The 8 Best Approach Wedges
This wiki has been updated 26 times since it was first published in October of 2016. Although nailing a great drive off the tee may look impressive, all the top golfers know that the money is made the closer you get to the pin. These approach wedges are designed to give you the accuracy and control needed to shave crucial shots off your game. We've included models that offer a range of capabilities, so you can find one to fit your personal playing style and needs. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. TaylorMade MG2
2. Cleveland RTX-4
3. Callaway Golf Mack Daddy 5
Editor's Notes
July 03, 2020:
Looking over our previous selection of gap wedges, a lot of the offerings were a little outdated, as most major club companies update their lineups yearly. You'll see those upgrades in the Cleveland RTX-4, which gained a surprisingly robust black PVD coating, as well as the Callaway Golf Mack Daddy 5, whose grooves have been sharpened to help it create a really nice amount of spin. Even Cleveland's CBX line got an upgrade in the Cleveland CBX 2, having refined their cavity system a bit to make it more forgiving, even though it can still be a strange feeling for players who haven't used it yet.
And while looking at things like bounce and sole are all important, we wanted to make sure there were some good examples of other important components like shafts and grips. One of the most interesting of these is the KBX shaft on the Wilson Staff FG Tour PMP. A lot of players looking for a gap wedge might find that 52 degrees isn't exactly what they need, especially if their other wedges deviate from the standard. This shaft's tip section has a little play to it, allowing it to manipulate your swing energy to increase the effective loft of the club. It might have a negative impact on your distance, but it's worth trying if you find yourself slightly overshooting with other approach clubs.
Special Honors
Ping Glide Forged This line of clubs uses wheel-cut grooves that are sharp without coming to a point, so there's a little more surface area contact with the ball than many other companies can offer. Their 8620 carbon steel is soft and supple, so you can get a real feel for their performance, and you can customize their heads to include stamping and painting. ping.com
Titleist Vokey This company's clubs are among the most sought after for professionals, with a reliable feel and a low center of gravity that results in a smooth, consistent swing. You can choose between eight- and 10-degree bounce options, both of which feature the F-grind sole. You'll likely have to spend a bit on these, however. vokey.com
PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy If you already know things like the length and material you want in a shaft, as well as the grip you require, you can put it all together on this website, complete with a head made from a combination of tungsten alloy and titanium. Its balance and precision are impressive, but for all the aspects you can customize, there's only one bounce to choose from. pxg.com
4. Cobra King MIM
5. Mizuno T20
6. Cleveland CBX 2
7. Wilson Staff FG Tour PMP
8. Pinemeadow Golf PGX
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).