The ever-increasing distance that you get with your clubs has opened the door to manufacturers to build specialty wedges.
Initially, you only found a pitching wedge and sand wedge as part of a packaged set.
However, specialty wedges fill the gap between the pitching wedge and sand wedge (gap wedge), and a 60-degree wedge has become almost standard for all golfers.
The 64-degree wedge often replaces the 60-degree lob wedge and other wedges have stronger lofts.
Although there are higher lofted clubs, the 68-degree wedge keeps the tradition of increasing loft by 4 degrees when a new wedge is released. It begs the question “Is the 68-degree wedge legal”.
68-degree wedges can be seen in the bags of some golfers, it’s still a rare sight. Is it worth buying? Read further to decide for yourself.
📢 Need To Know: Although a 68-degree wedge technically falls into the lob wedge category it’s often referred to as an eXtreme lob wedge. This has led to many golfers referring to the 68-degree wedge as an X-Wedge.
Can You Use a 68-Degree Wedge in Golf?
The governing bodies (USGA and R&A) have strict rules governing legal equipment regulations. However, the 68-degree wedge conforms to the regulations making it legal for use in tournaments or handicap play.
Can a PGA player use a 68-degree wedge?
Since 68-degree wedges comply with all the set regulations, there is no reason for PGA players not to put it in the bag should they so desire.
What Is a 68-Degree Wedge Used For?
A 68-degree wedge is aimed at getting the ball airborne quickly and landing softly with the minimum rollout.
Shot close to the green that you want to stop quickly, or shots that have to cross an obstruction or small hazard.
When caught on the edge of the green where it meets the fairway or surrounding rough, you may struggle to get the putter head onto the ball cleanly. In this situation, a 68-degree wedge can help you scoop your ball over the initial part of the green and roll out to the flag.
📋 Keep in mind: Many golfers may use a putter from close range, but the 68-degree wedge provides an option to fly the ball a little further to the flag with loads of stopping power for control.
What Is the Average 68-Degree Wedge Distance?
The average gap for clubs that vary by 4-degrees is approximately 15 yards. The average distance for a well-struck 46-degree pitching wedge is around 116 yards, gap wedge average distance around 103 yards, 88 yards for a sand wedge, and 73 yards for a 64-degree lob wedge.
Taking the variations between the average distance you can expect to hit the 68-degree wedge approximately 58 yards.
How do you hit a 68 wedge?
Basics for Playing the Flop Shot:
- Open the face of your 68-degree wedge to increase the loft even more. Although the 68 degrees are already wide open, an open-faced 64-degree wedge will provide the same loft if you do not open the face on your 68-degree wedge.
- Position the golf ball a forward in your stance.
- Open your stance pointing your feet left of the target, (right-handed golfers), but keep your upper body aimed at the target.
- Push your weight (approximately 70%) onto your front foot.
- Since it’s a short club, bend your knees more than normal.
- Make a full swing and keep the lower body quiet.
- Swing through to a full finish, do not decelerate on the downswing.
📋 Keep in mind: Many amateur golfers find the flop shot extremely scary and tend to decelerate on the downswing. This results in thinned shots that can easily run over the back of the green or even worse, fly the green into some hazard.
Best 68 Degree Wedge On The Market: Editor’s Choice
Pinemeadow 68-Degree Wedge
Pinemeadow 68-Degree Wedge Review
One of the best 68-degree wedges on the market is the Pinemeadow.
Standard high-quality Pinemeadow wedges are built from Apollo(R) steel and come with a 125-gram shaft.
These wedges have a low to mid kick point which is ideal for average golfers.
The extra-large face, the largest face area of any wedge, makes getting out of the toughest lies a breeze.
Should Beginners Use a 68 Degree Wedge?
A lob wedge is ideal for hitting the ball high on short distances to loft softly on the green with minimum roll. It requires a good deal of finesse and loads of practice.
However, many beginners and high handicap golfers are easily intimidated by this shot and tend to fail in the execution of the shot.
This dents their confidence and leads to inconsistencies in other clubs.
Pros
- Can cover a short distance from approach shots landing short of the green
- Easy to stop the ball quickly
- Lob wedges have large soles which tend to dig into lush or wet turf conditions
Cons
- Needs hours of practice to execute a flop shot properly.
- Could easily miss the execution by decelerating on the downswing.
- The large sole on a lob wedge tends to dig into the turf, especially when wet, leading to duffed shots.
- Lob wedges have large soles which tend to dig into lush or wet turf conditions
- Bounce on the wedge could easily lift the club up leading to skulled shots. This is quite prevalent with beginners.
FAQ
What is a 68-degree wedge called?
A 68-degree wedge is commonly known as a “high-lob”, “ultra-lob” or “extreme-lob” wedge. It is a type of golf club used for short approach shots, typically from around the green, and is designed to have a high degree of loft, allowing the ball to be hit high into the air and land softly on the green.
What degree wedge is a must-have?
An average golfer should have a 56-degree wedge in their bag because it is versatile and useful for a range of shots around the green, such as pitches, chips, and bunker shots. It is a good choice for most golfers, but some players may prefer to add other wedges to their bag depending on their individual game and preferences.
