Whether you’re a pro golfer, a weekend warrior, or just a regular person who’s never even considered playing golf, you’ve seen a sand wedge. In any movie where the characters play golf, someone is probably trying to recover from the greenside bunker in there. Oddly enough, they’ll be the most neglected clubs in your bag. So, why are sand wedges important, and how do you recognize the one that will suit you? We’ve compiled this best sand wedge review for easy navigation in the jungle of sand wedges. Enjoy!
What is a Sand Wedge?
Well, for a start, just as the name might suggest, the sand wedge is mostly used when you get trapped in those pesky sand-filled holes, usually around the greenside. The trouble with a bunker is that they’re notoriously difficult to get out of, so you’ll want to have a specialist club for that – enter sand wedge!
All wedges can be considered a subset of high-lofted and short-shaft irons, though there’s not a really clear-cut boundary where irons end and wedges begin. Most take it to be at 42 degrees, in the extreme (pitching wedges), and then going all the way to 64 (lob wedges). Sand wedges are in the 54–58 degree range, with gap wedges bridging the distance between them and pitching wedges. However, the key difference is not their loft, but rather their bounce angle.
Sand wedges typically have bigger bounce (think 10 to 16, even 18 degrees), allowing you to dig the club into the ground about an inch or two behind the ball, and launch it with enough backspin to get it out of the bunker and onto the green for an up and down.
Best Sand Wedge Comparison Table
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Image Name Pros Cons Rating |
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Callaway Mack Daddy 3 Milled Grind Wedge
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Ping Glide 2.0 Wedge
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Titleist Vokey SM6 K Grind Wedge
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Best Sand Wedge Review
To save you the trouble of waddling around the rough, we did an exhaustive (and exhausting) research, and made a list of seven top sand wedges currently available on the market. So, feel free to read on and check out our top rated sand wedge reviews.
1. Callaway Mack Daddy 3 Milled Grind Wedge
Our Rating:
Eight clubs fit the description of a sand wedge (54–58 degree loft) in the whole range of Callaway Mack Daddy 3 Milled Grind wedges, though essentially only four lofts with varying bounce angles. What makes the MD3 stand out is the progressive groove design, which basically differs from lob wedges to sand wedges, and then from sand to gap wedges and pitching wedges, being specifically adjusted to control the amount of spin you need for each type.
The ones on the sand wedges work like a charm when it comes to creating a lot of backspin needed to launch the ball high up. On a similar note, the Center of Gravity (CG) has been slightly moved up the face to give more control on the trajectory and keep it dialled in for a great sand wedge experience.
Pros
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
Cons
- thumbs-o-down
See full review of the wedge here.
2. Cleveland RTX-3 CB Wedge
Our Rating:
There are plenty of options for all types of wedges in the Cleveland RTX-3 CB, nine of which pertain to the loft range we’d identify as sand wedges (54, 56, and 58). If you’re looking to get that ideal wedge to save you from bunkers, then you might want to target the Full Grind (you’ll recognize it by three dots on the head towards the hosel).
The CG on the whole range has been moved slightly to the center, which allows it to decrease the vibrations and give you plenty of head stability on impact, which in turn, allows much better control on the trajectory.
The grooves on higher lofts (so, starting with sand wedges) are milled at an angle, which means they are more effective when you open the face. This will allow you more versatility in your bag, and perhaps even allow you to omit the lob wedge altogether if you go with a 46 – 52 – 58 setup.
Pros
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
Cons
- thumbs-o-down
See full review of the wedge here.
3. Cobra King Wedge
Our Rating:
Starting with the grooves, we see that Cobra King pretty much conforms to the standards of the industry – lower lofts feature narrower and deeper grooves, while those on higher lofts are a bit wider and shallower. Although, both designs feature a sort of circular milled finish between the grooves, which gives them better grip and traction, which in turn does an impressive job of increasing the spin.
As far as grinds go, there are three, though only the 56 has all of them, which means you can get it with low, medium, and high bounce. In contrast, the 54 comes with medium bounce, which makes it well-suited to sweepers, whereas the 58 comes with low and medium bounce, so you can choose between the two depending on your swing.
However, the smartest course of action when picking the greatest sand wedge option from the lot seems to be to go with the 56, as it allows you the most versatility.
Pros
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
Cons
- thumbs-o-down
4. Mizuno S5 Wedge
Our Rating:
The Mizuno S5 wedge is the more forgiving cousin of the Mizuno T7, and one of the highest ranking sand wedges on the market. Having a slightly larger profile than standard, the S5 gives you that bit more striking surface between heel and toe, making it feel just a little bit easier to hit the ball when you’re chipping around the green.
There’s more of a striking surface, so you can feel more confident about hitting those “dead” shouts from greenside bunkers that spin up really quickly. Speaking of which, the new and improved grooves (of course they’re improved, every new generation will try to accomplish that) will give you good spin control, especially given the fact you’ll be getting brand new grooves. This allows you to play more aggressively out of the bunker and on the approach.
Twentyfive loft/bounce combos come in the range, 12 of which fit the description of a sand wedge, and if we added the extremes (53 and 59), we’d have as many as 15 choices for the sand.
Pros
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
Cons
- thumbs-o-down
See full review of the wedge here.
5. Ping Glide 2.0 Wedge
Our Rating:
The Ping 2.0 comes with one of the nicest offers in sand wedges, and wedges in general, for that matter, which is both a positive and a negative thing. On the one hand, the cornucopia of options allows you to really dial in the choice depending on your needs and style of play, but on the other hand, you’re stuck with a specialist wedge that can do little else.
There are as many as 10 loft/bounce combos, with 4 grinds available for each, apparently. The SS grind, with its mid bounce is the most versatile of the four, whereas the TS grind provides precision from the most difficult lies. The WS grind comes with a full sole, and it’s best suited for players with a steep angle of attack, while the ES grind and its dish profile really come into their own for bunker shots.
Pros
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
Cons
- thumbs-o-down
See full review of the wedge here.
6. TaylorMade Milled Grind Wedge
Our Rating:
The TaylorMade Milled Grind comes in three bounce options, SB, LB, and HB, or standard (medium), low, and high bounce, respectively, all of which you can see in their sand wedges, with the exception of the 54-degree loft, which comes only with SB and LB. This combines for a total of 8 possible loft/bounce combos.
Here are a few recommendations as to how to use each of these grinds – SB is ideal for medium sand and turf conditions (not too hard, not too soft) and players with moderate swings. Conversely, LB is better for firm turf and packed sand, and sweepers, while HB is more suited to soft turf and white sand, and diggers should dig it (pardon the colloquialism). It has plenty of spin and is lightweight – which should be perfect for golfers with a high handicap.
Pros
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
Cons
- thumbs-o-down
See full review of the wedge here.
7. Titleist Vokey SM6 K Grind Wedge
Our Rating:
One of the best choices in wedges, the Titleist Vokey SM6 has definitely earned its place on our list of top rated sand wedges. Speaking specifically of them, out of all the options in the SM6 range, we’d have to single out the K grind, sporting a wide full sole with enhanced camber. The model advertises as the “ultimate bunker club”, and very deservedly so.
This puppy is one of the most forgiving sand wedges out there, and from a variety of sand and turf conditions at that. The L grind is also worth mentioning for its versatility and firmness, which make it especially good for sweepers in general and low handicappers in particular.
Pros
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
- thumbs-o-up
Cons
- thumbs-o-down
See full review of the wedge here.
The Takeaway
It always seems unfair to pick a favorite, especially when everything on the table is more than palatable, so we won’t. Instead, we’ll give you the best advice anyone can give you in golf – to find the best sand wedge for yourself, you have to feel it, test it, and then make up your mind.
One final word of advice – the use of great sand wedges is not limited to just bunkers – they also work well on 80-yard distances on the fairway. On that same note, you can use your 56 as a lob wedge by choking up on it and opening the face, but then you’d lose the versatility a full set of wedges brings, so you really need to ask yourself if this trade-off suits your game.
