Do rusty wedges actually add spin?

For years, rust-covered raw wedges — that is, wedges without a nickel chrome finish and thus susceptible to rusting — were staples in the bags of Tour players and accomplished amateurs alike.

But there were many misconceptions as to the benefits.

I’ve heard golfers suggest that rust adds more friction to the surface of the wedge, thereby adding more spin at impact. But in my experience as a club-fitter and tester, I’ve never found that to be the case. 

In fact, rust can accumulate to a point where it decreases spin and delivers diminishing returns when it comes to control and stopping power. Rust also can gather within grooves and round out groove edges, and layer unevenly across the face, which offers far less performance upside compared to precision-machine-made wedges with laser-etched grooves and micro-groove technology.

In fairness, when you compare a new raw, or un-plated, wedge to most other options, you will see some increase in spin. But it’s so minimal — a few hundred RPMs of spin — that most golfers wouldn’t even be able to detect it. So, what is rust good for? To steal a lyric from an old Edwin Starr song, “Absolutely nothing.”

Which brings us back to the improvements in wedge manufacturing over the years. Most clubmakers’ tech is so good these days that it has all but eliminated the separation in wedge finishes. Vokey, one of the kings of the wedge space, has said there is no separation among any of its finishes. Other companies, meanwhile, say that their raw face/head models can boost spin by as much as 25%. After years of looking at robot data, conducting player-testing events and personal testing, I have never seen spin separation that validates those claims.  

If you are looking to maximize your wedge spin, the type of wedge you land in is far more important than the finish. The grooves, grind and bounce you play will most directly impact the amount of spin you are able to create around the greens. The ball you play also will have more of an impact on spin than wedge finish.  

One thing you can be certain of: fresh grooves will produce more spin than any clubhead caked in rust. Also, if your current wedges are showing signs of rust — and the clubface isn’t raw or designed to rust — it’s time to get fit for new wedges stat.

Still convinced rust is best for you? All good. The secondary club market is loaded with rust-covered wedges, some for as little as $15 each!

To find the perfect wedges for your game, consult a fitter at your local True Spec Golf.