The pitching wedge is the club that traditionally transitions the irons into the wedges. With a pitching wedge in your bag, you can hit approach shots into the green, chip out of the rough, or hit short shots around the green. The club is one of the most versatile in the bag. Any great player will tell you that the pitching wedge needs to be one of the best clubs in your bag if you plan on having a great day on the golf course.
If a pitching wedge didn’t come with your current set, or you feel like you might need an update, we have all the best options on the market. Here are nine of the best pitching wedge choices that golf has to offer.
Our picks for the best pitching wedges
Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge
The Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge strives to be the best possible transition from irons to wedges that golf has to offer. So many golfers that play with cavity back irons have a hard time transitioning to the blade when they get closer to the green.
This difficult transition creates hesitation and sometimes deceleration. When you bring fear into the short game, you start to see really bad shots. The Callaway Mack Daddy CB is a very forgiving option that will give golfers much more confidence in their abilities around the green.
The groove in groove technology helps to increase the amount of spin you can get, even if your swing is not the fastest out there. The four different sole grinds allow players to get the best possible custom fit on their wedges. You can have the Mack Daddy CB in the 46 or 48 pitching Wedge and then transition it directly into your gap and sand wedges.
Pros
- Lots of bounce and grind options
- Chrome or black matte finish
- Spin around the greens is high with the groove in groove technology
Cons
- Not a blade style wedge, doesn’t look quite as clean for bunker shots and off of a tight lie
Callaway Golf Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge
In addition to the new and ultra forgiving Mack Daddy CB, the Jaws 5 is another impressive option offered by Callaway. With the Mack Daddy 5 Jaws, you will be looking at a blade-style players wedge that can work from a variety of locations.
Since the Jaws 5 series of wedges are progressive, as you move towards the pitching wedge, you will notice the club start to take on a bit of a look like an iron and less like a wedge. The Mack Daddy 5 Jaws is made from an 8620 Mild Carbon Steel that gives it a great feel as well.
The Mack Daddy 5 Jaws is a great transitional pitching wedge available in the 48 degree or 46 degree. Even if you are not playing a blade-style iron, you will notice that the Mack Daddy 5 will seamlessly fit within your set.
One of the things that we love about this option for a pitching wedge is that it comes stock in either a steel or a graphite shaft. For those golfers that currently play with a graphite shaft in their irons, the graphite should continue through the wedge as well. Overall you will get plenty of spin and excellent performance from the Mack Daddy 5 Jaws wedges.
Pros
- Tour proven design
- Great looking club
- Available in many loft and bounce options
- Progressive design for a seamless transition to irons
Cons
- Not going to be the most forgiving wedge on the market
Titleist Vokey SM7 Pitching Wedge
The Titleist Vokey wedge is known as the player’s wedge. Although most people think about hitting a beautiful bunker shot or knocking that twenty yard pitch to a foot, the Vokey wedges are also an excellent option for approach shots from a little further back. With more loft, grind, and bounce options than any other wedge on the market, the SM7 is a great pitching wedge choice for your bag.
The Spin Milled grooves are really what set this Titleist pitching wedge apart. Available in the 46 degree loft, you will be able to attack the pin and get the ball to stop exactly where it landed with the SM7 in your hands. The feel, precision, and impressive look of the SM7 set it apart.
One thing to remember about the Titleist Vokey Sm7 wedge is that they provide really good feedback to players. If you hit a bad shot, the clubs will let you know. For beginners and higher handicappers, this can take a bit of getting used to.
Pros
- Very clean looking design
- Many grind and bounce options
- Good feel
- Impressive spin milled grooves and technology
Cons
- Not a forgiving golf wedge, you will need to have some short game skill around the greens to see the benefits of the Vokey
Cleveland Golf- RTX ZipCore
Cleveland Golf is known for its short game products. The new ZipCore wedge changes what golfers thought wedges were capable of in their game. The most significant difference with this wedge is that the center of gravity has moved to help increase spin, control, and consistency. This is a new concept for a wedge, and it is working well.
With the new UltiZip Grooves, you will have a much easier time getting spin on your shots. The grooves are very close together, so even if you haven’t made perfect contact with the ZipCore, you will end up being able to stop the ball.
Another great feature of the Cleveland wedges is the heat treatment that they go through before being released on the market. The heat treatment ensures that the club’s grooves are goign to stay in good shape for years to come. The Cleveland ZipCore is a wedge that higher handicap players will benefit from. Still, the lower handicap players are also seeing how high-performing and great feeling the ZiprCore wedges are.
Pros
- A good fit for a wide range of players
- A unique center of gravity placement for better performance
- Grooves have been improved and sharpened
- Heat treatment to prolong the longevity of the club
Cons
- Not as low priced as some of the other Cleveland wedge options
Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedge
Number one on our list of best pitching wedges is the Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedges. This pitching wedge tops our list for a variety of reasons.
The first thing that I liked about this wedge is one can buy it individually. There is no need to buy an entire set of Cleveland wedges just to get a pitching wedge. The company offers this wedge in a number of loft options which start from 46 degrees. That’s the right loft option to start from.
If you find this club suitable for you then you can purchase this wedge in various lofts and make your own high-performance wedge set. The wedge also comes with a hollow cavity design. This means you will enjoy the forgiveness of a cavity back wedge.
The CBX 2 wedge comes with a sole grind which is a universal option. It offers you the versatility to play shots from various types of lies and different turfs.
If we talk about the feel of this wedge, it is simply amazing as the company adds a certain type of insert in it to reduce its vibration during the impact. With this wedge, you will enjoy the feel of a tour wedge together with the forgiveness similar to a cavity back iron.
When it comes to grooves, then the Cleveland is consistent with the tour zip grooves which it has been using from several years. So, if you are looking for a wedge that works well on the green and do wonders from the fairway too, then Cleveland CBX 2 will be a perfect choice for you. This wedge serves mid to high handicappers really well.
Pros:
- Feel is amazing just like a tour wedge.
- Several loft options available.
- Comes with tour zip grooves.
- Works nicely on the green as well as from the fairway.
- Covers good distance.
Cons:
- Not an appropriate option for low handicappers.
Callaway Men’s RogueX Pitching Wedge
If you are a golf lover and have some knowledge about the game then you must have heard the name of Callaway. It is one of the leading companies in the golfing industry and is known for its high-quality products. The Callaway Men’s Rogue X Pitching Wedge is also one of the highest selling products of the company.
When it comes to wedges, most of the times, a pitching wedge is considered as a part of an iron set. This Rogue X wedge is also a part of the set. But, the good news is, you can also purchase it individually. If you are at mid to high handicap level then this wedge will be a good option for you. It is because it offers both distance as well as forgiveness.
The Rogue X may not be a specialist in playing lofted shots like the CBX 2, but it is an excellent option for pitch and run. This wedge is also known for its distance coverage. It is amongst the longest golf sets of the Callaway. In our buyer’s guide, we discussed the concept of matching of the clubs because consistency can make a huge difference. Well, you can pair this wedge with Callaway Mack Daddy wedges whose loft option starts from 50 degrees. The combination of both models will provide you with a great feel. Additionally, combining these two wedges will complete your set of wedges as Mack Daddy is not available in 46 and 48 degrees loft option.
The manufacturers have kept the center of gravity of this Rogue X iron very low. For improving the distance, the company keeps the loft, of this modern set of irons, adjusted a few degrees down. Even after the adjustment of the loft, the positioning of the center of gravity helps the golfer to hit the ball high.
If you are thinking to take your game to the next level and want to upgrade your irons by adding a high-performance wedge, then Rogue X is your best bet.
Pros:
- Plenty of forgiveness due to 350 Face Cup and VFT.
- Amazing feel, thanks to Urethane Microspheres.
- An ideal wedge for mid to high handicappers.
- Low lofted wedge for improvement in distance.
- Low center of gravity.
Cons:
- For a good launch, the golfer would require a fast swing speed otherwise you may face some trouble with the shot.
Cleveland RTX 4 Pitching Wedge
You must be thinking that why we are back to Cleveland wedges. The truth is Cleveland constructs one of the finest clubs to improve the short game that the golf world has ever seen. The RTX 4 wedges are also a part of the Cleveland’s finest clubs list.
The RTX 4 is available in various sole grind options along with a number of loft options. You are lucky, that amongst many loft options, two are 46 and 48 degrees options which will serve well you as a pitching wedge.
The best thing about the RTX pitching wedge is that you can add other wedges (sand, gap, and lob) too if you like it. This way you will have your complete RTX wedge set. The benefit of this is the consistency in the feel which will result in an increase of confidence level of the golfer.
The previously discussed CBX wedge is more of a mid to high handicappers wedge. But, this is not the case with the RTX wedges. These wedges come with a blade style design which works best for the mid to low handicappers.
This Cleveland wedge comes with a progressive shaping. It means that more you move close to the wedge, better the feel of the blade you will get. The construction of the wedge is more like an iron which works perfectly for a pitching wedge.
If you have some golf knowledge then you must be knowing that a good short game can change the whole scoreboard to your favour. It is that part of the game that can take you way ahead from your competitors. Keeping this in mind, the company incorporates tour zip grooves in this wedge. These grooves help in producing a high level of spin that can aid you in winning the short game.
So, if you are looking for a complete set of wedges, then you can go for the entire RTX lineup.
Pros:
- A good option for mid to low handicappers.
- Progressive shaping for better feel.
- Tour zip grooves for high-level of spin.
- A number of loft options available.
- Soul and bounce options are also there (High, Mid, and Low bounce).
Cons:
- It is pretty expensive as the technology is newer.
Mazel Golf Pitching And Chipper Wedge
When our budget is tight then the choices of the clubs start decreasing. The clubs start to stray away from the conventional tour-level design. But, we are happy to bring for you a decent pitching wedge choice at an affordable price, i.e., Mazel Golf Pitching and Chipper wedge. By looking at its design, you may feel that this wedge is not a tour-level design and might be illegal. But, we assure you that the wedge is actually tournament legal.
It may not seem like the most attractive club out there, but it is a good choice for those golfers who struggle playing pitch shots. Golfers who have the habit of hitting fat or thin pitches will enjoy the benefits of this club the most.
For a pitching wedge, the best loft option would be 45 degrees and Mazel offers you that. You can even hit full swing shots using this wedge, but we recommend you to mostly use it around the green only.
The clubhead of this Mazel wedge is heavy which is a good thing as the golfer can develop his feel around the green. The wedge also comes with a sharp leading edge which helps in improving the turf interaction. This means you can use it to get out of the bunker too. But, we recommend you to let the sand and lob wedge do their work to help you escape from the bunker.
Sometimes, the high bounce may not be suitable for the golfers and can work against them. Mazel has got you covered in this department as it is not a high bounce wedge.
So, golfers who are searching a non-expensive budget-friendly decent wedge and who can bear a non-traditional look, can go for this Mazel pitching wedge.
Pros:
- It may look non-traditional, but it is absolutely legal for the tournament.
- Budget-friendly.
- Suitable for pitch shots.
- A nice option for high handicappers.
Cons:
- In the spin department, it is not so good.
Square Strike Pitching And Chipping Wedge
Senior golfers struggle in hitting a perfect shot. the most common mis-hit they perform is hitting the ball and chunking it a little. So, if you are looking for a pitching wedge that can make the chunk shots simply impossible, then nothing can beat this Square Strike pitching wedge.
It is another one of our non-traditional looking pitching wedges, but this one is also a legal golf club. It has got an extra-wide sole along with bevelled leading edge which keeps it from digging. This means that there will be no more chunked pitch shots.
In addition to this, it offers a heavy and solid feel which boosts the confidence of the player. It comes with a length of 35.5 inches and also has an anti-rotational weighting which makes it easy to swing and improves control too.
You don’t have to open your stance to hit a great shot. You simply have to go for straight-back-straight through, just like a putter, for better accuracy and control.
You can perform chip shots from a variety of lies using this wedge. It is also a perfect club for bump and run shots. It is a nice wedge that can glide smoothly through the turf resulting in less pressure on the hand and wrists. This makes it an ideal wedge for senior golfers.
Pros:
- Easy to control and hit.
- Minimum possibility to hit a chunk shot.
- Affordable.
- Heavy and solid feel.
Cons:
- Not suitable for roughs and bunkers.
Conclusion
Choosing a wedge that serves you the best and compliments your game can be an exhaustive task. But, with our guide and top picks, we are trying to help you choose the best pitching wedges.
We know that there are a lot of companies out there which produce amazing pitching wedges. But, in our view, Cleveland wedges are the most appealing to the golfers at all the levels.
We recommend you to go for Cleveland CBX or RTX wedges as per your handicap level. Both of these Cleveland wedges offer the right amount of spin as well as forgiveness that you need to get the work done. Cleveland also offers one of the most reasonable priced wedges in the market. So pick a nice pitching wedge and enjoy your game.
If you are looking for more than just a pitching wedge, the writers at PG Golf Links have put together some additional reviews you may like below:
- 60 degree wedge
- Novice wedge
- Lob wedge
- Forgiving wedge
- Wedge you should carry
- Mid-handicap wedge
- 56 degree golf club
Buying Guide To Choose The Best Pitching Wedges
I have already mentioned that generally pitching wedges are sold as a component of the iron set. But, this does not mean that you cannot buy it separately. If you are a newbie then the first wedge that you should master is a pitching wedge. If you are a golf player who is looking to upgrade his/her short game by taking the ball flight control as well as spin to the next level, then it’s time for you to upgrade your pitching wedge.
So, here are some of the considerations that you must keep in your mind while making the final decision regarding your wedge.
Loft
There has been a considerable change in the loft of the pitching wedge over the years. The standard loft of a pitching wedge was around 46 to 48 degrees. Well, this is not the case anymore.
The competition between the club manufacturers to offer the golfers longer distance has changed the loft greatly. As the loft kept on changing through the years, the gap between the pitching wedge and sand wedge became huge. This results in a vast stretch of yardages which may not be convenient for many golfers. That’s why several golfers now buy a complete iron set and then add pitching wedges of different degrees to it.
So, it has become necessary for the golfers to pay attention to the loft of the pitching wedge before buying it. Always pick the loft option that can improve your game and suits you the most.
Matching
Is it really important that all of your wedges should match? Well, I asked this question to some low handicappers. Most of them believe that if all of the wedges in your kit match then it can make a huge difference to your game. But, how? The simple answer is the consistency that you’ll get from one wedge to another.
Let’s understand how consistency or matching of wedges can affect a golfer’s gameplay. If there is consistency in the equipment that you use, then there will be consistency in the feel too. The consistency in feel results in a boost in the level of confidence of a golfer whether he belongs to any handicap level. Increase in the confidence level with the wedge leads to a confident shot down on the green.
So I hope, now, you may have understood, how this cycle works. Matching of wedges and their consistency can have a huge impact on your game. So, you should take your time to decide between wedges. Just like the decision you make when you are buying a fancy new driver.
Pitch Or Chip
One should select the pitching wedge as per its use. You should consider, whether you’ll be using the pitching wedge for more pitch shots or the chip shots. So, let’s understand what the difference between the two is. This is a common question that most of the golfers ask while playing or teaching golf.
In simple words, the main difference between the two is that the chip rolls and the pitch stops. In case of a pitch, the ball remains in the air for a long period, but when it lands on the green, it rolls for just a few feet (or not at all), and then stops. When you chip, the ball remains in the air for a short period and when it lands, it rolls the rest of the way.
A golfer needs to master both types of shots to lower his/her score. You can play both chip and pitch shots using a pitching wedge. So, select the wedge wisely as per your gaming style.
Shaft
When it comes to the shaft, there can be two options, steel and graphite. Keep in mind that you will want to match your PW’s shaft with the rest of the golf clubs in your set. If you are using steel shaft clubs then you should stick with the steel shaft when choosing the pitching wedge too.
If you are using graphite shaft clubs then go for graphite shaft throughout your wedges. However, you may go for steel shafts for sand and lob wedges.
In my view, steel shafts are best for wedges. It is because they provide much accuracy and control over the ball. As we know, we use wedges when the golf ball is closer to the cup or just 100 yards away. So, at such short distance accuracy is very necessary and that can be attained using a steel shaft pitching wedge.
Price
When it comes to the price of a pitching wedge, you need to consider a few factors first.
Firstly, if you are a beginner, go for a decent pitching wedge with basic features and a non-expensive one. Many golfers believe that an expensive pitching wedge with a variety of features, that professionals use, can help them improve their game. Well, that’s not the case at all. As a beginner, the basic aim is to learn how the pitching wedge works and how can it help you get on the green. So, don’t go for an expensive pitching wedge and select the one with nice quality that can get the work done.
Another thing to consider is the type of shaft you are choosing. Graphite shafts tend to be expensive than steel ones. It is not a tactic that manufacturers use to rip you off. Graphite is actually an expensive material which increases the price of your pitching wedge.
It will be wise to spend around $80 to $180 on a new pitching wedge. Remember, the main aim is the performance of the wedge that can help you score low. If you get a pitching wedge that suits your game then it will be money well spent.
