What is a gap wedge? Everything golfers need to know about the most ov

Written By: colton draper

Golf is the greatest game there is for many reasons: It gives you a chance to get away for a few hours outside with friends and family. It is a sport you can play your entire life, anyone from the ages of 9-90 can play. It is impossible to master, even Scottie Schrefler has bad days on the golf course.

Another fun thing about golf is that it is never boring. It is a game that is completely unpredictable. You may play a course daily and you will never hit the same combination of shots. It is a game that challenges you physically and mentally. Many golfers like to invest in two clubs in particular. The driver is fun because that is the club you can muscle up and hit the farthest, impressing your friends and, if you’re being honest, impressing yourself. The other club that golfers like to invest a lot of money in is a putter and why not? You are going to use your putter on every hole and many people have heard the saying, “Drive for show, putt for dough.” When you play in an outing, the two contests that are featured at every one are the longest drive and the longest putt. Who wouldn’t want to have the right club to try to win a prize.

What about the clubs that you use after you bomb your drive or that you need to get yourself close so you can show off that new putter? Wedges are clubs that were created for just that purpose. But now all wedges are created the same. Let’s take a look at the different types of wedges and see how they can help you take advantage of those booming drives and those clutch putts.

What is a gap wedge?

The difficulty of developing a good short game is why the gap wedge was created. One difficult part of golf is having the right “touch” as you get closer to the green. Trying to “muscle up” on a club to get to the green can cause an overswing or cause you to use a club without enough loft that produces a shot that skims the green and rolls off, leaving you frustrated and many times with a tough shot coming back. Taking a half-swing or trying to “help” the ball get there by giving the ball loft that your club was not designed to give it can leave you far short of the green because you have chunked your shot.Gap wedges fill the “gap” between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. Having a good gap wedge in your bag can save you a couple shots per round. Gap wedges have a loft between 48 and 52 degrees and are often used for shots 90-110 yards from the green. With a gap wedge in your bag you can take the same full swing your take with all your other clubs. Golf in many ways comes down to being able to execute shots from 100 yards in. A good gap wedge allows you to take the same full swing you take with all your other clubs. The confidence that gives you makes a very challenging game a little bit less intimidating and increases the chances that you are going to hit the shot you need to give yourself a makeable putt. Short putts lead to good scores and good scores lead to more fun. A gap wedge is a very valuable tool to have in your bag and may be a club your playing partners don’t have. Having a good gap wedge may save you a couple strokes per round and that may be the difference between taking money from your friends or handing it over.

Gap Wedges vs Other Wedges- What’s the Difference?

After playing golf for a few rounds, the thrill of being able to get the ball straight and airborne is replaced by the frustration that comes from hitting a lot of good shots, but not having the touch around the green to give yourself the short putts you need to score well. Half of your shots typically come from 100 yards and in and that is the reason that wedges were created, to be able to hit shots that land on the green and don’t roll off. Most golfers will agree that wedges are essential clubs in the bag of any golfer who wants to shoot the lowest score possible (which happens to be almost all golfers). How does a gap wedge compare to the other wedges you may have heard of already, many of which you may already have in your bag?

Gap Wedge vs a Pitching Wedge

It is likely that you already have a pitching wedge and are therefore familiar with it. A pitching wedge which has a loft between 44-48 degrees (gap wedges have a loft between 48-52 degrees) and is typically used for shots from 110-130 yards from the green, whereas gap wedges are typically used on shots from 90-110 yards from the green. The pitching wedge comes in most golf sets and is a club that really comes in handy on the par threes that you encounter on every course. A pitching wedge is an important club in any bag and many golfers are confident hitting one. A gap wedge is a similar club and allows you to take the same full swing that you have dialed in for your pitching wedge when the distance you need is under 110 yards.

Gap wedge vs Sand Wedge

Golf legend Gene Sarazen is credited with inventing the sand wedge. Sarazen noticed how the tail and wings of airplanes adjusted during flight and applied the concept of lift to a golf club by adding a flange to the back of a nine-iron. The club he created “bounced” when it hit the sand, which stopped it from digging into the sand. Sarazen debuted his new club in 1931 and used it to win the Open Championship in 1932. A sand wedge has a loft of 54-58 degrees (again, gap wedges are between 48-52 degrees) and, when not being used to chip out of the sand, is often used to chip from the edge of the green or for flop shots if you are really skilled. It is a pretty specialized club.

Gap Wedge vs a Lob Wedge

Ping founder Karsten Solheim is credited with making the lob wedge mainstream. He reportedly experimented with the design of the club by gluing a potato chip to a straw. It It is a highly specialized club that was designed to handle the lightning-fast greens that began showing up on the PGA tour in the 1980s. They have a loft of 58-62 degrees and are for shots 50-80 yards from the green. They produce high arching shots that land on greens with little spin and therefore stick to the green and are used to get over hazards or other obstacles. They do not come standard in most golf sets.

Do You Need a Gap Wedge?

Do you need a gap wedge? Most golfers will face 2-3 holes per nine holes where they are 90-110 yards from the green. This distance can be a little too short for a pitching wedge. Trying to let up on your swing could lead to a deceleration and the dreaded “chili dip” shot. Trying to muscle up on a sand wedge can still leave you short of the green. Lob wedges are no use at all in this common scenario. Half of your shots typically are from 100 yards in and having a club that you can dial in to make those shots with a normal swing can give you the confidence you need when you are hitting a shot you need to give yourself a makeable putt. Confidence is important in a game as challenging as golf. A gap wedge can be that “cheat code” you can rely on to score well at crunch time.

How to Hit a Gap Wedge

You are 100 yards out after hitting a good shot. You have played enough golf to know that 100 yards and in is the distance where a round can become a good one or where it can go off the rails. Fortunately you have prepared yourself for this moment and you grab your gap wedge. The question now is, “How do I hit this thing?” The good news is that you don’t have to learn a new swing or take a new stance that doesn’t apply to any of the other clubs in your bag. You start by putting the ball in the middle of your stance, a little further back if your shot is a little shorter. You should swing it like you would a pitching wedge, taking a steep angle that hits the ball first and takes a divot out in front of the ball.

Choosing the Right Gap Wedge

Choosing the right gap wedge means looking at what else you have in your bag. You should pick your gap wedge based on what pitching wedge you have. Ideally there should be about 4 degrees difference between your pitching wedge and your gap wedge. For example, if your pitching wedge is 44 degrees, that your gap wedge should be 48-50 degrees and then your sand wedge would be 54-56 degrees. If you have these 3 clubs in your bag and matched this way, you will be ready to hit the shot you need 100 yards and get that short, “gimme” putt that leads to low numbers

Conclusion

Golf is a great way to spend a day with friends. To play well, you need to be prepared in advance for the many types of shots you will face over the course of your round. Having the right combination of wedges allows you to cash in that great team shot or great approach shot and give yourself that chance for the birdies and pars that make you want to come back. A gap wedge simplifies things by allowing you to take the same confident swing that got you to that point. That expensive driver that you used to crush your drive isn’t as useful if you don’t have the right club to hit the next shot. That great putter you bought isn’t very helpful if you are putting a snowman (an 8 score) off your card because you couldn’t get your approach shot close. A good gap wedge makes all the other clubs in your bag better and helps you step up to those approach shots with the confidence you need to go low.

What is a gap wedge? Everything golfers need to know about the most overlooked club

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