The Purpose of an Approach Wedge in Golf and How to Use It

An approach wedge is also known as a gap wedge or an A wedge, depending on the manufacturer. The purpose behind the approach wedge is to fill the yardage gap between your pitching wedge and your sand wedge. When the pitching wedge lofts dropped into the mid-low 40s but the sand wedge loft remained in the mid-50s, the need for an approach wedge was born.

The versatility of a gap wedge can make it a very useful club throughout your round. Depending on what obstacles, if any, are in front of you, having this wedge is ideal for everything from par 3s to pitch shots.

Iron lofts as a whole have changed dramatically over the years. For instance, today's 7-iron loft is similar to that of a 5-iron from ten years ago. Changes in both head and shaft technology have allowed irons to decrease in loft while simultaneously hitting the ball higher.

The same holds true for wedges. Approach wedge lofts used to fall anywhere between 50-54 degrees. Today, depending on the manufacturer, an approach wedge usually ranges from 47-52 degrees.

Based on some of the most popular models from the main golf club manufacturers, here is an overview of some approach/gap wedge lofts:

It’s important to note that lofts vary depending on the type of player the club is designed for. The examples given above are mainly game-improvement irons, so the lofts are lower than iron models that are designed for more advanced players.

In addition to approach wedges being offered as a continuation of an iron set, all manufacturers offer separate wedge models as well.

How you use an approach wedge on the course is completely up to you. For some, a gap wedge is a club you will always take a full swing with to achieve the distance you need. For others, it can be more of a “knockdown” club to avoid the higher loft of a sand wedge or lob wedge.

Approach wedges can always be very useful around the green for pitch shots that need to run. If you are in need of filling a specific shot or distance at the bottom of your golf bag, an approach wedge is a great way to make sure you’re covered.

The approach wedge fills the gap between the stronger pitching wedge, and the more lofted sand wedge. The loft on your approach wedge should be 4 to 8 degrees higher than your pitching wedge, and a full swing with an approach wedge should produce 8-15 yards less distance than with a pitching wedge.

Within the last decade, pitching wedge lofts have become stronger. A pitching wedge from a stong-lofted modern set of irons is likely to have loft in the low-40s, whereas a pitching wedge from a 10-year-old iron set most likely has a loft in the mid-40s. Because the ideal loft of your gap wedge is relative to the loft of your pitching wedge and your sand wedge, it’s important to know the lofts on your specific set of irons. An approach wedge is also typically a quarter-inch shorter than a pitching wedge, which, along with more loft, helps control distance.

In addition to differences on paper between an approach wedge and a pitching wedge, players often prefer to use the two wedges in different ways. Because an approach wedge packs a little more loft and a slightly shorter shaft, many players find it easier to control around the greens than a pitching wedge. While it can serve a purpose with a full or three-quarter swing from a specific yardage, an approach wedge is also versatile for those little chip and pitch shots around the green, particularly when you have you have enough green between you and the hole to let the ball run out a bit.

The approach wedge is designed to fill the gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge, and therefore one of its main purposes is to provide more carry and total distance than your sand wedge. A gap of around 8-15 yards in total distance from full swings is ideal.

However, the differences don’t end there. The approach wedge is typically a quarter-inch longer than the sand wedge, and has between 5-8 degrees less loft, which makes it launch lower, fly farther, and roll out more.

Additionally, a sand wedge is built for specialty greenside shots. Primarily, as you can guess from the name, it is made to be played out of the sand. A sand wedge’s various bounce and grind options indicate the shape and functionality of the sole of the club, and how it’s designed to interact with the ground, be it sand or turf.

Most approach wedges, on the other hand, are an extension of the iron set, and while they provide some nice greenside benefits, they’re not designed specifically to be a go-to tool for these specialty shots.

Accuracy is the key to scoring well. There is less margin for error when you don't have to take a full power swing. Rather than forcing a full power swing with a sand wedge, the gap wedge allows for an easy-to-control 80 percent swing that will still achieve enough height for the ball to land softly.

The loft on a gap wedge makes it easy to play both chip (bump and run) and pitch shots. Playing a chip shot with the ball back in the stance, and the hands well ahead of the ball reduces loft without closing the face. For a pitch shot, bringing the hands back just ahead of center at address restores loft while keeping the face square to the ball.

Your first step to purchasing an approach wedge is figuring out the lofts of the wedges in your current set. Specifically, your pitching wedge and your sand wedge, since you'll want a gap wedge that splits the difference. There's a good chance the loft of your sand wedge is imprinted on the club. You can do a quick google search for the specs on your model of irons to determine the pitching wedge loft. This can also be performed by most golf retailers by using a loft and lie machine.

When you find out the loft of your pitching wedge, notate how far you hit that club with a full swing. Do the same for your sand wedge. For example, if your pitching wedge is 43 degrees and you hit it 110 yards, and your sand wedge is 54 degrees and you hit it 70 yards, you know you’re in search of an approach wedge that is around 49 degrees, and will ideally go around 90 yards to fill that yardage gap.

If you own an older set, you can always search to see if an approach wedge was offered originally. If so, many spots that sell pre-owned clubs online are available.

If you are purchasing a new set of clubs you will have the choice of having the approach wedge that matches the set, or, going with one of the other wedge models from any manufacturer.