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PGA Tour Players With Surprisingly Average Clubs

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I’m just as guilty as the rest of you guys. All those WITB posts come up each week at the tournaments and I comb through looking at all the eye candy. Those prototype driving irons, custom weld-neck putters, and exotic stamped wedges get all the heart-eye emojis flowing, don’t they? What I find most interesting is not the Porsches, however, but the Pintos.

These guys play golf for a living. Dropping $5,000 on a custom putter means nothing to them in the long run. Just shaving one stroke off their week’s showing can net 10 times that much or more in some cases. But if and when you find something that suits you perfectly, smart people don’t mess with it.

Steve Stricker’s Putter

I know Steve was sporting a Cameron at the PGA Championship last week, but he’s done that before on some rare occasions and went back to old reliable. This “jalopy” is one of my favorites for two reasons:

  1. I’m on a bit of a putting kick at the moment
  2. Steve Stricker is widely regarded as one of the best putters on tour.

The longtime Titleist-staffer could probably have any Scotty Cameron he wanted, but he’s rocking the old-school, Odyssey White Hot #2 with loads of lead tape on the bottom. You can currently pick up one of these bad boys for under $50 easily on the used market, but can you roll it like Steve? Doubtful. Dude is fourth on tour (FOURTH!) in total putting and makes over 90 percent of his putts (452 for 500) inside 10 feet. That’s insane. See Stricker’s Full WITB.

Hideki Matsuyama’s Driver

Man, that thing is roached. If I showed up to my local course with that bad boy, it’d probably draw quite the reaction. I could probably hear everyone thinking, “Oh, I got this dude, no problem.” If I could rock it half as good as Hideki (he’s 22nd on tour in driving distance at 304.3 yards and 11th in strokes gained off the tee), I’d be laughing all the way to the bank, too… even if I did pause long enough for a cigarette at the top of my backswing… See Matsuyama’s Full WITB.

Henrik Stenson’s 3 wood

Ah, the Callaway Diablo Octane…released in late 2010. By tour standards, it belongs in the Smithsonian at this point. If it helps you win the Open Championship, an Olympic silver medal, and become the European Tour player of the year all in the same year, though, it stays in the bag until you feel compelled to change it. Period. See Stenson’s Full WITB.

Most of Padraig Harrington’s Bag

The 3-time major winner has quite the quiver doesn’t he? At least in this 2016 version.  He features a mostly Wilson Staff bag, including a putter that can currently be had for 100 bones brand new. Sprinkle in a TaylorMade AeroBurner driver and Ping Eye 2 Gorge wedge and you may not have a masterpiece in the eyes of a lot of GolfWRXers, but if it pays the bills, who cares? See Harrington’s Full WITB.

What are your favorite WITBs? Any long-standing clubs in your bag that you never see yourself parting with? Comment below, but the first person who says, “It’s not the arrow” loses 1,000 points.

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Peter Schmitt is an avid golfer trying to get better every day, the definition of which changes relatively frequently. He believes that first and foremost, golf should be an enjoyable experience. Always. Peter is a former Marine and a full-time mechanical engineer (outside of the golf industry). He lives in Lexington, KY with his wife and two young kids. "What other people may find in poetry or art museums, I find in the flight of a good drive." -Arnold Palmer

56 Comments

56 Comments

  1. mb

    Nov 27, 2018 at 10:09 pm

    I just stumbled on this write up, classic how much money & a career has Steve Stricker had with this putter? that’s selling for $30 on ebay love-it.

  2. Anderson Dave

    Aug 13, 2018 at 9:13 pm

    I still have my Tour Exotics CB2 hybrids, I think I bought them used in 2009. I have tried to replace them, they don’t look great, but I can’t find anything that works better. I have a friend that is still playing his Australian Blade from at least 20 years ago. He has nearly worn them out and there is nothing out there like them. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it…

  3. Tom

    Jul 17, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    Manufacturers have pushed to the USGA’s performance limits, nothing of any improved significance is possible….just new shiny stuff!

  4. Peter Schmitt

    Aug 21, 2017 at 11:32 am

    As if on cue, Henrik rides the mighty Diablo 3 wood to victory at the Wyndham the same week this gets posted. The best part? He didn’t even carry a driver. Boom!

  5. Indian

    Aug 21, 2017 at 3:31 am

    It’s not the arrow it’s the….oh, whoops.

  6. TG

    Aug 19, 2017 at 7:45 pm

    They don’t pay for clubs though so why would they “drop” 5000 on a putter…

  7. Ryan

    Aug 19, 2017 at 7:07 pm

    Adam Scott’s irons are still pretty old. Titleist 680 MB’s from 2005. If his lofts are standard, it’s even crazier. PW at 48*!! That’s pretty awesome to me

  8. Jesper Pickering

    Aug 19, 2017 at 1:49 pm

    Sometimes the pure joy of a shiny new toy is all it takes for me to buy new gear. Will it perform better? Properly not, just like my new pair of jeans aren’t better than the old ones. BUT they look and feel danm good…until a cooler pair is on display in the shop window ????

  9. Mark

    Aug 19, 2017 at 9:13 am

    Sold a Scottsdale answer years ago for $1,900. Read here recently that they now bring $120. I have one in the garage. And what about the Wilson 8802, armour img5, geo low of nicklaus, faldos taylomade viii?

  10. BIG STU

    Aug 19, 2017 at 2:21 am

    I have been saying it for years and most folks do not listen. BTW the model of Odyssey Stricker uses is a copy of a old Ping Zing 2. What would surprise most is the age of the equipment used on the Champion’s Tour. I have always been of the addage of using what works no matter the age or brand

  11. Elf

    Aug 18, 2017 at 11:48 pm

    Cool aicle. I’ve often assumed Odyssey (etc) replaced inserts for the pros though they tell we mortals it isn’t possible for them to do. Stricker’s insert looks way too clean (compared to the rest of the club) to be original IMO.

  12. rex235

    Aug 18, 2017 at 10:46 pm

    Bobby Nichols won the Dow Jones Open ($60K) with a $5 putter.
    Never saw anything in Bob Charles bag other than a Bullseye.
    Bullseyes have won Majors in 5 different decades. Even Nicklaus used one for a US Open win.
    Nicklaus’ 3 wood was in his bag for 30+years.
    Oldest club in my bag? -27 years 19 Degree Taylor Made Tour Cleek II.
    Strickers putter epitomizes the adage “If it ain’t broke….”

  13. Dude

    Aug 18, 2017 at 10:10 pm

    What about Rory McIlroy’s Nike irons. H he should go back to them since he won with them.

  14. Iman

    Aug 18, 2017 at 8:25 pm

    Don’t forget Adam Scott with his 690.MB iron set. By tour standards, it belongs to his grand-grandfather.

  15. Walt

    Aug 18, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    Looking more closely at the sole of the White Hot and that’s gotta be lead tape plastered to the sole.
    Also, the plastic face insert of his old putter has got to be slightly worn on the sweet spot making it slightly concave-ish and cups the ball, ya think?

    • Todd

      Aug 19, 2017 at 8:41 pm

      FYI lead is about 50% heavier than stainless steel, so 2 strips of lead is equal to 3 strips of equivalent steel. So next time you see lead tape you will know.

  16. Walt

    Aug 18, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    Real golfers don’t change their equipment when the OEMs bring out their ‘new’ models. It’s because they don’t find fault in their equipment. The challenge is within their body, mind and the golf course. That’s how real golf is played.

    • Caddy

      Aug 18, 2017 at 5:59 pm

      Nailed it.

      • Walt

        Aug 18, 2017 at 6:16 pm

        And if a golfer continuously doubts his equipment they cannot swing with confidence.
        I’ve golfed with people who cursed their equipment when they screw up and when it’s obvious the problem is within themselves. They refuse to see it or admit it.
        Such people can never be wrong because in their minds they are perfect and successful men. They cannot face their failure and direct their anger against their clubs to hide from their incompetence.
        I jokingly told one such golfer that he’s not good enough to blame his clubs, and he got very angry at me. Never again because these types are dangerous.

        • Vic

          Aug 18, 2017 at 10:50 pm

          This is GolfWRX for c’sake man not psych 101.

          • Walt

            Aug 19, 2017 at 1:01 pm

            Just sharing my experiences and my conclusions about some bad golfers and their club hate. I love my clubs because they behave exactly as I expect them to perform. What’s your problem?

          • calc

            Jun 29, 2018 at 7:16 pm

            Vic is a golffing psychopath who sees himself in Walt’s analysis.

            • Benny

              Jul 18, 2018 at 3:54 pm

              It’s really simple. If you lose confidence in a club you get a little bit of doubt. When it comes to golf that little doubt will fester and grow. Yeah we all know it’s in our heads and not the arrow Walt. But even the best in the world don’t change because of the exact same doubt bud. A new club will not give them that comfort.
              It’s nice to get new sneakers sometimes or splurge to make ourselves feel good. If we can pretend only for a moment a Tour Player used that Tour Issued putter the gain in confidence can always help the game. Especially for us “incompetent” kind.

  17. Ben Jones

    Aug 18, 2017 at 3:49 pm

    Still going back to the Bullseye to fix my putting woes.

    • Walt

      Aug 19, 2017 at 1:03 pm

      Bullseye is a pure putter uncompensated for an inconsistent putting stroke and bad impact. It’s a test of your putting stroke control. All the other fancy putters are intended for golfers who want their putter to do the putting for them.

  18. peter collins

    Aug 18, 2017 at 3:04 pm

    I am after a Odyssey Black Series i #7 Putter (2008)
    I tried the club pro’s and putted the best i have for a long time.
    Has a forum member got one for sale, or know where i can get one from please.

  19. Don

    Aug 18, 2017 at 2:35 pm

    Corey Pavin still uses a bronze bull’s eye. Makes Strick’s Odyssey just a youngster. Love to know Corey’s putting average. He’s one of the shortest drivers on tour and can still compete.

    • Peter Schmitt

      Aug 18, 2017 at 2:45 pm

      Oh man. I used to idolize Corey Pavin back in the day. I thought I was so cool when I bought a set of Cleveland VAS irons!

      • Dave C

        Aug 18, 2017 at 10:58 pm

        Did those not look like hossle rocket makers?

  20. Ben Jones

    Aug 18, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    Lee Trevino winning the 74 PGA with a 15 year-old blade putter he found in some lady’s attic. Priceless! Just love the old clubs that keep us going. I still game a Fast 10 3-wood. Its the shaft and the pure looking head. Old Adams stuff is great.

  21. George Walker

    Aug 18, 2017 at 1:50 pm

    Where is Brandt Snedeker’s putter? I have one similar to his and I believe it’s my last.

    • Peter Schmitt

      Aug 18, 2017 at 2:47 pm

      Sned’s and G-Mac’s putters were both on my short list. Ultimately I went with Steve’s because he’s just such a good putter. But yeah, those are both worthy contenders…

    • Rossie

      Aug 19, 2017 at 1:57 am

      Don’t forget Ryan Palmer either. He gamed an old Odyssey dual force rossie ii up until recent. He also still uses ap2 710’s.

      • Josh D

        Jul 2, 2018 at 7:15 pm

        Doesn’t Steve use the ap2 710’s or 712’s?

  22. TeeBone

    Aug 18, 2017 at 12:32 pm

    As long as Tour players are paid to play equipment, we’ll never know what they would use if they were free to choose whatever they feel is best. But at the end of the day, “it ain’t the clubs”.

  23. Rogerinnz

    Aug 18, 2017 at 12:16 pm

    Nothing wrong with a Great Odyssey Putter.
    Just bought a set of Eye 2 irons this week.
    Flashy vs Functional.
    I recall a Futura thrown into a pond… not an Odyssey…

  24. larrybud

    Aug 18, 2017 at 12:00 pm

    There’s just very little wiggle room for technological enhancements. Drivers are maxed at .860 COR, and balls are maxed (which is why pga driving average hasn’t moved in a dozen years).

    That’s why we see pretty new colors and other things such as adjustable clubs (which IS a great innovation, but mostly for fitters rather than any real improvements which will make a player shoot a lower score.

    In a way, club fitting has hurt the new market. Once you get fitted for a driver, there’s really no reason to get a new one unless the club wears out or your swing changes significantly enough warrant a new fitting. The marketing hype of “longer off the tee” is just that.

  25. OhioGolfDude

    Aug 18, 2017 at 11:44 am

    Fun article Peter! Don’t forget the history of Brandt Snedeker’s bag. Not sure what he’s gaming now, but I know last year at the AT&T Classic Pebble Beach he still had the old TM SuperFast in the bag along with a really old Odyssey Rossie. As for Hideki’s driver, yeah it’s pretty baked but definitely still a viable option. A lot of Cally staffers used the GBB until Epic came out. It only takes a quick view of the WITB section to see some older hangovers, like former Nike staffer Kyle Stanley sticking with an old Covert 5 wood in an otherwise all Titleist setup.

  26. Steven Crowder

    Aug 18, 2017 at 11:03 am

    Nothing wrong with the Aeroburner driver. It’s only 2 years old. I like it better than my 2017 M2.

  27. xjohnx

    Aug 18, 2017 at 10:27 am

    Definitely looks like the entire bottom of Hideki’s GBB was colored with a Sharpie. Wondering if that was something Srixon recommended or demanded or if he’s just expressing himself through art.

  28. Johnnylongballz

    Aug 18, 2017 at 10:13 am

    When I find the putter that I make 492 out of 500 from inside 5 feet I will never change putters again. Until then ……. well, you know.

  29. Holly Sonders

    Aug 18, 2017 at 9:44 am

    Exactly when has a tour pro ever paid $5k for a custom putter?

    • Peter Schmitt

      Aug 18, 2017 at 10:41 am

      5k was a purposely outlandish number. I wasn’t trying to say that they DO spend that much. Frankly I have no idea how much they spend and I don’t need to. I’m saying that even if they DID spend a stupid amount of dough on a club that takes one or two strokes off their rounds, it’s still a big time net positive for them. When guys stick with clubs that are over ~3 years old or so (normal for us but ancient for a tour pro), there’s a reason…

      • Barry

        Aug 19, 2017 at 9:59 am

        What the heck is wrong with you? Would you ever say something like that in real life?

        • Steven Crowder

          Aug 19, 2017 at 2:18 pm

          I would. Don’t know about the other guy.

        • Bester

          Aug 19, 2017 at 4:29 pm

          Golf aint real life it’s better.

    • Jim McIntosh

      Aug 20, 2017 at 1:48 pm

      Can you see your feet when you are putting?

  30. JayG

    Aug 18, 2017 at 9:40 am

    IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT

    • ActualFacts

      Aug 18, 2017 at 10:33 am

      Exactly!!! Step down to the developmental professional golf tours and I’m sure you’ll see a lot more “surprisingly average” bags. The OEMs gear their marketing strategies towards folks like us (WRX’ers) who crave the latest and greatest by keeping their endorsees fitted and filmed with all of the new-new. Those same your pros could go out with equipment that’s 20 years old and perform just as well. It’s not the equipment. Those guys and gals really are that good.

    • Bester

      Aug 19, 2017 at 4:28 pm

      My clubs I bought last year are broke now cause they don’t hit the ball straight and far anymore. Whats the matter with those useless clubs.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans betting preview

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The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.

TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.

Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.

However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.

Past Winners at TPC Louisiana

  • 2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
  • 2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
  • 2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
  • 2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
  • 2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
  • 2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)

2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks

Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)

Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.

This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.

McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.

Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)

Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.

Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.

Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)

Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.

NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 LIV Adelaide betting preview: Cam Smith ready for big week down under

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After having four of the top twelve players on the leaderboard at The Masters, LIV Golf is set for their fifth event of the season: LIV Adelaide. 

For both LIV fans and golf fans in Australia, LIV Adelaide is one of the most anticipated events of the year. With 35,000 people expected to attend each day of the tournament, the Grange Golf Club will be crawling with fans who are passionate about the sport of golf. The 12th hole, better known as “the watering hole”, is sure to have the rowdiest of the fans cheering after a long day of drinking some Leishman Lager.  

The Grange Golf Club is a par-72 that measures 6,946 yards. The course features minimal resistance, as golfers went extremely low last season. In 2023, Talor Gooch shot consecutive rounds of 62 on Thursday and Friday, giving himself a gigantic cushion heading into championship Sunday. Things got tight for a while, but in the end, the Oklahoma State product was able to hold off The Crushers’ Anirban Lahiri for a three-shot victory. 

The Four Aces won the team competition with the Range Goats finishing second. 

*All Images Courtesy of LIV Golf*

Past Winners at LIV Adelaide

  • 2023: Talor Gooch (-19)

Stat Leaders Through LIV Miami

Green in Regulation

  1. Richard Bland
  2. Jon Rahm
  3. Paul Casey

Fairways Hit

  1. Abraham Ancer
  2. Graeme McDowell
  3. Henrik Stenson

Driving Distance

  1. Bryson DeChambeau
  2. Joaquin Niemann
  3. Dean Burmester

Putting

  1. Cameron Smith
  2. Louis Oosthuizen
  3. Matt Jones

2024 LIV Adelaide Picks

Cameron Smith +1400 (DraftKings)

When I pulled up the odds for LIV Adelaide, I was more than a little surprised to see multiple golfers listed ahead of Cameron Smith on the betting board. A few starts ago, Cam finished runner-up at LIV Hong Kong, which is a golf course that absolutely suits his eye. Augusta National in another course that Smith could roll out of bed and finish in the top-ten at, and he did so two weeks ago at The Masters, finishing T6.

At Augusta, he gained strokes on the field on approach, off the tee (slightly), and of course, around the green and putting. Smith able to get in the mix at a major championship despite coming into the week feeling under the weather tells me that his game is once again rounding into form.

The Grange Golf Club is another course that undoubtedly suits the Australian. Smith is obviously incredibly comfortable playing in front of the Aussie faithful and has won three Australian PGA Championship’s. The course is very short and will allow Smith to play conservative off the tee, mitigating his most glaring weakness. With birdies available all over the golf course, there’s a chance the event turns into a putting contest, and there’s no one on the planet I’d rather have in one of those than Cam Smith.

Louis Oosthuizen +2200 (DraftKings)

Louis Oosthuizen has simply been one of the best players on LIV in the 2024 seas0n. The South African has finished in the top-10 on the LIV leaderboard in three of his five starts, with his best coming in Jeddah, where he finished T2. Perhaps more impressively, Oosthuizen finished T7 at LIV Miami, which took place at Doral’s “Blue Monster”, an absolutely massive golf course. Given that Louis is on the shorter side in terms of distance off the tee, his ability to play well in Miami shows how dialed he is with the irons this season.

In addition to the LIV finishes, Oosthuizen won back-to-back starts on the DP World Tour in December at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Mauritus Open. He also finished runner-up at the end of February in the International Series Oman. The 41-year-old has been one of the most consistent performers of 2024, regardless of tour.

For the season, Louis ranks 4th on LIV in birdies made, T9 in fairways hit and first in putting. He ranks 32nd in driving distance, but that won’t be an issue at this short course. Last season, he finished T11 at the event, but was in decent position going into the final round but fell back after shooting 70 while the rest of the field went low. This season, Oosthuizen comes into the event in peak form, and the course should be a perfect fit for his smooth swing and hot putter this week.

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Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 1

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Of all the clubs in our bags, wedges are almost always the simplest in construction and, therefore, the easiest to analyze what might make one work differently from another if you know what to look for.

Wedges are a lot less mysterious than drivers, of course, as the major brands are working with a lot of “pixie dust” inside these modern marvels. That’s carrying over more to irons now, with so many new models featuring internal multi-material technologies, and almost all of them having a “badge” or insert in the back to allow more complex graphics while hiding the actual distribution of mass.

But when it comes to wedges, most on the market today are still single pieces of molded steel, either cast or forged into that shape. So, if you look closely at where the mass is distributed, it’s pretty clear how that wedge is going to perform.

To start, because of their wider soles, the majority of the mass of almost any wedge is along the bottom third of the clubhead. So, the best wedge shots are always those hit between the 2nd and 5th grooves so that more mass is directly behind that impact. Elite tour professionals practice incessantly to learn to do that consistently, wearing out a spot about the size of a penny right there. If impact moves higher than that, the face is dramatically thinner, so smash factor is compromised significantly, which reduces the overall distance the ball will fly.

Every one of us, tour players included, knows that maddening shot that we feel a bit high on the face and it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not your fault.

If your wedges show a wear pattern the size of a silver dollar, and centered above the 3rd or 4th groove, you are not getting anywhere near the same performance from shot to shot. Robot testing proves impact even two to three grooves higher in the face can cause distance loss of up to 35 to 55 feet with modern ‘tour design’ wedges.

In addition, as impact moves above the center of mass, the golf club principle of gear effect causes the ball to fly higher with less spin. Think of modern drivers for a minute. The “holy grail” of driving is high launch and low spin, and the driver engineers are pulling out all stops to get the mass as low in the clubhead as possible to optimize this combination.

Where is all the mass in your wedges? Low. So, disregarding the higher lofts, wedges “want” to launch the ball high with low spin – exactly the opposite of what good wedge play requires penetrating ball flight with high spin.

While almost all major brand wedges have begun putting a tiny bit more thickness in the top portion of the clubhead, conventional and modern ‘tour design’ wedges perform pretty much like they always have. Elite players learn to hit those crisp, spinny penetrating wedge shots by spending lots of practice time learning to consistently make contact low in the face.

So, what about grooves and face texture?

Grooves on any club can only do so much, and no one has any material advantage here. The USGA tightly defines what we manufacturers can do with grooves and face texture, and modern manufacturing techniques allow all of us to push those limits ever closer. And we all do. End of story.

Then there’s the topic of bounce and grinds, the most complex and confusing part of the wedge formula. Many top brands offer a complex array of sole configurations, all of them admittedly specialized to a particular kind of lie or turf conditions, and/or a particular divot pattern.

But if you don’t play the same turf all the time, and make the same size divot on every swing, how would you ever figure this out?

The only way is to take any wedge you are considering and play it a few rounds, hitting all the shots you face and observing the results. There’s simply no other way.

So, hopefully this will inspire a lively conversation in our comments section, and I’ll chime in to answer any questions you might have.

And next week, I’ll dive into the rest of the wedge formula. Yes, shafts, grips and specifications are essential, too.

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