CRITERIA
Our judges evaluated Hot List candidates in four areas.
- Performance ( 45%)
What happens to the ball when it’s struck by the club. - Innovation ( 30%)
How a ball’s technology, advances the category. - Look/Sound/Feel ( 20%)
What the golfer experiences before, during and after impact. - Demand ( 5%)
The relative interest in a product and its reputation.
(L) Low-Handicapper | (M) Mid-Handicapper | (H) High-Handicapper
Callaway
MD3 MILLED
Performance 4½ stars
Innovation 5 stars
Look / sound / feel 5 stars
Demand 4 stars
Verdict This wedge has three types of grooves tied to specific lofts: The lower lofts have narrow grooves for a smooth transition in spin between your irons and your first wedge. The middle lofts have grooves with steeper walls to better accentuate spin on full swings and bunker shots. The highest lofts have wide grooves to improve greenside and partial-swing spin. The ports in the back help raise the centre of gravity for spin and flight control.
Comments (L) Great feel and turf interaction. (M) Easy to flight full shots. Good spin on greenside shots. (H) Well-designed bounce: it’s there when you open up the face but out of the way when you don’t.
Cleveland
RTX-3 BLADE/CB
Performance 4½ stars
Innovation 5 stars
Look / sound / feel 4½ stars
Demand 4½ stars
Verdict Getting the centre of gravity (CG) just right in a wedge has always been a challenge, Cleveland says, because the hosel is longer than with other clubs. As a result, the head’s balance has favoured the heel side. This wedge line – which includes 34 models in blade and cavity-back – moves the CG towards the middle of the face by shifting weight from the hosel to the clubhead. The idea is to produce more consistent spin, distance and feel.
Comments (L) I was able to lay open the compact head with ease, keep the trajectory down and dial in my distance. (M) Nice turf interaction. The milling feels like Velcro. Fantastic spin. (H) The sweet spot is buttery, muted and subtle.
Cobra
KING PUR
Performance 4 stars
Innovation 4½ stars
Look / sound / feel 4½ stars
Demand 2 stars
Verdict The best way to optimise spin is to improve how the face makes contact with the ball. Cobra addresses this in a few ways. First, the face is left unchromed to maximise spin with a more consistent groove shape. Second, a thicker face and topline mitigates unwanted vibration. Finally, the higher lofts have wider grooves to channel away debris for cleaner contact.
Comments (L) The little cutout made it easy to lay the face open and hit all types of shots. (M) A really competent wedge. Great on low-checking shots with good spin out of the sand. (H) Easy to get the ball high and out of the bunker.
Mizuno
S5
Performance 4½ stars
Innovation 4½ stars
Look / sound / feel 4 stars
Demand 2½ stars
Verdict The S5 has a rounder, larger and more forgiving shape than its predecessor. For that
reason it might appeal to a broader range of players, but this forged model still offers the Mizuno subtleties elite players prefer. This includes 10 stock and 15 custom lofts, five sole grinds, and grooves matched to how shots are played by loft. Lower lofts have narrower grooves for maximising full shots. Higher lofts have wider grooves for better friction on partial shots.
Comments (L) Great consistency in producing high and soft shots. (M) The size gives you the confidence to hit the shot you need. (H) It’s workable from around the greens and easy from the sand.
Mizuno
T7
Performance 4½ stars
Innovation 5 stars
Look / sound / feel 4 stars
Demand 3 stars
Verdict This shape-shifting wedge line (yes, the size actually changes from loft to loft) has different grooves, sole grinds, bounce angles and toe height based on the loft. The lower lofts have a straighter leading edge to help on full shots, and the higher lofts have a more rounded leading edge and topline to assist with open-face shots. All of these design features are forged in a durable, boron-infused carbon steel.
Comments (L) Great turf interaction. Consistent sound and feel. (M) A lot of weight low, so it’s easy
to get through the shot. (H) I could really control it, even on tight lies.
Ping
GLIDE 2.0
Performance 5 stars
Innovation 5 stars
Look / sound / feel 5 stars
Demand 3½ stars
Verdict The Glide’s second generation focuses on optimising spin with updated milled-groove designs that change depending on the loft. Grooves on the lower lofts have more volume for cleaner contact and consistent spin on full shots. The sharper-edge grooves on the higher lofts help grab the ball for more spin on less-than-full-swing shots. Four sole options are available to help you maximise turf interaction.
Comments (L) It’s an easy wedge to aim. I could trap the ball and create perfectly sized divots. (M) “Glide” resonates with its turf interaction. You’re not getting stuck anywhere. Love the extended grip. (H) Works well on long bunker shots.
TaylorMade
MILLED GRIND
Performance 4 stars
Innovation 4½ stars
Look / sound / feel 4 stars
Demand 3½ stars
Verdict The design of a wedge can be compromised by a crude manufacturing process that sometimes involves inexact hand-grinding techniques. So the soles of these wedges are computer-milled to precise specifications to match high, mid and low-bounce options. Bonus: weight savings in the hosel shift the centre of gravity closer to the centre of the face and slightly higher for a more consistent trajectory.
Comments (L) Lots of good feedback, like a classic forged wedge, but with good forgiveness. (M) The heel relief on the sole makes it super simple to open it up around the green. (H) Love the classic shape with the little touches of colour and functional micro-grind.
Titleist
VOKEY DESIGN SM6
Performance 5 stars
Innovation 5 stars
Look / sound / feel 5 stars
Demand 5 stars
Verdict Too often wedges are thought of as one homogenous group. But Titleist’s wedge guru Bob Vokey offers the idea that they are an entirely unique set of individual tools. Hence, the 21 models across five sole grinds. That’s also why the weighting and grooves change through the lofts. The low weighting on the lower lofts matches the transition from the irons better, and the loft-specific grooves optimise spin for the type of shot played.
Comments (L) Your ability to hit those little half shots with lower or higher trajectories is off the charts. (M) Excellent stopping ability. You can be really precise. (H) Found it easy to generate spin with the little checking chips.
Ben Hogan
TK 15
Performance 4 stars
Innovation 3½ stars
Look / sound / feel 4 stars
Demand 1 star
Verdict Each loft from 48 to 63 degrees is designed with different weighting for more precise distance control in your short game. With more weight distributed higher and to the perimeter on the lower lofts, slight mis-hits fly truer. The weight is low on the higher lofts for better feel on short shots. The V-shape sole uses more bounce at the leading edge and less in the main part of the sole.
Comments (L) Versatile. I could hit lots of shots without changing the bounce structure. (M) Pure as a single malt. Nice, soft feel. Old-school classic looks. (H) Maybe a better player’s head size, but I had really good distance control, spin and touch.
Callaway
MACK DADDY FORGED
Performance 4½ stars
Innovation 3½ stars
Look / sound / feel 4 ½ stars
Demand 3½
Verdict Wedge designer Roger Cleveland solicited input from elite players, leading to a focus on improving control. The more compact shape’s straight leading edge is easier to manipulate. A progressively higher centre of gravity as the lofts increase helps shots launch lower, and a new groove pattern adds a scoreline near the leading edge for additional grab. One final pitch to the elite player: it’s forged from soft 1025c carbon steel.
Comments (L) Nice thump in the bunker with a consistent amount of sand. (M) That heavier feel made for good turf interaction. (H) Contact was solid and controllable.
Wilson
FG TOUR PMP
Performance 4 stars
Innovation 4 stars
Look / sound / feel 4 stars
Demand 2 stars
Verdict These wedges seek to maximise spin on two types of shots. First, full shots from the rough benefit from wider grooves that channel away debris. Second, more milled lines between each groove mean there’s extra surface friction on chips and pitches. Bonus: a custom-bending program offers 97 loft options.
Comments (L) It’s forgiving on greenside shots. (M) I love the versatility and firm feel. Had no problem hitting lots of shots with different spin and height. (H) The rounded leading edge and sole grind let me open it up and set it square or shut, all with ease.
