Loft

photo credit: mfury     Not that long ago players had  only two wedges to choose from, the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.   For more than a few years now, wedges  have become available  in a variety of lofts.    In today's game, it's  not uncommon for  many PGA Tour players to carry three wedges in their golf bags.  

The typical lofts are:   1)   Pitching wedge > 48 degrees.   2)   Gap wedge > 52 – 56 degrees.   3)   Lob wedge > 60 degrees.   Keep in mind that as the loft of the club increases two things happen:   A)   shot distance will be shorter.   B)   shots will fly higher.   Most full approach shots (approximately 100 yards) can be hit with a pitching wedge.   The gap and lob wedges are used closer than 100 yards.