The full loft ladder (one club family)
Takeaway: Use one manufacturer's numbers to see the shape of a bag; then check your own clubs.
Many loft charts online mix brands and eras. This one uses a single current game-improvement family so every step is consistent. The "gap" column is our calculation from those lofts.
| Club | Loft | Length | Gap to next club (WGG calc.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver (G440 Max) | 9° / 10.5° / 12° | 46" | — |
| 3-wood | 15° | 43" | 4° to 5-wood |
| 5-wood | 19° | 42.5" | 2° to 7-wood |
| 7-wood | 21° | 42" | 3° to 9-wood |
| 9-wood | 24° | 41.5" | — |
| 3-hybrid | 20° | 40.25" | 3° to 4-hybrid |
| 4-hybrid | 23° | 39.75" | 3° to 5-hybrid |
| 5-hybrid | 26° | 39.25" | — |
| 4-iron | 19° | 39.25" | 3° |
| 5-iron | 22° | 38.5" | 3.5° |
| 6-iron | 25.5° | 37.75" | 3.5° |
| 7-iron | 29° | 37" | 4° |
| 8-iron | 33° | 36.5" | 4° |
| 9-iron | 37° | 36" | 5° |
| Pitching wedge | 42° | 35.5" | 5° |
| Utility wedge (UW) | 47° | 35.5" | 5° |
| Gap wedge (s159) | 52° | 35.5" | 4° |
| Sand wedge (s159) | 56° | 35.25" | 2°–4° |
| Lob wedge (s159) | 58° (higher lofts offered) | 35" | — |
All figures are for the PING G440 and s159 lines as of November 2026. Fairway wood and driver lofts are adjustable ±1.5°.
Why loft matters more than the number on the club
Takeaway: Two 7-irons can differ by several degrees, which can mean a full club of distance.
Iron numbers aren't standardised. Within PING's own G440 line, buyers can order "Power Spec" lofts (7-iron 27.5°) or "Retro Spec" lofts (7-iron 31°) instead of the standard 29°. That 3.5° spread on a single club number is why comparing "how far you hit your 7-iron" with a friend tells you little unless you also compare lofts.
Driver loft is its own decision
Driver loft depends on swing speed and angle of attack more than on the rest of the set. Our driver loft guide gives starting lofts by speed. For context, the median driver loft among the tour pros in our Tour Bag Index is 9°, but they swing far faster than most amateurs.
Wedge lofts and the gap problem
Takeaway: The biggest loft gap in most beginner bags is between the pitching wedge and sand wedge.
A 42° pitching wedge and a 56° sand wedge leave a 14° gap. PING's answer is a 47° utility wedge plus a 52° wedge, which keeps every step at 4°–5°. Titleist's 2026 Vokey line runs from 44° to 60° in 27 configurations, so any gap can be filled; see our Vokey SM11 review and golf wedges explained.
Find the gaps in your own bag (5 steps)
- Look up each club's loft on the maker's spec page (search model + "specs").
- List them from lowest to highest loft.
- Highlight any gap over 5° between irons/wedges, or under 2° anywhere.
- Check carry distances on a range or launch monitor to confirm (see build your yardage chart).
- Fix the biggest gap first, usually with a gap wedge or a hybrid.
Static loft vs the loft you deliver
Takeaway: The loft printed on the club is a starting point; your swing changes it at impact.
Spec sheets list static loft: the angle of the face with the club soled at address. At impact, the loft you deliver depends on shaft lean, angle of attack and where on the face you strike the ball. Leaning the shaft forward (hands ahead) reduces loft; flipping the wrists adds it. This is why two golfers with the same 7-iron can launch it very differently, and why fitters measure launch and spin rather than relying on the number on the sole. Fitters typically set launch and spin targets and adjust loft to hit them. For beginners the practical message is simple: a steady strike matters more than a perfect loft ladder, so get your contact reliable first, then tidy the gaps.
Loft and length together
Length shortens by about half an inch per iron in the G440 set, from 39.25" (4-iron) to 35.5" (pitching wedge). If you are taller or shorter than average, our golf club length calculator estimates how much to adjust; changing length can also change how loft and lie behave at impact.
Common beginner mistakes
- Comparing club numbers across brands instead of lofts.
- A hybrid and a fairway wood of nearly the same loft (for example a 19° 5-wood and a 20° 3-hybrid) in one bag.
- No wedge between 42° and 56°.
- Choosing a low-loft driver to "hit it farther". Most slower swingers lose carry with too little loft.
- Forgetting adjustable hosels. Turning a driver or wood down by a degree changes face angle as well as loft.
Frequently asked questions
What is the loft of a 7-iron?
It varies by model. PING's G440 7-iron is 29° standard, with 27.5° and 31° options; other game-improvement 7-irons are usually within a few degrees of that.
What loft is a pitching wedge?
Usually around 42°–46° in modern sets. PING's G440 pitching wedge is 42°.
What loft is a sand wedge?
Most sand wedges are 54°–56°. PING's s159 range includes 54° and 56° options in several bounces.
What loft is a 3-wood and a 5-wood?
About 15° and 18°–19°. PING's G440 Max fairway woods are 15° and 19°.
How many degrees should be between wedges?
Around 4°–6° is a common target, so your full-swing distances step down evenly.