What do the numbers on a golf wedge mean?

Answer 1

It is the order number of the clubs. Ordered by the angle of the club. With smaller number, the ball will raise lower when hit. Usually smaller number clubs are used for longer shots, which is mostly achieved by longer shaft of the club thus giving more speed for the ball. Bigger number clubs are used for more precise shots. Ball will stop faster after hitting the ground, because dropping velocity will be greater when the height of the shot is higher.

Answer 2

there could be 2 types of numbers, depending on what company made the wedge. The first 2 numbers, usually the largest, will be the loft on the club. This is the angle of the clubface in relation to the ground. it is in degrees, and typically will be 50, 52, 56, or 60. other than that there could also be some smaller numbers which indicate the bounce angle. This is the angle between where the sole of the club acutally touches the ground and the leading edge of the clubface. The more bounce, the easier it is to hit out of soft or fluffy ground, and the more difficult to hit off tight, hard ground. High bounce angles are 15 or 12, and low ones are 8 or 10 degrees.