Ask any golfer, and they will tell you that a wedge is a must-have accessory in their golf kit. In fact wedges are used to play at least one-fourth of all shots in a game of golf.
A popular wedge is the 58 degree wedge which can be used to hit birdies and save pars.
But, if you fail to use the appropriate wedge for your shot, you may have problems playing a good game. It’s recommended to have wedges close-by to boost your score card.
Is a 54 Degree Wedge Better? Read my answer
Based on your need and swing style, you can opt for one or four different types of wedges. The four types differ from one another in their degree of loft. The loft refers to the angle of the clubface.
A pitching wedge is the most common type of wedge and has the least loft. This wedge has a loft in the range of 44 to 48° and is great for hitting long chip shots or full shots onto the green.
A gap wedge features a loft of 50 to 53 degrees and is recommended for full shots. This wedge bridges the distance and renders more variety for pitches without long chips or a full swing near the green. The pitching wedge is also referred to as an attack wedge or a utility wedge.
A sand wedge typically comprises a loft ranging from 54 to 58° and has a wide and heavy sole. This wedge helps you to stay away from the area of the golf course featuring greenside bunkers. It’s ideal for playing bunker shots and chipping.
A lob wedge has a 60 to 64 degrees loft and works best for spin shots and high shots near the green. It’s also more suitable for bunker shots, hitting chips, and flop shots when compared to full shots.
More info: Take a look at my guide to Ping’s Best Wedges
What a 58 Degree Wedge Is Used For
What is a 58 degree wedge used for? A 58 degree golf wedge has 58 degrees of loft and is used to chip the ball high in the air very quickly. The club is best used for shorter distances when a golfer is located within 80 yards of the hole.
A 58 degree wedge can prove to be beneficial in more than one way. One of the most common uses of this wedge is to get the ball up in the air very fast.
It also helps in improving your greenside spin through solid contact between the ball and club.
The 58-degree wedge is highly suitable for bunker play. If you’re looking at playing some smart chip shots from the fringes, then this is the way to go.
This wedge is also ideal if you want to use the lead edge to hit the ball right on its equator.
When to Use Your 58 Degree Wedge
You should use your 58-degree wedge for chipping and pitching shots within 80 yards of the green.
However, you may have to hit the ball a little harder than you would with a 56-degree wedge so that it covers a good distance. This type of wedge is also useful for sand shots.
If you’re planning to play on wet bunkers or where there is limited real estate, then using a 58-degree wedge will assist you here.
A wedge designed with 58 degrees of loft is a really good choice for playing on firm courses with tight lies. Your 58-degree wedge will come in handy for shots around the green and those within 86 yards of the flag stick.
58 Degree Wedge Distance
The distance covered in a golf course is typically measured in yards. These measures are based on amateur male and female – short, mid, and long hitters.
A 58 degree wedge can cover a distance up to 70 yards. (64 meters).
The average distance covered by amateur men – short, mid, and long hitters using 58-degree wedges are 57-70-80 yards respectively.
For amateur female golfers, the average distance is 34-46-59 yards respectively.
How Far Should You Hit a 58 Degree Wedge
With a 58-degree wedge, you should be able to hit the golf ball between 70 to 80 yards (73 meters). If you’re trying out a smooth swing, you should be able to cover around 85 yards. However, experts at the game, you should be able to hit the ball further between 110-140 yards.
Best Bounce for a 58 Degree Wedge
The best bounce for a 58-degree wedge could range from anywhere between 0 to 14 degrees.
The best bounce that you can expect for your wedge with a good grind is typically 11 degrees. In general terms, a good bounce helps the wedge to get under the golf ball.
However, the bounce can change depending on the type of swing that you render and the course where you’re playing your game.
If you’re hitting the ball with the back of your wedge, the bounce could be slightly less. This can be anywhere between 8 to 10 degrees.
It may be a little higher at 12 degrees if you hit the ball with the leading edge of the wedge.
How to Hit a 58 Degree Wedge
The secret of hitting well with a 58-degree wedge is to position yourself correctly.
This is how to hit a 58° Golf Wedge Correctly:
- Place one foot forward and rest your weight almost completely on that foot. If you’re a right-handed golfer, place your left foot forward and for left-handed golfers, vice versa.
- Place your hands really low so that the ball will get hit high.
- Position the 58 degree wedge shaft vertically making sure that you don’t keep your hands before it.
- Open up the clubface and hit right down on the ball swinging as hard as you can.
Remember not to shake or move your lower body and also avoid grounding the club. Also, check out the position of the ball on the grass.
If there is a fairly decent amount of grass under the ball, you will have to choke your club and sink your feet into the grass.
58 Degree Hitting Tips
Your 58-degree wedge is specifically designed to get the ball high. The following tips will help you master the art of hitting with your 58-degree wedge easily.
- Use the golf club to hit the ball with minimum hand movement.
- Ensure that the bottom of the golf club touches the ground first and not just its edges.
- Get your golf club fitted with a lob wedge.
54 Vs 58 Degree Wedge
The 54-degree wedge and the 58-degree wedge have the distinct characteristics that make them best suited for specific shots.
- The 54-degree wedge is best for playing in 100 to 115 yards whereas the 58-degree wedge is ideal for a smaller area of fewer than 100 yards.
- The 54-degree wedge works well for chipping around the green. On the other hand, the 58-degree wedge does a good job for downhill flop shots and out-of-the-sand shots. It also helps to stop the ball whenever you want to.
- The 54-degree wedge is worth using if you’re planning on a smooth swing. However, the 58-degree wedge will help you better if you want a lot of spin.
56 Vs 58° Wedge
Like I said above, the 56-degree wedge and the 58-degree wedge have their distinct features. This is why you should use them for specific purposes which they are meant for.
- The 56-degree wedge is a great option if you want to play in a sandy area because of its large base. However, the 58-degree wedge performs best on fast greens or wet bunkers or anywhere away from the sand.
- The 56-degree wedge can be considered if you want to focus on the maximum bounce. But, a 58-degree wedge can be looked into if you prefer to opt for a low bounce or no bounce at all.
- The 56-degree wedge is worth investing in if you’re going to play at a golf course or any place with large real estate. A 58-degree wedge gives its maximum performance in a small area.
58 Vs 60° Wedge
Although the 58-degree and 60-degree wedges appear to be interchangeable, there are a couple of reasons why you may want to include both of them in your golf bag.
- The 58-degree wedge typically hits the ball over a distance of 84 to 88 yards. The 60-degree wedge will, however, help you to hit the same ball over a shorter distance of 80 to 84 yards.
- The 58-degree wedge is at times easier to work with than a 60-degree wedge. In other words, the former wedge renders more playability.
Is a 60 Degree Wedge Better? Read my answer
The Best 58 Degree Wedges
Golf stores and online stores usually have a range of 58-degree wedges with noteworthy specifications that can help you get the best out of your game.
You should check out on at least a few of them before you decide to lay your hand on a specific one. Here, I’ll give five good choices for you to start looking into.
Cleaveland RTX4 Wedge
The Cleaveland RTX4 wedge is worth checking out if you want a classy and stylish wedge in your golf club.
The wedge comes in three options for its finish, namely, tour raw, black satin, and tour satin.
You also have four sole grind options of xlow, low, mid, and full for the head. The shaft is made of dynamic gold S400 tour issue.
The wedge has a very little center of gravity on the face center to help you to enhance not just your accuracy but also the shot dispersion and feel.
It also has other noteworthy highlights such as a compact profile, excellent control and spin levels, and a narrow sole.
Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind
Designed by the legendary golfer Phil Mickelson, the Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind wedge is bound to be any right-handed golfer’s club of choice.
The wedge has a stiff flex, three grind options, and a steel shaft. Its highlight is the versatility that it renders allowing you to accelerate through the ball and play the game anywhere.
The wedge also has other noteworthy features such as a high toe, progressive grooves all over, including the face and large surface area.
The high toe helps to move the weight high to hit the ball out of a deep trough while the progressive grooves help you to optimize the spin. It is ideal for mid-handicappers.
Fourteen FH-V1 Wedge
The Fourteen FH-V1 wedge combines traditional appearance with stability by incorporating a double-reverse-taper blade design. The wedge offers maximum forgiveness because of the varying thickness of its head.
The head has a minimum thickness at the low heel and increases gradually at the high toe. This gradual increase also elevates the center of gravity for better spin control and trajectory.
The clubface also has double the milling of usual club faces to ensure consistency in the surface roughness.
The wedge can be used easily by both low handicappers and high handicappers.
Titleist Vokey SM7 Wedge
The Titleist Vokey SM7 wedge is named after master club maker Bob Vokey.
This wedge gives you a chance to make use of your skills to the maximum extent so that you can put the golf ball where exactly you want it to be. The club has a steel shaft with deep grooves.
You can choose from various grind options depending on the bounce you would like to have. The club is a good choice for both low handicappers and professionals.
Cobra Golf King Wedge
This Cobra Golf King wedge has a stylish appearance with its steel shaft and a black carbon steel club head.
The wedge features three options of versatile, wide-low, and classic for the grind. The clubface comprises narrow grooves.
The choice of carbon steel for the clubhead ensures a long lifespan for the wedge while the overall rough surface of the club results in a good spin.
Can you use a 58° Wedge as a Sand wedge
Yes, you can use a 58-degree wedge as a sand wedge. A 58° wedge works well to cover shorter distances. I think you may find it easier to hit the ball up in the air compared to a sand wedge.
Is a 54 Degree Wedge Better? Read my answer