Want to take your game to the next level? You will see an improvement in your performance with the correct club gapping, which is exceptionally crucial when talking about wedges.
When you hear the professionals and coaches talk about “gaps” or “gapping,” it refers to the difference of distance between each club in your bag. The size of the gap greatly depends on the loft of the club in hand. Typically wedges will start with your pitching wedge, which is usually 45-47 degrees, then we have wedges that range from 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60+ degrees. Normally the gaps with wedges range from having a PW, 52, 54, 56 or PW, 50, 54, 58. But the combination of wedges is solely dependent on what you need around the greens.
Finding the right gapping with your wedges will be important to maximize the utility of each club. There are only fourteen clubs in the bag, so you want to create the best possible arrangement in your bag. Just remember, changing one degree in loft will generally change the carry distance by 2-4 yards.
Don't be afraid to invest some time finding the perfect gapping of wedges for you. For the longest time, my most lofted club was my 56 degree wedge. As I progressed into higher competitive golf and difficult courses, my coach, Noah Montgomery made a suggestion to experiment with a 58 degree wedge. The changes I saw in 2 degrees made all the difference. From how it reacted on the greens, the shots I was able to hit and the distance I was getting with a full swing solidified the switch. Take a minute to think, what distances you need to hit on the course, what shots you need and want to hit around the greens. This type of introspection will aid you in deciding the gaps for your wedges.
Moral of the story, don't be scared to really explore and find the perfect combination and lower your scores.
-Paige Lee
Professional Golfer
