Golfers need to know how far each of their clubs travels. Without somewhat of an idea of how far a golf ball will travel, your shot will never end up near a pin. Many golfers think about their 7 iron or their driver when looking for distances.
However, others want to know how far does a 56-degree wedge go? This information could help you on your next approach shot to a green. The 56-degree wedge is a very valuable club in the bag, and golfers should know everything there is to know about this club and how to use it effectively.
What is the degree of a wedge?
The degree of a golf wedge is the amount of loft that the golf club has. Golf wedges with higher lofts will fly higher, but they may not get as much distance.Â
There are a variety of wedges that golfers can carry in their bags, but most will be in the 44 to 64 degree range. The pitching wedge will have a lower amount of loft, and the lob wedge will have the highest amount of loft.
Some golfers will carry a club called a chipper which will have a very low loft, but this is typically considered to be a mix between a wedge and an iron.
The most important thing for golfers to remember is that varying the lofts of your wedges will help you be more prepared on the course. With wedges in a few different lofts, you can hit a wide variety of shots.
Why use a 56 degree wedge?
Each wedge has a loft that helps us associate about how far this wedge will go and what it is used for. The 56 degree wedge is most commonly considered the sand wedge. The sand wedge is one of the most essential tools that any golfer can have in their game. Here are a few ways to use the 56 degree wedge to become a better player.
Approach Shot To A Green
If you know how far your 56 degree wedge goes, you can use it as an approach shot to a green. On a short par 4 or on a par 5 where you are close after two shots, the 56 degree wedge could be all you need to get the ball close to the hole.
With a 56 degree wedge, the approach shot to the green can even have water or a hazard up in front, but you will fly over these with the loft of the 56.
Lofted Pitch Onto The Green
With a 56 degree wedge, you will be able to hit a pitch type shot onto a green from various locations. With the 56 degrees wedge, you can take a half or even a 3/4 type swing to hit shots that are 50, 75, or even 30 yards.
Learning how to control the distances that you can hit your 56 degree wedge is essential. Players should practice around a green and learn to control the distances they hit shots.
This is the most common way to use a 56 degree wedge. You will likely come across this many times during the course of your round.
Shot Out Of A Bunker
A 56 degree wedge is a sand wedge for most golfers. With 56 degrees of loft, it is not too difficult to get the loft that you need out of a bunker. Even if you have a lip in front of you before you get to the green, the 56 degree wedge can still help you get over it.
For longer bunker shots, you may want to consider a different club, but with the 56, you should consider the short to medium-length bunker shots.
Fairway bunkers are a different situation and should be played according to the loft and the ball’s lie.
Cut Through Heavy Rough
A sand wedge is better at cutting through rough than other clubs in the bag. Part of this is because of the amount of loft that the 56 degree wedge has. However, it is also the shape and style of the club.
Golfers can use the 56 degree wedge to cut through the rough around the green or in the fairway. If your golf ball ends up to the left or the right of the fairway in some thick rough, the 56 is a good club selection. With this wedge, you can at least advance the ball down the fairway and get back into play.
Short Sided Approach Shot
When you short side yourself on the green, it means that you don’t leave enough room between you and the pin to do much. Golfers will not be able to stop a ball because there is not much room to work with.
The 56 degree wedge has a good amount of spin. If you hit a 56 degree wedge, you will get it to stop on the green very fast. Hitting a golf shot with a lot of spin will take time.
The 56 degree and 60 degree wedges stop quicker than other clubs in the bag and will make a good club selection when you get yourself into a challenging situation.
Is 56 Degree a Sand Wedge?
The 56 degree wedge is widely considered the sand wedge. However, the loft of the wedge does not always tell the full story. A 56 degree wedge is an excellent option for getting out of the bunker because it has plenty of loft. This does not mean that the 56 degree wedge is the only option for playing out of a bunker.
Golfers that have a modern set of irons will have lofts that are a bit stronger than a more traditional set of irons. This means that all of the clubs will be a slightly different loft than we would have seen in the past.
Players may find that the standard sand wedge with their set only has 50 degrees of loft. Today, loft gapping in golf is a tremendous issue. Players are having to learn more about club fitting than ever before.
If you have a 56 degree wedge in your bag, it will be a great solution out of the sand, even if the wedge is not considered to be your actual sand wedge.
How far should a 56 degree wedge go?
The distance your 56 degree wedge will travel is directly related to your swing speed and the accuracy of the shot you hit. The more swing speed you have, the further the wedge will go.
For an average swing speed golfer, the 56 degree wedge will fly about 90 yards. For players with higher swing speeds, distances as high as 120 are attainable.
Low swing speed golfers that are new to the game or are not that aggressive may only get about 60 yards. The key to playing great golf is not necessarily hitting the ball further but instead knowing how far you hit it.
52 Vs. 56 Degree Wedge
If you are deciding between the 52 and 56 degree wedges, you have to consider the types of shots that you are trying to hit. The 52 is primarily a gap style wedge with a more penetrating ball flight. The 56 is a sand wedge style that has a higher ball flight.
The 52 degree wedge is excellent for long bunker shots and full swing approaches to a green. The 56 degree wedge is best for the higher lofted shots with less rollout.
Many golfers will make room in their bag to have both a 52 and a 56 degree wedge. In addition, it can make sense to add a pitching wedge and a lob wedge to the club set.
56 Vs. 58 Degree Wedge
The 56 and 58 degree wedges are very similar. Both wedges will have a higher loft and be great for greenside bunkers and getting the ball to stop quickly. The 58 degree wedge can be considered a lob wedge. Many players using this wedge will do it when they have very little green to work with.
Since the 56 and 58 degree wedges only have 2 degrees difference, it doesn’t make sense to carry both of these in the bag.
When planning out which wedges you need in the bag, start with the loft of your pitching wedge. Chances are the pitching wedge is going to match the other clubs in your iron set. Determine the loft of this club.
Then you will consider how many wedges you want to have total and how this will play into the situation. Most of the time, golfers will add in a gap wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge that have at least 4 degrees of loft between them.
If you play clubs that only have 2 degrees of loft between them, at some point, you will notice there is a gap in your bag.
The Best 56 Degree Wedges
The best 56 degree wedge is the one that gives you the most confidence in your ability to control the shot. This is not supposed to be a wild long drive shot that you see with other clubs in the bag.Â
The 56 degree wedge needs to be controlled and a shot that will spin and stop on the greens. The two main types of 56 degree wedges are the cavity back and blade style wedges. Each of these have some great options on the market for players to choose from. Here are a few of our favorite 56 degree wedges.
Cleveland Golf CBX 2
The Cleveland CBX 2 is a golf wedge that is more of a cavity back style. For golfers that need a bit more forgiveness and a lower center of gravity, the Cleveland Golf CBX 2 is an excellent solution to your needs.
Callaway Mack Daddy 5
The Callaway Mack Daddy 5 is a traditional blade style wedge with tremendous feel and performance. For golfers that want to play around with grind and sole options, the Mack Daddy 5 is a great solution. Expect this wedge to be a little less forgiving but have a tremendous feel.
Wilson Harmonized Wedge:
The Wilson Harmonized is a great option to consider for the golfer on a budget. Golfers will like this traditional-looking golf wedge with premium performance and a very low price. If you are new to the game and need a bag full of wedges, give the Wilson Harmonized a try.
FAQ
The 56 degree wedge is a vital club in the bag, and therefore it is important to ask questions and consider this decision before putting one in your bag. Golfers considering putting a 56 degree wedge in their bag should read these frequently asked questions.
Conclusion
We hope that we answered the question of how far does a 56 degree wedge go. The longer you practice and the more you work on your game, the chances are you can get some extra distance. However, golfers should be aware that hitting long golf shots with a 56 degree wedge is kind of pointless. This is not a distance club; it is an accuracy club. Learn how far you hit the ball with your 56 and then use it when necessary. There are plenty of lower lofted clubs that can travel a long distance, save the 56 degree for accuracy.
