The PGA Tour’s best plays them, but bringing so-called “raw” wedges to market proved a particular challenge for TaylorMade, says Bill Price, TaylorMade’s wedge guru. The problem is that raw wedges—those without a coating on them—often start to discolour and rust before they even end up in the a customer’s golf bag, meaning they could appear worn before they were even used, Price admits. To compensate for that fact, the company worked to create an adhesive sticker (unique to TaylorMade) that will keep the wedges sealed until they are put in play.
The new Milled Grind 2 wedges, with raw faces, are designed for optimal spin and the ability to attack the pin.
In addition, TaylorMade has created new Hi-Toe wedges, called “Big Foot.” The follow-up to the 2018 launch of the uniquely-shaped Hi-Toe wedges, this new version offers a wide sole, making it easier for higher-handicap players to master.
Features & Benefits
CNC Milling
Already utilized in Tiger Woods’ irons, TaylorMade is using a similar CNC milling technology that allows for incredibly precision and accuracy from club to club.
Raw Face Design
Raw face design is commonly found on the PGA Tour. What do the tour pros know? Price says raw faces spin more and offer a greater degree of control due to their rougher surface, which creates more friction. Price added that balls struck with raw faces were less likely to skid up the clubface. However, the challenge has been getting wedges with raw faces to consumers without making them appear rusty or worn on the shelf. Not anymore. TaylorMade worked with 3M to create an adhesive sticker that keeps the wedges from rusting until it is removed.
Thick-thin head design
By creating a thicker backing on the wedges, with a thin outer section, the MG2 wedges have great sound and feel. A TPU insert was created in the back cavity to reduce vibration and create a great feel at impact.
Hi-Toe Big Foot
A game improvement wedge with a wider sole that presents a multitude of potential shots for the higher-handicap golfer. That’s the appeal of TaylorMade’s Hi-Toe Big Foot wedge. With a sole that is 6 mm wider, and a leading edge designed to glide and not dig (with a bounce of up to 15 degrees), higher-handicap golfers will find Big Foot easy to slide through the rough or to extricate a ball from the sand. Additionally, Hi-Toe Big Foot offers deep center of gravity pockets to increase spin and control.
Who are they for?
The new MG2 wedges are clearly aimed at better golfers who are willing to sacrifice some of the aesthetic of having a coating on their wedges and in turn gain more control and spin.
On the other hand, the Hi-Toe Big Foot is a wedge aimed at the higher-handicap golfer who loved the look and possibility of the original Hi-Toe, but didn’t feel comfortable laying beaver belts of sod on the fairway. This game improvement version of the original captures the unique nature of the wedge, while making it more playable for a broad scope of golfers.
