Golf clubs are an essential part of any golfer’s bag. Having the right clubs for different situations and shots can make a big difference in how you play the game. Two important wedge clubs that every golfer should have are the 52 degree wedge and the pitching wedge. But what exactly is the difference between these two clubs?
Loft
The most significant difference between a 52 degree wedge and a pitching wedge is the loft on the clubface. Loft refers to the angle of the clubface relative to the shaft. The higher the loft, the greater the launch angle and trajectory on shots hit with that club.
A 52 degree wedge, as the name suggests, has 52 degrees of loft. That means the clubface is angled back 52 degrees from perpendicular to the shaft. That’s a pretty high loft for a wedge. The average pitching wedge has between 44 and 48 degrees of loft.
So a 52 degree wedge has several degrees more loft than a pitching wedge. That extra loft launches the ball higher on full shots and allows for opening the clubface more on finesse shots around the green.
Full Shots
The difference in loft has a significant effect on full swing shots. When hit cleanly, a 52 degree wedge will launch the ball much higher than a pitching wedge. The 52 degree wedge shot will land softer and with more spin as well. This makes it an excellent club for hitting high, soft shots into the green when you need extra height over a hazard or on a long approach shot.
The pitching wedge will launch the ball lower due to its less loft. While it can still get good height on full shots, it won’t fly as high as the 52 degree wedge. The pitching wedge is best for mid-range approach shots where you don’t need excessive height.
Shot Distance
In general, a lower lofted club like the pitching wedge will hit the ball slightly farther than a 52 degree on full shots. But the gapping really depends on the specific lofts in your iron set. Some pitching wedges are up to 48 degrees loft. That’s only a 4 degree gap from a 52 degree wedge, so distance will be very similar. Other pitching wedges can be as low as 44 degrees, creating an 8 degree gap and more yardage difference.
Launch Angle
| Club | Typical Loft | Launch Angle |
|---|---|---|
| 52 Degree Wedge | 52 degrees | High launch around 30 degrees |
| Pitching Wedge | 44-48 degrees | Mid launch around 26 degrees |
As you can see from the table, the 52 degree wedge launches the ball much higher due to its increased loft. That makes it the better option when you need to fly the ball over something and land soft.
Shot Height
In addition to affecting launch angle, the different lofts will change the overall height that shots reach at the peak. Here is a comparison:
| Club | Typical Peak Height |
|---|---|
| 52 Degree Wedge | 100-115 feet |
| Pitching Wedge | 85-100 feet |
As shown above, the 52 degree wedge shots will fly 5-15 feet higher at their peak compared to pitching wedge shots. This makes the 52 degree the better choice when you need to carry something tall like a tree branch.
Finesse Shots
Around the greens and in hazards, loft also comes into play. But the biggest factor is bounce. Bounce is the angle of the sole relative to the ground. More bounce helps the club glide through turf and sand instead of digging.
Pitching wedges often have little or no bounce since they are meant as full swing clubs. 52 degree wedges usually have between 8-12 degrees of bounce to work well around the greens.
So a 52 degree wedge can handle finesse shots better than a pitching wedge. The extra bounce prevents chunks and blading. You can also open up a 52 degree wedge more on things like flop shots thanks to the higher bounce. That’s something you typically can’t do with a pitching wedge.
Versatility Around Greens
Here is a comparison of how the two clubs perform on finesse shots:
| Shot Type | 52 Degree Wedge | Pitching Wedge |
|---|---|---|
| Bump and Run | Effective | Very Effective |
| Chip Shot | Very Effective | Moderate |
| Flop Shot | Effective | Not Recommended |
| Greenside Bunker | Very Effective | Moderate |
As you can see, the higher loft and bounce of the 52 degree wedge makes it much more versatile around the green on finesse shots where getting under the ball is important.
Gapping
When choosing between a 52 degree and pitching wedge, gapping is important. You want to make sure there is enough distance and trajectory difference between your wedges to handle various shots.
Here are some common setups:
- Gap Wedge (50-52 degrees), Sand Wedge (54-56 degrees), Lob Wedge (58-60 degrees) – Pitching wedge (44-48 degrees) fits well here.
- Gap Wedge (48 degrees), Sand Wedge (54 degrees), Lob Wedge (60 degrees) – 52 degree wedge is a better fit.
- Gap Wedge (52 degrees), Sand Wedge (56 degrees) – Pitching wedge (48 degrees) fits best.
As you can see, it depends on the lofts of your other wedges. You want gapping of 4-6 degrees between wedges ideally. If you have a 48 degree gap wedge already, the pitching wedge makes more sense. If your gap wedge is 50-52 degrees, go with the 52 degree.
Club Design
There are some subtle design differences between 52 degree wedges and pitching wedges to consider as well:
- Sole Grind – As discussed, 52 degree wedges have more bounce and cambered soles better for shots around the greens. Pitching wedges have minimal bounce.
- Head Size – Pitching wedges typically have a compact blade profile. 52 degree wedges may utilize larger cavity back designs.
- Weight – 52 degree wedges are usually a bit heavier to promote stability on finesse shots.
- Offset – Pitching wedges often have some offset to help with full shots while more upright 52 degree wedges have minimal offset.
These design factors make the 52 degree wedge optimal as a “scoring club” while the pitching wedge is built for full shots into greens.
Consistency
An interesting experiment regarding wedge consistency involved robots hitting shots with a pitching wedge vs 52 degree wedge. The results showed the pitching wedge had tighter shot dispersion. This indicates the pitching wedge may provide more consistency for average golfers on full swing shots. The 52 degree wedge was more consistent around the greens.
Price
New pitching wedges are included with iron sets and are also easy to find used. Individual 52 degree wedges generally cost $100-150 brand new. Used 52 degree wedges can be found for under $100.
Pitching wedges offer more value, but the 52 degree wedge is worth the extra cost if you require versatility around the greens or hit lots of high shots into greens.
Conclusion
In summary, here are the key differences between a 52 degree wedge vs a pitching wedge:
- 52 degree wedge has 8+ degrees more loft which launches the ball higher.
- Pitching wedge provides more distance and consistency on full shots.
- 52 degree wedge handles finesse shots better with its increased bounce.
- Pitching wedge works well for bump and run shots with minimal bounce.
- A 52 degree wedge is more versatile around the greens.
- Pitching wedges cost less and are readily available.
Choosing the right club depends on factors like your wedge gapping, the kinds of shots you hit, and your budget. But for most golfers, having both a pitching wedge and a 52 degree wedge in the bag covers all the bases and provides important shot versatility.
