Have you ever stood over a shot and asked should I hit my 56 or my 60?
Golfers have plenty of options inside of 100 yards. However, many struggle to truly dial in what is best for their game.
There can be a lot of confusion of what shot to play when and what club to use. Many golfers might struggle to know the difference between their 56 vs 60 degree wedge.
I set out to measure, compare and chart out the 56 vs 60 degree wedge and to provide clarity for my own game and others as well.
The goal was to answer the following:
- 56 vs 60 Degree Distance
- Difference between 56 and 60 Degree Wedge
- Should I get a 56 or 60 degree wedge
- When to use 60 vs 56 Degree Wedge
- 56 vs 60 Degree Wedge and Chipping
The process included the following:
I had a low handicap, mid handicap, high handicap and a senior golfer hit full shots with both a 56 and 60 to measure the differences. I also analyzed the distance based on handicap level from data collected from drivers and used a reasonable percentage for average distances.
Some key recommendations:
We recommend that each golfer setup a system and have a variety of shots they can from different distances with different clubs. Every golfer should carry a sand wedge (54 or 60) and a lob wedge (58 or 60). There are too many shots inside of 100 to sacrifice options.
56 vs 60 Degree Distance
How Far Should You Hit Your 56 Degree Wedge?
The average carry distance is 92 yards. With a range of 82 yards on the low side and a high of 102 yards depending on handicap range and swing speed. Many golfers frequently hit less than a full 56 degree wedge, which would make averages vary from golfer to golfer.
56 Degree Distance Chart by Handicap
| Handicap Range | 56 Degree Carry Distance |
| Scratch | 102 |
| 0-5 | 100 |
| 6-10 | 94 |
| 11-15 | 90 |
| 16-20 | 86 |
| 21-25 | 82 |
| Total Average of 0-25 | 92 |
And here is some data we collected locally. It came out pretty accurate with the chart above.
56 Degree Wedge: 5 Shot Average at Difference Percent Swings
| Golfer | 100% | 90% | 80% |
| Low Handicap | 100 Yards | 90 yards | 79 Yards |
| Mid Handicap | 86 Yards | 76 Yards | 65 Yards |
| High Handicap | 83 Yards | 73 Yards | 63 Yards |
| Senior Golfer | 67 Yards | 59 Yards | 54 Yards |
How Far Should You Hit Your 60 Degree Wedge?
The average carry distance is 83 yards. With a range of 74 yards on the low end and a high of 92 yards depending on handicap range and swing speed. Many golfers frequently hit less than a full 60 degree wedge, which would make averages vary from golfer to golfer.
60 Degree Distance Chart by Handicap
| Handicap Range | 60 Degree Carry Distance |
| Scratch | 92 |
| 0-5 | 90 |
| 6-10 | 85 |
| 11-15 | 81 |
| 16-20 | 77 |
| 21-25 | 74 |
| Total Average of 0-25 | 83 |
And here is some data we collected locally. It came out pretty accurate with the chart above.
60 Degree Wedge: 5 Shot Average at Difference Percent Swings
| Golfer | 100% | 90% | 80% |
| Low Handicap | 88 Yards | 78 yards | 67 Yards |
| Mid Handicap | 76 Yards | 65 Yards | 54 Yards |
| High Handicap | 72 Yards | 63 Yards | 58 Yards |
| Senior Golfer | 56 Yards | 48 Yards | 43 Yards |
Difference between 56 and 60 Degree Wedge?
8-12 yards. Most golfers are going to have a 8-12 yard difference with a full swing with a 56 vs a full swing with a 60 degree wedge. The ultimate goal is to build a wedge set that provides a decent separation without too large of a separation from one club to the next. Our data shows a 56 will fly 92 on average, while a 60 degree wedge will fly 83 for a 9 yard difference.
Another key difference will be around the greens with chip shots. The 60 provides more loft to be able to hit higher chip shots and even flop shots. Some golferes are good enough to hit those same shots with a 56, while others need additional loft.
Many golf courses have greens that are firm and fast and can provide a challenge if you don’t have a 60 degree in your bag. Here are some common setups.
Most Common Setup #1:
- 48 Degree Wedge (Pitching Wedge)
- 54 Degree Wedge (Sand Wedge)
- 60 Degree Wedge (Lob Wedge)
Most Common Setup #2:
- 48 Degree Wedge (Pitching Wedge)
- 52 Degree Wedge (Gap Wedge
- 56 Degree Wedge (Sand Wedge)
- 60 Degree Wedge (Lob Wedge)
Most Common Setup #3:
- 48 Degree Wedge (Pitching Wedge)
- 52 Degree Wedge (Gap Wedge
- 58 Degree Wedge (Lob Wedge)
Here is the setup I use for my bag. I prefer to carry only 3 wedges to provide more versatility with the longer clubs such as a utility driving iron and a 3 wood. I have a shot chart that looks like this:
Distance Chart for Wedges: My Chart
| Club | 100% | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% |
| Pitching Wedge (48) | 128 | 118 | 108 | 98 | 88 | 78 |
| SW Club (54) | 105 | 97 | 91 | 85 | 77 | 68 |
| LW Club (60) | 85 | 76 | 68 | 60 | 52 | 44 |
Should I get a 56 or 60 degree wedge?
I believe every golfer should carry a 60 degree lob wedge and then a 54 or 56 degree sand wedge. Whether you buy the 54 or 56 will depend on if you want to carry 3 wedges or 4 wedges. If you are going to carry 4 wedges, you will have a 56. If you are going to only carry 3 wedges, you will have a 54.
At the end of the day, golfers should carry a sand wedge (54 or 56) and a lob wedge (58 or 60). They are both necessary clubs that provide plenty of versatility. As you can see above with my distance chart for wedges, being able to hit different shots based on pin placements, green firmness and other conditions will provide you with the great number of options.
When you consider the number of shots that take place inside of 100 yards on any given round of golf (estimated at 60%) the golfer needs to feel comfortable over every shot inside of 100 yards.
Here is the bottom line when a golfer inquires if they should carry 3 or 4 wedges:
- Good at half shots = 3 Wedges
- Struggle with half shots = 4 wedges
When to use 60 vs 56 Degree Wedge?
The average golfer is going to use the 56 or 60 for many shots inside of 100 yards. Creating different size shots by percentage or using the clock system will help the golfer have a feel based or systematic based approach. Have a plan and awareness of how far you can hit each club with a variety of swings. Both clubs are somewhat interchangeable, although they have their strengths and weaknesses.
Situation #1: If a golfer has 80 yards to a back pin. He might be able to fly the 60 degree wedge all the way there or can fly a 56 degree a bit lower with a more comfortable and controlled swing. The golfer has options and should pick the shot he or she has the most confidence with.
Situation #2: If a golfer has a 72 yard shot to a front pin. He might want to fly the 60 degree wedge high and land it soft right by the flag, bringing the short bunker into play. Or the golfer can hit the 56 degree wedge and plan on flighting it 10-15 feet past the hole to play a safer shot. Once again, the golfer has options and can consider different factors during the round of golf.
56 vs 60 Degree Wedge and Chipping
One recommendation is to learn to chip with both the 56 and 60 degree wedge. Provide yourself some flexibility and options. However, there are some golfers that always chip with one club and become really good with that club. They get really good at hitting different lofted shots with one club. Pick your system and stick with it.
For most golfers, the 56 will fly lower while chipping, while the 60 will fly higher and land softer. However, both shots can be hit with both clubs depending on your skill level!
56 vs 60 Degree Wedge: Final Thoughts
Golf is a fun game. Enjoy the challenge of figuring out what is best for your game and build your system to score your best. Don’t get caught up in what your playing partner is doing, stick with your shots and hit them. If you see a shot you lack, go practice between rounds. Play your game, have your system and enjoy the challenge!