Benefits of a Used 56 Degree Wedge

A traditional sand-wedge loft

At 56 degrees, the club provides enough loft for standard bunker shots while remaining useful from the fairway and around the green.

One wedge for several short-game shots

A 56 degree wedge can cover square-face chips, pitches, bunker shots, rough and controlled approaches, making it one of the most versatile wedge lofts.

High enough to stop the ball without maximum loft

The 56 launches higher and lands more steeply than a gap wedge but is generally easier to use on fuller shots than a 60 degree lob wedge.

Premium wedge options for less

Buying used can give you access to different bounce, grind and sole options from leading wedge manufacturers for less than their original retail price.

How It Works

Every used 56 degree wedge listed on Nearly New Golf Clubs is inspected before it goes live on the website. That means you can browse with a clearer view of condition, specification and price before choosing the wedge that suits your setup.

Checked before listing

Each 56 degree wedge is reviewed before being uploaded to the website. The face, grooves, sole, leading edge, shaft and grip are checked so the listing reflects the club’s condition as clearly as possible.

Clear condition grading

We grade every used 56 degree wedge so you know what to expect before you buy. Whether a wedge is mint, very good or good, the aim is to make condition easy to understand before it reaches your bag.

Compare the right options

Compare loft, bounce, grind, shaft, condition and price. Check the wedge against the clubs already in your bag so it adds the distance or short-game option you need.

Left-handed golfers can browse our used left-handed golf wedges, while golfers looking for ladies-flex options can explore our used ladies golf wedges.

Fast UK delivery

Order by 12pm and we will aim to dispatch your wedge quickly, so you can get it into play as soon as possible.

30 day returns

You need to feel confident with your wedge on the course. That is why we offer 30 day returns, giving you time to make sure the loft, sole and overall setup suit your game.

56 Degree Wedge Buying Guide

Is a 56 Degree Wedge a Sand Wedge?

Yes. A 56 degree wedge is the traditional sand-wedge loft.

It is commonly used from bunkers because the combination of loft, bounce and sole design can help the club move through the sand and launch the ball quickly.

That does not mean it is only a bunker club. A 56 degree wedge can also be used from the fairway, rough and around the green.

What Is a 56 Degree Wedge Used For?

A 56 degree wedge can cover a broad range of scoring shots, including:

• Standard bunker shots
• Short and medium pitches
• Chips around the green
• Controlled approach shots
• Shots from light rough
• Open-face shots when the bounce and grind allow
• Higher shots where a gap wedge would release too far

That versatility is one reason many golfers use the 56 as their main short-game wedge.

Do You Need a 56 Degree Wedge?

A 56 degree wedge makes particular sense when you need a club to handle both bunker play and general short-game duties.

Look first at the loft immediately below it.

For example:

52° gap wedge → 56° sand wedge

creates a four-degree step.

You can then add a 60 degree wedge if you need more height around the green:

52° → 56° → 60°

You do not have to carry the 60. A well-suited 56 can cover a large proportion of the short-game shots many golfers face.

Can a 56 Degree Wedge Be Your Highest-Lofted Club?

Yes.

A 56 degree wedge has enough loft for many bunker shots, chips and pitches, particularly if you are comfortable changing the face angle and trajectory.

Keeping 56 degrees as the highest wedge can also simplify club selection and free a space elsewhere in the bag.

A 58 or 60 degree wedge becomes more useful when you regularly face shots that need to launch very high and stop with little green available.

56 Degree or 60 Degree Wedge?

The 56 and 60 degree wedges perform different jobs.

A 56 degree wedge normally:

• Travels further
• Produces a slightly lower flight
• Is more versatile on fuller shots
• Works well for standard bunker shots
• Gives you more rollout around the green

A 60 degree wedge normally:

• Travels less far
• Launches higher
• Lands more steeply
• Gives you more height from short range
• Is useful when there is very little green between the landing point and the hole

Choose the 56 when versatility matters most.

Add a 60 when you regularly need a higher, shorter-landing option that the 56 cannot provide comfortably.

Do You Need Both a 56 and 60 Degree Wedge?

Not necessarily.

Carrying both works well when they produce separate distances and you use their different trajectories.

A common setup is:

52° → 56° → 60°

The 52 handles lower scoring shots, the 56 acts as the main sand and short-game wedge, and the 60 provides the highest flight.

If you rarely use the 60 or can create the shots you need with the 56, carrying both may add unnecessary overlap.

54 Degree or 56 Degree Wedge?

Both can perform the sand-wedge role.

A 54 degree wedge generally provides slightly more distance and fits naturally into a 50° → 54° → 58° setup.

A 56 degree wedge gives you slightly more loft and fits naturally into a 52° → 56° → 60° setup.

Choose 54 when your lower wedge is around 50 degrees or when fuller approach distance matters more.

Choose 56 when you want the traditional sand-wedge loft, particularly if your gap wedge is around 52 degrees.

How Far Should a 56 Degree Wedge Go?

There is no single distance every golfer should hit a 56 degree wedge.

Carry depends on swing speed, strike, shaft, head design and the swing length used.

Measure your own:

• Full swing
• Three-quarter swing
• Half swing

The full-shot distance should sit clearly below your gap wedge and above any higher-lofted wedge.

For scoring clubs, having repeatable distances is more useful than trying to reach a particular yardage.

What Bounce Should a 56 Degree Wedge Have?

Bounce is particularly important on a 56 degree wedge because it is commonly used from both turf and sand.

Lower bounce can suit firmer ground, shallow swings and tighter lies.

Mid bounce offers versatility across fairway shots, pitches and average bunker conditions.

Higher bounce can suit softer turf, softer sand and steeper swings that tend to dig into the ground.

You may see 56 degree wedges with around 8, 10, 12 or 14 degrees of stated bounce.

The number should not be considered in isolation. Sole width and grind also influence how much effective bounce you experience during the shot.

Is 12 Degrees of Bounce Good on a 56 Degree Wedge?

It can be.

A 56 degree wedge with around 12 degrees of bounce can suit golfers with a steeper delivery or those who regularly play from softer turf and sand.

Someone with a shallower swing or who plays mainly from firm links-style turf may prefer less bounce.

Choose according to how you deliver the club and where you normally play rather than assuming 12 degrees is universally better.

Bounce and Grind Work Together

Grind changes the shape of the sole and affects how the bounce is presented when the face is square or opened.

A fuller sole can provide more support through soft turf and sand.

Heel or trailing-edge relief can make it easier to open the face for higher shots while keeping the leading edge closer to the ground.

Two 56 degree wedges with the same stated bounce can therefore behave differently.

Is a 56 Degree Wedge Good for Beginners?

It can be a useful short-game loft for a wide range of golfers because it provides enough loft for bunker and greenside shots without moving straight to the maximum loft of a 60 degree wedge.

For a newer golfer, a forgiving head and suitable bounce can matter more than choosing a specialist low-bounce or heavily relieved grind.

A versatile 56 degree wedge can also reduce the number of different clubs you need to learn around the green.

Shaft and Feel

A 56 degree wedge may be used for anything from fuller approaches to short bunker shots.

A shaft that feels stable without being difficult to control can help across that range.

Compare shaft weight, model and flex, particularly if you are choosing between several used wedges with the same loft and bounce.

Condition Guide

Every used 56 degree wedge is individually checked and graded so you know what to expect before you buy.

Mint condition

Mint condition wedges show minimal signs of use. They may have been hit only a few times, if at all.

Faces and grooves: little to no visible strike wear

Soles: clean with minimal marks

Heads: little to no cosmetic marking

Shafts and grips: close to new condition

Very good condition

Very good condition wedges show light use but remain clean overall.

Faces and grooves: light strike marks

Soles: small marks from limited play

Heads: minor cosmetic marks may be visible

Shafts and grips: very good condition with light signs of use

Good condition

Good condition wedges show normal signs of play but remain fully usable.

Faces and grooves: visible wear from regular use

Soles and heads: normal cosmetic marking may be present

Shafts: possible light bag wear

Grips: usable or replaced where needed

Cosmetic wear does not stop a wedge performing. A well-graded second hand 56 degree wedge can still deliver strong launch, distance and short-game control when the loft, bounce and grind suit your game.

Not sure which club is right for you? We’re here to help.

• Check out our Online Fitting Service and a member of the team will provide you with recommendations tailored to your game.
• Speak to our experienced team for personalised advice.

Plus, if you’re ready to upgrade, you can Sell Your Club directly through our site!

If you are upgrading more than one part of the bag, you may wish to compare our full golf club sets to find the best options for you.