Golfing News & Blog Articles

What degree of loft is a sand wedge?

A sand wedge typically has a loft of 54 or 56 degrees. This is usually the most lofted club that comes with a standard set of clubs although some golfers choose to add a more lofted wedge.

What are the different types of wedges and where do sand wedges fall on the spectrum of wedge lofts?

A typical set of golf clubs may only provide the two most common wedges: the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. A lob wedge has the highest loft. The “gap wedge” literally bridges the gap between the pitching and sand wedges. These can also be called approach, utility or attack wedges.

Club (Marking)	Most Common Lofts (Degrees)
Pitching Wedge (PW)	44, 45, 46
Gap Wedge (Approach Wedge, Attack Wedge, Utility Wedge) (GW, AW, UW)	50 or 52
Sand Wedge (SW)	54, 56, 58
Lob Wedge (LW)	60, 62

Does the degree of loft matter?

The degree of loft impacts the height of the ball’s flight as well as the distance it goes. As you may recall from Physics 101, these two things are inversely correlated, i.e., the ball may go a bit further if you hit it harder but the degree of loft will definitely impact the total potential distance the ball can travel.

This concept is especially important because the correct loft is necessary for being able to put a full swing on every shot. If you know you do not have the correct wedge for a particular shot, you may have to shorten your swing in order to compensate. This is a common reason that golfers end up adding the fourth wedge to their bag.

How many golf wedges do I need?

Many golfers will choose to supplement their standard set with a gap wedge and a lob wedge. Depending on how many clubs you want in your bag (the Rules of Golf allow a maximum of 14), you will likely opt for three or four wedges.

Rory McIlroy addressed his notorious Ryder Cup bust-up with Patrick Cantlay's caddie Joe LaCava that stirred up the biennial tournament.

Today, PUMA Golf announced the newest addition to an already-robust collaboration: PUMA Golf x PALM TREE CREW.

Earlier this year, the brands collaborated on two distinct apparel and accessory collections. Now, the tandem is back with a lifestyle-inspired golf shoe release that’s admittedly more subdued than what we’ve come to expect from PUMA Golf and PTC. 

At $150, the standalone PUMA x PTC Slipstream G Shoe hopes to capitalize on slick branding and street appeal. This is not (and was not intended to be) a golf shoe for the masses. That said, if you’re a fan of past collections or you have a liking for the “limited” things in life, here’s what you need to know about the PUMA x PTC Slipstream G.

Release Details

Available now at PUMA GolfRetails for $150 Men’s size 7-15Internal PROFOAM midsoleSpikeless traction Low-profile silhouette inspired by classic basketball shoes

Another One

If you, like me, are up to date on PUMA’s collaborations with PTC, you’ll note that 2023 has been a banner year for the duo. But, if you, unlike me, don’t have a care in the world for apparel and accessory collaborations (you aren’t alone), you may be wondering “Why”?.

When I first got wind of this new release, I couldn’t help but think of DJ Khaled who recently has become quite the golfer. Khaled has been memed into eternity for his fitting phrase, “Another One.” 

There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

What We Tried:

VKTRY carbon-fiber insoles. You may have seen them floating around Instagram with basketball players shorter than me skying and slamming with ease. Outside of basketball, VKTRY provides claims of golfers seeing increased clubhead speed. Brand ambassador Padraig Harrington claims to have seen better ball speeds while using VKTRY insoles. 

At $149 per pair, this begs the question: Can you buy clubhead speed? 

Who Tried It:

Connor. Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. I believe golf is better with a pair of cool shoes and comfortable joggers. I’m a sucker for a good Instagram ad so I knew I had to try these out. 

The Rundown

Retail for $149Made from aerospace-grade carbon fiberThree thickness variants depending on style of shoe90-day money-back guarantee

VKTRY Insoles Review

Can an after-market carbon-fiber insole give you more clubhead speed? I made it my mission to find out. 

22-year-old South Korean golfer Hae Ran Ryu is the 2023 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, the LPGA announced Monday.

I hadn’t previously thought of the RSM Classic as one of the PGA TOUR’s seminal events but given that it coincides with the arrival (at least as far as the USGA is concerned) of new 2024 drivers from COBRA, PING, PXG and TaylorMade, it suddenly feels (to me, anyway) like the second biggest tournament of the year played in Georgia.

Here’s what hit the USGA conforming list.

COBRA

Apart from the typical Version 1, Version 2, stuff common to the list, COBRA has three new DARKSPEED models on the list. If you’ve kept up with COBRA at all over the past few seasons, what’s on the way shouldn’t come as any huge surprise.

COBRA DARKSPEED LS

You can bank on the “LS” denoting “Low Spin” as that’s become almost industry-standard nomenclature.

The USGA photo clearly shows an updated three-weight system which suggests COBRA is giving golfers seeking low spin a new option to increase forgiveness beyond what the AEROJET LS offered.

The Testing Opportunity

In 2023, MyGolfSpy’s Forum member testing program had seen its share of golf gear, from balls to gloves to clubs. However, one area remained largely unexplored: technology. That all changed when Garmin submitted the award-winning Approach S70 GPS watch for MyGolfSpy Forum testing.

The Garmin Approach S70 is no ordinary golf watch. It’s a premium GPS smartwatch designed for golfers, boasting an impressive array of features. With its vibrant 1.4-inch AMOLED touch display and pre-loaded access to 43,000 golf courses worldwide, it offers on-course functionalities such as “plays like” distance and a virtual caddie with green contour data. The Garmin S70 doubles as a comprehensive health and fitness tracker, making it a well-rounded smartwatch option.

Continue reading to discover what our testers had to say about the Garmin Approach S70 and whether its steeper-than-most $699.99 price tag makes it a worthwhile addition to your golf game and daily life.

What Our Testers Had to Say

Before we dive into our testers’ evaluations, let’s introduce them. We carefully selected four testers with handicaps ranging from 7.8 to 20, with two additional golfers of 10.6 and 13.4 sprinkled in. Their swing speeds varied from the low 90s to more than 111 mph. This testing pool includes both casual and competitive golfers. Those chosen as testers had previous experiences with Arccos, Shot Scope and various GPS apps to provide a comprehensive comparison to the Garmin S70 GPS watch.

First Impressions

Tester Josh Ross shared his initial impressions, noting the watch’s premier build quality. While he could do without the red accents, he loved its overall aesthetic. With the right band, he found the fit perfect and he liked the overall size of the watch face. The tactile buttons were easy to press and, even with a tempered glass protector, the touch screen remained highly responsive. Josh Ross also appreciated its sleep mode, which deactivated when he raised his arm to check the time.

Stitch, maker of premium golf goods, has announced an update to their flagship SL2 golf bag.

The new Stitch SL2 Air Walker is designed to be the ultimate carry bag. Both lighter and less expensive than some of the competition in the premium golf bag space, Stitch is hoping to position themselves in a favorable light in a market that’s growing ever more crowded.

Have they succeeded? Here’s what you need to know about this new(ish) release from Stitch.

SL2 Air Walker Tech Specs

Retails at $298 ($150 less than the new Stitch SL2)Just over four pounds50 percent more pockets than previous generationMagnetic ball pocketYKK zippers

Why?

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The Stitch SL2 Air Walker is something that the brand has been severely lacking. Their golf bag lineup has been missing a more budget-friendly (yes, it’s still pretty darned expensive) bag that still offers the same performance benefits of their mainline SL2 MIY.

But does the cost reduction come with tradeoffs?

Steven Alker had to get up-and-down for par on the last three holes for a 1-under 70 that allowed him to hang on and win the Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Sunday and a payoff of just over $1 million.

Lilia Vu earned her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the year, winning The Annika to reclaim the No. 1 spot in the race for player of the year.

Camilo Villegas ended a long and emotional drought when he came up with key birdies down the stretch Sunday for a 6-under 65 to win the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, his first victory since losing his 22-month-old daughter to cancer in 2020.

Rory McIlroy sealed the top place in the DP World Tour rankings without hitting a shot, as none of his closest challengers can now catch him following the penultimate event of the season at Sun City.

Max Homa shot a 6-under 66 to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa for his first international title.

Ben Campbell sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole Sunday to win the Hong Kong Open by 1 shot over 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith.

Unsure about how to chip off tight lies around the green? GOLF Top 100 Teacher Kevin Sprecher shares 3 ways to master this type of shot.

The post ‘Shave off up to 10 shots’ by mastering chips from tight lies, says Top 100 Teacher appeared first on Golf.

Steven Alker, who began the day tied with Marco Dawson, fired a 6-under 65 to extend his lead to four shots heading into the final round of the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

2023 Bermuda Championship tee times for Round 4 at Port Royal Golf Course, featuring Alex Noren, Camilo Villegas, Stewart Cink and more.

The post 2023 Bermuda Championship tee times: Round 4 groupings for Sunday  appeared first on Golf.

Emily Kristine Pedersen had three birdies over the final five holes for a 6-under 64 that gave her a three-shot lead on Saturday at The Annika.

What is golf’s most annoying rule? We asked that question on our social media channels. And annoyed golfers had some TAKES.

The post What is golf’s most annoying rule? Annoyed golfers had some TAKES appeared first on Golf.

Alex Noren will go for his first PGA Tour victory and first worldwide win since the French Open in 2018 when he enters the final round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship with a one-shot lead.