Wedge Comparison
56 vs 60 Degree Wedge: Which Should You Carry?
The short answer: a 56 degree wedge is the more versatile, easier-to-hit club and the one most golfers should have first, while a 60 degree adds height and stopping power for short, delicate shots but takes more skill to use. Plenty of players carry both. Here is how to decide, from the club builders at Alpha Golf.
Shop Alpha WedgesThe Quick Answer
If you can only add one, a 56 degree wedge is usually the smarter pick. It covers greenside bunkers, chips, pitches, and full swings from around 80 to 90 yards, and it is more forgiving than a 60. A 60 degree wedge is a specialist: it hits the ball higher and lands it softer for tight pins and flop shots, but its extra loft makes clean contact harder and leaves less room for error. Better players and those who face a lot of short-sided, soft-landing shots get the most from a 60.
What Each Wedge Is Built to Do
- 56 degree (sand wedge). The greenside workhorse. It is the standard bunker club and doubles as a reliable chipping and pitching wedge. Enough loft to stop the ball, not so much that it becomes hard to strike.
- 60 degree (lob wedge). The height-and-touch club. It launches the ball steeply and lands it soft, which is what you want over a bunker to a tight pin or on a short-sided chip with little green to work with.
How Far Apart Do They Fly?
For most golfers, a 56 carries roughly 10 to 15 yards farther than a 60 on a full swing. That is a meaningful gap, which is the main reason many players carry both: the 56 handles the longer greenside and approach yardages, and the 60 fills in the shortest, highest shots. Your exact numbers depend on your swing, so treat these as a starting point, not a promise. Where those two clubs sit in your overall set is a gapping question, covered in our guide to choosing wedges.
Side by Side
| 56° wedge | 60° wedge | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Sand wedge | Lob wedge |
| Best for | Bunkers, chips, pitches, full shots | High, soft shots to tight pins; flops |
| Ball flight | Medium-high, more roll | Very high, lands soft, little roll |
| Ease of use | More forgiving | Less forgiving, needs cleaner contact |
| Carry (typical) | About 80 to 90 yds | About 65 to 75 yds |
| Best suited to | Most golfers, all levels | Better players; short-sided, soft-landing shots |
General guidance; your distances and results depend on your swing and how each wedge is built.
Should You Carry Both?
Many golfers do, and a 56 and 60 pairing works well because the four degree gap keeps their distances cleanly separated. The question is whether you will actually use a 60. If you play firm courses, tend to putt or chip from the fringe, or find the extra loft hard to strike, you may score better carrying a 56 as your highest wedge and spending that bag slot elsewhere. If you regularly face short-sided shots with little green to stop the ball, the 60 earns its place.
One thing that is easy to miss: the bounce on each wedge matters as much as the loft, and a 60
in particular can be tricky if its bounce does not fit your swing and turf. We cover that fully in
Wedge Bounce Explained.
Which Is Right for You?
- Newer or higher-handicap players: start with a 56. It is more forgiving and covers more situations.
- Confident ball-strikers: add a 60 for the high, soft shots a 56 cannot produce.
- Firm-course players: you may prefer to stop at a 56, since a 60 is less forgiving on tight lies.
- Soft-course players facing tight pins: the 60 is worth the bag slot for the stopping power.
Alpha PF2 Wedge
Alpha's best-selling wedge in the scoring lofts, known for tour-level spin and soft, checking landings. Built to your loft, lie, and length so your 56, your 60, or both feel like the rest of your set.
"The PF2 wedges are the most accurate clubs I've ever hit. Reliable and consistent."
Jack Ferenz, Champions Tour Professional
Shop Alpha Wedges
Want both? The Silver Diamond MDC Wedge
Available in 56° (14° bounce) and 60° (4° bounce), so you can build the exact pairing above, in 431 stainless steel, right and left hand, at a value price.
View the MDC WedgeFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need a 60 degree wedge?
Not necessarily. Many golfers score well with a 56 as their highest-lofted wedge. A 60 is worth adding if you regularly face short-sided shots that need to fly high and land soft, and if you can make clean contact with the extra loft.
Can I carry both a 56 and a 60?
Yes, and it is a common pairing. The four degree gap keeps their distances cleanly separated: the 56 handles longer greenside and full shots, the 60 covers the shortest, highest ones.
What is the distance difference between a 56 and 60 degree wedge?
For most golfers a 56 carries roughly 10 to 15 yards farther than a 60 on a full swing. Your exact gap depends on your swing and how each wedge is built.
Is a 60 degree wedge harder to hit?
Generally yes. The extra loft launches the ball higher and softer but leaves less margin for a slightly heavy or thin strike, so it takes more skill and practice than a 56.
Which is better for bunkers, a 56 or 60?
A 56 degree sand wedge is the traditional bunker club and is more forgiving for most players. A 60 can work from bunkers for higher, shorter shots, but it is less margin-friendly.
Which should a beginner get first?
A 56. It is more forgiving, handles bunkers, chips, pitches, and full swings, and covers more of the shots a newer player faces than a 60 does.
Building a full set? Start with our guide on how to choose golf wedges, then dial in wedge bounce.
Not sure which to build? Call 1-818-725-9720 or email hi@alphagolfclubs.com.