Equipment

Photos of Titleist’s new Vokey SM5 wedges

Published

11 years ago

Oct 16, 2013

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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46 Comments

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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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?

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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)
  
  Reply Report comment
- BC
  
  Jan 10, 2014 at 4:27 pm
  
  http://media.titleist.com/images/titleist/files/AU/pdf/2013_Australia_NZ_Custom_Club_Options.pdf
  
  Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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?
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Brian
  
  Oct 18, 2013 at 5:47 pm
  
  Technically the black is raw I think
  
  Reply Report comment
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…

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment
Paul

Oct 16, 2013 at 6:28 pm

Ehhh nice wedges but I’ll stick with my Nike V Forged.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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 .
  
  Reply Report comment
- chris
  
  Oct 17, 2013 at 12:40 am
  
  i love the mizuno mp 10’s.. feel like butter but they wear quick
  
  Reply Report comment
David W

Oct 16, 2013 at 4:16 pm

Sweet, now I can start looking for price drops on the AWESOME SM4’s!

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment
Billy

Oct 16, 2013 at 2:20 pm

i’ll stick to FORGED wedges.

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Billy
    
    Oct 16, 2013 at 3:49 pm
    
    yes
    
    Reply Report comment
    - 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.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - 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.
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Glenn dezan
        
        Oct 26, 2013 at 5:42 am
        
        And thats the end of that conversation!
        
        Reply Report comment
      - DM
        
        Jan 20, 2014 at 1:54 am
        
        Joe just wont be quiet, jeeze. Come on.
        
        Reply Report comment
  - neil
    
    Oct 17, 2013 at 3:56 am
    
    I have some beautiful forged Chakara wedges.
    better than cast any day
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Wang
      
      Oct 17, 2013 at 7:49 pm
      
      Do you mean Chikara?
      
      Reply Report comment
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?

Reply Report comment
Brand Me Silly

Oct 16, 2013 at 2:02 pm

pass

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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
  
  Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
George P.

Oct 16, 2013 at 12:55 pm

Wow! Love the raw black! Nice job!

Reply Report comment
Sky

Oct 16, 2013 at 12:46 pm

Man, those look sweet!

Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

5 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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