Start with your pitching wedge
Wedge sets are built around whatever your pitching wedge is, and that loft has changed over the years. Many modern pitching wedges sit somewhere between 43° and 46°, which is stronger than older sets. Check the sole of your own club rather than assuming.
A stronger pitching wedge stretches the step down to the next wedge. That is the reason gap wedges became common: they fill the space that opened up between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.
Loft steps and distance steps
Loft steps between wedges are usually kept fairly even, often four to six degrees. Even loft steps tend to produce even distance steps, but not always: bounce, sole grind, shaft and how you deliver each wedge all matter.
The practical test is distance. If two wedges land within a couple of metres of each other on full swings, one of them may not be earning its slot. If the step between two wedges is large, you are forced into partial swings you may not have practised.
How many wedges to carry
- Three wedges: a common setup — pitching, gap and sand, or pitching, sand and lob. It covers the scoring range without using up slots at the long end.
- Four wedges: worth it if you play courses with firm greens or often face short approaches, and you are happy to give up a long club.
- Two wedges: workable if you prefer more coverage in the long game and are comfortable controlling distance with partial swings.
Before you buy another wedge
Check the steps you already have. A wedge added on loft alone can end up carrying almost the same distance as the one above it, especially if the two clubs have different sole grinds or shafts.
It also helps to know how your wedges fit the rest of the bag. A wedge setup that looks even on its own can still leave a wide step up into the short irons.