One of the things that I find to be so helpful about a 6 iron is the fact that you can use it for a variety of shots on the golf course. In addition, sometimes the 5 iron starts to feel a little uncomfortable because of its length and lower loft. With the 6 iron, that won’t be a concern.

To start incorporating your 6 iron into your golf game a bit more, you must know how far you can hit it with a 6 iron in your hands. The better contact you can make, the easier it is to get distance, but there are other factors that come into play here.

So if you are curious about how far you should be hitting a 6 iron based on skill, here is the information you need.

How Far You Should Be Hitting a 6 Iron

The major reasons you will hit a golf ball further are the squareness of the strike and the speed at which you swing the golf club. If you can strike the center of the golf club with lots of speed, expect quite a bit more distance.

The easiest way to break this down is to sort golfers by what their handicap is. Let’s look at how far you should be hitting a 6 iron based on your current handicap.

Beginner

A beginner male golfer often hits a 6 iron around 140 yards. Once they get the hang of this club and how it works, the distance can increase to 150-155 yards. Beginner golfers will have trouble getting a high ball flight, so you have to watch out for the line drive shot.

Most beginners should look for a 6 iron with a wide sole that helps improve and increase total launch in the shots they are hitting. As a beginner, if your set only comes with a 7 iron and lower, don’t worry about it; for now, you can add a 6 iron in later.

If you notice your 6 iron and 7 iron are going the same distance, this is common. As your clubhead speed increases, you should see total distance.

High Handicap

High handicap golfers often struggle with hitting the center of the clubface consistently. With the clubface being difficult to make contact with, many high handicappers struggle to get maximum distance from their shots.

With high handicappers, the 6 iron will probably travel about 145-150 yards on average. The issue with distance in this club has more to do with accuracy than with swing speed.

Many higher handicappers have high swing speed, but when it is not applied correctly, the results are unfavorable. If you find that you have more success with hybrid type clubs, don’t be afraid to take the 6 iron out of the bag and switch to something a bit more forgiving.

Mid Handicap

Mid-handicapped golfers tend to have average swing speeds and often hit their 6 iron in the 150-160 yard range. With a modern game improvement 6 iron, you can expect about 155 yards of distance on average.

One thing that can have a significant impact on the mid handicapper’s total distance is the loft of their irons. If your iron loft is a bit on the low side, you may see a longer carry distance.

With changes in the center of gravity positioning over the last few years, mid handicappers have seen more distance in their mid to long irons and a higher ball flight.

Low Handicap

One of the reasons golfers make it to the low handicap range is because they are able to hit the ball far. When you have excellent distance, it makes it easier to cover a long hole in a shorter number of strokes.

Low handicap golfers tend to have fast swing speeds that allow for yardages in the 170-180 yard range for a 6 iron. Low handicappers with slower swing speeds may be in the 160-169 range.

Most low-handicap players use a 6 iron, some mid to high handicappers look for alternatives, but most lower handicappers will go to at least a 4 iron in their set.

Professional

The PGA Tour average for a 6 iron is 180 yards. Some golfers can get it to go 190 and others closer to 178, but this is the general range for a 6 iron. For LPGA Professionals, the averages are slightly lower in the 160 to 170 range. Again this is related to swing speed.

Professional golfers also play with golf clubs that are more traditionally lofted; this means that they are hitting these longer distances with a club with even higher lofts than the one you are using.

If they switched to something like a game improvement iron, the distances they could hit the ball would be even higher!

When to Use Your 6 Iron

The 6 iron is a versatile club; in fact, it is one of my favorites when it comes to controlling ball flight. I don’t like the 6 iron for my short game, although I have seen some golfers learn how to do a bump-and-run shot with the 6. Here are the best ways to use your 6 iron and have better results on the golf course.

Approach Shot To The Green

The 6 iron is best used for a full swing approach shot to the green. You will find out the total yardage that you can hit the 6 and swing away to the center of the green. With the 6 iron being responsive, you can also fade or draw the ball.

When a 6 iron approach shot is struck correctly, expect a high ball flight, plenty of spin, and a generally controlled path or line.

Knock Down Shot

The knockdown shot keeps the ball flight lower so players can get the ball to fly under the wind. With a knockdown shot, you can expect a bit more roll when the ball does hit the green, but you can also get the distance in some of the most challenging conditions.

The loft of the 6-iron is perfect for a knockdown shot. It gives you just the right mix of forgiveness and control that is necessary to hit a shot like this.

Play around with a knockdown shot on the driving range, and you will be surprised at how much you can do with it on the golf course.

Controlled Shot From Tee Box

When standing on the tee box, it’s essential to learn how to control a golf shot. A par 3 is difficult in that you only get one shot to make it perfect. Some golfers can perfect a ¾ type swing with their 6 iron which results in some impressive overall accuracy and control.

I would highly recommend learning how to take a little off of your 6 iron (i.e., not a full swing) and keeping it as accurate as possible; it’s a shot you will continually use on the course.

Other Clubs That Could Replace a 6 Iron

If the 6 iron is not a good fit for your game, you are not alone. There are plenty of golfers that struggle with a 6 iron and the ability it has to get you from point A to point B. Some golfers don’t like the lower loft and the overall look of the club head, while others just don’t feel comfortable.

Here are a few alternatives if you need those exact yardages but don’t want to keep the 6 iron in the golf bag.

6 Hybrid

The 6 hybrid is a perfect option for golfers who are slightly leery of a 6 iron. The 6 hybrid is much easier to launch, has a deeper and lower center of gravity, and can help golfers get a more consistent distance.

What I like about the 6 hybrid is that it is much easier to hit out of the rough than the 6 iron. If you find that you are continually hitting your approach shots into the green from the rough, invest in the 6 hybrid.

Hitting a 6 hybrid and a 6 iron is not all that much different, but the 6 hybrid makes it a bit simpler for the higher handicap player.

13 Wood

Golfers that don’t like the iron or hybrid look can also consider adding in an additional fairway wood. From a loft perspective, the 13 wood will match the 6 iron, but it certainly has some different playability.

With the 13 wood, you will take more of a sweeping type golf swing and get a slightly more penetrating ball flight, as opposed to the high loft you may get with the hybrid.

The 13 wood is a bit longer than a 6 iron, so some golfers also notice a bit more distance.

Utility Club

There are a few   that may get you close in loft and yardage to a 6 iron. However, most companies will stop their utility club production at the 5 iron loft. When utility irons are used, you will sometimes notice a more precise turf interaction.

They tend to have a slightly wider sole and promote a higher launch than the 6 iron itself.

Tips for Hitting Your 6 Iron Further

If you want to get your 6 iron to fly further, you must make a clean strike. I have found that these are some of the best ways to ensure you get the most distance and the best overall results from your 6 iron.

• Always ensure the ball is in the center of your stance; a half-inch forward of the center works as well, but don’t play this off your front or back foot.
• The 6 iron requires plenty of acceleration through impact, don’t slow the swing down to try and increase accuracy; go after the ball.
• Make sure that you finish high, amateur golfers forget to transfer their weight through the ball, and it can cost you a few yards.
• Practice stability and balance off the course so that you can go after the ball a bit more when you are on the course.
• Remember that total distance only matters if you hit the ball straight, make sure your hands and body are working together to get high ball flight, accurate shots, and increased total distance.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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Adding to the complexities of the game of golf are the multiple scoring features and formats employed on the golf course. In this post, I provide a crash course on golf scoring and explain how it works and the terms to know.

By broadening your knowledge of the scoring features of golf, it helps you maximize your enjoyment of the game. Plus, your newfound knowledge will undoubtedly impress your playing partners.

How Golf Scoring Works

The handicap system evens the playing field when you play strokeplay or Stableford. In the scorecard above, you’ll see 2 figures in each block. The first is the gross score, while the second figure represents Stableford points.  (Apologies for the Spanish, as it’s from my last round at the Palermo Golf Club in Buenos Aires.)

The scorecard shows four golfers with handicaps ranging from scratch to 36. You’ll notice that on the par 3 5th hole, Martin scored the same quantity of points for a double bogey as Rich and Bill did for a par.

Since Martin is a 36 handicapper, he double strokes every hole on the golf course. Therefore, to level out the playing fields, a double bogey for him is equivalent to par for lower handicappers.

Par

Every hole on the golf course is assigned a par score between 3 and 5. The shortest holes on a standard par 72 golf course are par 3’s, while the longest are par 5’s. Par 4 holes are the most common and typically range from 300 to 450 yards. 

The par total is tallied for the front and back nine and the entire 18-hole golf course. The average par rating for 9 holes is 36, resulting in a par-72 golf course for 18 holes. Naturally, this differs depending on the golf course design.

My home course operates on a par rating of 35 for the front 9 holes and 36 for the back 9 holes. A total of 71.

Stroke

Golf holes are assigned a stroke rating from 1 to 18, which determines the difficulty of each hole. The most challenging hole is usually a stroke 1, while the easiest is stroke 18. On a stroke 1 hole, every golfer with a handicap of 1 and above receives a stroke on that hole.

This is relevant for keeping score in Stableford tournaments, where points are awarded relevant to your handicap. For example, when a 1 handicapper makes a par on a stroke 1, they receive 3 points in line with the Stableford score.

However, a 19 handicapper earns 4 points for making par on a stroke 1. This is because the 19 handicapper has a double-stroke advantage on this hole. This is a better accomplishment than the 1 handicapper who scored the same.

In addition, if a 37 handicapper pars that same hole, they receive 5 points for their efforts as they triple stroke that hole.

The stroke also impacts your net score on each hole. For example, if a 37 handicapper scores a double bogey 6 on a par 4, stroke 1, the net score is adjusted to 4. Similarly, if a 19 handicapper cards a bogey 5 on the same hole, their net is altered to a par score of 4.

Format

Stableford and stroke play are the most common formats used in golf. The handicapped Stableford scoring system assigns points to golfers to level the playing field, regardless of your golf handicaps.

Stroke play is based on the premise that every shot counts, and it is the format most commonly used on the PGA Tour. In this form of golf, you do not stop keeping score until the ball is in the cup.

The other format played from time to time is match play, where the player with the lower score on each hole wins 1 point. If the players tie on a hole, the overall score remains unchanged. Unlike other forms of golf, matchplay can finish before you reach the 18th hole. 

If your adversaries score is 4 up and only 3 holes remain, the game is over since you cannot come back. 

Golf Scoring Terms

Par

A par is scored when your number of strokes correlates to the assigned par score. For example, when I card a 4 on a par 4, that is par. 

In addition, when you score a par, your overall score for the round remains the same. If you are 10 over par for the golf round before making a par, your total strokes remain 10 over.

Birdie

Birdies mean you scored one stroke lower than the par for that hole. For example, you get the ball into the hole for 4 strokes on a par 5. If your overall score was 10 over par for the round before that hole, you are now 9 over par. 

Eagle

An eagle is a superior score to a birdie, as it helps you reduce your total score by two strokes. You card an eagle when your ball ends in the cup for two fewer strokes than the par score for that hole. 

They are most common on shorter par 5 holes, where longer hitters can reach the green in two and make the putt. You can find players making an eagle on a par 4, but this is rarer, given the distance control and accuracy required to sink your second shot.

I am proud to report that my first eagle came on a short driveable par 4 but involved great luck to slow my ball down. If your score was 5 over par before the hole, an eagle would reduce the overall tally to 3 over par.

Eagles also occur on par-3 holes when a player hits the perfect shot to get the ball into the cup from the tee box. However, golfers rarely call this an eagle. Instead, they refer to it as an ace or hole-in-one,

The National Hole-In-One Registry states that the odds of an average golfer bagging an ace are 12,000 to 1. If you are a low handicapper, the odds drop to 5,000 to 1. I know two golfers who have struck 3 aces in their lives, and after 28 years on the links, I have nothing to show for my efforts.

Albatross

Carding an albatross or a double eagle, as it is also known, is an exceptionally unusual event on the course. However, I am glad to have witnessed one in my lifetime. It transpired on a short par-4 hole, where my playing partner creamed a 3-wood off the tee into a blind green. 

We searched for his golf ball for 2 minutes before our buddy looked in the cup and saw it sitting at the bottom. He holed out for a 3 under par albatross, moving the needle from 2 over par to 1 under for the round. It was a game-changer for my buddy that day, but he has yet to repeat the feat 20 years on. 

Condor

After spending a great deal of my adult life in Argentina, I can confirm that a condor is both majestic and rare to spot. Similarly to the bird, the golf score is both scarce and beautiful to experience.

According to the PGA, only 5 golfers in history have achieved the feat of 4 under par on one hole. The only way to pull off the unthinkable is to hole your tee shot on a par-5 hole, which is impossible for most of us.

However, when the conditions are appropriate, plus the hole is designed ideally, you can achieve it. There are 5 of our peers that have proven it over the years.

Let’s say you are even for the round, and you score a condor, you immediately shave 4 shots off the score and move to 4 under par for the day. Although I consider myself a lucky chap, I have never been that lucky to watch a condor.

The longest condor ever recorded was at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club by Mike Crean. He bombed his drive 517 yards on the par 5, 9th hole. The conditions needed to be perfect for this shot, and the added advantage of Denver’s altitude produced less drag and superior aerodynamics.

Bogey

A bogey is a dreaded score that causes you to drop one shot on a hole. When you card a dreaded bogey, it increases your overall score by one. For instance, if you are 10 over par before, an unfortunate bogey score leads you to 11 over. A bogey on a par 3 is 4, while on a par 4, it is 5, and a par 5 would be a score of 6.

Double Bogey

A double bogey is worse than a bogey as it adds 2 extra strokes to your total score. Players with a score of 5 over for the round would walk off the green with 7 over after a double bogey. 

Although no golfer is exempt from a double bogey, it is more probable to see high-handicappers sporting doubles on their cards than low-handicappers or professionals. 

A double bogey is often the highest score you can obtain when employing the Stableford scoring method. Golfers with higher handicaps may reach into the realm of a triple or quadruple bogey.

Triple Bogey

As the name suggests, a triple bogey leads to a score reaching 3 over par on one hole, which can ruin your round instantly. As a junior, I often played in medal tournaments where every shot counts. On a few occasions, I notched up a triple bogey which obliterated my chances of a worthy round. 

In one of the golf tournaments I played as a junior, I sat even after 17 holes and tripled the par 3 18th to end 3 over par. Unfortunately, I lost the tournament by 2 shots and am still kicking myself 18 years later.

Quadruple Bogey

A quadruple bogey is a rare incident in Stableford golf unless you possess a handicap that risks your scores reaching this point. As the name suggests, a quadruple represents 4 over par on one hole. To put it into context, a quadruple is a 9 on a par 5, 8 on a par 4, and 7 on a par 3.

Typical Golf Scores Across Skill Levels

This chart breaks it down:

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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If you followed professional golf in 2021 and 2022, you saw that more and more golfers were taking the hybrid out and putting the 7 wood in. This was a rare change, but some of the best 7 woods came out on the market, and golfers wanted to have this technology in their game.

The 7 wood is a really helpful golf club; it’s meant to replace a long iron, but to make sure it’s a good fit for your golf game, the distances have to be right.

Let’s take a look at how far you should be hitting a 7 wood.

How Far You Should Be Hitting a 7 Wood

One of the best ways to determine how far you should be hitting a 7 wood is to look at your skill level. Of course, players can have varying clubhead speeds within each of these skill levels. When clubhead speeds increase, the overall distances will undoubtedly increase.

Beginner

Beginner golfers usually hit the 7 wood between 170 and 180 yards. However, for a slower swinging beginner golfer, the total distance may only be 160 or 150 yards.

Beginner golfers don’t always have the slowest swing speeds. In fact, some beginner golfers make great contact with the ball and get the tremendous distance. The key for beginners is to use a 7 wood that is highly forgiving.

High Handicap

The higher handicap golfers can hit a 7 wood around 180 yards on average. The problem that many high handicappers will encounter is that the distances are very inconsistent. There are times that 200 yards is possible, and others times that you may only hit the ball 160 yards.

For high handicap golfers, it’s smart to be careful where you take the 7 wood out. Don’t pull it out when hitting over a water hazard if you feel you are not entirely confident with it just yet.

Mid Handicap

Mid-handicap golfers usually hit a 7 wood around 190 yards. The faster swinging mid handicappers can push closer to that 200 mark, and slower swing speeds may be around 180. Technology for 7 woods is continually changing, and golfers are getting more and more distance with the shots they hit.

If you are a mid handicapper, the thing you will likely love most about the 7 wood is the amount of forgiveness it offers.

Low Handicap

Low-handicap players sometimes have swing speeds and accuracy almost as good as the professionals. Many lower handicap golfers can hit a 7 wood about 210 to 220 yards.

Of course, if you have a 7 wood that is 15 years old, the chances of seeing this kind of distance are really slim. However, for golfers that have high swing speeds, you may still get over 200 with an older 7 wood.

New golf clubs are designed with materials that help to increase total launch, and therefore players see quite a bit more distance.

Professional

Professional golfers hit their 7 wood around 225 yards. Some players may get 230 yards depending on the club head speed, how close to the center of the clubface they contact the ball, and whether or not they have a lower or higher lofted 7 wood.

When a professional golfer puts a 7 wood in their bag, it is usually to help increase accuracy on longer approaches to the green.

Workability and control tend to be more important than total distance for professional golfers.

When to Use Your 7 Wood

Now that you have a general idea as to how far the 7 wood goes, you have to also know when it makes sense to hit it. The club has a slightly longer shaft than the hybrid in your bag, so you have to be smart about when and where to hit the 7 wood.

From The Tee

The 7 wood is a great club to try hitting from the tee box if you struggle with your driver. In addition, you may like the performance of the 7 wood if you are on a par 3 or a shorter par 4 and just need something to end up in the fairway.

From the tee box tee, the ball is quite low, essentially just high enough that it is not touching the ground.

Many amateur golfers make the mistake of teeing the ball too high. Doing this can cause issues with getting too much ball flight, and you will lose the power you may need.

From The Fairway

I like my 7 wood from the fairway. When there is a par 5 or a long par 4, and I have a nice lie in the fairway, the 7 wood is a great club to take.

With the extra loft in the 7 wood, it is one of the most forgiving fairway woods to hit, and the chance of getting a straight shot down the center is considerably higher. From the fairway, I would recommend hitting the 7 wood just forward or center in your stance and trying to be conscious about a smooth tempo.

With 22 degrees of loft, you should get enough of a high ball flight that the ball can stop on the green.

From The Rough

Surprisingly the 7 wood is also quite good out of the rough. I can’t tell you that it has as much forgiveness as a hybrid club, but it certainly does well enough to get you out.

I like to first take a look at the lie that I have in the rough and make sure that it makes sense to hit the 7 wood. For instance, if the ball is buried and I’m only looking at the top portion, I’m not going to take out the 7 wood.

If, however, it’s sitting up nicely and I have a chance of making solid and clean contact, the 7 wood is a great option to consider.

Other Clubs That Could Replace a 7 Wood

If you find that the 7 wood distances we mentioned are just not attainable for you, there may be a reason behind this. Chances are the 7 wood is not the best golf club for you.

As more and more alternatives to long irons are being created, we see players with a wide variety of clubs in their bags.

Some players will use a 4 iron or 4 hybrids instead of a 7 wood. There are also utility clubs with 22 degrees of loft that will have similar performance to the 7 wood.

Most players find that the 7 wood is the longest option as the club length is longer and has a bit more of a lightweight feel to help promote extra distance. The 7 wood is still an accurate club, but it’s just a little easier to increase clubhead speed when you swing with this in your hands.

Tips for Hitting Your 7 Wood Further

If you want to hit your 7 wood further, you must be smart about setup, swing length, and weight transfer. Here are some of our favorite tips for learning to hit your 7 wood further.

Check Ball Position

Even though the 7 wood is a fairway wood, it does not need to be pushed to the front of your stance quite like a 3 or 5 wood does. The 7 wood is not as long, and it has a higher loft. Keep it just forward of middle, and you will have more luck getting the total distance you need.

Even when you are hitting the 7 wood off the tee, you won’t want it too far forward as it could end up costing you some distance.

Remember The Importance of Tempo

Even though the tempo can certainly go a long way when hit correctly, you must have a good tempo in place. Take some practice swings where you feel like you are letting the club do the work.

Don’t force something to happen with the 7 wood; this club can do a lot on its own.

A Sweeping Motion is Best

With the 7 wood being a fairway wood, you won’t want to take a big divot or try to compress this ball too much. Instead, it’s best to try and sweep the ball and hit a high lofted shot that lands softly on the green.

Sometimes the setup can lead to a better sweeping motion, but I encourage golfers to have this as part of their mindset.

Look for Something with Newer Technology

Although it may seem like cheating, the newest 7 woods go considerably further than a 7 wood from five years ago. If you want ultimate distance, you may have to pay for it.

Look for something that has a large sweet spot, a low center of gravity, and is known for being aerodynamic. Extra distance from your golf fairway woods can also come about as a result of low spin in the club head.

Lower spin increases total roll and gets the ball to continue moving even when it hits the ground.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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Wedges are my favorite clubs because of their versatility. You can play approach shots, chips, bump and runs, flops, and bunker shots.

In this post, I reveal the best chipping wedges for all skill levels.

You’ll find that I have included super game improvement wedges to keep high handicappers straight. Additionally, I feature semi-forgiving, high-spinning wedges for mid-handicap players and buttery soft, playable designs for superior golfers.

What Wedge Degree is Best for Chipping?

The average golfer will enjoy superior control when chipping with a 54 or 56-degree wedge. These golf clubs feature ample loft and generate a lot of spin to help you gain control around the green. However, they do not carry excessively weak lofts that can cause your chip shot to balloon into a flop.

On the contrary, low handicappers may employ a variety of wedges for different chip shots. For example, they may use a 56-degree wedge for a standard chip and a 60-degree for shorter plays, with little green to work with.

4 Best Chipping Wedges for High Handicappers

Before you dive into the list below, I suggest bookmarking our review on the 10 best wedges for high handicappers.

1. Cleveland RTX ZipCore

Pros

• Generates straighter shots
• Increases friction at impact
• Provides superb greenside control
• Durable grooves
• Optimal forgiveness

Cons

• The design is chunky
• It is not the highest-spinning wedge I have tested

The Cleveland RTX ZipCore emerges as a highly forgiving wedge that helps high handicappers produce straighter chip shots. In addition, I found that this cavity back design generated exceptional spin and the grooves were highly durable.

You’ll notice that the wedge takes its name from the Zipcore technology the engineers used to alter the center of gravity (CG). As a result, the wedge possesses an advanced moment of inertia (MOI) to remain stable at impact and reduce spin drop-off.

Next, the Ultizip grooves impressed me with their ability to boost friction at impact and impart increased spin on my ball. Cleveland engineers created the clubface grooves to be sharper, deeper, and narrower. They bite into your cover and impart consistent revolutions per minute on the ball.

Finally, you’ll appreciate the durability of the heat-treated grooves that will extend the lifespan of your wedge.

2. Tour Edge E522

Pros

• Extremely affordable
• Provides optimal turf interaction
• Carries a high MOI
• Prompts straighter shots
• Reduces spin-drop-off on off-center hits

Cons

• No alternative grind options
• The oversized head construction does not appeal to everyone

Tour Edge E522 delivered superb performance during testing despite its entry-level price tag. In my experience, it offered reduced turf interaction, amplified forgiveness, and consistent spin across the clubface.

You’ll immediately spot the Super Wide Houdini Sole, which Tour Edge claim limits turf interaction by 35%. Whatever the figure is, I watched it glide over the turf and make consistently clean contact with my ball. This is helpful to high handicappers who struggle with chunking their shots.

Next, you’ll notice the E522 is equipped with an extra large clubface designed to elevate MOI for greater accuracy around the dancefloor. High handicap golfers will appreciate the added forgiveness to keep their ball on target on mishits.

Lastly, the Tour Edge engineers impressed me with the Full-Face Maximized Grooves construction. It produced impressive spin on strikes out of the sweet spot and preserved my revolutions per minute on off-center strikes.

3. Cleveland CBX 2

Pros

• It possesses a high MOI
• Optimal forgiveness
• Fights misses to the right
• Engulfs vibrations on off-center strikes
• Produces ample spin

Cons

• Chunky profile
• Only one sole grind option for sand wedges

Cleveland’s commitment to the average golfer is evidenced by this list. The CBX 2 is the second Cleveland wedge I recommend for high handicappers. It produces maximum forgiveness, a soft feel, and rampant spin across your clubface for a consistent chipshot result.

The first feature is the hollow cavity back wedge design, which shifted mass to the perimeter of the golf club. As a result, it elevated MOI and kept my clubhead square at contact for straighter chip shots and greater accuracy.

In addition, the engineers supported the high MOI by adding Enhanced Feel Balancing Technology to generate a toe bias CG. You’ll find this enables you to fight misses to the right if you are right-handed and left-for lefties.

Furthermore, the CBX 2 wedge is equipped with a Gelback pad to eliminate vibrations on off-center hits and shield my hands. I’ll leave the best for last, the 4th Generation Rotex Face Technology, which generated the sharpest tour zip grooves to prompt incredible spin on your golf ball.

4. Callaway Mack Daddy CB

Pros

• Maximum Forgiveness
• Delivers consistent spin
• Produces crisp turf interaction
• Prevents spin drop off
• Perimeter weighting increases MOI for straighter shots

Cons

• It is only available in one sole grind
• The oversized profile is not pretty at setup.

The Callaway Mack Daddy CB is my final chipper recommendation for high handicappers. I found that it provided advanced forgiveness for accuracy and consistent spin on all shots. In addition, it gifted me with clean turf interaction to encourage a sweet strike from anywhere on the golf course.

You’ll learn soon enough that the Groove-in-Groove technology powers your spin and control with this wedge. I enjoyed maximum spin for a game improvement golf club, improving my control and consistency around the dancefloor.

My only gripe with this wedge is that the weaker lofted wedges are only available in a single-sole grind. This may upset some players like me, but it takes the guesswork out of the process for a beginner unsure of the best option.

4 Best Chipping Wedges for Mid Handicappers

1. Callaway Mack Daddy 5 JAWS

Pros

• Soft feel
• Two sole grind choices
• Generates enhanced friction
• Prompts rampant ball speed
• Moderate forgiveness

Cons

• I do not enjoy the presence of the medallions on the back
• Expensive compared to other mid-handicapper wedges

The Callaway Mack Daddy 5 JAWS is admired by the average golfer demanding aggressive friction and spin without sacrificing feel. I also found that the moderately sized clubhead enables an element of workability for improved control.

You’ll see that this wedge is constructed with 8620 mild carbon steel, which creates a soft feel for increased feedback at contact. I find this additional feedback helps me better judge the force required to execute my shot.

Furthermore, the Mack Daddy 5 JAWS offers you two sole grinds in the sand wedge department, the W and S-grind. You’ll find that the W-grind performs best on soft turf and aids golfers with a steep angle of attack. Conversely, the S-grind fairs superbly on soft to medium ground and suits all attack angles.

Lastly, you’ll produce enhanced friction off the clubface thanks to the JAWS MD 5 Groove Micro Features. The aggressive, sharp grooves appear closer to encourage increased traction and bite into your ball cover to impart heightened spin.

2. Cobra Snakebite

Pros

• Produces rampant spin across the clubface
• Prevents spin drop off
• The Cobra Connect grip analyzes each shot for deeper insight into your game
• Enhanced stability at impact
• 3 sole grind options

Cons

• Some golfers may not enjoy the oversized profile
• The thicker Cobra Connect grip will not appeal to everyone.

Mid-handicappers will find the Cobra Snakebite wedge a high-spinning build designed to amplify your control on short game shots. Besides its exceptional spin rate, I enjoyed the feel, friction, and shot analysis from the Cobra Connect Grip.

You’ll see that the Cobra engineers employed Snakebite Groove Technology to strengthen groove tolerance for greater friction and spin. I felt the impact of the technology in the spin and could better control the roll and flight of my chip shots.

Moreover, I found the Progressive face grooves managed to optimize my spin and launch for the ideal flight and control. You’ll also notice that the sand and lob wedge in the series are fitted with full-face grooves to impart optimal spin on all shots with an open clubface. As a result, you avoid spin drop-off.

I also appreciated the three sole grind options afforded to us by Cobra. I feel more golfers will thrive with the versatile grind that suits various conditions and attack angles. However, players with steep and moderate attack angles should consider the wide-low or classic grind option.

3. TaylorMade Hi-Toe RAW

Pros

• Classy-aged copper finish
• 3 sole grinds to choose from
• The sole cavity ensures optimal weight distribution
• Prompts a low, controlled launch
• Provides a soft feel

Cons

• Reduced forgiveness
• The face rusts over time which may not appeal to some golfers

The TaylorMade Hi-Toe Raw is an attractive wedge with an aged copper finish, built to produce low, controlled flight and rampant spin. It is ideal for mid-handicap golfers seeking controlled launch and elevated revolutions per minute around the green.

You’ll see the Hi-Toe design contains a higher, centered CG to prompt lower flight and increased spin. I felt it improved my distance control, as my ball launched lower and rolled as intended, compared to a ballooned shot that landed short of the mark.

Furthermore, you’ll find TaylorMade offers the Hi-Toe Raw wedge in 3 sole grinds, ranging from a low to mid and high bounce angle. Players with a shallow attack angle should consider the low bounce option. Conversely, those with a steep swing may prefer a high-bounce option.

Lastly, I noticed that the full-face scoring lines produced incredible spin around the green. However, a special mention must go to its performance from the thick greenside grass, as it glided through the turf and encouraged a clean strike for optimal friction and spin.

4. PXG 0311 Forged

Pros

• Single versatile sole grind
• Generates optimal friction
• Produces increased spin on short shots
• Offers a soft feel
• Delivers maximum feedback

Cons

• The medallions on the cavity back wedge are an eyesore
• The clubface is partially Precision milled

The PXG 0311 wedges are suitable for the average golfer seeking additional spin, a soft feel, and a consistent sole. PXG engineers decided it was tedious crafting different sole grinds for players, so they concocted a single versatile design that delivers crisp turf interaction.

You’ll notice that the 0311 is forged from 8620 carbon steel, which creates a soft feel for improved feedback off the clubface. I could feel the ball leaving the face, giving me a better idea of the force required to execute the chip.

Besides the superb feel and feedback, the Precision Milled Face punched above its weight, despite being completely milled. PXG engineers engraved score lines in the precision-milled face, creating a high-density pattern that promotes greater friction at impact. You’ll find this increases your spin on chip shots for precise results.

Finally, the single versatile sole worked well in all conditions by producing sufficient bounce for steep attack angles while lowering it for neutral swings.

3 Best Chipping Wedges for Low Handicappers

1. Titleist Vokey SM9 Tour Chrome

Pros

• Compact profile
• Encourages clean contact on all shots
• Durable grooves
• Produces rampant spin
• 4 sole grinds to choose from

Cons

• Reduced forgiveness on off-center hits
• Expensive compared to other wedges

Titleist Vokey wedges need little introduction, and the powerhouse team continues its innovation with the SM9 Tour. I found this wedge delivered the perfect combination of soft feel, spin, and clean contact at impact.

Low handicappers will appreciate the forward CG position in the wedge that prompts a lower flight and aggressive spin for greater control on chip shots. The lob wedge has 5 loft options, while the sand wedge offers 4.

As a result, I notice a grind for every condition and attack angle. For example, players who take steep divots may opt for the high-bounce D-grind. Alternatively, the M-grind suits golfers seeking a versatile grind for various shots, lies, and turf firmness.

Furthermore, Vokey and his team heat-treated the grooves of the SM9 Tour Chrome to deliver a robust spin rate and enhance their durability. In addition, you’ll enjoy the compact profile of this wedge at address, but that means reduced forgiveness on mishits.

2. Mizuno T22 Satin Chrome

Pros

• Super soft feel
• Prevents spin drop off
• 4 sole grinds to choose from
• Attractive tear drop profile
• More affordable than other wedges for low handicappers

Cons

• The glare was an issue with the satin chrome
• The face may rust sooner rather than later, but it does not impact your greenside performance.

The masters from Hiroshima strike again, and this time it is with the T22 range of wedges. You’ll discover that these wedges offer 4 sole grinds, a compact profile, high spin, and a super delicate feel.

Mizuno engineers grain flow forged the T22 Satin Chrome wedge from 1025E pure select, mild carbon steel. This is where the buttery feel emanates from on clean strikes out of the sweet spot. Plus, it produces elevated feedback to improve your distance judgment around the green.

Low handicappers like yourself will thank the innovators at Mizuno for the compact, tear-drop profile the T22 carries. It was a privilege to look over at address and induced an air of confidence as I prepared my chip shot.

Despite working for superior golfers, this wedge offers an element of forgiveness by reducing spin drop-off. HydroFlow Micro Grooves are laser etched, helping them shed moisture and enhance friction.

Lastly, you’ll find that the Quad Cut Milled grooves generate maximum revolutions per minute at impact and are highly durable.

3. Wilson Staff Model

Pros

• Produces a soft feel on all shots
• Delivers clean turf interaction
• Reduces spin drop off
• More affordable than other tour-level wedges
• Generates rampant short-game spin

Cons

• The wider sole is unattractive
• Limited forgiveness

I have always found that Wilson makes excellent value-for-money golf clubs and balls aimed at the average golfer. However, in recent years they have released equipment for superior golfers, and the Wilson Staff Model is one example.

Wilson soft forged the Staff Model wedges from 8620 carbon steel to create a muted feel off the clubface. The soft-touch enabled me to better judge my distance on each shot for greater consistency and enjoyment around the dancefloor.

You’ll see that the engineers crafted a Precision Milled Face to encourage consistent contact with the golf ball from any lie. Wilson engineers machine-engraved score lines into the precision-milled face for a higher-density pattern. As a result, you’ll enjoy consistent contact and less spin drop-off.

Finally, I did not enjoy the appearance of the wider sole. However, it soon proved me wrong as it provided clean turf interaction from the greenside rough and fairway.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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The idea of a good golf score will be entirely different from one player to another.

A scratch golfer may say that a good score is 73, whereas a high handicapper may call 93 a great score. Let’s look at the different golf scores and how they compare based on skill level.

Good is a relative term in golf, and you must consider skill level before you can say whether a score is good or bad.

Good Golf Score for a Beginner

A good golf score for a beginner is anything around 110. If you can shoot 110 as a new beginner, you will have a long future in the game of golf. To shoot 110, you probably got close to fitting a few greens in regulation, made some two putts, and even had a bogey or two on the course.

However, I have always found that beginners trying to get started in the game are much better off focusing on hitting great shots as opposed to their score. The number of strokes it takes to get the ball in the hole will be a lot for a beginner.

Take your time and learn to make great shots.

Start trying to two putt or take just one shot out of the sand, get your golf ball in the fairway from the tee and avoid water hazards. These are all much more important than trying to shoot low scores.

Good Golf Score for an Average Golfer

A good golf score for an average golfer is around 90. Average golfers tend to call it a good day when they can break 100; breaking 90 happens a little less frequently.

As an average golfer, you likely make some nice pars and an occasional birdie. However, the problem for average golfers often becomes the number of strokes it takes to get out of trouble. In addition, there is that occasional slice that pops up or a three-putt, and it just adds up over the course of the round.

Breaking 90 is going to take a good short game, some practice, and a bit of dedication to the sport.

When you can start breaking 90 consistently, you will move out of the category of the average golfer.

Good Golf Score for a Pro

Professional golfers try to shoot below par every time they go out to play. For professional golfers, good scores a really dependent on the course difficulty, course rating, and conditions of play.

If you shoot a 71 on a really tough golf course in the rain and wind, it’s likely a great score. However, shooting 70 on an easy course with perfect conditions may not be quite as good of a score.

Most professionals will determine if their score was good based on how the rest of the field does. If a pro shoots 67 and everyone else is in the low 70s, it was a great round. However, some professionals are so good that they can shoot scores in the low 60s.

Professionals need to make a lot of birdies and even eagles to be able to keep the number of strokes as low as they do.

When a professional shoots higher 70s or into the 80s, it’s considered a bad day on the golf course.

Where Your Score Ranks You in Terms of Handicap

Golf uses a handicap system to help players be able to compete against one another in a fair golf match. The handicap system will take into account the course difficulty, and course raging and give you an average handicap or average score that you will typically shoot at that course.

Depending on what your golf handicap is, you will fall into three different ranges, low handicap golfers, mid handicap golfers, and high handicap golfers.

Low Handicap Golfer

The low handicap golfer shoots in the 70-79 range. These amateur golfers tend to make a lot of one putts, know how to birdie a hole, and can keep the ball in bounds for the majority of their round.

Most low handicap players have a fair amount of club head speed and can get some good distance off the tee. As great as low handicap golfers are, they are not quite to the level of a professional and still have work to do to get to that point.

Mid Handicap Golfer

Mid handicap golfers make up the most significant portion of golfers in the game. These players range from a 10 to 20 handicap and will shoot between 80 and 94. Mid handicap golfers tend to have a few great holes and a few bad holes when they are on the course.

With a mid handicap golfer, you can expect that the scoring will be a bit inconsistent, but most of the time, it ends up in this 80-94 range.

As mid handicappers transition into low handicappers, their scores will become really consistent in the low 80s. At this point, many mid handicappers can figure out what has been keeping them from the low handicap range, and they can make the necessary adjustments to their golf game.

High Handicap Golfer

High handicap golfers and beginners tend to fall into the same category. However, most high handicap golfers have played the game for quite some time.

With high handicappers, you can expect a handicap to be higher than 21 and the scores to be higher than 95. Some high handicappers are not able to break 100 and will continually work on trying to get these scores down.

One thing that hurts high handicappers is turning a simple bogey into a triple bogey. If you miss a green, it’s really not a big deal to chip back on the green and make a putt. However, if you keep chipping back and forth over the green, it will hurt your score.

Some golfers are happy staying in the high handicap range and having fun on the golf course. Not all players are on a mission to be low handicappers.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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