Vokey drops 5 acquainted SM11 lob wedge grinds and a shock 62M by way of WedgeWorks, delivering the type of complementary lineup the platform at all times ought to have been.
In case you’ve been paying consideration, you already know that whereas I largely get enthusiastic about Vokey WedgeWorks releases, I’ve a couple of ongoing points with the platform.
The excellent news is that with its newest WedgeWorks launch, Vokey has definitively solved one in every of them. The much less excellent news is that the opposite two stay stubbornly, maddeningly intact.
The top of the trickle
For the final a number of years, Vokey has used WedgeWorks as a car to launch a gradual trickle of tour grinds that didn’t make it into the corporate’s already in depth retail lineup. By quarterly-ish WedgeWorks launches, you would possibly get a low-bounce Ok Grind (now a part of the retail lineup), the occasional V Grind and generally one thing seemingly extra unique like an A*—every one arriving in accordance with some inside calendar that hasn’t at all times instantly addressed the wants (or at the least the desires) of Vokey loyalists.
In case your most well-liked grind lived on the WedgeWorks facet of the fence, you had been caught ready. When SM-whatever launched with new tech, you bought to look at from the skin whereas your WedgeWorks grind lingered in last-gen limbo. Was an up to date model coming? Finally, possibly. Additionally, possibly not. You by no means knew.
I received’t go as far as to say that being caught with a prior-gen V Grind was a deal breaker however, on the identical time, should you’re telling me that newest model of SM is meaningfully higher than what got here earlier than it, and I truly imagine you, then leaving me with no improve path for months is, nicely, a bummer—and a giant one at that.
With SM11, Vokey is doing it in a different way.
As an alternative of rationing WedgeWorks grinds as in the event that they’re the one means to outlive a two-year product cycle, Vokey is launching 5 acquainted (to a few of you, anyway) lob wedge grinds—L, A, Ok*, A+ and V—together with a 62-degree M Grind, they usually’re doing it abruptly. All constructed on the SM11 platform. All can be found March 27 on Vokey.com.
That’s not a trickle. That’s sensibly opening the floodgates with the total complement of the grinds you received’t in any other case discover on retail cabinets.
I really like that. And, additionally, it’s about time.
What you’re getting
Quite than cope with me rehashing the total SM11 tech story, know that each WedgeWorks grind shares the identical platform: matched CG positioning throughout grinds, progressive groove shapes by loft, the brand new directional face texture, and 5 % extra groove quantity. In case you’re shopping for an SM11 WedgeWorks grind, you’re getting SM11 efficiency. No prior-gen wait-and-see this time round.
The WedgeWorks grind lineup
Right here’s the grind-by-grind record of additives to WedgeWorks.
L Grind (58, 60 | 4° bounce | low)
The L is a narrow-soled, low-bounce grind with heel, toe and trailing edge reduction. Consider it as dwelling between the T Grind (narrower, extra aggressive reduction) and the M Grind (wider, extra bounce). It provides you many of the versatility of a T with a little bit extra safety from digging. Greatest suited to agency to impartial circumstances and shallower assault angles. Ludvig Åberg, Brian Harman and Sungjae Im are among the many PGA Tour gamers gaming one.
A Grind (58, 60 | 4° bounce | low)
Born from a dialog between Aaron Dill and Geoff Ogilvy—who needed one thing that moved sooner by way of the agency, tight turf generally present in Australia—the A Grind is actually an L Grind with the ribbon (the grind strains within the transition between sole and trailing edge) smoothed out. The result’s a vanguard that sits nearer to the bottom and slides by way of turf with much less resistance. Rather less versatile than the L, however a little bit extra forgiving. Wyndham Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, is a longtime A Grind participant.
Ok* Grind (58, 60 | 6° bounce | low)
Some of the well-liked lob wedge grinds on the PGA Tour, the Ok* is a low-bounce spinoff of the .06 (Low Bounce) Ok Grind. The place the usual Ok has a full, clean sole, the Ok* provides a steeper pre-wear on the forefront plus heel, toe and trailing-edge reduction. Translation: it resists digging on square-faced pictures however allows you to open the face when it’s worthwhile to get artistic. As with all Ok variations, the large sole makes it a bunker weapon. Justin Thomas and Cam Younger journey with one.
A+ Grind (58, 60 | 8° bounce | mid)
If the A Grind is an L with the ribbon eliminated, the A+ is an M with the ribbon eliminated. Similar modification, utilized to a wider, higher-bounce start line. It strikes sooner by way of the turf than the M Grind however affords extra bounce and sole width than the A. Ideally suited for agency to impartial circumstances with gamers who discovered the M a contact too bouncy. Adam Scott—one other Australian, due to course—usually video games a 58A+ on Tour.
V Grind (58, 60 | 10° bounce | mid-high)
My private favourite of the WedgeWorks-only choices. The V Grind is actually a higher-bounce tackle the T Grind—identical heel, toe and trailing-edge reduction, however with a ahead part of elevated bounce that provides forgiveness on square-faced pictures. It excels in impartial to comfortable circumstances and with steeper deliveries. In case you love the T Grind’s versatility however discover it desires to dig when issues get comfortable, the V is your reply. Jackson Koivun, the world’s top-ranked male newbie, is a 60V participant. Additionally, me. Generally.
62M Grind (62 | 8° bounce | mid)
That is the surprising shock of the bunch. The M Grind is Bob Vokey’s favourite sole grind—mid-bounce, exceptionally versatile, nice throughout a wide range of circumstances. Providing it at 62 levels provides gamers a higher-lofted possibility in a well-liked, user-friendly grind. If final 12 months’s 64T was a little bit too aggressive in your style (and good luck monitoring one down at this level), the 62M might be the safer, smarter play.
All WedgeWorks grinds can be found in right-hand fashions. Left-hand choices can be found for the 60L, 60K* and 60V. (As is usually the case with boutique releases, suck it, Canada.)
Unsolved issues
Whereas lastly making a great little bit of the grind catalog out there early within the product cycle is a big step ahead, I’m (as per common) not with out my petty grievances.
Each WedgeWorks grind ships in Vokey’s Uncooked end and solely in a Uncooked end. Certain, quite a lot of Tour gamers love Uncooked. It’s low-glare, some say it feels softer at influence, and if it rusts (which some additionally suppose seems cool), Aaron Dill is correct there handy them a brand new one.
For the Tour, it’s lather, rinse, repeat, a number of instances a 12 months with the lob wedge anyway so rust isn’t a lot of a priority.
The factor is, you in all probability don’t have Aaron Dill on pace dial and, if that’s the case, it’s not a stretch to imagine that, in contrast to Justin Thomas, Cam Younger and the remainder of the Vokey employees, you pay in your wedges.
And that places me in a clumsy place. I’m the man who has advised you repeatedly that rust doesn’t add spin. That rust can truly trigger spin decay. And, but, my V seems prefer it was pulled from a shipwreck. I attempt to hold it clear. I do. However uncooked metal and the identical circumstances that necessitate swapping the T for the V aren’t precisely a preservation-friendly mixture.
Typically, end provides sturdiness. It’s a literal layer of safety. With wedges beginning at $200 (Uncooked ones inexplicably costing extra) and the typical golfer not changing them practically as typically as they need to, that sturdiness element issues. A Tour Chrome or Jet Black or every other possibility (Slate Blue, for instance) wouldn’t simply be good, it might be sensible.
Uncooked is smart should you love low glare and may pop in to see your Tour rep everytime you want a contemporary one. For the opposite 99.999 % of us, particularly those that imagine it when Vokey says high-lofted wedges ought to be changed each 75 rounds or so, some extra end choices could be appreciated.
And talking of lacking finishes
I’ve been beating this drum for years. Slate Blue is The Greatest End
. This isn’t opinion. It’s established reality {that a} (largely silent) military of Slate Blue loyalists will again me on. We proceed to be underserved and, at this level, I’d like to talk to the supervisor.
What’s significantly galling is that Vokey will apparently do completely something for you should you’re Australian. They’ll create a complete grind from scratch (the A Grind for Ogilvy). They’ll put your countryman’s favourite grind entrance and middle (Adam Scott and the A+). They’ll even put you in control of product advertising for the model. With that, we’ll in all probability get Vegemite-scented, koala pores and skin grips earlier than we see Slate Blue once more.
If I had been Australian, I’m pretty sure I may get a Slate Blue V Grind hand-delivered by Bob Vokey himself. As an alternative, all my New York self will get is a Caesar salad (Plain. No contemporary shrimp straight off the barbie) and a facet of rust.
Can I communicate to the supervisor’s supervisor?
Higher but, I’m loosely acquainted with Greg Chalmers. I’m making a name. Possibly he could make this occur.
I’ve digressed.
Pricing and availability
All new Vokey WedgeWorks lob wedge choices shall be out there by way of Vokey.com starting March 27. Retail worth is $229 per wedge. Don’t shoot the messenger; it ought to be apparent by now that I’m not in control of WedgeWorks. As with all WedgeWorks orders, customized choices embody stamping, paint fill and your alternative of shaft and grip.
The underside line
Credit score the place it’s due: it is a sensible and, in my estimation, wanted evolution for WedgeWorks. Launching a full complementary lineup alongside SM11—fairly than dripping grinds out one after the other over the course of two years—is strictly the appropriate strategy. It respects the golfer’s time and acknowledges that if you inform individuals a brand new platform is healthier, they need to have the ability to entry it with out ready for his or her grind’s flip in line.
One out of three points resolved. It’s in all probability an important one however I’d be mendacity if I stated the raw-only factor and the continued absence of Slate Blue don’t gnaw at me a little bit.
Have your say
Are you excited to see a virtually full grind lineup hit WedgeWorks? Tell us what you suppose—and if you’re Australian, possibly put in a great phrase for us with the Vokey staff.
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