Mind the Gap
Why Your Wedge Setup Might Be Costing You Strokes

You’ve been here before.
You pull your approach shot just short of the green — 85 meters out, center pin. It’s not quite a full sand wedge, and your pitching wedge feels like too much. So you grip down, take a three-quarter swing, try to "feel" the right shot... and end up either chunking it or flying the green. Again.
It’s frustrating — and more common than you might think.
What most golfers don’t realize is that the problem isn’t their swing. It’s their setup — specifically, the loft gapping between their wedges. And if you’re playing a modern iron set, there’s a good chance your lofts are working against you.
Here’s what’s going on — and how to fix it.
The Loft Creep Problem
Over the past decade, iron lofts have gotten stronger — especially in the short irons. It’s not uncommon now to see a modern pitching wedge clocking in at 43 or 44 degrees. That’s what used to be considered gap wedge territory.
So what happens next? You jump from a 44° pitching wedge to a 56° sand wedge — a yawning 12° gap that can translate to a 25–40 meters difference. That’s where those awkward half-swings start creeping into your game.
Let’s fix that.
Step 1: Know Your Numbers
Start by checking the loft of your pitching wedge — not the one printed on the club, but the actual loft. If it’s 45° or lower, you’ll probably benefit from carrying three more wedges, spaced roughly 4–5 degrees apart.
A balanced wedge setup might look like this:
- Pitching Wedge (PW): 45°
- Gap Wedge (GW): 50°
- Sand Wedge (SW): 54°
- Lob Wedge (LW): 58°
This spacing gives you consistent yardages and reliable full swings — crucial when you’re trying to knock one close.
Step 2: Don’t Skip the Gap Wedge
The gap wedge is the unsung hero of your short game. Yet it’s often the first one cut when players run out of room in the bag. If you’re going straight from a 45° PW to a 56° SW, you’re leaving a massive hole in your yardage chart. A 50° gap wedge fills that void, offering a comfortable full swing option right in that scoring zone. Pro tip: If it’s a full-swing club, match the look and feel of your irons. Your sand and lob wedges, on the other hand, can have a more specialized, tour-style design for touch and spin around the greens.
Step 3: Fine-Tune with Loft Adjustments
Wedges can be bent a degree or two to dial in your numbers. Got a 51° wedge but need a 50°? A quick tweak can get you there. Just keep in mind: when you strengthen loft, you reduce bounce (and vice versa). Every degree of loft change affects bounce by about one degree — which can alter how the club performs in different turf conditions. If you're playing firm courses or tight lies, this matters.
Step 4: Don’t Get Seduced by Loft
That 60° lob wedge in the shop looks cool — until you try to hit a tight 40-yard shot and blade it into orbit. While some players swear by their 60°, most will benefit from a slightly less lofted option. A 58° lob wedge offers plenty of height and spin without sacrificing control or versatility. Unless you’ve got elite short game touch, going beyond 58° can do more harm than good.
Step 5: Get Fit — Properly
If you're getting fit for irons, take the extra 30 minutes and get fit for wedges too. A proper wedge fitting ensures your lofts, bounces, grinds, and shafts are matched to your swing, your turf, and your bag setup. Remember, your wedges are where scores are made. Getting fit for them is one of the smartest investments you can make.
Step 6: Make Space in the Bag
You only get 14 clubs. If you’re carrying a full set through 4-iron plus a hybrid or two, the math gets tight.
Count from your putter to your 9-iron — if that’s 10 clubs, you’ve got space for a proper 4-wedge setup. That’s ideal. If you’re trying to jam four wedges into a bag already bursting with long clubs, something’s got to give.
Prioritize your scoring clubs — because inside 110 meters is where the magic happens.
Bottom Line: Fill the Gaps, Save the Shots
Your wedge setup shouldn’t be an afterthought. Dial in your lofts, carry the right mix, and make sure every club has a job to do. When your gapping is right, you’ll hit more full shots, face fewer awkward distances — and give yourself more chances to stick it tight.
Because in golf, it’s not about how far you hit it — it’s about how close you hit it.