Equipment
Photos of Titleist’s new Vokey SM5 wedges
The seeding process of Titleist’s Vokey SM5 wedges began this week at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, where PGA Tour players such as Charley Hoffman and Matt Jones were testing the fifth version of the company’s Spin Milled wedges.
The design of the SM5 wedges is similar to Vokey’s recently released Hand Ground wedges (click here to read our review of Hand Ground wedges), with fewer stampings on the back of the wedge. The changes include:
- A move of the phrase “Vokey Design,” which was featured on the flange of the SM4 wedges, to the hosel. In its place is now a description of the wedge grind, such as “F Grind,” “S Grind,” etc., adding emphasis to Vokey’s substantial stock grind options.
- The loft and bounce stampings have been moved from the back of the wedge to the sole. That allowed the “Titleist” and the “Bob Vokey wings” logos to be displayed in larger font on the back of the wedge, just as they were on the Hand Ground wedges.
Above: Matt Jones was testing a 54-degree SM5 wedge with an S Grind (10 degrees of bounce) and a “Tour Chrome” finish at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open.
Titleist is still mum on details of the SM5, but our insiders in the forums (thanks shootstill!) have shared these spy shots of the soon-to-be-released SM5 stock finishes.
Bob Vokey has repeatedly told the golf world that “bounce is your friend” when it comes to wedges, and he put his models where his mouth is with the SM5 line, turning a few low-bounce options into new mid-bounce options.
Editor’s note: When this story was first published, it included a spec sheet on the available lofts, bounces and finishes for the SM5 wedges. We were contacted by a Titleist official who said that the spec sheet was not a finalized document, and that several of the models listed were incorrect and/or not a true representation of what will be available when the wedges are released at the 2014 PGA Merchandise show.
The SM5 line will continue to offer Vokey’s popular “Tour Chrome” finish, but the “Oil Can” and “Black Nickel” finishes have been removed in favor of “Gold Nickel” and “Raw Black” models. According to several insiders in the forum, the SM5 will be sold for the same price as the SM4 wedges, $129.99.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the SM5 wedges in the forums.
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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fx mutation database
Aug 9, 2014 at 6:50 am
Next, we count how many pips away the top of the highest last 2 candles are, including the wick,
and add 5 pips. If we all had the answer to that, we could all make a living in the Forex market.
In the 1930s, an insane person wrote in a book called Mein
Kampf, “My Struggle,” and that was Adolf Hitler.
Gary Lewis
Mar 22, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Nice looking wedges, with a more rounded shape now. Sounds like some improvement in spin and there are quite a few shaft options. Will probably get a Gold 60.07 with an XP 95 shaft, no upcharge on that one.
Chuck
Feb 20, 2014 at 1:39 pm
I’m still using all of the pre-2011 Vokeys that I stockplied for use until 2024. It wasn’t just the groove rule; I preferred the old 200 series sand/lob wedges, and the 400 series gap wedges. Still do.
Now, is it just me (I’ve only seen pictures) or do the SM5’s look closer in shape to the 200 series? When Vokey went away from the 200 series, it seemed that his wedges started to look more like Clevelands. A more compact, upright shape. Less eloganted and teardrop shaped. I know that lots and lots of tour players insisted on the older model shapes. A number of devotess of the 400 series (Voke’s own favorite); and more 200 series than I could ever count. Is Vokey’s “world’s best R&D facility” telling him to go back to the 200 series shapes?
Pingback: Sticks & Greens | The Monday Match – Titleist Vokey SM4 Tour Chrome Wedge
rob
Oct 30, 2013 at 4:44 pm
well I hope to god they will start offering premium shafts like c taper the shaft in the sm4 was so bad I only used it for 18 holes before giving it away. Totally one of the worst clubs I ever used and all down to the cheap cheap shaft.
People need to demand more for Titleist and they should offer premium shafts if they claim to sell premium clubs.
Daniel
Nov 10, 2013 at 3:27 pm
they offer over 21 premium/upgrade shafts for sm4 including c-taper
and the “cheap cheap” shaft they have standard is a dynamic gold s200 which is the most played shaft on every tour around the world (maybe not that flex)
BC
Jan 10, 2014 at 4:27 pm
http://media.titleist.com/images/titleist/files/AU/pdf/2013_Australia_NZ_Custom_Club_Options.pdf
Rob
Jan 12, 2014 at 9:53 pm
Um, thanks for your opinion?? First of all, Titleist offered a Dynamic Gold wedge shaft in the SM4. I don’t know what kind of wedges you are using but almost every OEM retailer uses a very similar shaft as a stock option (with the exception of TaylorMade and a few Mizuno offerings). Also, you can order pretty much any shaft you want in a Vokey wedge. Educate yourself.
N
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:33 am
Who is this guy? I have a SM4 wedge that I got with a DG Spinner, which was one of many custom options available at the time. Please make sure you know the facts before posting your opinions.
Sam
Oct 22, 2013 at 1:46 pm
if i was to get the sm5’s could i get the raw black to rust and how? what is the date they get released
Deaus7
Oct 20, 2013 at 3:26 pm
I wonder what the James Patrick Titleist wedges will be like when they come out, I hope James keeps in tune with his original design and does not keep the Vokey style heads. The SM5 look great though. For those who complain about them not being forged dont know Metallurgy very well, 8620 is incredibly soft, and infact can be softer than 90% of the forgings out there. Look at a Rockwell Hardness scale.
Rob
Jan 12, 2014 at 9:54 pm
From what I have heard the JP wedges will be Japan only for the time being.. maybe a few boutique type offerings on wedge works in 2014 though?
Mike
Oct 18, 2013 at 4:12 am
I’m a Vokey fan and cosmetically I’m a little unimpressed.
I will probably take advantage of the cheaper SM4’s now.
My point is; I prefer the SM4 having bounce on the back 58.09 and looking a little more classic like the tradition of the old 252.12 200 series style and the biggie as mentioned… No oil can or raw? The gold may be the solution but to all intents I’m a little downbeat by these on first impressions.
Zachary yaz
Oct 18, 2013 at 10:55 am
completely agree. its almost just a cosmetic change nothing extreme. maybe more details will be revealed in due time.
Brian
Oct 18, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Technically the black is raw I think
KCCO
Oct 16, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Love simple graphics, new finishes are cool, and I’m sure they perform as well if not better than their predecessor sm4…
Chiver
Oct 29, 2013 at 11:21 pm
Chive on pal…. and yes I believe you are correct in that the performance standard has more than likely stayed the same or improved. My issue is paying for the latest and greatest and not being impressed by what (if any) changes they have made. We will see though. I have been kind of a gear flopper for the last two years and will be getting my hands on some new AP2s in a couple of weeks. Trying to make my golf bag look like something i can be proud of, and not want to upgrade for a while. Trying my best to stop buying so much. Hit em well my fellow chiver.
Fred
Oct 31, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Chiver – I think you’ve echoed the thoughts of a lot of us out there; I just purchased my MP-54s and, believe me, that’s it! No more equipment. lately, I’ve spent more time buying new equipment than I have in trying to become a better player. Think I’ll stick with sm4s – after all, in the end, it’s the indian, not the arrow. Right? Good post.
Paul
Oct 16, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Ehhh nice wedges but I’ll stick with my Nike V Forged.
Indexor
Oct 16, 2013 at 4:24 pm
I agree with Billy. While it is obviously personal preference I can also tell the difference between forged wedges and cast wedges. It is not just the feel but distance continuity, spin and ball flight. I switched from Vokeys to Mizunos and am very happy with the results for my game.
Paul
Oct 16, 2013 at 7:30 pm
If you the think the Mizuno wedges feel good just wait until you try the Miura wedges !
I had the Mizunos & kicked them to the curb for the Miura wedges .
I did have a set of SM4s before that and they felt to clicky for me .
chris
Oct 17, 2013 at 12:40 am
i love the mizuno mp 10’s.. feel like butter but they wear quick
David W
Oct 16, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Sweet, now I can start looking for price drops on the AWESOME SM4’s!
Zachary Yaz
Oct 16, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Remove the cosmetics and I really think it still looks like the sm4. Hope it still feels the same as my sm4’s cos I might as well just get a new set of sm4’s wedges for (hopefully) a lower price than a new set of sm5’s. Will
Have to hit a few when they are out. Hmmm. Not convinced.
Forged ier
Oct 17, 2013 at 7:51 pm
Man dont you know that vokey aren’t forged so they must feel like sh*t?
Zachary yaz
Oct 18, 2013 at 10:54 am
I actually know that they are not forged. but thats not always what makes the “feel factor”. if you prefer forged clubs then good for you. You must know more than me.
foreright!
Oct 16, 2013 at 2:24 pm
New finish and new bounce options, but still the same old technology. You’d think the biggest name in golf and the biggest name is wedges would actually do something better. Oh well, I’ll stick with my SCORs.
reets
Oct 16, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Maybe some slots in the sole or make them really colorful? That should give you about 300+ yards carry with a 60*. People have to realize that when you have something thats perfect you don’t need to change it.
SN
Oct 21, 2013 at 3:30 am
lol so true.
Maybe he just want 10+14+18 yards longer + adjustable hosel from his wedges.
Billy
Oct 16, 2013 at 2:20 pm
i’ll stick to FORGED wedges.
bull feathers
Oct 16, 2013 at 3:37 pm
HAHAHA can you really tell the difference? I bet if “FORGED” was engraved somewhere on there you would think its the best “feeling” wedge ever.
Billy
Oct 16, 2013 at 3:49 pm
yes
The "Voke" himself
Oct 17, 2013 at 7:41 pm
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about cast vs. forged out there. Casting and forging are just processes. The feel of the wedge is determined by the metal used, not by the process. We cast the softest metal available, 8620 mild carbon steel. People think we cast our wedges because it’s cheaper. That’s not the case. It’s because of the number of grinds, lofts, bounces that we have available. We start with the Tour and when we find a shape or grind we really like, we’re able to make a tool for it quickly. The casting process is able to replicate the grind much closer than if we forged it. Think about this: 80 percent of the wedges on Tour are cast. I’ve never had a player come up to me and say, “Voke, this wedge doesn’t feel good. I really wish it was forged.” These are the best players in the world. And that’s my R&D department.
Joe
Oct 19, 2013 at 2:00 am
But they (vokey’s) still don’t feel good no matter what percentage of the tour uses.
Glenn dezan
Oct 26, 2013 at 5:42 am
And thats the end of that conversation!
DM
Jan 20, 2014 at 1:54 am
Joe just wont be quiet, jeeze. Come on.
neil
Oct 17, 2013 at 3:56 am
I have some beautiful forged Chakara wedges.
better than cast any day
Wang
Oct 17, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Do you mean Chikara?
JB
Oct 16, 2013 at 2:06 pm
52.12 F Grind, 58.07 S Grind. All in Black Raw!! Sign me up please!!! God those are gorgeous! The Gold Nickels are sweet too!! Any news on when they’ll be released to stores?
Brand Me Silly
Oct 16, 2013 at 2:02 pm
pass
Nick
Oct 16, 2013 at 1:59 pm
Wow. All 3 of my wedges they’ve eliminated for the lefties…46, 52.08 and 58.04…
Thats a shame.
Zak Kozuchowski
Oct 16, 2013 at 3:57 pm
That might not be true. We were contacted by a Titleist official that said those models could still potentially be available. The article has been updated to reflect those changes.
– Zak
John
Oct 16, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Looks good, like the new finished and like that they got rid of black nickel…I do wish they offered a raw finish (the absence of finish lol) but looks good
bl21
Oct 17, 2013 at 5:10 pm
Just get a maroon colored 3M Metal finishing pad at the store, it will take the black right off and make it raw.
George P.
Oct 16, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Wow! Love the raw black! Nice job!
Sky
Oct 16, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Man, those look sweet!