Updated September 6, 2023. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
Wedges are one of the most important components of a golfer’s bag. They play such a huge part from inside 100 yards that many golfers will carry up to four wedges in their bag during a round.
But with the pitching, gap, sand, and lob wedge, many golfers assume that there isn’t much difference between the four. And that’s one of the most terrible assumptions to make.
To cut through a crowded market, we’ve tested tens of the best gap wedges available to golfers to find the top ten picks to purchase in 2023.
A gap wedge provides excellent performance and is sure to help you lower your scores by tightening up your short game!




Featured Recommendations
Last updated on 2023-09-27. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
- Featured Recommendations
- Best Gap Wedges 2023
- Cleveland RTX ZipCore Wedge
- Callaway Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge
- Titleist Vokey SM9 Wedge
- Ping Glide 4.0 Wedge
- Mizuno T22 Wedge
- TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 Wedge
- PXG Sugar Daddy II Wedge
- Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge
- Mizuno T20 Wedge
- Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Wedge
- King Cobra Wedge with Snakebite Grooves
- Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge
- TaylorMade MG2 Wedge
- Cleveland RTX ZipCore Wedge
- Things to Consider When Buying a Gap Wedge
- Questions & Answers
Best Gap Wedges 2023
Cleveland RTX ZipCore Wedge
Best Overall Gap Wedge
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on PGA Tour Superstore
Check Price on Global Golf
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.375”
- Swing Weight: D4
PROS
- High MOI keeps the face square through impact
- UltiZip grooves are sharper and narrower to generate more spin
- Durable with high-grade craftsmanship
CONS
- Tighter, more narrow sole can cause turf interaction issues
The RTX Zipcore wedge from Cleveland offers golfers many enjoyable features, including high-grade spin, trajectory, distance control, and superb turf interaction.
The wedge provides golfers with the company’s first-rate HydraZip face blast plus Ultizip groove system for maximum spin and trajectory control on full swings.
From trouble, I felt the RTX ZipCore wedges performed beautifully. Whether from a bunker sitting 100 yards from the green or deeper rough just off the fairway, the leading edge holds firm and gets under the golf ball cleanly for easy lift.
With three different sole grinds, the RTX ZipCore nurtures a variety of playing styles that help you conquer not only your home course but any new layout you may play during the season.
A wonderfully built wedge for every skill level of a golfer, this Cleveland wedge remains one of the best on the market for improving your short game.
Callaway Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge
Most Forgiving Wedge for Mid Handicappers
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on PGA Tour Superstore
Check Price on Global Golf
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D0
PROS
- Multiple grind options offer a customized experience
- JAWS grooves design creates staggering spin
- Incredible versatility from any lie or situation on the course
CONS
- A bit on the pricey side, it could be too much for high and mid handicappers
The Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge from Callaway delivers multiple grinds and bounce options for a customized short game experience. Featuring the JAWS groove system, the MD5 imparts high spin rates for exceptional control around the green.
From the fairway, the MD5 delivers distance with a high launch. Along with its impressive accuracy, golfers that carry the MD5 wedge also can dial in their ideal shot height.
For beginners and high handicappers, the MD5 offers excellent value with fantastic turf interaction. The wider sole moves through rough and sand with ease, creating the clean contact that golfers crave.
Low handicappers will find the MD5 delivers an affordable price with high performance, making it an accessible wedge for serious players.
Offering something for all golfers, the Callaway Mack Daddy 5 Jaws Wedge will save more pars and lower your overall scores with confidence.
Read our full Callaway JAWS MD5 Wedge Review
Titleist Vokey SM9 Wedge
Best Gap Wedges for Low Handicappers
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on PGA Tour Superstore
Check Price on Global Golf
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D3
PROS
- Tour-level performance with impeccable craftsmanship
- Progressive milled grooves offer different shapes and depths for a gap wedge
- Lower, deeper CG provides high launch with spin
CONS
- Expensive price only for serious golfers
The Vokey SM9 gap wedge from Titleist offers a top-tier option for serious golfers that want to play with clubs that the pros enjoy.
With tour-proven craftsmanship, the SM9 gap wedge might not have the bounce and grind options of the other Vokey wedges, but the reliable performance cannot be beaten on the course.
What I really love about this gap wedge is how it responds to the situations it faces on the course. The SM9 delivers a quick, soft launch from bunkers that lands close to the cup with spin.
From the fairway, it offers crisp turf interaction that generates total control with regard to spin and trajectory.
If you are looking for a luxury wedge, the Titleist Vokey SM9 gap wedge, available in 50-and 52-degree options, provides the performance you need to improve your short game and lower your scores.
Ping Glide 4.0 Wedge
Best Gap Wedges for Mid Handicappers
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D2
PROS
- Milled grooves offer jaw-dropping spin rates
- High, quick launch with plenty of spin
- Exceptional turf interaction makes wedge easy to hit
CONS
- Smaller shape can cause inconsistency for inexperienced golfers
The Ping Glide 4.0 offers experienced golfers a short-game weapon with a smaller blade that delivers accuracy and pinpoint control from around the green.
The wedge also carries razor-sharp grooves that generate a ton of spin with a high launch that lands softly on the putting surface with stopping power.
If there’s a chief complaint about the Glide 4.0 gap wedge, it centers around the size of the club head. Since most amateurs need forgiveness, the Ping wedge might not be ideal, but I feel it packs a punch and produces the spin I need to pull off par-saving shots.
Great for low-to-mid handicappers, the Ping Glide 4.0 delivers exceptional all-around performance with style to burn.
Mizuno T22 Wedge
Best Gap Wedges for High Handicappers
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on PGA Tour Superstore
Check Price on Global Golf
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 63°
- Shaft Length: 35.25”
- Swing Weight: D5
PROS
- Heavier feel offers pure, smooth shotmaking
- Modified club head offers low CG for easy launch
- Outstanding wet weather performance with HydroFlow grooves
CONS
- Bigger club head might be too large for some golfers
Mizuno’s T22 wedge offers a slightly more compact blade length with a thicker teardrop shape, producing exceptional turf interaction with an easy launch.
The spin-weighted design works extremely well with full-swing shots, helping you get the distance you need with pinpoint accuracy.
With four grind sole options, you can create a nice mix of T22 wedges for your golf bag. I suggest the S-grind for the gap wedge as it offers a minimal sole grind that helps with longer shots that need a more penetrating flight.
Also worth noting is the company’s HydroFlow Micro Grooves that push away moisture from the face to increase contract and friction with the outer layer of the golf ball.
You’re either in or out with Mizuno wedges, but I love the T22 for its stability, high MOI, and muscular power that generates spin and distance in equal helpings on the links.
TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 Wedge
Best High Spin Wedge for Mid Handicappers
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on PGA Tour Superstore
Check Price on Global Golf
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-62°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D3
PROS
- Excellent milled club face gegnerates ton of spin
- Milling along the sole provides exceptional turf interaction
- Raw face grooves offer even more texture for spin control
CONS
- Not as forgiving as larger wedges
TaylorMade’s excellent Milled Grind 3 wedge offers the adventurous golfer many innovative features and benefits. The wedge offers a raw face design that produces much spin from the fairway and deeper rough.
The MG3 provides raised Micro Ribs between the deeper grooves to add even more rotation to the golf ball. The Ribs also help with trajectory and keep the ball on target on full-speed swings from over 80 yards.
Another advancement that TaylorMade created with the MG3 wedge is the refinement of the shape of the club head.
This wedge no longer looks bulky and chaotic, but instead, it provides the classic appearance of a top-notch short-game weapon similar to the best Vokey wedges.
While I wish the wedge was more forgiving, its hard to be disappointed in the exquisite all-around performance of the revamped Milled Grind 3 wedge from TaylorMade.
PXG Sugar Daddy II Wedge
Best Luxury Wedge for Mid Handicappers
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on Global Golf
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D5
PROS
- Full milling offers first-rate appearance
- Exceptional finish in either Chrome or Xtreme Dark
- Two sole grinds cover all conditions and course situations
CONS
- Expensive price point deters casual golfers
PXG’s exciting new gap wedge, the Sugar Daddy II, offers a dynamic combination of accuracy and short-game skill that works extremely well for low and mid handicappers.
With two different sole grinds, PXG covers the bases for anything you need from a wedge on the links.
I really love the look of this wedge. The full-face and head milling gives it a sleek, razor-sharp appearance that few wedges can match. The milling along the sweet spot also produced exceptional spin rates on full swings that helped me stop shots quickly on the greens.
The wedge does come at a hefty price for casual golfers that don’t play more than once a month.
But with golf clubs, you typically get what you pay for, and that’s certainly the case with the Sugar Daddy II gap wedge, as it offers premium performance anywhere on the course.
Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge
Best Premium Value Wedge for Beginning Golfers
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on PGA Tour Superstore
Check Price on Global Golf
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 48°-52°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D2, D3
PROS
- Hollow-cavity design offers more forgiveness
- Exceptional feel from rough and sand for impressive distance control
- Advanced sole design provides outstanding feel and response
CONS
- Bulky appearance may turn away low handicappers who want a forged iron look
One of the easiest premium wedges to hit is also a great value club for beginning golfers as the Cleveland CBX 2 delivers exceptional performance.
Featuring a dynamic sole, the CBX 2 cuts through rough, sand, and terrible lies to deliver clean contact that generates spin and provides impressive greenside control.
Utilizing the Hollow-Cavity design, the CBX 2 isn’t shy to attack the flag. From the fairway, the CBX 2 provides a tall shot arc with a soft, high-spin landing sure to bring much-needed accuracy to your game.
While we are touting this wedge for beginners, mid handicappers will also find huge benefits through the game-improvement features of this club.
Giving weekend warriors more pinpoint control, mid handicappers struggling with consistency will find the CBX 2 reliable and well equipped to handle any short game task.
Read our full Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge Review
Mizuno T20 Wedge
Best Value Wedge for High Handicappers
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 63°
- Shaft Length: 35.25”
- Swing Weight: D5
PROS
- Hydro-flow Micro Grooves keep moisture away from maximum spin
- CNC Milled Grooves impart high-level spin
- Weight placed high on blade increase spin with stability
Our choice for the best distance wedge goes to the Mizuno T20. With a host of inviting features, the T20 rockets the golf ball for golfers that need more length from their accuracy-first clubs.
For beginners and high handicappers, the T20 is a reliable rock from the fairway. Imparting spin with help from the Hydro-flow Micro Grooves that keep moisture away from the outer layer of the golf ball for better control.
What stands out with the T20 is how delightfully fun the club is to play on the course. The heavier, bulkier head delivers power to every shot, never leaving the golfer feeling that they hit the ball thin or weakly.
Each shot with this wedge delivers confidence to the amateur looking to gain consistency in their short game.
Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Wedge
Best Value Wedge for Mid Handicappers
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on PGA Tour Superstore
Check Price on Global Golf
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.375”
- Swing Weight: D4
PROS
- Affordable price point for advanced wedge
- Excellent distance control on full swings
- Offers high spin rates on pitch and chip shots
CONS
- Doesn’t have full face milling for additional forgiveness
Cleveland’s outstanding RTX 6 ZipCore gap wedge provides mid handicappers with top-tier spin, clean, crisp turf interaction, and a dazzling finish that looks great in the golf bag.
What I liked best about the RTX 6 ZipCore was how easy the club is to use on the course. By that, I mean there’s nothing this wedge can’t do, no matter what it faces. Powered by the UltiZip groove system, the RTX 6 generates premium spin control with a consistent rollout.
From the mid-range bunkers or rough, the ball comes out quickly with a lot of softness, while from the fairway or light rough, the RTX 6 provides moderate trajectory control that produces a penetrating and highly accurate flight path to the target.
Great for all golfers, the Cleveland RTX 6 Zipcore offers spin, distance, and total control for your short game.
King Cobra Wedge with Snakebite Grooves
Best High Spin Wedge for Golfers on a Budget
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on Global Golf
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.25”-35.75”
- Swing Weight: D3, D4
PROS
- Extremely affordable with price point under $100
- Full face milling with Snakebite grooves
- Thick-thin face design offers lower CG
CONS
- Best for high handicappers looking for value
The King Cobra gap wedge with Snakebite grooves offers outstanding all-around performance for less than $100.
While providing premium spin, the Cobra gap wedges also deliver full-face grooves that offer superior forgiveness than most short-game clubs at this price point.
Available in three different sole grinds, the King Cobra wedge also delivers progressive face grooves helping the gap wedge generate the distance you need from the fairway without sacrificing spin.
I loved the mid-range penetrating flight this wedge produces with impressive consistency. The reliable ball flight helps you gain confidence when it comes to attacking target areas on the green.
Also, if you like collecting data on the course, the wedge comes with the Arccos sensors installed to help you track distance and accuracy.
If you are looking for a gap wedge on a budget, the King Cobra wedge provides performance without putting a dent in your wallet.
Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge
Best Gap Wedge for Beginners
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D3
PROS
- Big cavity-back design offers high launch
- Wide sole provides superb turf interaction
- High spin face delivers solid feel and responsiveness
CONS
- Doesn’t have sophistication of forged wedges
Callaway’s easy-to-hit Mack Daddy CB wedge comes with a larger cavity-back design that provides incredible forgiveness to high handicappers and beginners.
Offering a seamless transition from super game-improvement irons, the MD CB gap wedges deliver aggressive distance that soars with a hearty slice of spin.
The wedge comes with two sole grinds that offer consistent and dependable ball flight that you can rely upon from the fairway or light rough.
With full swings, the CB delivers muscle to the golf ball for high-distance results that help you reach areas of the green that might seem just out of reach.
I really love the shape and feel of this gap wedge. It doesn’t try to hide what it’s best at. The Mack Daddy CB produces distance, spin, and forgiveness without shame, making it a great entry gap wedge for inexperienced golfers.
TaylorMade MG2 Wedge
Best Turf Interaction Wedge for Low Handicappers
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on Global Golf
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-52°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”
PROS
- Incredible spin with ZTP RAW Groove Design
- Exceptional feel with impressive response
- Raw Face design imparts high spin to golf ball
TaylorMade’s new wedge line, the MG2, provides amateurs with all the bells and whistles they would find in a tour-level wedge.
The wedge’s raw face offers a unique experience as the hitting surface will naturally rust over time. This transformation does not impact the quality of shot-making but it does add a beautiful finish to the look and appearance.
Great for mid handicappers looking for more spin, the MG2 provides exceptional feel and response, regardless of the lie or situation, making it one of the best gap wedges available to weekend warriors.
Things to Consider When Buying a Gap Wedge
Bounce
Bounce is the angle created by the leading edge of the gap wedge and the lowest point of the trailing edge of the sole. The more bounce the wedge has, the easier it is to lift the golf ball from trouble on the golf course, like sand bunkers and deep rough.
Less bounce helps on full swings from the fairway because gap wedges mimic the design of a short iron.
Sole Grind
Sole grind refers to the shape of the sole of the wedge. Every sole grind offers a different shape, usually by removing material from the surface.
Different sole grind options help golfers play anywhere from firm turf to softer sand traps. With the gap wedge, golfers typically play with a firmer sole grind to help them generate the distance and trajectory they need for the shot.
Finish
The finish of a gap wedge refers to the appearance of the golf club’s head. Most wedges offer a chrome, satin, or darker, silkier finish that looks similar to the other irons in your set.
Most professional golfers play wedges with a raw finish because it imparts more spin on the golf ball through its unique texture. Not every golfer likes the raw look, especially compared to the chrome finish of most top-tier gap wedges.
Questions & Answers

What is a gap wedge?
A gap wedge is a wedge that falls between a pitching and sand wedge with a loft of roughly 50-52 degrees. Most professional golfers can hit a gap wedge anywhere from 120-140 yards in distance.
Another way that it can come in handy is through short pitch and chip shots, as the loft on the face doesn’t completely lend itself to opening for a wide stance shot.
Golfers can instead use the gap wedge further back in their address and hit lower shots with a healthy amount of spin that checks up on the green for more accurate short gameplay.

What is better for a beginning golfer: A sand or gap wedge?
As a beginning golfer fills out their bag, they may look to add more wedges to their club collection. Most beginners and inexperienced golfers ask themselves whether there is a difference between adding either a gap or a sand wedge.
The difference between the two wedges is primarily in distance and loft. Most gap wedges have a loft of 50-52 degrees and can be hit around 120 yards.
A sand wedge has a loft that runs anywhere from 56-to-58 degrees and can be hit comfortably around 90 to 100 yards.
For beginning golfers, buying a sand wedge first is probably more feasible as the club helps in deeper rough and, of course, bunkers.

How does a gap wedge differ from a pitching wedge?
A gap wedge is sandwiched between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge in the loft. Pitching wedges come after the 9-iron and typically have a 44-48 degree loft making them more suited for long shots from the fairway or rough.
Rarely do advanced golfers use the pitching wedge for shorter chips and pitch shots as they typically go for a club with more loft.
It is lofted from 50-52 degrees and bridges the yardage not covered between the pitching and sand wedge.
Most golfers can hit their pitching wedge 25-35 yards longer than their sand wedge, and a gap wedge can divide the two and give a golfer more options in that yardage section.

How vital are sharp grooves with gap wedges?
Grooves are everything with wedges. They impart spin on the golf ball as the grooves create friction against the softer cover of the ball to create the spinning and upward trajectory off the clubface.
The reason that golfers prefer sharper grooves is that more spin equals more stopping power on the greens.
By knowing what your golf ball will do from the fairway with a specific wedge, you can dial-in distance and create the ideal shot for getting close to the cup.
A new wedge will provide the most spin to a golfer, but the grooves can become less sharp over time, requiring them to be freshened by either replacement or by sharpening the grooves.

Can I sharpen the grooves of my gap wedge to refresh their condition?
Grooves can go dull after playing with them, so golfers like to keep them sharp either with a tool that can sharpen the grooves or via a professional.
PGA Tour golfers like Tiger Woods prefer to play with new wedges at each tournament to get the advantage provided by a new wedge.
But for the average golfer who doesn’t have several hundred dollars to spend after each time they play 5-10 rounds, the ability to sharpen and maintain their wedges is essential to keeping their short game in tune.
Advanced golfers will typically change their wedges out every year, or at the very least, resharpen the grooves and replace the grip for better tackiness to the hands.