Posted by David Maxfield
on August 12, 2026
Most golfers spend hours working on their full swing and almost no time thinking about their wedges. Yet for the majority of club golfers, shots from 100 yards and in account for more than half of all strokes played. Get your wedge setup wrong and you're leaving shots on the course every single round.
What Is Wedge Gapping?
Wedge gapping refers to the distance intervals between each of your wedges. The goal is to have consistent, even gaps — typically 10–15 yards — so you always have the right club for the distance at hand. Without proper gapping, you'll face awkward in-between distances that force you to either over-swing one club or under-swing another, leading to inconsistent contact and poor distance control.
A Typical Wedge Setup
A well-gapped four-wedge setup might look like this:
- Pitching wedge — 46° (~130 yards)
- Gap wedge — 50° (~115 yards)
- Sand wedge — 54° (~100 yards)
- Lob wedge — 58° (~85 yards)
The exact lofts and distances will vary depending on your swing speed and ball flight, but the principle is the same: even gaps, no dead zones.
How to Find Your Wedge Gaps
The best way to identify your gaps is simple — go to the range and hit 10 shots with each wedge, note the average carry distance, and map them out. If you find a 20+ yard gap between two clubs, you've found a hole in your setup.
Common problem areas:
- A big jump between pitching wedge and sand wedge (no gap wedge)
- Lob wedge too close in loft to sand wedge (redundant club)
- Inconsistent bounce angles making certain wedges hard to use from tight lies
Bounce Matters Too
Loft gets all the attention, but bounce is equally important. Higher bounce (12°+) suits softer turf and bunkers. Lower bounce (4–8°) works better from tight lies and firm conditions. In Australian conditions — often firm and dry — a mid-to-low bounce setup tends to perform better through summer.
The Haitch Golf Wedge Range
Our wedges are available in a range of lofts and bounce options specifically designed to help you build a properly gapped setup. Not sure where to start? Use our fitting quiz to get a personalised wedge recommendation based on your game and conditions.
Stop leaving shots out there. Get your gaps right.
Frequently Asked Questions: Wedge Gapping
How many wedges should I carry?
Most golfers benefit from carrying three to four wedges. A pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge gives you coverage from around 130 yards down to short greenside shots, with consistent 10–15 yard gaps between each club.
What loft gaps should I have between wedges?
Aim for 4–6 degrees of loft between each wedge. This typically produces 10–15 yard distance gaps, which is the ideal spacing for consistent short game control. Gaps larger than 6 degrees will leave dead zones in your yardage coverage.
What is a gap wedge used for?
A gap wedge (also called an approach wedge or A-wedge) typically sits between 50–52 degrees and fills the distance gap between your pitching wedge and sand wedge. It is used for full approach shots from around 100–120 yards and partial shots around the green.
What bounce should my wedges be for Australian conditions?
Australian courses tend to be firm and dry, particularly through summer. A mid-to-low bounce setup — around 8–10 degrees for your sand wedge and 6–8 degrees for your lob wedge — generally performs better from tight lies and hard turf than high-bounce options designed for soft conditions.
How do I know if my wedge setup has gaps?
Hit 10 shots with each wedge on the range and record the average carry distance. Map the distances from longest to shortest. Any gap of 20 yards or more between two consecutive wedges indicates a hole in your setup that a new wedge could fill.
Can Haitch Golf help me choose the right wedges?
Yes. Haitch Golf offers a fitting quiz and direct access to the workshop team to help you build a properly gapped wedge setup matched to your swing, your distances, and Australian course conditions. Get in touch at info@haitchgolf.com.
