At the 1932 Open Championship, Gene Sarazen strolled into Prince’s Golf Club hiding a secret new club he had designed himself.  He was trying to keep it hidden for fear that his club would meet the same fate that Bobby Jones’ did a year earlier.  The USGA deemed that Jones’ attempt at a sand wedge was illegal on account of its concave face.  Though useful for scooping out balls dug into the sand, its shape often led to golfers hitting the ball twice in the same shot.

Sarazen’s club avoided this issue by using a flat face.  In order to combat the sand, he decided on a new innovation.  He added lead weight to the lower back of the club and slanted the face so that it would hit the ground at an angle.  This would allow the flange to push sand out of the way before the face of the club made contact with the ball.

The design was an enormous success.  Sarazen would go on to win both the Open Championship and the U.S. Open that year.  Golf’s governing bodies couldn’t find issue with this new-fangled club, and so, the modern sand wedge was born.

But this was only the beginning.  Over time, new challenges on the course, as well as changes in the designs of other clubs, have led to many new varieties of wedges.  Below are the most common wedges you’ll find in a player’s bag.

Pitching Wedge

Having been born from the ancient niblick club, the pitching wedge is the oldest of all the wedges.  It is used when a golfer is somewhere between 110 to 140 yards from the green.  The pitching wedge is the wedge with the least amount of loft (44°–50°), which also allows it to be the wedge with the longest potential distance.  But it has more loft than most irons, making it a perfect choice when trying to minimize roll and sticking a perfect shot.

Gap Wedge

The gap wedge (also known as the approach wedge) was created out of a need to close the ever-growing gap in loft between irons, pitching wedges, and sand wedges. As manufacturers have strived to add distance to their irons (and their accompanying pitching wedges), they have continually lowered loft.  Sand wedges, on the other hand, have stayed pretty close to their original design, thus the need for the gap wedge.  Gap wedges have a loft between 46° and 54° and are most often used from distances of 90 to 110 yards.  Since they are often sold separately from club sets, it is important to check the lofts of your pitching and sand wedges before buying a gap wedge.  Make sure the gap wedge has a degree of loft between these two other wedges.

Sand Wedge

The present-day sand wedge is not all that different from the original Sarazen club.  This makes sense when you consider how well-designed it was for a very specific use on the course.  But this isn’t to say that golfers only use sand wedges when they are stuck in a bunker.  They are also great for getting out of any soft lie, including mud or thicker grass.  While often used for shorter shots, sand wedges can be hit from anywhere between 80 to 110 yards.  Their loft is generally between 54° and 58°.  When you combine this high degree of loft with the sand wedge’s short club length, you also get a club that can put a good amount of spin on a ball.

Lob Wedge

The lob wedge is one of the newest additions to the category.  It has the highest loft of any wedge, ranging from 60°–65°, making it the perfect club for shots within 80 yards which require a high degree of precision.  It can also come in handy when trying to hit a shot over a tree or any other large obstruction.  While its high loft tends to eliminate spin, it can be hit in such a way as to produce a good amount of backspin