Table of Contents
Ever find yourself in a sand bunker and think, “Well, this is a nightmare.” When you don’t have the right club for the job, it’s a scary thought to hit it thin, and it goes flying over the green. I’ve been there.
As a seasoned golf writer with 30 years experience, I found the best sand wedge for bunkers to be the Callaway CB Mack Daddy. This golf wedge stands out during testing for its smooth glide, high spin, and forgiveness. Keep reading to discover which golfers best suit the CB Mack Daddy, along with the top wedges for budget, forgiveness, accuracy, and glare resistance.
Quick Summary | Best Golf Wedges for Bunkers
| Category | Golf Club |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Overall Best Sand Wedge For Bunkers | Callaway CB Mack Daddy Wedge |
| 🤑 Best Budget Sand Wedge | Tour Edge Hot Launch E523 Sole Wedge |
| 💰 Premium Sand Wedge for Low Handicappers | Titleist SM9 Wedge |
| 🎯 Most Accurate Sand Wedge For Bunkers | Cleveland RTX Full Face Golf Wedge |
| 🕶 Best Glare Resistant Sand Wedge | Callaway JAWS Raw Black Plasma Wedge |
| 👍🏻 Best Sand Wedge For Arthritis | Cleveland Golf CBX Zipcore Wedge |
You’ll want to complete this review to know precisely which sand wedge will maximize spin for your skill level. I’ve also included options for players on a budget to enhance your short game without breaking the bank.
🏆 Overall Best Sand Wedge For Bunkers
Top Pick
The Callaway CB Mack Daddy ranks as our overall best sand wedge for bunkers thanks to its forgiveness, accuracy, spin, and feel. It also received high marks because it’s more affordable than the Titleist SM9.
In addition, the W-grind promoted increased skid across the sand to help me strike my ball cleanly on most occasions.
I appreciated the cavity back design of the Mack Daddy as it spread the weight around the clubface perimeter for a higher MOI and increased forgiveness. It simplified keeping my club head aligned with my target line and maintained spin and ball speed on most open-face shots.
The JAWS full-face groove structure was effective at gripping the ball and imparting optimal spin out of the sand. As a result, it prompted drop and stop control for a go at the flagstick from the bunker.
Callaway engineers crafted the CB Mack Daddy sand wedge in 54 and 56-degree lofts. If you are unsure which sand wedge is better for your golf swing, save our guide to wedge degrees for later.
PROS
- Incredibly forgiving
- Clean sand interaction
- Consistent spin
CONS
- It is not glare resistant
- Moderately expensive
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
🤑 Best Budget Sand Wedge For Bunkers
Budget Sand Wedge
The Tour Edge Hot Launch E523 stands out as the best budget sand wedge for bunkers, thanks to its clean glide sole, high launch, and leniency. Despite its price, the consistency of the spin from its full-face grooves impressed me. It’s not the highest spinning wedge, but it effectively gets the job done in bunkers.
The Houdini Sole is the key feature here, known for its enhanced turf interaction. This was particularly beneficial for my senior playing partner who tends to dig the clubhead into the sand. It didn’t eliminate his mistakes but reduced their impact, leading to cleaner ball contact.
Martin, my playing partner, also lauded the forgiveness, spin consistency, and ease of launch. The combination of an extra-large face and deep, undercut cavity increased sturdiness, the sweet spot, and facilitated an effortless lift from the sand.
⛳️ Related: Is Tour Edge a Brand Worth Buying?
PROS
- Entry level price
- Clean gliding sole
- Effortless launch
CONS
- Only one sole grind
- The extra large face is not pretty
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
💰 Best Premium Sand Wedge for Low Handicappers
Premium Golf Wedge
The Titleist Vokey SM9 series is a standout favorite among professional golfers, gracing the bags of over 20+ pros on both the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Golf professionals such as Max Homa, Brian Harman, and Jordan Spieth, along with renowned PGA senior tour players, trust in the high-spinning, versatile capabilities of the SM9 wedges.
Beyond the Senior Tour, at Senior Golf Source, we have tested the SM9, and it’s favored for its polished look, forged feel, and exceptional spin. It is an ideal choice for a seasoned golfer with a low handicap.
If you want to save money, the SM8 is the older version and still an excellent choice, and still commonly used by PGA Tour Champions. Compared to the previous Vokey SM8 Wedge, the SM9 looks a significantly nicer with cleaner lines. If you’re going with the higher end wedge, I also recommend getting fitted with the correct bounce and grind to ensure optimal results.
⛳️ Related: SM8 vs SM9 – Key Differences to Know
PROS
- Premium look and outstanding feel
- K grind is preferred when hitting sand shots
- Excellent for bunker shots
- High-quality finishes with spin-milled grooves with a raised Center of Gravity (COG)
CONS
- Pricey, not nearly as affordable as other brands like Cleveland.
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
🎯 Most Accurate Sand Wedge For Bunkers
Most Accurate
I found when I reviewed the PGA Senior Tour statistics the Cleveland RTX wedges were among the top 3, right behind Titleist and Ping wedges.
The Cleveland RTX Full Face wedge delivers accuracy and consistency out of the sand. Its elevated MOI, precise CG, and full-face grooves contribute to consistent spin across the surface. This stability helps in controlling the clubface for accurate ball starts.
Thanks to its Hi-Toe design, the wedge is easy to open, facilitating optimal sand contact. It’s especially beneficial for golfers over 50 who struggle to open the clubface with standard wedges. This feature also proves valuable in flop shots when you need to lift the ball high and land it softly. The Ulti-Zip and Full Face Grooves effectively enhance friction, aiding in sufficient spin production from heel to toe.
Seniors who have tested this golf wedge love it for these reasons, and you can’t beat the affordable price tag!
⛳️ Related: Is Cleveland a Good Brand to Buy for Golf Clubs?
PROS
- Enhanced clubface control
- Easy clubface to open
- Ample spin
- Has a wide groove surface; offers more control of my ball flight
CONS
- No alternative sole grinds
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
🕶 Best Glare Resistant Sand Wedge
Glare Resistant
The JAWS Raw’s black plasma finish effectively reduces glare from the clubface, though it doesn’t completely eliminate glare from the sand. Its high-spin performance is driven by its Offset Groove-In-Groove technology and Razor Sharp Grooves.
This high-friction design enabled me to produce exceptional spin out of the bunker, achieving more hop and stop landings than with other wedges. The soft feel and enhanced feedback of the JAWS Raw are superior to the Callaway CB Mack Daddy.
Senior golfers skilled in wedge play may appreciate the variety of sole grinds offered, ranging from low to high bounce. I found the S-grind to be particularly versatile, suitable for a broad range of players.
PROS
- Glare resistant finish
- Generates high spin
- Available in multiple sole grinds
CONS
- Expensive
- Not suited to higher handicap seniors
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
👍🏻 Best Sand Wedge For Arthritis
Best for Arthritis
The Cleveland CBX Zipcore stands out as the best sand wedge for those suffering from arthritis. Its Gelback technology minimizes vibrations, providing a softer feel on every shot, including mishits. This is particularly gentle on hands prone to cramping.
I appreciated the wedge’s sturdy construction, which enhanced clubface control. The Zipcore and Hollow Cavity Design improve balance and MOI, leading to cleaner contact and greater accuracy.
The deep, narrow, sharp grooves were key in increasing my spin rate on bunker shots. Even with an open clubface, my playing partner Martin found the grooves effective in generating controlled landings. The clean gliding design of the S-sole grind also benefited my inconsistent playing partner, keeping his clubhead sliding smoothly rather than digging into the sand.
PROS
- Soft feel
- Stable construction
- Affordable pricing
CONS
- No alternative sand wedge sole grinds
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Wedge to Get Out of Bunkers?
A 54 or 56 degree sand wedge is the best wedge to get out of the bunker as it offers sufficient loft, rampant spin, and control. Most golfers find it easy to open the clubface of a sand wedge and launch the ball out of the bunker without ballooning shot and losing control.
What is the Easiest Sand Wedge to Hit?
The Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge proved the easiest sand wedge to hit, thanks to its forgiveness, spin, and perimeter weighting. This wedge helps you preserve spin and ball speed on off-center strikes to keep your ball straight and help it out of the bunker. You’ll find it is one of the easiest wedges to hit in your golf bag.
What Loft do Pros Use in Bunkers?
54 and 56 degree sand wedges are the most commonly used lofts by pros out of the bunker. However, this depends on the ball’s lie, the distance remaining, and whether they want to stop the ball dead or let it run up to the cup. For more information, check out our article on golf wedge degrees.
Final Thoughts
Sand wedges are versatile golf clubs that enable you to play pitch shots, chips, flops, and full shots from the fairway, rough, or bunker. However, sand wedges differ in their launch, spin, bounce, and forgiveness. Our best sand wedge for bunkers list highlights these differences.
If you are a high handicapper, you want a forgiving, cavity-back sand wedge for greater leniency on off-center strikes. However, mid-handicappers may prefer a forged, classic profile that enhances feel and spin without compromising forgiveness.
In addition, low handicappers are better suited to compact sand wedges with impeccable feedback around the greens. Female golfers should stick to a lighter, more forgiving, and easier-launching sand wedge, simplifying opening the clubface and launching the ball.
Our overall best senior sand wedge for bunkers is the Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge. It is affordable, forgiving, consistent, and an easy-to-launch wedge; qualities that the average amateur can appreciate.
