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Wedge distance chart
Wedges decide scores, and they're the clubs golfers know least about, because so few wedge shots are full swings. Here are the averages for each wedge, what they hide, and a card for building your own.
In short: on the course, a 15-handicap man averages 121 yards with a pitching wedge, 104 with a gap wedge, 84 with a sand wedge and 75 with a lob wedge (Shot Scope). Those averages include chips and part swings, so a full swing goes further.
Men: wedge yards by handicap
| Club | Scratch | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitching wedge | 141 | 126 | 127 | 121 | 108 | 90 |
| Gap wedge | 126 | 109 | 110 | 104 | 94 | 79 |
| Sand wedge | 105 | 86 | 98 | 84 | 85 | 80 |
| Lob wedge | 86 | 71 | 79 | 75 | 78 | 49 |
Source: Shot Scope on-course data for men, published by MyGolfSpy (7 Jan 2025, updated 6 Jul 2026).
Women: wedge yards by handicap
| Club | Scratch | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitching wedge | 129 | 99 | 87 | 76 | 69 | 66 | 63 |
| Gap wedge | 103 | 80 | 72 | 64 | 62 | 56 | 55 |
| Sand wedge | 94 | 53 | 48 | 46 | 41 | 41 | 42 |
| Lob wedge | 71 | 40 | 37 | 37 | 35 | 35 | 30 |
Source: Shot Scope on-course data for women, published by MyGolfSpy (8 Apr 2026).
Why these averages look short
A tracked round counts every shot hit with each club. A sand wedge is used from bunkers, around the green and for full shots, so its average mixes 15-yard splashes with 90-yard approaches. That's why, for example, a 5-handicap woman's sand-wedge average is 53 yards. The averages tell you how golfers use each wedge, not how far a full swing goes.
The tour pitching wedge
TrackMan's tour averages stop at the pitching wedge: PGA Tour players carry it 142 yards at 84 mph of club speed, launching at 23.7° with 9,316 rpm of spin. LPGA players carry it 111 yards at 72 mph, 25.2° and 8,465 rpm. TrackMan publishes no tour averages for gap, sand or lob wedges.
Source: TrackMan tour averages, 2023 season, published 2 May 2024.
Build your own wedge chart
Good wedge players don't have one number per wedge; they have three. A common system uses three swing lengths: hands to hip height, to chest height, and a full swing. With four wedges that gives you twelve numbers and no gaps.
- At the range or on a quiet hole, hit ten balls with each wedge at each swing length.
- Measure the carry, not where the ball stops. A launch monitor makes this easy; otherwise use a flag at a known distance and see where the balls land.
- Write down the middle result, not the best one.
- Fill in the card below and keep it in your bag.
Then use them
A wedge chart only helps if you know the exact distance to the flag area. Ask AI Caddy “how far to the front?” and you get the number to the front edge, then pick the wedge and swing that carries it. If you've entered your wedge yardages, it names the club for you.
More: every club, measuring your own distances, the full club distance card.