Equipment
GolfWRX Members Choice: Best wedge of 2022
What is the best wedge in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best wedge of 2022.
The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Best wedge of 2022: The top 5
1. Vokey SM9
What Titleist says: “Anyone can manufacture a wedge, but it takes a master to turn a piece of high-performance technology into an instrument of creative control. Bob Vokey’s six tour-proven grinds are designed to offer maximum creativity, versatility and consistency, all meticulously developed through years of working with the best players in the world.”
From our launch piece: “A new Spin Milled cutting process in the SM9 models – which includes tightening the allowable tolerances – produces sharper grooves wedge after wedge in design to provide higher, more consistent spin. Each groove on every head is 100% inspected for conformity to the rules of golf.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the SM9 wedge in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.
2. Cleveland RTX ZipCore
What Cleveland says: “So we tore our flagship RTX wedge down to its core and rebuilt it from the inside out. Introducing RTX ZipCore. The ZipCore is a low-density material at the heart of RTX. It’s an inside-to-out solution that’s elegant in form and function, with unprecedented results.”
From our launch piece: “The low-density ZipCore in the hosel of the wedge head shifts the center of gravity higher and towards the toe to boost what Cleveland is calling High-Low MOI. What this means is you get less spin rate variance ( aka better spin robustness ) on shots hit both higher and lower on the face. This also creates greater control over launch which leads to better distance control.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the RTX ZipCore wedge in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.
3. Mizuno T22
What Mizuno says: “More than fifty years of refining our Grain Flow Forging process in Hiroshima, Japan – ensure that Mizuno wedges are unrivaled for touch and feel around the green. Played by one of the greatest short-game players of any generation – Luke Donald. Now with an additional soft feel copper underlay and the option of 4 levels of sole grind.”
From our launch piece: “The new 2021 Mizuno T22 wedges are one-piece grain flow forged using HD boron and feature a microlayer of copper beneath the nickel chrome in a bid to deliver an extra split-second of control at impact.”
You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.
T4. Ping Glide 4.0
What Ping says: “A precision-machined face and grooves and new textured face blast increase spin and consistency, a larger activated elastomer insert helps soften the feel, and four distinct grind options maximize versatility on full and finesse shots. The compact, refined profile provides a confident and captured look at address.”
From our launch piece: “In developing the Glide 4.0 wedges, Ping’s engineers focused on expanding the grind and loft options to make custom fitting easier and more precise.”
You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.
T4. Cleveland CBX ZipCore
What Cleveland says: “All you wanna do is chunk a little less. Skull a little less. Duff a little less. CBX ZipCore helps you hit better shots around the green by striking it true and clean more often.”
From our launch piece: “The foundation of the latest CBX ZipCore is a low-density core that sits at the heart of the wedge. ZipCore shifts the center of gravity while also boosting High-Low MOI in design for more stability high and low on the wedge face for maximum forgiveness. Per Cleveland, the result is a 26% improvement in High-Low MOI compared against the previous generation and a 10% improvement in Heel-Toe MOI.”
You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.
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Whats in the Bag
Bud Cauley WITB 2024 (February)
- Bud Cauley WITB accurate as of the Cognizant Classic.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist TSR3 (15 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Aldila
5-wood: Titleist TSi2 (18 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Black 130 MSI 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist 620 MB (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
See more in-hand photos of Bud Cauley’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Maverick McNealy WITB 2024 (February)
- Maverick McNealy WITB accurate as of the Cognizant Classic.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD XC 6 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
7-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 8 X
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW (3-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-08F, 54-08M), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58-L)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Toulon Stanford MM Custom, Odyssey Ai-One Milled Stanford
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of McNealy’s clubs here.
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Equipment
Jake Knapp discusses why he opts for a mini driver instead of a 3-wood
The following is an excerpt from a piece we filed for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head on over there for the full story, which also includes the Mexico Open winner discussing how he configures his PXG irons set up.
Knapp may be a Tour rookie, but he’s experienced enough to know what works for him. And it’s not a 3-wood.
“I put in a 3-wood every once in a while, but I was just never able to find one that I loved,” Knapp told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday. “Three woods, in general, I just hit on the bottom of the face. They spin a lot and don’t go anywhere.”
Rather than using a fairway wood, Knapp goes with a TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver that has 13.5 degrees of loft. The club complements his 9-degree Ping G425 LST driver.
During a fitting session in Oklahoma last year, Knapp told his fitter he was looking for a club that goes 286 yards, and his first three shots with the mini driver went between 285 and 290.
“It’s just an easier club to hit than a 3-wood,” Knapp explained. “It spins more off the ground, but I don’t need it off the ground too often. And from 270+ yards away, you’re not really trying to be too precise. You’re just trying to get it up around the green most of the time. So, for me, it’s really just a tee club and kind of a fairway finder for me.”
Read more here and check out Jake Knapp’s full WITB below.
Driver: Ping G425 LST (9 degrees @7.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 95 6.5
Irons: Srixon ZU85 (2), PXG 0311 X (4), PXG 0211 ST (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei White Hybrid 100 TX (2), KBS Tour C-Taper 130 X (4-PW)
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II (52-10), Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (56.5-10S), WedgeWorks (60-T @61)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper 130 X (52, 56), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Double Bend
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour SGP 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Left Dot
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Shawn M
Jul 13, 2022 at 1:48 pm
Callaway Jaws RAW???
Steve
Jul 11, 2022 at 10:09 pm
And Taylormade gets blanked…
Kuch is the MAN
Jul 11, 2022 at 9:51 am
Edison wedges…I shouldn’t be telling my secrets…but I’m feeling generous.