Spin per Degree: A Wedge Player’s Secret Weapon

I often get asked, “How do you fit for wedges?” The answer? I love talking about grinds and bounces, set makeups, and finding the right combination based on the player’s iron set. I’ll have them hit full shots and partial shots—from the fairway, from the rough. I watch how the ball reacts when it lands. I might compare it to their current wedge. And yes, I always check the launch monitor and take a look at the spin numbers.

We all talk about spin. How much spin does it have? Is that number high enough? Why did that one grab and the other one release? I’ll be honest—spin numbers can be all over the place. It’s a tricky spec to even talk about, despite how important it is. So where do you go from there?

Spin rate is one of the most watched—and most misunderstood—numbers in a fitting. But if you’re only looking at raw RPMs, you’re missing the bigger story.

A few days ago, I was listening to a product specialist introducing a new set of irons. He was talking about modern lofts, and how they don’t spin as much as the irons of yesteryear. And then he started talking about Spin per Degree. Not spin. Not loft. Spin per degree of loft delivered. I haven’t heard about this spec in years. It got me thinking. How can we use this spec in a meaningful way? It sparked a great discussion in my own head.

So… what exactly is Spin per Degree?

It’s simple. Spin rate divided by dynamic loft. That’s it. Both numbers are measured by your launch monitor—just divide one by the other. Simply put, Spin per Degree tells us how efficiently the club is producing spin.

Let’s say you’re fitting two wedges. One delivers 36 degrees of dynamic loft and spins at 9,000 RPM. The other delivers 42 degrees and also spins at 9,000 RPM. Same spin, right? On the surface, maybe. But run the numbers—Wedge A gives you 250 Spin per Degree. Wedge B? Only 214. This means that Wedge B will hit the green, bounce forward, and come to a stop about 15 feet from its ball mark, while Wedge A is ripping backwards.

But they have the same spin? Correct—but the shots will not respond the same way.

What’s a good number? There’s no perfect number, but there are benchmarks. Tour players often land between 260 and 300 Spin per Degree on full wedge shots. Competitive amateurs might fall in the 220 to 260 range, while recreational players usually sit between 160 and 200. So when you see a shot that spins at 7,800 RPM, don’t stop there. Ask yourself: how much loft was used to produce it? That’s the better question. That’s where the truth lives.

This is what makes Spin per Degree so valuable in a wedge fitting. It doesn’t just show you how much spin the shot had—it shows you how well the loft was being used to produce it. It removes the guesswork and lets you evaluate shafts, heads, grinds, and even balls with a more educated lens. Instead of just chasing spin, you start chasing the right kind of spin.

Here’s a great example. Take three 40-yard pitch shots with the same swing speed. Shot one delivers 38 degrees of Dynamic loft and produces 4,000 RPM. That’s 105 Spin per Degree—great strike, clean friction. Shot two delivers 42 degrees and spins at 3,200 RPM. That drops you to 76 per degree—less efficient. The club might’ve slid under the ball, or the face could’ve been wet. Shot three is the interesting one: 50 degrees and 5,000 RPM. Sounds like a ton of spin—but it’s only 100 per degree. Still good, but not as efficient as the first one. It needed a lot more loft to get there.

If you take that same 40-yard pitch shot and switch from a 56° wedge to a 60°, several things change. First, dynamic loft increases. Let’s say the 56° was delivered at 38°. The 60° might now deliver closer to 42°, depending on the player’s motion and delivery. Next, spin rate usually increases slightly—from 4,000 to something like 4,400–4,600 RPM—thanks to the added loft and spin loft. Now here’s where it gets interesting: Spin per Degree increases—from 105 to maybe 110 RPM per degree. That’s more spin per degree of delivered loft. Sounds like a win, right? But here’s the nuance: That added loft also raises the launch angle and apex height, which changes how the ball comes in. Yes, descent angle becomes steeper—so technically, the ball could stop faster. But that depends heavily on strike quality and turf interaction. The 60° is less forgiving in terms of contact quality, and there is little upside to doing this.

Got it? The Physics kinda melted your brain? Haha. Let’s see what this data really means if me make some comparisons. We’re going to compare this shot above to that of a tour player. A 40-yard shot requires about 40 mph of ball speed. That’s the same for everyone (and every club). For the amateur, the 40 yard shot with 38 degrees of dynamic loft with 4000 rpm of spin will produce a medium trajectory shot with a bounce and rollout. It could turn a 40 yard shot into a 45 yard shot. Add in slightly missed contact and it could be 50+ yards quite easily. Let’s say a tour player hit that shot now. He will replicate the same launch conditions with a full swing shot. Average spin will be 5200 rpm, and dynamic loft will be closer to 35 degrees. Spin per degree is about 150 rpm. Ever see a tour player hit a shot that hits, hops and stops dead in it’s tracks? This is it.

Is 1200 rpm enough to make that happen? On it’s own? Nope. Spin per degree shows that it’s a more efficient strike – it’s more than just the RPM’s – it’s how the rpm’s are delivered

So what can a fitter do about it? More than you might think.

First, ball choice. A urethane cover will always win this game—especially on partial shots. Two-piece balls just can’t create the same friction.

Next, check the grooves. Worn grooves mean slipping. No friction, no spin. This is where you’ll be able to see the effectiveness of an old wedge. Let’s go back to our 40-yard pitch shots again. ALL of those shots above are rolling out. Say you have the shot with 38 degrees of dynamic loft and 4,000 RPM of spin. This produces a Spin per Degree of 105 RPM. Let’s say we give the player a new wedge and he bumps it to 5,000 RPM with all other specs the same. The Spin per Degree is now 132 RPM. That’s a massive difference—and it will provide significantly more control once the ball hits the ground. This is a very realistic gain.

Pay attention to the grind, too. The right sole geometry will help stabilize turf interaction, which leads to cleaner, more consistent strikes. Shaft profiles matter. Some shafts cause players to deliver more loft—or lose control of the face. A heavier or stiffer option might help preserve the angle through impact. Even gapping plays a role. Sometimes dropping to a lower-lofted wedge results in better Spin per Degree and better overall numbers, especially for players who naturally deliver the ball high.

Lastly, be mindful of conditions. A wet ball or grass between the face kills spin. Spin per Degree will call it out right away—even when the launch monitor number looks acceptable.

Spin per Degree isn’t something you’ll find on your launch monitor screen—but it’s there. Spin per Degree = Spin ÷ Dynamic Loft. Get out your calculator and take a look. It’s one of the most honest stats you can use in a wedge fitting. It takes what the player gives you and shows you whether the equipment is helping—or getting in the way.

Because in the end, the goal isn’t just to create more spin. It’s to get more out of what’s already there.