Updated May 16, 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.
The best pitching wedges all share common features that will undoubtedly help golfers offer a low center of gravity, improve your short game around the greens, and help you obtain crisper shots with enhanced turf interaction.
The pitching wedges that made our list offer premium performance with a wide array of grind and bounce options, perfect for creating the golf game you want for your next trip to the golf course.
Last updated on 2023-09-29. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
What To Look For When Buying a Pitching Wedge
Loft
The loft of a pitching wedge is measured by the angle of the club’s face. Most pitching wedges offer loft degrees between 44-50 degrees. The degree number is the lowest among wedges but important to produce the yardage needed from this club. Since most iron sets include a pitching wedge, you can expect that its degree measurement will co-exist with the 9-iron. The face angle is directly responsible for the height of the shot and the level of spin rate shots will achieve.
Grind
The grind on a wedge deals with the amount of material on the sole of the club. Wedges need different sole grinds due to the different types of shots these clubs need to hit. Advanced wedges offer better turf interaction through their various sole grind options. The bounce and grind of a wedge work together to move the leading edge through the impact zone, taking a divot, but cleanly contacting the golf ball along the sweet spot.
Bounce
The bounce of the pitching wedge is typically low because the golfer needs to produce clean contact with a normal divot pattern. Since most clubs offer a cavity back look, the club head offers a lower center of gravity for better shot height, something that helps considerably with a higher bounce option. The bounce registers the degree of difference between the leading edge to the back edge of the sole. A lower bounce enters the turf sooner to produce better contact. Unlike lob and sand wedges, which need a higher degree of bounce, a pitching wedge is designed with a lower bounce to create the launch angle and yardage needed from the golf club.
Check our article: Wedge Bounce Explained for Beginners
Spin Rate
The spin rate of a wedge registers how many revolutions the golf ball makes. The higher the backspin, the more stopping power a shot has on the green. A progressive center of gravity also helps boost the golf ball revolutions of a pitching wedge. Although it needs more distance when compared to other wedges, a higher CG does help reduce the backspin, without sacrificing control.
Grooves
Grooves are trenches along the face and are responsible with creating spin. Modern clubs use spin milled technology to create sharp grooves with texture to enhance the friction needed against the outer layer to increase backspin rates. With innovative spin control, the grooves of the face is designed to help increase accuracy while allowing the golf wedge to produce smooth contact and feel.
Matching
Finding wedges that carry the same style and brand as a golfer’s current set can appeal to players looking for symmetry with their club set. But looking with that tunnel vision can ultimately be a mistake for novice golfers because they’ll push aside different brands that might offer more beneficial performance.
Yes, especially with beginners and high handicappers, finding a brand of club that promotes confidence can be more beneficial than creating an assorted set. So, while it is vital for the golfer to listen to their gut when it comes to adding wedges to their set, they also need to evaluate the full extent of offerings before making their final decision.
Shaft
Most golfers prefer pitching wedges with stainless steel shafts for the solid feel and response. For advanced players, the steel shafts continue the experience of using their irons for an even performance throughout the set.
For golfers struggling with maintaining their swing speed, a graphite shaft can boost performance. Seniors, women, and junior golfers can maximize their distance and carry with the use of graphite shafts, even with their pitching wedge.
Regardless of the type of shaft, finding the right flex is equally important related to swing speed.
Price
A great way to find the best pitching wedge for your bag is to look at price versus skill level. Yes, the best pitching wedges on the market can help any level of golfer, but for those casual players that need performance and affordability, comparison shopping certainly helps clear up the available options.
The price of a top-tier wedge runs around $100-$175. For that amount, you can expect a well-designed club head with razor sharp grooves that generate eye-popping spin.
Mid-range handicaps, such as 12-20, and high handicappers, can find perfectly useful pitching wedges around $100 in price.
Top 9 Best Pitching Wedges In 2023
Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge
Best Overall Option
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SPECS
- Loft: 46°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”-35.5”
- Swing Weight: D2, D3, D4
PROS
- Multiple sole and grind options available
- Exceptional spin control with Rotex Face grooves
- Very forgiving on toe strikes
CONS
- Bulkier head doesn’t offer workability of forged wedge
What’s fantastic about the Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge is the hollow cavity back. The additional material lowers the CG in the back of the head for tall arcing shots that land softly on the green. A golf pitching wedge like this are great for any level of golfer that needs improvement from the greenside area, especially high handicappers and beginning golfers.
Great for golfers of all skill levels, the Callaway CBX 2 is a dynamo and well worth the price.
For pitching wedges like the CBX 2, golfers will find that the thick sole, thin face helps with distance control and additional backspin on full shots. Like the TaylorMade Milled Grind model, the CBX 2 offers a clean entry into the turf with a deeper divot that allows the ball higher on the face.
With a graphite shaft, the CBX 2 offers more swing speed, great for senior golfers who need more distance from the fairway. The rounded shape of the head gives the golfer phenomenal balance throughout the swing, especially within the impact zone.
Read the Full Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge Review
Wilson Harmonized Wedge
Best Option for High Handicappers
SPECS
- Loft: 50°-64°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D2
PROS
- Wide sweet spot generates speed
- Great open-faced playability
- Forged sole offers clean turf interaction
CONS
- Heavier feel than most comparable wedges
High handicappers and beginning golfers are ideal for the Wilson Harmonized Wedge. Available for a low price that offers fantastic value, the Harmonized features a classic look with a stainless steel finish.
The Wilson Harmonized Wedge comes in a variety of lofts, also offering several sand wedges worthy of adding to your golf bag.
The sole grind on the pitching wedge is versatile enough to play with an open face for high shots that clear any obstacle. When using the Harmonized for pitching or chipping, the golfer will find that the Wilson’s balance provides excellent bump and run capabilities.
The wedge takes the shape of forged iron, optimized with a rounded tall edge that keeps the ball straight on shots that leak toward the toe with fantastic forgiveness. The Harmonized also provides wonderful feel and response from deeper rough and thicker sand.
Callaway Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge
Best Option for Low Handicappers
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SPECS
- Loft: 50°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”- 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D0, D1
PROS
- Several worthwhile grind and bounce options for customized short game shotmaking
- Softer feel add touch around the greens
- Progressive shaping offers preferred look at address
CONS
- Offers a unique, non-traditional design that golfers might not love
The Callaway Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge is the company’s most advanced short game tool and one of the best of their many pitching wedges. With multiple grinds, the MD 5 offers plenty of different options to play based upon your preferred way of playing from inside 100 yards.
One of Callaway’s best and most current golf pitching wedges for greenside play, the Callaway Mack Daddy 5 uses a metal injection into the sole to anchor the head for better launch with more backspin over previous MD models. From the fairway or the rough, the MD 5 has tremendous feel and response that instills confidence with each swing.
Available in either steel or graphite shafts, the MD 5 doesn’t have a hi toe, but its rounded face works well to provide the forgiveness most golfers are looking for from their game. The Callaway MD 5 is designed to give the player a higher price option that provides premium performance for the course.
Read Full Callaway Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge Review
Cleveland RTX 4 Wedge
Best High Spin Option
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SPECS
- Loft: 46°-62°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 34.875”- 35.625”
- Swing Weight: D3, D4, D5
PROS
- Extremely durable with long-lasting reliability
- High MOI with smooth launch on longer shots
- Completely milled face offers total spin control
CONS
- Entire face milling might limit control for experienced golfers
The Cleveland RTX 4 Wedge offers incredible backspin, high launch, and clean contact for crisp shots that provide long distance. Featuring a tour raw finish that rusts naturally for a beautiful complexion over time, the wedge has some of the sharpest grooves you’ll find in a club for unbelievable backspin and control.
Cleveland utilizes their Rotex Face Technology on the face for a textured sweet spot that increases RPMs on the golf ball. Even though this pitching wedge registers at 50 degrees, the company’s gap, lob, and a sand wedge of the same line complements the RTX 4 accordingly.
Using the strength of the included steel shafts, the wedge might be on the high price end of pitching wedges, but the performance is undeniable. The Callaway RTX 4 Wedge is one of the best pitching wedges for 2023 due to its innovative design, outstanding features, and marvelous performance on the golf course.
Callaway Mack Daddy CB
Best Value Option
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SPECS
- Loft: 46°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”- 35.75”
- Swing Weight: D3, D4
PROS
- Matches well with game-improvement iron sets
- High spin with softness around the greens
- Full face grooves offers forgiveness and spin control
CONS
- Cavity-back design limits workability
The Callaway Mack Daddy CB, the latest pitching wedge from Callaway, offers aggressive playability from anywhere inside 125 yards.
Featuring the company’s advanced JAWS groove system, the Callaway Mack Daddy CB offers a cavity-back design, rather than the standard forged look, to provide seamless transition from your irons to your wedges.
Two player-friendly loft options, 46-and 48-degrees, are available with the Callaway Mack Daddy CB.
Each loft qualifies for a pitching wedge, and the full sole of either loft offers premium turf interaction that mimics high irons from the fairway for crisp hit quality. On shots from inside 125 yards, the Mack Daddy CB creates a crisp feel with a full swing producing the confidence most mid-range players need from their wedges.
On chip and pitch shots, the Mack Daddy CB provides a firmer feel that produces the low arcing shot that quickly creates the forward roll that controls the ball as it rolls to the cup.
Every Mack Daddy CB comes with high-performance KBS steel shaft and Golf Pride grip for increased control.
Titleist Vokey SM8 Wedge
Best Advanced Wedge for Low Handicappers
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SPECS
- Loft: 46°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”- 35.75”
- Swing Weight: D3, D5
PROS
- Sophisticated design with workable performance
- Spin milled grooves provide total spin control
- Six grind options offers total short game customization
CONS
- Expensive price point makes wedges better for serious golfers
Titleist’s Vokey SM8 Wedge is easily one of the best wedges I’ve ever played. With laser-focused craftsmanship, the SM8 works well in any situation, whether clean in the fairway or down and dirty in the sand.
With a classic chrome finish, the wedge offers elegance in your bag along with its jaw-dropping performance.
The wedge’s grooves are also worth noting because I’ve rarely seen such high spin rates in all my years of testing. The ball comes off the face with quick propulsion with heavy rotation early in the ball flight that lands softly on the putting surface.
From inside 125 yards, the SM8 absolutely stuns on swing after swing. Whether you need a delicate landing or an aggressive attempt at the stick, the SM8 remains ready to perform confidently.
On pitch shots, the SM8 delivers fast check-up on the ready, leaving you close to the hole to save par.
For golfers that have never played a tour-level wedge, the SM8 will open never-before-seen doors in your game that create shots that dazzle and reward.
TaylorMade MG2 Wedge
Best Control Option
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SPECS
- Loft: 50°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”- 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D3, D5
PROS
- Milled sole offers premium turf interaction
- Raw face technology delivers high quality spin
- Lower CG improves launch while enhancing feel
CONS
- Amateurs may not like the look of the raw face design
TaylorMade’s MG2 Wedge offers a host of exciting features alongside its absolutely wonderful play. Featuring a milled grind sole, thick-to-thin head design, and a TPU insert provides a triple threat that produces shots with high launch, high spin, and clean turf interaction.
A fun feature included with the MG2 wedge is the Raw Face technology. While you won’t see the benefits of this feature early in your ownership, the face begins to rust over time, and while that will not hurt performance at all, it delivers a unique look.
The grooved hitting area is compact, so although it is ideal for advanced players, that caveat shouldn’t dissuade you if you are looking for a wedge you can grow into during your golfing journey.
During our testing, we found that this wedge offered up to 8-10 yards of additional yardage over standard wedges, allowing us to reach more greens with more spin and control, a dynamic combination.
An excellent wedge for harnessing your power, the TaylorMade MG2 wedge delights all levels of golfers.
Wilson Staff Model Wedge
Best Budget Tour-Level Wedge
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SPECS
- Loft: 46°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Shaft Length: 35”- 35.75”
- Swing Weight: D3, D4
PROS
- Premium tour-level shaping
- Precision milled face provides impressive spin rates
- Dynamic feel and responsiveness with a variety of shots
CONS
- Limited customization features from Wilson
Wilson’s Staff Model wedge offers top-tier performance with a clean look that fits well in anyone’s golf bag.
Available in three different editions; standard, hi-toe, and tour-grind, the Staff Model utilize its carbon steel build to provide the feel and responsiveness that I crave on the course.
During my time with the Staff Model, I put this wedge through the works. And no matter the situation, whether deep rough or loose sand, the Staff Model produced clean results that I certainly enjoyed.
On the links, we loved how the Wilson Staff Model produced touch-on-pitch lose shots with extended muscle on full swings. Regardless of the shot you’re facing, the Staff Model produces the spin to quickly stop shots next to the hole.
Although the grooves on the Staff Model don’t extend to the toe, the hitting area offers a generous stretch of steel to create spin and quality contact.
Wilson usually is discounted among serious players when it comes to wedges, but the Staff Model series should reverse this trend due to its premium performance.
Mizuno T20 Wedge
Best Wet Weather Wedge Option
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SPECS
- Loft: 45°-62°
- Lie: 63°
- Shaft Length: 35.25”- 35.5”
- Swing Weight: D3, D4
PROS
- Highly reliable with very forgiving sweet spot
- Milled grooves offer exceptional spin
- Impressive all-weather performance
CONS
- Heavier with bulkier body limits distance
Mizuno’s T20 wedge is a true warrior on the links, delivering distance and accuracy from any situation on the course. With various lofts and bounces, Mizuno provides a full suite of highly-capable options for building your short game clubs.
Another fun feature with the T20 is the HydroFlow Micro Grooves. Mizuno built the hitting area to push away water from the face during impact. Rather than leave moisture on the grooves, Mizuno has created a system that creates a staggering feel and response, two incredible benefits I experienced during my time with the wedge.
What I really adored about the T20 was the muscular head shape. You never feel like you’ve hit a thin shot with this wedge, and it remains one of the easiest to get the ball into the air among clubs I’ve tested.
I can safely say that I haven’t hit a wedge as solidly built as the T20. If you are in the market for a reliable wedge that produces distance and feel, the Mizuno T20 remains unrivaled.
Questions & Answers
When should you use a pitching wedge?
A pitching wedge can be used from the fairway or for shots around the green. From the fairway, this club has the range of 80 for beginners, to 140 yards for advanced players. Since the club has a degree loft around 46-50 degrees, it can offer high launch with accelerated spin, giving players pinpoint accuracy.
When taking a full swing with a wedge, you can expect the shot to replicate an arch-like shape. The ball will fly higher than woods and high irons with more backspin and better distance control.
When using the club in a pitch or chip situation, the loft helps reduce height, especially when the ball is moved back into the stance. By reducing the height of the pitch, a golfer increases forward roll for better bump and run control.
The pitching wedge is also regularly used with steel shafts, making it ideal for shorter par 3s because it offers better backspin and feel through the face’s micro grooves.
We recommend you check our guide: Chipping vs Pitching: What’s the Difference?
What degree is a pitching wedge?
A pitching wedge regularly clocks in with a loft of 46-50 degrees. The distance for professionals with this club regularly reach distances of around 150 yards. Amateurs, with reduced swing speed, typically hit the club anywhere from 80-130 yards. Unlike a sand wedge, gap, or lob wedge, the pitching wedge offers less backspin control because golfers need more distance with the loft.
A wedge is designed to provide control for golfers. Each wedge, whether it be a sand, lob, or gap, provides different club head and bounce options. Each characteristic offers different qualities that affect the shot. But the most important aspect of the wedge is what backspin and feel it provides off the club face.
What is a standard pitching wedge loft?
A standard pitching wedge owns a loft of 46 degrees, although it can reach 50 degrees. When looking at the options of this club from Callaway, Cleveland, and TaylorMade, you’ll find many loft options, but the companies regularly give their 46-degree option, like the TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 (MG2) with the hi-toe or the Ping Glide 3-0, the moniker of pitching wedge.
The loft of the club is designed to provide more distance with better control due to the cut grooves and milled face. Each feature offers more backspin with incredible turf interaction for crisper shot making on full shots from the fairway.
Conclusion
The best pitching wedges can quickly improve your short game by increasing spin and accuracy. A well-made pitching wedge offers to extend the length of the reach of that club compared to previous golf wedges you carried in your bag.
Our top choice for the best pitching wedge on the market, the excellent Cleveland CBX 2 wedge, provides plenty of spin, control, and precision for when you need to get the ball close to the pin.
Like the CBX 2, a great wedge can revolutionize the short game of any level of golfer, but most importantly, those amateurs that want to lower their scores and see an improvement in the overall game.
We also recommend you check our guide on How to Hit Pitch Shots.