LoftChart

What Degree Is a Pitching Wedge?

A pitching wedge is the strongest-lofted wedge in the bag and the club that finishes almost every iron set.

A pitching wedge is normally 43° to 48°. Across the 821 iron sets on file here that carry one, the most common PW loft is 46° and the published range runs 37°–51.5°. 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
43°–48°
Most common
46°
Published range on file
37°–51.5°
Typical bounce
5°–12°
Also marked
P, PW, 10-iron (pre-1970s sets)

Pitching wedge loft by brand

Every figure below is taken from the factory spec charts on this site, covering sets introduced from 2010 onward.

Pitching wedge loft by manufacturer, sets introduced 2010 or later.
BrandSets on file Loft rangeMost common
Callaway7138°–47°44°
TaylorMade5942°–47°45°
Mizuno5842°–46°46°
Ping4140°–47°45°
Titleist3838°–47°47°
Cobra3741.5°–46°45°
PXG3141°–47°46°
Wilson2942°–47°46°
Srixon2143°–46°46°
Tour Edge2142°–46°44°
Bridgestone1738°–47°46°
Cleveland1543°–47°44°
Miura1544°–47°47°
XXIO1542°–44°42°
New Level1343°–47°45°
Nike1344°–47°44°
Adams1044°–46°45°
Ben Hogan944°–46°46°
Epon940°–46°46°
Honma941°–45°43°
Maltby943°–47°44°
Sub 70943°–46°45°
Takomo843°–47°47°
Haywood643°–46°46°
Fourteen541°–45°42°
Proto-Concept444°–45°45°
Tommy Armour441°–45°45°
Vega442°–44°44°
Yonex437°–43°43°
Stix345°–46°46°
Wishon345°–46°46°

Figures are the standard men’s right-handed steel build for the PW supplied with each iron set. Standalone specialty wedges are sold in 2° increments and are not counted here. 4 further brands with fewer than 3 qualifying sets (Bettinardi, Edel, Kirkland Signature, and MacGregor) are left out rather than shown as a one-model range.

How far does a pitching wedge go?

Typical full-swing carry distance for a pitching wedge.
Player Typical carry
Slower swing speed70–95 yd
Average male amateur95–125 yd
Low handicap / fast swing125–145 yd
Tour professional (typical)~135–150 yd

Carry distance, full swing. These are typical ranges rather than published averages, and 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 pitching wedge is used for

Why pitching wedge lofts keep getting stronger

The pitching wedge has lost roughly 4° of loft in a generation. Manufacturers strengthen iron lofts to advertise more distance, and because the wedge is the last club in the set it absorbs the whole shift. That is why a modern 7-iron can fly as far as a 1990s 5-iron, and why the club stamped “PW” in one bag is not the same club as the PW in another.

Pitching wedge loft by decade of release, across the 821 sets on file here.
ReleasedSets on file Median PW loftRange
1980s1549°47°–50.5°
1990s4047°43°–50°
2000s16746°42.5°–49°
2010s30745°38°–47°
2020s28944°37°–47°

Two consequences follow. First, replacing an old set with a new one moves every yardage in the bag, so re-gapping is not optional. Second, a strong modern PW leaves a bigger hole underneath it — which is exactly why the gap wedge exists.

Where it sits in the set

The wedge ladder — typical lofts and full-swing carry for an average male amateur.
WedgeMarked Typical loftTypical carry
Pitching wedgePW43°–48°95–125 yd
Gap wedgeGW / UW48°–52°80–110 yd
Approach wedgeAW / A48°–52°80–110 yd
Sand wedgeSW54°–56°65–90 yd
Lob wedgeLW58°–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 pitching wedge

The newest set from each manufacturer in the archive that carries one — follow a link for the full loft, lie and length chart.

Pitching wedge models on file

Standalone wedge lines sold in the 43°–48° band, newest first — follow a link for the full loft, bounce and grind chart.

Frequently asked questions

What degree is a pitching wedge?

Most pitching wedges are 43° to 48°. Across the 821 sets on file at LoftChart the most common PW loft is 46°, and the full published range is 37 to 51.5 degrees.

How far does a pitching wedge go?

For an average male amateur, 95–125 yards of carry on a full swing. Slower swing speeds carry it 70–95 yards, and faster players 125–145 yards. Distance depends far more on swing speed and strike quality than on the loft stamped on the club.

Is a 46 degree wedge a pitching wedge?

Yes. 46° sits in the middle of the pitching wedge band and was the standard for most iron sets through the 2000s. Modern game-improvement and distance sets have moved to 43°-45°, while blades and players irons are still built at 46°-48°.

Why is my new pitching wedge stronger than my old one?

Because iron lofts have been strengthened steadily to advertise more distance, and the pitching wedge absorbs the whole shift as the last club in the set. Median PW loft across the sets on file has moved from 49° in 1980s sets to 44° in sets released since 2020.

Do I need a gap wedge if I have a pitching wedge?

If the difference between your pitching wedge and your sand wedge is more than about 6°, yes. A 44° PW and a 56° sand wedge leave a 12° hole, which is two clubs' worth of distance with nothing to cover it.

Shop pitching wedges

Search for new and used pitching wedges at these retailers:

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How these figures were compiled:
  • Loft figures are computed from the 821 manufacturer spec charts on file at LoftChart that include a PW; 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 29 September 2026. Spot an error? info@loftchart.com