Buy Used Wedges & Chippers and Take Control of Your Short Game

In short: your wedges, and perhaps a chipper, make the difference between a par and a bogey. These are the clubs you use closest to the flag, where precision matters most. Here is an honest, practical guide to choosing, using and maintaining wedges, explained the way a golf buddy would over a cup of coffee.

What is a wedge and why does it matter so much?

A wedge is a golf club for short shots with control and height. It helps you when the ball has to get close to the green, over an obstacle or out of a bunker. The loft (the angle of the face) on a wedge is higher than on your irons, which gives a high ball flight and plenty of spin.

The four most common types are:

• Pitching Wedge (PW): 44-48°, for longer shots into the green.
• Gap / Approach Wedge (GW/AW): 50-52°, fills the gap between PW and SW.
• Sand Wedge (SW): 54-58°, ideal in bunkers and soft sand.
• Lob Wedge (LW): 58-60°, used for high, short shots over bunkers or water.

These loft figures match manufacturer data from Titleist, Cleveland and Callaway. Good gapping (the distance between wedges) means less guessing and fewer surprises in distance.

According to Golf Datatech (2023), wedges accounted for about 7-14% of total sales of irons and short-game equipment in Europe and North America. Globally, wedge sales are estimated at around 400-600 million USD annually, as part of a golf equipment market of approximately 8.5 billion USD (Statista, 2023).

See our selection of used Wedges & Chippers. Everything is quality checked, so you know exactly what you’re getting.

The difference between a wedge and a chipper

A chipper is something between a wedge and a putter. The loft is around 32-37°, and it is used to roll the ball safely over the edge of the green. Perfect if you struggle with duffed or topped chips.

Who benefits most from a chipper?

• Beginners who want confidence close to the green.
• Players who want stability and less technique in the short shots.

In short: a chipper makes your short shots more consistent. But if you want to control height and spin precisely, wedges are still indispensable.

How to choose the right wedges

Here’s what to think about when you choose wedges, especially used ones.

Loft and gapping

Check the loft of your pitching wedge. If you have 46°, choose for example 50°, 54° and 58°. That gives an even gap of 10-15 meters between each wedge, according to fittings from Golf Datatech and Trackman.

Loft	Typical distance (full swing)
46° (PW)	110-120 m
50° (GW)	95-105 m
54° (SW)	80-90 m
58° (LW)	65-75 m

Bounce and why it matters

Bounce is the angle that makes the sole meet the ground correctly.

• High bounce (10-14°): best for soft courses and deep divots.
• Low bounce (6-8°): good for dry courses and tight lies.

As a starting point, 10° suits Danish conditions best.

Grind: the shape of the sole

Grind is about how the sole is shaped. It affects how much you can open the face without raising the leading edge.

• S-grind: versatile and stable.
• C-grind: gives freedom for creative shots.
• W-grind: wide sole, high bounce: great in sand.

Manufacturers like Titleist and TaylorMade offer grind tools so you can match your wedge to your swing type and course.

Want to know the difference between your wedges in practice? Look under each product on our site, where we show grind, bounce and loft.

Also see our Iron Sets and Fairway Woods, so your setup works all the way from tee to green.

New materials, more feel and spin

Today’s wedges are typically made of carbon steel with CNC-milled grooves, which gives you more consistent spin. Manufacturers like Titleist, Cleveland and Callaway work with precise weight distribution for a better feel at impact.

According to Golf Datatech, wedges made up 7-14% of the total short-game market in 2023, driven in particular by more advanced technology and personal fitting.

Popular models:

• Titleist Vokey SM series: precise grooves, many loft and bounce combinations.
• Cleveland RTX ZipCore: lighter head, strong spin.
• Callaway Jaws Raw: untreated head gives extra bite in wet weather.

We describe the condition as it is, for example “light wear on the sole, no effect on performance”. You always know what you’re getting.

How many wedges should you have?

PGA players typically use 3-4 wedges. For most recreational golfers, three is plenty:

1. 46° PW: part of the iron set.
2. 50° GW: for middle distances.
3. 56° or 58° SW/LW: for sand and short shots.

If you have a low swing speed, stick to three. If you have more experience, four wedges can give you precise distance control.

A tip: measure your distances on the driving range. That makes it easy to spot where a club is missing.

When you buy used: how to check the condition

Buying used wedges can be a bargain if you know what to look for. At WePlayAgain you get pictures of exactly the wedge you are buying, not a stock model.

Check in particular:

• Grooves: should be sharp.
• Grip: dried out? Then replace it. A cheap and quick fix.
• Shaft and head: look for scratches or bends.

According to Titleist (2019), spin can drop 10-20% after 75-100 rounds, depending on cleaning and maintenance. Regular cleaning reduces this loss to around 10-15%  over the same period (source: Titleist & GolfWRX durability tests).

See also Iron sets under 2,000 DKK, Complete Sets or our Golf Grips if you want to replace the grip.

A word on chippers, for those who want to keep it simple

A chipper is fully legal on the course (as long as it meets the rule of one striking face). It is stable like a putter, but with a little loft, so the ball gets a small lift before it rolls.

Examples of popular models:

• PING ChipR
• Wilson Harmonized Chipper
• Odyssey X-Act

The result? Calmer hands and more even contact on short shots. It can be the difference between a double bogey and a safe par.

Maintenance and replacement

Even the best wedges wear down. When the grooves get rounded, spin and control drop.

How to keep your wedges sharp:

• Clean the grooves with a brush after each round.
• Store them dry and avoid moisture and rust.
• Check for wear once a year.

Tests from GolfWRX and Titleist show that spin can drop noticeably after about 75 rounds if you do not clean regularly. If you see the ball rolling out more on the green than normal, it’s time for a change.

Play smarter: your short game gives you the most

According to PGA Tour statistics (2024) and analyses from Trackman and Golf Digest, 60-65% of all shots come within 100 meters. That means your short game really decides your score, and that good wedges are an investment in a lower handicap.

Your next wedge, without the stress

At WePlayAgain we make buying used wedges safe:

• Each wedge is described accurately and photographed individually.
• You get a 14-day trial period and a 2-year right of complaint.
• We give you an honest answer if you ask about loft, flex or bounce.

In doubt? Use Contact us. We will go through your set together and make realistic suggestions.

Other useful categories

Do you want to build your set from scratch?

• Driver Regular Flex
• Driver Stiff Flex
• Driver X-Stiff Flex
• Driver Shafts
• Utility Iron
• Fairway Shafts
• Hybrid Shafts
• Hybrid Heads
• Clubheads
• Golf Headcovers
• Putter Headcovers
• Fairway Headcovers
• Accessories
• Just Added
• Golf Balls
• Golf Shafts

And if you want to sell your old equipment:

• Sell used golf equipment
• Trade-in Event from WePlayAgain
• About WePlayAgain

Quick summary

• Start with 3-4 wedges and 4° of difference in loft.
• Keep grooves and grip in good condition.
• Choose bounce to suit the course: high in soft sand, low on firmer ground.
• Consider a chipper for confidence near the green.
• Remember: clean grooves give more spin and better stopping.

Do you want peace of mind when you buy?
At  WePlayAgain we describe everything as it is, take unique photos and give you a 14-day trial period. That means wedges and chippers you can trust, both to pay for and to play with.