Equipment

Titleist Vokey SM5 Wedges

Published

10 years ago

Jan 21, 2014

Titleist’s new Vokey SM5 wedges offer golfers more tour-preferred grind and bounce options, as well as more spin from their larger third-generation Spin Milled grooves.

The new “TX3” grooves have a 7-percent larger groove volume in two different configurations. The grooves are deeper and narrower on the 46-to-54 degree wedges than the previous generation to deliver better distance and trajectory control, reducing the chance of flyers from the rough.

“On tour these guys have to aim to a lot of small targets,” said Aaron Dill, who builds and grinds Vokey wedges for PGA Tour players. “They need to trust that their golf ball will travel the exact distance they need it to, even from a tough lie in the rough. The deep and narrow TX3 groove helps push the grass down better, which gives you that increased edge radius contact for more spin and consistent distance.”

Above: A Vokey SM5 56-degree wedge with 10 degrees of bounce, an “M Grind” and a “Raw Black” finish.

On the 56-to-62 degree SM5 wedges, the grooves are the same width as the previous generation, but they have a greater depth that adds roughly 400 rpm more spin on full shots from the rough, according to company testing.

“The groove configuration changes with the [56-degree] model because this is where testing showed that the player makes a more oblique impact versus a more direct impact in the lower lofts,” said Master Craftsman Bob Vokey. “The wider TX3 groove on the higher lofts will sheer away the grass, rather than pushing it into the groove, and perform better on partial shots.”

The SM5 wedges are cast from 8620 carbon steel, and are available in lofts from 46 degrees to 62 degrees in two-degree increments. They come in six tour-inspired sole grinds (L, T, S, M, F and K), with each model sorted into low-, mid- and high-bounce categories. That creates a selection of 21 different loft, bounce and grind combinations.

The wedges will be available in stores March 14 in three different finishes — Tour Chrome, Gold Nickel and Raw Black — and will sell for $129. The Tour Chrome and Gold Nickel are plated finishes, while the Raw Black finish will rust over time.

SM5 Sole Grind Descriptions

L Grind: Narrow crescent sole with small forward bounce surface and minimal camber. Swing type: Slider. Condition type: Firm.
T Grind: Dual bounce sole with wide trailing bounce surface. Swing type: Slider/Neutral. Condition type: Firm/Medium.
S Grind: Full sole with straight trailing edge ribbon and moderate heel relief. Swing type: Slider/Neutral. Condition type: Firm/Medium/Soft.
M Grind: Crescent sole with narrow forward bounce surface and moderate camber. Swing type: Slider/Neutral. Condition type: Firm/Medium.
F Grind: Full sole with moderate camber and small trailing edge ribbon. Swing type: Slider/Neutral/Digger. Condition type: Firm/Medium/Soft.
K Grind: Wide sole with increased bounce and enhanced camber. Swing type: Neutral/Digger. Condition type: Medium/Soft.

Click here to see what members are saying about the Vokey SM5 wedges in our forum.

Click here to see what members are saying about the Vokey SM5 wedges in our forum.

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24 Comments

Leglikewood

Feb 15, 2016 at 3:16 pm

What would be the standard bounce/grind setup for a 56 and 60?

Reply Report comment
Curtis

May 1, 2014 at 12:52 pm

Can’t wait for my wedgework sm5’s this weekend!!

Reply Report comment
Brian

Mar 22, 2014 at 1:33 pm

What’s the difference between tour chrome finish and gold nickel finish? Durability wise? Purely cosmetic?

Reply Report comment
- Gary Lewis
  
  Mar 22, 2014 at 3:04 pm
  
  I think it is pretty much cosmetic. The Gold might not reflect the sunlight as much as the chrome.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Brian
    
    Mar 23, 2014 at 11:29 am
    
    Thanks! I have black nickel irons and was hoping for a return of that in the wedges but I don’t mind the gold nickel.
    
    Reply Report comment
Gary Lewis

Mar 2, 2014 at 9:57 am

Nice looking wedges and Vokey is continuing to try to improve on a winning formula, and I would bet they will kick ass on the marketplace. Sounds like Vokey has been able to increase the performance with the grooves. Kudos on that. I have just bought a few of the Cally Mack Daddy 2’s, which I like very much, but the SM5 looks like another winner too and it appears he likes Mizunos idea on the grooves. Can’t wait to see these in person.

Reply Report comment
Jericho

Feb 5, 2014 at 3:13 pm

just had a set of mp-4’s built matched with x100’s played Monterey on my birthday for the first time with these was 4 under through 14 then gave it back away for an even par 71 ..I’ll take it.. with that said..do I get mp t4 wedgeswith s400 to keep the same feel or wait for sm5’s..kinda leaning towards mp t4 ?

Reply Report comment
Rich

Jan 22, 2014 at 4:14 pm

Never been excited about a Vokey line before but I’m very keen to see these. I’m getting sick of my ’09 X Forged wedges (even though the original MD grooves were cavernous!) and these look nice.

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simon

Jan 22, 2014 at 3:01 pm

Very much like my Mizuno’s design only with less feel.
There does seem to be more options with the SM 5 but the lack of forging keeps the Mizzy’s in my bag.

Reply Report comment
sam Brooks

Jan 22, 2014 at 1:31 pm

Yea sounds like they have use mizunos quad cut idea.. Mizunos have some crazy bite on partials even when chipping you can control the spin really well.. Hmm yea think I’ll stick with mizzys

Reply Report comment
- Chris S
  
  Jan 22, 2014 at 7:35 pm
  
  absofreakinlutely. I bought two Vokey wedges for a total of nearly $400 last year and they won’t be in the bag this year. I would be willing to pay more for forged versions because the grinds are great. Just wish the feel was there.
  
  Reply Report comment
sam Brooks

Jan 22, 2014 at 1:30 pm

Sweet..

Reply Report comment
Mark Burke

Jan 22, 2014 at 9:28 am

When I was living in the Tubes in Palm Springs. I never thought I would see a day when vokey would offer so many options on their stock wedges. Now if I can only get my shot on tour, I can maybe use these wedges to get me to the promise land. My caddy New York is coaching me up right now, this year is the year I clear my name.

Reply Report comment
Harry Dorton

Jan 21, 2014 at 10:25 pm

Look like every other Vokey of past 15 years.

Reply Report comment
Chris G

Jan 21, 2014 at 9:12 pm

So excited for these. Has noticed a big drop in spin on partial shots with SM4’s. glad to see they fixed that issue. Raw Black in 46,54 and 60 for me please.

Reply Report comment
- Harry Dorton
  
  Jan 21, 2014 at 10:24 pm
  
  I am sure it is the club.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Troll
    
    Feb 24, 2014 at 9:16 pm
    
    Harry’s taking out his 18th hole frustrations on everyone else
    
    Reply Report comment
Phil

Jan 21, 2014 at 2:44 pm

Sounds like Mizuno design with the different grooves.

Reply Report comment
Kimmy

Jan 21, 2014 at 1:39 pm

Does Raw Black mean it will rust?

Reply Report comment
- Deaus
  
  Jan 21, 2014 at 2:31 pm
  
  Yes, it will rust. Rust can provide extra spin some say. If you dont like the rust you can use an oil that Vokey has, or stuff I use called SCHUTZ, I have a set of PVD irons that rust really easy but this oil prevents it.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dave
    
    Jan 21, 2014 at 3:16 pm
    
    Does the oil mess with spin? More of a question of whether oil residue stays on the club, which I would expect to impact spin / crisp contact.
    
    Reply Report comment
John Aiello

Jan 21, 2014 at 12:30 pm

These look great. My only wish was that they did not add the bounce number in red below the loft number on the toe of the club. I think it looks cheesy.

Reply Report comment
Jeremy

Jan 21, 2014 at 9:56 am

Will all of the SM5 finishes be offered in Left Hand?

Reply Report comment
- Cole
  
  Feb 5, 2014 at 4:37 pm
  
  The tour chrome and raw black are available in LH but I am not sure about the gold nickel
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

2 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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