Akshay Bhatia made a wedge finish adjustment at the Players — and it’s paid off

If I had to guess, I’d say 90 percent of the wedges on the PGA Tour are a raw finish — raw meaning just the metal, no chrome plating or anything of the sort. Over time, they begin to patina and not only look amazing and eliminate glare but also (in theory) can increase spin a hair. In theory. I’ve never seen evidence of that but, hey, it’s fun to think about. In my experience, it’s been apples to apples with satin wedges actually spinning a bit more in some cases.

This week at the Players Championship, Akshay Bhatia did the gearhead unthinkable and swapped out his trusty raw finish (pics below) for a set of chrome/satin finish wedges. The set makeup/spec is still the same but the idea was that (in theory) the face of the chrome finish around the greens actually spun a bit more, which is essential on the tough TPC Sawgrass greens — not to mention upcoming events at Valspar and Augusta.

According to Callaway Tour rep Kellen Watson, Bhatia mentioned that from 120 yards and in, the Chrome Opus increased his spin just enough to matter.

As a wedge player, Bhatia has pristine launch conditions with his wedges. What I mean by that is his ability to hit low burner, high spin, knee- high fastballs from 50-degrees to 60. I can honestly say that his shot pattern is quite unique when you watch it live.

The wedges in the bag this week are right off the truck, but in true Akshay fashion, the order for a custom set from Callaway wedge artist Anthony Taranto were ordered and are already on their way to Valspar.

The thing here is “trust” for the player, sometimes a simple switch like this, although 75 percent placebo and 25 percent actual performance can give certain players just a small bit of confidence. That’s the fun part with golf equipment, even if the math doesn’t prove your point. I have no clue how much spin was gained here, but honestly it doesn’t matter. Its the hope or idea that it might give the player exactly what they need to perform.

And it seems to be working. Bhatia entered the third round 12th in the field in SG: Around the Greens.

Callaway Opus Custom Wedge

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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. 

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Do I need chrome wedges now? I always got the raw because all the cool kids had ’em. Perhaps I should re-evaluate how I decide what goes into my golf bag…

Akshay Bhatia Wedge Specs

Wedges: Callaway OPUS Raw 50/10S@49, 54/10S, 60/08C@61
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135X