Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas are two of the biggest stars in golf. So when I had the chance to spend a half-day with them during a golf trip to Florida, I needed to squeeze out as much info as possible from them.
While they both gave me some driving range tips and golf swing drills to help me improve, they also sat down with me to chat about a few other topics — like whether it’s more fun to win a team event like the Ryder Cup than to earn a major victory!
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One burning question I just needed to know? Whether amateur golfers should ever use a 60-degree wedge — which is tricky for many players due to its high loft. Check out how Schauffele and Thomas answered below.
Xander Schauffele & Justin Thomas Give Their Thoughts on the 60-Degree Wedge
With golf icon Lee Trevino once declaring that the 60-degree wedge was the “worst thing that ever happened to a high-handicapper,” I had to get Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas’ thoughts.
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As mentioned above, since the 60-degree wedge can be difficult to hit with consistency, it’s a wedge that may have too much loft for the average golfer, with many players leaving shots way too short of their landing spot because they lack the confidence to use it.
So what do Schauffele and Thomas think? Surprisingly, they both disagree with Trevino’s take.
“I think amateurs are trying to have some fun, too,” Schauffele tells me. “I understand what Trevino was saying because a 56-degree wedge is plenty — I grew up only using a 56 — but once I got a 60 I was like, ‘oh my gosh, this is incredible.'”
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Despite the amazement he had after being introduced to a 60-degree, even Schauffele (a 2-time major champion!), thinks 56 degrees of loft is plenty — and can actually lead to better short game shots.
“For the most part, if you take amateurs as a whole, if they only used a 56-degree wedge, and I feel like myself at times, would chip better,” Schauffele claims.
Thomas took a more realistic approach, believing that, regardless of which wedge you prefer, you won’t get better at chip shots unless you practice.
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“I think that, whether you have a [60-degree] or not, just practice it more — that’s the main issue,” Thomas adds. “You’re not not chipping well because you’re using a 60 instead of a 56. It’s because you’re not practicing enough.”
So while Allen Iverson famously said “we’re talking ’bout practice,” seemingly downplaying its importance in basketball, when it comes to golf — and specifically the short game with a 60-degree wedge — it’s best to get in as many reps as possible to familiarize yourself with how to properly use the club.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Nov 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Golf section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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