Price
$200
1 / 3

2 / 3

3 / 3

Why We Like It
- A helix milling tool cuts through material much more easily, ensuring a softer feel while creating deeper surface friction to enhance spin.
- The C grind is for square-faced shots, and the RJ grind (named after company founder Robert J. Bettinardi) features more bounce and heel and toe relief for players looking to manipulate the wedge on shorter shots.
- The ladder milling technique on the higher portion of the back flange removes less material, raising the center of gravity for a lower, more controlled flight.
- The hosel was lengthened by one-eighth of an inch to move the center of gravity closer to face center.
- Speed is not always front of mind with a wedge, but by reducing the weight of the club by two grams, a slightly faster swing is possible.
- On the 48- through 54-degree lofts the radius on the leading edge was reduced compared to last year’s HLX 5.0 to reduce digging on full swings.
- Top 5 in Sound/Feel, low-handicaps.
- 11 options (48-60 degrees), 2 grinds, 2 finishes
what our testers said
handicap
- all
- low
- mid
- high

John
55, Handicap 11
1 year testing
I like the grooves on the bottom of the club. Cut through the sand like a knife through butter. Good lift and spin control, too. Had good control greenside, as well. Very little dispersion on full swing shots.

Shane
36, Handicap 15
5 years testing
Easy to elevate shots from the sand. Wasn't able to generate adequate amount of spin on greenside chips and pitches, however. Ball was always rolling forward.

Matt
52, Handicap 11
3 years testing
A beautiful wedge. It's a particular delight around the green. Produced exceptional spin. I was getting shots to check up nicely. A really responsive "click" at impact and positive feedback in the hands.

Ryan
46, Handicap 14
2 years testing
Serious distance gains on full swing shots, among the longest in this category. Performance was there, too. Definitely had some bite and grab to the face.

Scott
37, Handicap 14
9 years testing
Sweet feel. Overall shape and size was perfectly symmetrical and balanced. Simple action through the turf. Very easy to get the ball to check, or pitch over a bunker. Quick-stopping grab on the greens.
SEE ALL (31)

John
55, Handicap 11
1 year testing
I like the grooves on the bottom of the club. Cut through the sand like a knife through butter. Good lift and spin control, too. Had good control greenside, as well. Very little dispersion on full swing shots.

Shane
36, Handicap 15
5 years testing
Easy to elevate shots from the sand. Wasn't able to generate adequate amount of spin on greenside chips and pitches, however. Ball was always rolling forward.

Matt
52, Handicap 11
3 years testing
A beautiful wedge. It's a particular delight around the green. Produced exceptional spin. I was getting shots to check up nicely. A really responsive "click" at impact and positive feedback in the hands.

Ryan
46, Handicap 14
2 years testing
Serious distance gains on full swing shots, among the longest in this category. Performance was there, too. Definitely had some bite and grab to the face.

Scott
37, Handicap 14
9 years testing
Sweet feel. Overall shape and size was perfectly symmetrical and balanced. Simple action through the turf. Very easy to get the ball to check, or pitch over a bunker. Quick-stopping grab on the greens.

Sean
53, Handicap 6
8 years testing
Performed well on full swing shots, but around the green I had a hard time controlling distance. Too much roll out.

David
66, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Nice looking club. I like the horizontal grooves on the sole, and the crescent moon-shape to the bounce. Nice, soft feel off the face on full swings with high trajectory. Each shot landed super soft with a little bit of spin.

Ryan
49, Handicap 10
7 years testing
It really delivered the club through the turf on full swings with a true sharpness. Around the green, it was easy to roll it out or stop it short if needed. I was able to really drive through and launch the ball from the sand. This is a real powerful club all-around.

Skylar
26, Handicap 7
2 years testing
I love the honeycomb etching on the outside and brushed silver finish. It looks powerful without being distracting. Incredibly easy to hit. The bottom is thick enough so it picks up the ball well. Found the thick bottom tough to manipulate through the sand or the rough. Super chunky.

Jamie
51, Handicap 5
2 years testing
The milled sole and satin finish is beautiful. Around the greens, I can get up and down every time with this club. Sand shots were no sweat. Full swing shots from tight lies weren't as easy; didn't seem to penetrate the turf well.

Jack
35, Handicap 1
2 years testing
Like a smooth train ride. You could feel the milling on the sole of the club cut through the turf without digging. A great choice for links golf, as it's fantastic off firm, tight ground.

Paul
63, Handicap 4
10+ years testing
I like the smaller head. It gave me a lot of confidence on full swings. Lighter overall weight helps in the sand, too. I was able to generate more speed and spin.

Ricky
46, Handicap +3
10+ years testing
I like the clean, traditional-looking head at address. The leading edge sits perfect with the turf. On full swings, they can be a little harsh in terms of feel, but not too bad. Mis-hits are very serviceable.

Alejandra
26, Handicap 5
4 years testing
I love how clean, elegant and sleek it looks. Easy to hit different types of shots around the greens, although from the bunker, it felt like it was almost too easy to get under the ball. I nearly whiffed on one.

Robert
28, Handicap 2
1 year testing
A solid wedge. Feels pure, offers good feedback and drives through the turf with ease. Delivers a thump out of the sand; no worries about digging. The forgiveness of the bounce and leading edge prevented chunks and made it easy to hit any shot around the green.

Alex
40, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Full swings produced a very high trajectory. Easy to work with around the green, although I had to work a little harder to get the ball out of the sand than I did to chip. The club bounced off the turf but dug into the sand.

Thomas
60, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Great feel on top of performance—a winning combination. I was able to manufacture a ton of spin on chip shots. Out of the sand I had no problem with soft or firm lies. A master at finessing shots.

Wayne
60, Handicap 6
2 years testing
Quiet sounding off the clubface on full shots; distance was commiserate with that. Wide, square face gave me confidence that I could get under ball and cut through the sand, which it did. I was able to get plenty of spin out of it.

Peter
57, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Surprised Bettinardi makes a wedge. Most impressed with full swing shots—good turf interaction, spin numbers and distance. Very trustworthy from the sand and tighter lies—it was easy to hit a lower-flighted ball that checks. You feel like you can go at the pin from any lie.

BK
41, Handicap 1
9 years testing
It does a lot of things well, I just don’t know that it excels in any one area. Its greatest strength is how versatile it is. On full swings, I was able to hit mid-trajectory shots with good spin control around the green. Very soft feel off the face.

Megan
39, Handicap 0
1 year testing
Love the honeycomb design on the back of the club. Great short game performance. Greenside shots had a light feel with airy contact.

Jin
29, Handicap 13
1 year testing
Very light club with strong, firm feedback in the hands. Because of the light weight I was able to be more creative. Felt like I was hitting the ball fat out of the bunker, but was still able to clear the lip.

Wei
54, Handicap 13
9 years testing
My stock full swing produced a high ball flight that tracked on line. Remained responsive to slight modifications to adjust trajectory and distance. Confidence-inspiring versatility around the green. It was especially useful on high-spin check shots and was wonderful out of the bunker.

RC
63, Handicap 7
2 years testing
First time ever hitting a Bettinardi wedge. Got out the sand every time, although it cut through a little more than expected. Nicer performance off the turf. Weight let me hit it high and low with plenty of run out.

Molly
37, Handicap 0
4 years testing
I didn't want to stop hitting this club around the green. You can feel the sole throughout every shot and you know it will do its job. Grabby spin when you need it. The interaction was flawless through the sand and generated huge amounts of spin.

Matt
27, Handicap 5
1 year testing
Insanely easy to tear through the sand. You can hit all kind of shots—high, low, spinny, etc. Very receptive spin on all shots.

Alan
30, Handicap 1
1 year testing
Love the texture on both the front and back. For a wedge that looks this nice, I wouldn't expect it to be as forgiving as it is. This is a finesse club. It's there to help you hit your number in a variety of ways.

Daniel
33, Handicap 12
5 years testing
Not a good feeling of forgiveness on full swings. Turf interaction was sluggish, getting hung up somewhat. Shots were almost too spinny. Much easier to control on short chips and pitches, with a healthy balance of controlled rollout and height.

Jason
48, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
The milling on the back of the club is nice. Rounder and more subtle sole allows the club to move through the grass easily. The back of the club is flatter, which allowed me to open the face as much as I wanted in the sand.

Anand
42, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Very classy design. It just looks custom-made, which I like. Full shots performed really well, although the feel was a bit harsh, like I didn't hit the sweet spot. Greenside and bunker shots performed similarly.

Gary
37, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
Rounded leading edge had some real heft at the bottom of the swing. Full and partial shots took a full divot without slowing down the head. So easy to displace the necessary sand to get the ball out.

Shane
36, Handicap 15
5 years testing
Easy to elevate shots from the sand. Wasn't able to generate adequate amount of spin on greenside chips and pitches, however. Ball was always rolling forward.

Ryan
46, Handicap 14
2 years testing
Serious distance gains on full swing shots, among the longest in this category. Performance was there, too. Definitely had some bite and grab to the face.

Scott
37, Handicap 14
9 years testing
Sweet feel. Overall shape and size was perfectly symmetrical and balanced. Simple action through the turf. Very easy to get the ball to check, or pitch over a bunker. Quick-stopping grab on the greens.

Jin
29, Handicap 13
1 year testing
Very light club with strong, firm feedback in the hands. Because of the light weight I was able to be more creative. Felt like I was hitting the ball fat out of the bunker, but was still able to clear the lip.

Wei
54, Handicap 13
9 years testing
My stock full swing produced a high ball flight that tracked on line. Remained responsive to slight modifications to adjust trajectory and distance. Confidence-inspiring versatility around the green. It was especially useful on high-spin check shots and was wonderful out of the bunker.

Daniel
33, Handicap 12
5 years testing
Not a good feeling of forgiveness on full swings. Turf interaction was sluggish, getting hung up somewhat. Shots were almost too spinny. Much easier to control on short chips and pitches, with a healthy balance of controlled rollout and height.

Gary
37, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
Rounded leading edge had some real heft at the bottom of the swing. Full and partial shots took a full divot without slowing down the head. So easy to displace the necessary sand to get the ball out.

John
55, Handicap 11
1 year testing
I like the grooves on the bottom of the club. Cut through the sand like a knife through butter. Good lift and spin control, too. Had good control greenside, as well. Very little dispersion on full swing shots.

Matt
52, Handicap 11
3 years testing
A beautiful wedge. It's a particular delight around the green. Produced exceptional spin. I was getting shots to check up nicely. A really responsive "click" at impact and positive feedback in the hands.

Sean
53, Handicap 6
8 years testing
Performed well on full swing shots, but around the green I had a hard time controlling distance. Too much roll out.

David
66, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Nice looking club. I like the horizontal grooves on the sole, and the crescent moon-shape to the bounce. Nice, soft feel off the face on full swings with high trajectory. Each shot landed super soft with a little bit of spin.

Ryan
49, Handicap 10
7 years testing
It really delivered the club through the turf on full swings with a true sharpness. Around the green, it was easy to roll it out or stop it short if needed. I was able to really drive through and launch the ball from the sand. This is a real powerful club all-around.

Skylar
26, Handicap 7
2 years testing
I love the honeycomb etching on the outside and brushed silver finish. It looks powerful without being distracting. Incredibly easy to hit. The bottom is thick enough so it picks up the ball well. Found the thick bottom tough to manipulate through the sand or the rough. Super chunky.

Alex
40, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Full swings produced a very high trajectory. Easy to work with around the green, although I had to work a little harder to get the ball out of the sand than I did to chip. The club bounced off the turf but dug into the sand.

Thomas
60, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Great feel on top of performance—a winning combination. I was able to manufacture a ton of spin on chip shots. Out of the sand I had no problem with soft or firm lies. A master at finessing shots.

Wayne
60, Handicap 6
2 years testing
Quiet sounding off the clubface on full shots; distance was commiserate with that. Wide, square face gave me confidence that I could get under ball and cut through the sand, which it did. I was able to get plenty of spin out of it.

Peter
57, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Surprised Bettinardi makes a wedge. Most impressed with full swing shots—good turf interaction, spin numbers and distance. Very trustworthy from the sand and tighter lies—it was easy to hit a lower-flighted ball that checks. You feel like you can go at the pin from any lie.

RC
63, Handicap 7
2 years testing
First time ever hitting a Bettinardi wedge. Got out the sand every time, although it cut through a little more than expected. Nicer performance off the turf. Weight let me hit it high and low with plenty of run out.

Anand
42, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Very classy design. It just looks custom-made, which I like. Full shots performed really well, although the feel was a bit harsh, like I didn't hit the sweet spot. Greenside and bunker shots performed similarly.

Jamie
51, Handicap 5
2 years testing
The milled sole and satin finish is beautiful. Around the greens, I can get up and down every time with this club. Sand shots were no sweat. Full swing shots from tight lies weren't as easy; didn't seem to penetrate the turf well.

Jack
35, Handicap 1
2 years testing
Like a smooth train ride. You could feel the milling on the sole of the club cut through the turf without digging. A great choice for links golf, as it's fantastic off firm, tight ground.

Paul
63, Handicap 4
10+ years testing
I like the smaller head. It gave me a lot of confidence on full swings. Lighter overall weight helps in the sand, too. I was able to generate more speed and spin.

Ricky
46, Handicap +3
10+ years testing
I like the clean, traditional-looking head at address. The leading edge sits perfect with the turf. On full swings, they can be a little harsh in terms of feel, but not too bad. Mis-hits are very serviceable.

Alejandra
26, Handicap 5
4 years testing
I love how clean, elegant and sleek it looks. Easy to hit different types of shots around the greens, although from the bunker, it felt like it was almost too easy to get under the ball. I nearly whiffed on one.

Robert
28, Handicap 2
1 year testing
A solid wedge. Feels pure, offers good feedback and drives through the turf with ease. Delivers a thump out of the sand; no worries about digging. The forgiveness of the bounce and leading edge prevented chunks and made it easy to hit any shot around the green.

BK
41, Handicap 1
9 years testing
It does a lot of things well, I just don’t know that it excels in any one area. Its greatest strength is how versatile it is. On full swings, I was able to hit mid-trajectory shots with good spin control around the green. Very soft feel off the face.

Megan
39, Handicap 0
1 year testing
Love the honeycomb design on the back of the club. Great short game performance. Greenside shots had a light feel with airy contact.

Molly
37, Handicap 0
4 years testing
I didn't want to stop hitting this club around the green. You can feel the sole throughout every shot and you know it will do its job. Grabby spin when you need it. The interaction was flawless through the sand and generated huge amounts of spin.

Matt
27, Handicap 5
1 year testing
Insanely easy to tear through the sand. You can hit all kind of shots—high, low, spinny, etc. Very receptive spin on all shots.

Alan
30, Handicap 1
1 year testing
Love the texture on both the front and back. For a wedge that looks this nice, I wouldn't expect it to be as forgiving as it is. This is a finesse club. It's there to help you hit your number in a variety of ways.

Jason
48, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
The milling on the back of the club is nice. Rounder and more subtle sole allows the club to move through the grass easily. The back of the club is flatter, which allowed me to open the face as much as I wanted in the sand.
NO REVIEWS
There are no tester reviews here.
Surviving The Hot List: Celebrity Intern
Related Clubs
1 / 13

Callaway
Opus/Opus Platinum
$180/$230
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$180/$230
Tighter-spaced grooves mean more groove edges on the ball for increased spin but with a lower, more controllable launch.
The offset groove-in-groove design creates spin when opening the face.
A new face blast provides extra bite on partial shots, especially out of the rough or wet grass when you need surface roughness and friction to prevent the ball from sliding up the face.
2 / 13

Cleveland
CBX 4 ZipCore
$170
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$170
Most everyday players use cavity-back irons that are lighter weight and more forgiving. Cleveland believe golfers should use cavity-back wedges, too.
The larger, cavity-back design minimizes the loss of ball speed on mis-hits. In other words, they are uber forgiving.
The club features a toe-bias sweet spot where average players tend to hit it.
3 / 13

Cleveland
RTZ
$170
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$170
Cleveland uses 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, preserving the look and performance of the grooves.
The ZipCore material in the hosel saves weight, some of which is moved low and toward the toe where golfers tend to it hit. The rest of the saved weight is used to make the hosel longer and wider to increase forgiveness.
4 / 13

Mizuno
Mizuno Pro T1
$180
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$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 more sole camber reduces turf resistance for those who tend to take divots.
5 / 13

Ping
s159
$197
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$197
Ping’s most extensive and versatile wedge offering features 25 loft/grind options based on feedback from the company’s tour-pro staff.
Grooves on the 54- to 62-degree lofts are tightly spaced for improved spin but less so on the 46- to 52-degree lofts for maximum ball-flight control on full swings.
The “Starblast” face blast adds surface roughness for additional friction.
6 / 13

TaylorMade
Milled Grind 4
$180
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$180
The fourth generation of TaylorMade’s Milled Grind wedges continues the consistency benefits of the machined-sole shaping of its predecessors with three new options at the higher lofts for seven total.
The grooves are supported by laser-etched diagonals on the flat area between each scoreline to increase spin on partial shots and prevent spin loss in wet conditions.
By increasing the thickness of the flange in an area more in line with the center of the face, TaylorMade was able to improve the sound.
7 / 13

Titleist
Vokey Design SM10
$190
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$190
To promote a slightly lower, more controllable ball flight, the SM10 line features shorter hosel lengths and a smaller-head profile to create a progressive center of gravity in the 46- through 52-degree lofts.
Tour-player feedback resulted in shifting the center of gravity on those lofts slightly closer to the center of the face for a solid feel and to reduce a draw bias.
By using longer hosel lengths and thicker toplines in the higher lofts (54 degrees and up), Vokey was able to shift the center of gravity up (for a lower trajectory) and slightly forward, which enables the face to square more easily.
8 / 13

Cobra
King
$170
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$170
Wedges are nothing without spin. The grooves are produced using a CNC milling process and feature a new face blast to help improve performance in wet conditions.
For versatility, Cobra went back in time and updated the popular “notch” grinds in the high-lofted wedges based on the old designs made by short-game guru Phil Rodgers. The progressive-notch design allows the contact area in the heel to glide through faster 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.
9 / 13

Edel
SMS Pro
$200
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$200
The SMS Pro continues Edel’s tradition of customizable wedges, but on this updated version, a 25-gram weight is used in place of three screws. Those with an over-the-top swing will want more weight in the heel to promote the face staying closed at impact. If you tend to pull wedge shots, the weight goes in the toe.
A new groove pattern adds three more grooves depending on the loft for more spin.
In addition to the updated groove pattern, Edel continues its use of cross-hatch laser etching to increase surface roughness to promote added greenside grab.
10 / 13

Mizuno
Mizuno Pro T3
$180
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$180
The Pro T3 is a player-friendly cavity-back shape with a slightly larger head, more offset and wider sole than the T1.
You don’t need to be a tour pro to appreciate a soft-feeling wedge. Mizuno has replaced the firmer boron steel used in previous wedges with a cushy carbon steel.
A softer leading-edge bevel assists those who tend to hit shots heavy.
11 / 13

PXG
Sugar Daddy III
$300
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$300
The heads are milled to the final shape for precise sole grinds, bounce angles and shape consistency.
Wider grooves channel debris and allow the cover of the ball to engage with the grooves better, enhancing spin and trajectory control. Tighter groove spacing allows one more groove (16 compared to 15 on the Sugar Daddy II) for slightly more edge grab.
PXG removed eight grams from the middle of the clubhead and shifted it to the top and bottom to enhance forgiveness.
12 / 13

TaylorMade
Hi-Toe 4
$180
|
Golf Galaxy
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 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.
13 / 13

Wilson
Staff Model ZM
$150
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$150
By altering its manufacturing requirements, Wilson was able to produce a groove design with a steeper angle in the groove. That leads to less loss of spin from the rough and wet conditions while reducing the chances of the dreaded flyer.
The direction of the face milling was changed from being concave up to concave down. This makes the mill lines perpendicular to the club path on open-faced shots, leading to increased interaction with the ball for spin retention.
A Garnet blast is applied to add microscopic peaks and valleys to the face that help dig into the cover of the ball on chip shots for increased spin.