The best wedges will help mid-range handicappers take their game to the next level and achieve single figures. Though many golfers consider putters to be the most important club in their golf bag. The reality is that your wedges are your scoring clubs—they get you in the position to putt and save you countless shots off your score card.
Of course, the best wedges are the ones that fit your swing-style, provide superb swing and get you out of tricky situations on the course. With this in mind, we've tried, tested and picked what we consider are the best wedges for mid-range handicappers that can aid game improvement.
As you'll see, there's an abundance of wedges for mid-range handicappers to choose from. To help you narrow it down even further we've also created guides on the best wedges for forgiveness, best wedges for chipping as well as a post on what to consider when buying a wedge, where we go into more detail on bounce, grind and loft.
Quick List
With an upgraded shaft and grip, the Callaway Opus Platinum is a gorgeous wedge that offers high levels of spin and low ball flight.
Subtle yet effective changes have been made to the Vokey SM10 wedge over the previous model, such as higher spin and lower launch plus longer groove life and improved feel. Multiple grind options are available in the range.
The TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 is a sleek, refined and versatile wedge available in a range of grind and bounce options to suit a diverse range of golfers. The Spin Tread technology also enhance control from the rough.
The Cleveland CBX 4 Zipcore wedges are a really solid blend of performance and forgiveness. Predominantly at the mid-to-high handicap golfer, but better players looking for help in their short game should also consider them.
The Ping S159 wedges look as good as any other on the market and have the performance to match. The spin produced when chipping and pitching was exceptional and they also produced a strong consistent ball flight when firing from a little further out.
Mid Handicappers will love the forgiveness and spin on offer from the new Sugar Daddy III wedge that makes significant improvements from the previous model.
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The classic looking Pro T-1 wedge is fantastic from a range of lies whilst also boasting a very soft feel off the face. It doesn't offer as much forgiveness as other options in this guide, however.
A great looking wedge that spins at a consistently high level regardless of conditions. A raw face is contrasted nicely by the outer body of the wedge to boost confidence behind the ball.
The Wilson Staff Model wedge looks very classic behind the ball and delivers a lovely soft feel at impact. It was stable and went through the turf nicely on full shots and offered a good amount of versatility and finesse around the greens.
Best Golf Wedge For Mid Handicapper
Callaway Opus Platinum Wedge
There's plenty of things to consider when purchasing a new wedge, does it look good, does it perform well from different lies and how forgiving is it? Well the new Callaway Opus Platinum performs well in just about every way.
Right out of the box, we noticed that the Opus Platinum wedges certainly feel a little more solid and crisp through impact compared to the standard Opus model. This is thanks to the technology within, such as the bonded tungsten strip that sits high in the top line to create a higher CG, and therefore lower the ball flight for more distance control. This replaces the tungsten holes that were seen in the back of the Jaws Raw wedges, which admittedly we weren't huge fans of.
In testing, creating spin was no issue, thanks to the Spin Gen Face Technology. That said, if you already hit the ball fairly low with your wedges, we'd suggest slightly higher lofts if you choose to purchase the Opus Platinum wedges. We did find the ball flight, particularly on three-quarter shots was a little too low for our liking but and our tester tends to hit the ball fairly high as standard.
- Read our full Callaway Opus Platinum Wedge Review
Titleist Vokey SM10 Wedge
Titleist's new SM10 builds on its reputation of designing some of the best wedges available on the market today.
In terms of aesthetic, the SM10 is very similar to it's predecessor, the SM9. Though there are subtle differences, like the progressive shaping which means the stronger lofted wedges are a little smaller and feature a straighter leading edge, whereas the higher lofted wedges are larger and slightly more curved.
But don't be put off by minor cosmetic changes. Bob Vokey and the engineers at Titleist have been hard at work to make these the best performing wedges they have ever created. They have been designed to fly slightly lower, spin more and have improved feel over SM9. In testing, we found that the SM10 did indeed fly lower and spin more than its predecessor.
- Read our full Titleist Vokey SM10 Wedge Review
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedge
The TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 wedge is the fourth iteration in the Hi-Toe club series. The design follows on from the TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 Wedge, TaylorMade Hi-Toe Big Foot and the TaylorMade Hi-Toe Raw.
Starting with aesthetics, the copper finish stays consistent with all the TaylorMade Hi-Toe models. The finish combined with the raw face, helps reduce glare on sunny days and is popular amongst many tour players. We enjoyed the colored groove which helped us align the face to the target. Speaking of which, the face and groove pattern is the same as those found on the TaylorMade MG4 wedges—which we consider one of the best wedges for spin control.
What really stood out to us was the performance and versatility of the Hi-Toe 4. The Spin Tread technology on the face delivered impressively high levels of spin and control from both the fairway and from the rough. We also noticed the laser etching on the clubface. This repels water from the clubface and creates more friction with the grooves and the ball—ultimately resulting in more spin.
- Read our full TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedge Review
Cleveland CBX 4 Zipcore Wedge
The Cleveland CBX Zipcore wedges offer a fantastic blend of performance and forgiveness—a great choice for mid-to-high handicappers looking to improve their short game.
Featuring the same Zipcore technology found in some of the best Cleveland wedges, the CBX 4 uses a lightweight and robust vibration dampening material in the hosel. The weight saved from the heel is then redistributed across the toe and higher on the face which improves MOI and gives optimum CG placement. As a result they are very forgiving with mis hits barely punished during our testing, and yet the cavity back design also felt great off the face.
We think this is due to a vibration dampening insert on the back of the head which we thought still offered enough feel and feedback for better players around the greens.
- Read our full Cleveland CBX 4 ZipCore Wedge Review
Ping S159 Wedge
Ping's S159 wedges are designed with mid-low handicap players and follow on from the Glide 4.0 and Glide Forged models. They look as good as any other wedges on the market and have the performance to match with some new technology thrown in...
In testing, we were blown away by the wedge's consistent shots giving a consistent, mid-high trajectory enabling us to attack pins and be aggressive on full shots. The spin created when chipping and pitching was exceptional and the faces gave a soft feel with fuller shots. Even though there was a vibration dampening slot placed on the back of the head, the wedges provided ample feedback.
There's also Ping's WebFit Wedge App, where golfers complete a short questionnaire and the help provides you with two grind options to suit your game—so there's no no need to pay for a custom fitting.
- Read our full Ping S159 Wedge Review
PXG Sugar Daddy III Wedge
The Sugar Daddy III wedges look uber-premium straight out of the box. It's a slightly more refined look than what was on offer with the previous Sugar Daddy II wedges. The chrome finish really pops but it's worth noting that after just 18 holes of testing I noticed the heads were marking up fairly easily, which was a little disappointing to see.
There are heaps of spin control on offer here thanks to extensive forging of the face grooves and the CNC milling undertaken during production. Not only does this club look inviting at address, it's both soft and smooth through the strike on both full shots and shorter chip shots.
We particularly enjoyed the BP grind during testing - we found it ultra-forgiving, mimicking the performance of some of the most forgiving wedges thanks to the higher bounce and wide sole. As with most PXG clubs, we'd recommend a custom fitting to do justice to the price you're paying - it'll almost guarantee better results whether you're getting a driver or a wedge fitted.
- Read our full PXG Sugar Daddy III Wedge Review
Mizuno Pro T-1 Wedge
If you enjoy the look and feel of the best golf blades or Mizuno irons, the Pro T-1 may be the wedge for you. The look is classic and simple, offering fairly compact, teardrop head shape that boasts so much shelf appeal both in hand and behind the ball.
During testing we found that due to it's bladed nature, it isn't one of the most forgiving wedges on the market. This is worth noting if you're a player who tends to hit a lot of full wedge shots. Quad Cut+ grooves and Hydroflow microgrooves on these wedges allow for excellent levels of spin to be developed. We felt this was particularly useful for scrambling around the greens. Thanks to the availability of six different sole profiles and five different grind options on the face, we'd recommend getting a custom fitting for this club if you like the look of it as the best way to better short game play is by putting the right piece of equipment in your hand!
- Read our full Mizuno Pro T-1 Wedge Review
TaylorMade MG4 Wedge
In testing, we found the MG4 provided excellent control and spin in both wet and dry conditions. This is largely due to the un-plated surface material that rusts over time. The Spin tread technology also pushes moisture away from impact to ensure optimization of spin.
There are seven bounce options on offer—low standard and high, LBV, SBC and HBW along with the TW grind. Visually, we really liked these wedges in both the chrome and the black finishes. The profile is very traditional and the wedges are progressive through the lofts in lots of ways including hosel length, toe height, blade length, and offset.
We were big fans of the MG3 wedge's aesthetics, but with the MG4 there appears to be a focus on combining an inviting profile with a players' wedge shape. This is achieved via a rounded top line and a improved hosel blend, not to mention the MG4 has a larger footprint than it's predecessor. That said, the head isn't as large as some of the most forgiving wedges, like the Hi-Toe 3 wedge.
- Read our full TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 Wedge Review
Wilson Staff Model Wedge
Wilson is well-known for its irons, but its wedges often get overlooked. Well, Wilson has revamped its short-game offerings with the introduction of the Staff Model and the Staff Model Hi Toe wedges.
One of the best Wilson golf clubs on the market, the Wilson Staff Model wedges have been constructed with soft-forged 8620 steel and machine-engraved scorelines to create Tour-calibre spin and control.
Meanwhile, the Hi Toe model combines a high toe and wide sole with a 431 stainless steel head and a precision-milled face for ultimate creativity around the green. The scorelines also stretch right across the face to ensure consistent contact at impact, too, making this a great wedge for chipping.
- Read our full Wilson Staff Model Wedge Review
How we test wedges
When it comes to wedges, we take the testing process very seriously. Whether we are sent a product or buy it ourselves, we put everything through its paces to ensure we can provide thorough and reliable advice. Every member of the Golf Monthly team is an avid golfer and as such, knows what does and doesn't make for a good wedge.
As far as our methodology goes, we review all wedges properly, which means we have used each one across multiple rounds and in practice to assess every aspect of performance in all conditions. For example, if a wedge claims to be the ultimate chipping club, we will test that theory from any and all lies possible. Specific to this guide, we tested every club thoroughly to assess the level of spin, feel, turf interaction and how suitable they would be to a mid-handicap golfer. We were also keen to find out how forgiving each model was and if there were any differences in flight. Our comprehensive testing methodology is not just exclusive to wedges as we test with the same level of thoroughness across all categories of golf gear and equipment.
What you need to consider when buying wedges
It is important to get the wedge that suits your abilities and swing style, and for that reason, we've put together the below list of considerations that will help you find the right gap wedge for your swing.
1. Gapping
Measure your current wedge yardages and how often you are in between clubs to help decide if what clubs you want to carry. Golfers will typically have around three wedges in their bag which will include a lob wedge, sand wedge and a pitching wedge but many also like to carry a gap wedge too.
2. Bounce
Low bounce wedges are more suited to hard fairways and tight lies, while high bounce wedges are better for softer ground conditions and bunkers. The most bounce you will ever see on a wedge is about 18°, but it can be as low as 2°. The type of bounce you opt for should largely depend on things like your normal angle of attack, the firmness of your fairways and the type of shots you like to hit around the greens.
3. Forgiveness
Particularly if you are a beginner or a high-handicapper, a more forgiving sand wedge can help you become much more clinical around the greens. When looking for more forgiving wedges, look out for clubs that have cavity-backed heads, wedges that have a center of gravity closer to the sole and wedges that have a higher MOI to improve the quality and consistency of shots your hitting. For more information on wedges that can help you hit consistently sweeter golf shots.
4. Grooves
While grooves are now tightly regulated, it is still well worth keeping up to date with the latest designs, which use new milling processes and groove shapes to help move water and dirt away from the ball at impact to create extra spin and improve control.
5. Testing
At Golf Monthly, we recommend players take the time to test a variety of different wedges at a club fitting. As they can come in a variety of lofts, grinds and bounce degrees, it is important to ascertain which type of wedges can help you perform the best depending on your swing and the type of terrain you're playing on.
For more advice on the types of wedges you may also want to add to your bag, take a look at our guides on the best lob wedges, best sand wedges and best pitching wedges.
FAQs
What degree wedges should a mid-handicapper carry?
While this is subjective to your playing style, mid-range handicappers should generally carry three wedges. Those include a pitching wedge of around 46º in loft, a gap wedge set at 50º in loft and finally a sand wedge at 54º in loft. You can also carry a lob wedge at 60º in loft which can provide assistance from trickier lies on the course.
Who is a mid-handicapper in golf?
Mid-handicappers are usually players with a handicaps between 10 and 21. They are typically quite experienced golfers who play on a regular basis, looking to break into single figures.
Should mid-handicappers use a lob wedge?
Absolutely, if you feel it might improve your game. It's advisable to carry three wedges, with the classic three being a sand wedge, pitching wedge and a gap wedge. That combination covers a good range of yardages and allows you to hit shots from a variety of lies. The addition of a lob wedge does extend the range of yardages, but does allow you to hit higher lofted shots from different terrains.
