Equipment
Bettinardi releases H2 wedges: Why wedges, Bob?
Bob Bettinardi’s journey into the wedge market started in 2001 with a single block of steel.
“It was 12 or 13 years ago that I milled a wedge from a solid block of steel, just like we do with our putters,” Bettinardi said. “A guy from one of the wedge companies said ‘I can’t believe someone had the [guts] to do that.'”
Since that time, the renowned putter maker has established a cult-like following for his high-end milled putters, but he has only released wedges in small batches. That changed this month, when Bettinardi unveiled his first line of retail wedges, the H2.
Bettinardi’s earlier wedges, which were produced in batches of 1,000, sold out in a matter of months. But they were expensive to produce because of their fully milled construction and carried a price tag of $400-to-$500 each.
Unlike a putter, which golfers can use for decades, wedges are more disposal. As their grooves dull, so does their ability to produce spin, which is why avid golfers usually need new wedges every six months to three years depending on how much they play.
Was there really a place in the market for a $400+ wedge, Bettinardi asked himself? Probably not, at least not for a full-scale release. He knew wanted to bring Bettinardi wedges to the masses, however, so he worked to get the cost down.
Bettinardi called over to the company’s Japanese facility and told the engineers that he wanted to try making wedges with its forging technology. After nearly two years of tinkering, Bettinardi has produced wedges that look, feel and perform nearly the same as the fully milled models and cost less than half the price. The new H2 wedges, which are forged from 1020 carbon steel, sell for $180 with a Satin Nickel finish and $195 with a Cashmere Bronze finish on Bettinardi’s website.
According to Bettinardi, his goal for the wedges was for them to look, feel and sound better than any wedge golfers have ever played. A lofty goal? Yes, but judging by the success of his putter line it might not be out of reach.
The wedges’ H2 name stands for “Hi-Helix,” which is a machine tool that mills the wedge faces at very high speeds to create a rough face texture that improves spin. While many of the top-name brands have dozens of grind and bounce options, Bettinardi keeps it simple — two finishes and five lofts (52, 54, 56, 58 and 60) for a total of 10 wedge options.
With the H2 wedges, you’re not paying for grind options. You’re paying for wedges of the highest of quality and a buttery soft forged feel.
“If golfers want [a cast wedge] — something more rough around the edges or need more forgiveness — they can buy from one of the cast makers,” Bettinardi says. “If they want a high-performance, precision-forged wedge, or they just like the Bettinardi name, they’ll buy these.”
The wedges have a traditional profile and a C-Grind sole that has mild heel and toe relief. Why the C-grind?
“That’s what I like,” Bettinardi says. “That’s what my son plays, who is a scratch golfer, and that’s the grind that I play. It’s a really versatile grind because the leading edge sits low with the face square, and still sits low to the ground when the face is open.”
Bettinardi’s H2 wedges are available for pre-order and will ship starting Dec. 8. They will be in boutique golf stores in the U.S. starting Jan. 15.
Models include a 52-08, 54-10, 56-12, 58-10 and 60-08 and come stock KBS’ High Rev shaft and Pure Grip’s P2 Wrap grip.
Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about Bettinardi’s wedges in the forums.
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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nikkyd
Nov 29, 2014 at 3:10 pm
Last i checked, higher rpms on an end mill produces more passes of the cutting head and makes a smoother finish. Hmm…
Andy
Nov 28, 2014 at 7:57 pm
Not sure why everyone is so down on Bettinardi and their wedges. If Bob and the team wants to get into the wedge game, let them do it! They make arguably the best putters in golf, so what’s stopping them from expanding their shortgame offering? Yes, they are expensive just like their putters, however I am willing to make an investment into my putter and wedges so I can play the best product and shoot lower scores.
Golfwb
Nov 28, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Anybody ready enough to see the upgraded shaft?
I agree the bounce/ grind options are not very good.
I play all stock vokeys and the only one I can flight is the 50*.
Expensive, yes. But you get a top of the line forged head with a shaft you can do anything with. Just my 2 cents.
patricknorm
Nov 28, 2014 at 10:07 am
I play 3 custom made Scor wedges (48,52,58)with custom grinds and milled faces. They worked out to about $200.00 each but, I can say with confidence that they along with my putter and driver,were “the” most important clubs in my bag. With each wedge having a double grind and custom loft ,my bunker play has improved immeasurably. What it really comes down to is, confidence from 120 yards in and around the green. If your are truly serious about your game its worth the money. Im not sure I’d spend $400.00 on a wedge though. A putter maybe.
Snowman2134
Nov 28, 2014 at 7:44 pm
Good evening
I am also playing the SCOR wedges (52,56,60) and they’re unbelievable. Best money I’ve spent on equipment in a long time, and the fact that they’re built in Texas doesn’t hurt.
Zra
Nov 28, 2014 at 9:42 am
Welp looks nice until the price.
I think Mizuno offers forged wedges at $130 with several loft, lie, grind combinations. Is the Betti $60 better?
Snowman
Nov 28, 2014 at 12:31 am
1 grind option and 1 bounce per loft = no sale.
Chip
Nov 27, 2014 at 6:13 pm
Bettinardi’s son Sam plays a C grind… So that is all he is going to make? Really Bob? Plus, I live in IL (where Bettinardi is located) and I highly doubt any stores will have demos of these. Do I at least get custom stamping with my $400 dollar purchase?
RG
Nov 27, 2014 at 2:49 pm
$180 and only one grind? Can’t get a 46 or 48 to replace a PW? I live and play in Orlando and during the summer months we get ALOT of rain and a “C” grind just won’t cut it. I thought the idea of a wedge was versatility and an ability to customize to fit MY short game and MY playing and course conditions.
krschr
Nov 27, 2014 at 1:56 pm
Good looking wedges. A little too rich for my wallet but no doubt Mr. Bettinardi has built a good wedge and will sell them.
I usually think a lot of the WRX community but pretty disappointed in some of the comments. Why is it people can’t refrain from overly negative comments and personal attacks when opinions don’t align? A few on here about his wedges and someone playing the AM tour are unnecessary and disappointing.
RG
Nov 27, 2014 at 2:58 pm
The people who read and post on WRX are pretty savvy when it comes to equipment and when you see negative comments you should heed that as a warning against something that is maybe overpriced, overhyped or both.
Chris Loskie
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:00 am
Rg. im willing to bet all the people with the negative comments havent even had one of these wedges in their hand.. how could they come up with any kind of conclusions on how they perform?? Mizuno mp10 wedges were the best playing for me then they came out with the t4 and t5’s which I think are shitty.these bettinardi are the the bed balanced nicest feeling easiest to play wedge ive tried.. I got fitted for a little over an hr hitting every wedge novo golf had and these were by far the best..n (for me) maybe not everyone.. I agree tbe limited options are kind of a bnumber but they fit me perfectly. 52 bent to 50.. 56 bent to 53 and 60 to 58… 180$ each kinda sucked but so be it lol
josh adkins
Nov 27, 2014 at 1:53 pm
Does anyone else feel that these are not that great and do not offer enough options
RG
Nov 27, 2014 at 4:41 pm
Yup. $180-$195 for a wedge and you can’t get a PW to complete a set and only 1 grind is ridiculous. A “C” grind is pretty versatile, a lot like the Ping Eye 2, but it isn’t the end all be all.
Mark
Nov 27, 2014 at 3:11 am
Gorgeous but wedges are made to be thumped out of bunkers and off hardpan lies, a bit like a 4×4. Not sure these will appeal to anyone other than the “my bag cost 5 times more than yours” brigade.
Pat
Nov 27, 2014 at 9:29 am
LOL. Definitely not for poor golfers. Bob always makes top quality products. I have one of his putters and love it. 200 dollar wedges are more common place now. I dropped 150 on my Miura, but it was worth penny. You guys can play your hard, off the rack, clicky Vokey’s and Cleveland wedges. I prefer a higher end wedge that I can get a custom grind and finish.
Bruce
Nov 27, 2014 at 2:58 am
I can see people buying their boutique putters because of the “status” but a boutique wedge.
J
Nov 27, 2014 at 12:15 am
Over priced. Good looking wedge.
simon
Nov 26, 2014 at 11:19 pm
look nice but I am going to stick with my vokeys
JohnnyT
Nov 26, 2014 at 8:52 pm
We can only hope that these heartwarming posts are returned in-kind to the people who post them in *their* line of work. “Yeah, that work that *you* do? Nothing special. We’ll save money and get someone else. PASS”.
lsf_21
Nov 26, 2014 at 8:09 pm
Save money and buy another forged wedge.
Feel just as good and more bounce/grind options.
JL
Dec 1, 2014 at 3:57 am
Bettinardi and Japanese forgings are better (myth). That’s why the best golfers buy $400 dollar wedges (myth). I think it’s more important to get the best shape for your game, and also keep the wedge fresh. Those worn grooves don’t help (when grass/sand is involved). Woods are about the only clubs you can keep for a long time.
James Beatty
Nov 26, 2014 at 7:49 pm
If Bob put this wedge on the market it will be worth it ,I still use he other Wedges he made years ago, and I play a lot of golf in the Amateur Tour with the Golf Channel .
The dude
Nov 26, 2014 at 7:55 pm
BFD
Pat
Nov 27, 2014 at 9:30 am
Good for you. That AM tour is a huge rip off anyways.
Jim Beatty
Nov 27, 2014 at 4:10 pm
Did you play in it ? Or are you with that E-Tour that you pick up after a triple
Rodan
Nov 26, 2014 at 7:04 pm
$200…..pass.
TheBrokenTee
Nov 26, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Yeah they’re nice but nothing special. Especially with only one grind. Yeah it’s a nice forged wedge, but a little pricey.
Jason
Nov 26, 2014 at 6:01 pm
They need a black finish!
Tyler
Nov 29, 2014 at 10:43 am
Nick has some http://tourstockputters.com/products/bettinardi-h2-black-pvd-wedges
sam
Nov 26, 2014 at 5:40 pm
wow