Having the right wedges is extremely important, and as a beginner you will be using your wedges a lot, as your green in regulation stats won’t be very good.
Firstly, as a complete beginner using the wedges that come with your iron set is generally more than enough. For example, the TaylorMade Stealth Iron set comes with wedges all the way down to a lob wedge.
These wedges are much more forgiving compared to specific wedges as they have the same technology that the irons have in them, however you will lose control and spin.
For the purpose of this article we will be reviewing specific wedges that you get separate to iron sets. Our favorite model for beginners is definitely the Callaway CB wedge, it is the perfect combination of control, spin and forgiveness.
Let’s dive in.
1. Callaway CB Wedge
The Callaway CB Wedge is a game-changer for beginners, it gives you really good forgiveness, spin, and feel, which I could feel from the get go. It has some really good tech in it, as well as a really good look and feel. This was by far my favorite wedge out of the ones I tried.
Key Features and Benefits:
Confidence and Forgiveness: The cavity back design offers a friendlier shape at address, allowing you to play a number of different wedge shots. The larger head size and grooves across the face will give you confidence around the greens.
Premium Feel: Featuring Callaway’s Urethane Microspheres, the CB Wedge provides an awesome feel and sound. These microspheres are strategically placed behind the face, enhancing the wedge’s overall performance.
Aggressive Spin and Enhanced Control: The CB Wedge has the famous Jaws grooves, which you can feel and see when hitting a chip. The face blast treatment further enhances surface roughness, these wedges really do spin a lot around the greens.
Premium Shafts and Grips: The CB Wedge comes with True Temper Elevate 95 as the stock steel shaft, while graphite options are available from Project X Catalyst and UST F1 in a ladies flex.
- Price: $149
- Spin: 92/100
- Feel & Control: 92/100
- Accuracy: 92/100
- Forgiveness: 95/100
Total: 92.75/100
Read our full review of the CB Wedges here.
2. Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge
The Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge is great for all beginners, I found it extremely easy to hit from all lies, the club felt like it would never dig into the ground. It has a great blend of performance and forgiveness, I did however find it slightly difficult to play high lofted shots, but being a beginner I highly doubt you would be attempting this shot.
Key Features and Benefits:
ZipCore Technology: At the bottom of the club lies a lightweight, low-density core that not only reduces vibrations and refines the center of gravity but also enhances MOI for improved forgiveness on every shot. I could definitely feel this when hitting the ball.
Hollow Cavity Design: Weight positioned in the toe with a hollow chamber near the heel creates a very forgiving club.
UltiZip Grooves: Sharper, deeper, and more closely spaced, give you loads of spin. This was quite clear when chipping around the greens.
Spinner Shafts: Specially designed to enhance spin, the Spinner shafts in both steel and graphite are Wedge-specific components that give you extra spin and control around the greens.
Dynamic Sole: Featuring V-, C-, and S-Shaped soles, these all perform slightly differently through the turf. To make things easier for you I tested them all out and would recommend the S-Shaped to all beginners. It has the most versatility and forgiveness.
Gelback Technology: A soft, vibration-absorbing TPU insert enhances feel, providing a buttery smooth sensation even on mis-hits.
- Price: $149
- Spin: 91/100
- Feel & Control: 91/100
- Accuracy: 93/100
- Forgiveness: 92/100
Total: 91.75/100
Read our full review of the Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedges.
3. Hi-Toe RAW Big Foot Wedge
Disclaimer, it looks like TaylorMade don’t sell this wedge anymore, this may mean there is a new version on the way. However I had to include it here because it is so good.
The wedge has full-face scoring lines and expanded toe area from their Hi-Toe technology, along with the RAW Face, this delivers increased spin, precision, and and with the super wide sole makes it extremely forgiving.
Key Features and Benefits:
Consistent Spin in All Conditions: The ZTP RAW Groove Design on the face provides more greenside spin, especially in wet conditions, thanks to its sharper, narrower, and deeper grooves.
Control & Variety: The Hi-Toe design produces a higher center of gravity, resulting in a lower launch and more spin, which I could see from the first shot. The larger face area gives you extra forgiveness.
Forgiving Sole Grind: The Big Foot asymmetric C-Grind sole is flatter and wider, engineered for dig-resistance and improved performance from deep rough or sand. Full-face scoring lines promote consistent ball contact on strikes across the face.
Tour-Proven Performance: Hi-Toe wedges have seen championship moments on golf’s grandest stages, with players like Collin Morikawa showcasing their short game magic with these wedges.
- Price: $169
- Spin: 93/100
- Feel & Control: 92/100
- Accuracy: 91/100
- Forgiveness: 93/100
Total: 92.25/100
Read our full review of the Taylormade Hi-Toe RAW Big Foot Wedge
As you can see there are not many wedges on here, this is because I do believe beginners should stick with the wedges that come with the iron sets. TaylorMade, Callaway, Srixon, PING, Mizuno all offer wedges that form part of the iron set.
Wedges You Should Look At Avoiding
All wedges that are blade looking, these range from all Vokey wedges, Callaway JAWS, TaylorMade MG3/4, Cleveland RTX etc.
These wedges have no forgiveness, and as a beginner you should be looking for wedges that offer forgiveness over spin and control.
FAQs
How to choose the best golf wedges?
Choosing the best golf wedges depends on your playing style, skill level, and specific needs. Look for wedges that offer forgiveness, spin, and versatility around the greens. Consider factors like loft, bounce, and sole grind to match your playing conditions and shot preferences.
How many wedges should a beginner be carrying?
For beginners, it’s recommended to start with two or three wedges. A pitching wedge (PW) typically comes with your iron set, and you can add a gap wedge (GW) and a sand wedge (SW) to cover different distance gaps and shots around the greens.
How to choose the right loft for your wedges?
Choosing the right loft for your wedges depends on your individual club distances and the gaps you want to fill between clubs. Generally, a pitching wedge has around 44-48 degrees of loft, and you can add gap wedges (50-54 degrees) and sand wedges (54-58 degrees) to fill the distance between your irons and higher lofted wedges for better control around the greens.
How to choose the correct bounce for your wedges?
The bounce of a wedge helps it interact with the turf. For players with steep swings or playing on softer turf, higher bounce (10-14 degrees) can prevent digging. For players with shallow swings or firmer turf conditions, lower bounce (4-6 degrees) allows better turf interaction. Consider your swing and playing conditions to choose the appropriate bounce for your wedges.
Beginners should always consider using a high lofted bounce, this will provide the most forgiveness.
Final thoughts on the best wedges for beginners
Our favorite wedge for beginners is the Callaway CB Wedge. It provides all the spin, control and forgiveness you would need as a beginner.
As you can see there are not many wedges on here, this is because I do believe beginners should stick with the wedges that come with the iron sets. TaylorMade, Callaway, Srixon, PING, Mizuno all offer wedges that form part of the iron set – check this article out where we go over the best irons for beginners.
Use a high bounce as a beginner, this will give you the most forgiveness.
If you are looking for advice on how to hit a wedge correctly, read our guide here.
