As a mid handicapper, chances are you are starting to see the difference it makes when you have a 6-foot putt compared to a 12-foot putt for par. The difference between these two putts is a great wedge shot, solid pitch or controlled chip shot.
Mid handicappers need to start looking not just for a great pitching wedge and sand wedge but for gap wedges and lob wedges to fill in the other gaps. Here we cover the best wedges for mid-handicappers based on forgiveness, distance control, spin and value. We also dig a little deeper into loft, bounce and grind options.
The best wedges for mid-handicappers are:
- Titleist Vokey SM9 (Best Overall)
- Cleveland RTX Zipcore (Best For Forgiveness )
- TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 (Best For Spin)
- Ping Glide 4.0 (Best Feel)
Titleist Vokey SM9
- Forgiveness 7/10
- Distance Control 9/10
- Spin 10/10
- Value 8/10
The Titleist Vokey SM9 takes our top spot as the best golf wedge for a mid handicapper in 2023. With maximum spin, incredible trajectory control, and the ability to stay in your bag until you make it to the professional tours, the Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges are some of the best golf wedges the game has seen. Years ago, Titleist would win the “best wedges” roundups quite easily; however, in recent years, this is considerably more competition.
Forgiveness, Distance, Control, and Spin
From a forgiveness standpoint, the Vokey is not the most forgiving wedge in the game. The goal when creating this club was to zero in on distance control and trajectory. If you want to hit your shots at a certain angle without losing them up in the wind, this is the wedge for you.
The SM9 wedge heads are more compact than others on this list, which is great news for adaptability and control, but the trade-off is forgiveness. The SM9 wedges also have a new forward center of gravity position that helps to create a more solid feel at impact, again great for control, but less so for toe strikes.
When it comes to spin, we probably don’t need to say too much. The Vokey wedges are spin machines. Whether looking at a gap wedge or a lob wedge, they still spin like crazy.
When Vokey put the SM9 out on the market, they made sure to make the grooves deeper and sharper. The end result was more spin. Just when we thought the Vokey wedges maxed out the spin, they showed there is more to offer.
Technical Info
The Vokey SM9 has 23 different models to choose from. Yes, we know that is a lot. In fact, it’s probably too many for most golfers to have to figure out when choosing the best golf wedges in the game. There are lofts ranging from 46 to 62 degrees, as well as six different grind options. From the pitching wedge to the lob wedge, Vokey has you covered.
The grind options are a bit much to sort through; here are some basic facts about each one so you can decide which would be best for your game.
Titleist Vokey SM9 grind options
- F-Grind: The F grind is an all-purpose grind; this one can help with full shots and a square face.
- M-Grind: The M Grind is designed for players that like to rotate the club faces open and closed; if you like to experiment with the club, you may want to try an M Grind, especially in a higher loft.
- S-Grind: The S Grind features a full sole that is best for neutral to firm conditions.
- D-Grind: The D grind blends versatility and forgiveness; if you have a steep angle of attack, this could be a good choice.
- K-Grind: The K Grind is the highest bounce wedge in the lineup and is designed to help players out of a bunker.
- L-Grind: The L Grind is the lowest bounce option and an excellent choice for firm/links conditions on the course.
This is a lot of choice if you’re new to buying wedges! Mid handicappers will be best off with the F or M if they really aren’t sure – both are great options for playing a variety of shots and playing different golf courses.
On Course Performance
If you think you can’t spin the ball on the golf course, try something like the Vokey SM9 with a premium golf ball. As a mid handicapper, you should have a basic chipping or pitching stroke that can develop at least a little bit of spin. Sometimes it’s the golf wedges, and golf balls you play with that make it harder to spin your shots.
The SM9 has a relatively soft and responsive feel, yet you can still feel the ball speed coming off the face. We liked the performance on approach shots and the shorter shots around the green. If this is your first premium wedge purchase you’re going to have a lot of fun!
These are also some of the best golf wedges from a looks standpoint as well. It has a clean and sleek look that does stand out from others on the market.
Golf Insider Verdict
The options for Vokey wedges to choose from can seem overwhelming. However, so is the performance. This is a really great wedge if forgiveness isn’t an issue, and if it’s in your budget, it’s going to last you a long time and continue to have the performance you need to succeed.
Cleveland RTX Zipcore
- Forgiveness 9/10
- Distance control 7/10
- Spin 8/10
- Value 10/10
The Vokey wedges are not for every player. In fact, some mid handicappers dread their short game and want a club that is more forgiving and easier to hit. If that is you, the Cleveland RTX Zipcore would be the way to go. This club is not a cavity back design but offers similar levels of forgiveness.
Forgiveness, distance control & spin
The big focus in the Cleveland RTX Zipcore is where the mass is placed within the club head. The center of gravity has been shifted lower to create more spin, a higher launch and more forgiveness. This has been paired with increased heel and toe weighting to reduce twisting on off-center hits. Both these are big wins if you struggle with inconsistent strikes from 10 – 80 yards.
The RTZ Xipcore is a bit thicker than the Vokey, which can help induce some extra confidence when standing around the green. In addition, on full swing shots into the green, the RTX Zipcore also has plenty of forgiveness.
From a spin standpoint, the new grooves are deeper, allowing water to flow easily through the grooves of the club and make its way away from the face of the club. When you want performance out of the wet grass, the grooves need to stay clear of debris. Although it was good to see Cleveland make some improvements to the grooves in these wedges, Cleveland has had some great spin technology for years.
There is a new heat treatment in place to ensure your grooves stay in great shape, and you can practice your short game all you want without worrying about the condition.
Technical info
If the Titleist Vokey grind options have left you with your head spinning, you may feel a bit better when you see what Cleveland has to offer. One of the best benefits for mid-handicappers looking for a new wedge is how simple Cleveland makes their loft and grind combinations.
Cleveland offers mid, low, and high-bounce wedges. The high bounce wedges are called full bounce and are only available in the 60 degree option in this particular wedge series.
The lofts on the RTX Zipcore make it a good choice for gap wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge. However, for the pitching wedge, consider using the wedge that matches your current iron set.
- 50º (MID)
- 52º (MID)
- 54º (MID)
- 56º (LOW, MID)
- 58º (LOW, MID)
- 60º (LOW, MID, FULL)
On course performance
Some golfers are mid handicappers because their short game is excellent, and it saves their long game. Others are mid handicappers because their short game is less than desirable, hitting it like a low-handicap golfer.
For those that have trouble with the short game, this is the wedge to go with. It has a great mix of performance to make it both forgiving and functional.
In addition, from a bunker, the RTX Zipcore has great spin and control, especially in the higher lofts. We know that performance from a single wedge cannot make or break your golf game, but the great thing about the RTX is that you will become so much more consistent. Consistency is a really great feature of any golf club used in the short game.
Golf Insider Verdict
Some mid handicappers are caught in between the idea of a blade style and cavity back style wedge. The Cleveland RTX Zipcore marries these two styles quite well and makes n course performance much more attainable. Cleveland is a company you can trust when it comes to golf wedge performance.
TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 (MG3)
- Forgiveness 7/10
- Distance control 9/10
- Spin 10/10
- Value 8/10
The TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 had really great reviews this year. We put it through some of our own tests on the golf course, specifically for mid handicap golfers, and found that these wedges are a perfect fit for feel and performance. If you are looking to maximize spin, this is the club you will want to consider using.
Forgiveness, distance control & spin
Increased spin around the greens allows for more control of your shots. The TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 may not be the most forgiving golf wedge on the market, but it is highly workable and something that you can use to help you control the launch of your shots as well.
The new TaylorMade Milled Grind 3 wedge has ZTP-17 Grooves and Raised Micro Ribs that have helped to make sure the connection between the face and the ball is considerably better. This wedge is a bit intimidating looking for some mid handicap golfers. However, when you start using it, you will notice immediately how the sharp grooves work to help you feel in control.
TaylorMade worked on this wedge to ensure that wedge play for golfers that are seeking consistency is a bit easier to obtain. So if you think you can hit five chips in a row and they will all land at varying distances, the MG3 could help lower these dispersion rates quite a bit.
Technical info
If you are smart about the bounce options you choose in the TaylorMade MG3, you will notice that the forgiveness will likely increase a bit. For those that are on the fence about whether this is a great choice for a mid handicap golfer, be careful about the bounce and grind options.
Luckily the bounce decision is relatively easy, with just low, standard and high to choose from. We like the high bounce wedges in the higher lofts and the low bounce wedges in the lower lofts. TaylorMade has options from 46 up to 60 in this particular wedge style.
Low Bounce: 56º, 58º, 60º
Standard Bounce: 46º,50º,52º,54º,56º, 58º, 60º
High Bounce: 52º, 54º, 56º, 58º, 60º
On course performance
Years ago, I had a TayorMade wedge that I hung on to for way too long. The grooves were done, and the club was certainly well past its prime, but I kept it in the bag for a while. The reason I did this is because it was one of the only ones that allowed me to keep the ball flight lower but still have plenty of spin.
TaylorMade has perfected that technology through the years, and you can really see it with the MG3. Most mid handicap golfers know how to get out of a bunker, but getting it close to the pin after getting out of a bunker is an entirely different situation. The MG3 just helps to tighten things up, and it makes some of the shots you want to hit on the golf course more attainable.
Golf Insider verdict
If you want spin and plenty of it, the TaylorMade MG3 is a good choice – this topped our best wedges for spin review. With the latest grooves, you will see an increased ability to hit the shots that you want to hit on the course. Mid handicappers are good enough to gain some control around the green, use equipment that helps you do it.
Ping Glide 4.0
- Forgiveness 8/10
- Distance control 9/10
- Spin 9/10
- Value 7/10
There is something very pleasing about the look of these wedges. These clubs perfectly combine a bit of forgiveness with some of the best feel and looks in the game. For those that say looks don’t matter in a wedge, we disagree – how something looks will affect how you perform.
Forgiveness, distance control & spin
The Ping Glide 4.0 is made with an 8620 Carbon Steel body and incorporates that Ping feel. If you have played with a Ping iron in the last few years, you may know the soft, yet responsive feel we are talking about. Ping gives so much feedback to its players by providing durable wedges that also feel soft and user-friendly.
Ping wedges won’t be the cheapest ones you will find, but they have premium components and technology. If you own a Ping set of irons, these wedges will transition beautifully into your set. And if you don’t, after buying these wedges you’ll likely be eyeing up a new set of Ping irons…
Another key parameter that keeps coming up in the best golf wedges this year is how the clubs perform from wet grass. The Ping Glide 4.0 ensures that water won’t stop you from getting the spin that you need on your shots. In fact, we found this to be one of the more workable wedges on the market.
Technical info
The Ping Glide 4 comes in lofts from 46 up to 60 degrees. There are four different wedge grind options in the Ping Glide. This is a wedge designed for all players, from very low handicappers to high handicappers. If you want to try and get the option that is best for your needs, look very carefully at the grind options available.
- E Grind
- T Grind
- S Grind
- W Grind
The S Grind is the option that will fit the majority of mid-handicap players. Whether you are looking to hit the wedge out of a bunker or out of the shorter grass, the S Grind gives some versatility. The T Grind is known for precision from tight lights and full swing shots; if you are replacing a pitching wedge, think about the T grind, the W grind is a great tool from the bunkers.
On course performance
The Ping Glide 4.0 was a treat to try on the golf course. We played with a few different grind options and found that the mid-bounce wedges in the S Grind really had the best mix of control and forgiveness. One thing that continually stood out when using the Ping wedges was the overall feel.
The wedge feels soft, has a clean look to it, and will be useful on both full shots and chips and pitches. The Ping also increased overall confidence out of bunkers.
Golf Insider verdict
The Ping Glide 4.0 is not the cheapest wedge in this impressive wedge lineup we have for mid-handicappers. However, if you’ve ever seen the in-depth R&D that goes into Ping clubs you’ll likely feel the pricing is not cheap, but fair for the technology you get in return.
Frequently asked questions
When you look at irons or even a driver for your game, chances are it was pretty easy to come up with a definite solution of which ones are for you and which ones are too easy or difficult for you to hit. With wedges, the decision is a bit more subjective. For instance, a low handicapper could use a cavity back wedge if they felt it had enough spin and control. With mid handicapper being right in the middle of the range, you can really choose a wedge based on advice, testing, and then your own personal preference.
What wedges should a mid handicapper carry?
Mid-handicappers should have three or four wedges in their bag. The pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge (and possibly a lob wedge). Each of these wedges has a mix of performances, but you must ensure they are all properly loft gapped to get the best performance. For instance, a sand wedge and lob wedge that only have two degrees of loft difference should not be used; instead, choose something with at least 4 degrees of loft between them.
What degree wedges should a mid-handicapper carry?
Mid handicappers should be choosing the loft for their wedges based on the loft of their pitching wedge or nine iron. Take a look at the last wedge in the bag and build out the rest of the set from there. Some examples of a wedge lineup would be 46,50,54,60, or 44, 50, 56, 60. You can play around with this to suit the needs of your game, but keep in mind that the gap between these wedges should be at least 4 degrees.
Should a mid handicapper carry a 60º wedge?
A mid handicapper doesn’t need to carry a 60º wedge, However, higher lofted wedges like this will also make it much easier to get out of a bunker and get the ball to stop close to the hole when you have little green to work with. Some mid handicappers think these wedges are unforgiving, but with the right chipping technique, bounce and grind, they should become a great tool.
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Summary
Hopefully, you now feel as though you are ready to choose new golf wedges for your game this year. Mid handicappers have the best of both worlds because they can choose clubs built for both low and high handicappers.
We love the Titleist Vokey SM9, as it can really make a significant impact in your short game if you have not used premium wedge technology like this in the past. If you are not confident around the greens, check out the slightly more forgiving Cleveland RTX Zipcore wedges.
Happy golfing.
