Escape Plan

The trouble shot in golf isn't a question of if but when. As in, when you pop up a tee shot or miss a green on the short side, do you have the equipment to pull off the recovery? On long approaches, hybrids are better suited than irons to launch the ball high and far. Around the green, the right complement of wedges can solve a lot of problems. The latest hybrids have the thin, flexible face technology of drivers to produce distance—just what you need when your tee ball stops short and in the rough. Consider a high-bounce wedge for deep bunkers and a low-bounce option for chips and pitches off tight fairways. Trouble? With the right clubs, it's really an opportunity.

1. TAYLORMADE SLDR S

The SLDR S is larger, lighter and more forgiving than the original SLDR, and it has a shallower face to help launch shots higher.

LOFTS: 19, 22, 25, 28

PRICE: $200

2. PING G30

Ball speed is one way to launch the ball higher. So Ping came up with a special manufacturing treatment to create a more flexible steel face.

__LOFTS:__17, 19, 22, 26, 30

PRICE: $220

3. RENEGAR RX14

Sometimes you need to generate spin on shots out of the rough. The Rx14 has larger grooves than the Rx12 for cleaner contact and shots that stop close to where they land.

LOFTS: 46 to 60

PRICE: $145

4. CLEVELAND RTX 588 2.0

Sure, the new grooves are bigger than the original, and the face is double-milled for extra spin. But it's the three new sole grinds that let you find the best fit for your swing.

LOFTS: 46 to 64

PRICE: $130