Most Forgiving Wedges: Quick Menu
1. The Quick List
2. How We Test
3. What To Consider
4. FAQs
Most Forgiving Wedges
When it comes to selecting our golf equipment we all have different preferences. Whether it's trying to decide on the best driver or the best irons, we're all different and it's the same when it comes to the scoring clubs, like your wedges. In fact, other than the putter, wedges might be the most personal in the bag. Some golfers demand a soft feel, while others look for exceptional levels of spin. Some golfers place a premium on forgiveness, with the wedge being one of the hardest clubs to use consistently in your bag.
The best golf wedges usually offer an excellent mix of everything. We hear a lot about forgiveness levels when it comes to drivers, fairways and irons, but it's equally important in wedges even if it is spoken about less.
Chipping and pitching shots require a great deal of skill, and just like driving, it's not always easy for amateurs to repeat the same move and find the perfect contact on a consistent basis. There are models of wedges that will help you with the quality of your short game ball striking, allow you to spin the golf ball better and therefore add greater control to your short game.
Levels of forgiveness vary from brand to brand, but we've tested some of the most forgiving wedges to help those of you who are in need to find a club that offers that that extra margin for error. We would also recommend reading our best golf wedges for beginners guide if you are new to the game. Also, see some more forgiving clubs in our most forgiving drivers guide, most forgiving irons guide, and most forgiving putters guide as well.
But for now, here are the most forgiving wedges we've tested.
The Quick List
The Cleveland CBX 4 Zipcore wedges are a really solid blend of performance and forgiveness. Predominantly at the mid-to-high handicap golfer, but better players looking for help in their short game should also consider them.
A brilliantly balanced wedge that has a high CG for easy trajectory and distance control while the hi-toe shape delivers forgiveness on shorter shots in particular.
The cavity back Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2 wedge blends in better with today's modern sets for mid to high handicappers. Provides forgiveness and control.
The Callaway CB wedge is extremely forgiving, constructed for maximum ease of use and provided clean turf interaction from various lies.
If you struggle with your chipping then help is genuinely at hand here courtesy of the new Ping ChipR - a cross between a wedge and a putter that will give your chipping confidence an enormous boost.
In testing, we found the Cobra King Snakebite Wedge to be one of the most forgiving wedges on the market with a classic profile and great feel.
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Cleveland’s CBX ZipCore wedge really impressed across all the key performance areas. It was extremely forgiving and easy to hit on full shots, while closer to the green, the spin was excellent.
There’s no doubt the Sugar Daddy II is an improvement on its predecessor. The extra grind option as well as the unique levels of adjustability make it a highly versatile wedge and one that would stack up against any on the market.
The ES21 might seem like a relatively niche wedge offering given the loft offerings and the premium price, but for those who are looking for something more bespoke and forgiving, the ES21 wedges are certainly worth a try.
Most Forgiving Wedges
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Cleveland CBX 4 Zipcore Wedge
The new CBX 4 Zipcore wedges feature the same technology found in the impressive RTX6 wedges as well as Cleveland's other best wedges. Cleveland removed the heavier steel in the hosel and replaced it with a lightweight but strong vibration dampening material. The weight saved from the heel can then be redistributed across the toe and higher on the face, thus improving MOI and providing optimal CG placement.
These wedges are an excellent option for golfers who are looking to upgrade their wedges this season and need a little bit of assistance. Based on our testing we would say that the CBX 4 Zipcore wedges provide really high levels of performance and forgiveness that can help golfers of all abilities.
They are probably more aimed slightly more towards the higher handicap golfer due to the forgiveness, feel and size of the head, but low handicappers should not dismiss them out of hand either as any golfer looking for more assistance around the greens could benefit from the spin performance on offer from these wedges.
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 Wedge
A great all rounder that will really help mid-high handicap golfers hone their game around the greens. The Hi-Toe 3 from TaylorMade is a brilliantly balanced wedge that offers excellent control, especially for those who struggle with distance from the sand. It has a very low centre of gravity and a wide back that provides extra forgiveness and bounce on much shorter shots which will help you increase your confidence when chipping or playing out of bunkers.
This is the third generation of the Hi-Toe design and we have to say that it performed brilliantly on the course in our testing. Aesthetically this wedge looks incredible, with its aged copper finish giving a rustic, yet sophisticated look that provides a real 'wow' factor.
As with many of the best wedges for chipping, the Hi-Toe 3 excels when it comes to adding spin to the golf ball. This is almost certainly due to the micro-ribs added to the face of the club, which provide extra traction between the grooves causing additional friction at impact. We could really feel this work on low, spinny chips onto the greens.
On the sand wedge, you'll find the Hi-Toe comes with full-face grooves that give extra forgiveness when you miss the center of the face. This is a great wedge for golfers of all abilities, especially as you get a lot of high-bounce forgiveness which makes this wedge fantastic for digging shots out of deep lying bunkers and heavy rough. We would also recommend it as a fantastic lob wedge for any player looking for greater stopping power around the greens.
- Read our full TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 Wedge Review
Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2 Wedge
The Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2 stands out due to the grooves which are the full width of the face and also go right up into the toe. This means that when you need to open the face you can get maximum spin on the ball much easier. As you might expect from one of the best Cleveland wedges, it is rammed with technology.
We see the forgiveness on offer through the cavity-back design. Sometimes cavity-back wedges can lack feel but, the Full-Face 2 doesn't. This is thanks to the TPU gel back insert that sits in the cavity to moderate the sound. It does not sound like a cavity back at all and the feedback is superb.
It is worth noting that the sole features a standard Full Sole grind on the lower lofts (50° & 52°), which helps makes this one of the most forgiving wedges on full shots, while on the higher lofts from 54° upwards, the Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2 uses a C-Shaped Sole which offers more relief in the heel and toe.
Based on our testing we would certainly say that the Full-Face 2 is one of the best golf wedges for beginners, especially as it features in a number of shaft, sole and loft options to cater for whatever your requirement is. A custom fit is recommended though so you dial in exactly what you need.
- Read our full Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2 Wedge Review
Callaway CB Wedge
Callaway CB Wedge on a grassy background
If you've ever had the yips or chunked a shot with your wedge, then you'll know how important it is to have a forgiving wedge that will help you to hit good shots around the greens. Callaway are well aware of this and produce some of the best and most forgiving wedges in the game to help a full range of golfers.
So if you're the type of golfer who needs a bit of assistance which you get around the greens, then the Callaway CB wedge could be just the club for you.
The large cavity back design offers maximum forgiveness on all kinds of wedge shots, whether it's full approach shots from 100 yards in or little pitch and run shots from around the green, the Callaway CB wedge is versatile enough to handle anything.
The wide base and full face groove design on the higher lofted wedges (54º to 60º) definitely inspired confidence when we placed it behind the ball during our testing sessions. This full face groove design produces a ton of spin, particularly when playing from out of the bunker.
The face has the same 'face blasted' grooves seen in the premium Callaway Jaws Raw wedge. These grooves help to create a roughness on the face which generates extra spin irrespective of the weather conditions you happen to be playing in. Even though there's a lot of bounce on these wedges, sliding under the ball really was not an issue at all for us which is why we think this is one of the best high bounce wedges around. In summary, this is one of the best golf wedges for beginners thanks to the assistance and forgiveness it offers around the greens.
- Read our full Callaway CB Wedge Review
Ping ChipR Wedge
The Ping ChipR Wedge is unorthodox and won't be for everybody, but we think it is a fantastic solution for any player struggling with the chipping yips. Duffing a wedge shot after a booming drive up the middle can be one of the most infuriating things you can experience on a golf course and some golfers are plagued by it. If that's you, this could be your lifeline.
It's also ideal for those who struggle when they get around the green and need to play chip or pitch shots. It's easy for a golfer to lose confidence on those shots but the Ping ChipR Wedge can really take some of the headaches away from chipping from 40-yards out. Ping describes this club as "a fully engineered chipping solution" that combines elements of both your putter and your wedges to make chipping much easier.
It has the loft of a 9-iron but sits more vertically, almost like a putter. This really helps when it comes to playing little bump and runs around the green and it gives you the feeling you can accurately place the ball next to the hole. It weighs the same as a lob wedge and can still give you the same level of grab thanks to its MicroMax grooves which are situated closer to each other than normal. We found in testing that this allowed us to put more stopping power on the ball and control it from tighter lies.
Chipping from the fringes with this club couldn't be easier and it's versatility makes it an ideal choice for beginners as well as long time golfers who are having issues around the green.
- Read our full Ping ChipR Wedge Review
King Cobra Snakebite Wedge
These sleek progressive-groove wedges from Cobra are packed with technology to increase spin in wet conditions and they offer incredible versatility and forgiveness allowing the golfer to play a wide range of shots with confidence. The wedges are refined, simplistic and easy on the eye.
This is a wedge that performs excellently in all categories. It made an impression on us right from the off with its shiny finish which really gives it a premium look. The lower lofted wedges come in a classic shape with traditional grooves, while the higher lofts have been designed with a wider, shallower shape and full-face grooves.
This means they are highly forgiving in the higher lofts which allows golfers to open the face safe in the knowledge the drop-off in performance for an off-centre strike won't be as stark, which is very handy when in the rough or a bunker.
In testing, we found the Snakebite to be one of the most forgiving wedges on the market and while Cobra aren't necessarily renowned for their wedges we think they have done an excellent job here.
- Read our full King Cobra Snakebite Wedge Review
Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge
The cavity-backed Cleveland CBX ZipCore wedge is a great looking golf club that comes with a choice of steel or a graphite Catalyst Spinner graphite shaft.
In our testing, it was relatively easy to hit and to flight and that is due to its low-density ZipCore that sits at the heart of the wedge. Zipcore allows for a heavier steel in the hosel to be replaced with a more lightweight material, meaning the weight saved from the heel can be redistributed across the toe and higher on the face, thus improving MOI and giving optimum CG placement.
That makes it a great sand wedge for golfers who can sometimes get a little nervy over their chips or are prone to hitting a shot slightly fat. The cavity-backed head makes this a very forgiving wedge that should reduce the number of costly chunks around the greens that can ruin a score in a hurry.
While we found the club to be very lightweight because of its graphite shaft, the balance and fluidity on longer shots was excellent. The clubface provided plenty of spin but that the club is quite firm and a little clicky perhaps, which might not be to everyone's taste. This is a club that ticks boxes in all key performance areas which is why we included it in the Golf Monthly Editor's Choice Awards for 2022.
- Read our full Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge Review
PXG Sugar Daddy II Wedge
After the success of the original PXG Sugar Daddy wedges, PXG has launched the second iteration of the wedge and we certainly think it is an improvement on their previous model. As we've come to expect with PXG clubs, the visuals are very striking to say the least. The head features six adjustable weights on its back which can be altered to help you change the CG (center of gravity) on the club to suit your personal preference. These weights help to add more consistency to your shots, allowing golfers to hit the same quality and distance of shots with almost every chip.
The CNC milled full-faced grooves help with spin, while PXG have done away with the teardrop shape seen on the original Sugar Daddy and replaced it with a high-toe design to really help with forgiveness. This does make it look a little more lofted but the net result is that this is one of the most forgiving wedges on the market.
There are two different sole options, a 13º BP-Grind and a 10º C-Grind. Which one you need depends on the kind of turf you usually play from. The BP-Grind gives greater spin from a sandy bunker or softer turf, while on firmer ground the 10º option is more appropriate and will aid golfers in getting increased traction on their chips.
- Read our full PXG Sugar Daddy II Wedge
Mizuno ES21 Wedge
The Mizuno ES21 wedge is a curious offering that provides something very different visually for the golfer. The oversized, triangular shape at address means there’s lots of metal behind the ball, boosting confidence that you can pull off different types of shots around the green by manipulating the club face in different ways. The topline is noticeably thicker than most other wedges you'll find too, but we felt that the lighter grooved area actually frames the ball well at address.
It's a semi-hollow construction so it doesn’t feel quite as soft as many of the best golf wedges. In our testing we felt that it felt nice and solid on full shots with a pleasant enough sensation at impact, it was just slightly different to what we are accustomed to. The performance was impressive as we found carry distances on a variety of shot lengths to be very consistent, as was the ball flight. Spin levels matched up well with other wedges we’ve tested in a similarly controlled environment. We also liked how the spin levels were maintained even when the ball and clubface were wet, making it one of the best wedges for mid handicappers.
The ES21 wedges are available with either a standard or wide sole option, each model featuring a surprisingly narrow top line to give the confidence-inspiring look of a players’ wedge at address. The Wide Sole options have four degrees of additional bounce versus the standard sole options and a KBS Hi-Rev 110 Wedge Flex shaft in black ion and a Lamkin ST hybrid grip come as standard..
- Read our full Mizuno ES21 Wedge Review
How we test
When it comes to wedges, we take the testing process very seriously. Whether we are sent a product or buy it ourselves, we put everything through its paces to ensure we can provide thorough and reliable advice. Every member of the Golf Monthly team is an avid golfer and as such, knows what does and doesn't make for a good wedge.
As far as our methodology goes, we review all wedges properly, which means we have used each one across multiple rounds and in practice to assess every aspect of performance in all conditions. For example, if a brand claims its wedge is the most forgiving golf club in the game, we will test that theory from any and all lies possible. Specific to the most forgiving wedges, we tested each club thoroughly to assess the consistency when it came to spin, feel and distance control on offer. We were also keen to find out how easy it was to hit full shots with each model was and analyse differences in flight and dispersion.
This comprehensive testing style is not just exclusive to wedges as we test with the same level of thoroughness across all gear categories. To read more about how we test our equipment, take a look at our testing methodology here. Wedge testing is headed up by Golf Monthly Staff Writer Andrew Wright who is currently using a set of Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges.
What you need to consider when buying new wedges
1. Gapping
Measure your current wedge yardages and how often you are in between clubs to help decide if you need to carry an extra option especially for chipping. Golfers will typically have around three wedges in their bag which will include a lob wedge, sand wedge and a pitching wedge.
2. Forgiveness
Every golfer knows the pain of hitting an immaculate drive down the fairway, only to chunk your approach shot into the green. Wedges are perhaps one of the hardest clubs to use when it comes to consistently hitting sweet golf shots on different lies. But you can save yourself a lot of shots, by using a wedge that provides greater forgiveness.
Particularly if you are a beginner or a high-handicapper, a more forgiving sand wedge can help you become much more clinical around the greens. When looking for more forgiving wedges, look out for clubs that have cavity-backed heads, wedges that have a center of gravity closer to the sole and wedges that have a higher MOI to improve the quality and consistency of shots your hitting. For more information on wedges that can help you hit consistently sweeter golf shots.
3. Bounce
Low bounce wedges are more suited to hard fairways and tight lies, while high bounce wedges are better for softer ground conditions and bunkers. The most bounce you will ever see on a wedge is about 18°, but it can be as low as 2°. The type of bounce you opt for should largely depend on things like your normal angle of attack, the firmness of your fairways and the type of shots you like to hit around the greens.
4. Grooves
While grooves are now tightly regulated, it is still well worth keeping up to date with the latest designs, which use new milling processes and groove shapes to help move water and dirt away from the ball at impact to create extra spin and improve control.
5. Testing
At Golf Monthly, we recommend players take the time to test a variety of different wedges at a club fitting. As they can come in a variety of lofts, grinds and bounce degrees, it is important to ascertain which type of wedges can help you perform the best depending on your swing and the type of terrain you're playing on.
While having a forgiving set of wedges can really help you score low cards, you may also want to make sure you have a good set of wedges across the board. For that reason, we've put together several guides including our guides on the best lob wedges, best gap wedges and best wedges for chipping.
FAQs
Which wedges are most forgiving?
There's no one-wedge-fits-all solution when it comes to forgiveness, but in our buying guide, we have endeavoured to find and test the most forgiving models on the market. However, wedges with high MOI are considered to be the most forgiving, especially when it comes to hitting full shots
What is the best wedge for a high handicapper?
High-handicap golfers who struggle to control strike location would likely benefit from a cavity-back wedge or one with full-face grooves. With that in mind, the Cleveland CBX Full-Face or the Ping Glide 4.0 would be great options.
What is the easiest golf wedge to hit?
Most modern wedges are now designed to provide forgiveness on everything from chip shots through to full shots. However, as mentioned above, cavity-back wedges are probably the easiest to hit due to their maximised MOI and game-improvement technology.
What degree wedge is best for chipping?
This comes down to personal preference and the type of shot you're facing. For example, some golfers might have a 'favorite wedge' they use from any and all positions, while others might mix it up depending on if they need to hit something high, low or loaded with spin. Whatever the case, it's worth heading to the practice ground to find out what works best for you.
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