What Degree Is a Sand Wedge?
A sand wedge is the highest-bounce club in most bags, built by Gene Sarazen in the 1930s to slide through sand instead of digging into it.
A sand wedge is normally 54° to 56°. Across the 340 iron sets on file here that carry one, the most common SW loft is 55° and the published range runs 51°–59°. 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
- 54°–56°
- Most common
- 55°
- Published range on file
- 51°–59°
- Typical bounce
- 10°–14°
- Also marked
- SW, S, sand iron, blaster (vintage sets)
Sand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callaway | 40 | 51°–56° | 54° |
| TaylorMade | 32 | 54°–56° | 55° |
| Cobra | 24 | 54°–56° | 54° |
| Ping | 19 | 52°–58° | 54° |
| XXIO | 13 | 56° | 56° |
| PXG | 10 | 54°–55° | 54° |
| Cleveland | 9 | 54°–56° | 54° |
| Honma | 9 | 55°–56° | 56° |
| Tour Edge | 9 | 54°–56° | 56° |
| Wilson | 9 | 53°–56° | 55° |
| Mizuno | 8 | 54°–55° | 55° |
| Adams | 5 | 54°–56° | 55° |
| Srixon | 5 | 56°–57° | 56° |
| Yonex | 4 | 54°–55° | 54° |
| Nike | 3 | 54°–55° | 54° |
| Sub 70 | 3 | 54° | 54° |
Figures are the standard men’s right-handed steel build for the SW supplied with each iron set. Standalone specialty wedges are sold in 2° increments and are not counted here. 2 further brands with fewer than 3 qualifying sets (Epon and Wishon) are left out rather than shown as a one-model range.
How far does a sand wedge go?
| Player | Typical carry |
|---|---|
| Slower swing speed | 45–65 yd |
| Average male amateur | 65–90 yd |
| Low handicap / fast swing | 90–110 yd |
| PGA Tour average | ~100–110 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 sand wedge is used for
- Greenside bunker shots — the wide, high-bounce sole is what makes the club splash through sand rather than stick in it.
- Pitches and chips of 20–50 yards from fairway or light rough.
- Full shots from roughly 65–95 yards for an average amateur.
Bounce matters more than loft in the sand
Bounce is the angle between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole. It is what stops the club digging, and it is the reason a sand wedge works out of a bunker when a pitching wedge does not. Sand wedges carry the most bounce in the bag, typically 10°–14°.
- Low bounce (4°–8°) — firm sand, tight lies, shallow attack angle.
- Mid bounce (8°–12°) — the safe default for most players and most course conditions.
- High bounce (12°–16°) — soft, fluffy sand, soft turf, or a steep attack angle that takes a deep divot.
Where a model page here lists bounce, it appears as its own column in the spec chart.
54° or 56°?
Both are sand wedges. The choice is set by the clubs either side of it: with a 50° gap wedge and a 58° lob wedge, a 54° splits the difference evenly; with a 52° gap wedge and a 60° lob wedge, 56° is the even split. Iron sets that include a sand wedge overwhelmingly build it at 54°–56°, which is why standalone wedges cluster there too.
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 sand 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 — SW 55° (2026–present)
- Cobra KING MAX — SW 56° (2026–present)
- PXG 0311 XP GEN8 — SW 54° (2026–present)
- TaylorMade Qi Max — SW 54° (2026–present)
- Honma TW777 PCB Max — SW 56° (2025–present)
- XXIO 14 — SW 56° (2025–present)
- Cleveland HALO XL Full-Face — SW 54° (2024–present)
- Mizuno JPX-925 Hot Metal — SW 54° (2024–present)
- Srixon ZXi4 — SW 56° (2024–present)
- Yonex EZONE GT — SW 55° (2024–present)
Frequently asked questions
What degree is a sand wedge?
Most sand wedges are 54° to 56°. Across the 340 sets on file at LoftChart the most common SW loft is 55°, and the full published range is 51 to 59 degrees.
How far does a sand wedge go?
For an average male amateur, 65–90 yards of carry on a full swing. Slower swing speeds carry it 45–65 yards, and faster players 90–110 yards. Distance depends far more on swing speed and strike quality than on the loft stamped on the club.
Is a 56 degree a sand wedge?
Yes. 56° is the classic sand wedge loft and the most common standalone sand wedge sold. 54° is equally a sand wedge, and is the better match if you carry a 50° gap wedge and a 58° lob wedge.
How much bounce should a sand wedge have?
Ten to fourteen degrees suits most players and most conditions. Go higher if your sand is soft and fluffy or you take deep divots; go lower if you play firm sand and tight lies or sweep the ball off the turf.
What is the difference between a sand wedge and a lob wedge?
Roughly four to six degrees of loft and a good deal of bounce. A sand wedge at 54°-56° carries more bounce and flies further; a lob wedge at 58°-62° flies higher, stops faster and is less forgiving on a mis-hit.
- Loft figures are computed from the 340 manufacturer spec charts on file at LoftChart that include a SW; 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