Updated September 13, 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.
It’s hard to argue that there is a more important group of clubs in your bag than the golf wedges you take to the course.
The best golf wedges on the market today all share similarities that make them a cut above the rest.
From offering high spin rates to providing exceptional feel and response, these collections of wedges can easily lower your scores.
In this review of the best golf wedges, we take a deep dive into a handful of short game clubs that offer golfers outstanding performance while providing serious value for your wallet!
Other golf wedges we recommend are Square Strike Wedge, C3i Wedge, and XE1 Wedge.
Featured Recommendations
Last updated on 2023-11-21. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
- Featured Recommendations
- Best Golf Wedges in 2023
- Things to Consider When Buying the Best Wedges
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Which are the best golf wedges?
- What is the most used wedge in golf?
- Which golf wedges offer the most forgiveness?
- What is the easiest golf wedge to hit?
- Is it better to use cavity back or blade wedges?
- Should I opt for raw or plated wedges?
- What are the benefits of hi-toe vs. traditional wedges?
- How should I select the right lofts for my wedges?
- Which wedge bounce, grind, and finish suits me best?
- Which are the best golf wedges?
Best Golf Wedges in 2023
After our golf wedges test, here are the top 11 best golf wedges that made it to our list:
Titleist Vokey SM9 Wedge
Best Golf Wedge Overall
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 46°-62°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”-35.75”
- Swing Weight: D3, D5
PROS
- Incredibly accurate and very forgiving
- Multiple bounce and grind options offer total customization
- Spin-milled grooves offer durability and performance
CONS
- Might be too much wedge for high handicappers
The Vokey SM9 golf wedges from Titleist continue to hold the crown of the best golf wedge on the market.
Impeccably crafted, the SM9 provides golfers with spin, accuracy, and exceptional forgiveness.
Along the face, Titleist has given the sweet spot milled grooves that generate a ton of spin with impressive versatility. On full swings, the golf wedges offer distance and trajectory control that puts you where you want to be on the green with more regularity.
The SM9 also carries a progressive CG throughout the lofts, helping produce better forgiveness and accuracy. The boost in MOI also offers productive accuracy that you can utilize from within 125 yards.
I really love how capable these SM9 wedges are around the green. From the sand and rough, it delivers total control to help you adjust to any situation and deliver the results you need to save par.
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 Wedge
Most Accurate Golf Wedge
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”-35.5”
- Swing Weight: D3, D5
PROS
- Hi-toe design offers lower trajectory with total distance control
- Full-face milling offers sophisticated shotmaking
- Exceptional spin rates stop shots cold on green
CONS
- Hi-toe and full milling design does require experience
TaylorMade’s exciting Hi-Toe 3 wedge offers full-face milling that produces some of the highest spin rates on the market.
The wedge features raw grooves with raised micro-ribs that improve spin and trajectory for a customized shot shape that helps you produce precise short-game shots.
When playing with the Hi-Toe 3, I immediately loved how soft the ball leaves the face.
I felt in total control with every shot, including full swings from the fairway. The lower trajectory helps with accuracy on longer shots, and the high spin keeps shots close to the target.
From the sand, the wedge remains soft with the ability to increase spin, while from the rough, the wedge moves smoothly through the grass without snapping the face shut to lift the ball out of trouble quickly.
An exceptional wedge that delivers accuracy and spin, the Hi-Toe 3 wedge from TaylorMade offers total performance.
Here’s our honest TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 Wedge Review
TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 Wedge
Best Golf Wedge for Mid Handicappers
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 46°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”-35.75”
- Swing Weight: D3, D5
PROS
- Raw face technology adds more texture over time
- Milled sole grind improves turf interaction
- Thick-thin design keeps CG low for high launch
CONS
- Doesn’t have forgiveness of larger face wedges
TaylorMade’s outstanding Milled Grind 3 offers the serious golfer a full array of benefits.
Boasting an impressive feel, high spin that comes out soft, and a raw groove design that takes advantage of the latest technology in the wedge game, you’ll find the MG3 delivers premium performance.
Along the face, the company has given the MG3 two distinct innovations to provide more control. The raw face helps generate more spin, while the raised Micro-Ribs, placed between the grooves, produce even more friction with the outer layer of the golf ball.
Whether it’s a pitch shot or a full swing, I was quite taken with the spin rates of the MG3.
This wedge requires some experience to take full advantage of on the course, but if you are a low-to-mid handicapper, the MG3 from TaylorMade could refine and tighten your short game.
Ping Glide 4.0 Wedge
Most Versatile Golf Wedge for Low Handicappers
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 46°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”-35.5”
- Swing Weight: D2, D3, D4
PROS
- Progressive sole grinds help customize short game
- Milled grooves offer spin with total control
- Compact blade length concentrates energy transfer to golf ball
CONS
- Smaller size could limit forgiveness for high handicappers
Ping’s Gilde 4.0 offers another weapon for serious golfers looking to refine their short game. The wedge offers a shallow blade with total trajectory control and versatility for hitting moderate shots around the green with precision.
What’s great about this wedge is the spin generated by Ping’s milled groove system. On the Trackman, I found the spin rates were high enough to hit one-hop and stop pitch shots with authority.
On sand and rough shots from just off the green, the wedge delivered a superb feel with control that I can utilize to get the ball closer to the cup more regularly.
The Glide 4.0 may not be ideal for inexperienced golfers struggling with their consistency, but for low and mid handicappers, the wedge works extremely well in improving overall results.
Mizuno S23 Wedge
Best Golf Wedge for Low Handicappers
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 44°-60°
- Lie: 63°
- Shaft Length: 35.25”
- Swing Weight: D3
PROS
- Amazing spin with forged feel
- Tour-inspired design with short hosel
- Exceptional wet weather performance
CONS
- Only for serious, experienced golfers
Mizuno’s S23 wedge, specially designed for low handicappers and experienced golfers, delivers spin from anywhere on the course.
Powered by a tour-inspired design, the S23 works magic from the fairway with a low, penetrating flight that provides distance and shot-stopping spin once it hits the putting surface.
From the light rough or shallow sand bunker, the S23 also shines for golfers needing stability with their short-range pitch shots.
During my time with the S23, I found little this wedge cannot do on the links. If I was in trouble, the wedge saved me with spin and premium turf interaction.
From the fairway, the trajectory control was off the charts, helping me find my intended target with high frequency.
An all-around dynamic wedge, the Mizuno S23 provides a high performance standard for serious players looking to transform their short game.
Check our full Mizuno S23 Wedge Review
Ping ChipR Wedge
Best All-Around Chipper for High Handicappers
SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 38.5°
- Lie: 70°
- Shaft Length: 35”
- Swing Weight: D3
PROS
- Finely crafted chipper offers total control around greens
- High MOI keeps face square throughout stroke
- MicroMax grooves deliver premium spin control
CONS
- Doesn’t offer much other than chip shots close to green
If you are looking for a premium chipper that can provide better control when you get closer to the cup, the Ping ChipR could transform your short game.
Since most chippers are made from heavier material, Ping’s entry into this market stands out because of its premium craftsmanship.
The long profile of the ChipR featuring the MicroMax grooves helps with forgiveness and control.
I found the compact size of the ChipR helped me produce a low-running chip shot that didn’t have a ton of spin, so the forward roll happened quickly.
With high MOI, the ChipR also stayed square throughout the chipping stroke, so my shots stayed along the target line more regularly.
A dynamic club that will benefit high handicappers and beginners, the Ping ChipR offers better distance control on long chip shots to help you save more pars during your round.
Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Wedge
Most Forgiving Golf Wedge for Mid Handicappers
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 46°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 34.875”-35.625”
- Swing Weight: D3, D4, D5
PROS
- Three different sole grinds for customized short game play
- UltiZip groove system provides enhanced spin and feel
- Lower CG creates quick, easy launch
CONS
- Ideal only for serious golfers
Cleveland’s RTX 6 ZipCore wedge offers a nice combination of features that produce spin with an enhanced feel. The wedge delivers a soft touch around the greens that help put the golf ball closer to the cup.
The wedge also has milling on the toe to help reduce side spin on off-center strikes. The additional forgiveness shows itself on full swings from distances over 100 yards.
I also enjoyed the three different sole grinds as they all offer nice customization for my short game. The sole grinds offer versatility for helping you put together the right combination of wedges to attack the green.
Great for mid handicappers, the RTX 6 ZipCore produces the shots you need to improve your short game quickly and efficiently.
Mizuno T22 Wedge
Best Golf Wedge for Feel
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 45°-62°
- Lie: 63°
- Shaft Length: 35.25”-35.5”
- Swing Weight: D5
PROS
- Excellent wet weather performance removes moisture from grooves
- Multiple finish options for customized appearance
- Precision groove system offers spin and feel
CONS
- Heavier design could turn away golfers wanting a lighter wedge
Mizuno’s T22 wedge provides golfers with the best feel I’ve seen in a very long time from a wedge. The modified teardrop shape gives golfers the enhanced response to improve their short game from closer distances.
The larger size of the T22 also helps produce that muscular feel that mid and high handicappers need for their short game. Couple that with the wet weather performance, and you have one of the most versatile golf wedges on the market.
On the practice green, I quickly found the wedge provides enough versatility to easily execute the one-hop and stop pitch shots that PGA Tour pros have perfected over the last couple of years.
When enhancing feel and providing solid all-around performance from longer distances and around the green, the Mizuno T22 delivers results on the scorecard.
Callaway Jaws Raw Wedge
Best Golf Wedge for Mid Handicappers
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 48°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”-35.75”
- Swing Weight: D3, D4
PROS
- Precise groove system offers total control
- Exceptional distance with spin to stop shots on green
- Premium craftsmanship provides durability with long-lasting performance
CONS
- Expensive wedge for casual golfers
Callaway’s JAWS RAW wedge takes innovation to the next level by incorporating the raw face technology with a razor-sharp groove system for maximum spin with feel to burn.
So, over time you’ll get maximum texture along the face to help you produce even more spin on your short game shots.
If you love raw wedges with milled grooves, the JAWS RAW delivers the best overall performance I’ve seen from a wedge that offers these two specific wedge features.
I loved how this wedge played from the fairway at distances over 100 yards. It offered forgiveness and a low, penetrating flight that stopped cold on the green.
And from around the green, the wedge offers spin with enhanced feel. You can lay open the wedge and hit a nice flop shot that nestles close to the cup.
Great for mid handicappers, the JAWS RAW wedge can take your short game to the next level with pure, balanced performance.
Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge
Most Forgiving Golf Wedge for High Handicappers
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 44°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”-35.75”
- Swing Weight: D2, D3, D4
PROS
- Hollow-cavity design offers balance and distance
- UltiZip grooves generate healthy spin from anywhere on the course
- Easy to hit with high, soft launch that spins
CONS
- Cavity-back like head shape won’t dazzle low handicappers
Cleveland’s accessible and inviting CBX ZipCore wedge offers a hollow-cavity design that produces distance on full swings with plenty of spin. The wedge also carries the UltiZip groove system, providing easy, high launch from the fairway, sand, and rough.
What I loved about this wedge is how anyone can hit it immediately. Even beginners can find success with this wedge straight from the box.
That ease of use makes it a confidence builder that high handicappers can take to the course and lower their scores immediately with better short-game results.
If you are looking for a wedge that plays soft with spin, the CBX ZipCore performs beautifully from inside 50 yards. And for a price you can’t beat, this premium wedge offers exceptional performance for the golfers that need it the most.
Callaway Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge
Best Value Wedge for Mid Handicappers
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Loft: 50°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”-35.5”
- Swing Weight: D0, D1
PROS
- Exceptional distance with high launch
- Tremendous turf interaction provides clean, ball-first contact
- Nice open-face performance with easy lift
CONS
- Doesn’t offer the feel or refinement of forged wedges
Callaway is an often overlooked wedge manufacturer, but the Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge delivers exciting innovative design to the amateur for more spin, better feel, and outstanding control.
Most golfers who really hit the course looking to better their short game, loves finding a club that gives them options to tailor their club set specifically for their skill set.
Callaway has answered the call for those golfers by creating numerous options with a wide variety of bounce and loft options.
Although it is sure to improve the short game of any golfer, the Callaway JAWS Mack Daddy 5 wedge is just the ticket to knock those last few strokes off the scorecard for low handicappers.
Read our full Callaway Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge Review
Things to Consider When Buying the Best Wedges
Bounce
Bounce refers to the angle from the wedge’s leading edge to the trailing edge. The more bounce a club has the easier it is to hit from troublesome areas on the course such as sand bunkers and heavy rough.
You’ll find less bounce on pitching and gap wedges since golfers use those clubs to hit full shots more often from the fairway and light rough.
These golf wedges can also be used around the green to hit lower chip and pitch shots because they can be de-lofted due to their minimal bounce.
Recommended: Wedge Bounce Explained for Beginners
Sole Grind
Along the bottom of the wedge, the sole grind determines how the club sits against the ground and performs on the course.
A grind refers to the removal of material along the sole of the wedge. By removing material, designers can manipulate how a wedge plays.
Modern golf wedges can help you perform better on firm turf or help you get easy launch of the golf ball from sand and deeper rough based on the sole grind.
Finish
Finish refers to the outer coating of the wedges. Most golf wedges have either satin or chrome finish. Both look great on the course or sitting in the bag because they look like your irons plus they carry a shine that makes them look professional.
Some golfers don’t care much about appearance and prefer a raw finish to their wedges. Essentially, these golf wedges have rusted, producing a texture that imparts more spin on the golf ball for better overall performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the best golf wedges?
The Titleist Vokey SM9 golf wedges are best for professional golfers and amateurs. These finely crafted wedges offer many benefits, including top-flight spin, exceptional distance, and clean turf interaction that produce outstanding short-game shots.
What is the most used wedge in golf?
The Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges are the most used in golf. Whether referring to professional or amateur golf, the Vokey golf wedges hold as much esteem as a Scotty Cameron putter for serious golfers.
The golf wedges offer a classic forged look with a premium feel, exceptional distance, and high spin, providing trajectory control.
Which golf wedges offer the most forgiveness?
The Cleveland RTX 6 Zipcore, which you’ll find on our list of the best golf wedges, offers outstanding forgiveness to a wide array of golfers.
No matter the skil level, golfers will find this wedge reduces side spin on off-center shots by taking advantage of its full-face milling.
While the grooves don’t extend all the way to the toe, the milling helps create backspin to keep shots on target.
What is the easiest golf wedge to hit?
Cleveland’s series of CBX wedges are the easiest to hit, with the Zipcore model offering the most feel and forgiveness in the product line.
The Zipcore golf wedges offer a wide, inviting sole that cleanly picks up the golf ball in any lie or course situation. The wedge can deliver distance and accuracy, even with the high loft models that offer the most bounce in the set.
Is it better to use cavity back or blade wedges?
For high handicappers, the cavity-back wedges offer the most forgiveness and higher launch of the two different types of short game clubs. Blade wedges are for low handicappers that like versatility and workability with their wedges.
Cavity-back wedges are better for shots with a square stance, while blade wedges offer the ability to hit clean open-face shots from anywhere on the course.
Should I opt for raw or plated wedges?
Raw golf wedges offer more spin over time. The texture deepens and becomes coarser as the face begins to rust with raw wedges.
Pro golfers want that complex texture because it imparts more spin upon the golf ball and gives them total control over their short game.
Amateurs tend not to like the raw look compared to the off-the-shelf shine of a new wedge, but that comes at the cost of the enhanced spin.
What are the benefits of hi-toe vs. traditional wedges?
The odd shape of the hi-toe wedge offers more surface area for contact compared to the traditional wedge. That additional area helps with forgiveness and spin.
Also, the hi-toe shape raises the CG, helping produce a lower, more penetrating shot flight that generates more distance over traditional wedges.
Around the green, the hi-toe provides versatility on open-face shots that produce spin and softness to navigate bunkers, deeper rough, and any troublesome lie you might face.
How should I select the right lofts for my wedges?
Finding the right loft for each wedge you carry comes from experience and practical use on the course. There’s no magic number for the loft of wedges, so you’ll need to decide how you plan to use each club on the course to determine the best loft for that wedge.
In reality, there are only two degrees of loft difference between most golf wedges companies offer. If you are trying to decide between a 54-degree and 56-degree sand wedge.
For example, you should decide if the distance between the two matters and also, you should determine how you plan to use the wedge in the short game.
If you plan to use the sand wedge for bump and run pitch shots, the 54-degree might add a lower trajectory with better rollout for those specific shots.
Which wedge bounce, grind, and finish suits me best?
When it comes to choosing the right bounce, grind, and finish, you’ll need to know what type of short game you want to create for yourself.
The easiest of the three to choose is the finish. Most golf wedges come with chrome, satin, or raw face finish. The raw finish does offer some playing advantages because it generates more spin for your short game.
But if you are looking for a premium appearance, the satin or chrome dazzles in the golf bag.
Bounce and grind refer to the sole of the club. The bounce is the angle between the leading edge of the club and the trailing edge.
The more bounce you have, the easier it is to lift the ball from trouble areas such as sand and rough. Less bounce is great for a gap wedge and pitching wedges because you want more distance from your full swings.
For the sole grind, the turf conditions determine what works best for your game. Each wedge manufacturer offers different sole grinds to perform with firm turf and with softer conditions such as light rough, sand, and deeper rough.
Putting together a wedge combination that utilizes bounce, grind, and finish can help you refine your short game and become a better golfer.