What Degree Is a Gap Wedge?
A gap wedge fills the distance gap that opened up between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge as iron lofts got stronger.
A gap wedge is normally 48° to 52°. Across the 306 iron sets on file here that carry one, the most common GW loft is 50° and the published range runs 44°–52°. There is no industry standard, so the only figure that matters for your bag is the one on your own set’s chart.
- Standard loft
- 48°–52°
- Most common
- 50°
- Published range on file
- 44°–52°
- Typical bounce
- 8°–12°
- Also marked
- GW, UW (utility wedge, Ping), W (Titleist), DW (Cleveland), attack wedge
Gap wedge loft by brand
Every figure below is taken from the factory spec charts on this site, covering sets introduced from 2010 onward.
| Brand | Sets on file | Loft range | Most common |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobra | 33 | 47.5°–50° | 50° |
| Mizuno | 32 | 48°–51° | 50° |
| PXG | 29 | 47°–52° | 49° |
| Ping | 28 | 45°–52° | 50° |
| Wilson | 22 | 46°–51° | 48° |
| Titleist | 21 | 47°–51° | 48° |
| Callaway | 19 | 46°–52° | 51° |
| Cleveland | 11 | 48°–50° | 49° |
| Maltby | 8 | 48°–51° | 48° |
| Adams | 7 | 49°–51° | 50° |
| Miura | 5 | 48°–50° | 50° |
| Sub 70 | 4 | 48°–50° | 48° |
| Tour Edge | 4 | 51° | 51° |
Figures are the standard men’s right-handed steel build for the GW supplied with each iron set. Standalone specialty wedges are sold in 2° increments and are not counted here. 7 further brands with fewer than 3 qualifying sets (Ben Hogan, Bridgestone, Edel, Honma, Takomo, and TaylorMade, and others) are left out rather than shown as a one-model range.
How far does a gap wedge go?
| Player | Typical carry |
|---|---|
| Slower swing speed | 60–80 yd |
| Average male amateur | 80–110 yd |
| Low handicap / fast swing | 110–125 yd |
| PGA Tour average | ~115–125 yd |
Carry distance, full swing, men’s amateur. These are ranges rather than a single number on purpose: swing speed and strike quality move wedge distance far more than a degree or two of loft does.
What a gap wedge is used for
- Full shots from roughly 80–110 yards — the yardage that fell into a hole when pitching wedges went from 48° to 44°.
- Standard pitch shots of 30–60 yards, where its mid bounce works on most turf.
- Longer greenside chips that need more carry than a pitching wedge and more release than a sand wedge.
Do you actually need a gap wedge?
Work it out with subtraction rather than guesswork. Take your pitching wedge loft and your sand wedge loft: if the difference is more than about 6°, there is a yardage on the course you cannot cover with a full swing, and that is the gap the club is named after. A 44° pitching wedge and a 56° sand wedge leave 12° — comfortably two clubs’ worth of distance and the most common gapping problem in an amateur bag.
Note where inside the 48°–52° band a given club lands. A gap wedge bought on its own is normally 50° or 52°; a gap wedge supplied with an iron set is usually 48°–50°, because it is built to follow that set’s own strong pitching wedge rather than to a standard.
The usual fix is 4°–6° between wedges. With a 44° PW that points to a 50° gap wedge, a 54° or 56° sand wedge, and a 58° or 60° lob wedge if you carry one. Look up your set on its brand page before you buy: the number stamped on the sole of your pitching wedge is the only starting point that matters.
Gap wedge, utility wedge, approach wedge — same club
There is no agreed name for this club, only agreed loft. Cobra, Mizuno, PXG and Wilson stamp GW; Ping uses UW for utility wedge; Titleist has used a plain W; Cleveland has used DW; Callaway, TaylorMade and Srixon use AW for approach wedge. All of them sit in the same 48°–52° slot.
Where it sits in the set
| Wedge | Marked | Typical loft | Typical carry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitching wedge | PW | 43°–48° | 95–125 yd |
| Gap wedge | GW / UW | 48°–52° | 80–110 yd |
| Approach wedge | AW / A | 48°–52° | 80–110 yd |
| Sand wedge | SW | 54°–56° | 65–90 yd |
| Lob wedge | LW | 58°–62° | 50–75 yd |
Aim for 4°–6° between wedges. See the wedge loft chart for the full gapping walk-through.
Sets on file with a gap wedge
The newest set from each manufacturer in the archive that carries one — follow a link for the full loft, lie and length chart.
- Callaway Quantum Max — GW 51° (2026–present)
- Cobra KING MAX — GW 50° (2026–present)
- Mizuno Pro M-13 — GW 48° (2026–present)
- PXG 0311 P GEN8 — GW 49° (2026–present)
- Ping i540 — GW 47° (2026–present)
- Takomo 101 MKII — GW 48° (2026–present)
- Wilson Staff Model CB (2026) — GW 50° (2026–present)
- Ben Hogan M50-01 — GW 48° (2025–present)
- Miura TC-202 — GW 50° (2025–present)
- Titleist T100 (2025) — GW 49° (2025–present)
Frequently asked questions
What degree is a gap wedge?
Most gap wedges are 48° to 52°. Across the 306 sets on file at LoftChart the most common GW loft is 50°, and the full published range is 44 to 52 degrees.
How far does a gap wedge go?
For an average male amateur, 80–110 yards of carry on a full swing. Slower swing speeds carry it 60–80 yards, and faster players 110–125 yards. Distance depends far more on swing speed and strike quality than on the loft stamped on the club.
Is a gap wedge the same as an approach wedge?
Yes. Gap wedge, approach wedge, utility wedge and attack wedge all name the same club in the same 48°-52° slot. The letters stamped on the sole are a manufacturer's choice: Cobra, Mizuno, PXG and Wilson use GW, Ping uses UW, Callaway and TaylorMade use AW.
Is a 52 degree a gap wedge?
Yes. 52° is the most common standalone gap wedge loft, and it pairs well with a 48° pitching wedge and a 56° sand wedge. Gap wedges built into iron sets are usually a little stronger, at 48°-50°, to match the set's own pitching wedge.
What loft gap should I have between wedges?
Four to six degrees. That works out to roughly 10-15 yards between clubs for most players. Larger gaps leave yardages you cannot cover with a full swing; smaller ones waste a slot in the bag.
- Loft figures are computed from the 306 manufacturer spec charts on file at LoftChart that include a GW; each model page lists its own sources.
- Loft bands, bounce ranges and carry distances are the accepted industry conventions for a standard men’s build, given as ranges because no standard body defines them.
Last reviewed 2026-08-30. Spot an error? info@loftchart.com