How to Use a Golf Gap Wedge

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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The golf gap wedge is quickly becoming the go-to club in every golfer's bag, from the professional to the weekend warrior. Golfer's typically carry a pitching wedge and a sand wedge in their bag. The gap wedge is designed to fill in this 40 yard difference. But the gap wedge can be used in a number of other situations. It has more loft (50-46 degrees) than a pitching wedge, so it is easier to hit over trees, for example. The higher a golfer can hit a ball, typically the easier it is to stop it when it lands on the green. The gap wedge can help a golfer lower his score by filling a lot of useful needs around the green.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Practice a full swing with your gap wedge. Because the shaft is shorter than the pitching wedge, and the loft greater, the gap wedge will be easier to hit straight and to handle.
Step 2

Work on a shorter swing with your gap wedge, limiting your backswing, as you move closer to the green.
Step 3

Determine your distance from the flag on any particular hole. Typically, if you have more than 85 yards to the flag, but less than 125 yards, hit your gap wedge.
Step 4

Decide when other special circumstances may dictate the use of your gap wedge. You may need to fly up over a tree, or hit off of hard dirt from around the green.

Tips & Warnings

Use the golf gap wedge in place of your sand wedge when hitting off of hard packed dirt. The gap wedge does not have the large flat bottom that a sand wedge has and will not "bounce" up off of the dirt like a sand wedge will at times. Use the gap wedge for the in between distances. It is a lot easier for the weekend golfer to take a full swing and hit the gap wedge normal distance than it is, for example, to hit an easier pitching wedge or a harder sand wedge to bridge the gap.
A golfer can only carry 14 clubs in his bag. If he or she carries irons 2 thru 9, a putter, sand wedge, pitching wedge, driver and 3 wood, only one additional club may be added. The choice comes down to a gap wedge or a 5 wood. If you need a club to reach the green from 180-190 yards away, you will certainly not want to leave your 5 wood at home. Drop your 2 iron, which is not as easy to hit as a higher wood club and put a gap wedge in the bag, too.

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