When to Use a 60 Degree Wedge? – (Explained!)

There are many different golf clubs that you can use to hit the ball, but one of the most important is a 60 degree wedge. This article will explore when to use this club and how it should be used during your game.

At What Point Do I Use the 60 Degree Wedge?

You should use your 60 degree wedge when you are chipping near the green. The three additional factors you need to take into consideration when near the green are your ball lie, the landscape features between the ball and pin, and finally, the hole position on the green.

Do You Really Need a 60 Degree Wedge?

Yes, this club is so versatile and should be in any serious golfer’s bag, from the beginner right through to the average golfer and low handicapper.

There are good reasons to have this lob wedge in your bag. Firstly, it comes in handy when you need that extra bit of loft and length with less than perfect lie conditions which can happen on occasions.

This reason especially applies to modern golf courses where the trend is to have more challenging and interesting holes which nearly also include tricky bunkers placed around the green.

Secondly, there is more tolerance when you hit the ball harder with a 60 degree angled club. This forgiving feature is actually a huge benefit to golfers who are not confident with their ball striking skills or accuracy on the greens.

You can commit to the shot with less worry about overshooting the ball way past the green and into more bunkers or deep rough.

There is more room for error when you have 60 degrees of loft under your belt instead of just 56 or 58 degrees which are other common lob wedges used today.

How Far Should You Hit a 60 Degree Wedge?

You should be hitting your 60-degree wedge between 62 and 90 yards. The differences between these distances allow for increased creativity on shot selection and a greater tolerance for distance estimation.

Practice with this club and you have a jack of all trades lob wedge to get you out of trouble – versatility, forgiveness, and a good amount of control.

As you can see this gives you more options on the course when you have this club in your bag.

If you agree that using wedges is about finesse, timing and execution then this club is a great addition to your arsenal.

How Can I Increase the Distance of My Wedge Shots?

Golfers love their wedges – they’re easy to hit and can be used for a wide variety of shots.

Unfortunately, most golfers have trouble hitting their wedges as far as they would like.

If you are one of these players, then you can increase your wedge distances using simple drills that anyone can do at home or on the range.

Lob Wedge Swing Speed

The first thing we need to look at is swing speed and impact position. Hitting a lob wedge with too much speed usually results in topping or thinning the ball because there isn’t enough time for proper weight transfer during the downswing.

On the flip side, if your swing is too slow it will result in fat shots because there won’t be enough loft on your club head when it strikes the ball.

Practicing your swing speed and impact position will help you find the balance that’s right for both strength and distance.

How a Better Technique Helps with Wedge Distance

One way to increase distance in your wedges shots is by using an open stance and swinging down at the ball with more loft than usual.

Lob wedges are designed for short shots where accuracy is key.

To hit more accurate wedge shots you need a sound technique that allows you to swing on a more horizontal plane.

Some practical tips on improving swing technique include:

• Keep your eyes on the ball during the swing.
• Use a three-quarter swing with a slight wrist cock to generate more power.
• Make sure you’re hitting down on the ball to produce maximum loft and distance.
• Get the clubhead moving faster by keeping it behind you through impact.
• Use your body to generate power, not just your arms and wrists.

Use time on the practice areas of your local golf course to help improve swing technique.

How to Use the 60 Degree Wedge Club Effectively

The 60 degree wedge is designed for short-range shots, typically from the sand or edge of the green.

Let’s watch Ryan Benzel as he explains everything you need to know about the 60 degree lob club:

Its loft angle of 60 degrees makes it great for low bouncing shots that land near or on the green when you need to get up and down quickly.

In order to use this club correctly:

Make sure your stance has a wide base with an open hip rotation so as not to block the ball’s path.

This will also help prevent hitting fat shots, which can result in difficult chipping situations that you want to avoid.

Check your grip pressure isn’t too tight – you need to be able to feel the weight of the club in your hands.

The grip on the wedge club is extremely important as it’s the connecting point between you and the club so be sure to practice your grip.

Avoid common grip problems on a 60-degree wedge by ensuring that you:

1. Grip the club with your fingers in a V shape.
2. Place your hands on top of each other and place them around the grip in a firm but over tightly fashion.
3. Keep one finger off to avoid squeezing too hard.
4. Keep your thumb wrapped over the back of the club for stability.
5. Your hand should be resting at an angle that’s comfortable for you – don’t use someone else’s grip as a template.

Practice these techniques before trying them out on a golf course so you’re confident with what you’re doing and don’t hesitate in asking your local pro for some extra tips on the lob shot.

He will know the course better than anyone else so can also tell you what holes you should look to play one of the most difficult shots in golf.

What Should I Look For in a 60 Degree Loft Wedge?

Great! You have taken the wise decision to use this loft/sand wedge but what features should look for to get the best club for your own swing style?

What is Wedge Bounce?

The bounce of a wedge is the area on the club that hits when it comes in contact with the turf, which then bounces and transfers energy to propel the club through the surface under the ball at impact.

Different wedges from brands like TaylorMade, Callaway Golf, and Titleist all have differing bounce ratings which are best explained as the angle measurement which a club has in order for the clubhead not to get stuck in the turf or bunker – thus keeping drag to a minimum.

You would be surprised at how much the bounce angle on a wedge feels from club to club in the hands.

So go to your local golf store and check all the different brands that produce the newest 60-degree wedge.

Often, taller players prefer higher angled wedges with less bounce and the reverse for players under around 5 foot 8 inches tall which can also include women, junior players, and seniors.

Steel or Graphite Shaft?

Nearly all wedges have steel not carbon graphite shafts and this includes the 60 degree wedge.

The exception to this is if you have a custom graphite shaft added for extra flex but this is not recommended for the average golfer as a steel shaft rated as wedge flex offers the right level of “stiffness” for this shorter length club.

A good steel shaft gives you a more consistent feeling when hitting the ball and a graphite shaft can feel too whippy or soft – it’s all about preference though.

Price – Can I Get Away with a Cheap Lob Wedge?

With prices ranging from $40 right up to $200, how much should you spend on a lob wedge?

The feel of the club trumps everything else when thinking about buying a new lob wedge.

Why? It’s because you’ll be using the club for short game shots and the feel is crucial.

A cheap lob wedge could have a hard shaft, too much bounce or not enough loft to get it on the green from off the tee but if it feels right in the hand you are more likely to make better shots!

Having said that…

If you can afford it then investing in a good wedge will definitely help improve your game and when you take into account the versatility of the 60 degree wedge then this club should be on your new club hit list.

The problem with new cheaper clubs is that they are generally cast clubs not forged, and although forged clubs are targeted at lower handicapped players there is a big difference in quality.

If spending $200 is out of the question then what about looking at some pre-owned or second-hand golf wedges?

With stores like Rock Bottom Golf and other discount outlets, you can save up to 50% against the latest models from this season.

Recommended 60 Degree Wedges

We have hand-picked 3 good lob wedges that meet our 60-degree angle criteria.

All have good reviews and great features that will help take your short game to the next level.

1. Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedge

The Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedge is the perfect short-range club for game improvement players.

It provides tour-level spin and control to help gamers improve their short game. This technology gives golfers two options: fade or draw alignment, which produces precision shots that are tough to get out of sticky traps.

The wedge features a high bounce sole designed to reduce turf interaction, giving you cleaner short shots from anywhere on the green.

The CBX 2 Wedge delivers a good level of performance for most types of bunker and edge of green shots on the course.

A hollow cavity design, dynamic sole, and enhanced feel technology all work together to deliver more forgiveness at impact for even better control around the green.

The CBX 2 wedge also features three different sole grinds that allow you to execute any shot on the course with more confidence.

Pros

• Tour-level spin and control to help game improvement players.
• Hollow cavity design with more forgiveness at impact.
• Dynamic sole for versatility in shot execution.
• Improved feel; Gelback TPU inserts, reduced vibration, sharpest Tour Zip Grooves.
• Available in both left and right-handed models.

Cons

• More expensive than other wedges.
• Wedge flex only on the graphite shaft option.

2. Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge

With the new Mack Daddy CB Wedge, Callaway has found a way to make your short game even easier.

You’ll get extra forgiveness, control, and more spin for better consistency on the course.

Whether you have a shot from near or far out on the course, this club helps reduce that stress and play more confidently knowing that when it comes to bunker or just-short-of-green shots there are no shots too tough.

The Mack Daddy CB wedge is a versatile, easy-to-hit club that features Callaway’s patented Groove-In-Groove technology.

This unique design feature allows for 4 sole grinds to suit a variety of playing styles and course conditions.

The 60-degree wedge option also features an innovative CNC milled face insert that delivers excellent spin control from every lie.

It has a high toe relief and low bounce sole design to help you get the ball up in the air quickly and easily.

Pros

• Enhanced forgiveness from a cavity back design.
• Precision CG locations for lots of control.
• The choice between 4 sole grinds to suit your style and conditions.
• Soft carbon steel produces more feel and satisfaction.

Cons

• No 8 degree bounce option.
• You might want to upgrade the Golf Pride SG-1 grip.

3. Bridgestone Golf Tour B XW-1 Wedge

The Bridgestone Golf Tour B XW-1 Wedge delivers golfers with all the pleasing aesthetics of classic wedges and modern technology.

This wedge comes with four loft options, from 56 degrees to leading-edge pitching shots at 64 degrees.

With a “Tour grind” sole for increased heel and toe relief, the strategical mill pattern for more spin and control, this club is perfect for versatility in different shots.

The Bridgestone Golf Tour B XW-1 Wedge is a high-performance wedge that features the new biting rail milled groove design for a more greenside spin.

The multiple sole designs allow for specific shot performance and the stock shaft Nippon Modus Tour 105 provides consistency and stability.

This new wedge features a high toe relief, which enables better turf interaction for more consistent shot-making around the green.

Pros

• The new TOUR B XW-1 wedges provide a contemporary clubhead with more improvements.
• AISI rated 1020 Forged carbon steel delivers improved heel and toe performance.
• Updated micro-milling pattern for more spin and control.
• Different sole designs for indidual shot performance (i.e., lobs, pitches).
• Good and cheap 60 degree wedge, ideal for beginners wanting to upgrade.

Cons

• Right hand only.
• The classic shape design lacks a little inspiration.

So What’s the Deal with the 60 Degree Wedge?

So now you know the basics of when and how to use a 60 degree wedge, it’s time for you to hit the course and practice these skills.

Also, if you know how to identify which shots require a 60 degree wedge during gameplay, your scores will improve and your handicap will drop.

Lastly, be sure to review the features, pros, and cons of our lob wedge club reviews before you make your final purchase.

So go out there and get to it! You’ll be a pro in no time at all!