What Degree is a Pitching Wedge
in Golf Supposed to Be?

What Degree is a Pitching Wedge?

A pitching wedge typically has a loft between 43 and 48 degrees, depending on the manufacturer and club design. This loft creates a higher, shorter ball flight than a 9-iron, making the pitching wedge ideal for approach shots, chips, and controlled pitch shots around the green.

With this design, you can hit full shots, whereas with a 9-iron it would create too long of a shot. Although the distance is different for each individual golfer, amateurs typically hit 80 to 110 yards with a pitching wedge. You can also use a pitching wedge for half-swing pitch shots and low chip shots.

Pitching Wedge Loft, Degree, and Angle Explained

When golfers talk about a pitching wedge’s loft, degree, or angle, they’re all referring to the same thing—the tilt of the clubface that gets the ball in the air. “Degree” is simply the number (like 44° or 46°), while “loft” and “angle” are the common terms used to describe that measurement in play and club specs.

As mentioned above, most modern pitching wedges sit between 44° and 46° of loft, while older or more traditional sets can be closer to 48°. As pitching wedges have gotten stronger over time, distance gaps have grown—leading to the rise of the gap wedge to keep your scoring clubs dialed in.

When to use a Pitching Wedge

The cool thing about pitching wedges is that they can be used near greens, to get out of sand, and even to get out of woods. Most golfers use a pitching wedge for shots 110 yards or less. It should be used to hit a higher and shorter trajectory than a 9-iron club, and a lower and longer trajectory than a gap wedge club.

History of the Pitching Wedge

History shows us that pitching wedges were the first to be used by golfers, and then the sand wedges came in 1931. Pitching wedges were generally treated like they were irons and this is because pitching wedges were numbered as the 10-iron of a matched set, and are often included in many matched iron sets for sale even though other wedges are not included.

What Are the Best Pitching Wedges?

Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedge

This wedge is great because you can buy it individually and it’s available in 46 or 48 degrees for pitching wedges. Due to the way it was designed it offers more forgiveness at impact and has three different sole grinds. We believe this to be a great option for you.

Titleist Vokey SM7 Pitching Wedge

This club is 46 degrees and is made for the right-handed golfer. The club's grooves optimize spin and control and can make your shots more consistent.

MAZEL Golf Pitching & Chipper Wedge

This pitching wedge is 45 degrees and is made from stainless steel. It was designed to improve your short game and conforms to the rules of golf.

Now that you know the proper angle of a pitching wedge, shopping for clubs will be so much easier. Check out our other blog posts to learn more about golf!