58 Vs 60 Degree Wedge? Which Is Better
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Patrick Corley
- 04/22/2022
One of the most overlooked golf clubs in the bag is undoubtedly one of the most important – the wedge. With the highest loft of any club, the wedges are a crucial part of a good golf game. The wedge is a must, whether to approach and stick the green or chip out of danger.
But with that said, there are many wedges to choose from, ranging from 48 to 64 degrees. You can only carry 14 clubs in the bag, and many beginners don’t know which ones to pick. This article will compare the 58 and 60-degree wedges and help you figure out which one to put in the bag.
What Is the Difference Between a 58 and a 60 Degree Wedge?
The main difference is the loft, with the 58″ wedge having a loft of 58 degrees and the 60″ wedge having a loft of 60 degrees.
While the difference might seem very slim, it can make an impact when looked at closer.
A higher loft means higher ball flight, or in other words, a higher apex. This, combined with the high spin delivered by the wedge’s grooves, makes the ball travel shorter, which is desirable in a wedge. A 60-degree wedge will most likely go shorter than the 58-degree because of the added loft. Depending on the golfer, the 58-degree will generally go about 5-10 yards longer than the 60-degree.
Another difference is the difficulty of the wedges. A higher loft is usually more challenging to hit, as the face becomes more horizontal. That gives you less clubface to make contact with, and therefore it’s harder to make a good strike. However, since there’s only a two-degree difference, this difference will be pretty slight.
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Is There a 58 Vs 60 Degree Wedge Distance Difference?
How long the wedges will go is a difficult question to answer, as every golfer’s distances vary greatly. Weather, swing speed and smash factor play a significant role, but we’ll go over the loft now.
While two degrees might seem insignificant, the 5-10 yards previously mentioned can be a deal-breaker. Hitting a green in regulation is hard enough, and having to make half or three-quarter swings make it even harder. So when you’re out on the golf course, try to leave yourself full shots to have good distance control, by always choosing a tee shot that leaves you an easy shot into the green. Let’s say that you’re hitting an approach shot of 70 yards.
If you only carry a 58 degree that typically goes 80 yards, you’ll now be in trouble. Taking a few yards off the club is something a low handicapper might be able to do, while the beginner or intermediate most likely can’t. This is where many strokes can be shaved by either carrying multiple wedges, or factoring in approach distances before mindlessly smashing a driver from the tee.
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What Both Wedges Are Used For
The primary jobs of a wedge are the following things: approach shots, chipping, and bunker shots. When it comes to short distances, both the 58 and 60-degree are used the same way, with the exception of the 58-degree going further. This becomes even more important when it’s windy, since the 60-degree will have a higher probability of ballooning and going nowhere as the apex is higher.
Perhaps the most significant difference in utility is when chipping. A higher loft means a higher ball flight and more spin, making it easier to control your shots around the green. But as previously stated, the 60-degree is harder to hit correctly, which increases the risk of teething your chip across the green, making you hit another chip, and now the dreaded triple bogey is in play.
While the 58 and 60-degree wedges are lob wedges and not sand wedges, they can still be used to get out of bunkers. Since the loft is higher, you won’t have to open the face as much during a shot in a soft bunker. The added loft also makes it easier to get the ball high and land it soft, which will give you easier putts. So if you’re in a greenside bunker, both of these wedges can be an excellent option.
But with that said, the 58-degree is a more versatile club, and that, combined with it being easier to hit, makes it a better choice for a lot of players. If you’re an advanced player who prefers to hit very high shots over obstacles, instead of chipping beside them, you can always open up the face a little, making the 60-degree’s loft advantage disappear.
Situations to Use One Wedge Over the Other
Both the 58 and 60-degree wedges classify as lob wedges, with the primary function of delivering high-arched and high-spinning golf shots either into a green or over an obstacle. While the difference in degrees of loft is slight, there are a few things to consider when choosing which of the wedges to use.
The 60-degree is harder to hit because of the more horizontal clubface, making it easier to mishit, which is not something you want when hitting into a green. A teethed wedge is as you probably know a disaster around the greens. This makes the 58-degree a better choice for beginners who struggle with wedges.
If there’s an obstacle in your way and you need to hit the ball very high, you’ll be better off with the 60-degree. The added loft usually makes it unnecessary to open the clubface as much to hit a flop shot, resulting in an easier shot and better control for most golfers out there.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is there a big difference between a 58 and 60 degree wedge?
The difference in the loft is barely noticeable at first sight, but there definitely is a difference in yardage and apex. Expect a 5-10 yard difference during a full swing. Golfers struggling with hitting their wedges clean will find the 60-degree harder to hit, as the loft almost makes the club horizontal, giving you much less clubface to make contact with. At least for the average golfer, there is no reason to put both clubs in the bag when not even a wedge fanatic like PGA Tour Pro Phil Mickelson does.
Do pros use 58 or 60?
All pros use different wedges depending on their playstyle and preferences. But since you can’t have more than 14 clubs in the bag, you must choose them carefully. If you want to hit more greens in regulation, you must have evenly spaced out wedges to be prepared for yardage gaps.
Here it would help if you went to your fitter to decide which setup is best for your game, but an example line-up may consist of a 52-degree approach wedge, 56-degree sand wedge, and a super high lofted 64-degree wedge for the most challenging shots.
How far should I hit a 58 degree wedge?
The distance you’ll get out of a 58-degree wedge varies greatly, and can be affected by the golfer’s experience, weather, lie, smash factor, and more. The average distance for a male golfer taking a full swing is roughly 80 yards carry, while professional golfers can hit it well over 110 yards.
Many golfers opt for half swing or three-quarter swings when hitting lob and gap wedges, because it often increases the club’s control. Important to note is that a poorly struck wedge can sometimes go further than a well-struck wedge, as the apex shortens and spin reduces.
What is a 60 degree wedge best for?
The job of any lob wedge is to hit approach shots into greens, chip, or get over an obstacle, and the 60-degree wedge can be used for any of these. It’s great when chipping from tight lies, but most amateur golfers will be best served hitting it into greens instead of chipping. Chipping around the greens with very high lofted clubs can be a considerable risk, as the probability of teething is high, leading to a shot 30 yards past the hole. An approach shot carries less risk, as a poorly struck one usually won’t be as disastrous. Hitting it off the fairway into a tucked pin is very difficult with a half swing pitching wedge, since it’s hard to put enough spin on the golf ball to make it stop near the hole. A full swing 60-degree will deliver a high enough ball flight and enough spin to stop it close to the hole, and give you a better chance of a satisfying birdie.
Conclusion: Research by Tellmemoregolf.com
In this article, we’ve concluded that while the 58 and 60 degree wedges’ lofts are pretty similar, there are some key differences between the two clubs. There will be a noticeable distance difference, and the apex will be higher with the 60-degree. The 60-degree is slightly harder to hit, but does a better job of clearing obstacles.
When it comes to bunker shots, our review team had a hard time differentiating the clubs, and the same goes for the short game. Now you hopefully have a better idea of the differences between the two lob wedges, and remember that there is no need for both in the bag. Pick the one that suits your game. We at TellMeMoreGolf.com strive to deliver golf content of the highest quality, and we appreciate you for taking the time to read this article!
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