Best Wedges For Chipping 2026

We all know how important it is to have a short game you can rely on. Not only do you need a reliable routine and swing, but equipment plays a huge factor, with some of the best golf wedges designed to help improve your score. Put simply, if you can make a few extra up-and-downs a round, the impact on your entire game will be profound.

For this guide we’ve decided to focus on wedges that generate a lot of spin and control for those often uncomfortable chip shots as you scramble for an important up-and-down.

If, however, you are after a certain type of wedge, then why not also check out our guides on the most forgiving wedges, or even the best sand wedges and best lob wedges, if you are due an upgrade in either of those departments.

The Quick List

Best Wedges For Chipping

Top pick

I loved the SM10 wedges from Vokey, so was as curious as I was excited to try the new SM11 to see what improvements have been made. It makes an immediate statement the moment you pick it up, thanks to some understated yet effective visual updates. The most striking change is the relocation of the SM11 logo from the back of the head to the hosel - a move that provides a much cleaner and more minimalist aesthetic when the club is sitting in your bag. I also really appreciate the addition of the banner strip on the back, which feels like a classy tribute to the premium Vokey WedgeWorks designs of the past.

Titleist have again focussed on progressive CG placement, meaning that centralized center of gravity is identical across all grinds and loft. New look grooves have also been introduced, with a new directional face texture angled towards the leading edge has been implemented to increase friction.

When it comes to actual performance, the sensation off the face during our testing was nothing short of beautiful, delivering that crisp, responsive feel that has become a Vokey trademark. The flight control is equally impressive, allowing for a very precise trajectory. In terms of spin, the ball reacts with a sharp, predictable check on the second bounce, giving you plenty of confidence around the greens. If you're in two minds about upgrading from your SM10, we don't think you'll see much difference in spin levels if you haven't played at least 50 rounds with your SM10 simply because you haven't used it enough. However, in terms of durability we'll again tip the hat to Titleist and their heat treatment process, which they claim doubles the durability of the clubhead.

While it will take more time on the course to fully verify that longevity, there is no denying that the SM11 is a top-tier contender for the best wedge currently on the market.

• Read our full Titleist Vokey SM11 Wedge Review

Best high bounce

Cleveland has moved to the name ‘RTZ’ rather than continuing the RTX franchise because of the new Z-Alloy steel the wedges are forged from, as well as to show familiarity and a sense of togetherness with partner brand Srixon’s ZXi lineup. With this change comes a slightly more refined look that had me drooling as I took the wedges out of the box ahead of testing. While we got our hands on the Tour Satin finish for testing, these wedges are also offered in a black satin finish and Tour Rack raw finish for those who want a more understated look.

When it comes to performance, these wedges offer a remarkably steady and, buttery feel, largely due to the new Z-Alloy steel construction. Cleveland claim this material is roughly 10% softer than the metals used in their earlier designs. This softer composition allows the ball to compress against the face for a fraction longer during impact, which generates a higher rate of spin and also creates a noticeably smoother, more cushioned sensation throughout the strike

Cleveland has once again integrated their proven Hydrazip and Ultizip face technologies from previous wedges into the RTZ, which are designed to maintain elite spin and control across a variety of environments and weather conditions. During my testing, the club performed exceptionally well in damp environments, as spin rates stayed remarkably stable even with water between the ball and the face. This level of all-weather reliability makes the RTZ family one of the standout offerings on the market this year and is, without doubt, one of the best Cleveland wedges they've ever produced.

• Read our full Cleveland RTZ Wedge review

Most underrated

We're pleased to report that the Ping S259 wedge is a continuation of the high quality performance I got from the previous Ping S159 model which we were also big fans of. Off the bat it is worth complimenting the looks on offer here which are top tier and apparent the moment you take it out of the box.

The biggest change in terms of tech from the S159 to the S259 is a change in build material - the new investment-cast 8620 carbon steel head results in a perfectly balanced feel, both soft and solid, at the moment of impact. Purists will love it. Another significant advancement lies in the face design as these wedges utilize precision-milled, wheel-cut grooves with dimensions that change depending on the loft of the club. This ensures the spin and friction are optimized for the specific swing speeds typically associated with each different wedge in your bag. Spin rates and stopping power were therefore impressive during our testing and led to slightly flatter but controllable ball flights which are good for those who play a lot in the wind or those who have a tricky 20 yard chip that they need to be aggressive with.

Overall the new S259 retains the visual package I enjoyed in the previous model, particularly the clean look in the bag, the tight groove pattern and the rounded toe profile. I would perhaps prefer a slightly softer leading edge, but this is subjective and I am confident a larger target audience will get performance out of this wedge, despite the more compact head shape.

• Read our full Ping S259 Wedge Review

Best full face

The TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 wedge marks the latest evolution in the Hi-Toe series, building on the success of the Hi-Toe 3, Big Foot, and Hi-Toe Raw models.

Visually, the Hi-Toe 4 retains the signature copper finish that has become a staple of the Hi-Toe lineup. This, combined with the raw face, reduces glare and is favored by many tour players. The addition of a colored bottom groove aids in alignment, making it easier to square the clubface to the target—particularly useful for precision in chipping around the greens. The face and groove pattern mirrors that of the MG4 wedges, known for their exceptional spin control. While the overall shape of the Hi-Toe 4 might not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer a straighter leading edge, it’s a matter of personal preference.

Performance-wise, the Hi-Toe 4 excels in versatility. The Spin Tread technology offers excellent spin and control, not just from the fairway and rough, but also on delicate chips where spin is crucial for stopping the ball quickly on the green.

• Read our full TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedge Review

Best for low flight

The new Callaway Opus wedges now have two extra letters in the name, with the 'SP' on the new wedges standing for Spin Pocket, a new two-piece construction that shifts the center of gravity a little higher in the head to produce a lower, more controlled ball flight while maintaining the high spin that was evident with the original Opus wedges.

Once I took the Opus SP out for testing, the feel stood out to me immediately - it is remarkably responsive yet remains firm across the face, whether you're taking a full swing or executing a delicate chip shot. I particularly enjoyed the clear feedback it provides on every strike. Although the ball flight on full swings started out a bit lower than I expected, it quickly became a significant advantage once I settled in. This more piercing, flatter trajectory provided a massive boost in confidence, allowing for far better distance control and making it much simpler to attack pins on both full and chip shots.

Overall, I found the performance and the aesthetics of the Opus SP wedges rivaled a lot of the wedges I have tested recently. The different grind options allow golfers to customize their wedge set-up depending on their attack angle and the turf they typically play on makes it excellent for chipping, and the two color finishes both look fantastic.

• Read our full Callaway Opus SP Wedge Review

Used by McIlroy

Given Rory McIlroy hits it a mile off the tee and has had a hot putter in 2025, it's easy to forget about how good he is chipping around the green. His choice of wedge is the MG5, a wedge that allows him to dial in his spin control for optimal performance.

While I loved the TaylorMade MG4 wedges, I was hoping the shape of the MG5 wedges would be different, specifically the leading edge being more rounded. I'm happy to report that this is indeed the case, with the leading edge now sitting beautifully on the ground behind the ball. It helps sell the look as though I can slide the club under the ball, whether I’m opening or closing the face. This curvature is also replicated on the top line, which now flows much better into the hosel.

TaylorMade have softened the face which helps the ball stay on the face longer, which helped improve my distance control when chipping and pitching. The soft face is complimented by new Saw-Milled grooves, which push the groove design as close as possible to their legal limit. These grooves have steeper walls and sharper radii to help grip the ball and produce high levels of spin. While I couldn’t recommend any more for any golfer to try and test these wedges in the higher lofts, I do feel as though mid-high handicapper golfers would benefit from a more forgiving wedge in a 52° or 50° due to the bladed nature of these wedges.

• Read our full TaylorMade MG5 Wedge Review

Best looking

Your relationship with a club begins with how much you like the aesthetic it prevents. If you have a wedge that looks like a clump of wood, it's not going to look overly appealing as you stand over a tricky, tight lie chip on the final hole of your weekend club competition. With the Mizuno Pro T-1, we can't imagine there are too many people reading this guide who won't love the look of what the Japanese brand have offered us here.

What makes this a great option for chipping is the range of different groves and soles available. No matter your choice for grooves or sole, every club face features Quad Cut+ grooves and Hydroflow microgrooves which felt pleasingly responsive around the greens - we felt like we had real control regardless of distance or lie.

There are also six different sole profiles and five different grind options on the face available at purchase. Therefore, with this particular wedge and any others on this list, we'd encourage a custom fitting to make sure you're choosing a loadout best suiting to the playing characteristics of your game.

• Read our full Mizuno Pro T-1 Wedge Review

Best for soft feel

Sugar Daddy wedges haven't always met my eye in previous years. PXG have gone for pretty brash and bold aesthetics which haven't resonated with me - when I'm standing over a chip shot I wanted a clean, refined look behind the ball. Pleasingly, the Sugar Daddy III wedges deliver this. The smaller profile may not suit all players but everyone will appreciated the sleek chrome finish.

Loads of spin is available via the extensively forged face and CNC milling of the clearly visible grooves. The feel is also an appealing one, giving a soft but responsive feel on both chip shots and fuller shots from the fairway or rough. We particularly enjoyed chipping with the BP grind during testing thanks to the higher bounce and wide sole. As with most PXG clubs, we'd recommend a custom fitting to get the maximum performance out of your purchase.

• Read our full PXG Sugar Daddy III Wedge Review

How we test

Sam De'Ath

Sam has worked in the golf industry for 14 years in addition to experience playing on both the EuroPro Tour and Clutch Pro Tour, offering advice on equipment to all levels of golfers. Sam heads up our review content relating to fairway woods, hybrids, wedges and golf balls.

When it comes to the best wedges for chipping, 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.

Our reviews are made by golfers, for golfers. This means two main things - most notably is that we know what you, the reader, want from a golf club. That's because we're looking for the same thing, too. With wedges that's spin control, launch and trajectory control and forgiveness. If a wedge is good at these things, we'll tell you! Secondly, we're honest with our reviews. There's no bias towards any particular manufacturer, nor the opportunity to 'buy' a good review. We test it and then tell you exactly how it is - good, bad or indifferent.

As far as our testing 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. This includes are first stage of testing which takes place indoors at the Golf Monthly Peformance Lab where we put each club through its paces and crunch the numbers with one of the best golf launch monitors. Having this data sets us up for a proper review when out on the golf course as we discover the strengths and weaknesses each wedge possesses.

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 the best wedges for chipping, we have tested every club thoroughly to assess the level of spin, feel and turf interaction. We were also keen to find out how forgiving each model was and if there were any differences in flight or ball spin off the face of each club.

This comprehensive testing style is not just exclusive to wedges as we test with the same level of thoroughness across all gear categories. For more information on how Golf Monthly tests products, take a look at our methodology here.

What you need to consider when buying new wedges

1. Gapping

Ensuring you have consistent distance coverage across your entire set is one of the most critical aspects of building a functional golf bag. Before you invest in new wedges, it is vital to have a clear understanding of your current yardages so you don't accidentally leave a massive 20-yard gap between your most lofted irons and your new scoring clubs.

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°. What bounce you should get is determined by a number of things - the steepness of your attack angle, the firmness of the fairways you play on and what type of shots you want to play with your wedges.

3. Forgiveness

Chipping is notoriously difficult, so much so that the dreaded "yips" are a common frustration for golfers of all skill levels. Because the mental side of the short game is so fragile, playing a wedge that offers significant forgiveness on those delicate around-the-green shots can be a total game-changer. For more information on clubs that can help you hit consistently sweeter golf shots, visit our guide to the most forgiving wedges.

4. Grooves

Even though groove regulations are strict, modern engineering continues to push the boundaries of spin and control. Current designs utilize sophisticated milling processes and innovative groove shapes specifically engineered to channel water and debris away from the ball at the moment of impact. Getting a custom fitting will teach you which groove pattern is best for you on each of your wedges and is something we encourage all golfers to do, regardless of ability or experience.

5. Testing

Speaking of which, there are so many different custom fitting options for wedges given the different bounce, grind and loft options. It's worth your time to go to your PGA professional or local golf store to hit a few wedges to find what best suits you own game before making your purchasing decision.

While this guide sets out some of the best golf wedges for chipping, you may also want to think about getting a couple of wedges that will assist you over longer approach shots too. For that reason, be sure to take a look at our guides on the best golf lob wedges and best golf pitching wedges, which both set out some of the best golf clubs for those longer approach shots into the hole.

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