By the TC Golf Center Editorial Team ยท Updated
A pitching wedge has about 44 to 48 degrees of loft and a gap wedge has about 50 to 52 degrees. The pitching wedge carries roughly 10 to 15 yards farther on a full swing, and the gap wedge flies higher and stops faster. Most golfers benefit from carrying both, because without a gap wedge there is a large distance hole between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.
The two clubs do the same job at different distances. Both are mainly full-swing approach clubs. The gap wedge exists to cover the yardage that the pitching wedge flies past and the sand wedge cannot reach.
What Is the Difference Between a Pitching Wedge and a Gap Wedge?
The main difference is loft. Everything else, including distance, height, and roll, follows from it.
| Category | Pitching Wedge | Gap Wedge |
|---|---|---|
| Typical loft | 44 to 48 degrees (43 or lower in some distance iron sets) | 50 to 52 degrees (as low as 48 in some iron sets) |
| Typical carry, mid-handicapper | 100 to 130 yards | 80 to 110 yards |
| Bounce | Low to mid. Varies by model. | Low to mid, usually less than a sand wedge. Varies by model. |
| Shaft length (men's standard, steel) | About 35.5 to 35.75 inches | About 35.5 inches |
| Ball flight | Lower, more roll after landing | Higher, less roll after landing |
| Typical uses | Full approach shots, longer chips and pitches that need to run | Full approach shots from shorter range, pitches and chips that need to stop sooner |
| Other names | PW, P | GW, approach wedge, AW, A wedge |
| How it is sold | Almost always included in an iron set | Sometimes included in the set, often bought separately |
Lofts and lengths vary by manufacturer. The number stamped on your club or listed on the maker's spec sheet is what counts, not the name on the sole. For more on gap wedge lofts specifically, see what degree a gap wedge is.
How Far Does a Pitching Wedge Go Compared to a Gap Wedge?
For most amateurs the pitching wedge carries 10 to 17 yards farther than the gap wedge. The table below shows average carry by handicap as reported from Shot Scope on-course tracking data. These are averages across many golfers and many wedge lofts, so your numbers can differ.
| Handicap | Pitching Wedge (carry) | Gap Wedge (carry) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scratch | 141 yards | 126 yards | 15 yards |
| 5 | 126 yards | 109 yards | 17 yards |
| 10 | 127 yards | 110 yards | 17 yards |
| 15 | 121 yards | 104 yards | 17 yards |
| 20 | 108 yards | 94 yards | 14 yards |
| 25 | 90 yards | 79 yards | 11 yards |
Two things stand out. The gap between the clubs is fairly steady at about 15 yards for most players. It shrinks at slower swing speeds, which is why higher handicappers see only about 11 yards of separation.
Your own distances depend on swing speed, strike quality, and the actual lofts of your clubs. Our wedge loft and distance chart covers all four wedge types in one place.
Why Does the Gap Wedge Exist?
Iron lofts have become stronger over time. Manufacturers lowered the loft on each iron to add distance, and the pitching wedge moved with them. Sand wedge lofts stayed around 54 to 56 degrees because the club still has to work from bunkers.
The result is a wide space between the two clubs. A 44-degree pitching wedge and a 56-degree sand wedge are 12 degrees apart. The gap wedge was created to fill that space, which is where the name comes from.
Do I Need a Gap Wedge?
You probably do if the loft difference between your pitching wedge and your next wedge is more than 6 degrees. Titleist's Vokey wedge fitting guidance recommends 4 to 6 degrees of loft between wedges, which produces yardage gaps of about 10 to 15 yards.
Use these steps to check your own bag:
- Find your pitching wedge loft. Look it up on the manufacturer's spec sheet for your iron model. Many set pitching wedges do not have the loft stamped on them.
- Find your sand wedge loft. This is usually stamped on the head.
- Subtract. If the difference is 8 degrees or more, a gap wedge will fill a real hole. If it is 4 to 6 degrees, you already have even gapping and do not need another club between them.
- Confirm with distances. Hit full shots with both clubs. A difference of 20 to 30 yards means you are regularly forced into partial swings from the distances in between.
Example setups that follow the 4 to 6 degree guideline: a 46-degree pitching wedge with 50, 54, and 58 degree wedges, or a 44-degree pitching wedge with 48, 52, and 56 degree wedges.
The cost of adding a gap wedge is one of your 14 club slots. For most golfers that trade is worth it, because approach shots inside 120 yards come up on nearly every hole. If you are shopping for one, see our guide to the best gap wedges.
Should My Gap Wedge Match My Irons?
There are two kinds of gap wedge. A set gap wedge is built to match your irons, with the same head design and usually a stronger loft, around 48 to 50 degrees. A specialty gap wedge is a standalone wedge sold in specific loft and bounce combinations, most often 50 or 52 degrees.
Either can work. A set gap wedge keeps the look and feel of your irons on full swings. A specialty wedge gives you more loft and bounce choices and tends to be more useful for partial shots around the green. The priority is the loft. Pick the one that sits evenly between your pitching wedge and sand wedge.
The same choice exists for the pitching wedge. Most golfers use the one that came with their irons, but standalone options exist. Our best pitching wedges guide covers them.
When Should You Use a Pitching Wedge vs a Gap Wedge?
On full swings, the choice is simply distance. Use the club whose full carry matches the yardage to your target.
Around the green, the choice depends on how much room you have:
- Pitching wedge: The lower loft produces a lower flight and more roll. Use it for chips and pitches when there is plenty of green between you and the hole.
- Gap wedge: The extra loft produces a higher flight and less roll. Use it when you need to carry more fringe or rough and have less green to work with.
Gap Wedge vs Sand Wedge: What Is the Difference?
A gap wedge has 50 to 52 degrees of loft and a sand wedge has 54 to 56 degrees. On a full swing the gap wedge carries farther, with typical mid-handicap ranges of 80 to 110 yards for the gap wedge and 70 to 90 yards for the sand wedge.
The bigger difference is bounce. Sand wedges typically have 10 to 14 degrees of bounce so the sole glides through sand and soft turf without digging. Gap wedges usually have less, which suits full shots from the fairway. That makes the sand wedge the better club from bunkers and the gap wedge the better club for full approach shots. See wedge bounce explained for how to match bounce to your swing and course conditions.
For the comparison at the other end of the wedge set, read sand wedge vs pitching wedge.
The Bottom Line
The pitching wedge is the lower-lofted club, at 44 to 48 degrees, and the longer one. The gap wedge sits at 50 to 52 degrees and carries about 10 to 15 yards shorter with a higher flight. Carry both if your pitching wedge and sand wedge are more than 6 degrees apart, and choose a gap wedge loft that splits the difference evenly.