Getting your wedges right can transform your game for the better. Here's what you can learn from the five best players in the world.
Johnny Wunder
With the driver getting most of the attention these days (for really fun reasons) the section of the bag that requires the most thought (in my opinion) is the what and why of players’ wedge setup. I get this question a ton in my Friday AMA’s on Instagram.
What’s the most common wedge setup on Tour? To be honest it’s all over the map with the one constant being most Tour players go with a four-wedge bag (PW/GW/SW/LW). Back in the day it was PW/SW/LW, but that was mainly pre-ProV1 and before the distance revolution began.
So, what happened?
It started with the launch of the modern ball in October 2000, which is when the whole golf world spun on its head. With the introduction of the new high launch/lower spin platforms not only was the ball going farther but even higher.
At the Tour level higher is awesome for maybe 3- through 5-iron, but that’s where its stops. The response to this, although subtle, was a strengthening of lofts across the iron sets. As the ball evolves, so does the golf club — it has to from an aerodynamics standpoint. So in an effort to maintain control with the combo of spin and launch, the lofts had to come down and the center of gravity needed to be readdressed to make it all jive.
An old loft package for irons and wedges on Tour (pre-2005-ish) might have looked like this:
As you can see, a modern Tour set is roughly 2-3 degrees stronger. Off the top of my head, the only players who play with lofts that live in the old-school ballpark are Tiger, Rocco Mediate, the Hojgaards, Xander and Rahm, with Tiger and Rocco being the only two who live almost apples to apples. The other three are what I would call serious shaft leaners, meaning their impact conditions require a ton of loft to keep the ball in the air and in hand.
This modern loft package asked less of the top of the iron set and asked more of the bottom. That’s when the four-wedge system came into popularity and now it’s the norm. The top five players in the world have wedge makeups that all check off the four-wedge system — and if you look closely you’ll see some similarities.
Wedge gapping typically falls in a 12- or 15-yard realm although is player and bag dependent. (For example, Phil is a 15-yard gap guy and Rahm is a 12 guy.)
Check out below for the wedge setups of the top-five players in the world. (*PW not included, but they all obviously use them.)
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (50/56/60)
Scrambling Rank: 3rd
Scottie Scheffler with his Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks SM9 Proto 60T.Getty Images
Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (50/12F, 56/14F)
Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks SM9 Proto (60T)
Shafts: Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Titleist Vokey SM10 Tour Chrome Custom Wedge
Adding Vokey Design® SM10 Wedges to your bag opens a world of scoring opportunities. Between the crisp contact, optimal flighting, incredible spin – and those magical Bob Vokey grinds – they give you everything you need to grow your short game skill. From the simple to the sensational, SM10 are made to make great shots happen.
Improved Flighting & Feel
Get lower, more attacking flight in a wedge that feels amazingly solid at impact with SM10. A precise shift in the center of gravity gives you even more control and stability for greater confidence over every shot.
Ultimate Shot Versatility
Your swing is unique and requires the right tools. Finding your ideal mix of grinds will provide you with flawless contact and maximum versatility so you can be prepared for everything the course demands.
Rory McIlroy with a TaylorMade MG4 60/08 lob wedge.Getty Images
TaylorMade MG4 (50/09SB, 54/11SB, 60/08LB@61)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (50-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 Custom Wedge
Milled Grind 4 utilizes laser etched Spin Tread and a raw face to provide better bite around the greens and superior spin in wet conditions. Refined shaping creates a smooth aesthetic that inspires creativity around the greens, while improved mass distribution provides a solid feel.
IMPROVED SPIN IN WET CONDITIONS
Spin Tread technology utilizes laser etching to channel away moisture and help retain spin in wet conditions. The same way that tire treads help your car stay connected to the road, Spin Tread redirects water at impact and creates more friction between the club face and golf ball to impart more spin than prior generations.
REFINED SHAPING
MG4 features refinements in shape and visual appeal with a focus on what players perceive at address. Details from the hosel blend, offset and leading-edge straightness were all inspired by the insights and preferences of the best players and most experienced designers. Compared to the previous MG3, MG4 showcases a slightly larger footprint that provides players with a sense of roundness, smoothness and improved ease of use.
RAW FACE & NEW FINISH
There’s a reason raw wedges are preferred by the game’s best players. The unplated material will rust over time to preserve consistent spin while also delivering better performance in wet conditions. A new refined finish with a slightly darker tint minimizes glare and blends seamlessly with the raw face for a unified appearance.
Xander Schauffele with a Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (60-04T@61). Xander also swaps in a Vokey SM10 K* depending on the conditions.Getty Images
Callaway Opus (52/10S@53)
Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56/10S@57, 60/04T@61)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Callaway Opus Custom Wedge
Welcome Opus – Callaway’s very best in wedge design, taking wedge play around the world to an entirely new level. By utilizing an all-new Spin Gen Face Technology™, three elements of spin come together to provide short game action and control like never before. We’ve spent hours poring over every detail of shape and design with the very best players in the world, so you can have a wedge that sits confidently behind the ball, poised to hit any shot your game may require.
Spin Gen Face Technology™ for Tour Level Spin
Spin Gen Face Technology provides spin and control in your wedges by combining 3 key elements on the face; an all-new tighter pitch which puts more grooves on the face, offset groove-in-groove for spin when opening the face, and a new aggressive face blast providing spin and bite on partial shots. These three elements work in conjunction to provide a crisp, tour level spin.
Tour Certified Shaping
Opus wedges are the most Tour-tested, Tour-validated shapes in Callaway history. A higher toe peak, radius in the leading edge, and easier hosel transitions make Opus our best wedge shape ever.
Grind Options to Fit Your Game
Your technique travels with you, so finding the right grind for your swing is paramount in wedge play. With Opus, we have a complete lineup of sole shapes from narrow to wide, available in our popular S grind, forgiving W, versatile C, and Tour-favorite T grind.
For every shot, every lie, every course, there’s a grind fit for your swing. Finding the right grind to match your swing and playing conditions will give you the best turf interaction, contact and shot performance. Master Craftsman Bob Vokey has spent decades crafting, developing and improving his tour proven grinds to fit players of all levels.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’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.
PROGRESSIVE CENTER OF GRAVITY
SM9 features a progressive center of gravity (CG) throughout the lofts, which optimizes ball flight, accuracy and forgiveness. Using tapered top lines and varied hosel lengths, the Vokey R&D team has raised the height of the CG in the higher lofts, which promotes a lower, more controlled flight.The CG is also forward of the face, resulting in increased MOI, exceptional feel and a club face that simply wants to square up at impact.
SPIN MILLED GROOVES
SM9’s patented Spin Milled grooves are meticulously engineered through a new cutting process to maximize spin and durability. The process starts by cutting the face perfectly flat with a high-speed saw. Then every groove is individually cut based on loft and finish; low lofts (46°-54°) are designed with narrower, deeper grooves, while higher lofts (56°-62°) have wider, shallower grooves.Micro-grooves are individually cut in between grooves, which maximize spin on partial shots. A proprietary heat treatment is applied to the impact area which doubles the durability of the groove without impacting feel, making it the most durable groove in golf. The process is only complete when every Vokey wedge is 100% inspected for utmost quality and performance.
Collin Morikawa with a TaylorMade MG4 60/11TW Grind.Getty Images
TaylorMade MG4 (50/09SB, 56/08LB, 60/11TW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 Custom Wedge
Milled Grind 4 utilizes laser etched Spin Tread and a raw face to provide better bite around the greens and superior spin in wet conditions. Refined shaping creates a smooth aesthetic that inspires creativity around the greens, while improved mass distribution provides a solid feel.
IMPROVED SPIN IN WET CONDITIONS
Spin Tread technology utilizes laser etching to channel away moisture and help retain spin in wet conditions. The same way that tire treads help your car stay connected to the road, Spin Tread redirects water at impact and creates more friction between the club face and golf ball to impart more spin than prior generations.
REFINED SHAPING
MG4 features refinements in shape and visual appeal with a focus on what players perceive at address. Details from the hosel blend, offset and leading-edge straightness were all inspired by the insights and preferences of the best players and most experienced designers. Compared to the previous MG3, MG4 showcases a slightly larger footprint that provides players with a sense of roundness, smoothness and improved ease of use.
RAW FACE & NEW FINISH
There’s a reason raw wedges are preferred by the game’s best players. The unplated material will rust over time to preserve consistent spin while also delivering better performance in wet conditions. A new refined finish with a slightly darker tint minimizes glare and blends seamlessly with the raw face for a unified appearance.
For every shot, every lie, every course, there’s a grind fit for your swing. Finding the right grind to match your swing and playing conditions will give you the best turf interaction, contact and shot performance. Master Craftsman Bob Vokey has spent decades crafting, developing and improving his tour proven grinds to fit players of all levels.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’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.
PROGRESSIVE CENTER OF GRAVITY
SM9 features a progressive center of gravity (CG) throughout the lofts, which optimizes ball flight, accuracy and forgiveness. Using tapered top lines and varied hosel lengths, the Vokey R&D team has raised the height of the CG in the higher lofts, which promotes a lower, more controlled flight.The CG is also forward of the face, resulting in increased MOI, exceptional feel and a club face that simply wants to square up at impact.
SPIN MILLED GROOVES
SM9’s patented Spin Milled grooves are meticulously engineered through a new cutting process to maximize spin and durability. The process starts by cutting the face perfectly flat with a high-speed saw. Then every groove is individually cut based on loft and finish; low lofts (46°-54°) are designed with narrower, deeper grooves, while higher lofts (56°-62°) have wider, shallower grooves.Micro-grooves are individually cut in between grooves, which maximize spin on partial shots. A proprietary heat treatment is applied to the impact area which doubles the durability of the groove without impacting feel, making it the most durable groove in golf. The process is only complete when every Vokey wedge is 100% inspected for utmost quality and performance.
Quite a bit, actually. There are a couple of things that can really standout in all of these setups:
1. They all have versatility: Each player has at least one low-bounce option and a high-bounce option. Most of the time the 60 will sit on the low side of bounce and the sand wedge will give them the higher bounce option. This is actually how Vokey fits for a set. If one is low, the other needs to be high. That gives you options and versatility on any surface.
2. Gapping is perfect: Tour players dial in wedges based on carry/spin, etc. However, the gapping has to satisfy off-speed shots and a very specific window as well. That’s where a fitting a good Trackman come into play. Yes, this is more for full shots but remember, wedges have like 10 jobs to do.
3. This is Priority No. 1: The four most important parts of your bag that need to be perfect, in order: 1) the ball 2) the wedges 3) the driver 4) the putter. Those are the most involved clubs in your bag.
Getting your wedges right can literally transform your game for the better. Any major drops in your handicap start there, so get that dialed and it take a ridiculous amount of pressure off everything else. Happy hunting.
Johnny currently serves as the Director of Equipment at Golf.com, contributing to platforms like Fully Equipped Golf. Prior to this role, he was the Content Marketing Manager at Callaway Golf, where he led “Callaway Golf’s World of Wunder,” a platform dedicated to in-depth golf equipment content. Before joining Callaway, he was the Director of Original Content and host of “The Gear Dive” podcast at GolfWRX.com. Beyond his professional endeavors, Johnny is an avid golfer with a deep passion for the game, having played since his youth in Seattle, Washington.
