WEDGES

: MIZUNO MP-T; STREET PRICE: $100
WEBSITE: mizunousa.com
LOFTS/BOUNCE: 47/6, 51/6, 53/8, 56/10, 56/14, 58/10, 60/5, 60/8

TECH TALK: Mizuno uses its "grain-flow" forging process on a special billet of 1025E Pure Select mild carbon steel. Deep square grooves are computer-milled for maximum spin, and the C-grind sole helps improve playability. The teardrop head shape features minimal offset and a rolled leading edge to prevent digging.

PLAYER COMMENTS: (M) "Very much a piece of artwork. The heel and sole grinds are functional." ... (M) "Maybe not as much spin as the others, but I didn't miss it at all. Great feel." ... (L) "Out of the sand, I don't know how you get any better." ... (L) "This is how I like my wedges to look." ... (T) "It's got that forged feel that's so nice to have around the greens."

HOT: Nothing says forged like Mizuno. It has a classic shape and plenty of heft that's easy to like. We love the 51- and 53-degree lofts for the gap wedge, too.

NOT: It's a solid wedge, but its groove technology hasn't been updated since 2005. That's too long in this field.

: NIKE VR FORGED; STREET PRICE: $110
WEBSITE: nikegolf.com
LOFT/BOUNCE: 52/10, 54/12, 56/10, 56/14, 58/6, 58/10, 60/6, 60/10

TECH TALK: Made from 1025 forged carbon steel, the wedge was designed with significant input from Tiger Woods and with the careful grinding touch of the well-regarded and somewhat unknown master craftsman Mike Taylor. The heel grind allows for opening the clubface and hitting a variety of shots from different lies.

PLAYER COMMENTS: (M) "This definitely would be an overperformer. Does everything you ask it to do, and it inspires a lot of confidence." ... (M) "Simple, elegant, yet performs fantastic out of the worst lies and the bunker." ... (M) "An exceptional wedge with great feel on good and bad hits." ... (L) "The setup blew me away."

Hot: A club blessed by Tiger deserves consideration. And the shot that set up the putt that got Tiger in the U.S. Open playoff at Torrey Pines (18th hole, 60-degree wedge to 12 feet) was executed with this model. NOT: Will middle- to high-handicappers balk at its no-frills player's-club profile?

: PING TOUR-W; STREET PRICE: $110
WEBSITE: pinggolf.com
LOFTS/BOUNCE: 47/10, 50/12, 52/12, 54/10, 54/14, 56/10, 56/14, 58/6, 58/8, 58/10, 60/6, 60/8, 60/10

TECH TALK: The 17-4 cast stainless-steel head has a tungsten toe weight and a small cavity that's designed to increase the moment of inertia (MOI) and improve feel. A polymer insert in the cavity helps optimize swingweight, dampen vibration and push the center of gravity (CG) low and slightly forward to control clubhead rotation during the swing. The contoured sole helps with shots from a variety of lies. Available in a brushed-silver or black-nickel finish.

PLAYER COMMENTS: (M) "It screams forgiveness." ... (M) "The feel is fantastic, with plenty of spin." ... (L) "Terrific out of the sand. It almost felt like I was hitting a good drive." ... (T) "Recessed area behind the hosel makes it really playable from all lies."

HOT: It has a sophisticated look and is smart. It's proof that wedges can facilitate new thinking and the use of different materials but not look like a metal detector.

NOT: Some will like the fact that these grooves won't scuff your ball. Others won't.

: TAYLORMADE Z TP; STREET PRICE: $120
WEBSITE: tayormadegolf.com
LOFTS/BOUNCE: 52/8, 54/10, 56/12, 58/8, 60/6

TECH TALK: The milled "Z" grooves are named for the cutting tool that the company says is more advanced than the one used for its previous Y-cutter grooves. The result is a 10 percent increase in groove volume that helps channel debris and maintain maximum spin. The C-grind sole available on some lofts increases the club's versatility. Its smoked PVD finish helps diminish glare.

PLAYER COMMENTS: (M) "You can fly it to the hole and it stops, even from the rough, which is fun." ... (M) "That dark-brown finish is easy on the eyes." ... (T) "The leading edge stays down when you open it, so you know you'll hit it crisp."

HOT: It features the qualities (grooves, sole, look) better players seek in a wedge. That nice, soft feel is the result of the channeled area on the backside, an innovation that isn't new but remains effective.

NOT: Its loft and bounce options are limited. Just one finish probably won't satisfy everyone. The lack of a C-grind sole on the 60-degree model is curious.