The golfer will want to use a pitching wedge on the full swing yardages typically between 100 and 130 yards, in some situations where something less than a full swing is ideal and when chipping or pitching around the green.
Every golfer gets to carry 14 clubs in their bag.
The majority of golfers will carry a driver, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges and a putter.
One of the most important clubs in the bag is the pitching wedge. Once golfers get inside of a certain distance is when the scoring opportunities present themselves.
Even if you are just new to the game and are struggling to make par on occasion, the wedges in your bag are still essential.
Many amateurs begin the game with too few wedges and then struggle to really get good around the greens and inside of 125 yards.
Does this situation below sound familiar?
You have hit a decent drive and have around 125 yards in. You go ahead and hit your pitching wedge, but miss the green. Next, you blade a chip, and then chip one on and 3 putt? You just made a double bogey and you were only 125 yards away from the green on your approach shot!
Golf can be a tough game, but we can make it more simple. Below, I detail the 3 situations where the pitching wedge is most frequently used.
When To Use A Pitching Wedge?
My Experience: I have use my pitching wedge anywhere from 110-130 yards depending on the elevation changes, wind and how I feel that day. Your best chance is to dial in your distance and have a clear idea on how far you carry your club in standard conditions!
Here is the bulleted list:
- The Full Swing Pitching Wedge
- The Less Than Full Swing Pitching Wedge
- For Chipping and Pitching Around the Green
Resource: How To Hit A Pitching Wedge (Complete Overview)
Situation #1: The Full Swing Pitching Wedge
Every golfer should know their ideal distance with each club. I know that with a full swing my pitching wedge will travel around 128 yards in the air on average. I also know that my approach wedge or gap wedge will travel around 118 yards with a full swing, 105 with my sand wedge and 90 yards with my lob wedge.
Do you know your average carry distance with each wedge in your bag and maybe your entire set? This is key information to help get your game to the next level. Too often, golfers assume how far they can hit their different golf clubs without ever really measuring.
I use my SkyTrak launch monitor to frequently test my carry distance with every iron in the bag and especially my wedges. It is essential to know your various differences to help you when you are out on the course.
There is nothing more frustrating than having 125 yards left to the pin and hitting a shot 140 yards over the green and into a water hazard, bunker or an impossible chipping situation.
The full swing with the pitching wedge is a time when you are looking to attack the pin or at a minimum leave yourself a safe shot to the middle of the green for a guaranteed two putt and a par.
Resource: Pitching Wedge vs Sand Wedge (Key Tips and Questions)
I would recommend that every golfers create a chart that resembles the one below:
| Club | Carry Distance (100%) | 90% | 80% |
| Pitching Wedge | 128 | 118 | 108 |
| Approach Wedge | 118 | 110 | 102 |
| SW Club | 105 | 97 | 91 |
| LW Club | 90 | 82 | 74 |
There are two different ways to create this chart:
- Use a SkyTrak or similar launch monitor to measure your distances.
- Use the old fashion way of marking a spot out on the range and hitting enough shots to create a calculation.
With my SkyTrak Launch Monitor I complete the following process:
- Hit 10 shots with each wedge at 100%
- Hit 10 shots with each wedge at 90%
- Hit 10 shots with each wedge at 80%
- Remove the shortest and longest distance and average the other 8 shots.
- Create the chart that looks like the one above
*Quick Note: Make sure you use the same golf ball for every shot. Preferable the ball you use when you play the majority of your golf.
Resource: Are Expensive Golf Balls Worth It?
You now have an average and can create your own chart! There are some affordable launch monitors on the market. They may be more affordable than you realize. Check them out here.
Ready to take your game to the next level? Check out these 3 quality options below:
Not only can you have precise distances for your pitching wedge and all of your clubs, but you will have instant access to the following data after every shot:
- Carry and Total Distance
- Ball Speed
- Spin Rate
- Spin Axis
- Launch Angle
These devices are game changers for the everyday golfer that wants to get better!
Situation #2: The Less Than Full Swing Pitching Wedge
Ideally, during a round of golf, every shot will land right on the perfect number for your wedge shots. Realistically, this will never happen. The key to golf is being able to adjust and adapt. For example, if I hit my pitching wedge 128 yards with a full swing and my gap wedge 118 yards with a full swing, what happens if I am at 123 yards left to the pin?
I look at my chart and see that a 90% pitching wedge travels 118 yards, would a 95% pitching wedge travel 123 yards? The golfer must develop the feel to play certain shots.
When I would go through my pre shot thought process, I would consider several factors on this shot:
- Will the lie add or take away distance?
- What is the wind doing?
- Is there a front bunker that I must carry?
- Is it better to be short or long of the hole?
- How am I striking the ball this round?
I will take these different factors into play and make a decision. The less than full swing pitching wedge can be easy to control, easy to control the ball flight and hopefully easy to start online.
Chances are on this shot I will hit the 95% pitching wedge. If I hvae a bunker to carry and a lie that might take some distance, I might be back to the 100% pitching wedge.
The point here is to gather information, have your options and then make a decision. Stick with your decision and commit to the shot.
Key Tip: Don’t Slow Down
When you get over the shot, the best way to control the less than full swing pitching wedge is by shortening your backswing, not by taking speed off. Go ahead and make an aggressive approach to the ball and commit to the shot!
You will find yourself with many less than full swing wedges, so I highly recommend practicing and building your own distance chart and feel and adapt to the course. Hardly, do you find two shots that are exactly the same within a round of golf. Stick to a routine, have your information prior to getting to the course and then commit to the shot!
Know Your Yardage To Every Pin and Green!
If you don’t own one, you should highly consider a golf rangefinder. Here is a great moderately priced option!
Resource: Should I Use A Rangefinder? and Are Golf Rangefinders Worth It?
Situation #3: Hitting Chip and Pitch Shots
Another key time when you will use your pitching wedge is around the greens. Ideally, we would hit every green in regulation and not have to chip or pitch at all, but the reality is that this almost never happens.
The quickest way to lower your scores and get better at golf is around the greens with the short game. You will want to use the pitching wedge for simple chips shots where there is plenty of green to work with. If you have short sided yourself and have a delicate chip that must get up in the air and stop quickly, the sand wedge or lob wedge are better options.
However, if you have 20-60 feet of green to work with and want to simply get the ball going, the pitching wedge is a great option.
Tip: Create A System
There are two factors you can control with your pitch and chip shots.
- Length of swing
- Speed of swing
I would recommend creating a system that has the following shots:
- Short and slow swing
- Short and medium swing
- Short and fast swing
- Medium and slow swing
- Medium and medium swing
- Medium and fast swing
- Long and slow swing
- Long and medium swing
- Long and fast swing
Having a general idea of how far the ball will carry and roll out can give you plenty of options around the green. Depending on the lie and how you feel that day will help you decide what option is best for each shot. When you start adding a sand wedge, lob wedge and other clubs into the mix, you have many options. You have a system you can follow and become an expert at.
Becoming a great short game player isn’t so much about physical ability and overall strength or talent as much as it is about hard work, time spent and creating a system that works for your game!
When To Use A Pitching Wedge: Next Steps
THe key is to get out and practice all three of these situations. Practice those full swing pitching wedge shots. Practice those less than full swing shots and make sure you spend time around the green hitting chip and pitch shots.
Resource: Top 22 Golf Games Recommended!
If you want to get good fast at golf and truly lower your scores, the quickest, easiest way is becoming an expert short game player. It doesn’t take great physical strength, speed or really anything special. It does take time, practice, and a system that you can follow.
The great thing about golf is that the person that drivers the ball 220 yards can compete with the person who drives the ball 260 if they are good with their pitching wedge, can get up and down for par and can sink more putts!
The short game is the great equalizer to level the playing field for those that might out drive you!
Want To Take Your Game to the Next Level?
For those that are seeking ways to work on your golf game at your home, have you considered a launch monitor that can be used with something as simple as a mat and next? Or take it to the next level and build a golf simulator?
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.
I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
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:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.