What Degree Is a Lob Wedge?
A lob wedge is the highest-lofted club in the bag, carried for shots that have to stop almost where they land.
A lob wedge is normally 58° to 62°. Across the 149 iron sets on file here that carry one, the most common LW loft is 60° and the published range runs 56°–61°. 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
- 58°–62°
- Most common
- 60°
- Published range on file
- 56°–61°
- Typical bounce
- 4°–10°
- Also marked
- LW, L, flop wedge
Lob 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TaylorMade | 18 | 58°–60° | 59° |
| Ping | 11 | 58° | 58° |
| Callaway | 10 | 56°–60° | 59° |
| PXG | 10 | 59°–60° | 60° |
| Cobra | 6 | 58°–60° | 59° |
| Tour Edge | 5 | 59°–60° | 59° |
| Mizuno | 4 | 59°–60° | 60° |
Figures are the standard men’s right-handed steel build for the LW supplied with each iron set. Standalone specialty wedges are sold in 2° increments and are not counted here. 3 further brands with fewer than 3 qualifying sets (Adams, Nike, and Wishon) are left out rather than shown as a one-model range.
How far does a lob wedge go?
| Player | Typical carry |
|---|---|
| Slower swing speed | 30–50 yd |
| Average male amateur | 50–75 yd |
| Low handicap / fast swing | 75–95 yd |
| PGA Tour average | ~85–95 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 lob wedge is used for
- Short-sided pitches and flop shots that need height and very little roll.
- Bunker shots from soft sand or with a short-sided pin, where a sand wedge would not get the ball up quickly enough.
- Full shots of 50–80 yards for an average amateur — though most players score better laying back to a fuller sand-wedge swing.
58° or 60°?
60° is the most common lob wedge loft sold, but 58° is the more forgiving choice for most amateurs: the extra 2° of loft on a 60° makes thin and fat strikes more punishing and costs distance control on full swings. Set the choice by your sand wedge — a 54° sand wedge pairs naturally with a 58°, a 56° with a 60°.
Should you carry one at all?
A lob wedge is the least forgiving club in the bag and the one most often used for the shot that least needs it. If most of your short game is played from decent lies with room to land the ball, a sand wedge covers it. A lob wedge earns its place when your home course has elevated, firm or tightly bunkered greens where you are regularly short-sided.
Note the practical limit: above about 64° the club stops generating meaningful extra height and starts sliding under the ball, which is why almost no manufacturer builds one. Iron sets rarely include a lob wedge at all — it is normally bought as a standalone specialty wedge.
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 lob wedge
The newest set from each manufacturer in the archive that carries one — follow a link for the full loft, lie and length chart.
- PXG 0311 XP GEN8 — LW 60° (2026–present)
- TaylorMade Qi Max — LW 58° (2026–present)
- Ping G430 — LW 58° (2023–2025)
- Mizuno JPX-923 Hot Metal — LW 60° (2022–2024)
- Tour Edge Hot Launch C523 — LW 59° (2022–2024)
- Callaway Big Bertha B21 — LW 60° (2020–2023)
- Cobra KING F8 — LW 58° (2018–2018)
- Wishon Sterling Single Length — LW 60° (2016–2021)
- Adams Idea a12 — LW 59° (2011–present)
- Nike VR Pro Cavity — LW 60° (2011–2013)
Frequently asked questions
What degree is a lob wedge?
Most lob wedges are 58° to 62°. Across the 149 sets on file at LoftChart the most common LW loft is 60°, and the full published range is 56 to 61 degrees.
How far does a lob wedge go?
For an average male amateur, 50–75 yards of carry on a full swing. Slower swing speeds carry it 30–50 yards, and faster players 75–95 yards. Distance depends far more on swing speed and strike quality than on the loft stamped on the club.
Is a 60 degree a lob wedge?
Yes, and it is the most commonly sold lob wedge loft. 58° is also a lob wedge and is easier to control for most amateurs, particularly on full and three-quarter swings.
Should a high handicapper carry a lob wedge?
Often not. It is the least forgiving club in the bag, and most short-game shots amateurs face are better played with a sand wedge or even a pitching wedge running along the ground. Carry one if you are regularly short-sided on firm or elevated greens.
What is the highest lofted wedge you can buy?
Sixty-four degrees is the practical ceiling, sold by a handful of manufacturers. Above that the extra loft stops adding useful height and the club begins sliding under the ball.
- Loft figures are computed from the 149 manufacturer spec charts on file at LoftChart that include a LW; 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