The memory of nailing that perfect shot with my 60-degree wedge is unforgettable.
My golf ball was sitting right behind a tall palm tree about 60 yards from the green. I was sweating bullets since I didn’t think I could reach the green with my next shot.
Thankfully, the loft of my 60 degree wedge allowed me to get the ball up and over the palm tree and land it safely on the putting surface. On this rare occasion, I happened to sink a 15 foot putt on my next shot. It’s always a great feeling to pull off a tough shot and still save par.
A lot of people don’t understand what a 60 degree wedge is and what it’s used for. In this post, we’ll cover those topics in addition to giving you some recommendations on which brands to potentially buy.
What is a 60 Degree Wedge?
Most golfers refer to a 60 degree wedge as a lob wedge. Lob wedges are carried by every golfer on the PGA Tour but not many beginners keep one in their bags. The lob wedge is considered a high risk/high reward type of golf club.
As its name implies, a 60 degree wedge has 60 degrees of loft. This make’s it the highest lofted golf club in the bag and an ideal choice when you need a shot with a high trajectory.
How Far People Typically Hit This Wedge
As with all golf clubs, skill level greatly affects how far one can hit a 60 degree wedge. Most professional golfers can hit their 60 degree wedge around 90 yards.
On the other hand, average amateur golfers usually hit this club around 70 yards. Some beginners can only hit the ball in the 30-50 yard range with a 60 degree wedge.
Best Situations to Use a 60 Degree Wedge
The 60 degree wedge can be a tough club to master. That’s why a lot of golfers don’t even bother carrying one in their bags.
However, there are several situations on the golf course where a 60 degree wedge comes in handy.
1. You Need to Hit The Ball Over a Tree
We talked about this scenario in the intro but it’s worth mentioning again. The best time to use a lob wedge is when you are needing a very high shot to get over a tree or some other object that’s in your way. This happens more than most golfers would like to admit.
All golfers struggle with wayward tee shots from time to time. These inaccurate shots can often leave them in some sticky situations that are tough to get out of. The 60 degree wedge can allow the golfer to get out of trouble and safely back on the green or fairway.
2. You’re In Some Deep Rough Near the Green
Some golf courses have some nasty roughs, even around the green. In this type of deep rough, it can be difficult to pop the ball out of there and up onto the green with a simple pitching wedge.
That’s where the 60 degree wedge comes in. The 4 to 8 degree bounce of this club allows the golfer to cut through the deep rough and get underneath the ball. Being able to do this can help the golfer save par several times during a round.
3. You’re Chipping Close to the Green and Need a Soft Landing
Have you ever played on greens that are annoyingly fast? When you come across these types of greens, it can be difficult to keep your chip shots from rolling off the back of the green. If you find yourself in this precarious situation, think about chipping with your 60 degree wedge.
The 60 degree wedge will help you hit a high chip shot that will land softly on the green. If you strike the ball properly, your ball will roll out very little after landing.
4. Your Ball Lands in a Deep Bunker
Have you ever met Jaws on the golf course? No, we aren’t talking about a shark. Jaws is a nickname given by golfers to incredibly deep bunkers!
Some bunkers are so deep that even a sand wedge won’t have enough loft to get your golf ball out of it. When you find yourself in this tough spot, your 60 degree wedge can save the day. The extra loft and bounce will help you get on the green safely.
Do You Really Need a 60 Degree Wedge in Your Bag?
As with lots of questions related to this crazy game of golf, the answer is: it depends!
A 60 degree wedge can be a huge asset to a highly-skilled PGA Tour pro like Phil Mickelson but a massive liability to a beginner. This is because a lob wedge has a low level of forgiveness.
A safe bet is to only carry a 60 degree wedge in your bag if you’re a seasoned golfer with a handicap in the single digits. If you’re a beginner or even an average golfer, all you really need is a pitching wedge and a sand wedge.
Best 60 Degree Wedges Currently on The Market
Not sure which brand of 60 degree wedge to buy? Here are 5 excellent choices to consider. Each of these golf clubs have a fantastic rating on Amazon.
1. Callaway Golf Mack Daddy 5 JAWS Wedge
Callaway is one of the most respected brands in the game of golf today! This company has been around for 40 years, so you know you can trust the quality of their golf clubs.
PGA Tour stars like Phil Mickelson, Xander Schauffele, and Jon Rahm proudly represent Callaway, which further adds to their overall credibility.
The MD5 JAWS is made out of 8620 mild carbon steel which gives it an amazing feel. Golfers get to choose from a bounce of 8 to 12 degrees with this lob wedge.
Callaway provides three different options with this lob wedge. Depending on how much bounce you want, you’ll choose from a C-grind, S-grind, or W-grind. You can’t go wrong with this golf club!
Price: $159.99
2. 2020 Cobra Golf King Mim Black Wedge
Cobra Golf was established in 1973 and they are one of the major brands in the business. Cobra’s most famous representative is PGA Tour icon Rickie Fowler, who has been with the company since 2010.
This 60 degree wedge has a sleek black finish to it. The shaft is made out of alloy steel, which helps prevent any type of rust. Cobra’s Progressive Spin Technology will add plenty of versatility to your short game.
Golfers rave about this golf club’s full face and the low amount of vibration it provides. It’s easy to see why this 60 degree wedge got a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Amazon!
Price: $148.95
3. TaylorMade Milled Grind Hi Toe Raw Wedge
You knew we had to put TaylorMade on this list at some point…
This company has been one of the top golf equipment manufacturers in the world since 1979. A whole slew of PGA Tour pros trust TaylorMade, with the most famous being Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, and Rory McIlroy.
This lob wedge has an ideal center of gravity location that promotes precision and enhances feel. The rich copper finish gives this club a classy look.
The high toe profile helps promote a lower launch and more spin on full swings. This 60 degree wedge was designed by TaylorMade’s engineers with Raw Face Technology and a special laser etching. All of this creates a fantastic feeling when you hit the ball off the turf.
Price: $169.99
4. Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedge
If you want impeccable precision at a great price, this 60 degree wedge from Cleveland Golf may just be your best bet. The hollow cavity design of this club provides more forgiveness at impact. The sole grinds on this lob wedge will allow you to hit a wide variety of shots.
Cleveland’s engineers also designed this club with a TPU insert that helps keep vibration to almost zero. The tour zip grooves also give you more control during chips, pitches, and even full swings.
Price: $124.99
5. Mizuno Golf ES21 Wedge Series
Mizuno takes the fifth place spot on our best 60 degree wedges list. When buying this club, golfers can choose from two bounce angle options: 6 degree and 10 degree.
Mizuno makes this lob wedge out of a special type of steel called 1025 Boron, which increases the club’s durability by 30%.This club features quad cut grooves, which will help you get the ball higher in the air.
This club also features Hydroflow Micro Grooves, which helps keep rain off the clubface. This will allow you to still generate plenty of spin in wet weather conditions.
Price: $129.97
Mike Noblin
Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He's been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.
