Equipment

Spotted: Titleist’s new Vokey SM7 wedges

Published

6 years ago

Oct 30, 2017

As promised by Bob Vokey on our new 19th Hole podcast (around the 19-minute mark), Titleist has unveiled its new Vokey SM7 wedges at the Shriner Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. We have so many in-hand photos of the new wedges they needed to be broken up into two photo albums; here’s Part 1 and Part 2 of the photos.

SM6 (left) vs new SM7

VokeySM7wedgesWRX

From the photos, we can tell that Titleist is sticking with it’s progressive center of gravity (CG) design that was featured in its SM6 wedges, highlighted by the curves on the back cavities of the new SM7 wedges. Although in this year’s model — at least when comparing the 46-degree F Grinds — it appears the curve is going in the opposite direction, possibly relocating the CG for different launch, flight characteristics and spin.

Among some aesthetic changes, such as the placement of grind stampings, Titleist is also apparently introducing a new “D” grind into this lineup. Some GolfWRX members speculate it could stand for “Dill,” as in Titleist’s PGA Tour rep and grind master Aaron Dill, or as in PGA Tour player and major champion Jason Dufner, who uses a unique grind in his wedges.

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We’ll be on the lookout for more information on design, specs and release dates for the new SM7 wedges, but for now, enjoy the photos from Las Vegas.

More Photos of the SM7 wedges

Discussion: See what GolfWRX members are saying about the SM7 wedges in Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 in our forums

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21 Comments

Acew7iron

Oct 31, 2017 at 2:50 pm

jwowzer…ban is for USGA sanctioned events and amateurs can play the old grooves until 2022. guess your a pro though, so don’t you already have the SM8s?

By then Ill have the face as smooth as babys bottom and ready to buy a 6 yo SM7 inlike new condition for $25

Reply Report comment
Dan

Oct 31, 2017 at 1:42 pm

Looks great!! I really wish Bob will produce the entire Iron range with his wedge design before he retires.

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Bob Jacobs

Oct 31, 2017 at 12:53 pm

looks like just another wedge to me…tough to get all that excited

Reply Report comment
C.B.

Oct 31, 2017 at 3:04 am

No CBs? Where’s the Cleveland copy from Titleist? I need to make my AP1 set complete and I need a set of AP1 type wedge in SW and LW. lol

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TigerMom

Oct 30, 2017 at 8:39 pm

The SM6 looks frowny 🙁 and the SM7 looks smiley 🙂

Reply Report comment
ronnie

Oct 30, 2017 at 8:34 pm

Awesome Vokey’s and I want them in my Fantasy WITB

Reply Report comment
Acew7iron

Oct 30, 2017 at 5:09 pm

So I just purchased a 06 model Vokey 200 series 60 deg wedge off ebay for $25 in like new condition.

What is *better about this one than what Im bagging?

Reply Report comment
- Steve
  
  Oct 30, 2017 at 5:39 pm
  
  It’s Vokey/Titleist “brand new” and the latest shiny bright Vokey Design.
  Yours is old and second hand and has no new mojo designed into it by Vokey Design.
  Otherwise, there is no significant difference if you are a decent golfer and you don’t flaunt your WITB.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jwowzer
  
  Oct 30, 2017 at 5:41 pm
  
  The SM7 wedges are conforming to the rules, whereas yours is not. Hope you don’t plan on playing in any events ever.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dat
    
    Oct 30, 2017 at 8:45 pm
    
    jwowzer…ban is for USGA sanctioned events and amateurs can play the old grooves until 2022. guess your a pro though, so don’t you already have the SM8s?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Chuck
      
      Oct 31, 2017 at 4:21 am
      
      2024 actually. And even then, the decision of the USGA might be to just let it go anyway.
      
      Remember that the old grooves have never been made illegal. The USGA imposed its rule only on wedges built after a certain date. (After 12/31/10, if memory serves me.) And only via a “condition of competition,” which the USGA recommends be utilized only in elite-level competitions.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Darryl
        
        Nov 16, 2017 at 7:53 am
        
        As I’m given to understand also, the onus is on the tournament committee to prove your club is non conforming, which means they need to have the (no doubt very expensive) test rig.
        
        Someone may correct me on that.
        
        Either way my Mizuno TP 2000’s are good until 2024 :-))
        
        Reply Report comment
Stinger26

Oct 30, 2017 at 4:51 pm

still no forged offerings. much of the same.

Reply Report comment
- The dude
  
  Oct 30, 2017 at 8:45 pm
  
  Why do you want a forged wedge?.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Steve Sands
    
    Oct 30, 2017 at 10:44 pm
    
    Everybody wants a Forged wedge….why don’t you? We’ve been asking Vokey forever, and he makes them for the Japanese market which is much smaller than the USA market. Have you ever hit a Callaway X Forged wedges flush or a Mizuno MP series? There is no comparing a Forged wedge to the cast.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - The dude
      
      Oct 31, 2017 at 8:50 am
      
      ….I knew you’d say that….point is..you don’t know the difference…(don’t bother saying you do)….with a high lofted club…it’s almost impossible to distinguish. And Cast has the benefit of durability for amateurs. Also…Why do you think so many tour players use Vokes?
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Scott
        
        Nov 1, 2017 at 11:33 am
        
        uhh. being paid maybe?
        
        Reply Report comment
    - Pat
      
      Dec 8, 2017 at 11:24 am
      
      Steve Sands, cost. Would you buy a set of 3 wedges at $350 each JUST because they’re forged?
      
      Reply Report comment
Geof

Oct 30, 2017 at 3:51 pm

this is a joke!

Reply Report comment
- IcomingElizabeth
  
  Oct 30, 2017 at 4:34 pm
  
  Awesome post…what is?!?
  
  Reply Report comment
- Donnie
  
  Oct 30, 2017 at 8:40 pm
  
  Vokey = Jokey = Dopey
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

4 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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