58 vs. 60 Degree Wedge: What’s Best for the Average User?
We all know about wedge clubs. They are the saviors in situations like sand or bunker. But there is a debate about the perfect degree wedge for a golfer. Is it a 58 or 60?
The main difference between these two wedges is in their loft and the distance they cover. When you hit with a 58, the loft will be 58 degrees and the 60 degree wedge has a loft of 60 degrees. Though it’s not much, 58 covers more distance than 60.
Still confused, right? Do not worry about it; in this blog, we will show you the differences between these two lob wedges. After going through the whole article, we are sure you can select the best wedge for your golf bag
Overview of 58 Degree Wedge
You can call it one of the most versatile clubs in golf. Some golfers call it a sand wedge as it can save the game for you in the sand.
Most golfers like this wedge for versatility while a few others do not for some reason. Let’s see the both pros and cons of it:
Overview of 60 Degree Wedge
Many Pro players mention this as the highest lofted club. If you ask a professional golfer about a lob wedge, they will say about the 60 degree wedge.
Despite professional golfers loving this, some golfers do not. Here are some of the pros and cons of it:
58 vs 60 Wedge: Comparison Table
Many beginner and professional golfers often cannot decide which one to keep. As they have a limited capacity in the kit bag, they cannot keep two clubs for similar purposes. Take a look at this comparison table below and choose the convenient one for you.
What Are The Differences Between 58 and 60 Wedges?
We have mentioned the main difference between these two wedges earlier in the post. It is in their loft angle. Except for some small differences, they are more or less the same. In the following part, we will show them to you:
Best to Use For
You can use a 58 wedge while the ball is in the sand if you want to hit the ball over a bunker or water.
But it is possible only on light and dusty sand. As this wedge is versatile, you can perform long-distance shots with it. A 60-degree wedge is also good for chip shots over the bunker or water.
When your ball is in wet and heavy sand, a 60 wedge can be a great solution. But you cannot make a long shot with this.
Distance
The average distance you can cover with a 58-degree wedge is 80 yards. If you are an average golf player, you can reach a distance like that. Most people do not swing the wedge at full strength. They use ½ or ¾ of their strength.
If you try a smooth swing, it is possible that you can reach a distance of 105 yards with a 58 wedge. So, this is useful when the distance between you and the hole is 75 yards.
The average distance you can cover with a 60-degree wedge is 74 yards. With a full swing, it is possible to cover 100 meters. That means, when the hole is within 70 meters of you, a 60 wedge can do it for you.
Bounce
When it is 58 vs. 60 wedges, the one thing you should think less about is the bounce. The average and expected bounce from a lob wedge are 8 degrees.
If the ball drops on the green, the bounce for the 58 and 60 wedges is 8 and 10 degrees respectively. But, it depends on the swing speed also. It should range between 4-10 degrees.
You may use a lob wedge from the fairway or rough. So, they need less bounce to slice through the turf smoothly.
With a difference of only 2 degrees, a 58 wedge seems good in terms of bounce. Because a higher bounce can cause the ball to deflect from the right direction.
Wedge Set Up
Many people explain it as the wedge setup also. It is obvious that you cannot take all the clubs in your bag on the ground. So, you must choose a perfect combination of wedges.
If you want to keep a lob wedge with you, you need to know if that is compatible with your other clubs or not. Both 58 and 60 wedges have different compatibility or setup. Here they are:
| Lob wedge | Gap wedge | Sand wedge | Pitching wedge |
| 58 degree | 50 degree | 54 degree | 46 degree |
| 60 degree | 52 degree | 56 degree | 48 degree |
Control
Well, this is one of the most important factors to compare two lob wedges. If you have good control over your shot, that will add a huge advantage to your game.
As we know, both 58 and 60 wedges are good for lofted or chip shots. They can take the ball up to cross bunkers and water.
But, the higher the ball goes, the more wind it has to face. And wind can change the direction of the ball and thus you lose control over it.
A 60-degree wedge can take the ball higher than a 58 wedge. Which means you can have a better control on your shot with a 58 wedge than with a 60 wedge.
But a pro player can control the height and then a 60-degree wedge can become a deadlier weapon.
58 Or 60-Degree Wedge: Which One Should You Use?
A difference of 2 degrees is not a big deal in golf. Obviously, if you can fill the gap of 4 yards of average distance.
Most pro and handicap players will go for a 60-degree wedge for sure. It has more spin and can be stopped in the right position if you can control the shot.
A 58-degree wedge is good for both amateurs and professionals. The versatility and control are also reasons to choose a 58 wedge.
But the whole thing will depend on the other wedges you have and the lofts they have.
There is not much difference between these two and because of that, we think you should choose according to your other clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know, there is always more to know. There could be some general queries that may rise in your mind. We will try to cover those and answer them here:
Are 58 and 60 wedges suitable for beginners?
A 58 wedge is pretty friendly for beginners. It is usable for multiple shots. A beginner can make a nice and controlled shot with this. But a 60-degree wedge can be a little tough for a beginner to handle.
Is it possible to hit straight with a 58 or 60 wedge?
58 and 60 wedges are lob wedges. They are specialized to make chip shots. If you want to take the ball over the top of something, they will help. They might not be suitable for a straight shot.
Is 58 lighter than a 60 wedge?
That is hard to say actually. Different manufacturers have clubs of different weights. You can choose the weight of your wedge. Some professional golfers customize the weights of their wedges.
Is it possible to use 58 or 60-degree wedges as sand wedges?
Yes, you can. They are both good to cover shorter distances. In my opinion, flying the ball higher is better than a sand wedge. But you will need at least a 10 degrees loft to take the ball out of deep bunkers.
Can I have both 58 and 60 wedges in my kit bag?
It depends on you and the space of the bag. But that would be unnecessary. Because both of them serve similar purposes. Any of the wedges will be enough to play properly.
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Meet Jalal, a passionate golf writer and the driving force behind Golfertroop.com, your go-to destination for all things golfing! Whether you’re a seasoned golfing veteran or a beginner taking your first swing, Jalal is here to assist you in making the most out of your golfing experience.
