Best 56 Degree Wedges (2024) – What It Is Actually Used For?

The best 56 degree wedge on the market is the one that feels right in your hands. The 56 degree wedge is such an essential part of your golf bag.

It can take a missed green and turn it into a par or turn it into a double bogey if things don’t go well. This is the club that we see golfers practicing with most often. It’s the go-to wedge for all of the shots within one hundred yards, and that is what makes it so valuable.

There are some key factors that make one wedge better than another wedge. Sometimes a high bounce wedge is what you need, and other times you need something with low bounce.

Some players want a traditional blade design and others what their 56 degree wedge to look just like their irons.

Regardless of your personal preferences when it comes to your wedge game, we have put together some great picks for the best 56 degree wedge choices on the market.

Quick Summary: Our Top Picks For Best 56 Degree Wedges In 2023

IMAGE	PRODUCT
Best 56 Degree Wedge Overall	Titleist Vokey SM7 Wedge Top of the line wedge Leading performer on tour Spin milled design	CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON →
Runner Up 1	Cleveland RTX 4 Wedge Tour Zip Grooves UltraDurable long lasting finish Traditional muscle back design	CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON →
Runner Up 2	Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge Groove in groove technology Great feel Available in a wide range of loft combinations	CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON →
Best Cheap 56 Degree Wedge	Pinemeadow PGX Wedge Low price Easy to hit Blade looking design	CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON →
Best 56 Degree Wedge for Forgiveness	Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge Easy to hit Good for mid to high handicappers New improved design	CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON →

Best 56 Degree Wedge Overall: Titleist Vokey SM7

There is no question that the Vokey wedge has been leading the way for many years. This golf wedge has a variety of bounce angle and grind options, and it can be used by a large variety of golfers.

Although the Vokey wedge is typically considered to be a players club, there are many mid to high handicap golfers with this wedge in their golf bag.

If you are looking for a perfect spin on your golf ball and fantastic feel, the Vokey SM7 is for you. The SM7 is not the latest release in the Vokey golf wedge series.

However, the technology used on the SM7 is going to be very recent and modern. The spin milled design allows players to get a tremendous amount of spin around the greens.

The Vokey wedges are available in a wide range of lofts, and you will have no problem finding this wedge in the 56 degree. We recommend going with around 10 degrees of bounce for the 56 degree wedge in your golf bag.

The center of gravity in these wedges is moved according to the loft and grind options. If you miss with the Vokey wedge, you will feel it, if however you hit the wedge correctly, you will be rewarded.

The pricing on the wedge is entirely fair for the versatility and performance that it offers.

Read our Titleist Vokey SM7 Wedge review.

Runner Up 1: Cleveland RTX 4 Wedge

The Cleveland RTX 4 56 degree wedge is our second choice. This wedge is the next in the Cleveland RTX series, and as always, Cleveland has delivered another high-quality wedge.

The RTX is available in three different finishes, and Cleveland took some time to make sure that the finish on these wedges does not start to come off after just a season or two.

They consider it to be an ultra-durable long-lasting finish. We think the black looks best and will help keep the glare down on those sunny summer days.

The RTX wedge comes with the Tour Zip Grooves that we have come to love from Cleveland. These are aggressive groves and will generate a great deal of spin.

The RTX has more of the muscle back design as compared to the cavity-back of the CBX. This design will help appeal to the lower and mid-handicap golfer, but don’t let these wedges fool you. This RTX 56 degree wedge has plenty of forgiveness to work for the high handicapper as well.

The RTX 56 does not come in any grind options, but instead, you can purchase it in a low bounce, mid bounce, full bounce, or x low bounce. We recommend going with the mid on the 56-degree wedge to make sure you have the most versatility.

Runner Up 2: Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge

The Mack Daddy wedges have been making a name for themselves for many years. Continually trying to compete with the TaylorMade Milled Grind and Titleist Vokey as some of the best wedges that golf has to offer.

The brand new Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge truly stands out as a great all around wedge. 

It does not matter the playing conditions of the course when you are using the Mack Daddy CB Wedge. Even if you are playing from the rough, you will have the ability to get some spin out of the CB.

This wedge is also available in four different sole grinds so that you can choose something that most closely matches your typical playing conditions. 

The soft carbon steel used to manufacture this wedge helps it to have a great feel. You will also notice that the center of gravity is perfectly placed to help give players a more crisp turf interaction. 

We love that Callaway gives the option for both the platinum chrome and the black matte finish so that you can choose something that appeals to your preferred look in a club.

Overall we like this wedge for a wide range of handicaps, and there is no question it is one of the better 56-degree wedges on the market. 

Pinemeadow PGX

Best Cheap 56 Degree Wedge

If you know that your 56 degree wedge has seen better days, but you don’t want to break the bank on a new option, take a look at the Pinemeadow PGX.

The Pinemeadow is a blade looking design with a mid-range bounce angle. This wedge is available in a 52, 56, and 60 degree golf wedges. The 56 is considered to be the sand wedge in this line of wedges.

The Pinemeadow comes standard with a steel shaft and is designed for the mid handicap golfer. This is one of those wedges golf offers that you may just fall in love with. It is relatively forgiving and has good spin. It does not have a tour-level spin.

This is a good wedge if you are someone that is carrying just a pitching wedge currently and needs to switch to a wedge that will help get some more height around the greens.

Our favorite part of the Pinemadow PGX is the price range. You can get three of these wedges for about the same price as a single wedge from another.

Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge

Best 56 Degree Wedge for Forgiveness

Yes, we are back with yet another Cleveland golf wedge option. They put out so many wedges that work for a wide range of players that it is hard for other companies to even compete.

Cleveland CBX 2 is a bit newer than the CBX that we mentioned earlier, so the price will be a bit higher. This wedge is also offered in many other lofts all the way up to the 60 degree.

The CBX 2 is our most forgiving option because this wedge improved upon the technology in the original CBX and added a ton of feel. Where the CBX wedges lacked just a bit from the bunker, this CBX 2 will get the ball to fly out of the bunker with little to no trouble.

This is a hollow cavity wedge with weight distributed to give the player the most forgiveness they need on their wedge shots. We would compare this wedge to the TaylorMade wedges when it comes to feel but with much more forgiveness.

The sole of the CBX 2 has several different shapes depending on the degree of loft you choose. We love this progressive design as it takes pressure off the player to select the perfect wedge degree, bounce and grind. The 56 degree wedge comes with the S-shaped sole.

56 Degree Wedge Buying Guide

Now that we have given you some excellent sand wedge options it’s time to narrow down which one is for you. This decision shouldn’t be too hard as each wedge is built to help a specific player type.

What Is The Difference Between A Blade Style And A Cavity Back Style Wedge?

Cavity back wedges are much more forgiving than blade wedges. They are built to help a player that tends to have mishits on their wedge shots. They are also better for full swing shots than something that is more like a blade wedge.

Many players will decide to go with a cavity-back style wedge for their gap wedge and blade for the other wedges in the bag. When it comes to the bounce and the sole grinds, you will likely have more options in the blade style wedge.

If you are a mid handicap golfer looking to lower your scores, the blade wedge is the way to go. It will give you the feel and shot-making ability you need to become a better wedge player.

What Is A 56 Degree Wedge Used For?

A 56 degree wedge is generally the go-to shot for players around the green. It is a very versatile club in your short game. It can be used as one of the best wedges for chipping, pitching, full shots, and bunker shots.

Golfers that are looking to lower their handicap should become very comfortable with their wedges and learn how to hit a variety of shots.

Read Also: How to Measure Golf Club Loft

Is A 56 Degree Wedge The Same As A Sand Wedge?

A sand wedge and a 56 degree wedge are mostly the same thing. The most common sand wedge loft is 56 degrees, and that is why it is most commonly considered the sand wedge.

This is not to say that you can only use a 56 degree from the sand or that you are limited to a 56 degree if you are stuck in a bunker. Many people play with sand wedges that are 54 or 58 degrees as well, and that is perfectly acceptable.

Some golfers prefer to use their sand wedge around the green but use a lob wedge out of the sand trap. A lob wedge will tend to spin the ball a bit more on those bunker shots, and some players need that extra spin.

What Bounce And Grind Is The Best For A 56 Degree Wedge?

We look at the 56 degree as the mid wedge in your bag. Above it, you will have your pitching wedge, gap wedge, and below it your lob wedge. Since this is the middle of the road wedge, it makes the most sense to choose something versatile.

Mid bounce with a versatile grind is the best way to go with a 56 degree wedge. If the sole grind is not an option on a wedge you choose and you can only choose bounce, if you select the mid bounce wedge, it will likely have a versatile sole grind as well.

The best 56 degree wedges can work in a variety of turf conditions and be helpful from thick or short grass. Choosing a wedge with these specifications will make it easier to get the turf interaction you are looking for.

Read Also: How Far Does a 56 Degree Wedge Go?

Does The Shaft Matter In My Sand Wedge?

A common question that amateur golfers ask is whether or not the shaft choice will matter in a wedge. We think that everything matters when it comes to specs and consistencies between your golf clubs.

The most obvious problem we see with shaft mismatching comes from players who swing graphite shafts and switch to steel in the wedges.

Most wedges are sold with what is considered a wedge flex shaft. Wedge flex is a mix between a steel regular and stiff, and for most amateur players swinging a steel shaft is completely fine. For those swinging graphite, it could cause a problem.

If the wedge is too heavy or too stiff for you, you will have issues with bunker shots and full swing shots. You will most likely notice that you can’t hit your golf wedge as far as you think you should be able to.

As a general rule of thumb, if you are playing a graphite shaft throughout your set, you should probably look for a graphite wedge.

Companies like Cleveland golf make lots of wedge choices that come standard in a graphite shaft. If you can’t find something standard, there are always custom options available.

Conclusion

Most people keep a 56 degree wedge in their golf bag for shots around the green and to get the ball up and out of the bunker with ease. All of the options that we discussed will allow you to do this.

The 56 degree wedge is such an important club in the bag that you really should take your time choosing an option that works well for your handicap and your particular needs from one hundred yards in. The Titleist Vokey wedges are going to lead the way when it comes to the 56 degree.

They have the most fantastic spin milled technology, and until you see for yourself how well they perform, it can be hard to believe.

If the Vokey is not your style, then do not hesitate to go with the Cleveland TRX 4, or Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge wedges. Both of these options are reasonably priced, and their tour zip grooves will provide amazing results with the 56 degree wedge.