I don’t like to focus on total distance with the wedges, as it is just not nearly as important as distance control. However, when you are working on dialing in your wedge shots, you need to know your maximum distances on your wedges.
The full swing 60 degree wedge may not be a shot you hit all that often, but do you really know how far you can hit the club?
I’ll show you how far you should be hitting your 60 degree wedge (or lob wedge) based on your skill level, with some additional info about the type of club you have in the bag.
How Far You Should Be Hitting Your 60 Degree Wedge
Regardless of your golf handicap, you should be able to hit the 60 degree wedge in various yardages.
The average golfer gets about 75 yards out of their lob wedge, but there are other factors that play into this.
Beginner
Beginner golfers are often told to stay away from the lob wedge. I tend to disagree here.
Beginner golfers should learn how to hit a 60 degree wedge because it will eventually be a key component in their short game. The 60 degree wedge will fly about 60 yards for a beginner golfer taking a full swing.
Be aware that the dispersion rates for a 60 degree wedge and a beginner golfer are quite high.
There is always a chance of skulling the ball or hitting behind it, and this is why many beginners stay away from this lob wedge.
I recommend trying to hit a lot of 30 yard shots with your lob wedge. Learning how to get this shot down can help with shots that need to spin out of the rough. In addition, if you can learn to hit down and through the ball on these 60 degree shots, it will only help the rest of your short game.
High Handicapper
High handicappers often have a little more consistency than the beginner players.
I would expect the 60 degree wedge to be about a 70 yard shot for the higher handicapper.
Again, this will depend on how well you strike the ball.
A better strike may bet you closer to 75, and the poor shots could only fly 50 yards.
High handicappers need to be careful not to overuse the 60 degree wedge. It’s great that this club can hit the ball up in the air high, but it’s also a shot that you might end up missing slightly, causing a big error.
Again, for the high handicapper, I like to see this club for the 30-40 yard shot range and avoid the full swing shots when possible.
Mid Handicapper
Mid handicapper are the golfers that hit a 60 degree of about 75-85 yards.
Most mid handicappers have average to above average swing speed, making it easier to get plenty of distance from their swings and a bit more consistency.
The mid handicapper will also hit the ball a bit further if they are using more of a game improvement style lob wedge, as opposed to a blade style 60 degree wedge.
Blade style wedges are more about distance control and getting the ball to land close to the pin. The cavity back style wedges are made for more forgiveness and increased consistency.
At some point, mid-handicappers should look to switch to the blade style wedge to get more accurate in their short game. If you have just recently made the switch and you notice a few fewer yards in your shots, don’t be alarmed.
Low Handicapper
A low handicapper hits a 60 degree wedge anywhere from 80-90 yards.
One of the quickest ways to get your handicap lower is to have plenty of swing speed. Swing speed allows you to have short approaches to a golf green.
In addition, low handicappers often hit the ball closer to the center of the clubface. This extra consistency in the strike also helps to add a few extra yards to your shots.
Low handicappers use the lob wedge more than the mid to high handicappers simply because it can be a very useful club when you get used to it.
Professional
A professional golfer can hit a lob wedge up to 100 yards.
Not all professional golfers choose to take a full swing with a 60 degree wedge just because they feel more confident with a sand wedge or even a little pitching wedge shot.
Professional golfers tend to use the 60 degree wedge quite a bit out of the bunker and around the greens. If you want to learn from a professional, pay very close attention to when they hit a full swing shot with their 60 degree wedge, it’s probably less often than you are!
Best Scenarios to Use This Club
I like my 60 degree wedge and use it a lot. However, for years, I never hit it out of the bunker. That was a mistake. I’ll give you some of the best places on the golf course to hit your 60 degree wedge and a few tips for hitting it solidly…
Full Swing
With no trouble in front of you, the 60 degree wedge could be a great choice to hit as an approach shot to the green. Make sure you are also not looking at too much trouble behind the pin.
Hitting the ball thin can cause it to travel over the green and create a bit of a problem.
Another great time to hit the lob wedge approach into the green is when you have very little room between you and the pin. When the pin is right up front, and it won’t have time to stop with another club in the bag, the lob wedge can work.
Chip Shot with Little Green to Work with
Let’s say the pin is just a few paces in off the front. What club can you use to get it to stop right away?
The 60 degree wedge.
This 60 degree wedge is the club that will offer the highest spin and allows you to control this shot and stop it near the hole.
Having this type of control is incredibly important and hard to obtain with any other golf club.
Bunker Shots
Most golfers grab their sand wedge when they hit their golf ball into the sand trap. Stop doing this!
If you have very little green to work with, the 60 degree wedge will get the ball up and stop it quickly on the green.
In addition, the 60 degree is the best club for getting a ball up and over the lip of a bunker.
Anytime You Need Height on Your Shot
When you need to add height to your golf shots, one of the best clubs to use is a 60 degree wedge.
Chipping over a bunker, going over a tree, or anything similar, the 60 degree will give you the best chance at getting this done.
Some golfers, like Phil Mickelson, will take a 60 degree wedge, open the face, and attempt to hit a flop shot. These are incredibly high shots that land and stop in the same place.
Other Clubs Commonly Used to Replace a Lob Wedge
Some golfers will carry a sand wedge and leave the lob wedge out of the bag.
I don’t really recommend this if you have the room in the bag. You can use the 60 degree wedge quite often, and it’s worth carrying it.
However, some golfers, especially those with lower swing speed, will use a 58-degree lob wedge. This helps bridge the gap between the pitching wedge and the lob wedge and makes it easier for players to get the distances they need across all the wedges.
The 62 or 64-degree wedge could also be a good replacement for players that like those high-lofted shots. Be prepared for these to have slightly less total distance.
Tips to Improve How You Use Your 60 Degree Wedge
If the 60 degree wedge is giving you trouble, try some of my favorite tips for helping to hit this club more consistently.
- Take a narrower stance: this can help you become more consistent with your approach shots on the lob wedge. A consistent pivot with a more compact stance is a great solution for the lob wedge.
- Work on distance control: take your lob wedge out to the range and set up targets at 30, 40, 50, and 60 yards. Work on controlling distance by increasing and decreasing the length of your swing.
- Keep the clubface square: remember that the degrees of loft in a lob wedge is already quite high; you will want to keep the clubface square when you set up to hit.
- Experiment with different sole grinds: a 60 degree wedge can come with various sole grinds; these different grinds help you fine-tune your performance based on the turf you are hitting from.
- Be prepared for spin: the 60 degree wedge spins a lot, make sure you get the ball close to the hole as it will not release much when it does make contact with the grass.
Brittany Olizarowicz
Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.