How To Use A 60 Degree Wedge (Key Tips)

Written by Todd in Online Golf Instruction

Golf can be a complicated game.

One of the most important clubs in the bag is the 60 degree wedge also known as the lob wedge. 

The 60 degree wedge provides enough loft and versatility around a green to help golfers deal with severe slopes, bunkers and all around shots that require a significant amount of loft.

If you have ever short sided yourself, leaving a difficult chip or a flop shot that requires you to get the ball softly up in the air so it can stop quickly, you understand the importance of the 60 degree wedge.

Now it is time to master that wedge and have it become your favorite club in your bag or one of your “go to” clubs!

My 60 is the one club I wouldn’t want to play golf without.  I use it for a variety of shots and will give you some tips to help you become the “expert” at saving par or making birdies on the shorter par 4s and 5s.

How To Use A 60 Degree Wedge?

The golfer will want to develop a variety of shots that require different feels, setups and swings to master the low chip, the medium chip, the high flop and of course the full swing and half swing shots.  

As you can see above, there are 5 key shots that you will want to become an expert at.  These include:

  • Lower driving chip shot
  • Medium flighted chip shot
  • High flop shot
  • Full swing
  • Something less than full swing, but more than a chip
They key to this shot is to understand how far a 70, 80 or 90% wedge shot will send your ball flying! Make sure you see our tips below on how to create a chart for your wedge distances!

Shot: Lower Driving Chip Shot

This shot will often be used when there is pletny of green to work with and it is relatively flat.  Instead of trying to fly it all the way to the hole, many golfers prefer to get the ball rolling towards the hole as soon as possible.

This shot might also be hit even on a close pin, where the golfer is simply trying to get the ball going.  This is often used ona  faster chip shot that might be downhill from a short distance.

Tip: The golfer will want to put the ball back in the stance, hands forward and weight forward.  This helps reduce the loft of the club and drive the ball lower.  Some golfers might turn to a sand wedge or pitching wedge for this shot, but I prefer to stay with my 60 degree wedge.

The key here is to pick the pace of your swing and keep it constant throughout the swing.  Some golfers prefer a quicker, shorter swing, while others might utilize the a longer, slow swing.

Both can work and the key here is to find your comfort level.  Get out and practice the lower, flying chip shot with the 60 degree wedge.  Remember to keep the ball back, hands forward, and weight forward.  Pick the speed of your swing and experiment to create your system.

Shot: Medium Flighted Chip Shot

The golfer will often use this shot with more of a middle pin from around 10-20 yards.  The goal is to fly the ball about halfway to the hole and let it roll out towards the hole.  This shot might be utilized if there is some slight undulation that you want to fly the ball over or a bunker in your way.

Tip: The golfer will want to play the ball more in the middle of the stance with the hands almost level with the ball.  The key here is to allow the bounce of the club be your friend and allow it to slide under the ball, instead of digging into the ground with the leading wedge.

Using the bounce, will help you on tight lies, instead of trying to dig with the leading edge.

Once again the golfer wil want to pick the pace: fast, medium and slow and match it up with the size of the swing: long, medium or short.

Creating your system once again will help you have a variety of options over every shot.

Shot: High Flop Shot

We have all been there!  Short sided with little green to work with.  I just did it the other day on a par 3.  The green sat about 8 feet above the ground with about 10-12 feet of green to stop the ball on.  A low, flying shot wasn’t even an option.  If I wanted any chance for par, I needed to flop the ball up on the green to help it stop quick.

Fortunately, I have hit this shot for years and was able to save my par. 

Tip: The golfer will want to play the bal forward in the stance, with the hands slightly behind the ball.  You will want to open the face up pretty wide and make sure you commit to the shot.

The single biggest mistake I see with this shot is when the golfer allows the right hand to take over and flick at the ball.  Instead, set that left hand and take it down and under the shot, adding loft and allowing the ball to fly up. Keep the face open throughout the shot and into the follow through.

Stay patient and keep your pace that you have selected: slow, medium or fast.

Practicing this shot and building confidence will be the key to executing this shot.  As your confidence builds, it will help you stay with the shot and down and through the shot.  Those that panic will blade or chunk the ball.  Stay down and let the ball pop up.

The goal for all chip shots is to get the ball in a 3 foot circle around the hole!

Shot: Full Swing

Hopefully, you have given some thought to the wedges in your bag.  I carry a 48, 54 and 60 degree wedge.

Here is a sample chart I have created for all of my wedges:

ClubCarry Distance (100%)90%80%70%
PW Club11811010294
SW Club105979184
LW Club90827466

As you can see, with my lob wedge I have shots that carry the ball 90, 82, 74 and 66 measured out.

Key Tip: Keep your arms and body moving.  Too often, golfers will stall out, use too much arms and dig into the green.  Get the arms riding with the body back and through the shot.  Once again, you can pick your swing speed: slow, medium and fast and have it serve as another element that limits or adds distance.

To create this chart I used my SkyTrak Launch Monitor in my home setup to chart my distances.

I would highly recommend a launch monitor.  

These portable devices can be used at the driving range, golf course or set up in your home net or golf simulator.  These devices are game changers not only on being able to map your bag and know your distances, but they also provide quality feedback after on every shot and provide the following information:

  • Carry Distance
  • Spin Rate
  • Launch Angle
  • Spin Axis
  • Total Distance
  • Ball Speed

This information will help you map your bag, decide on which clubs are best for your game, develop a stock shot and much more.  I love using my SkyTrak 365 days a year in my golf simulator setup.

The process for mapping your bag can looking something like this:

  • Hit 5 shots with each club in your bag.
  • Log the carry distance and total distance for each shot.
  • Eliminate any outlier numbers (poor hits or low spin rates).
  • Take the average and create a map of your bag.

If you visit any PGA Tour event you will see plenty of golfers utilizing their launch monitors.  While most can’t afford a Trackman, there are some very affordable options in the 500-2000 dollar range.  I own the SkyTrak and I think the world of it.  

Here are the top 3 options to check out:

My Skytrak Golf Simulator setup has helped me hit my 60 degree lob wedge even better! I have mapped my bag and have developed my game in my “golf lab”

Shot: Something Less Than a Full Swing, but More Than A Chip

As you can see above, I have charted a 70, 80 and 90 percent swing with each of my wedges.  With the 60 degree wedge, I would recommend several things.

Tip: Experiment with the ball in different positions.  When I want to hit the ball lower, because I have more green to work with, I will play the ball in my stance.  Yesterday, I had a 60 yard shot, over a bunker.  I played the ball forward in my stance and kept my body and arms moving throughout the shot with about a medium pace.

Too often I see golfers stop or not commit to the shot.  Make sure you keep moving through the shot.  Also, rehearse your swing length and speed 3-4 times and get the feel in your swing.

Bonus Shot: The Bunker Shot

I often am asked if the 60 degree wedge can be used from a bunker.  The answer is a big time yes.

In fact, this is my go to club out of green side bunkers as well.  The one time I go with my 54 is on longer shots where there is plenty of green to work with.

Tip: Open the clubface and swing with commitment. Keep your pace steady and hit down and through the shot, allowing the sand to throw your ball out of the bunker.

Final Thoughts: How to use a 60 degree wedge

As you can see from above there are some common tips that seem to apply to every shot:

  • Commit to the shot and keep your arms and body moving back and through
  • Pick your swing speed
  • Experiment with your ball position
  • Don’t attempt to hit a shot on the course that you haven’t practiced

Too often golfers ignore number one, get stabby with the shot and have disastrous results.  It is vital that you keep moving back and through and don’t throw that right hand at the ball.  Let the back side of the left hand hit the ball and stay with it through the shot.

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

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