Equipment
This PGA Tour pro is using a ridiculously expensive 1-of-1 sand wedge. Here’s why
It’s not uncommon for a PGA Tour player to use a one-off prototype golf club that’s not available to the public. If you follow our weekly photos in the GolfWRX forum threads, you know that’s the case. Some of the world’s best players simply require a different look and feel than what comes stock from the OEMs, and, for the most part, PGA Tour players are in a position to get any club modification they want.
Dylan Frittelli’s new Callaway Apex TCB sand wedge, though, is a next-level custom job that could represent a shift in equipment usage for golfers going forward.
Most tour players and mid-to-low-handicappers use what you’d consider a set of “standard” wedges, which are characterized by thick soles, thick hosels, rounded profiles and blade-style back sections. Their more angular cavity-back (or muscleback) iron sets typically stop at either the 9-iron or the pitching wedge, while their higher-lofted clubs have a standard wedge design.
Just for reference, below is a look at Frittelli’s 56-degree sand wedge from March 2021, which showcases what a “standard” wedge looks like.
Why do players use differently designed clubs for their irons and wedges?
Well, that’s what Frittelli wanted to know.
“I’m like, why do I use a sand wedge with a blade? I asked the Callaway rep and Roger Cleveland, they were all like, ‘No, there’s no reason, it’s just people do that,'” Frittelli told GolfWRX on Monday ahead of the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open.
Last year, Frittelli switched into a Callaway Apex TCB gap wedge that was a stock offering in the iron set, and he found the distance numbers to be more consistent on mishits due to the cavity-back design.
Click here for more info and conversation about the Apex TCB irons.
“The simple story is, I switched to the gap wedge in L.A. last year. I saw it on Instagram – I think it was in Austin the guys gave it to me,” Frittelli explained. “Through putting it on Trackman, hitting distances and yardages with the wedge, I figured it was way more consistent than the next wedge down, which was a blade-like sand wedge. So I’m like, ‘Why not? Can you make me the same iron head in the sand wedge in that loft and see if we can try?'”
Since Frittelli found the Apex TCB gap wedge to work well, he wanted to try a sand-wedge version. The problem was, a 56-degree Apex TCB iron-like head didn’t exist.
That’s when Callaway’s R&D team got to work on the task…and it was NOT cheap.
“It took two or three months for them to make it, but I started using it last week and it’s really good,” Frittelli said. “Roger said to me it’s a $4,000 wedge basically. I don’t know what steel it is, but they ground it out and milled it and did whatever they could to get to the shape. They 3D modeled somehow so they can reproduce it cheaper and quicker.”
A $4,000 wedge has to be the most expensive wedge on the PGA Tour. But is it worth it? According to Frittelli, he’s experiencing performance gains across the board.
“Chipping is a little different, I had to adjust a little bit there,” Frittelli told GolfWRX. “But it feels fine, on most of my chip shots I use a sand wedge. It feels pretty good on that as well. So it’s really just a question of, ‘Why do you guys use these? Well, just because they use them.’ There’s no answer. There’s no extra spin, there’s no extra distance or less distance. For me, in my head, I just see spin numbers are more consistent on the longer shots, full shots, and slight mishits just fly to the yardage a lot better. And then out of the rough you have a little more mass behind it, which again, mishits and off-center it flies a lot better.”
Based on his experience with the Apex TCB gap wedge, Frittelli says it’s unlikely he’ll switch out of the sand-wedge version. This is certainly something to keep an eye on going forward, since Frittelli is breaking new ground in the wedge category on tour by using an iron-like wedge for his sand wedge.
“I just used (a blade-style wedge) because they never had that option,” Frittelli said. “Then when the TCBs came out, I saw the gap wedge was in the list of irons, so I was like, well, let me use it. And I didn’t turn back once I used it. So I don’t see myself turning back now from the sand wedge. I don’t think anyone is gonna follow me in that trend, but that’s OK. We’ll see if my wedge numbers start going off the charts.”
For average golfers, I pose the question: Why do you use a blade-style wedge, rather than a cavity-back, iron-like construction that may offer more forgiveness? That’s the question Frittelli asked, and it led him down this road. It will be interesting to see if his performance really does improve, and if the new wedge stays in the bag.
If you’re curious to try out a wedge like this for yourself, next time you’re shopping for irons, take note of the available options. Many irons sets come with gap wedges or sand wedges in their stock offerings. They may be worth a try.
Check out more photos from the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open here!
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/23/24): TaylorMade Qi10 Driver Ruby Red
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 TaylorMade Qi10 Driver Ruby Red.
From the seller: (@Gehly): “TaylorMade Qi10 Driver 9.0 Designer Series Ruby Red. Custom Mitsubishi Kai’li Red 60s (stiff) shaft, plays 46”. Great condition, head near mint (see pics). w/ Red/Black Golf Pride NDMC Midsize grip. No headcover for it. $545“
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade Qi10 Driver Ruby Red
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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Whats in the Bag
Sam Burns WITB 2024 (April)
- Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond T (15 degrees @16)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-AW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Tour Issue (AW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F @55), WedgeWorks Proto (60-T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One #7S
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Will Zalatoris WITB 2024 (April)
- Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X (44.5 inches)
3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T350 (3), Titleist T150 (4-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Prototype G.O.S.T. 10 ST X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-08F, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
See more photos of Will Zalatoris’ WITB in the forums.
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Jeremy
Jan 26, 2022 at 12:10 am
This in not a new thing Callaway started offering the Mac Daddy CB wedge in 2020 I used them all last season they are great
steve
Jan 25, 2022 at 8:10 pm
This is the story Terry Koehler (founder of Edison wedges) has been telling for many years. I have tried his wedges and I am sold.
Garrett
Jan 25, 2022 at 11:32 am
but if he uses a CB sand wedge where will aaron dill put all those dope stampings. priorities
Aaron Dill
Jan 25, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Pay no attention to my charlatan ways.
Steve Myrvold
Jan 25, 2022 at 10:35 am
Well, sandwiches come in all shorts of different sole configurations. The set wedge may be fine for more full type shots. But, the sand wedge needs to be very versatile. Sand conditions can make a different sole design very important.
Dan W
Jan 24, 2022 at 9:57 pm
Why use a blade wedge? I’m shocked a pro doesn’t know these things. 2 reasons.
1- the wedge head has the most aggressive grooves. Plus micro grooves or face milling or face texture which adds spin on the shorter shots.
2- and most importantly. Flighting down shots and controlling trajectory.
If a pro doesn’t see these things they sucks with a wedge.
Ask any fitter, “why go with a bigger head?”…answer- yes, forgiveness but mostly, the bigger the head , the higher it makes the ball go.
So a blade style club can easily flight the ball down, which is crucial with the wedge as choosing the proper trajectory is vital with a back pin then a front pin or to combat a head or tail wind.
The reason we all use them isn’t “ well, we just do”. There’s a very important reason.
Seriously?
Jan 25, 2022 at 12:36 am
So, how many professional wins do you have and how long did you spend in the world top 50?
I’m pretty sure Dylan can flight down these wedges without an issue.
Jay
Jan 24, 2022 at 9:32 pm
I asked myself this same question not long ago. I’ve used Vokey blade wedges for years and years. I recently decided to switch to a cavity back sandwedge, The Callaway MackDaddy CB, and I have seen no performance drop off in consistency or spin, and I have gained some forgiveness. I am glad I questioned this and changed.
Born
Jan 24, 2022 at 9:29 pm
My PW is 49.5 lol so prob same loft as TCB gpa wedge
chip75
Jan 24, 2022 at 8:42 pm
“Many irons sets come with gap wedges or sand wedges in their stock offerings. They may be worth a try.”
It depends on the set. The more player orientated the stronger the highest lofted club tends to be. That’s one of the reasons why they spent $4,000 on this spanner. Ping are one of the last OEMs to offer something like a 52° with the i210s (which Westwood games). It would be neat if we saw 56° and 60° set wedges. Ping probably had some of the last 2-SW/LW sets on tour with their Eye2 line, not sure if that got to i3s.
Dan w
Jan 24, 2022 at 10:02 pm
The Ping i210 GW is 50 deg.
Golf Nobel
Jan 25, 2022 at 2:53 am
Retro Spec is 52 and he probably has this configuration.
chip75
Jan 25, 2022 at 8:14 pm
Lee’s used two U wedges in the past, one a 49.5 the other a 53, as well as a 50/54 U set-up.
I assume he uses the Sharpie yardage marks to tell the difference when they’re in the bag!
Benny
Jan 24, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Always was a fan of my sets gap wedge. Looks better with the flow. Weight is consistent and for CB’s its helps.
Great call and article Wrx.