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Titleist Vokey SM5 Wedges

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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

24 Comments

  1. Leglikewood

    Feb 15, 2016 at 3:16 pm

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

  2. Curtis

    May 1, 2014 at 12:52 pm

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

  3. Brian

    Mar 22, 2014 at 1:33 pm

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

    • 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.

      • 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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 ?

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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

    • 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.

  9. sam Brooks

    Jan 22, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    Sweet..

  10. 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.

  11. Harry Dorton

    Jan 21, 2014 at 10:25 pm

    Look like every other Vokey of past 15 years.

  12. 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.

    • Harry Dorton

      Jan 21, 2014 at 10:24 pm

      I am sure it is the club.

      • Troll

        Feb 24, 2014 at 9:16 pm

        Harry’s taking out his 18th hole frustrations on everyone else

  13. Phil

    Jan 21, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    Sounds like Mizuno design with the different grooves.

  14. Kimmy

    Jan 21, 2014 at 1:39 pm

    Does Raw Black mean it will rust?

    • 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.

      • 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.

  15. 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.

  16. Jeremy

    Jan 21, 2014 at 9:56 am

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

    • 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

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Whats in the Bag

Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)

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Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.

 

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Welcome to the family: TaylorMade launches PUDI and PDHY utility irons

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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.

TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.

TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.

Can you see where this is going?

Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”

 

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TaylorMade PUDI

TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)

Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.

In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.

TaylorMade PDHY

TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).

Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.

Club Junkie’s take

Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.

For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.

PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?

TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:

  • PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
  • PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
  • Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
  • PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
  • PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family

Pricing, specs, and availability

Price: $249.99

At retail: Now

Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)

Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)

PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed

PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed

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Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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