Wonder wedges

Wedges play a vitally important role in the make-up of your set, but finding the right ones for your game can be more of a challenge than you think.

When it comes to choosing the right wedge, it’s all about knowing yourself, knowing how you play the game, and knowing what challenges you consistently face out on the course. When you know specifically what you’d like your wedge to do for you, you’ll be much better equipped to choose the perfect wedge for your unique requirements.

There’s also the question of style and finish, so here are a selection of the leading wedges currently on the market to cast your eye over.

TITLEIST VOKEY SPIN MILLED 5

Precisely designed and manufactured using proprietary ‘Spin Milled’ technology, Vokey SM5 wedges by Titleist provide a distinct performance advantage through new, deeper TX3 grooves, tour-driven shapes and the industry’s most extensive range of bounce and grind options.

  New TX3 grooves, with seven percent larger groove volume and two performance configurations, deliver maximum spin by channelling away grass and sand for improved contact between the ball and groove edge. Spin Milled technology also provides trajectory and distance control through precisely milled grooves and machined face texture.

Every SM5 wedge is milled to the tightest tolerance in the industry, with each groove individually cut to the maximum dimensions allowed by the Rules of Golf and 100-percent inspected. A localised, high frequency face treatment provides increased groove durability for longer spin retention over the life of the wedge.

Vokey SM5 wedges are available in 21 different loft/bounce/grind combinations and six tour inspired sole grinds, appropriately slotted into low-, mid- and high-bounce categories to fit all swing types, shot-making styles and short game conditions.

With a more compact and balanced profile, SM5 wedges are available in three new finishes – Tour Chrome, Gold Nickel and Raw Black.

SPECIFICATIONS: 46˚ (46.08 F Grind); 48˚ (48.08 F Grind); 50˚ (50.08 F Grind, 50.12 F Grind); 52˚ (52.08 F Grind, 52.12 F Grind); 54˚ (54.10 S Grind, 54.10 M Grind, 54.14 F Grind); 56˚ (56.10 S Grind, 56.10 M Grind, 56.14 F Grind); 58˚ (58.04 L Grind, 58.07 S Grind, 58.08 M Grind, 58.11 K Grind); 60˚ (60.04 L Grind, 60.07 S Grind, 60.08 M Grind, 60.11 K Grind); 62˚ (62.08 T Grind).

SRP: $179 each.

Visit www.Titleist.com.au for more information

BRIDGESTONE J15

Bridgestone’s J15 wedges are forged from carbon steel for the ultimate feel and performance players expect from their wedges.

Featuring a teardrop shape that is preferred by Tour players, these wedges have machine-milled faces with increased surface roughness that’s designed for extra spin. The ‘aggressive’ U grooves, which are deeper than previous models, allow for maximum channelling of dirt and debris. These conforming grooves ensure consistent ball-to-face contact.

J15 wedges are heat treated to enhance durability, while the ‘Sure Contact Sole’ ensures consistent contact and turf interaction from all lies. The essence of the Sure Contact Sole is the designers have narrowed the heel section, which helps provide cleaner contact as well as better control on shorter shots, simply by allowing the club to sit flush with the ground even when the clubface is open.

The J15 wedges are available in in two finishes – satin chrome and the non-glare black oxide. True Temper’s Dynamic Gold Spinner shaft are fitted as standard but these wedges can be fully customised, with custom shaft, grip and ferrule options.

SPECIFICATIONS: 50˚ (8˚ bounce); 52˚ (8˚ bounce); 54˚ (10˚ bounce); 56˚ (14˚ bounce); 58˚ (8˚ bounce); 60˚ (6˚ bounce). 52˚ (8˚ bounce) and 58˚ (8˚ bounce) for left-handers only.

RRP: $179 each.

Visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.au for more information

NIKE ENGAGE

Nike Golf Engage wedges are the newest solution to help the likes of Rory McIlroy both score and escape adverse conditions on the course.

The name Engage comes from three important interactions between the golf club and the turf, the club face and the golf ball and the connection between the athlete and his or her equipment.

“To me, they perform really well from the rough around the greens,” McIlroy said. “The ball seems to consistently get up easier and land softer.”

The Nike Engage wedges are available in three distinct sole grinds: Dual Sole, Square Sole and Toe Sweep. The Square Sole was designed to be played with a squared-up clubface while the Dual Sole offers two distinctive surfaces for a wide range of shots. The Dual Sole is inspired by grinds used by Tiger Woods and McIlroy.

The second-generation Toe Sweep grind maintains its superior performance as the best wedge from the worst lie on the course while improving versatility on tight lies. The wide toe and narrow heel width allow the club to be laid open at address and stay open through impact.

These wedges are precision milled with X3X grooves to deliver maximum spin on full shots. The grooves have more volume and sharper edges to deliver a more consistent shot in any condition as well as a more consistent ball flight.

SPECIFICATIONS: Square Sole (RH) 50° loft/11°bounce, 52°/11°, 54°/9°, 56°/9°, 58°/9°, 60°/9°; Square Sole (LH) 52°/11°, 56°/9°; Toe Sweep (RH) 54°/9°, 56°/9°, 58°/9°, 60°/9°; Dual Sole (RH) 58°/13°, 60°/13°; Dual Sole (LH) 60°/13°.

RRP: $209.99 each.

Visit www.nikegolf.com/nikegolf

PING GLIDE

Ping has taken a first-ever approach to its Glide wedges, engineering them from the hands down to provide short-game performance and trajectory control on shots of every length.

“For all golfers, being able to flight your ball with the ideal spin and trajectory will produce consistent, predictable results on any type of shot for hitting the ball close to the pin. The name says it all: these wedges glide through the turf better than anything we’ve ever seen,” Ping Chairman and CEO John A. Solheim said.

The proprietary Dyla-wedge grip is three quarters of an inch longer to encourage gripping down to control ball flight. The CFS Wedge shaft is optimised in weight, flex and balance to provide a stable feel and lower ball flights.

The Glide’s three versatile sole designs vary in width – standard, wide, and thin – enabling players to be fit for their angle of attack and common turf conditions. In lofts 47 through 54, loft-optimized ‘Gorge grooves’ have a 16º sidewall to maximize groove volume for improved performance on full shots. A 24º sidewall and tighter radius in lofts 56 through 60 optimise spin on chips and pitches.

The chrome-plated 431 stainless steel head repels moisture to create more friction for improved spin and consistency in wet conditions and lies in the rough.

SPECIFICATIONS: Standard sole 47º, 50º, 52º, 54º, 56º, 58º, 60º; Thin sole 58º, 60º; Wide sole 54º, 56º, 58º, 60º.

RRP: $200 each (steel shaft); $230 (graphite).

Visit www.pinggolf.com for more information

TAYLORMADE TOUR PREFERRED EF

TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred EF wedge is highlighted by the introduction of a proprietary electroformed (EF) nickel cobalt face. The incredibly thin face insert (.25 mm thick) is created in a process that begins with the ionization of nickel and cobalt in an electrolytic solution. The charged ions are then deposited directly onto a master plate containing the design of the grooved and microtextured surface.

“The Tour Preferred EF wedge is the perfect blend of craftsmanship and innovation,” said Clay Long, TaylorMade’s Director of Product Creation, Putters and Wedges. “Electroforming delivers a consistent high-performance groove pattern that delivers incredible spin over the course of thousands of shots. To have our Tour players put them into play immediately after seeing them for the first time is a true testament to their performance.”

The EF wedges are available in two sole options – a Tour grind, designed for the player who prefers a traditional, tour-proven sole design, and the versatile ATV Grind. The new ATV Grind boasts a reshaped sole that’s slightly narrower than the original ATV wedge. The ATV Grind promotes less bounce on both chip and full shots, whilst maintaining higher bounce on critical open-face shots around the greens and from the sand.

These wedges are fitted with KBS Tour shafts as standard.

SPECIFICATIONS: Tour Grind 47°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° and 62° lofts with bounce options from 8° to 15°.

ATV grind 52°, 54°, 56°, 58° and 60°.

RRP: $229.

Visit www.taylormadegolf.com for more details.

CALLAWAY MACK DADDY PM GRIND

If you’re looking to build the perfect wedge, pairing the game’s best wedge player with a legendary wedge designer is a good place to start. That’s what Callaway did to build the new PM-Grind Wedge – teaming Phil Mickelson with Roger Cleveland, the company’s long-time chief club designer.

Working closely with the five-time major champion on every detail, Cleveland precisely crafted a wedge with the look and performance that met Mickelson’s wishes after endless rounds of testing.

The PM-Grind Wedge features a unique shape with more surface area, 39 percent more groove area covering the entire face, and a high toe that moves weight higher in the clubface making it easier to hit shots out of deep rough.

The versatile design lets golfers accelerate through the ball and go confidently after every shot—even on flop shots, bunker shots and out of thick rough.

SPECIFICATIONS: 56˚ (13˚ bounce), 60˚ (10˚ bounce) and 64˚ (10˚ bounce) lofts. 58˚ (10˚ bounce) loft in right-hand only.

RRP: $199.99.

Visit au.callawaygolf.com for more details

CALLAWAY MD3 MILLED

Callaway’s new MD3 Milled wedge line is the company’s most complete range ever, featuring three unique grinds to provide the versatility you need to get up-and-down from any lie.

The W-Grind features a slightly wider sole, ideal for golfers with a steep angle of attack and great for bunker play and softer course conditions. The versatile S-Grind is suited for a wide range of conditions, shot types and attack angles, while the heel and toe relief of the C-Grind make it ideal for golfers with a more sweeping angle of attack and a great performer in firmer conditions.

MD3 Milled wedges also have ‘Progressive Groove Optimisation’ – a three-groove package that is precision milled into the face. This pattern optimises spin as you go up in loft for a smoother spin transition from your irons to wedges. The 30V grooves in the pitching and gap wedges are designed for shots that require a steep angle into the ball. The 20V grooves in the sand wedges are designed for full shots and bunker shots, while the 5V grooves in the lob wedges offer better control on shots out of the rough and around the green.

SPECIFICATIONS: S Grind 46˚ (8˚ bounce, 30V groove), 48˚ (8˚ bounce, 30V groove), 50˚ (10˚ bounce, 30V groove), 52˚ (10˚ bounce, 30V groove), 54˚ (10˚ bounce, 20V groove), 56˚ (10˚ bounce, 20V groove), 58˚ (9˚ bounce, 5V groove), 60˚ (9˚ bounce, 5V groove). W Grind 54˚ (12˚ bounce, 20V groove), 56˚ (12˚ bounce, 20V groove), 58˚ (11˚ bounce, 5V groove), 60˚ (11˚ bounce, 5V groove). C Grind 56˚ (10˚ bounce, 20V groove), 58˚ (8˚ bounce, 5V groove), 60˚ (8˚ bounce, 5V groove).

RRP: $209.99 each.

Visit au.callawaygolf.com for more details

CLEVELAND 588 RTX 2.0

This evolution in the game demands an evolution in the wedge game as well. To that end, Cleveland Golf has released the new 588 RTX2.0 wedge, which is designed to meet the games changing needs.

From research garnered from Tour players Keegan Bradley, Graeme McDowell and Hideki Matsuyama as well as everyday golfers, Cleveland Golf developed three distinct wedge grinds in two different head designs that are proven to optimise the short game for players of all abilities. For the improving wedge player, a more forgiving cavity back design, and for the better player, a traditional muscleback head shape.

Cleveland’s Rotex face technology literally changed the face of spin in golf last year. Rotex 2.0 takes spin control to yet another level with 15 percent sharper grooves and a new micro-milled Rotex face pattern that gives these wedges the most surface roughness the USGA will allow. It's Spin 2.0.

All Cleveland Golf wedges can be fitted using the Cleveland Golf Wedge Analyser fitting system with Swingbyte technology. The analyser provides a simple, quick and accurate way to fit golfers of all levels into the proper bounce and sole grind for their wedges.

SPECIFICATIONS: Tour Satin & Black Satin 46˚ (8˚ bounce), 48˚ (8˚), 50˚ (10˚), 52˚ (10), 54˚ (6˚, 10˚ & 12˚), 56˚ (8˚, 12˚ & 14˚), 58˚ (6˚, 10˚ & 12˚), 60˚ (6˚, 10˚ & 12˚), 62˚ (8˚), 64˚ (8˚). CB Black Satin 46˚ (8˚ bounce), 48˚ (8˚), 50˚ (10˚), 52˚ (10), 54˚ (8˚, 12˚ & 14˚), 56˚ (10˚, 14˚ & 16˚), 58˚ (8˚, 12˚ & 14˚), 60˚ (8˚, 12˚ & 14˚), 62˚ (10˚), 64˚ (10˚).

SRP: $189 (Tour Satin, CB Tour Satin & Black Satin Blade).

Visit www.clevelandgolf.com and www.wedgeanalyzer.com.au for more details

MIZUNO MP-T5

Mizuno’s MP-T5 wedges deliver the touch and precision of Mizuno’s renowned Grain Flow Forging construction where it benefits most – around the greens.

A refined teardrop profile – based on the Tour grind of short game genius Luke Donald, allows mastery of the ball from a variety of set ups and positions.

There are now 25 combinations of loft and bounce – with two sole types to suit varying techniques and turf conditions.

Mizuno’s Grain Flow Forged heads combine the softest touch with a backspin rate only possible through the use of loft specific grooves. Mizuno’s ‘Quad Cut Groove’ concept utilises a wider, shallow groove from 54˚ to 62˚ lofts (to grab softer, partial strikes) and a narrower, deeper configuration from 49˚ to 53˚ for fuller shots. All grooves are precision CNC milled to ensure exact manufacturing consistency from wedge to wedge.

A new lush Black IP (plated) finish is designed to maintain its looks over time. The alternative white satin finish is also permanent and the ultimate glare resistant option.

SPECIFICATIONS: 49˚ (6˚ bounce), 50˚ (7˚), 51˚ (8˚), 52˚ (9˚), 53˚ (10˚), 54˚ (8˚ & 12˚), 55˚ (9˚ & 13˚), 56˚ (10˚ & 14˚), 57˚ (11˚ & 15˚), 58˚ (4˚, 8˚, 12˚ & 16˚), 59˚ (5˚ & 9˚), 60˚ (6˚ & 10˚), 61˚ (7˚ & 11˚), 62˚ (8˚ & 12˚). Men’s left hand in white satin finish only.

RRP: $185 each.

Visit www.mizuno.com.au for more details