When you are a high handicapper, you will miss a lot of greens in regulation. Even if you can get the drive in the fairway, it can still be hard to get the golf ball on the green.
This is where the wedges come in. Wedges can save the day and allow you to chip the ball close to the hole and make a putt to save your score.
I can’t tell you how many times as a golf professional that my wedges have been the only club that has helped me shoot low scores.
There are many types of wedges that a high handicapper or beginner can have in their bag, and I have put together a list of some of my favorites.
Pay close attention to the details and specifications of these wedges so that you get something that will help improve your shorts game.
Overall Best Wedges for High Handicappers: Mack Daddy CB Wedge
Best Value Wedge for High Handicappers: Cleveland CBX 2
Best Premium Wedge for High Handicappers: TaylorMade
6 Best Wedges For High Handicappers
Best Overall Wedge For High Handicappers: Mack Daddy CB Wedges
The Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge is a brand new release to the market offering impressive technology and feel in a game improvement wedge.
If you have lofty short game goals but have not yet found the best wedge, give the Mack Daddy CB a try.
For many years the Mack Daddy wedges from Callaway have been available to lower handicap golfers looking for better precision.
With this new cavity back design, the Mack Daddy CB provides high handicappers a golf club with just as much feel and performance.
Pros
- Groove in groove technology
- Plenty of forgiveness
- Available in 46-60 degrees of loft
- Available in two finish options
Cons
- It has a thicker look to it than a traditional blade style sand wedge
Best Value Wedge for High Handicappers: Cleveland Golf CBX2 BKS 56 ST RH, Black Satin (11203149)
Cleveland is one of the short game leaders in the world of golf. They make high-performing wedges for various players, but the CBX 2 is certainly built specifically for high handicappers.
The CBX 2 comes in various lofts, and it is a cavity back style golf wedge. Available in a steel wedge flex and a stock graphite choice, the CBX 2 wedges will work for any swing speed.
I love the wide sole and the clean leading edge of the Cleveland CBX wedge. When you stand over the golf ball, you won’t feel like you are hitting a game improvement type wedge.
Cleveland wedges have some of the best feel in the game and will likely show up a few more times on our list of the best wedges for high handicappers.
Pros
- More spin than other cavity back wedges
- Easy to hit from tight lies or rough
- Available in a variety of lofts to help with distance control
- Easy to control on both full and partial shots
Cons
- Maximum spin is easier to obtain with the Cleveland blade-style wedges.
Best Premium Wedges for High Handicappers: TaylorMade Milled Grind Hi-Toe Wedge
If you are looking for maximum versatility, the best wedge could be the TaylorMade Milled Grind Hi-Toe Wedge.
What I like best about this wedge is that high handicappers can learn how important the scoring clubs are.
The TaylorMade Milled Grind Hi-Toe will give you a different approach to your short game. You will be able to control ball flight, spin, and distance control.
The results allow you to manipulate the clubface and hit any shot that you would like. These are some of the best golf wedges for the high handicappers on a journey to becoming a lower handicapper.
In addition, many players say that the Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedge has helped them get out of sand traps in just one swing.
Pros
- Thin top line
- Lower center of gravity
- Impressive new aged copper finish
- Great wedges for both mid to high handicapper
Cons
- It performs the same as other blade wedges, won’t be the most forgiving wedges on the market
Best Golf Chipper For High Handicappers: PowerBilt TPS Bump & Run Chipper
Although a chipper will not look quite the same as other golf clubs in your bag, it can be a good option for high handicappers who struggle with pitch shots around the green.
With a chipper, you will not take a full swing; instead, the stroke will almost look like a putting stroke.
This specialty wedge allows golfers to get the ball up in the air for a few feet and roll towards the hole. The chipper produces optimal turf interaction and is more forgiving than standard pitching wedges or irons.
Essentially it is hard to miss with this club. The chipper doesn’t have much spin and is not a good choice in the golf ball for approach shots.
However, if you find that this club helps you get more consistent around the greens, it could be worth adding to the bag.
Pros
- Simple design
- Very forgiving
- A simple addition to the golf bag for a newer player
Cons
- Not nearly as much spin or control as other modern wedges
Most Forgiving Wedge for High Handicapper: Square Strike Wedge – Pitching & Chipping Wedge for Men & Women
One of the issues that many high handicappers struggle with new wedges is forgiveness. It can be difficult to get the exact ball flight you are looking for on wedge shots until your golf game is solid.
A short game takes a lot of time to get good at. With the Square Strike, you can square up the clubface and easily produce the short game shots that you need.
The Square Strike is a relatively new option for the higher handicappers, and it has proven to be very consistent and predictable.
I recommend using these more for the shorter shots as opposed to the full swing.
Pros
- Wide sole for easy performance from the rough
- Best wedges for those that need consistency
- 60-degree wedge is very effective for bunker shots
Cons
- Some find that the pitching wedge is a more versatile choice to consider
- Not available in the 56-degree sand wedge loft
Best Spinning Wedges for High Handicappers: Cleveland Zipcore Wedge
As you know by now, several Cleveland wedge choices will qualify as some of the best wedges for high handicappers.
With the Cleveland ZipCore Wedge, you will get much more spin than other wedges on the market. The Tour Zip Grooves are going to allow trajectory control and distance control as well.
When the ball comes off the clubface of the Cleveland Zip Core, the feel is very pure.
Cleveland wedges are known for having a bit of forgiveness, and the center of gravity placement in the ZipCore gives golfers that extra forgiveness they need.
Overall this wedge has a versatile sole grind and impressive performance for the high handicapper.
Pros
- Great feel
- Tour Zip grooves
- Strategically placed center of gravity
Cons
- Not quite as forgiving as the CBX wedge
What Types of Wedges Are Available?
There are four basic wedges that golfers will want to keep in their bags.
The wedges are pitching wedge, approach wedge (or gap wedges), sand wedge, and lob wedge.
Even though many experts will tell you that a high handicapper only needs one or two wedges, I’m afraid I have to disagree. High handicappers need to learn versatility around the greens, and the only way to do this is to have several different wedges to play with.
Pitching Wedge
Typically part of the iron set, pitching wedges is a great club for hitting approach shots to greens and low running chips around the green.
Pitching wedges have the least amount of loft of the wedges that we have on our list and therefore are best used for wedge shots that don’t require a lot of height or spin.
Approach Wedge
An approach wedge fills the gap between pitching wedges and sand wedges. The approach wedge is a great club for long bunker shots and those in-between distances to the pin.
The approach wedge is also called the gap wedge; the name can change from one manufacturer to another.
Sand Wedges
Sand wedges typically have around 56 degrees of loft, and they are great for shots out of a bunker and for high lofted shots around the greens.
Sand wedges come in a variety of sole grinds so that you can customize the performance for your short game.
Lob Wedge
A lob wedge has the highest loft of any wedges for high handicappers. Lob wedges are typically around 60 degrees of loft, and they are for shots that need to get up in the air quickly and stop on the green fast.
A lob wedge will be a traditional blade wedge most of the time, making it slightly less forgiving.
Chipper
A chipper is a rare type of wedge that you won’t see too many golfers using.
As a professional, I can tell you that for the highest handicappers and beginners, chippers are a great option. However, if you want to get great at golf, skip the chipper.
Chippers are the length of the putter, have a relatively low loft, and are good for a slight bump and run type shot.
What differentiates a Wedge from another?
A few things can make a wedge feel different from another; here are the specifications that you need to know.
Loft
The loft of the club is the angle of the clubface. The higher the loft, the higher the shot that you can hit.
Bounce
Bounce is the angle of the clubface and the sole of the club; the bounce will look wider or thicker on a high bounce wedge. Bounce can help you get through rough or sand when a wedge has a high bounce.
Grind
The sole grind is the shape of the sole of the wedge. Grind can match the playing conditions, and each company has different grind options in their wedges.
Wedge Style
Wedges come in the cavity back and blade style designs. Cavity-back wedges are more forgiving, but these wedges tend to have a bit less workability and control. Blade-style wedges offer the most control and spin.
FAQ
Can You Get Fitted For Golf Wedges?
You can and should get fitted for golf wedges. Most golfers will purchase the standard wedges off the shelf and end up with a shaft, flex, or sole grind that does not work for their game.
How Many Wedges Should High Handicappers Carry?
High handicappers should carry at least two wedges but ideally four. Every wedge has a unique benefit, and to incorporate all of the full shots, partial shots, and chip and pitch shots, a golfer needs a variety of wedges.
Can You Sharpen Golf Wedge Grooves?
You can sharpen golf wedge grooves as long as you don’t change the original shape or depth of the grooves. If these change the club may no longer be USGA conforming.
What Is A Chipper, and Do I Need One?
A chipper is a type of specialty wedge that is made shorter and with a lower loft than other wedges. The idea of a chipper is that you can swing it like a putter and get a simple yet effective golf shot that will run towards the hole.
Final Thoughts
The best wedges for high handicappers are the Mack Daddy CB Wedges. This brand new wedge was brought to the market specifically to fill the needs of what a high handicapper needs in their golf bag.
The Mack Daddy CB is a cavity back wedge available in lofts for pitching wedges, sand wedge, lob wedge, and even gap wedge. With the large sweet spot and forgiving sole, you should have no issues using this Callaway CB wedge to improve your performance on the golf course.
Although the Cleveland CBX 2 and Zip Core wedges are some of the best wedges on the market, the forgiveness and ease of use are not quite what you will find when you put the Callaway Mack Daddy CB in the bag.
