Are male golfers better than their female counterparts with the pitching wedge?

Question

Are male golfers better than their female counterparts with the pitching wedge?

Answer 1

I would say that they are equally good or equally bad with the pitching wedge. Too many men golfers try to emulate Phil Michelson or Tiger Woods in the use of wedges and more often than not they fluff short approach shots when the bump and run was the better choice. The women tend to avoid the wedge in favor of bump and run clubs. The exception are women of championship caliber who have great short games from playing on longer courses where the wedge becomes a must use club.

Answer 2

Male golfers are better then female golfers. And if anyone argues about it then why has no women ever made the cut on a mens tourny. Men are just naturally stronger and they have much more competition.  

Answer 3

Some good points made, but I also think it comes down to what is meant by "better".

The average male golfer hits the ball for greater distance than the average female golfer.  This includes how far either gender hits a pitching wedge.

So, if a male golfer is 120 or 130 yards out and can use a pitching wedge, but his female counterpart needs a longer iron from that same distance, then it can be argued that the male golfer is "better" with the pitching wedge.

On the other hand, if we just ask who is better when they're using the pitching wedge, from whatever distance that may be for the individual golfer, then I think women may get the edge.  Again though, distance comes into the equation because women are usually closer to the green when using their pitching wedge than men are and so are less likely to get in trouble with a mis-hit because they're applying less force and the ball doesn't need to travel as far.

For example, if a male hits a pitching wedge from 120 yards and aims at the pin but is off to the right by 5 degrees, the ball will land farther away from the pin than it would if a woman made the same 5 degree mistake from 80 yards out simply by virtue of the greater distance the ball must travel from the club to the green.

Think of it this way, if you're off by 1 degree in shooting an arrow at a target 50 feet away, you'll still hit the target, perhaps even the bullseye, but if you send astronauts to the moon and are off by 1 degree, say goodbye to your astronauts!!

In the end, I think "better" is in the eye of the beholder.

Answer 4

Good Question!! The great equalizer, wedge and putter!

Yes and no.

Top male pros are probably better that top female pros simply because of the level of competition. Males need to be better to be successful. Males may have more shots out of heavy rough, due to more strength.

A 10 handicap female golfer will have a better short game than a 10 handicap male golfer.  Women will have better feel around the green, better bump and runs… I am not sure why. I played with two “50 something” women; they used nothing but 7 irons around the green. In 9 holes one lady almost jarred 3 pitches, and made easy par puts. Men will try stupid shots, like LW from everywhere. Women may have a better since of what they are capable of; women may be better at eliminating risk, I call it “taking your medicine”. A man is more likely to try a shot he can only pull off 1 in 10 times, “I can hit that green form 260, just rip it”, it’s the same idea around the green.  

Answer 5

Male Golfers are better with EVERY club.  

Answer 6

When comparing the short games of the PGA golfers vs. LPGA, I'd say it's a wash.  Both sexes are incredible with their short game at that level.  The touch they display around the green is amazing.

Answer 7

Yes and no. Every golfer, male or female has their strengths. The only club my wife uses is her PW. She even putts with it because she cares less when she misses. Some golfers are good with all wedges, and ive seen men with up to five in their bag. It's all preference, but it would say that women that play alot, do tend to have a slightly better short game than men.  

Answer 8

It depends.  Many male golfers tend to rely on their strength to hit the golf ball.  In contrast, most female golfers will be much more accurate because they don't try to hit the ball as hard as male golfers do.  Many times this is the reason female golfers will beat a male golfer (assuming she plays more than once a month).  I think the lower the handicap regardless of s*x the better the player is with their wedges.