Equipment
Titleist Vokey SM6 wedges: What you need to know
- Vokey SM6 wedges use what’s called a Progressive Center of Gravity, a weighting strategy that positions each wedge’s center of gravity (CG) in a distinct location, depending on loft. It was achieved by altering the shaping of the back of the new wedges.
- In the low-lofted wedges (46, 50, 52), Vokey SM6 wedges have a CG that’s lower than SM5 models. It’s aligned with the desired impact area, which increases ball speed by an average of 1.5 mph for 3-5 yards more distance, according to Titleist.
- The mid-lofted SM6 wedges (54, 56) use a mid-CG design that looks similar to Vokey’s SM5 wedges.
- The high-lofted SM6 wedges (58, 60, 62 degrees) have a high-CG design. Since golfers tend to contact their high-lofted wedge shots higher on the face, the new models will create more consistent launch conditions, and a lower-launching, high-spinning trajectory that can lead to increased stopping power.
- Along with better feel, the progressive CG design will improve wedge distance gapping, according to Titleist.
- Vokey SM6 wedges are available in five different sole grinds (L, M, S, F, K), which have been slightly tweaked from SM5 models.
Grinds
- The M grind (available in 54-08, 56-08, 58-08, 60-08, 62-08) has less bounce than SM5 models, and is best for golfers who like to manipulate the face opened or closed to play different wedge shots. In the 62-degree loft, the M Grind replaces the T Grind.
- The S Grind (available in 54-10, 56-10, 58-10 and 60-10) has increased bounce compared to SM5 models in the 58- and 60-degree models, and is best for golfers who play most of their shots with the clubface in a square position.
- K Grind wedges (available in 58-12 and 60-12) have 1 degree more bounce than SM5 models, which will help golfers resist digging when used in the square position.
- The L Grind, most notably used by Jordan Spieth and Jimmy Walker, has increased camber on its sole to help golfers improve versatility. It’s available in 58-04 and 60-04.
Grooves
- The SM6 wedges use Titleist’s new TX4 grooves, and its clubfaces have a machine-milled, parallel face texture. SM5 grooves had a radial face texture, which cut into the edges of the groove. According to Titleist, the new grooves are more consistent, and create sharper grooves that can increase spin as much as 200 rpm. As in the SM5 line, each groove is 100 percent inspected at the company’ manufacturing facility.
Pricing, Availability, Finishes, and Custom Options
- The SM6 wedges ($149 MAP) are available in stores March 11 in three finishes: Tour Chrome (plated), Steel Gray (plated) and Jet Black. The Jet Black finish is applied through a QPQ (quench, polish, quench) procedure, and will wear to a raw finish over time.
- The wedges can be custom ordered in a wide range of custom options (shafts, grips, shaft bands, ferrules, stampings and paintfill) through Titleist’s WedgeWorks program.
Specs
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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It seems like the RBC Heritage is full of new gear to be spotted, and you can add TaylorMade’s P-UDI utility irons to that list.
We spotted a 17-degree P-UDI 2-iron in Nick Dunlap’s bag yesterday, and now have some photos of both the 3- and 4-irons. Nick has his P-UDI 2-iron setup with a Project X HZRDUS Black 4th Gen 105g TX shaft.
From what we can tell, this new P-UDI utility iron looks to have some of the usual TaylorMade technology as we can see the Speed Slot on the sole of the club for additional face flexibility. A toe screw is usually used to close off the hollow body design that will probably be filled with a version of TaylorMade’s Speed Foam that is present in the current iron lineup. This hollow body, foam-filled design should offer additional ball speed, soft feel, and sound, as well as an optimized CG for ball flight.
“Forged” is etched into the hosel, so we can assume that either the face, body, or both are forged for a soft and responsive feel. The club looks good from behind and at address, where we can see just a little offset and a topline that I would consider medium thickness. We don’t have the full details on what is under the hood or how many loft options will be available yet.
TaylorMade P-UDI 3-iron – 20°
TaylorMade P-UDI 4-iron – 22°
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
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- Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX (45 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (4), P7MC (5-6), P730 (7-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Mid 115 X100 (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (7-PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-SB09, 56-LB08), TaylorMade MG4 TW (60-TW11)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Soto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
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Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
Scottie Scheffler WITB 2024 (March)
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
Joaquin Niemann names 3 PGA Tour events he’d love to play each year ‘in a perfect world’
Spotted: Bettinardi irons at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Collin Morikawa WITB 2024 (April)
Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here. Driver: TaylorMade...
WITB Time Machine: Jordan Spieth’s winning WITB, 2022 RBC Heritage
At the 2022 RBC Heritage Jordan Spieth defeated Patrick Cantlay on the first playoff hole after nearly holing his greenside...
Jason Day WITB 2024 (April)
Jason Day what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees @10) Shaft: TPT...
Ludvig Åberg WITB 2024 (April)
Ludvig Åberg what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)...
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Mark
Jan 28, 2016 at 12:08 pm
I doubted Davemac’s £145 RRP for the UK market but an e-mail from Titleist today confirmed it. Our Pro was ringing the rep to ask why a 30% price rise when inflation in Britain is negligible and clubs are struggling to keep members….and cutting his order. Crazy pricing and wholly unjustified.
Gary
Jan 27, 2016 at 11:09 am
Basically copying the idea of Dynacraft golf VLS wedges from 2013 in which there are two adjustable weights in their 52, 56, 60 deg. wedges. Move the heavier weight (17 gram) higher in the head for lower launch or put it lower in the head for higher launch.
Bar
Jan 27, 2016 at 11:00 am
3-5 yards more with a wedge? is that including half , three quarter , and bunker shots, The lunatics have definitely taken over the asylum.
Ryan
Jan 26, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Am I the only person on here that hates a raw finish or a wedge that ends up that way? Why do I want to spend all of that money on something that’s going to rust? I never have glare issues and I don’t think that there is a spin benefit, so can anyone shine some light on this for me?
Mike
Jan 26, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Love rusty wedges!
Alex
Jan 26, 2016 at 5:58 pm
I think most people just like the look of a raw or “rusted” wedge. If you haven’t had an occurrence with glare from chrome plated wedges I assure you, you will. There is nothing worse than in the middle of the afternoon with the sun right above you, and you have a short sided bunker shot and you open up the face of your wedge and you are literally blinded.
Matto
Jan 26, 2016 at 11:34 pm
They won’t rust if you treat them well.
Got my raw SM5’s as soon at they came out. Not a speck of rust on them.
KK
Jan 28, 2016 at 3:46 am
In all honesty, I think its the idea of playing what the pros play. Look at the wedges in the WITB pics on this site. A ton of tour pros have wedges with rust marks on them. Tour pros practice so damn much, they are literally wearing the protective finish off of the club so inevitablly the wedge is going to rust if not kept dry. Someone should post an article with some science that proves rust on a wedge produces more spin.
Removed
Jan 26, 2016 at 2:39 pm
I think the weight CG is the lower lofts is a plus if it increases ball speed, but why would I want lower launch if Im hitting a full 60°? If i wanted to hit a lower shot I would move the ball back or hit my 56° or my 52°. What is the rational behind this?
Vokey limiting my ability to have a high launch shot with my 60°? You got this wrong Bob. Who’s been in your ear? Its easy enough to shoot a ball in lower with your 60° if you want. Very easy. So dont take away my ability to hit high launch.
davemac
Jan 26, 2016 at 10:46 am
I was very keen on these, the changes look exactly what I am after. I have two SM5’s a 54 I love and a 50 that is just so so. I have been waiting to order a 58 / 60 and lowering the CG in the 50 might make all the difference, ideal
Then I looked at the price hike!
Davemac
Jan 26, 2016 at 3:38 pm
UK SM 6 Recommended Retail Price £145
UK SM5 Recommended Retail Price £109
Ian
Jan 26, 2016 at 9:17 am
200rpm more – can anyone (unbiased) confirm this?
Kevin
Jan 26, 2016 at 9:09 am
No raw finish? Let’s go BV give us what we really want!
RH
Jan 26, 2016 at 9:37 am
The article says the jet black finish will go raw.
Alex
Jan 26, 2016 at 5:59 pm
The Jet Black finish is supposed to be able to be removed easily.
Kevin
Jan 26, 2016 at 8:25 pm
I don’t want black that goes raw. I want raw. I’m confident I’m not the only one. Besides I have the black Sm5 that rusts and it’s still black so unless you work for Vokey I’m not buying what you’re selling.
Matto
Jan 26, 2016 at 11:38 pm
Yeah I’ve got the black “raw” sm5’s also. Not a speck of rust on them after all this time.
mp-4
Jan 27, 2016 at 1:02 am
Exactly. Never heard anyone request a ‘steel grey’ finish.
Why not Tour Chrome, Black and Raw?
It’s probably because of a potential problem with returns.
Can imagine people complaining about how their wedge must be defective because it rusted.
KK
Jan 28, 2016 at 3:56 am
Good point, but I’m not sure it’s returns. I would go with Bob Vokey and Titleist think that if someone has Titleist wedges in their bag that are all rusted and someone who sees them and doesn’t know they are supposed to be that way (only golf dorks like people on golfwrx know this by the way) will think: Titleist wedges cost $120+ and they rust over time, what a rip off. Thus hurting the brand integrity.
Mike
Jan 29, 2016 at 9:20 am
The SM5 wedges are available in RAW on Vokey’s Wedge Works site. Perhaps he’ll do the same with the SM6?
Slowhand
Mar 7, 2016 at 9:16 am
I bought the steel gray. It is the first year I think for that color and I like the finish. Chrome is too bright and I don’t like jet black wedges among my set of clubs. I did like the darker finish option on the SM4 but not seen that exact lighter version of dark since then. I don’t like raw wedges.
Garrett
Feb 4, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Probably will get a 1 year raw release to spike sales. Then SM7 in 2 years without raw option…so on and so forth
A
Jan 26, 2016 at 8:35 am
Where can I get fitted for these?
Mike
Jan 29, 2016 at 9:26 am
Sleepy Hollow Country Club in NY not far from New York City if you live in the northeast. They are a regional Titleist fitting account. You can hit everything Titleist has with any shaft they offer using premium balls and Trackman. I went through a wedge fitting last year with Kevin there director of instruction. And the price is way cheaper than going to the main headquarters. $175.00 per hour I think. And you can do a lot in an hour. Probably driver plus iron fitting or irons and wedges. Whatever you need.