We know that Tiger Woods is particular about his golf equipment — but who knew he actually grinds his own wedges?
Throughout his golf career, Woods has used prototype golf clubs that have been custom designed for his game. His irons, for example, have always had traditional lofts, long heel-to-toe lengths, reduced offset, thin toplines, high centers of gravity (CG) and additional camber on the soles.
When it comes to wedges, he’s also used very specific designs dating all the way back to his amateur days. He started off his professional career using Cleveland 588 RTG wedges, then, as Titleist staffer, he switched to Titleist Vokey 200-Series wedges that were based on the Cleveland designs. Then, after switching to Nike equipment, he worked closely with legendary craftsman Mike Taylor on his wedges. Now, he uses TaylorMade’s Milled Grind 2 wedges that are machine-milled (with no need for hand grinding).
Woods’ wedges have always been special because they have a dual-sole configuration that has leading edge and trailing edge relief, and added heel relief for versatility.
“My bounce generally has been towards the leading edge,” Woods told GOLF.com in 2017. “I have a relief right next to the leading edge so I’m able to hit it on hard‑packed ground, able to get the leading edge down. But I also have enough relief on the back so I can slide it underneath on the heel side.
“But, you know, traditionally my soles have been pretty much standard in width, a little more rounded than some guys, just because I like to use different parts of the bounce, depending on what shot I’m going to use. But it really hasn’t changed that much in like 15 years or so. It’s been pretty much the same.”
As revealed in a recent GolfTV video inside Woods’ home workshop, Woods actually does some wedge grinding of his own. In the video, Woods says his favorite piece of workshop equipment is the “grinder,” which is a machine that helps grind down the metal of a wedge in order to dial in the right sole design.
Grinding your own wedges can be dangerous for two main reasons: 1) Since the belt sander runs at high speeds, it’s physically dangerous for your fingers and hands, and 2) It’s easy to take too much metal off the wedge and completely ruin it.
“The problem is once you shave down the club, there’s no coming back,” Woods told GolfTV. “And so, it’s taking it little by little … take too much off, now I have to try a whole new wedge.”
For those reasons, most golfers trust professional club builders and master craftsmen to grind their wedges.
It’s unclear from the video whether Woods actually grinds the wedges he uses in competition himself, or whether he’s just messing around in his workshop. Being that Woods worked closely with Taylor – one of the most highly respected wedge grinders in golf – it’s likely that Taylor was grinding Woods’ competition sets. But clearly Woods isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and grind wedges himself.
“I sit here and just kind of grind whatever wedge configuration I’ve wanted,” Woods said. “This is like my third belt I’ve used here.”
For do-it-yourself golfers who enjoy tinkering with their own equipment, just know that Tiger Woods is right there with you in a workshop grinding away, too.