Edited by: Jordan Fuller
Reviewed by: John MarshallLast Update:
The Rundown:
Best All-Around Wedge: Cleveland CBX Wedge
“Featuring practical innovations such as cavity-backed design and V-sole grind that provide symmetry and exceptional turf interaction, the CBX offers to improve every golfer’s short game but is most helpful to mid and high handicappers.”
Most Versatile: Cleveland RTX4 Wedge
“A sophisticated wedge featuring the Rotex Face Technology, the RTX4 provides more spin with excellent feel and control best suited for the mid handicappers.”
Best Value For Money: Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge
“The most popular model for budget seeking golfers with an innovative sole for more accuracy, the Wilson Harmonized wedge offers all the essential features for beginning golfers – all without breaking the wallet.”
It’s hard to argue that there is a more important group of clubs in your bag than the wedges you take to the course.
The best 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 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.
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Last updated on 2021-02-24. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
Best Golf Wedges
Cleveland CBX Wedge
Best All-Around Wedge
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PROS
- Wide sole makes the wedge accessible to mid and high handicappers
- The cavity-backed design provides symmetry to a golfer’s club set
- V-sole grind provides exceptional turf interaction for crisper shots
CONS
- Cavity-backed design is more tailored to mid and high handicappers
The Cleveland CBX Wedge is our pick for the best all-around wedge as it seamlessly joins practical innovation with accessible short game play for a wide range of golfers.
If you are looking to improve your short game with a jack-of-all-trades wedge, then the Cleveland CBX should be at the top of your consideration list.
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Another interesting development from Cleveland with the wedge is the introduction of Feel Balancing Technology. Using the cavity-backed design, the company has removed weight from the hosel and distributed it around the perimeter of the clubhead for more balance while enhancing feel.
Our testers loved the complete package presented by the CBX wedge. Even our advanced golfers, who really are not the target for the CBX, found that the club allowed for versatility with a dependable ball flight.
What Customers Are Saying
“Really love my CBX wedge! The wide sole keeps me from digging into the rough and when I open up the blade, I can get under the ball to lift it high and soft onto the green. On full swings, the CBX produces the high spin I want for more control around the pin. I also enjoy the feel of wedges from the sand. Never had a problem with these wedges moving through the sand to get a clean hit on the golf ball. The CBX is a winner in my book!”
Cleveland RTX4 Wedge
Outstanding and Versatile Wedge Tailored for Mid Handicappers
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PROS
- Rotex Face Technology (RTX) produces unreal spin from any situation on the course
- Several combinations available with differing loft and sole grind options
- Feel and control with the RTX4 is out of this world and unmatched by higher end wedges
CONS
- Versatile wedge is too much clubs for beginning golfers
The Cleveland RTX4 is one sophisticated wedge that delivers a professional level of performance in a smart package. Not only does the wedge creates jaw-dropping spin, but when it comes to control and feel, we haven’t come across many short game clubs that can top this one on the course.
With the Cleveland RTX4, we don’t think we’ve found a better game-improvement wedge for mid handicappers looking to make the leap to the single-digit category.
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Another area where the wedge from Cleveland excels is with feel and control. The company lowered the center of gravity on the RTX4 for a more reliable ball flight that is slightly above what a golfer would consider moderate for more control, especially on full swings.
What Customers Are Saying
“What I can’t get over about my RTX4 wedge is the spin! I love a high shot flight with a lot of spin and the RTX4 delivers every time! Not only does the wedge move smoothly through the golf ball when making a divot, but even in the sand or rough, it never hangs up or gets twisted. I also like having a graphite shaft on my pitching wedge for more distance and Cleveland offers that too, which is perfect for my game. The RTX4 is a wonderful wedge!”
Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge
Best Budget Wedge for Beginning Golfers
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PROS
- Extremely popular model for budget seeking golfer looking for solid affordable performance
- Innovative sole creates better turf interaction and more accuracy from inside 50 yards
- Ability to play with open clubface from off the green helps cut through rough and sand
CONS
- Lower quality wedge is strictly for high handicappers and beginning golfers
The Wilson Harmonized line of golf wedges has long produced a very appealing experience for golfers who don’t play the game as often as they’d like but when they hit the course, they want clubs that won’t let them down.
If you believe in the old adage that “you get what you pay for,” the Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge certainly can help stabilize your short game, but don’t go expecting it to transform your scores.
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As nice as the wedges are for the very economical price, they are heavier and certainly force the golfer to lose a few yards off their expected full swing distance. From shorter distances, say inside 35 yards, the wedges also suffer from a lack of spin that you would normally find on a higher-end short game club.
What Customers Are Saying
“I don’t play a lot of golf, so I need clubs that offer quality and value. Both are here with the Wilson Harmonized wedge. While some wedges are lighter, I really like the feel and heft of the Wilson model. Reminds me of the older clubs that grew up with, but with that modern performance I need to keep up with my playing partners. From the fairway or the rough, these wedges provide the spin and distance I need to reach the green. The Wilson Harmonized wedges are fabulous for my needs!”
Cobra King Black Wedge
Outstanding Budget Wedge for Low Handicappers
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PROS
- Diamonized Black Technology provides a wear resistance finish that gives wedge a professional look
- Precision milled grooves create maximum spin across the entire face of the wedge
- Muscle back design promotes stability at impact and softer feel for better control
CONS
- Designed more to complement skill set of advanced golfers, leaving beginning golfers out
The Cobra King Wedge may not have the notoriety of a Cleveland or Callaway wedge, but once you get this club in your hands, you can’t help but respect the design and performance.
With a satin black finish that is a head-turner, the Cobra King Wedge has taken its rightful place atop the best golf wedges in today’s market.
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With three grinds to choose from, a low handicapper who has a better sense of the type of shots they want to hit can find the right combination without much effort.
A club that deserves the accolades but continues to stay underrated, the Cobra King Black Wedge presents the golfer with an exceptional experience that will lower scores without forcing you to take a second mortgage out on your home.
What Customers Are Saying
“I love the look of my Cobra King Black wedges. Another feature of the wedges that impresses me is how many different options there are with the grinds. I like having a classic grind on my wedges, not the wider game-improvement ones that other guys play with at my club. My preferred grind with my Cobra King wedge gives me cleaner contact from tighter lies. The spin is also great from the rough. With my Cobra King Black wedges can routinely get my shots close to the pin with these wedges!”
Pinemeadow Wedge
Solid Budget Wedge Best Suited for High Handicappers
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PROS
- Large surface area on the face of the wedge helps with forgiveness
- Heavy clubhead keeps the wedge aligned throughout the swing with consistent contact
- Hi-toe design gives more contact area on the face for better contact on off-center strikes
CONS
- Tailored to inexperienced golfers, not sophisticated enough for low handicappers
Pinemeadow continues to find its niche as an equipment manufacturer for beginning and inexperienced golfers. The company knows that their clubs, like the Pinemeadow Wedge, won’t grab the attention of low to mid handicappers, but for a relatively low price, they offer a wedge that can be played with efficiency from anywhere on the course.
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If you are trying to choose between the Pinemeadow and the Wilson Harmonized wedge, then the Wilson is the way to go as it delivers better spin and a lighter clubhead.
But if you prefer something heavier with a taller face design, then the Pinemeadow Wedge could be worth your investment.
What Customers Are Saying
“I just started playing golf and the Pinemeadow wedge fits my budget. The wedge has a big face that makes it easy to hit and I always feel like the club gets the ball into the air. This wedge is a little heavy, but I feel that helps me keep the club balanced through the golf ball. From the rough and sand, the wedge is capable of getting the ball out cleanly with spin. I have improved my game with these wedges and I think they work well for golfers like me who are just learning to golf.”
Cleveland Smart Sole Wedge
Best Wedge for Mid Handicappers
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PROS
- Smart Sole Technology helps golfer move the club through trouble areas for crisper contact
- Easy to hit and can be played with open or square stance
- Optimized loft promotes better turf interaction and improved spin rate
CONS
- The extra-wide sole might turn away low handicappers that want a forged-style wedge
If you’ve tested as many clubs as we’ve had then you’d appreciate the innovation and cleverness of the Cleveland Smart Sole Wedge. Made to help mid handicappers with their short game, the wedge is a bit more advanced than your random entry-level beginners club.
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And as with all Cleveland wedges, the Smart Sole model has optimized loft to assure the golfer that their contact will be pure and their desired shot can be obtained. Whether it be a high pitch shot over a bunker or a low slashing shot through deep rough, the Smart Sole is more than capable of answering the call to your worst problems on the course.
What Customers Are Saying
“I love how these Smart Sole wedges hit the golf ball! These are the best wedges I’ve ever played because they provide high spin from anywhere. From the fairway or the rough or the sand, these wedges provide consistency to my game. I love the extra wide sole because it slides under the ball and doesn’t stick in the ground. Even when I open my stance, the Cleveland Smart Sole wedges still move through the ball without much effort, perfect when you need a little touch around the green.”
Callaway Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge
Exceptional Luxury Wedge for Low Handicappers
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PROS
- Carbon steel body is wonderfully designed with streamlined clubhead for more speed
- JAWS groove system gives golfers incredible spin rate from any location
- Host of grind and bounce options gives individual total control over club selection
CONS
- Elevated price point makes the Mack Daddy 5 a wedge for low handicappers
Callaway is an often overlooked wedge manufacturer, but the JAWS Mack Daddy 5 delivers exciting innovative design to the amateur for more spin, better feel, and outstanding control.
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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.
What Customers Are Saying
“I wanted some wedges that would take my game to the next level and the Mack Daddy 5 wedges gave me that advantage. Not only do these wedges provide unreal spin, but when I need distance from 100-120 yards, these clubs are very accurate. I also enjoy the fact that the soles aren’t too wide, so when I open my stance, I can get under the ball for a nice, high flop shot. I can’t imagine making the jump to being a low handicapper without the Callaway Mack Daddy 5 wedges.”
TaylorMade MG2 Wedge
Exceptional High-Spin Wedge for Advanced Golfers
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PROS
- TPU insert behind the face helps dampen and absorb shock at impact for solid feel
- Advanced groove system creates high spin rate for additional control
- Wide sole grind with precision milling for better turf interaction
CONS
- Not for budget seeking golfers, although the price point reflects the quality of the club
Featuring one of the sharpest designs that looks absolutely stunning with the sleek black finish, the TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 Wedge is one of the best golf wedges, coming in a variety of bounce and loft options.
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There’s not much to dislike on the TaylorMade Milled Grind 2, but if you are a beginning golfer looking for a deal, then be forewarned, this TaylorMade wedge is better suited for advanced golfers with some change in their pocket. Regardless of your skill level, the MG2 is one fantastic wedge worth the cost.
What Customers Are Saying
“After playing with the MG2 wedge, I can honestly say that this is the best wedge I’ve ever played with during my golfing days. I’ve never played with a wedge that cuts through the rough like this one. And from the sand, the MG2 delivers consistent contact without digging or getting too deep, even on my hardest swings. I know some people might be scared by the raw face, but I love the texture and the spin it creates. I feel like a pro with the TaylorMade MG2 wedges. What a club!”
Things You Need to Consider When Choosing the Best Golf Wedge
Wedges are very similar to Irons in many aspects, mainly because they have similar look and build.
The main difference between the two is that wedges tend to have higher lofts, and are designed for higher accuracy and spin than irons.
Another major difference to the Irons is the bounce, which is the angle from the edge of the clubface to the bottom of the sole. The higher the bounce angle, the easier the club will bounce off the ground, hence the name.
This feature is good for chip shots around the green, which is what the wedges are mainly used for.
Because wedges must fit every player, we also have a dedicated buying guide on wedges for high handicappers.
Spin
If you are asking the question as to what makes the wedge so important, then the answer lies in how much spin the club produces on a variety of shots. From bunker play to full distance swings, the wedge is engineered to produce a high rate of spin to help the golf ball stop on the green with accuracy and precision.
Spin is generated by the quality of the grooves on the clubface. Over time, grooves can wear down and become dull, dropping the spin rate dramatically. One of the big reasons why professional golfers use new wedges for every tournament is because the grooves are sharp and produce maximum spin.
Shot Height
Another area of importance with wedges is the height of the shot. The reason why golfers need to understand how high a wedge can put a shot into the air, revolves around the measurement of arc and how it plays a role in spin and softness of landing.
Some golfers like a moderate shot height because it allows them more control to play different shots around the green with a wide variety of spin. Other golfers like a very tall and spin heavy approach shot that offers them the flexibility to use larger areas of the green to shape their shots with plenty of rollback.
Response
When you read about the response of a wedge in our review, we are discussing the feedback the club provides the golfer at impact. When the shot comes off the clubface, an experienced golfer understands immediately how well, or poorly, they hit the golf ball. Wedges that remain solid through impact and offer instant feedback provide confidence and dependability to the golfer.
Response differs from feel because the latter is about how the impression you get from the club from the moment you first hold it in your hands all the way to the follow through. Response is distinctly about the moment after impact and how the club reacts to your swing.
Feel
When we discuss the feel of a wedge in our reviews, we are focused on the feedback of the club from the moment we address the golf ball through our finishing pose. A golf wedge must feel good in the golfer’s hands at all time for the individual to trust in the swings they are making for the specific shot they are facing.
A wedge with strong feel is attentive throughout the process, giving the golfer the impression that they are in control of their shot-making ability. For advanced golfers, this rule means finding a wedge with an overwhelming sense of playability. Beginning golfers, on the other hand, need wedges that offer repeatability and consistency as their game matures.
Construction
The construction of a wedge is also critical to the success of the club. Bad assembly and cheap materials are easy to spot from a mile away and for mid and low handicappers, the quality of their equipment can be the difference between shooting in the 70s and posting a day they’d rather forget.
Current Trends in the Golf Wedges Market
The technological developments for wedges are generally similar to those for irons: lighter shafts, and heavier heads.
Center of gravity placement is also important for wedges, of which increased shot control, spin, and shot shaping are desired features.
Modern wedges tend to have the center of gravity pushed deeper, to allow higher launch angle and more spins. If you’re looking for a wedge for beginners, check out the Square Strike Wedge.
Check Out Our Review Of The Best Golf Sand Wedges
Kinds of Wedges
There are many different kinds of wedges to choose from, and here are the common few:
- Pitching Wedge:it is often considered a part of the iron set rather than an actual wedge, and usually comes in 46 to 48 degrees in loft. The pitching wedge is the highest lofted club in an iron set, yet the lowest loft of the wedges. After the pitching wedge, wedges increase in increments of 4 degrees lof
- Gap/Approach: it is usually 4 degrees higher than a Pitching Wedge, thus, it usually comes in 52 degrees in loft. Commonly used to gap the distance between the Pitching Wedge and the Sand Wedge, which can be an awkward distance. Gap Wedge allows better distance compared to other wedges
- Sand Wedge: it comes in 56 degrees loft, and is the most common of all wedges. Used for sand bunker shots, as well as chips around the green. The high spin offered allows great stopping power for shots around the green, and is a very useful tool for any golfer. We have a dedicated article reviewing the best golf sand wedges and the best sand wedges for beginners.
- Lob Wedge: The 60 degrees loft angled wedge is commonly used for short distance lobs with a lot of spins. Useful for shots around the greens that quickly stop, or high shots with backspin to the hole.