Trevor Ng
Golf is a sport that involves hitting a ball with a club from a tee box into a hole in as few strokes as possible. The 5-AW refers to a set of golf clubs that includes a 5-iron and an A-wedge. The A-wedge, also known as the approach wedge, is a type of gap wedge with a loft between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. It is used for full or near-full swing shots and is intended to fill the loft gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.
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What You'll Learn
Golf club types
Golf clubs are typically categorised into five types: woods, irons, hybrids, wedges, and putters.
Woods
The woods are the longest and most powerful clubs, with large heads and long shafts for maximum club speed. They are used for long-distance fairway or tee shots. The woods category includes drivers and fairway woods. Interestingly, the term "woods" persists even though the club heads are no longer made of wood. Instead, they are now constructed from various metals, carbon fibre, titanium, or scandium.
Irons
Irons are the most versatile class of golf clubs and are used for a variety of shots. They come in numbered sets, usually ranging from 3-iron to 9-iron or pitching wedge. Irons have angled faces called "lofts" that are etched with grooves to help grip the ball and impart spin. As the number of an iron increases, the loft angle increases while the shaft length decreases. Irons with less perimeter weighting allow skilled golfers to intentionally hit curved shots.
Hybrids
Hybrids are a newer category of golf clubs that combine design elements of woods and irons. They are considered ""iron-replacement clubs"" as they are easier to hit than the irons they replace, especially the long irons. Hybrids are numbered like irons, with the number corresponding to the iron they replace.
Wedges
Wedges are a subclass of irons with greater loft angles than the numbered irons. They have features such as high-mass club heads and wide soles that allow for easier use in tricky situations. There are five main types of wedges: pitching wedge (PW), gap wedge (GW), sand wedge, approach wedge (AW), and lob wedge (LW). Wedges are used for short-distance, high-altitude, high-accuracy "utility" shots, such as approach shots, lay-up shots, and chipping out of hazards.
Putters
Putters are the most specialised golf clubs and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They are used mainly on the green to roll the ball into the hole during the last strokes played on a golf hole.
Golfers are allowed to carry up to 14 clubs in their bag, and while there are traditional combinations sold as matched sets, they can choose any combination of legal clubs.
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Loft degrees
The loft of a golf club is typically stamped on the sole of the club, often with a number between 4 and 6, or 12 and 14. The higher the loft, the higher the ball will fly, and the shorter the distance it will travel.
Approach wedges (AW) are designed to fill the gap between the pitching wedge (PW) and the sand wedge (SW). A standard pitching wedge has a loft of around 43-48 degrees, while a sand wedge has a loft of 54-58 degrees. An approach wedge, therefore, typically has a loft of between 47 and 52 degrees, though this can vary depending on the manufacturer and the type of player the club is designed for.
When choosing an approach wedge, it is important to consider the lofts of the wedges you already have. The approach wedge should have a loft that is higher than your pitching wedge but lower than your sand wedge. This will ensure you have a variety of clubs to choose from for different types of shots.
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Approach Wedge
An approach wedge, also known as a gap wedge or an A wedge, is a golf club that fills the gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. It is designed to provide more carry and total distance than a sand wedge.
The approach wedge is a versatile club that can be used for full swings, three-quarter swings, and little chip and pitch shots around the green. It is particularly useful when there is enough green between the ball and the hole to allow the ball to run out.
The loft on an approach wedge is typically 4 to 8 degrees higher than a pitching wedge, resulting in a gap of 8-15 yards in total distance from full swings. The ideal loft for an approach wedge depends on the loft of the other wedges in the set. The shaft of an approach wedge is slightly shorter than that of a pitching wedge, which also helps with distance control.
When deciding whether to add an approach wedge to your bag, it is important to consider the lofts of your existing wedges and the type of shots you feel comfortable with.
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Gap Wedge
A gap wedge (GW) is one of the most important clubs in a golfer's bag. It is used to fill the gap between a sand wedge and a pitching wedge. While it is not a standard part of an iron set, it is still a popular choice for golfers of all skill levels.
The gap wedge is used for awkward yardage shots, longer bunker shots, approach shots under 100 yards, and longer greenside pitches. It is also useful for shots from the fairway, especially when the ball is sitting in a difficult spot. The club is also great for players who want to get out of tough situations. For instance, when a shot is in a difficult place in the fairway. A gap wedge allows you to get out of these situations by giving you great control over your shots.
The loft of a gap wedge is typically between 48 and 54 degrees, although this can vary depending on the manufacturer. It is important to choose a gap wedge with a loft that fits perfectly between your pitching wedge and sand wedge. The bounce of a gap wedge is also important, with a higher bounce being better for shots with more turf interaction and a lower bounce being better for tight lies and shots that require a pickier strike.
When using a gap wedge, it is important to strike the ball first and ensure the divot occurs after the ball to get spin and control. The centre of the stance is typically best for your gap wedge, with the ball played a little further back of centre for shorter shots. At impact, you’ll want a forward shaft lean to compress the ball properly. Keep the lead wrist flat or slightly bowed at impact to hit your gap wedge with a square face. To get enough height from your gap wedge shots, use a steeper angle of attack.
Overall, a gap wedge is a versatile club that can help golfers of all skill levels improve their accuracy and distance control, making it a valuable addition to any golfer's bag.
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Pitching Wedge
A pitching wedge (PW) is a golf club used for longer wedge shots, approach shots, short greenside chips, and more. It is a very versatile club and one that all golfers will want to use at some point. It is likely one of the most important golf clubs in the set, and one of the golfer's favourites to reach for.
The pitching wedge is a wedge with a higher loft, typically between 43° and 48°. The loft helps golfers hit more precise approach shots to a hole on the green. The higher loft also makes it easier to get the ball out of a very difficult lie. It is used for approach shots from 120 yards and less, hitting chip shots onto greens, getting the ball out of the rough, and hitting pitch shots from less than 100 yards. Most golfers can hit their pitching wedge anywhere from 90 to 130 yards.
The pitching wedge is used for longer pitch shots in the 40 to 80-yard range. For these shots, golfers can use a half swing with a slightly narrow stance, and practice using their shoulders and core instead of their hands and wrists to hit the shot. The greenside chip is the perfect place to use the pitching wedge. A greenside chip is a low shot hit close to the green, allowing space for the ball to roll towards the hole.
The number of wedges a golfer carries is a personal choice, depending on the type of game they play and their confidence with different shots. As a beginner, two wedges will be plenty. One is likely to be a pitching wedge, and the other a more lofted wedge, such as a sand wedge.
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Frequently asked questions
5-AW stands for 5-Approach Wedge.
An approach wedge is used for full or near-full swing shots. It is used to fill the loft gap between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge.
A pitching wedge is used for the longest wedge shots, whereas an approach wedge is used for shorter and softer shots.
The loft of an approach wedge is typically between 48 and 51 degrees.
An approach wedge and a gap wedge are the same clubs with different names.
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