Clubs & gear · Beginner guide
How far should you hit your 52° and 56°? Find your own numbers
There’s no “right” distance for a beginner’s 52° or 56° wedge. Golfers around a 20–25 handicap average roughly 80–95 yards of carry with these wedges, and many beginners are shorter. The numbers that matter are yours, and you can find them in one range session with a few yardage flags, an alignment stick and a notebook.
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Short distances are not a problem. On a par-3 nine you mostly need to know which wedge and which swing gets you to the front of the green. Everything else can wait.
Reference ranges (a starting point, not a target)
These are published averages from Shot Scope shot-tracking data, reported by MyGolfSpy. They are for golfers who already carry a handicap, and the lofts don’t match a 52° and 56° exactly, so treat them as a rough sense of scale.
| Group (Shot Scope data) | Gap wedge (about 50°) | Sand wedge (about 54°) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 handicap, average carry | 94 yards | 85 yards |
| 25 handicap, average carry | 79 yards | 80 yards |
| Women, 20 handicap, average | 62 yards | 41 yards |
| Women, 25 handicap, average | 56 yards | 41 yards |
| Women, 30 handicap, average | 55 yards | 42 yards |
Sources: MyGolfSpy, “Wedge Distance Chart: What’s Average For Your Handicap?” (May 2, 2025; average carry, Shot Scope data) and MyGolfSpy, “Women’s Golf Distance Chart: How Far You Should Hit Each Club In 2026” (Apr 8, 2026; Shot Scope data, carry or total not specified). Brand-new golfers often hit shorter than these groups. As the first source puts it, don’t assume your sand wedge goes 80 yards.
Find your own numbers in one range session
- Pick a range with yardage flags or marked targets. A grass range is ideal, but mats work.
- Lay your alignment stick on the ground pointing at one flag. It shows you where straight is.
- Warm up with a few easy half swings. No counting yet.
- Hit about 10 balls with your 56° using the same smooth swing. Ignore the best two and the worst two. Note where the rest land, the carry, not where they stop rolling.
- Repeat with your 52°.
- Try three swing sizes with each club: half (hands to hip height), three-quarter (hands to shoulder height) and full.
- Notice your usual miss compared with the stick line: mostly left, mostly right, or both.
- Write it all down on the carry card below. Round to the nearest five yards. A range number you trust beats an exact number you guessed.
Range balls often fly a little differently from the balls you play on the course, so treat range numbers as close, not exact. Check them again after a few sessions; they usually change as contact improves.
Your printable carry card
Print this page, or copy the table onto an index card for your bag.
| Club | Half (hands to hip) | Three-quarter (hands to shoulder) | Full | Usual miss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52° | ____ yds | ____ yds | ____ yds | L / straight / R |
| 56° | ____ yds | ____ yds | ____ yds | L / straight / R |
Using your numbers on the course
Six numbers cover a surprising amount of a par-3 nine. Read the yardage on the tee sign, pick the club and swing size that lands closest to the front of the green, and aim at the fat part of the green, not the flag. Short of the green with a chip left is a good result.
If a hole is longer than your full 52°, often around 120 yards or more for many beginners, it’s fine to hit two easy wedges. Some golfers borrow or rent a hybrid or 7-iron for those holes. More on a first round: how to play a par-3 nine.
Don’t have a 52° and 56° yet?
They’re part of The First 9 Method, along with a putter and an alignment stick. Used is fine, and so is borrowing. Here’s how to pick them: your first golf clubs.
Later, if you’ve caught the bug
You don’t need a launch monitor to start. If golf sticks and you want more detail, like exact carry, spin and launch, a home or range launch monitor can be a fun tool for later. Flags and a notebook still do the job.
FAQ
How far should a beginner hit a 56° wedge?
There is no single right number. Shot Scope data published by MyGolfSpy shows golfers around a 20–25 handicap averaging roughly 80–85 yards of carry with a sand wedge, and women golfers in the 20–30 handicap range averaging about 41–42 yards. Many beginners are shorter than that, and that’s fine. Find your own number in one range session.
How far should a beginner hit a 52° wedge?
Usually a little farther than your 56°. In the same Shot Scope data, golfers around a 20–25 handicap averaged roughly 79–94 yards of carry with a gap wedge, and women golfers in the 20–30 handicap range about 55–62 yards. Your own number matters more than any average.
What is the difference between carry and total distance?
Carry is how far the ball flies in the air before it first lands. Total distance adds the roll after it lands. With wedges, carry is the number to learn, because you usually want the ball to land on the green and stop.
How do I find my wedge distances without a launch monitor?
At a range with yardage flags, lay an alignment stick on the ground pointing at a flag, hit about 10 balls with one wedge, ignore the best and worst two, and note where the rest land. Repeat with the other wedge and with half, three-quarter and full swings. Write the numbers on a carry card.
Why do my 52° and 56° go the same distance?
Usually it’s contact, not the clubs. When strikes are thin or heavy, both wedges come out low or short and the gap disappears. As contact gets more consistent, a gap of several yards usually shows up. A smooth, same-size swing with each club helps you see it.
Do I need a launch monitor to learn my distances?
No. Range flags, an alignment stick and a notebook are enough to start. A launch monitor is a nice tool for later, if you catch the golf bug and want more detail.