If we were to have a wedge popularity contest, your sand and sand wedge would likely be the winners. Many golfers keep a wedge in their bag to help with opening the loft, but never take it out to use on the course. There are great uses for the trench wedge – if you know when and how to play with it. Check out this gap wedge guide before you play. Try incorporating some gap wedge shots into your next round and see if that helps with accuracy.
When to use the gap wedge
The gap wedge has several uses. The most common are difficult yardage shots, longer bunker shots, approach shots under 100 yards, and longer greenside fairways.
Weird yard shot
Pitching wedges and sand wedges often have 10 or more degrees of loft separating them.
What you will often see with this large loft gap is a club that, for example, flies 120 yards and another that only goes 100 yards.
The gap wedge fits perfectly in the middle and hits the shot 110 yards. Of course, spacing will vary depending on the swing speed and wedge you purchase.
However, the most important use for a gap wedge is to fill that space in the bag where a raised wedge is too large and a sand wedge is not enough.
Longer bunker shots
Wedge shots where you still have 20 to 30 yards to get to the pin can be tricky with the sand wedge. A gap wedge allows you to get the same type of swing you are comfortable with and get just a little more distance from the shot.
This is especially important if your golf ball is in the back of a bunker and you still have a lot of sand to get through. Don’t leave it in the bunker. Get the gap wedge and make sure to get out.
Get close shots under 100 yards
Try hitting some half-swing wedge shots. You can find the perfect shot 50 or 75 yards. Use the gap wedge as a club for controlled and accurate shots from less than 100 yards.
Longer pitches by the green
A pitch shot flies higher than a chip and stops quickly when it hits the green. When there are obstacles between you and the needle (thick grass, sand, etc.), you can consider the gap wedge over the sand wedge.
The gap wedge gives you a few extra yards of distance that can help if you come up short on your shot.
How to use the gap wedge effectively
If you want to start incorporating your gap wedge into your game, here are some tips to ensure success.
Set the position of the ball.
The center stand is usually best for your gap wedge. You can play it a little further off center for shorter shots.
Wrist position and lean shaft
At impact, you’ll want a forward shaft to compress the ball properly. Keep your lead wrist flat or slightly bent at impact to hit your gap wedge with a square face.
Steeper angle of attack
To get enough height from your wedge shots, use a steeper angle of attack. Treat this club like a sand wedge to get crisp contact.
Placing a loose golf club an inch or two behind the ball and working to avoid hitting it on your downswing is a good way to ensure clear contact and a steeper angle of attack.
The ball first, then contact with the ground
To get spin and control on your wedge shots, hit the ball first and make sure the separation happens behind the ball.
Which trench wedge should I use?
When choosing a gap wedge, pay attention to the attic. It should fit perfectly between your lift wedge and sand wedge. For example, if you play hollow clubs with a graphite shaft, look for a wedge that offers similar playability, features and feel. A blade style wedge is a good fit to complete the set for players who have blade style irons.
In our 2023 MyGolfSpy Best Wedge Test, these are the five best golf wedges:
- TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 – The best overall
- COBRA Snake bite X
- TaylorMade Hi Toe 3
- Cleveland CBX Full Face 2
- Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore
Other names for gap wedges
Depending on the gap you have in your bag, you may see a few other names for it. Gap wedges may also be called:
- Wedge approach
- Utility wedge
- Attack wedge
- Double wedge
The name is not very important. The key is that the split wedge loft fits between that of your riser wedge and the sand wedge. For most golfers, the wedge loft will be between 48 and 54 degrees.
CONCLUSION
If you have one gap wedgestart using it in your game. You may find that this adds a few more shots to your repertoire and completes some of the difficult yards. If your iron set doesn’t have a hollow wedge, you can fill it with an individual wedge like the TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 or the COBRA Snakebite X, available in various loft and shaft combinations.
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