Is A 60-Degree Wedge Hurting Your Game? We Looked At The Data

We recently looked at the golf clubs that cost amateurs the most strokes and nearly across the board, the answer was the 5-iron. But if you tell that to the player who just set up for a “cute” little lob shot and watched their 60-degree wedge rocket 20 yards over the back of the green, you’ll probably get a very different opinion.

The lob wedge has long carried the reputation of being a club for “emergencies only.”

It’s seen as high-risk, high-reward, and something average golfers shouldn’t lean on too often. To find out if that’s the truth, we asked Shot Scope for amateur performance data specific to the 60-degree wedge. The numbers reveal how golfers at different levels use it and whether it really helps or hurts.

How golfers actually use the 60-degree wedge

Before we dive into performance, it’s worth looking at usage. The 60-degree wedge shows up in very different ways depending on distance and on the player’s handicap.

Usage climbs steadily as skill improves with scratch golfers pulling the lob wedge far more often than higher handicaps. Even at the elite level, the 60-degree doesn’t dominate every situation.

Full shots (100–75 Yards)

For many golfers, the idea of taking a full swing with a lob wedge feels reckless. Yet scratch players do it nearly one out of every five times (20 percent) in this range, compared to just five percent (one out of 20) for 25-handicaps.

On full swings, the lob wedge holds its own. A 15-handicap golfer finishes in 3.49 strokes on average with a lob wedge compared to 3.47 with their other wedges. There is essentially no difference.

Scratch golfers have a tiny edge, finishing 0.02 shots better with the lob wedge.

Takeaway: On full swings, the lob wedge isn’t an “emergency only” option. Skilled players can make it work and the performance gap compared to other wedges is negligible. Of course, you’ll have to be comfortable with your wedge and practice it to see the best results.

Pitching (75–25 Yards)

By the time golfers reach mid-handicap levels, the lob wedge starts to become a common tool for pitching. Fifteen-handicap players use it for more than one in five shots (20 percent) while scratch players lean on it for 42 percent of pitches.

Similar to what we saw with the full shots, the lob wedge doesn’t produce better (or worse) results than other wedges. A 15-handicap averages 3.21 shots with a lob wedge versus 3.19 with a pitching, gap or sand wedge.

For scratch players, the numbers are almost identical: 2.89 with a lob wedge versus 2.87 baseline.

Takeaway: The lob wedge is trusted more as skill improves but it doesn’t outperform safer wedge choices for the average golfer.

Chipping (Inside 25 Yards)

High handicaps use the 60-degree wedge just 12 percent of the time while scratch players push that number to 34 percent, almost three times as often.

Scratch players are clearly capable with the club, averaging 2.59 shots to hole out with the lob wedge. But even at that level, the baseline (2.51) is slightly better. For 25-handicap players, the gap grows larger: 3.16 strokes with a lob wedge compared to 3.04 with other wedges.

Takeaway: For elite golfers, the lob wedge adds options. Better players aren’t really saving strokes by using the lob wedge but they could be using it out of difficult areas or places where they need to get up and down quickly. For higher handicaps, the lob wedge does come with a small added risk, just over a tenth of a stroke.

The lob wedge Isn’t Just for Emergencies

Scratch golfers prove the 60° wedge is a regular part of the rotation, not a last-resort club. What was once considered too risky has become a trusted option when used by skilled players who understand its limits.

Risk/reward depends on skill level

Better players can handle the precision needed to hit great 60-degree wedge shots, but the average golfer is more likely to pay a penalty. The lob wedge magnifies both good and bad swings, which is why it can either look like magic or a disaster, depending on who is hitting it.

When you look at overall strokes to finish, the risk is still not enormous compared to other wedges.

It’s another tool in the bag

Even at the scratch level, the lob wedge doesn’t outperform other wedges. It’s about giving players one more shot type to choose from. Think of it as a specialty tool in the bag. When you need a lot of loft and a softer landing, a well-struck 60-degree wedge is a solid choice.

Final thoughts

The Shot Scope data doesn’t support the old idea that the 60-degree wedge is only for emergencies. In reality, its performance is nearly identical to pitching, gap and sand wedges across full shots and pitches. Even around the green, where it’s most divisive, the lob wedge is only marginally worse.

Scratch golfers use it with confidence because they know when it’s the right tool, while higher handicaps may see mixed results if they lean on it too often.

The lob wedge is a specialty option that adds variety without costing much. It may not save strokes, but it also doesn’t really deserve its reputation as a “danger club.”

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