On the surface, it seems like wedges are all variations on the same theme, that the differences aren’t necessarily immediately obvious. But if you’re looking for differences in such a precise and microscopically nuanced category, it seems a good place to start would be looking at what players who have a good short game have to say.
Enter the Hot List and our panel of 32 players meant to represent the vast majority of player types, displaying the array of skill sets you find across the universe of golfers. Just as we think players who struggle to get the ball on the green might help direct us to the easiest launching irons or why better players might tell us a lot about the fastest players distance irons, we think those players with excellent short games might be an ideal resource for the wedges that make a difference.
The wedge category is easily the most labor-intensive we test during the Hot List Summit every year. Our players put 24 top wedges through a full wedge-game obstacle course that includes full swings, pitch and chip shots, flop shots and bunker play. After our players have rated the entire collection of wedges, they are asked to rank their top five wedges in order from first place to fifth place. What follows are the wedges that our best wedge players elevated to their singular favorites.
false Callaway Opus SP $200 | Golf Galaxy 4.5 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Gold $200 The two-piece design features a pocket low in the head. This concentrates mass higher in the club, raising the center of gravity for a penetrating flight and the kind of control needed to flight shots or attack tight pins. A new 17-degree groove angle has tighter pitch spacing to promote more groove-edge contact. This produces consistent spin across a variety of lies. The grooves and a deep cross-hatch laser pattern across the face combine to generate additional friction for maximum control. Five grind options are available: the S, T, C, W and the new X grind that’s back by popular demand. The X grind (available in the 54-, 56-, 58- and 60-degree models) has a higher bounce for improved shot-making capability. Top 5 in Performance, all handicaps SPECS: 22 options (48-60 degrees), 5 sole grinds, 2 finishes BUY NOW DETAILS
Robert Shaw, plus-2 handicap: “Where this club shines is around the green. You can open it up. You can hit it square, and you’re always going to get the amount of spin that you want out of a shot. I never really hit a shot that I felt the club was doing anything wrong.”
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false Cleveland RTZ $180 | Golf Galaxy 4.5 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Gold $180 Cleveland used a proprietary steel alloy that features a tighter grain structure for a softer feel. It also saves six grams. In its raw state, the alloy has the benefit of not rusting over time as other steel alloys tend to do. This preserves the look and performance of the grooves. The ZipCore material in the hosel saves weight, some of which is repositioned low and toward the toe where golfers tend to strike the ball. The rest of the saved weight is used to make the hosel longer and wider to increase forgiveness. A refined face-milling process for the lower lofts enhances carry-distance consistency. The leading edge on lower-bounce models is sharper and is more rounded on higher-bounce options. This improves turf interaction based on the type of shots and the attack angles typically played with those bounces. New sharper, tighter-spaced grooves maximize contact and channel debris for more spin, particularly on shots hit from the rough. Top 5 in Performance from sand, low-handicaps 20 options (46-64 degrees), 4 sole grinds, 3 finishes BUY NOW DETAILS
Gary Abbott, 13-handicap: “On the full and partial shots, the single word is ‘precision.’ It was aggressive through the turf, and the ball flight got to its window and when it landed it zipped right across the green, and I’m not a zip across kind of guy. So much butteriness with good spin.”
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false Cobra King $170 | Golf Galaxy 4.0 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Silver $170 The grooves are produced using a CNC milling process and feature a new face blast to help improve performance in wet conditions. Cobra updated the popular “notch” grinds in the high-lofted wedges based on the old designs made by short-game guru Phil Rodgers. This helps the contact area in the heel glide through the turf more easily when opening the face on the 58- and 60-degree models. The wedges are manufactured from 8620 carbon steel using a metal-injection-molding process that produces tighter manufacturing tolerances, reducing the need for hand polishing that can lead to inconsistencies. What polishing is needed is done by a robot, eliminating human error and ensuring the same finish time after time. A progressive center of gravity (low on the 48- to 52-degree lofts, middle on the 54- and 56-degree models and high on the 58- and 60-degree lofts) provides optimal trajectory for shots typically struck with those clubs. Top 5 in Performance, high-handicaps 17 options (48 to 60 degrees), 4 grinds, 2 finishes BUY NOW DETAILS
Shane Popham, 12-handicap: “They should call this King of Spin. It was just holding everything, and I was seeing how close I can land it to pin and still have it stop. So much spin it was like a hot rod doing donuts.”
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false Mizuno Mizuno Pro T1 $180 | Golf Galaxy 4.0 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Silver $180 The new muscle-back shape has a taller heel section and more mass in the upper portion of the head to bring ball flight down for greater control. The head is no longer made from boron but rather a softer 1025 carbon steel to improve feel. The sharper leading edge with additional sole camber reduces turf resistance for those who tend to take divots. On the 48- through 52-degree wedges, 15 scorelines provide full-swing distance control. They are narrower and deeper to help channel debris. On the higher lofts, 16 scorelines and grooves that are wider and shallower optimize short-game spin. Wedges 54 degrees and higher feature microgrooves between the regular grooves for extra spin on short-game shots when the clubface is open. Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps 16 options (46-60 degrees), 6 sole grinds, 3 finishes BUY NOW DETAILS
Daniel Lupo, 11-handicap: “I found distance was very good with a very controllable ball flight. Initial launch was high, but with a relatively soft landing, and very spinny, too.”
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false Proto-Concept RR Forged $310 | Golf Galaxy 4.0 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Silver $310 To simplify the wedge-selection process, Proto-Concept developed three sole grinds that differ in effective bounce and are based on playing style. The NT grind is on lower lofts and is primarily for full swings. The SP grind is on lofts 56 and up and is designed for those with sweeping swings. The AG grind is another option for 56 degrees and up and is made for those who hit down on the ball. Through precise cold forging, groove width and depth have been optimized for maximum spin. The face features two types of laser milling—diagonal and horizontal—significantly improving spin in wet conditions. The head is forged, but the addition of a heat treatment achieves the pure feel and helps rid unwanted vibrations. SPECS: 13 options (46-60 degrees), 3 sole grinds, 1 finish BUY NOW DETAILS
Paul Ianniello, 6-handicap: “Balanced, powerful. Turf interaction was exceptional, especially on full shots. I felt it just glided through the grass, Spin was plentiful greenside. Had a lot of juice on it.”
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false PXG Stick’em Forged $200 | Golf Galaxy 4.0 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Silver $200 Placing weight in the high-toe area improves stability and promotes a more consistent trajectory. The cross-sectional area of the grooves is significantly larger. This allows for more displacement of grass, water and debris to give the groove edge a better chance of interacting with the cover of the ball. The wedges are three-times forged to produce an exact geometry and pure feel. The BP grind, named after company founder Bob Parsons, remains. It boasts a wider, fuller sole and offers the most bounce across the entire club. The wide sole will be appreciated by golfers with a steep angle of attack. An Xtreme Dark version is available with a diamond-like carbon coating that extends the life of the club in addition to looking badass. Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps SPECS: 10 options (50-60 degrees), 2 grinds, 2 finishes BUY NOW DETAILS
Alejandra Bedoya, 6-handicap: “I think the name really does justice to the club. It was very easy to be aggressive with it with full swings. Very predictable out of the bunker, easy to get the club to do whatever I wanted it to do.”
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false TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 $180 | Golf Galaxy 4.0 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Silver $180 These wedges are more than just their high-toe shape. The pronounced shaping shifts the center of gravity higher and toward the toe to produce shots with increased spin. The computer-milled sole grinds eliminate excessive hand work in the manufacturing process for more consistency from club to club. Laser-etched ribs between the grooves create additional surface friction. Called “spin tread,” the rows of diagonal lines between the grooves are designed to redirect moisture to create cleaner contact with the groove edges. Cast from soft 8620 carbon steel, the Hi-Toe 4 features a similar “raw” finish found on the Milled Grind 4 that allows for the groove design to be cleaner and unaffected by any final coating. For all lofts over 54 degrees, full-face grooves are standard. The lineup now features five sole grinds. Among them is the return of the ATV Grind, first introduced in 2012, that has a concave sole shape for better contact off tight lies and more extreme bounce for efficient open-face shots. Top 5 in Performance, low and middle-handicaps 17 options (50-60 degrees), 5 grinds, 1 finish BUY NOW DETAILS
Skylar Frankiewicz, 7-handicap: “Really balanced weight even though it’s a high toe. It really lets you swing through the ball without any kind of issues with catching grass or chunking or thinning. You can control it any which way you want, like a remote control car.”
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false TaylorMade Milled Grind 5 $200 | Golf Galaxy 4.5 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Gold $200 TaylorMade’s latest wedge line is fully forged, a first for the Milled Grind line and a decision made as a result of its tour staff’s request for more feel. The wedge is the first in the line to use saw-milled grooves, which were created using a new machining process that tightens tolerances and allows engineers to push groove geometry. The grooves have steeper walls and sharper edges for maximum grab—especially on partial shots. The raw face features a tread design between the grooves to channel away moisture like a set of all-weather tires. This produces 13 percent more spin from damp conditions, according to the company. The line has six grinds, including the TW grind based off Tiger Woods’ setup. That grind has more camber and less heel relief in the 60-degree lob wedge. Top 5 in Performance, high-handicaps SPECS: 23 options (46-60 degrees), 6 sole grinds, 2 finishes BUY NOW DETAILS
Ryan Woyski, 12-handicap: “Every shot did exactly what I wanted it to do. I feel like this wedge would get me added as a fourth man in a scramble.”
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false Titleist Vokey Design SM11 $200 | Golf Galaxy 5.0 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Gold $200 A new version of Titleist’s Spin Milled grooves features 5 percent more volume than the SM10 to channel away debris and retain more spin. A new directional face texture provides increased friction and prolongs contact on the face, delivering reliable spin on short shots. A heat treatment is applied to increase the durability of the groove edges to prolong maximum stopping power. Additions to the line include a stronger pitching wedge at 44 degrees and a 60-degree K-grind option with 12 degrees of bounce. The center of gravity is identical across all grinds in each loft, meaning you don’t have to compromise on your launch window for a specific grind choice. Top 5 in Performance, all handicaps SPECS: 27 options (44-60 degrees), 6 sole grinds, 4 finishes BUY NOW DETAILS
Jamie Struck, 7-handicap: “It’s a relatively soft feel with just a gentle thud at impact, resulting in high-floating, spinning shots that are on line every time. It transmits all its energy to the ball, getting through the greenside turf and sand with little resistance.”
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
