Wedges: loft, bounce and grind, and the grooves that hold them back.

The four names, and why the lofts disagree

Wedges go by four common names: pitching, gap, sand and lob. None of these is defined by the R&A or USGA, and there is no rules limit on loft. The loft ranges come from trade guides, and the two we found do not agree.

The ranges overlap, so a 54 or 58 degree wedge could carry either of two names depending on whose guide you follow. Manufacturers add their own labels as well: PING calls its 47 degree G440 club a "UW", or utility wedge, and sells 52 and 56 degree wedges alongside it. Read the loft stamped on the club rather than the name.

Gapping

GolfMagic reports the view of Bob Vokey, Titleist's wedge designer, that many golfers do not know their wedge lofts and that the spacing between them matters. In his account, pitching wedges were once about 51 degrees and are now about 45 to 47, while sand wedges have stayed near 56, leaving a gap that the gap wedge was created to fill. GolfMagic adds that most instructors recommend about 4 degrees of loft between wedges. That is guidance, not a rule; the only rule is that the whole set, wedges included, must not exceed 14 clubs under Rule 4.1b of the 2023 Rules of Golf, in effect from 1 January 2023.

Bounce

GolfMagic describes bounce as the part of the sole that stops a wedge digging, measured by how far the leading edge sits off the ground when the club is soled. It groups bounce into three bands:

• Low bounce, 0 to 10 degrees: for tight lies, firm courses and shallow swings.
• Standard bounce, 10 to 16 degrees: for softer turf and steeper swings.
• High bounce, above 16 degrees: usually found on sand wedges, often with a wider flange.

These bands are one publication's guide, not a governing-body definition.

Grinds

A sole grind reshapes the heel or toe of a wedge to suit particular turf and shots. GolfMagic gives a heel grind as an example, making it easier to open the face, and notes that a grind changes the wedge's effective bounce. GolfMagic and others recommend choosing loft, bounce and grind with a certified club fitter.

Face finishes

GolfMagic describes two kinds of finish in use: raw, or "vintage", faces that are left to rust, and laser-etched faces that makers aim at maximising spin. It calls the choice of finish mostly cosmetic. Whatever the finish, the face in the impact area must be no rougher than decorative sandblasting (180 micro-inches) or fine milling (a crest-to-trough depth of 0.001 inch) under Part 2 of the Equipment Rules.

The groove rule

For new club models made on or after 1 January 2010, Part 2 of the Equipment Rules tightened groove design. The main limits are:

GolfMagic says the effect of limiting groove volume and edge sharpness is less backspin and a higher launch on wedge shots.

Who the groove rule applies to

The 2010 specifications applied to new models (other than drivers and putters) made on or after 1 January 2010, and to clubs whose faces are purposely altered, for example by re-grooving. For golfers not playing at elite level, the R&A said clubs conforming to the 2009 rules could stay in use until at least 1 January 2024 under Model Local Rule G-2.

On 25 January 2024 the R&A announced the outcome of its review: the 2010 groove specifications would stay in effect only through Model Local Rule G-2, and any future decision to apply them to all golfers would not take effect until at least four years after it is announced. G-2 lets a Committee require clubs to meet the 2010 groove and punch-mark specifications. It applies only when a Committee adopts it, and it is recommended only for competitions of highly skilled players. Under G-2, a stroke with a non-conforming club means disqualification, and carrying one is not penalised.

Nothing on this page says a particular wedge conforms. If your competition uses Model Local Rule G-2, check the R&A's equipment database for your wedge model. Our conforming equipment page has the full groove history.