We all know that what separates a good golfer from a great one is his or hers short game. When it comes to those crucial moments around the green, the 60 degree wedge often becomes a golfer’s most trusted ally. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the world of the 60-degree wedge, unlocking its versatility, shot-making potential, and its ability to elevate your short game. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner eager to improve, this article equips you with the knowledge and insights to wield the 60-degree wedge like a true maestro.
We explore the intricacies of its design, examining loft, bounce, and grind options that influence your shots. From delicate greenside chips to challenging bunker escapes, we uncover the full potential of this remarkable club, transforming it from a mere tool to a game-changing weapon.
Going beyond theory, we provide detailed reviews of the top 60 degree wedges on the market. Here at Unique Golf Gears we’ve tested and analyzed their performance, giving you the information you need to make an informed purchase.
Whether you’re seeking to conquer flop shots, escape bunkers with ease, or improve your short game precision, this guide is your ultimate companion. Join us on a journey that empowers you with the knowledge and tools to elevate your golfing prowess. The world of these great wedges awaits – let’s dive in and unlock its secrets together.
What is a 60 Degree Wedge?
The majority of golfers commonly know the 60 degree wedge as a lob wedge. While professional golfers on the PGA Tour consistently carry a lob wedge, it is less common for beginners to include one in their bags. The lob wedge is renowned as a golf club with a high risk and high reward nature.
As indicated by its name, a 60 degree wedge has a loft of 60 degrees. This makes it the club with the highest loft in the bag, making it an excellent option for playing shots with a high trajectory.
What Distance To Use A 60 Degree Wedge
Just like any other golf club, the distance one can achieve with this wedge is heavily influenced by their skill level. Typically, professional golfers are able to hit their 60 degree wedge for approximately 90 yards.
In contrast, the typical distance covered by average amateur golfers when using this club is approximately 70 yards. It’s worth noting that for beginners, their range of hitting the ball with a 60 degree wedge is often limited to 30-50 yards.
When To Use A 60 Degree Wedge
The 60 degree wedge is known to present a significant challenge when it comes to mastery, which is why many golfers opt not to include it in their bags. Nevertheless, there are numerous instances during a game of golf where the utility of a 60 degree wedge becomes apparent.
You Need To Clear A Tree Or Other Obstacle
One ideal moment for employing a lob wedge arises when you encounter an obstacle like a tree, necessitating a high shot. Interestingly, this situation occurs more frequently than many golfers care to acknowledge.
It’s not uncommon for golfers to face challenges with wayward tee shots, which can result in difficult situations that are hard to escape. The high loft of these wedges comes to the rescue, enabling golfers to skillfully navigate these predicaments and return safely to the green or fairway.
You Got Stuck In Some Deep Rough
Certain golf courses feature some down-right dastardly rough areas, including those surrounding the green. When confronted with deep rough, extracting the ball and successfully landing it on the green using a pitching wedge can be more of a hack and hope!
Here’s where the 60 degree wedge proves its worth. With its low bounce, this club effectively slices through the deep rough, allowing the golfer to get beneath the ball. This skill can significantly aid in saving par. Sometimes on multiple occasions throughout a single round.
You Need a Soft Landing On A Quick Green
Have you ever experienced playing on a green that was just lightning quick? When encountering such challenging greens, it becomes a daunting task to prevent your chip shots from rolling off the back. This can be especially true on a sloped green. In such a precarious situation, it’s worth reaching for your 60 degree wedge for chipping.
The 60 degree wedge proves invaluable for executing a high chip shot that gracefully lands on the green. These high bounce wedges also tend to generate more backspin than a typical pitching wedge which can also be beneficial.
Be warned, this will take some practice. But as your skills grow you will be able to stick a nice, soft landing with minimal roll-out after landing.
Your Ball Lands in a Deep Bunker
Have you ever encountered “Jaws” on the golf course? No, we’re not referring to a shark. Golfers affectionately use the nickname “Jaws” to describe remarkably deep bunkers!
Certain bunkers pose a challenge, as even a sand wedge may lack the necessary loft to extricate your golf ball. You may find yourself raising your arms to the sky, but the trusty 60 degree wedge can come to the rescue. Its added loft and bounce prove instrumental in safely navigating on to the green.
Our Top 5 Recommendations
There are many great wedges available on the market today, most of which carry multiple lofts. But here are our top 5 recommendations for 60 degree wedges.
The Taylormade MG2 Wedge has an excellent feel. The milled grind sole is simply delightful, specifically designed for a consistently smooth stroke. The clubface is easy to control and just glides across the turf.
This 60 degree wedge also has what Taylormade are calling, Raw Face Technology. This new face has been created to provide maximum greenside spin. The ZTP RAW Groove Design is engineered with sharper, narrower, and deeper grooves in the face, as well as laser etching. The spin generation of this club is second to none. Although we have found that the face rusts over time, the rest of the head will maintain its original finish.
Some would say that this enhances the aesthetic but really it comes down to personal preference.
The design of the cavity back also provides a nice solid impact with good fingertip feedback. However, it should be noted that this is not the most forgiving club on the list.
Specifications
TaylorMade MG2 Wedge |
|
|---|---|
| Loft Angle | 60 |
| Bounce Angle | 10, 12 |
| Grind | Milled |
Pros & Cons
The Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge has a clean look with some nice intricate detail making for a professional appearance on the course. We especially like the almost frosted, yet clean, design of the cavity. This is not a crisp, slick blade-style wedge, but equally it’s not a garish piece of modern art pretending to be a golf club!
One of the most significant aspects of the aesthetics of the Mack Daddy CB wedges is the full face of JAWS grooves. This not only gives it excellent spin control but also incredible forgiveness.
This is one of the most forgiving wedges we have tested in a while. Some wedges are only forgiving in a slight manner where you still must be pretty accurate. The Mack Daddy however is forgiving across the entire clubface.
The Mack Daddy CB wedge from Callaway does many things well, but not everything. That is how it was designed! During our review, we found that this club excels at what you might call “stock” shots. There are other wedges with a superior distance and length. But that is not what we are looking for with this club. We are searching for consistency and reliability. Using this wedge makes it incredibly easy to know the distance you are going to achieve before you step up to take your approach shot.
Specifications
Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge |
|
|---|---|
| Loft Angle | 60 |
| Bounce Angle | 12 |
| Grind | W |
Pros & Cons
Does Cobra’s Cobra KING MIM (Metal Injection Molded) wedge, with its distinctive manufacturing process that supposedly yields a “more uniform grain structure than forged and cast wedges” and provides a softer sensation, deserve the same level of acclaim as their highly praised drivers and one length irons?
The short answer is YES! This 60 degree wedge has a sturdy, robust feel that makes it ideal for digging out of the tough situations we all wish we never found ourselves in. The soft leading edge makes it perfect for dense rough and deep bunkers alike.
Slightly weightier than others on this list but that’s kind of the point. In our opinion, this is the most high-handicap friendly club on the list.
The looks of the Cobra are also exquisite. The sleek, black finish may not be to everyone’s taste but we think it looks great.
The shape of the clubhead is also very attractive. With its minimal offset and compact appearance down at the ball this is definitely a shape designed for players.
Specifications
2020 Cobra Golf King Mim Black Wedge |
|
|---|---|
| Loft Angle | 60 |
| Bounce Angle | 10 |
| Grind | Tour Wedge |
Pros & Cons
The Mizuno T22 Wedge strikes a perfect balance between spin control and feel. It has a fluid, almost silky quality both across the ground and through the ball. The copper layer beneath the finish is responsible for the soft, buttery feel. This is even true in some pretty tricky conditions such as the early morning dew of a crisp spring day.
The clubhead itself has unique Quad Cut milled grooves and laser etched HydroFlow Micro Grooves technology. This allows moisture to be released and stops the ball skidding off the face as it may with some other wedges.
It doesn’t take many shots to fall in love with this club. After striking a few chips its balance and poise was very impressive. The ball almost seems to stick to the face as if you are gently scooping and placing the ball exactly where you want. Even on a variety of shot lengths the precision we were able to generate was excellent with good control around the greens.
Mizuno have gone all out with the looks of this club. Available in three different finishes, chrome, copper and raw. This may come down to preference, but we really like the classic chrome.
Specifications
Mizuno T22 Wedge |
|
|---|---|
| Loft Angle | 60 |
| Bounce Angle | 6, 10 |
| Grind | D |
Pros & Cons
The PXG V3 0311 Wedge is forged, not cast. The vast majority of modern wedges are not forged but rather made from a softer 8620 cast steel body. PXG have broken the mold, no pun intended, by choosing to create this beautiful forged 60 degree wedge.
This forging technique squeezes the clubhead into shape and compacts the metals grain structure giving it a robust, solid feel. It’s only logical to desire a consistent feel for delicate shots around the green if you already play with premium forged irons.
Another huge trend in the wedge market today are full face grooves. Whilst the look may not be to everyone’s taste, we believe this is a good idea. This generally makes them more forgiving and allows for maximum spin and control.
High toe wedges are also rising in popularity. The PXG V3 0311 is no exception. As the center of gravity is perfectly in line with the clubface on open shots, golfers can expect greater consistency and predictability.
The finish of this 60 degree wedge is about more than just looks. Don’t misunderstand, the aesthetics of this club are very pleasing but there are more important factors at play here. The clubhead is finished in DLC (Diamond-like carbon) which makes it much more durable and resistant to scratching. Not only does this wedge look great but it will likely last longer too!
Specifications
PXG V3 0311 Wedge |
|
|---|---|
| Loft Angle | 60 |
| Bounce Angle | 9 |
| Grind | Tour Wedge |
Pros & Cons
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