Why this wedge is known as the ‘ultimate bunker club’
ClubTest 2020: 12 new wedges that could make your short game whole
April 1, 2020
Update: ClubTest 2021 is now available. Click here to see our picks for the best wedges of 2021.
We put more than 100 drivers, woods, hybrids, irons, putters and wedges through rigorous robotic and player testing to create GOLF’s biggest—and best—gear review ever. With our help (and a little research on your part), building the perfect bag for your game has never been easier. Edited by Jonathan Wall & Andrew Tursky.
For the fifth and final online installment of ClubTest 2020, we’re going deep on the sometimes-overlooked weapons in your golf equipment arsenal, but whose importance you dismiss at your peril: wedges.
A PGA Tour player would never buy a wedge off the rack—and neither should you. With a bevy of worthy 2020 options in every loft and grind imaginable, it’s easier than ever to find an ideal wedge setup for your game.
For ClubTest, we tested and reviewed 12 wedge models from all the top club manufacturers to help you find the perfect chipping and pitching tools for your game. Read the complete results below to identify your next go-to wedge.
NEW WEDGES FOR 2020
Callaway MD5 Jaws
Price: $160 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 46˚, 48˚, 50˚, 52˚, 54˚, 56˚, 58˚, 60˚
Grinds: C, Low-Bounce W, S, X, W
Our take: Crafted by the legend Roger Cleveland, Callaway’s newest wedge creation is built for more “bite.” Made from 8620 soft carbon, the wedges use the company’s groove-in-groove technology—and grooves with sharper radiuses—to impart greater shot-stopping spin. There are 23 different loft/bounce combinations, and the wedges are offered in Platinum Chrome and Tour Grey finishes.
ClubTester’s take (16-hdcp): “Didn’t know a wedge could generate this much spin. Everything stops on a dime.”
Cleveland CBX Full-Face
Price: $150 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 56˚, 58˚, 60˚, 64˚ Grinds: C-grind
Our take: The Cleveland CBX Full-Face wedges are built to produce high, lofted shots around the green. An extended toe portion adds forgiveness when hitting flops, and the innovative Rotex grooves extend out farther on the face to increase the hitting area. A low C-shape is optimized for open-faced short-game shots.
ClubTester’s take (11-hdcp): “About as consistent as they come. Had no clue forgiveness existed like this in a wedge.”
Cleveland CBX 2
Price: $140 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 46˚, 48˚, 50˚, 52˚, 54˚, 56˚, 58˚, 60˚
Grinds: V, S, C
Our take: Built for forgiveness, these wedges have a hollow-cavity design with an empty chamber near the heel and heavy weight in the toe. The toe-biased center of gravity helps create a balanced feel, while a Gelback TPU insert dampens vibrations. All three grinds are optimized by loft; for more spin, Rotex face technology brings the bite.
ClubTester’s take (15-hdcp): “Goes through the turf without any issues. Simple and reliable.”
Cobra King MIM
Price: $150 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 50˚, 52˚, 54˚, 56˚, 58˚, 60˚
Grinds: Versatile, Classic, Widelow
Our take: Cobra’s MIM wedges use a Metal-Injection Molding process that helps craft a precise and detailed head design. The advanced process also reduces the need for post-production adjustments and hand polishing. The wedges deliver a soft feel and versatility, and are available in both a black (pictured) and chrome finish.
ClubTester’s take (0-hdcp): “Soft feel is off the charts. Glides through the turf without catching.”
Honma T//World W4
Price: $150 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 48˚, 50˚, 52˚, 54˚, 56˚, 58˚, 60˚
Grinds: I-Sole, C-Sole
Our take: Honma’s latest creation is designed around a progressive center of gravity. The lower lofts offer a deeper CG for a solid feel on full shots, while the CG is positioned higher in the higher lofts for trajectory control. Two sole grinds deliver clean turf interaction and impressive versatility around the green.
ClubTester’s take (10-hdcp): “Feels like a high-end wedge when you hold it in your hands. I’m a big fan.”
Miura Tour High Bounce
Price: $295 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 50˚, 52˚, 54˚, 56˚, 58˚, 60 ˚, 62˚
Grinds: High-bounce C-grind
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Our take: Forged and milled to create a soft feel, these beauties have added bounce for consistent turf interaction. A C-grind (with heel and toe relief and camber from the front to the back of the sole) increases playability and versatility. Wider sole design tapers from heel to toe, allowing for a more effective bounce along the middle of the sole.
ClubTester’s take (4-hdcp): “Clean contact through the turf. The wider sole design flat-out works.”
MORE INFO ON THE MIURA TOUR HIGH BOUNCE WEDGES | BUY NOW
Miura and GOLF.com are affiliates of 8AM Golf.
Mizuno T20
Price: $150 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 46˚, 50˚, 52˚, 54˚, 56˚, 58˚, 60˚
Grinds: Standard,Aggressive C-grind, Subtle M-Grind
Our take: Mizuno’s T20 wedges are Grain Flow Forged and made from 1025 boron. For greater spin, they have quad-cut grooves that are milled narrow and deep, with hydroflow micro grooves between each groove, and face-milling lines to add friction. Loft-specific head shapes and soles give each wedge a personal feel. Offered in Satin Chrome and Blue Ion (pictured) finishes.
ClubTester’s take (8-hdcp): “The blue finish stands out. One of the cooler looks in a sea of silver wedges.”
PING Glide 3.0
Price: $160 ($180 graphite) | BUY NOW
Lofts: 46˚, 50˚, 52˚, 54˚, 56˚, 58˚, 60˚
Grinds: SS Eye2, WS, TS
Our take: PING completely overhauled its wedge designs when crafting the new Glide 3.0. Made from 431 stainless steel, the wedges are now higher-spinning, softer-feeling and have a lighter overall weight than their predecessors. PING also added a half-groove to the lower portion of the face and created a larger, softer elastomer Custom Tuning Port to enhance feel. And if you’re a fan of classics, the Eye2 head shape is back.
ClubTester’s take (1-hdcp): “Produced a ton of spin. Pitch shots around the green were dropping and stopping.”
TaylorMade Milled Grind 2
Price: $170 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 48˚, 50˚, 52˚, 54˚, 56˚, 58˚, 60˚
Grinds: Standard Bounce, Low Bounce
Our take: Made from 8620 carbon steel, the Milled Grind 2s are precision milled with raw faces for extra spin and feel. A “thick-thin” construction optimizes CG location, while TPU inserts in the back cavities dampen vibration. The faces will rust, but the rest of the head will maintain its finish.
ClubTester’s take (3-hdcp): “Can’t wait to see how the rusted face affects spin rate.”
TaylorMade Milled Grind Big Foot
Price: $170 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 58˚, 60˚
Grind: Wide-Sole C
Our take: The Big Foot wedges have a flatter and wider C-grind sole with 15 degrees of bounce— and trailing edge and heel relief—for greater versatility. They also have an anti-dig leading edge to enhance playability from the rough and sand. The Hi-Toe design helps to raise the center of gravity for a lower launch with more spin, and they have full-face grooves to ensure consistency on off-center strikes.
ClubTester’s take (16-hdcp): “One word to describe this wedge: effortless. Consider me sold.”
MORE INFO ON THE TAYLORMADE MILLED GRIND BIG FOOT WEDGES | BUY NOW
Titleist Vokey SM8
Price: $184 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 46˚, 48˚, 50˚, 52˚, 54˚, 56˚, 58˚, 60˚
Grinds: F, S, D, M, L, K
Our take: The new SM8 wedges feature a center of gravity location that’s been pushed forward to help increase forgiveness. Successful, Tour-proven Spin Milled groove geometry increases bite and control; a heat treatment process enhances durability. Wedges come in Tour Chrome, Brushed Steel (pictured) and Jet Black finishes, and can be customized through Vokey’s WedgeWorks.
ClubTester’s take (3-hdcp): “More traditional shaping is right up my alley. Vokey always performs.”
Wilson Staff Model
Price: $130 | BUY NOW
Lofts: 48˚, 50˚, 52˚, 54˚, 56˚, 58˚, 60˚
Grind: Tour
Our take: Forged from 8620 carbon steel, Wilson’s Staff Model wedges have precision-milled faces and machined grooves to enhance spin and control. A high-toe version made from 431 stainless steel is also available and was designed with feedback from Wilson’s Tour staffers to add another level of shotmaking.
ClubTester’s take (5-hdcp): “Never considered Wilson until testing, but this wedge is a winner.”
MORE INFO ON THE WILSON STAFF MODEL WEDGES | BUY NOW
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