What do you do when you’re already the most popular wedge on tour? That’s the issue facing Titleist and its highly regarded Vokey SM wedge line as it unveils its SM11 version. “A lot of golfers still really like what they are getting from the Vokey profile,” says Aaron Luttrell, Vokey’s Product Manager. “And they don’t really want a big change, they just want the details dialed in even more.”
That’s exactly what Vokey has done with the SM11 line. The key to the new line is added consistency, and increased control over launch angle. “The best players all hit the ball quite low with their wedges and they want that level of control,” Luttrell says. “And that’s exactly what we’ve provided in SM11.”
The three keys are contact, flight and spin, Luttrell says. With that in mind, Titleist has refined the number of options in the line, moving some to their custom WedgeWorks line, while still offering 27 options. Lofts have also been adjusted, offering clubs at as low as 44 degrees up to 60 degrees. Bounce options have been tinkered with to make wedges that fit with different needs.
Wedge keys
Contact
Titleist recognizes that different players use their wedges in different ways. But what they expect out of a Vokey wedge, precision, feel and spin, are the same. The company recognizes the correct grind presents the best contact (between the second and fifth grooves) and that’s why Titleist is offering six grinds, ranging from the F, which is most utilized in full swings (and comes from 44 to 56 degree), through to the K grind, which is often used in bunkers and comes in 12 degrees of bounce.
Flight
One of the keys with the new SM11 wedges is the centre of gravity is now set so every wedge offers the same trajectory regardless of grind or bounce, allowing for a precise flight. Previously the CG was varied in each version of the wedge. The goal is to allow for the lower, penetrating flight you’ll see from most tour pros on their approach shots, allowing the golfer to control distance. “You always see tour pros hit the ball lower and that’s one of the keys here,” says Luttrell. With progressive CG you’ll get a square clubface at impact and tighter dispersion, as well as higher spin when you want it. For example, the F Grind, often found on longer wedges, won’t have the same level of spin on approach shots as the goal is for a quick stop, not a ball that spins back significantly.
Spin
Grooves are key to spin, and Vokey adjusted the grooves on the SM11 to be more aggressive. Luttrell says the company had to be careful not to violate the rules on grooves and spin, but decided that rather than play carefully, they’d push the boundaries with the new wedges. The new grooves also clear more debris and retain spin, and Directional Face Texture improves friction and stopping power on delicate shots. And heat frequency treatment means your spin should be retained up to 100 rounds of use, Luttrell says.
Finishes
The wedges come in Tour Chrome, Nickel and Jet Black, which was adjusted to limit glare.
Which one is for me?
That depends. Most players are carrying four wedges now, pitching, gap, sand and lob, at varying lofts and bounces. Why? Because you use them for different parts of your game. Since you use your wedges on up to 30 percent of shots during a round, spending some time with Our Master Club Fitters at Golf Town is really essential to ensuring you’re getting the most out of your investment in these scoring clubs.