Hot List
Hot List 2025: Best wedges from the bunker
J.D. Cuban
The best wedges need to be exceptional in an array of performance areas. That’s why we use our system of Hot List vectors to assess which of the wedges excel in the varying jobs required for an elite wedge. During our testing, our panel of 32 players test wedges in a series of areas, and one that immediately comes to the top of mind for most players is how a wedge performs from the bunker.
Indeed, according to data from GPS stat tracker Arccos, bunker play can ruin a round in a way that short game shots similar in length decidedly do not. For instance, the Arccos numbers say the average 10-handicap gets up and down on a 15-yard bunker shot barely one in four tries, while that same 15-yard shot from the rough gets close to the hole more than 40 percent of the time. More pointedly, a 15-yard bunker shot requires approximately 0.66 more strokes than a 15-yard putt.
In our Hot List player testing, which this past year was conducted across three weeks at the Reunion Resort in Florida, our panelists rate wedge performance in the sand on a 1-5 scale, with “1” being “Poor” and “5” being “Excellent.” Specifically, we’re asking our players to assess how proficiently a wedge can execute a variety of sand shots, how easily does it move through the sand, and whether similarly executed shots produce consistent results.
Each of the wedges listed below yielded an average Performance Vector score of 4 or higher for shots hit from the sand. (Models are listed in alphabetical order.)
Callaway
Opus/Opus Platinum
$180/$230
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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.
The tour-inspired shape is more rounded with a softer leading edge that players prefer when they open it up around the green.
Four grind offerings include the lower-bounce T-Grind for firmer turf conditions.
The Platinum model has a 18-gram tungsten weight in the topline to pull the center of gravity up higher to create a lower launch.
Top 5 in Performance, middle- and high-handicaps.
Opus: 17 options (48-60 degrees), 4 sole grinds, 2 finishes. Opus Platinum: 8 options (54-60 degrees), 2 grinds, 2 finishes
Cleveland
RTZ
$170
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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.
A refined face-milling process for the lower lofts enhances carry-distance consistency.
The leading edge on lower-bounce models is sharper and 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.
Its three finishes include Tour Satin, Black Satin and a raw "Tour Rack" option ($190, shown)
A new groove design features sharper, tighter-spaced grooves to maximize contact and channel debris for more spin, particularly on shots hit from the rough.
Top 5 in Performance, middle- and high-handicaps.
20 options (46-64 degrees), 4 sole grinds, 3 finishes
Cobra King
Cobra
King
$170
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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.
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 Sound/Feel, low-handicaps.
17 options (48 to 60 degrees), 4 grinds, 2 finishes
Mizuno
Mizuno Pro T1
$180
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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.
On the 48- and 50-degree wedges, 15 scorelines provide full-swing distance control. They are also narrower and deeper to help channel debris. On the higher lofts, 16 scorelines plus 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, high-handicaps.
16 options (46-60 degrees), 6 sole grinds, 3 finishes
Mizuno
Mizuno Pro T3
$180
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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.
Like the T1, narrower and deeper grooves are used on the lower-lofted wedges to promote plenty of spin on full shots without the ball ripping back. On the higher lofts, wider and shallower grooves generate ample spin on shorter shots.
The microgrooves between the grooves on lofts 54 degrees and higher add bite on shots in which the clubface is slightly open at impact.
Top 5 in Sound/Feel, middle-handicaps.
11 options (46-60 degrees), 3 grinds, 1 finish
Ping
s159
$197
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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.
Ping added two grinds to the s159 line that weren’t part of the Glide 4.0 family. The H (half moon) works well in soft conditions or for players with a steep angle of attack. The B is a low-bounce, wide-sole wedge that is effective in firm conditions. The E grind, based on the iconic Eye2 wedge, is great from bunkers and remains in the lineup.
With options comes the potential for confusion. What grind do I need? What should my loft gaps be? Ping understands this concern and has developed its WebFit wedge app to offer golfers a quick and easy process to narrow their choices.
Top 5 in Performance, low- and middle-handicaps.
25 options (46-62 degrees), 6 sole grinds, 2 finishes
PXG
Sugar Daddy III
$300
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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.
PXG used variable-depth ports in the sole of the higher lofts to move weight upward to help maintain trajectory control. Less weight is shifted upward on the lower lofts where full shots are more prevalent and a flatter trajectory isn’t as important.
The BP Grind (named after company founder and CEO Bob Parsons) features a generous 12 degrees of bounce, a blunt leading edge and a wider sole with minimal taper in the heel and toe areas. These traits make for a very playable, forgiving wedge for a variety of shots.
Top 5 in Sound/Feel, high-handicaps.
6 options (50-60 degrees), 3 grinds, 2 finish
TaylorMade
Hi-Toe 4
$180
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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.
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
TaylorMade
Milled Grind 4
$180
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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.
The stock shaft—True Temper’s Dynamic Gold Tour Issue—is 115 grams or about 15 grams lighter than a standard steel shaft.
Fifteen paint fills, personalized lettering and logos, and additional finishes are available through TaylorMade’s custom-wedge program.
Top 5 in Performance, low- and high-handicaps.
23 options (46-60 degrees), 7 grinds, 1 finish
Titleist
Vokey Design SM10
$190
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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.
Straighter leading edges on the pitching and gap wedges and more rounded leading edges on the sand and lob wedges provide the right amount of flexibility players need to execute a variety of shots.
A “spin-milled” cutting process uses a cutter that creates the entire scoreline instead of a partial scoreline. The result is tighter manufacturing tolerances for a more consistent scoreline-edge radius, allowing the grooves to be sharper and closer.
Micro-grooves cut between the grooves add spin on partial shots.
Top 5 in Performance, all handicaps.
27 options (46-62 degrees), 6 grinds, 3 finishes.