How far should you hit a gap wedge? Distances and lofts

Gap wedge distance by handicap

Club	Scratch	5 hcp	10 hcp	15 hcp	20 hcp	28 hcp	36 hcp
Pitching wedge	132	125	117	110	102	87	77
Gap wedge	118	112	105	98	91	78	69
Sand wedge	98	93	87	82	76	65	57

Typical total distance in yards, carry plus roll, on a still day at sea level. The same figures as the club distance chart.

England Golf's iGolf puts the male amateur's gap wedge at 80 to 105 yards, and Vokey says most amateurs hit one 80 to 110 yards, averaging around 100 to 105. Our chart assumes a 50° gap wedge; a 52° goes a few yards shorter, a 48° a few yards longer.

Gap wedge, approach wedge, A wedge: the same club

Vokey notes that makers label it a gap wedge, approach wedge, AW or A wedge, and the names mean the same thing. In a set of irons it may just be marked "W" (as in Titleist's sets) or with its loft, such as PING's "50°". Whatever the label, look at the loft: that's what sets the distance.

Why the gap wedge exists

Pitching wedges have become much stronger. PING's G430 pitching wedge is 41° and Titleist's T100 is 45°, while a sand wedge is typically 54° to 56°. Without something in between, there's a gap of 10° or more, and a hole in your distances that only a part swing can fill. The gap wedge, which Vokey describes as filling the distance gap between the pitching wedge and sand wedge, is that something.

On our chart, at a 15 handicap the pitching wedge goes 110 yards, the gap wedge 98 and the sand wedge 82. Take the gap wedge out and the step from pitching wedge to sand wedge is 28 yards.

Which loft should your gap wedge be?

Vokey recommends 4° to 6° of loft between wedges. Start from your pitching wedge's loft, which you'll find on the maker's specification page for your irons, and add 4° to 6°:

Pitching wedge	Gap wedge	Then a sand wedge of
41° to 42°	46° and 50° (two gap wedges)	54° or 56°
44° to 45°	48° or 50°	54°
46° to 48°	52°	56° or 58°

Following Vokey's 4° to 6° rule. Vokey's own wedges come in every even loft from 46° to 62°.

With a very strong pitching wedge, the rule can mean two clubs between it and the sand wedge. That's often a better use of a slot than a long iron you rarely hit: see the club gapping guide.

What else a gap wedge is for

Vokey lists full shots, pitches, chip-and-runs, bump-and-runs and long bunker shots. With less loft than a sand wedge, the ball flies lower and rolls further, which suits running the ball up on firm turf.

Women and beginners

England Golf's iGolf says women typically hit 15 to 25% shorter than men, which turns our 98 yards at a 15 handicap into about 74 to 83. Our chart gives a beginner at a 36 handicap about 69 yards. If your set jumps straight from pitching wedge to sand wedge, a gap wedge is a good first club to add.

Find your own number

Hit 10 full gap wedges on grass to a flag at a known distance and average where they land and finish. Then learn the shorter swings too: the pitching wedge guide explains the three-swing method that gives you a distance for every wedge inside 130 yards.

See every club for your handicap

Related guides

Sources

Golf Scout's Bag keeps how far you hit each club, including every wedge, and learns from the shots you mark. Get Golf Scout on the App Store, free for iPhone and Apple Watch.