If you have trouble with your chipping game, a 65 degree wedge may be the solution to your issues. Not only will a degree with this much loft help you get more height on the ball, it also decreases your chance of clubbing the ball, saving you a stroke or two near the green. With a club that offers so much upside, is it even legal?
To figure out whether or not a 65 degree wedge is legal to use, I took a look at the USGA and R&A equipment guidelines.
Is A 65 degree wedge legal? According to the USGA and R&A, a 65 degree wedge is totally legal to use in any casual, amateur, high-level amateur, and professional golf games and tournaments. In other words, it is totally legal to use a 65 degree wedge in any of your golf games.
For reference, the USGA and R&A are considered ‘governing bodies’ of the golfing world. Any rule or regulation they make, is considered law by all other golf groups and organizations. Because the USGA and R&A deem the 65 degree wedge legal, all other golf associations out there should view it as legal as well.
Is There A Limit On Wedge Loft?
Surprisingly, there is no limit on the amount of loft that a player can have on their wedge. More specifically, the USGA does not have a loft limit for wedges. So, if you wanted to have 89 degrees of loft on your club, it would be totally legal. Although, this type of wedge would be very hard to hit.
What Is A 65-Degree Wedge Used For?
Generally speaking, a 65 degree wedge can get you anywhere from 30 to 40 yards of distance on your ball. However, with this distance you can get an insane amount of height on the ball. That is the purpose of this club.
A 65 degree wedge is generally used for very short distance shots that are either right off of the green or on the far side of the green. It is primarily used when you are very close to the hole, but too far away to use your putter.
Who Makes 65 Degree Wedges?
From what I could find, there are not many golf manufacturers that make 65 degree wedges. This likely has to do with the fact that there aren’t many people who need a wedge with that much loft. A wedge with this loft serves a very specific purpose that most golfers don’t particularly need. Despite this, I did find 1 manufacturer who makes 2 of the most popular 65 degree wedges.
Golf Tailor is one of the main manufacturers that makes and sells 65 degree wedges. Their most well known 65 degree wedges are the C3i and the XE1.
Is The C3i Wedge Legal?
According to the USGA’s informational club database, the C3i 65 degree wedge is totally legal to use. This wedge conforms to both the pre-2010 rules of golf and the 2010 groove rules, which make it 100% acceptable to use in any game of golf. Below is a screenshot from the database.
Is The XE1 Wedge Legal?
Yes, the XE1 65 degree wedge, made by Golf Tailor, is legal to use. The UGSA lists the XE1 wedge as ‘legal’ in their club database. The XE1 wedge conforms to both the pre-2010 golf rules and the 2010 groove rules. Below is a screenshot from the database.
What Are The 2010 Groove Rules?
The 2010 groove rules were added in by the USGA that prevented clubs from having too much groove help. Back then, many wedges were coming out with different wedge designs that aided players too much. For example, some of the grooves on these clubs were able to spin the ball with such force that even if the ball was in the rough, there was no difference in spin.
In other words, the grooves made the ball spin as if the rough wasn’t even a factor in the shot. So, to help fight against these grooves, the USGA came out with groove rules. Now, every club must conform to the groove rules before being approved.
Do Pros Use 65 Degree Wedges?
From what I found, there aren’t any professional golfers who use a 65 degree wedge. The main reason for this is that they don’t have a good use for it. A 65 degree wedge gives a lot of height, but almost no distance on the ball. Professional golfers are able to achieve the same amount of lift with a lower degree wedge.
In other words, it is just a waste of a spot in their bag, as they have other clubs that can achieve the exact same type of shot. So, chances are you won’t see any professionals with a 65 degree club any time soon.
Is A 65 Degree Wedge Hard To Hit?
A 65 degree wedge is quite hard to hit. This is mainly due to the fact that there is not much of a club face to make contact with. As the loft of a wedge increases, the club face becomes more and more horizontal. Because it is more horizontal, it is much harder to make contact.
So, in short, a 65 degree wedge is harder to hit than a wedge with a lower amount of loft on it.
Final Thoughts: Is A 65 Degree Wedge Legal?
So, now that you know your 65 degree wedge is legal, feel free to use it whenever you’d like. If anyone mentions anything about it being illegal, just point them to the USGA’s website. If you are interested in adding a 65 degree wedge to your bag, keep in mind what it is used for and how it will help your game.
There may be a chance that you actually don’t need this club. So, it is important to keep in mind. But if you do need it, it will likely save you plenty of strokes in your short game.