Equipment

This PGA Tour pro is using a ridiculously expensive 1-of-1 sand wedge. Here’s why

Published

4 years ago

Jan 24, 2022

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!

Related Topics:Callaway featured recommended wedges

Up Next

Daniel Berger is using irons he bought “from some guy on the internet”

Don't Miss

New for 2022, Titleist launches Vokey Design SM9 wedges

Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

16 Comments

Pingback: Top-30 equipment photos from the 2021-2022 PGA Tour season – GolfWRX
Pingback: TOUR REPORT: Henrik Stenson goes DEEP on his Callaway Legacy Black irons from 2013 – GolfWRX
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

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
- Aaron Dill
  
  Jan 25, 2022 at 12:49 pm
  
  Pay no attention to my charlatan ways.
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
Born

Jan 24, 2022 at 9:29 pm

My PW is 49.5 lol so prob same loft as TCB gpa wedge

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- Dan w
  
  Jan 24, 2022 at 10:02 pm
  
  The Ping i210 GW is 50 deg.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Golf Nobel
    
    Jan 25, 2022 at 2:53 am
    
    Retro Spec is 52 and he probably has this configuration.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - 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!
    
    Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Equipment

Spotted: Titleist GTS USWO headcovers

Published

8 hours ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore was at Riviera Country Club this last week in Los Angeles for the U.S. Women’s Open. While browsing the photos, I spotted a recent major trend in headcovers. That is, the Titleist GTS headcover line expands the majors theme.

Seen on the bag of Natalia Guseva were the red, white, and blue Titleist GTS covers. This is the third time we have seen limited-edition Titleist major covers, the others being at the Masters and the PGA Championship. But with the launch of the GTS line back at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March, this is the first time we have seen Titleist come out with major themed head covers for the season (driver headcovers through hybrids).

Check out some photos below.

At the Masters, we saw the familiar Masters green, white, and yellow. While the PGA Championship design was colors synonymous with the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team. This shows the season major drops continue full steam ahead for major OEMs. New opportunities for each major for designs and themes, and who knows, maybe a lucky spark for a player and a major championship for their resume. It gets the wheels turning for what major theme headcover you would keep on your bag for the whole season!

Whats in the Bag

Melanie Green WITB 2026 (June)

Published

10 hours ago

Jun 5, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 5 S

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 6 S

Hybrids: TaylorMade Qi4D (19 degrees, 22 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF Hybrid 85 S

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (5-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus 3 Tour 105

Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (50-SB 09, 54-SB 12, 60-SB 10)
Shafts: Nippon Modus 3 Tour 105

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour V
Grip: SuperStroke Flatso 2.0

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

Check out more in-hand photos of Melanie Green’s clubs here.

Equipment

Titleist GT280 mini driver after 3 rounds – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

10 hours ago

Jun 5, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user has announced himself as a believer in the powers of Titleist’s GT280 Mini Driver, and is sharing the good news with other members.

User @dgarland chronicled:

“As the title states I have played 3 rounds with a Titleist GT280 mini driver and here are the results… If you have been contemplating trying one, definitely do. Stock Tensei Blue and set at standard loft and it’s legitimately hard to not put the ball in play with this. It is incredibly straight and even bad swings result in a usable shot. You will give up some distance but you will be in play. I have not attempted to hit it off the fairway yet but I rarely hit my 3 wood off the fairway either. At my home course there are two holes on the front 9 that are a really uncomfortable shot with the driver. One is a slight dogleg right where a draw (my normal shot) can run out of room fast and the other is a dogleg left with trees about 250ish straight off the tee, where a driver that doesn’t draw will get me into trouble. The mini driver has been perfect for both of them. I always step onto those tee boxes uncomfortable about the shot I need to play, but with this it makes it far easier to get the ball in play.

“Update: 2 for 2 again this morning in a 9 hole round.”

Members in the forum shared their thoughts on mini drivers, offering up their favorite models and whether or not they’re a proper fit for their home course/style of play. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

NorthMNgolfer: “I’m curious between this and the new TEC mini that was just released. But I’m waiting a mini that can be used from the fairway as well from time to time. Both look like great options.”
jLMN: “I played the GT280 last year and it’s a great club. My problem this year is I couldn’t justify keeping it in the bag when I would only use it 2-3 times per round. Perfect club for short par 4 tee shots. I didn’t trust it as well off the deck compared to the tee box.”
GolferPerson1: “I can only speak to the 280 but I’ve had no issues with it from the fairway. ”

Entire Thread: “Titleist GT280 mini driver after 3 rounds”

If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!