Sixty percent of the top 100 PGA Tour golfers utilize a 46 degree pitching wedge, with 48 degrees being the next most regularly used loft. For gap wedges, 42 percent choose 52-degree variants, with the remaining third preferring 50-degree models. For example, one pro's sand wedge might be another player's lob wedge. CT Pan, for example, employs four loft wedges at 46deg, 52deg, 60deg, and 64deg. The pitching wedge is by far the most commonly used club among professional golfers. This is because it allows players to get the ball in the air quickly and with precision, which are important qualities for success on the PGA Tour. The pitching wedge is used for shots that need to go long, such as over the head shot, and it can also be useful for shots that need to go short, like up against the grain of the green. Many amateurs use a 45-degree wedge because this is what most manufacturers produce. These clubs are easy to hit and have good distance, but they don't get much lift so they aren't ideal for high-risk/high-reward shots. A player who wants a more powerful wedge could try using a 48-degree version, but this would make the club too difficult to control. A few professionals use a 53-degree wedge because these clubs have better distance than their 48-degree counterparts. They also allow players to get the ball in the air, which is helpful when making tricky shots around obstacles such as trees and hills.