Best Wedges for High Handicappers – Top 13 Reviews

In professional golf, nearly everyone wants to become a high handicapper. Such journey requires a combination of skill, merit, professionalism, and a reliable set of numbered wedges. But since there are dozens of wedges that you can see online and offline, making a choice is tricky.

We’ll bring you to the green! These are some of the best wedges for high handicappers that we’ve collated:

1. TaylorMade Milled Grind Hi-Toe Wedge

It’s difficult to make a universal wedge that will satisfy many players. This is a major factor why the market is currently flooded by different brands of wedges. Only a few companies can really handle the growing demand of golf players and enthusiasts. TaylorMade is a company that was able to do so. It helped many high handicappers with the popular Milled Grind. You can now get a piece of the action with the advanced Milled Grind 2.0 – also known as Hi-Toe wedge!

A key strength of the Milled Grind 2.0 is its foundation. The Milled Grind design is capable of making power shots, even in difficult situations. With the Milled Grind 2.0, your high handicapping journey will get a significant boost. Practically, TaylorMade’s new Hi-Toe wedge has better spin, evokes a feeling of shot confidence, and has a consistent degree of precision.

The Milled Grind 2.0 dropped its chrome plating design. This can be a surprising aesthetic move, but a highly functional one. With better plating, your arms won’t be tense and you can deliver stronger shots as needed. After all, consistency is important in any golf tournament. You should also expect a softer, more refined glare with the new Milled Grind.

It’s easy to say that TaylorMade’s Hi-Toe wedge is a more aggressive type of wedge. Since the layers are few, the impact is stronger. You don’t have to worry about groove degradation as well. To begin with, the Hi-Toe’s grooves have a sharper radius – thanks to a highly effective laser edging process. Such extra step is necessary for helping the grooves prevent a skidding aftereffect. Based on TaylorMade experiments, the additional spin force added can reach as high as 200 RMPS.

TaylorMade Milled Grind 2.0 is one of the best wedges for high handicappers and is a top option for beginners and pros!

2. Vokey Design SM8

Vokey Design is a golf wedge brand that will equally benefit players who are just starting out. From 2018 to early 2019, Vokey Design’s SM7 wedges became some of the most popular options chosen by handicappers. And how can they ever forget Bob Vokey – the man behind the SM7 and SM8 designs, and also a talented golf player.

You can now follow Bob Vokey’s footsteps by getting the newest Titleist Vokey Design SM7. Considered as an upgrade of the original SM7s, the Titleist SM7 has well-refined build and better groove distribution. You will feel the consistency of every shot, emulating the prowess of a champion. Vokey Titleist wedge still features the standard Vokey grinds (F, M, S, D, L, K) for greater variability.

Aside from putting you out of tricky situations, the Vokey wedge is also favored because of its performance in the green. The refined, confirming grooves will clear grasses and debris, allowing you to complete your shots with deadly accuracy. Durability is also not a problem because of SM7’s micro-cut grooves, perfected through a complex heat process.

If you value aesthetics, the SM7 will keep you satisfied. Its darker model looks more professional than the silver design of the past Vokey wedges. There’s even a larger space on the wedge, if ever you want to add your custom logos.

Just a minor caveat: the SM7 needs continuous adjustment while making lob shots. It’s understood that lob shots are not easy, so your skillset is factored in with this wedge.

3. LAZRUS Premium Golf Wedge For Men

It’s common for beginners to get intimidated on what is the best wedges for high handicappers available in the global market. There are many details to consider like grooves distribution, backspin generation, cavity, and even aesthetics. But before you get lost in this mountain of details, you can focus on getting a beginner wedge. In this case, the LAZRUS Golf Wedge is an acceptable option.

Even if it’s meant for beginners, the LAZRUS wedge can hold its own to be recognized by pros and high handicappers. There are three main loft angles to choose from: 52, 56, and 60. You won’t be confused with the lofts because their labels are 100% accurate. Just tell any store what you need, and you will get the right LAZRUS wedge based on your style.

The wedge also has a large clubface meant to deliver enough power without losing control. Higher lofts may be challenging to use, but you will see their strength over time. Based on several golfer tests, the sweet spot is the 60-loft. This specific loft angle wedge is great for medium shots, as well as short-ranged shots approaching the green. Some pros think that LAZRUS is not great for high-powered, long-ranged shots, but this is situational.

4. Cleveland RTX 4 Black Wedge

As simple as it is powerful, the Cleveland RTX-4 is a wedge that will accompany you from the beginning to a high handicap league. This wedge has a versatile sole and excellent angle for making difficult bunker shots. You can consider the RTX-4 as one of your starter wedges.

Due to its balanced angle placement, you can deliver controlled shots throughout your games. Depending on environmental conditions, the backspin and power of the shots will fall or rise. Still, the RTX-4 wedge will help you maintain an acceptable consistency.

Variability is another useful trait of the RTX-4 wedge. There are currently four loft options, with a standard 60-degree setting. RTX-4’s back-cavity is also more forgiving than what you’d find with other wedge brands.

Visually, RTX-4 doesn’t pack much of a punch. It looks like any other wedge – no special refined grooves or a noticeable motif. Still, what it lacks in the visual department, it makes up in total functionality.

5. Wilson Staff Men’s Harmonized Black Chrome Golf Wedge

Golf can get expensive over the years, especially if you’re playing the high handicap game. But this doesn’t mean that you need to get an expensive wedge right away. What you need is a wedge that provides a neat balance between function and cost. The Wilson Harmonized wedge is the quick answer.

Made from high-quality stainless steel and with lofts ranging from 50 to 64 degrees, Wilson Harmonized is a real gem. You can even benefit from the wedge’s exceptional sole grind by nailing those high shots that you’ve ever wanted. Unlike other common wedges, Wilson Harmonized specialized for controlling high shots without suffering from precision drops. Of course your skill will make a difference – Wilson Harmonized will just clear the way.

If you’re a fan of spin reduction, Wilson Harmonized is the wedge for you. The combination of the club head shape and the loft angle creates a masterwork option that will improve your gameplay.

6. C3i Premium Sand Wedge

As its name suggests, C3i Premium Sand Wedge is all about working through the sand. It is expertly designed with a sleek and stylish frame admired by pros and even beginners.

While the C3i wedge is meant for different types of players, it will resonate more to those looking for a wide-sole option. Wider soles will ensure that no shots are wasted, and they can also inspire player confidence.

Made from premium grade stainless steel, the C3i sand wedge will make you feel like a ‘high-handicapper on the go.’ If you’re already a high handicapper, then this wedge will keep you moving towards the champion’s path. The wedge’s dynamic setting will also enhance heel and toe relief – perfect for long tournaments and practice sessions.

Perhaps one hitch about the C3i wedge is its low weight distribution. You will find some situations where the wedge feels lighter, especially in tricky environments. But then again, there are dozens of factors to consider – chief among them is your way of calculating shots.

Overall, the C3i wedge is your friend in any tournament!

7. Ping Glide 3.0

The unveiling of Ping Glide 3.0 resulted into a wave of satisfying golf swings and excited high handicappers. Back then, the Ping Glide 2.0 wedges helped many professionals with their swings. Ping Glide 3.0 is a massive improvement, focused on ensuring better backspin and a more tactile feel.

With the Ping Glide 3.0, you can select from four useful grinds: wide sole, thin sole, standard, and the Eye2 adjustment. All of these grinds were made with high-quality materials, as well as stainless steel and elastomer. Now that you have more sole options, you can experiment with multiple bounce profiles. However, you will probably be more inclined to use the wide sole, as it is flexible for different playing styles. Professional players even believe that the Ping Glide wide sole can create a higher, better bounce.

If you’re a fan of the Ping Glide 2.0 models, you will be amazed with the 3.0 Eye2 model. This wedge toe provides better transition for delicate shots, particularly ones you’d make within a bunker.

The meticulous process involved with the creation of the Ping Glide 3.0 is reflected through its nearly undeterred long-term performance. With proper maintenance, the Ping Glide 3.0 wedge will stay with you for many years. In terms of variability, Ping Glide 3.0 got you covered. There are 10 color styles available, and you can even pick a graphite wedge.

8. Callaway Mack Daddy 3 (S-Grind Wedge)

Made by legendary wedge designer Roger Cleveland, Callaway Mack Daddy 3 is a reactive, premium wedge for professional high handicappers. Its real strength is all about creating better spin and adapting to your swings.

Mack Daddy 3’s versatility is also top-notch. Whichever lie you are in, there’s a fair guarantee that you can get out of it. Your skill matters, but it will be augmented by the Mack Daddy S-Grind.

Design-wise, Mack Daddy 3 looks professional at its best. It has a better toe and built, unlike cheaper wedges that you can find in the market. The S-wedge is also durable, though you need to clean it thoroughly to preserve the design.

Also, the Mack Daddy 3 has a total of 16 grooves with an extra larger groove drilled in the bottom. Somehow, this guarantees better control of the wedge, especially in difficult areas. Additionally, this special S-grind wedge doesn’t skimp on stopping power. This will allow you to make calculated shots in nearly every tournament.

9. Callaway Sure Out Wedge

Now improved to meet the demand of professional golfers, Callaway’s Sure Out Wedge is here to match your golfing skill. If you’ve been golfing for quite some time now, you possibly understand the frustration of getting stuck in bunkers. At situations like these, you need the reliability of the Sure Out wedge.

Featuring a better sole than traditional wedges, Callaway’s Sure Out Wedge will give you the force that you need – particularly with tricky shots. Its natural round shape is also a neat touch that complements the whole iron shaft.

While you can improve your bounce with different wedge types and brands, Callaway’s Sure Out is where should be your money at. Simply put, this professional wedge is a great match for bunker shots.

Despite its totally specialized nature and design, the Sure Out is one of the top choices for the best wedges for high handicappers especially for beginners. It’s great for improving your handicap and boosting your swinging confidence.

10. Cleveland CBX Wedge

Many professional and amateur golfers have developed pure appreciation for Cleveland wedges over the years. You can still catch up with the Cleveland trend with the highly popular CBX wedge.

Designed for serious high handicappers, the CBX wedge is undeniably loaded with power. It features the Cleveland-standard dual v-sole to nail those high-power shots. Some professionals think that the CBX wedge requires better skill to be used properly. They’re not far from the truth. The narrower heel will require a higher degree of precision, which can be taxing for beginners.

Still, the CBX wedge will make you feel more confident with its standard bulky back. This allows better grip, handling, and accessibility without draining your stamina too much. The CBX wedge is also a solution for most types of lies.

11. Cobra King MIM

A real beast of a wedge, the Cobra King MIM is the result of many years’ worth of testing. During the past years, tungsten weights were used sparingly to build most wedges. Cobra King improved the process by building full, high-quality clubheads. There’s no holding back with Cobra King!

Featuring an improved notch design, the MIM wedge will ensure that your swings are ground-friendly and accurate. It also has a dynamic sole grind, further improving edge and toe relief. Consistency is another strong point of the MIM wedge. Almost always, you will notice that your swings with this wedge have the appropriate balance of power and trajectory.

And you’re presented with multiple options as well! Cobra King MIM comes in six exclusive lofts, ranging from 50-60 degrees. Such loft angles are best for beginners and mid handicappers.

12. Mizuno T20 Golf Wedge

The Mizuno T-20 golf wedge is one of those wedges with a ‘simply deadly’ allure. It looks like an ordinary wedge but it’s actually packed with numerous science-backed features, starting with groove consistency.

The Mizuno team focused in developing the grooves according to the way lofts are used in tournaments and practice sessions. Mizuno grooves are known for their deeper nature, resulting into consistent swing performance improvement. The grooves were also helpful in partial, quick shots. The Mizuno team enhanced such groove development factor by creating rough surfaces, leading to the formation of the T-20 wedge.

T-20’s microgrooves allow better spin and longer ball control. Its teardrop shape will also help you switch from a simple shot to a complicated one, without breaking a sweat. This level of versatility is a favorite among high handicappers worldwide. As a bonus, the upgraded grooves improve the overall quality of the wedge.

13. Callaway Jaws MD5 Grey Wedge

The Callaway Jaws MD5 is a much-needed answer to a common problem among golfers: generating high spin. Other solutions in the past were mostly ineffective, leading to a buildup of low-value market wedges.

If you’re rushing to buy a handy wedge, you should take a look at Callaway Jaws MD5. It’s guaranteed to create continuous spin which will help you reach the well-coveted green. The main reason for this is MD5’s oblique grooves. While following the new groove rule, Callaway managed to create significant improvements. These changes were controversial for some golf analysts and professionals, but it didn’t known off Jaws MD5 from people’s choices.

Jaws MD5 is also known for its higher lofts that can primarily give a low-bounce setting. This capability will help improve your game over time. You can select from different lofts, ranging from 46-64 degrees.

How Golf Wedges Can Affect Your High Handicap?

As a starting golfer, you shouldn’t just pick any golf wedge right out of the blue. You need to study different factors such as make & model, sturdiness, mobility, loft & bounce, and even the types of wedges. Well, the situation is different if you’re playing golf for leisure or if your budget is tight.

The most serious players are aiming to become scratch golfers. Or at the very least, they intend to play in exclusive high handicap tournaments. These high handicappers know which wedges to use every time they make their shots. Such knowledge is the lifeblood of a golfer’s reputation.

Here are the important types of golf wedges that you have to know about:

Pitching Wedges

Pitching wedges are designed for beginners. They are packed with irons and versatile enough to help you make a high-trajectory shot. A pitching wedge is also excellent for approaching the green or making calculated shots over trees. The loft angle has a safe range of 46-50 degrees, but this will vary on the manufacturer.

Sand Wedges

A sand wedge is a must-have in any golfer’s bag or kit. You can consider a sand wedge as a ‘utility wedge’ meant to get you out of tricky situations – such as trying a measured shot out a green bunker. This wedge provides the highest level of bounce among other wedges, and its power is undeniable once used by a skilled golfer.

It’s important to have a high-quality sand wedge right from the start, especially if high handicapping is your long-term goal!

Gap Wedges

If pitching wedges and sand wedges are the iron favorites, the gap wedges are something in between. Back then, professional golfers believed that gap wedges are unnecessary because sand wedges and pitching wedges can do the job. However, as professional golf became more and more accessible, gap wedges entered the spotlight.

With a loft angle range of 50-56 degrees, a gap wedge can give better range while maintaining a medium-rate bounce factor. Throughout your golfing career, you will probably spend a great amount of time figuring out a balance between loft & bounce gap wedges. That’s okay, but don’t overthink! Just check out the best options, scan the details, and ask your golf mentors about their suggestions.

Lob Wedges

Short, tricky, and useful – these are some of the best words that can describe lob wedges. A lob wedge will allow you to hit extremely high arcs with a loft angle range of 60-64 degrees. You can use a lob wedge to avoid obstacle hazards, but this requires consistent practice.

So, do not forget the golden rule: know when and when not to use your wedges!

A Primer on Golf Grooves

Whenever grooves are being discussed among golf circles, you will probably hear the term backspin often. Backspin is an important part of your swing – a result whenever the ball compresses against the clubface. Basically, a greater level of loft will produce a higher amount of backspin. At the very beginning, you must understand that backspin is not affected by the amount of grooves in any wedge.

There were numerous experiments involving irons without grooves and those with grooves. The experiments proved that backspin generation is nearly the same – grooves or not. Does this mean grooves are not that important? Not quite! It’s now proven that grooves are beneficial during wet conditions. Bulkier grooves can remove water, debris, and grasses, leading to a better rate of spin. If you play a wedge without grooves during wet conditions, your shots will be harder.

As a starting or immediate player, you should know about the updated groove rules. Under the new ruling system, the conforming grooves are those that have a balanced level of symmetry. These are easily recognized as the V-grooves and U-grooves. Non-confirming ones are mostly asymmetric.

Throughout your journey as a mid-high handicapper, you might encounter groove sharpening products. These products are not worth your time because they will only have minimal effects over time. You’re better off investing the money on other pieces of golf gear.

Golf Wedge Maintenance Tips

Golf is not just about putting your way to victory or gaining prestige with a high handicap rate. It’s also about the proper maintenance of your golf gear, particularly your wedges. As you play continuously, you will realize that wedges take the full blunt of usage and wear & tear. Therefore, aside from consistent practice, you need to ensure proper maintenance of your golf wedges.

Below are some bonus tips on how to take care of your golf wedges:

Methodically Clean the Grooves

The grooves of your wedges will catch dirt soon enough. Wiping it with cloth will remove large dirt residue but smaller ones might stick to the grooves. The simple solution is to use a brush with thin bristles. Brush the grooves as carefully as possible to avoid scratching. Once the dirt is removed, you can use a wet towel to clean the wedge further.

Headcovers Are Your Friends

Cleaning is one thing, and keeping your wedges protected is another. Since you can’t keep an eye on your wedges 24/7, you should try using headcovers. A headcover is like a durable cloth that can be placed over the wedge. As you move around the golf course, you no longer have to worry about unnecessary bumps and dents.

After-Shot Cleaning is A Must

Another beneficial habit that you should develop is to clean your wedge after every shot. This can be hassling the first time around, but you will get accustomed to it. After-shot cleaning will prevent the continuous accrual of dirt over the wedge grooves. Sand wedges, for example, must be cleaned thoroughly because they’re often used for difficult areas.

Do Not Miss the Grips

Aside from the wedge itself, the wedge grip is another exposed part. It’s actually an important part because it will determine the direction and force of your swing. Such consistent exposure will lead to the grip weathered down, thus losing quality. To clean the grips, simply rub a wet cloth over it, just like what you’d do with the wedge.

As much as you can, do not use chemical agents on the grip. These agents might react with the grip’s material, further causing wear and tear. Water, in most cases, is enough for cleaning the grip.

Dry the Wedges Properly

After washing the wedges, you need to ensure that they’re dried properly. Otherwise, rust will accumulate and affect the quality of your wedges. Pay attention to the grooves as these are the places most commonly missed. You should even be more attentive if the wedge has microgroove layers. Air drying is a fast and reliable option if you have the time and resources.

Remember: maintaining your golf wedges is like taking care of your investment!

Conclusion:

It’s true that having the best wedges for high handicappers can improve your game significantly. However, you must keep in mind that ‘perfect practice makes perfect.’ If you’re aiming to be a professional golfer who can win several high handicap tournaments yearly, you have to grind countless hours of practice. Choosing one or two of our featured golf wedges is just one necessary step!

Recap: Top 10 best wedges for high handicappers

1. TaylorMade Milled Grind Hi-Toe Wedge
2. New Titleist Vokey SM7 Tour Chrome Wedge
3. LAZRUS Premium Forged Golf Wedge
4. Cleveland Golf Men’s RTX 4 Wedge
5. Wilson Staff Men’s Harmonized Black Chrome Golf Wedge
6. C3i Sand Wedge & Lob Wedge
7. Callaway Golf Mack Daddy Forged Wedge
8. Callaway Golf Men’s 2017 Sure Out Wedge
9. Cleveland Golf 2018 Ladie’s CBX Wedge
10. 2019 Cobra Golf King Mim Wedge