When starting out playing golf it can be easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of equipment that you have to buy, from golf clubs to golf balls to golf clubs, there can be a mountain of merchandise to sift through.
Golf is a game of intense precision and skill and having the right equipment is essential to improving your game, especially in the early stages.
When it comes to golf, clubs are incredibly important, as they are the only point where the golfer connects with the golf ball. There is a wide range of golf clubs designed for different portions of your game – drivers and fairway woods for the fairway, wedges for the approach to the green and chippers for on the green.
If you are a beginner on the golf course, having the wrong club for your style could set your game back considerably, resulting in lower scores and longer spent in the reduced handicap zone.
A sand wedge is a club that will help get you out of a tricky situation and back onto the green. If you find yourself lost in a bunker, then a sand wedge will be the quickest way to help you get out. The stats state that every 4 shots you make will be using a wedge, so it is a must-have club in your first golf bag.
But which sand wedge will be the best one for you? What features are you looking for in a sand wedge that will help the high-handicapper get out of a sand bunker with the minimum of hassle? How much can you be looking to spend on a decent sand wedge?
Well, for all you high handicappers out there, you can relax. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best sand wedges currently available on the market, as well as a buyer’s guide that will help you identify which wedge is the best for you, along with some frequently asked questions from golfing newbies.
Top 4 Best Sand Wedges For High Handicappers
OUR TOP PICK
Callaway Sure Out 2 Wedge Steel
EDITORS CHOICE
BEST VALUE
Cleveland Golf Men’s 588 RTX 2.0 Wedge
OUR TOP PICK
Callaway Sure Out 2 Wedge Steel
Our first sand wedge is one manufactured by a very familiar name in the golfing fraternity, having made high-quality golfing accessories over the last few decades, they come highly rated by golfing amateurs and professionals.
With a wide sole that will give you lower responsiveness and a respectable level of control, this is perfect for getting you out of a tricky sand spot – introducing the Callaway Sure Out 2 Wedge Steel.
The head on this wedge is completely hollowed out to make it lighter to use and easy to swing. It is a very forgiving model, with a raised section in the middle sole that acts as a guide rail on impact. This nifty little feature will be very appealing to beginner golfers who want a club that works with them rather than against them.
Pros
- With its wide face and trailing overhand, this club is designed to give you that top-notch control, especially over the spin of the ball.
- The lack of weight in the head of this club makes this a great one to use for a slow swinger, allowing the starting golfer to hone their sand trap swing and significantly cut down on that embarrassing time spent in the sand.
- With 17 grooves on the rounded face of the sand wedge, and a width that allows you to get a good spin on the ball – just as long as you have a solid grip. The sound of the ball on this club will be satisfying and crystal clear.
- The white lines and raised section on the middle of the clubface will make this wedge the perfect choice for uncertain golfers who could do with that additional guidance, gradually encouraging you to develop trust in your own judgment.
Cons
- This wedge has a lot higher bounce than the traditional model, meaning that you might have to reduce your swing slightly to allow for the increased loft.
EDITORS CHOICE
Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge
Next up we have another familiar name in the world of golfing, Wilson has exhibited premium quality in their golf products time and time again. The blade style of this particular wedge is fairly conventional, but with a highly polished finish, it more than delivers in terms of both style and functionality – introducing the Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedge.
The defined grooves on the face of this club will allow the beginning golfer to get a high velocity of spin on their ball, the grind in the sole giving those intricate shots far greater accuracy. The steel head will ensure that this Wilson Harmonized Wedge will stand the test of time, resistant to any rust that might accumulate from multiple days of use in damp weather conditions.
Pros
- The price – this wedge is extremely affordable without skimping on the quality, making it the perfect first sand wedge for a beginning golfer who doesn’t want to spend too much money on their starting golf kit.
- With the wider face of this club, you’ll be able to achieve a better variety of angles, making it the ideal versatile club to get you out of a tricky sand trap.
- The grip is enough to accommodate for a two-handed stance, giving entry-level golfers that extra degree of control which will be crucial for angling your ball up onto the green.
Cons
- Some of the more intermediate players might struggle with the lighter weight of the head.
BEST VALUE
Cleveland Golf Men’s 588 RTX 2.0 Wedge
The next club is an old model, but one that has been very highly rated by most golfing aficionados, with advanced spin technology that gives you greater control to angle the ball out of the sand trap and onto the green.
It also brings you greater autonomy for your short game, with a micro-milling pattern on the clubface that increases the friction and spin on the ball – introducing the Cleveland Golf Men’s 588 RTX 2.0 Wedge.
The construction and design of this wedge are specifically designed to get golfers of any skill level out of the bunker and onto the green. You can achieve a consistent spin on this ball with the Rotex 2.0 Face Pattern taht contains laser-fine milling and channels of grass, moisture and dirt, which is particularly helpful for those rough areas.
Pros
- With a sturdy steel shaft, this club has a solid flex to it, although it also comes in a graphite version for those who prefer a lighter clubhead.
- The laser-refined grooves on the clubface give you that premium level of spin and loft control, which are essential for a consistent game even when you find yourself trapped in a bunker.
- This club will encourage you to be more confident when tackling uneven terrain such as sand, the face of the club has steeper walls and sharper radii promotes a cleaner contact and improved spin.
Cons
- The feel of this golf club might not be as forgiving as some of the more professional standard golf clubs on this list.
RUNNER UP
Tour Edge Golf -1 Out Plus Wedge
Our final wedge is adapted for most golfers of varying skill levels, made from durable, high-quality materials that increase the accuracy of your shots. It has a counterbalanced grip that promotes proper wrist position, which will increase the control of your swing and improve your overall technique – introducing the Tour Edge Golf -1 Plus Wedge.
With an impressive sole width, this club allows for a greater impact of the ball on the clubface combined with a heaviness in the head that really drives the ball towards the green.
The grip on this club is a lot longer than a traditional wedge, which means that high-handicappers will be able to adjust their technique.
Pros
- The counterbalance feature in the grip will help you develop your wrist control and promote accuracy, while the enhanced impact stability gives those approach shots the desired potency and power.
- The high-quality steel of this club accurately replicates the feel of a professional level club, giving the beginner the best chance of developing a professional-level game and easing the transition into using premium quality wedges.
- This will greatly improve the angle and force which allows you to chip and launch balls out of the sand traps and onto the green.
Cons
- This wedge is a lot heavier than other wedges available on the market and the player might have difficulty switching between this and any lighter models they might have in their bag.
Best Sand Wedges For High Handicappers for Beginners Buying Guide
Entry-level golfers tend to overlook the importance of a decent sand wedge and may not feel like they need anything more than a handful of wedges in their golf bag.
But when you’re starting out playing golf, the likelihood of you getting caught in a sand trap is very high, so it should go without saying that a sand wedge is essential.
What Exactly Is A Sand Wedge?
No, it’s not two slices of bread with a filling in the middle. Sand wedges are clubs that have a wide sole in order to increase the bounce of your golf ball and slice through the sand without digging in and getting stuck.
The sand wedge is traditionally very heavy, weighing around 40 ounces and has the second-highest loft – the first being a lob wedge – of 56 degrees.
How Can A Sand Wedge Get You Out Of A Bunker?
When you find your ball stuck in a sand trap, the important thing to do is stay focussed and make sure your next shot using the sand wedge is very precise.
Here are some of the fundamentals for hoiking that ball out of its sandy resting place:
- The counterbalance feature in the grip will help you develop your wrist control and promote accuracy, while the enhanced impact stability gives those approach shots the desired potency and power.
- The high-quality steel of this club accurately replicates the feel of a professional level club, giving the beginner the best chance of developing a professional-level game and easing the transition into using premium quality wedges.
- This will greatly improve the angle and force which allows you to chip and launch balls out of the sand traps and onto the green.
Most professional golfers recommend opening the face of the club a little before you take your grip rather than after so that you won’t alter your normal stance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes A Good Sand Wedge?
There isn’t a single aspect or property that makes one sand wedge better than the other. There are numerous things a sand wedge will need to make it effective, mainly durability, versatility, control, design, build quality and, more importantly for first-time golfers, price.
You can use your sand wedge to play a few varieties of shot – approach, lob, pitch, chip and sand. The type of shot you decide to chip will all depend on which playing style you favor.
When Is It Best To Use A Sand Wedge?
The best time to start wielding your sand wedge is when your ball veers into a bunker. The sand wedge is best for approach shots, that is, shots that approach the green. It will also enable you to chip the ball from in the rough, giving you that increased control in the direction that you want the ball to travel afterward.
Remember: it’s not just about getting out of the rough, you have to consider your next shot too.
Sand wedges are perfect for keeping the scores of high-handicappers low, which will ultimately lower your overall handicap and greatly improve your confidence and skill.
Before you buy your next sand wedge, you’ll need to consider how wide a range of options it will give you. The more inexperienced the player, the more you’ll want your sand wedge to deliver.
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