Last Updated on April 18, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
If you’ve been playing golf as long as I have (30+ years), you remember the days of pitching wedge and sand wedge. Those were the wedges you had to work with. Then, the lob wedge started becoming popular. Eventually, someone realized there was a large gap between the pitching and the sand wedge. That’s where the A wedge came into play. Some call it an approach wedge, others a gap. We will break down what is “A” wedge in golf and how you can use one to shoot lower scores.
As a former professional golfer and current +1 handicap, I’ll show you exactly how I use my A wedge on the golf course.
What Is A Wedge in Golf?
An A wedge is an approach or gap wedge. The A wedge generally has between 47 and 52 degrees of loft. It fits right in between your pitching wedge and your lob wedge. If your short game tends to have gaps or holes in it at specific yardages, the A wedge will help to fill those.
Unfortunately, “A wedge” is not a standard term across the entire golf industry. Therefore, depending on the company you are purchasing a wedge from, the name and even the loft degree will change.
A Wedge Loft
The most crucial aspect or feature of the A wedge is the loft. The loft will not only impact how high you can hit the A wedge but also how far it will go.
Take a look at this chart showing the wedge lofts of A wedges. The higher loft clubs tend to be designed for faster swing speed players looking for control. When you have a lot of clubhead speed, you don’t need extra distance. Instead, accuracy becomes the most critical part of the game.
| Golf Club Model | Approach Wedge Loft |
| Callaway Paradym | 47° |
| Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke | 46° |
| Callaway Rogue ST Max | 46° |
| Callaway Big Bertha Irons | 46° |
| TaylorMade P790 | 50° |
| TaylorMade Qi Irons | 49° |
| TaylorMade Stealth | 49° |
| TaylorMade P770 | 51 |
| Cobra AeroJet | 47.5° |
| Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal | 48° |
A Wedge Average Distance
Many times you won’t be taking a full swing with your A wedge. Golfers keep this club in their golf bag and use it for shots around the green, out of the sand, and on shorter approaches.
The chart below will give you an idea of how far you can expect to hit an A wedge. For most golfers, the A wedge is an 80 to 100-yard club, making it a really important one to have in the bag.
| Skill Level | Average Distance (Yards) |
| Beginner | 50 – 70 |
| Intermediate | 70 – 90 |
| Advanced | 90 – 110 |
| Professional | 110 – 130 |
When Should I Use An A Wedge?
Now comes the more complicated piece of this puzzle. You may have four wedges in your golf bag: pitching wedge, approach wedge (or gap wedge), sand wedge, and lob wedge.
Are they all necessary?
Yes!
The average golfer often underutilized their A wedge because they just aren’t sure when to take it out of the golf bag. Use the A wedge:
- Approach shots to the green within 80 yards
- Bunker shots in that tricky 20-40 yard range
- Into the wind when going over trouble in the front of the green
- Full swing approach shots to attack a pin
What Is The Bounce Angle of An A Wedge?
While we are going through all the different features of an A wedge, we can forget about the bounce angle. The bounce angle will impact the way the leading edge of your A wedge sits on the turf. The average bounce angle of an A wedge is right around 10. Sometimes, you won’t have sole grind and bounce options if the wedge is part of a set of irons. Generally speaking,
- For players with a steeper swing (who tend to dig into the ground), a higher bounce angle (around 10-12 degrees) is beneficial as it helps prevent the club from digging into the turf.
- For players with a shallower swing or those playing on firmer ground, a lower bounce angle (around 8-10 degrees) might be preferable as it allows for cleaner contact with the ball.
You will find that the A wedge is a club that has a little less bounce than something like a sand or lob wedge. A little less bounce is beneficial when hitting full shots with a wedge.
How I Use My A Wedge
I play with traditional blade-style wedges, and with these wedge types, you’ll notice they aren’t traditionally called an A wedge. Instead, it’s a 50, 52 or 54-degree wedge. I went through my last few rounds of golf and made a note of every time I hit my A wedge.
Here’s a brief recap that will hopefully inspire you to take the A wedge out of the bag a bit more. Some wedge selection is personal preference, but these are still great strategies for you to incorporate into your game.
100 Yard Approach Shot To A Pin With No Trouble
On a par 5 hole; I hit the driver and then a hybrid to leave myself exactly 100 yards to the pin. There was no real trouble around the pin, and the A wedge should have a lower dispersion rate than something like a fairway wood or driver.
With the A wedge, I put some weight on my lead foot and felt as though it stayed there through impact. I also focus on taking a long divot after the ball. The swing feels a little more compact, but the ball launches high and stays exactly where it lands.
70 Yard Approach From The Rough
Normally, I would hit a sand wedge from a 70 yard approach. However, this time, the ball was not in the best lie, and I was worried about getting enough with the shot. If my sand wedge came up short, I was looking at a bunker shot.
Instead, I choked down on the A wedge a little and took more of a 3/4 swing. The ball came out easily and landed within about 15 feet of the pin.
20 Yard Bunker Shot
I came up short on an approach shot to a par four. I left the ball short and right, and the pin was in the back left. Normally I may use a sand wedge from here, but I have to cover to much green.
With the green being two-tiered, I made things easier on myself and hit the A wedge. The swing didn’t have to be as big, and the A wedge generally had enough loft to exit sand bunkers with ease.
Pitch From Just Off The Green
Finally, the last shot I used in this round with the A wedge was a short pitch shot from just off the green. Again, it was similar to the sand trap in my prior example. I wanted something to help me get to a pin a little further in the back of the green.
With pitch shots, taking a smaller swing can often mean less room for error. I left myself a few yards to let this golf ball release and roll towards the pin, and it worked out quite well.
Comparing The A Wedge in Golf To Other Golf Wedges
Here’s a brief rundown of what to expect when comparing the A wedge to other wedges you may find in your golf bag.
A Wedge vs. Utility Wedge
The A Wedge and the Utility Wedge are typically the same thing. Different golf manufacturers call the club between the pitching and sand wedge by different names. The key is that both wedges have anywhere from 47 to 54 degrees of loft angle.
A Wedge vs. Gap Wedge
An A Wedge and a gap wedge are the same. They are both used out of sand traps, rough, fairway lies, and have a specific loft that puts them between a pitching and sand wedge.
A Wedge vs. Attack Wedge
The A Wedge is sometimes referred to as an attack wedge or an approach wedge. The concept here is that these wedges are a good choice to use when you want to be a little more aggressive. If you have a short shot in front of you that needs to land close to the pin, this is a great club for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about the A wedge.
What does the A stand for on a golf wedge?
The A on a golf wedge can stand for an approach or attack wedge. Depending on the golf club manufacturer’s preference, you will find different terminology.
Is an A wedge a 52 degree?
An A Wedge often has 52 degrees of loft, but you will have to check the club’s specifics to ensure that it is accurate.
What is the difference between a wedge and an a wedge?
A golf wedge is a high-lofted club designed to get golfers close to the hole from anywhere around the green. An A wedge is a type of golf wedge that has less loft than the sand wedge but more loft than the pitching wedge.
What is the difference between an a wedge and a pitching wedge?
The pitching wedge does not have as much loft as the A wedge. Therefore it is designed to travel a little further. You can hit various shots with both the A wedge and the pitching wedge.
What is a 52 degree wedge called?
The 52-degree wedge is typically called a gap wedge. Some golfers also refer to it as an approach wedge.
What is a 60 degree wedge called?
A 60-degree wedge is called a lob wedge. It is one of the highest-lofted clubs in a player’s bag. The lob wedge design is for high wedge shots that land softly and stop quick.
What is a 55 degree wedge called?
A 55 degree wedge is a sand wedge.
What is a 53-degree wedge called?
In modern golf iron sets a 53 degree wedge is typically a sand wedge. However, if you are playing with clubs for better players or more traditional irons with standard lofts, the 53 degree could likely be a gap wedge.
Final Thoughts
Don’t be scared of the A wedge in your bag. The “attack” name it gets is because you can use it to attack the pin. The next time you play a round of golf, try taking the A wedge out of the bag for a few shots. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned player, you probably have a big distance gap between your pitching and sand wedge. Let the A wedge help you fill it.
