feature just 15 grooves that are wider at the top and bottom. The idea is to optimize spin according to the situation in which the wedge is most likely to be used. The grooves themselves have a new design this year, too, which gives them more bite, and the additional milled micro-grooves are again wedge-specific, appearing at more of an angle on the higher-lofted wedges for better performance on open-faced shots. The D-grind option is a good choice in a 54-degree sand wedge, but some players may want to opt for the 56-degree C-grind—a higher-bounce clubhead with more aggressive heel, toe, and trailing edge relief. (BUY NOW)
TaylorMade Milled Grind 4
TaylorMade’s Milled Grind 4 wedges feature rounder heads than their previous wedges, and soles that have been milled right along with the clubfaces for optimal turf interaction. They offer what TaylorMade calls Spin Tread technology, where angled, laser-etched micro-grooves support the mission of the larger grooves to create spin. The scoring areas are unplated and will rust over time to provide even more spin, particularly in wet conditions. Available in lofts from 48 degrees to 64 degrees, and with eight different sole grinds, they give you lots of options. Your 54-degree sand wedge options include both standard-bounce (11 degrees) and high-bounce (13 degrees) choices. (BUY NOW)
Edel SMS Wedges
Edel is a Colorado company whose SMS (Swing Match System) wedges have been earning strong reviews from players. Made with soft, Japanese 1025 carbon steel, they feature three machined-out weight ports that allow you to customize the balance of the wedges by shifting the weights (two two-grams and one eight-grams) to fit your swing and feel preferences. Every Edel SMS wedge has full-faced grooves, too, and they offer five different grind options across the line. Your 54-degree sole grind options include D, V, and T-grinds. The D-grind is a dual-surfaced high bounce option, optimal for bunker shots and for golfers with a steep angle of attack who tend to take large, deep divots. A channel in the midsole area creates a dual sole with two separate bounce surfaces. The high bounce leading edge allows the wedge to cut through the turf at impact without resistance, while the high bounce on the second surface helps prevent any excessive digging. (BUY NOW)
Callaway Opus
Callaway’s new Opus and Opus Platinum wedges feature what the company calls Spin Gen Face Technology, designed to deliver improved spin and control by combining three key elements. An all-new tighter pitch puts more grooves on the face; an offset groove-in-groove design creates spin when opening the face; and a new, aggressive face blast generates added spin and bite on partial shots. A higher toe peak, radius in the leading edge, and moderated hosel transitions give the clubs an appealing shape and appearance. The Opus line offers a choice of sole shapes from narrow to wide, but are only available in four different grinds. Your 54-degree sand wedge options include the 10- and 12-degree S-grind and, in the Platinum series, a lower-bounce (8- or 10-degree) Z-grind. (BUY NOW)
Ben Hogan Equalizer II
Ben Hogan’s Equalizer wedges have a long legacy, and today’s Hogan company has created new versions that maintain the brand’s clean, classic look and forged feel. They’re available in two grind options, Standard (on all lofts) and Texas Grind (on 50, 54, and 58-degree lofts). Both feature Hogan’s V-Sole geometry with a high-bounce leading edge and a softer, more gradual trailing edge. The lower-bounce Texas Grind has added sole and heel relief and is a good choice for firmer conditions, tight lies, and for players with shallower attack angles. The 54-degree Standard grind is probably the best sand wedge choice, but like the other manufacturers, Hogan gives you a range of options to suit your game and preferences. (BUY NOW)
What sand wedges have you enjoyed playing with the most?
