I recently received an email from Charlie in Michigan asking why we ask for the loft of his pitching wedge in WedgeFit®.

It's a great question. If you’re looking for new wedges, why does the pitching wedge already in your bag matter?

Picture this: You’re 105 yards from the green with a good lie and a clear look at the flag. Your pitching wedge carries 120 yards, but your next club is a sand wedge that carries only 78.

Your sand wedge won’t get there. Your pitching wedge requires you to take something off the swing. Suddenly, a straightforward approach requires a shot you may not have practiced.

That’s why we ask, Charlie. Your pitching wedge provides the starting point for building the rest of your wedge setup.

What Does “P” Actually Tell You?

Most golfers buy their irons as a set, then purchase specialty wedges separately. Each purchase can make sense on its own. But were those clubs ever evaluated together?

The “P” stamped on your pitching wedge identifies the club. It doesn’t tell you its loft—or how far you hit it.

Here are the standard pitching wedge lofts in four representative iron models:

Manufacturer specifications for these particular models; other models and custom loft options can differ.

Pair a 43° pitching wedge with a 56° sand wedge, and you’ve created a 13° loft gap. That’s a substantial space to cover.

Where Should Your Specialty Wedges Begin?

Generally, we recommend starting with a 4–5° loft gap between your pitching wedge and your first specialty wedge, often called a gap wedge or approach wedge.

For a 43° pitching wedge, that suggests looking at a 47° or 48° wedge as a starting point.

Club design and your swing also affect distance, so actual carry numbers should help confirm the fit.

The 105-Yard Problem

Let’s put some illustrative distances to that setup:

That leaves a 42-yard gap—and you’re standing over a 105-yard approach.

Adding a gap wedge could give you another comfortable option. For this illustrative golfer, a 47° wedge might carry around 108 yards, while a 49° wedge might carry around 100 yards.

The 47° creates a 4° loft gap from the pitching wedge. A 49° creates a 6° gap and may fit better depending on actual carry distances.

Those yardages are estimates. Testing will tell you which loft works best—and whether the remaining gap to your sand wedge needs attention.

Check Your Own Gaps

Take your pitching wedge and specialty wedges to a range where you can reasonably measure carry, or use a simulator.

Warm up, then hit five solid shots with each club using your normal, comfortable full swing. Record the typical carry distance, rather than the longest shot.

Focus on where the ball first lands. Rollout can vary with the surface.

Where is the largest gap? Does that distance come up often? Do you have a repeatable shot for it?

Five shots provide an initial picture. If a result surprises you, check it again before changing anything.

Find What Works for Your Game

There’s no one-size-fits-all wedge setup. Some golfers are comfortable taking something off their pitching wedge, using a partial or knockdown shot to cover that 105-yard approach. Others feel more confident making a full, comfortable swing with a gap wedge.

Neither approach is right or wrong. What matters is having a shot you trust and can repeat.

If you’re unsure how your wedges fit together, I’m happy to talk through the options with you. Tell me what’s in your bag, how far you carry each club, and which distances give you trouble. We can explore whether a different loft, another wedge, or a partial shot makes the most sense for your game.

The goal is to help you feel more confident over those approaches, hit the ball closer, and shoot lower scores.