Equipment
Edel introduces moveable weight Swing Match wedges for 2021
The 2021 Edel Swing Match wedges are taking the concept of custom fit wedges to a level that has never been brought to the short game before, with the goal to use every possible tool to tighten dispersion and consistency to help you shoot lower scores.
The new Edel Swing Match wedges utilize a movable weight system in the flange to fit each club to a golfer’s natural short game swing profile. The research indicates that once properly fit, everything from mechanics to launch conditions shows measurable improvement.
Edel Swing Match wedges: The why
It’s no secret the best way to properly optimize your equipment is through custom fitting. When it comes to wedges, the only factors that have been traditionally accounted for are length, lie, loft, and grind—all of which, beyond grind, are already standard for iron fittings.
With how specialized wedges have to be for performance, is grind really the only thing golfers should be concerned with?
At Edel golf, they set out to answer this question, and they came away with “no,” which lead to the development of the Swing Match system to help every golfer achieve their maximum potential.
The backbone of Swing Match weighting philosophy is that a wedge’s weight location has a dramatic effect on how a golfer creates dynamics leading to impact. It’s no different than how a change in shaft weight of a driver can change impact location and delivery numbers.
The how
The weighting technology allows each golfer to adjust their wedge in order to match their natural swing profile and release motion. Edel breaks these profiles into three major categories which are
- Cover – A steeper approach to impact
- Side On – A neutral approach
- Under – A shallow approach to impact
Once the heaviest weight in the wedge has been moved to the optimal position, it works alongside a player’s swing to optimize short game performance.
Results demonstrated that 80 percent of the golfers who were tested saw their best spin numbers and delivery were created with the weight adjusted somewhere other than the center weight port, and the average increase in backspin was just over 10 percent from the lowest spinning location to the highest location of the weight.
Edel’s research and testing have been analyzed by Mike Duffey, a PhD Biomechanics at Penn State and golf swing Biomechanist who came to the following conclusions:
- There is a substantial improvement in a player’s ability to control the flight of a wedge with weighting that matches – or is correctly fit – to the swing.
- The type of weighting that works best varies for individual golfers. The initial assessment of the data clearly showed that there are no consistent trends across golfers showing that one single weighting always works best for each golfer. In fact, the same weighting may have nearly the opposite effect on ball flight control depending on individual swing characteristics.
It was with this knowledge that the design team at Edel developed the Swing Match weight fitting system and now they are ready to introduce it to golfers.
The Construction
The Swing Match wedges are forged from soft 1025 carbon steel and have all of the bounce and sole geometries CNC machined to ensure maximum precision wedge to wedge.
Like other Edel wedges of the past, they feature full-face groove coverage as well as a micro-engraved face texture to maximize friction for increased spin.
Another signature design element of the Swing Match wedges is their shorter hosel to precisely locate the center of gravity.
The grinds
The Swing Match wedges come in four unique grind options with each one designed specifically for a specific player delivery—much like the adjustable weight system.
It’s easy to spot the grind type on the back of each wedge, but there is one thing you won’t find and that is bounce number—here’s why:
“Typical bounce is an arbitrary number called “effective bounce” that really has no standard and is played loosely across the industry. That’s why you won’t see a bounce number on our wedges.” – Edel Golf
- C-Grind: This grind is optimal for golfers with a moderate to shallow angle of attack who take a smaller divot. The extra sole width allows you extreme versatility for bunker play and greenside shots in the higher lofts; while being able to work in all turf conditions in the lower lofts.
- T-Grind: A tri-angle sole grind utilizing an extremely high bounce leading-edge, followed by a crescent-shaped lower bounce surface, and extreme heel relief. These three surfaces allow you to open the face without increasing the effective bounce for better performance on tighter lies.
- V-Grind: Inspired by Edel’s most popular DVR grind, this sole is great for cover golfers with a steeper swing motion. The higher bounce angle closer to the leading edge allows the sole to engage with the turf quickly which results in minimal hesitation through sand or turf.
- D-Grind: This high bounce grind is optimal for on-top golfers with a steep angle of attack who take a larger divot. The channel in the midsole creates two separate bounce surfaces; the high bounce leading edge to cut through the turf at impact without resistance and the extremely high bounce on the second surface to prevent any excessive digging.
Price, specs, and availability
The new Edel Swing Match wedge will be available starting April 2, with the retail price of $199 for a stock wedge with Nippon Modus wedge shaft and Golf Pride grip, while custom wedge will start at $225 with customizable hand-stamping and paint fill.
The wedges will be available in lofts 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, and 60 degrees in all four grind options and come in a cream chrome finish.
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Whats in the Bag
Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (April)
- Akshay Bhatia WITB accurate as of the Valero Texas Open.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees), Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
More Akshay Bhatia WITBs
- Akshay Bhatia WITB 2023 (July)
- Akshay Bhatia WITB 2022 (November)
- Akshay Bhatia WITB 2021 (January)
- Akshay Bhatia WITB (September 2020)
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Whats in the Bag
Michael S. Kim WITB 2024 (April)
- Michael S. Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X
3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD UB 8 TX
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 95 X (3), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 S
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (52-12F), SM10 (56-14F), WedgeWorks Proto (60-L)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300
Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.
Putter: L.A.B. Link.1
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 1.0P 17
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.
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Equipment
TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper: Leveraging 90s nostalgia
TaylorMade is leaning in even further to the retro vibes with the 2024 edition of its BRNR Mini Driver.
Patterned after the Carlsbad-based company’s iconic late 1990s Burner driver design, the 2024 BRNR Mini features similar copper styling and a retro version of the TaylorMade logo.
Featuring the same technology as its 2023 BRNR Mini Driver, the 2024 edition continues to play the hits that saw the unique club land in the bag of tour pros, such as Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp.
- Check out details on the technology in our 2023 BRNR launch story.
- See more in-hand photos and read what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
Why play a mini driver?
In general, TaylorMade finds two types of golfers gravitate toward a mini driver. In the first case, it’s an addition to a standard driver: Players looking for a “fairway finder” driver without giving up too much distance that can also be hit off the deck. Second, TaylorMade recommends giving a mini a go to golfers who struggle to hit 460 cc drivers, particularly choppers. It’s a better alternative than a 3-wood off the tee.
Tommy Fleetwood’s endorsement of playing a mini driver
“For me, if I HAD to hit a fairway, I’m more comfortable hitting a driver than a 3-wood. I would tee the driver down, and I would hit a little cut, or a neck-y cut in the fairway. The 3-wood isn’t for that. The 3-wood, generally, is a pretty hot club that I’ll hit from 270 or 280 in the fairway on a par 5. You get some courses where a 3-wood is not always necessary. [With the BRNR] you put a normal swing on it, and I’m more comfortable hitting it straight. It’s a replacement for a 3-wood, basically.”
Pricing, specs, availability
TaylorMade’s new BRNR Mini Driver Copper clubs will sell for $449.99 in 11.5 (RH/LH) and 13.5 (RH) degree options, and they will be available for custom orders.
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Bill
May 29, 2021 at 6:47 pm
I have been an Edel wedge user for years. These new wedges are a big step back, IMO. I wasted $200+ on a new Edel LW and ended up ditching it to return to my old Edel LW. The new wedge is MUCH heavier than my previous Edel. The leading edge sits up off the ground, and it isn’t versatile at all. I hope I can recoup some of my $$ by selling my SM wedge on eBay. As a long time Edel wedge user, I am really disappointed.
Dliver
Jun 4, 2021 at 8:12 am
I had EXACTLY the same experience! The wedge feels like a sledgehammer and the leading edge sits way off the ground. I loved their old wedges, but now I’m moving on. That was $200 down the drain for me too.
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Mike T
Apr 5, 2021 at 11:06 am
David himself fit me for a putter three years ago. I need to see one of his fitters for these wedges.
Adrian
Apr 4, 2021 at 7:11 am
I won’t even get my hopes up and believe that these will be offered in lefty!!
ProjectX
Apr 3, 2021 at 5:42 pm
I know it’s not the focus of the weighting but for someone like me that plays +1* and 3* upright it’s impossible to find at wedge that doesn’t swing weight to E0+. This could finally be the answer for the tall golfer.
AW
May 18, 2021 at 10:29 pm
Tall golfer with short arms?
oliversax
Apr 3, 2021 at 12:37 pm
I have the older model with DVR grind and I absolutely love them. These look a bit more chiseled, more attractive. Your article is gonna cost me a pretty penny as I need 3 lofts (51/55/59). Ouch!
Those of you who have not tried them, they have a very solid feel through impact vs flimsy from big branded wedges. I haven’t found better (including PXG).
gwelfgulfer
Apr 3, 2021 at 8:13 am
I’m sure they are fantastic wedges, but a little sad to see that they look like a more conventional from address compared to the previous.
Bagger
Apr 3, 2021 at 12:30 am
Will these be available in one length configuration
Patrick Reed
Apr 2, 2021 at 7:03 pm
Hey, I’ll try anything that helps me cheat
KP
Apr 2, 2021 at 4:50 pm
Not sure if “never used before” is accurate.
Hasn’t PXG been doing this on most of their irons (including wedges) for years?