The quick answer
Find the loft of your own pitching wedge, then add 4° to 6° for each wedge below it. Titleist’s Vokey site gives that range: “Bob Vokey recommends 4–6 degrees of loft between each wedge, which typically creates 10–15 yards of distance between clubs.”
Then decide how many wedges you can carry. The Rules of Golf (Rule 4.1b) limit you to 14 clubs, so every wedge you add takes a place from a longer club. Smaller steps mean more wedges; larger steps mean fewer wedges and bigger distance gaps between them.
Who this is for
Golfers buying one or more wedges who want the lofts to fit the irons they already have, and golfers with a yardage they never seem to have a club for.
Start from your pitching wedge
Your pitching wedge is the top of your wedge ladder, and its loft comes from your iron set. Titleist’s Vokey site puts a pitching wedge at “around 44° to 48°.” Starting from a typical figure instead of your own can leave a large gap straight away.
Iron sets differ a lot. The 7-irons in our iron records run from 27.5° on Cobra’s KING to 34° on Wilson’s Staff Model Blade and Staff Model CB. Even one model can vary: Ping offers the G440 with a 29° 7-iron as standard, 27.5° in its Power Spec and 31° in its Retro Spec. Cobra says the KING MAX lofts are 2° weaker than the standard KING’s.
| Specification | CobraKING Irons | TaylorMadeQi Max Irons | PingG440 | CallawayQuantum Max Irons | TitleistT350 | TitleistT250 | TitleistT100 | WilsonStaff Model Blade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-iron loft | 27.5° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 30.5° | 33° | 34° |
| Set makeup | 4–PW or 5–GW stock (steel); single clubs also offered | 4–PW or 5–PW, AW; 4-iron to LW listed | 4–9, PW, UW, 52°, 56° available | 4–9, PW, AW, GW, SW available | 4–9, P, W, W2 available | 2–9, P, W available | 3–9, P, W available | 4–PW |
Titleist’s three T-Series sets alone span 29° to 33° at the 7-iron. Look up your set’s pitching wedge in the maker’s specification table, which also lists every other club. If you have had your irons bent, a club fitter can measure what they are now.
Check the set makeup too. Several sets offer their own wedges below the pitching wedge: Ping lists a UW, 52° and 56° for the G440, Titleist a W and W2 for the T350, and Callaway an AW, GW and SW for the Quantum Max. If your set already includes a gap wedge, your first specialty wedge starts below that one.
Build the ladder
Vokey’s own example: “if your pitching wedge is 46 degrees, your gap wedge could be 50 degrees, followed by a 54-degree sand wedge and a 58-degree lob wedge.” Here is the same arithmetic from other starting points.
Wedge lofts below four pitching-wedge lofts, in 4° and 6° steps, up to 64°
| Pitching wedge | 4° steps | 6° steps |
|---|---|---|
| 43° | 47°, 51°, 55°, 59° | 49°, 55°, 61° |
| 44° | 48°, 52°, 56°, 60° | 50°, 56°, 62° |
| 46° | 50°, 54°, 58°, 62° | 52°, 58°, 64° |
| 48° | 52°, 56°, 60°, 64° | 54°, 60° |
Every wedge in the tables below comes in even-numbered lofts, so a 43° or 45° pitching wedge means rounding one step up or down. Stop the ladder at the highest loft you will actually use. Few golfers need all four wedges in the 4° column.
Loft gaps are a starting point. What matters is the carry distance of each club. Hit each wedge with a full swing on a launch monitor or a range with marked yardages, and look for even steps. The Golf Lab’s Gapping & Bag Builder takes your clubs and carries, shows the gaps, and lists the lofts that would fill them.
Bounce comes with the loft
Once the lofts are set, check that each comes in the bounce you want. Several makers fix the bounce by loft. Cobra’s KING-X, for example, has 10° of bounce at 48° to 54°, 14° at 56° and 12° at 58° and 60°. On wedges with several grinds, each grind usually has its own bounce, and not every grind comes in every loft. Wedge bounce and grinds, explained covers how to choose.
Titleist says Vokey SM11 wedges “feature new technologies designed to produce cleaner contact.”
- Lofts
- 44°, 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°
- Bounce
- 4°, 6°, 8°, 10°, 12°, 14°
- Grinds
- T Grind, M Grind, F Grind, S Grind, D Grind, K Grind
$199
Tour Chrome finish with a True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft
See at TGW: Titleist Vokey SM11Affiliate linkCleveland calls the RTZ 2 “our most advanced Wedge to date.”
- Lofts
- 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°, 62°, 64°
- Bounce
- 6°, 8°, 10°, 12°
- Grinds
- MID, FULL, LOW, 588, ADAPT
$199.99
Tour Satin finish with a True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner Tour Issue steel shaft
See at TGW: Cleveland Golf RTZ 2Affiliate linkPing says the s259 gives golfers “improved precision and versatility with a Tour-preferred look, feel and sound.”
- Lofts
- 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°, 62°
- Bounce
- 6°, 8°, 10°, 12°, 14°
- Grinds
- S Grind, W Grind, H Grind, E Grind, T Grind, B Grind
$199
Chrome finish with a Z-Z115 steel wedge shaft; the Alta CB Blue graphite shaft costs more
See at TGW: Ping s259Affiliate linkCleveland calls the cavity-back CBZ “our greatest achievement in game improvement Wedges to date.”
- Lofts
- 44°, 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°
- Bounce
- 10°, 12°, 14°
- Grinds
- V-Shaped, S-Shaped, C-Shaped
$179.99
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Cleveland Golf CBZAffiliate link
Eight that start at 44° to 48°
These cover a gap wedge below a strong-lofted pitching wedge.
| Specification | TitleistVokey SM11 | Cleveland GolfCBZ | Cleveland GolfRTZ 2 | Pings259 | MizunoPro T-1 | TaylorMadeMG5 | CobraKING Wedge | CallawayOpus SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price when checked | $199 (TGW) | $179.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $199.99 (TGW) | $199 (TGW) | $129.98 (PGA TOUR Superstore) | $199.99 (TGW) | $129 (Cobra Golf) | $189.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) |
| Lofts | 44°, 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 44°, 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°, 62°, 64° | 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°, 62° | 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° |
| Bounce | 4°, 6°, 8°, 10°, 12°, 14° | 10°, 12°, 14° | 6°, 8°, 10°, 12° | 6°, 8°, 10°, 12°, 14° | 4°, 6°, 8°, 10°, 12° | 8°, 9°, 10°, 11°, 12°, 13°, 14° | 4°, 6°, 7°, 8°, 10°, 12° | 5°, 6°, 8°, 10°, 12°, 14° |
| Grinds | T Grind, M Grind, F Grind, S Grind, D Grind, K Grind | V-Shaped, S-Shaped, C-Shaped | MID, FULL, LOW, 588, ADAPT | S Grind, W Grind, H Grind, E Grind, T Grind, B Grind | M-Type, S-Type, P-Type, C-Type, V-Type, X-Type | LB, SC, SB, SX, HB | Versatile (V) Grind, Drop (D) Grind, Widelow (W) Grind, Tour (T) Grind | S Grind, W Grind, X Grind, C Grind, T Grind |
Titleist’s Vokey SM11 and Cleveland’s CBZ start at 44°. Cleveland’s RTZ 2 goes highest, to 64°. The tables list every bounce each maker offers; each product page shows which bounce comes at which loft.
Seven that start at 50° or higher
These suit golfers whose set already runs to a gap wedge, or who want a sand and lob wedge only.
| Specification | CallawayCB 12 | PXGSugar Daddy III | TaylorMadeHi-Toe 5 | Tour EdgeExotics Milled | WilsonStaff Model ZM | CallawayOpus Platinum | CallawayFull Toe SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price when checked | $179.99 (TGW) | $299.99 (PGA TOUR Superstore) | $199.99 (TGW) | $119.99 (2nd Swing Golf) | $149.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $199.97 (TGW) | $199.99 (Fairway Golf) |
| Lofts | 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° | 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°, 62° |
| Bounce | 12°, 14° | 7°, 10°, 12° | 8°, 9°, 10°, 11°, 12°, 14° | 6°, 8°, 10°, 12°, 14° | 6°, 8°, 10°, 12° | 8°, 10°, 12° | 6°, 8°, 10°, 14° |
| Grinds | Not recorded | S-Grind, BP-Grind, C-Grind | ATS, ATV, ATW, ATX, ATC | Low Bounce (LB), Mid Bounce (MB), High Bounce (HB) | Not recorded | Z-Grind, S-Grind | J, JW |
Callaway’s Opus Platinum and Full Toe SP start at 54°. Wilson sells each Staff Model ZM bounce as a separate product, so the loft you want comes in only some bounces.
Fewer, wider steps
Cleveland’s Smart Sole Full-Face comes as four models with wider steps: 42°, 50°, 58° and 64°, which Cleveland names Chipper, Gap Wedge, Sand Wedge and Lob Wedge. That is 8° from the gap wedge to the sand wedge and 6° from sand to lob, so each wedge covers more distances with part swings than a ladder in 4° steps would.
New or used
Most of the wedges here have used prices on their product pages, with the condition grade the seller gives. If you buy used:
- Check the loft and bounce stamped on the club against the listing.
- A previous owner may have bent the loft, which also changes the bounce. A club fitter can measure both.
- Look closely at the grooves where the ball is struck.
- Buy from a seller who will take the wedge back.
Where to go next
- The Wedge Finder: pick the wedge you need and your course conditions, and see which wedges offer that bounce at your lofts.
- Wedge bounce and grinds, explained.
- All wedges we have researched, with their latest price checks.
- Game-improvement or players irons?, since your pitching wedge comes with your irons.
- Gapping & Bag Builder, in the Golf Lab.
Sources
- Evidence: Researched
Titleist publishes the Vokey SM11 lofts, bounces, grinds, finishes and list price, and describes the F Grind as often considered the most forgiving SM11 grind.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked. The loft-by-loft bounce pairing was checked again on 2026-10-09.
- Evidence: Verified
Cleveland publishes the CBZ Tour Satin lofts, sole grinds, bounces, stock shaft and price, and describes its cavity-back design as game improvement.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. The loft-by-loft bounce pairing was checked again on 2026-10-09.
- Evidence: Verified
Cleveland publishes the RTZ 2 Tour Satin lofts, grinds, bounces, stock shaft and price, and calls it its most advanced wedge to date.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. The loft-by-loft bounce pairing was checked again on 2026-10-09.
- Evidence: Verified
Ping publishes the s259 lofts, effective bounces, grinds and finishes, and says it builds on the spin and control of the s159 family.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. The loft-by-loft bounce pairing was checked again on 2026-10-09.
- Evidence: Verified
Mizuno publishes the Pro T-1 White Satin lofts, bounces, sole grinds, shaft and price, and calls it the best feeling and performing wedge Mizuno has ever made.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. The loft-by-loft bounce pairing was read on 2026-10-09 from Mizuno’s own spec tables at https://mizunogolf.com/us/golf-clubs/mp-series/mizuno-pro-t1/, because the store page does not pair them.
- Evidence: Researched
TaylorMade publishes the MG5 lofts, bounces, grinds and finishes loft by loft, lists the price, and says the wedges offer soft feel, responsiveness and versatility.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Verified
Cobra publishes the KING Wedge lofts, the loft, bounce and grind specifications table, the stock shaft and list price, and describes its MIM construction and four grinds.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
Callaway publishes the Opus SP Chrome loft, bounce and grind table, the stock shaft and a price, and describes Spin Pocket construction with a higher center of gravity for more spin.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked. The loft-by-loft bounce pairing was checked again on 2026-10-09.
- Evidence: Researched
Callaway publishes the CB 12 loft and bounce table, the stock shaft and a price, and says its Tri-Sole and 12g of perimeter weighting give maximum forgiveness.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Verified
PXG publishes the Sugar Daddy III lofts, the loft, grind and bounce specifications table and a starting price, and describes its three sole grinds.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
TaylorMade publishes the Hi-Toe 5 lofts, bounces and grinds loft by loft, lists the price, and says its five sole grinds cover different swings and conditions.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked. The page does not name a stock finish; its table note says Satin Chrome and the ATC grind are custom only.
- Evidence: Verified
Tour Edge publishes the Exotics Milled Wedge lofts, bounce profiles, finish and list price, and describes its milled grooves as built to maximize spin.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. The loft-by-loft bounce pairing was checked again on 2026-10-09.
- Evidence: Verified
Wilson publishes the Staff Model ZM 8° bounce lofts, stock shaft and price, says the ZM family comes in low, mid and high bounce options, and describes a forged 8620 carbon steel head with ZM Grooves.
Wilson product page (8° bounce)
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. The loft-by-loft bounce pairing was checked again on 2026-10-09 from this page and Wilson’s 6°, 10° and 12° bounce pages.
- Evidence: Researched
Callaway publishes the Opus Platinum Chrome loft, bounce and grind table, the stock shaft and its price, and describes a tungsten topline for a lower flight with more control and spin.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
Callaway publishes the 2026 Full Toe SP loft, bounce and grind table, the stock shaft and a price, and describes it as built for players who open the face and need versatile bunker play.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Verified
Cleveland publishes the Smart Sole Full-Face lofts for its four models, the stock shaft and price, and calls it an ultra-forgiving wedge system and its most forgiving wedges.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. Cleveland publishes no bounce angle for this wedge.
- Evidence: Verified
Cobra publishes the KING-X wedge lofts, bounces, grind and list price, and describes its forgiving cavity-back design as game improvement.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked. The loft-by-loft bounce pairing was checked again on 2026-10-09.
- Evidence: Verified
Cobra publishes the KING irons club-by-club lofts and offsets, stock set makeups and stock shafts, and a $999.00 builder price, and describes a 360 SPEEDSHELL head with a floating catapult weight and a 3D printed medallion.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked.
- Evidence: Verified
Cobra publishes the KING MAX club-by-club lofts and offsets, the stock set makeups and shafts, and its price, and describes a 360 SPEEDSHELL head with H.O.T Face Technology and a floating catapult weight.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
TaylorMade publishes the Qi Max Irons lofts, set options, stock shafts and a $1,099.99 price, and labels the model style Game Improvement.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked. The page also showed an error message saying the product was not available to order from TaylorMade’s site at that moment.
- Evidence: Verified
Ping publishes the G440 club-by-club lofts and offsets, the available clubs and the shaft options, and says the iron has the look of a players iron with the forgiveness and consistency of a game-improvement design.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
Callaway publishes the Quantum Max irons club-by-club lofts and offsets, the available clubs, the stock shaft and a list price, labels the model type Game Improvement, and describes a two-piece undercut-cavity design.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
Titleist publishes the T350 lofts, available irons and a per-iron price, labels the model type Game Improvement, and describes a forged face with hollow-body construction that delivers maximum forgiveness.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
Titleist publishes the T250 lofts, available irons, shafts and a per-iron price, labels the model type Player’s Distance, and describes a high-strength steel face and body with split high-density tungsten.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Researched
Titleist publishes the T100 lofts, available irons and a per-iron price, labels the model type Player’s, and describes a fully forged head with minimal offset and a progressive dual-cavity construction.
Read from the maker’s page as displayed when we checked.
- Evidence: Verified
Wilson publishes the Staff Model Blade club-by-club lofts and hosel offsets, the set composition, stock shaft and price, and describes a modernized blade design forged from 8620 carbon steel.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked.
- Evidence: Verified
Wilson publishes the Staff Model CB club-by-club lofts and offsets, the 4–PW set makeup, the Dynamic Gold Mid 115 stock shaft and a $1,399.99 price, and says it delivers exceptional feel and added forgiveness in a compact, tour-inspired profile.
Values were matched against the downloaded text of the page when we checked.