Best Wedges For Chipping: Quick Menu
1. The list in brief
2. How we test
3. How to choose
4. FAQs
Best Wedges For Chipping
We all know how important it is to have a short game you can rely on. Not only do you need a reliable routine and swing, but equipment plays a huge factor, with some of the best golf wedges designed to help improve your score. Put simply, if you can make a few extra up-and-downs a round, the impact on your entire game will be profound.
One of the biggest aspects of short game is chipping and we believe the best wedges for chipping - models which have been designed to turn bogeys into pars - can truly help in bringing your handicap down. However, what makes a good wedge for chipping? Well, the best can help to produce spin and provide extra control. Ask any tour pro what the secret is behind creating spin around the greens and they'll tell you that it's all about the strike.
Because everyone wants to save shots around the green, we have created a guide to help, a guide that focuses on wedges that generate a lot of spin and control for those fiddly chip shots.
If, however, you are after a certain type of wedge, then why not also check out our guides on the most forgiving wedges, or even the best sand wedges and best lob wedges, if you are due an upgrade in either of those departments.
The Quick List
Subtle yet effective changes have been made to the Vokey SM10 wedge over the previous model. The more centrally placed CG, higher spin and lower launch, all enhance the predictability and control with this wedge.
The Cleveland CBX 4 Zipcore wedges are a really solid blend of performance and forgiveness. Aimed predominantly at the mid-to-high handicap golfer, better players will also benefit from these user-friendly, cavity back wedges.
The Ping S159 wedges look as good as any other on the market and have the performance to match. The spin produced when chipping and pitching was exceptional and they also produced a strong consistent ball flight when firing from a little further out.
A balanced wedge that offers up a high trajectory and great distance control. You can also get outstanding spin thanks to the raised micro-ribs between the grooves.
This is a great selection for mid to high handicappers, with a larger head and wide grooves providing excellent forgiveness and control.
An absolutely stunning look is combined with loads of spin, plenty of loft and bounce options. This club suits a variety of techniques and handicap abilities.
A great looking wedge that spins at a consistently high level regardless of conditions. A raw face is contrasted nicely by the outer body of the wedge to boost confidence behind the ball.
Read more below
These Ping ChipR wedges look absolutely great and can definitely help any player struggling with their chipping. Easy to use, they should provide plenty of confidence.
Callaway Jaws MD5 wedge is a stylish-looking club with a wonderful feel off the face. It also offers plenty of options in loft and sole grind to match your style.
A classic looking wedge that is designed to be extremely versatile and please golfers of all abilities. The compact head will certainly suit the eye of the better player.
Great for chipping thanks to the sole shape and full-face grooves, the Sugar Daddy II offer plenty of forgiveness from a variety of lies. What's more, there's great adjustability available.
There is a Cobra King Snakebite wedge for you, no matter what your playing style and preferences are. These are highly forgiving clubs, with loads of spin and a soft feel.
Best Wedges For Chipping
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Titleist Vokey SM10 Wedge
The newest iteration from Titleist, the SM10 now features progressive shaping which, we think, makes these wedges look great at address in all the lofts available. Despite the changes over the previous model, the Vokey SM9, being small, we did notice that in the stronger lofts, 46° through to 52°, there is a slightly smaller head shape than the higher lofted options. There is also a straighter leading edge in the stronger lofts.
Performance-wise, the spin is fractionally higher in the SM10, which we think is likely down to individually cut TX9 grooves that differ based on the loft or finish of the wedge. Also, Titleist have provided the SM10 with micro-texture between the grooves, this helps create more friction on the face which, in-turn, helps create further spin and more control around the greens.
Not only did they perform excellently around the greens then, but pitch shots from 50-75 yards also had plenty of control with the SM10 producing a lower ball flight than its predecessor. Importantly, there are still various lie, loft and bounce combinations so there should be a set-up for everyone.
- Read our full Titleist Vokey SM10 Wedge Review
Cleveland CBX 4 Zipcore Wedge
One of Cleveland's new additions is the CBX 4 ZipCore, which is designed to provide a confidence-inspiring look at address via a larger club head and face. To begin with, the rounded leading edge allows for a more versatile approach to shots around the greens so, in testing, we found that we could get more creative with ball flights and spin when looking to get to different pins.
Technology-wise, the CBX 4 has a Hydrazip face. This is a laser-milled line that helps increase friction on the face's surface, therefore creating more spin whether it is damp or dry. Along with the HydraZip face, there is also ZipCore technology, something that you get in some of the best Cleveland wedges.
You may wonder, what is ZipCore technology? Well, it allows the more heavier steel in the hosel to be replaced with a lighter weight and strong vibration-decreasing material. With this weight saved, Cleveland's engineers have redistributed the weight across the toe and higher up on the face for more Moment of Inertia. This is one of the reasons why we have included the CBX 4 ZipCore, because of the forgiveness on offer.
- Read our full Cleveland CBX 4 Zipcore Wedge Review
Ping S159 Wedge
Although the topline of the S159 is slim and rather compact-looking, it still provides plenty of confidence when down behind the ball. It's worth noting that, with the recent release of the Blueprint T and Blueprint S irons, which are considered some of the best irons for low handicappers, Ping are providing a more blade-style look on the S159 wedges.
In testing, these wedges were mightily impressive. The overall feel from the face, mainly on full shots, was soft and, even though Ping has added a vibration-dampening slot at the back, the feedback from these wedges was really good, which a lot of golfers will like.
When it came to chipping, we thought that the Ping S159 wedge produced, frankly, a ludicrous amount of spin, so much so that we deduced it was more than any other wedge we've tried in the last year! This is a positive thing though, as it meant we could predict exactly how the ball was going to react when hitting into the greens.
- Read our full Ping S159 Wedge Review
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 Wedge
This wedge is very well-balanced and gave us great control around the greens, especially when it came down to distance-control. Looks-wise, the Hi-toe 3 Wedge has a low center of gravity paired with a wide back, this provides extra forgiveness and better bounce on the shorter shots. Personally, we think this wedge looks great and performs great when out on the course.
As with many of the best wedges for chipping, this wedge does excel when it comes to getting more spin on the ball. Our thoughts are - this is partly because of the Micro-Ribs that have been added to the face of the club to apply additional friction. When striking low and spinny chips around the greens, you can really feel this in action.
One thing to note is that this is one of the best sand wedges on the market, due to the fact that you can get the Hi-Toe in full face options as well; essentially, it gives you a lot more forgiveness on off-center strikes. Lastly, we think this wedge won't suit those who have a steep downswing.
- Read our full TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 Wedge Review
Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2 Wedge
With a HydraZip blasted face, the CBX Full-Face 2 has much-improved spin capabilities in the wet and, with it paired alongside the UltiZip grooves that are sharp, deep, and tightly spaced, this really is a great wedge when it comes to chipping.
Not only does it perform well but, on fuller shots, this is one of the most forgiving wedges we have tested, especially when you move into the higher lofts. How is it so forgiving? Well, it has a wider sole that provides a greater margin for error on tighter shots. This is something that will also help with chips around the green.
- Read our full Cleveland CBX Full-Face 2 Wedge Review
Callaway Jaws Raw Wedge
Aesthetically, these wedges have a more classic style with a straight leading edge and not much offset. In testing, we found this gave us ample confidence when stood over the ball.
When it comes to performance, the Jaws Raw wedge really impressed us, especially with the levels of spin that were on offer thanks to the micro-milled grooves. When it came to shorter chips, we found the level of control really good and were pleasantly surprised by the performance on bump and runs to flop shots.
The last aspect we must mention, in regards to chipping, is the amount of grinds and options available. We tested the Z grind and found it really helped us around the greens, with the ball skidding across the turf rather than digging into it. One drawback we did come across was that the sound was a little firm at impact, but that is only minor and wouldn't bother some people.
- Read our full Callaway Jaws Raw Wedge Review
TaylorMade MG4 Wedge
The MG4 wedge has Raw Face tech, meaning it has an un-plated surface that will rust over time, helping it to keep high levels of spin even in the wetter conditions. As well as this, TaylorMade have also included Raised Micro-Ribs which are in between the grooves, this adds to the spin and precision when playing shots around the green.
Another new bit of tech is the Spin Tread, this helps to push any moisture away at impact which, in turn, optimizes spin. In testing this was certainly the case as there was a great level of spin on offer.
Finally, this wedge has a milled grind sole and leading edge which has been individually CNC milled for accuracy. There are also now seven bounce options, low, standard and high, LBV, SBC, and HBW and not forgetting the TW grind, so there's bound to be a fit for everyone.
- Read our full TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 Wedge Review
Ping ChipR Wedge
If you are someone that struggles with chipping then the Ping ChipR wedge is a great option for you. From 40-yards-and-in, the ChipR can really help to relieve some of your chipping woes, as this wedge is all about just getting your line and length right, much like a putt.
This wedge is a combination of putter and 9-iron to give you more forgiveness and an easier way to chip. What we mean is that the ChipR has the same loft as a 9-iron, but the upright setup of a putter. In testing, this really helped us with bump and runs and little chips around the green.
What's more, thanks to the MicroMax grooves being closer together, you can still impart enough spin on this to have chips standing to attention. What we really liked is that you can use your putting stroke with this wedge, giving you more control over your swing and making chips easier to hit.
- Read our full Ping ChipR Wedge Review
Callaway Jaws Mack Daddy 5 Wedge
When it comes to wedges it is hard to overlook the fact that Callaway make some of the best wedges you can buy. In the case of the MD5, Callaway have continued that on, with it now featuring new Jaws grooves that are designed with a 37º wall angle to help make them sharper to increase grip and spin.
As well as this, three raised micro ridges sit between the grooves to help increase the number of contact points on the ball to 84, thereby imparting more spin on the ball and, when it came to testing, we were very impressed with the spin created on the longer pitch shots we played as well as the full ones.
When striking the ball, these wedges feel very smooth at impact, mainly thanks to the mild carbon steel in the clubhead and the muscle back design. If you are looking for maximum forgiveness then we recommend the high-bounce W-grind.
- Read our full Callaway Jaws MD5 Wedge Review
Mizuno T24 Wedge
Mizuno has created the T24 wedge with a timeless look that can be compared to the Vokey range from Titleist. We tested the T24 wedge in the soft white Satin finish which is, personally, our favorite finish, but you can also get this wedge in Denim Copper and Tour Raw, like its predecessor.
This classic-looking wedge not only looks great but performs great; it is very versatile and suits players of all abilities. If you are not a confident chipper then we would say the more compact head would suit the eye of a better golfer, but with several high bounce options available and a high spinning face, it also caters to those that may need more forgiveness.
- Read our full Mizuno T24 Wedge Review
PXG Sugar Daddy II
The first thing you will notice about the Sugar Daddy II are the striking visuals, with multiple weights added to the back of the clubhead. PXG has also introduced a full face of grooves and a more high-toe design, thanks to feedback from their tour staff.
When testing, the first thing to be noticed was the balance that was on offer; it is very good and makes striking chip shots much easier. With this wedge, you get new bounce and grind options, so golfers have more combination choices to get the right wedge for them.
We didn't find the look of the high toe aesthetically pleasing, but it did function well to help with more forgiveness. When chipping, the controlling flight was easy to replicate and the spin we got was very good. You can get this wedge in two finishes, Chrome and Xtreme Dark, which we think look great.
- Read our full PXG Sugar Daddy II Review
Cobra King Snakebite Wedge
No matter what loft you want for chipping there will be an option in the Snakebite wedge. While it may look similar to the MIM wedges, the new Snakebite face turns this into a great wedge for chipping.
With the 48 - 54° lofts, the grooves are more of a conventional length on the face, but they have been made narrower and deeper to help increase spin. When it comes to 56°, 58° and 60° wedges, they have made the grooves cover the full face and they are also wider and shallower than on the other lofts. The reason is to help increase spin on wedges that you are more likely to play with the face open.
Finally, you get three grind options for these lofts which, when paired with the variety of groove patterns through the wedges, become ideal for custom fitting and creating a full set to do a specific job in the bag.
- Read our full Cobra King Snakebite Wedge Review
How we test
When it comes to the best wedges for chipping, 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 testing 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 wedge claims to be the ultimate chipping club, we will test that theory from any and all lies possible. Specific to the best wedges for chipping, we have tested every club thoroughly to assess the level of spin, feel and turf interaction. We were also keen to find out how forgiving each model was and if there were any differences in flight or ball spin off the face of each club.
This comprehensive testing style is not just exclusive to wedges as we test with the same level of thoroughness across all gear categories. For more information on how Golf Monthly tests products, take a look at our 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. Having good distances between each will ensure you're well covered out on the course for all types of approach and chip shots.
2. 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 angle of attack, the firmness of the fairways you're playing on and the type of shots you like to hit around the greens.
3. 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 shots on different lies. But your wedges can be one of the best scoring clubs in your bag, if you can find one that you can consistently hit well on a variety of different lies.
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 clubs that can help you hit consistently sweeter golf shots, visit our guide to the most forgiving wedges.
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. The tackiness of the club face can really play a difference when you're looking to drop the ball as close as you can to the hole, so for that reason, try to find a club that has a milled, or even micro-milled clubface that will latch on to the ball on impact and add more revolutions onto your golf shot.
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 this guide sets out some of the best golf wedges for chipping, you may also want to think about getting a couple of wedges that will assist you over longer approach shots too. For that reason, be sure to take a look at our guides on the best golf lob wedges and best golf pitching wedges, which both set out some of the best golf clubs for those longer approach shots into the hole.
FAQ
What degree wedge is best for chipping?
For most golfers, a gap wedge or a sand wedge with loft of between 52° and 56° will produce the most consistent outcome when chipping. This is because you'll be able to play most short-game shots you're likely to come across out on the course. However, it's worth investing some time to find out which option suits you best.
Is a 52 degree wedge good for chipping?
We think any of the best gap wedges are great clubs for chipping. They offer great versatility in terms of shot selection and normally don't require too big a swing to hit the ball the right distance.
What is the easiest wedge to chip with?
Generally speaking, for a basic chip shot, it's slightly easier to use a gap wedge or a sand wedge instead of a lob wedge. That's because you don't have to swing as hard or as long, therefore increasing your margin for error. It also depends on the situation and your own technique. If you tend to get a bit steep, a wedge with a high degree of bounce will help and vice versa.
Should you chip with a 60 degree wedge?
In certain situations, a 60-degree wedge is the ideal club to chip with. For example, say you have a bunker between yourself and the flag and need to get the ball up in the air quickly and land it softly, you want to use your most lofted club. For that, we have also put together a guide on the best lob wedges currently on the market.
Best Golf Drivers For Women: Quick Menu
1. The list in brief
2. Top pick
3. Best looking
4. Best wide appeal
5. Best for distance
6. Best for slicers
7. Most forgiving
8. How we test
9. How to choose
10. FAQs
Best Golf Drivers For Women: Quick Menu
1. The list in brief
2. Top pick
3. Best looking
4. Best wide appeal
5. Best for distance
6. Best for slicers
7. Most forgiving
8. How we test
9. How to choose
10. FAQs
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