STREET PRICE: $120DETAILS: 16 loft/bounce options from 47 to 64 degrees; three sole grinds; two finishes: chrome (shown), slateTECH TALK: Forged from 1020 carbon steel, the wedge line features two groove patterns. The lower-lofted wedges use a narrow groove for control on full swings, and the higher lofts have a larger groove for more spin from greenside rough. A laser-milled pattern between the grooves increases surface roughness to improve short-game shots.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Dr. Spin out of the bunkers, and the turf interaction was flawless."M: "The feel on little chips is precise. It's easy to control."HOT: This series is the company's most complete wedge line to date.NOT: One option at 54 degrees isn't enough, and three at 60 degrees is probably too many.INFO:callawaygolf.com
CLEVELAND 588 RTX
STREET PRICE: $120DETAILS: 10 loft/bounce options from 46 to 64 degrees; two finishes: satin chrome (shown), black pearlTECH TALK: The company's "zip" grooves are 16-percent larger than they were in 2012 for better spin out of the rough. The face features two surface textures for enhanced control. The Rotex pattern uses milled, angled curves to improve consistency on open-face shots. Laser-etched lines between the grooves help make the surface roughness more uniform.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It's easy to get it up and out of the sand quick, and with spin, too. Greenside, it's like being on cruise control for short chips."M: "It has these crazy grooves on it, and you can feel them. When I hit a dead-hand shot, it still spun."HOT: Cleveland has made every effort to maximize spin.NOT: If only the sole grinds garnered the same attention.INFO:clevelandgolf.com
PING TOUR
STREET PRICE: $130DETAILS: 13 loft/bounce options from 47 to 60 degrees; three sole grinds; dark-satin finishTECH TALK: The Gorge grooves on the cast 17-4 stainless-steel heads are milled to get closer to the USGA limits on volume and edge sharpness. The cavity is designed to create perimeter weighting and room for a weight port to improve feel and maintain swingweight consistency. The three sole grinds offer low, medium and high bounce angles.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Good head shape, perfect size and the white paintfill in the bottom groove is good for aiming. The heel-toe ratio is perfect."M: "In the sand, you could get spin on it or chunk and run it. It's versatile."HOT: Typical of Ping: a clean, efficient design from groove to sole. The sole options are distinct and easy to understand.NOT: No breakthrough work being done in surface roughness.INFO:ping.com
TITLEIST VOKEY DESIGN SM5
STREET PRICE: $130DETAILS: 21 loft/bounce options from 46 to 62 degrees; six sole grinds; three finishes: tour chrome (shown), gold nickel, raw blackTECH TALK: The wedge's groove pattern changes depending on the loft. Lower lofts have narrower grooves for trajectory control, and higher lofts use deeper grooves for more spin from the rough. A heat treatment is applied to the impact area during the casting process to improve durability.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It's very responsive on greenside shots, and the spin is remarkable."M: "In the sand, the ball comes off so clean. I could throw the ball up anywhere, short or long. I can feel the wider sole."HOT: We're always excited when Vokey offers a full update, and we're never disappointed. Epically complete.NOT: The simple design on the back looks a tad unfinished.INFO:titleist.com
CLEVELAND 588 RTX CB
STREET PRICE: $120DETAILS: Eight loft/bounce options from 46 to 60 degrees; two finishes: satin chrome (shown), black pearlTECH TALK: It features the same enlarged "zip" grooves of the RTX and the same combination of milled curves and laser-etched lines between grooves to optimize surface roughness. This cavity-back construction saves about 25 to 30 grams of weight that allows a wider, reverse-C sole grind.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "I like the black finish, which cuts down the glare and helps you get the club square. It's surprisingly soft off the face with the short pitches. And very handy out of the sand."M: "It was really good out of trouble. Every shot got out. Every shot was high."HOT: Average players, rejoice! Finally a chance to take advantage of a high-spin face with a forgiving sole design.NOT: One option at 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees is insufficient.INFO:clevelandgolf.com
COBRA TOUR TRUSTY
STREET PRICE: $120DETAILS: 11 loft/bounce options from 48 to 64 degrees; two finishes: matte satin (shown), matte black PVDTECH TALK: The new groove design is 15 percent larger than its predecessor, the Trusty Rusty, for better control and spin on short shots from the rough. A milling process creates two levels of machined edges between each groove to enhance friction. The center notch on the sole aids in providing heel and toe relief for better versatility through the turf.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "It's so balanced, it works as one unit."M: "This is a sleeper. A serious pair of hands can make the ball dance...It's easy to lay it wide open and flop it."HOT: Cobra has done some admirable work here on the grooves and turf interaction.NOT: A 64-degree option is a novelty; more than one option at 58 degrees is a necessity.INFO:cobragolf.com
HOPKINS CJ-1
STREET PRICE: $100DETAILS: Nine loft/bounce options from 50 to 60 degrees; six sole grinds; two finishes: tour raw (shown), black satinTECH TALK: With an emphasis on customizing the sole grind to your particular swing and course conditions, these wedges are cast from 8620 carbon steel and have milled faces. Each wedge can be personalized for lie- and loft-angle specifications, paintfill colors and custom engraving.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Traditional, no glare. I can feel the club's weight, which is nice around the greens. Great out of the sand."M: "Cuts through the grass perfectly."HOT: An educational (and fun) online process should get people to take advantage of all the options.NOT: To compete against the big boys, the groove and face technologies need an upgrade.INFO:hopkinsgolf.com
MIZUNO MP-T4
STREET PRICE: $130DETAILS: Eight loft/bounce options from 50 to 60 degrees; two finishes: white satin (shown), black nickelTECH TALK: Mizuno was the first to offer different groove patterns based on loft: The grooves on the lower lofts are narrow and deep for control, and the grooves on the higher lofts are wider for short-shot spin. The teardrop-shape head is forged from 1025E mild carbon steel and has softer heel and toe relief than previous Mizuno wedges.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The best part is the feel—the ball melts into the face. Pretty forgiving, too."M: "The compact blade suits my eye. I like that it has a quiet, minimalist look. It lays open easily, but I could hit low runners, too."HOT: Even for a Luke Donald-inspired wedge, the groove technology makes sense for any level of golfer.NOT: Limited options, and only three choices for lefties.INFO:mizunousa.com/golf
NIKE VR X3X
STREET PRICE: $110DETAILS: Seven loft/bounce options from 52 to 60 degrees; two sole grinds; satin-chrome finishTECH TALK: The updated X3X 27 groove pattern has wider spacing with a 15-percent increase in the volume of each groove. Noteworthy is the "toe sweep" sole-grind option: The extra-wide toe and narrow heel allow the leading edge to stay closer to the ground for multiple address positions.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "Shallow look, square leading edge. Feels smooth like soft serve, creamy even. Spins really well out of the grass and the sand."M: "Don't ask any questions about the shape. Just pick it up and hit it. One of the softest, most consistent-feeling wedges I've hit."HOT: The look is no gimmick. These unique soles were built with input from better players, but this will help any player.NOT: Not as many options in the lower lofts.INFO:nikegolf.com
SCOR SCOR4161
STREET PRICE: $150DETAILS: 21 loft/bounce options from 41 to 61 degrees; satin-chrome finishTECH TALK: This is a short-iron replacement system as much as a wedge offering: There are seven separate head designs across a 21-degree range. The sole has a higher bounce angle near the leading edge to prevent digging and lower bounce through the trailing edge to improve its setup on tight lies.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "On full shots, there's more of a boring trajectory with it, and it's easy to control the distance."M: "Nice, compact head. Easy to maneuver around the greens—you can hit it where you want to."HOT: SCOR makes an impressive argument for rethinking all your clubs with more than 40 degrees of loft.NOT: It's time to bring that creativity to the groove design and face technology.INFO:scorgolf.com
TAYLORMADE TOUR PREFERRED
STREET PRICE: $130DETAILS: 10 loft/bounce options from 50 to 60 degrees; two sole grinds; satin-chrome finishTECH TALK: The ATV sole, which is available on the 54- through 60-degree models, features a wider convex shape that has different bounce angles based on the address position. The face features chemically etched "micro bumps" to improve friction in the areas between the grooves.PLAYER COMMENTS:L: "The sole gave me good feedback on all shots. It doesn't dig in the sand; the bounce does its job."M: "Very crisp-sounding. It's soft coming out of the greenside grass, and it's easy to keep low or hit high."HOT: Now with a more classic look and standard-sole option, this wedge's face technology will be useful to more people.NOT: A sufficient, not exhaustive, array of options, but we could see room for one higher loft and another finish.INFO:taylormadegolf.com
