The post Why do pros prefer this popular wedge process? | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

The post Why do pros prefer this popular wedge process? | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped mailbag, an interactive GOLF.com series in which our resident dimplehead (a.k.a., GOLF’s managing editor of equipment, Jonathan Wall) fields your hard-hitting gear questions. 

For wedge play, where feel is of the utmost importance, why do more pros prefer milled over forged? — Bob, Michigan

Let’s start with the most important bit that needs to be cleared up: Milling is a finishing process that removes excess material to create a precise sole grind or groove geometry. Forging is a forming process that takes a solid billet of steel through a myriad of steps — using heat, pressure and tooling dyes — to refine the hunk of metal into a club. One is a machining process; the other is a forming process.

Sure, you probably see the words “Forged” and “Milled” on a club and assume they are different designs. Since you mentioned the word “feel,” my mind goes straight to the more common comparison: cast versus forged. We actually covered this question last year for the mailbag, but it’s worth reheating for golfers who don’t know the differences. One is taking a solid and reforming it in a forging process, while casting takes something molten and shapes it.

For example, Titleist’s Vokey SM10 is cast from 8620 carbon steel, while PXG’s Sugar Daddy is forged three times from 8620 carbon steel. Both wedges feel exceptional, but they undergo different processes and have factions that swear one “feels” better than the other. Feel is subjective, just to be clear, so there’s no right or wrong answer here.

“The majority of tour pros are going to prioritize turf interaction, shape and how it suits their eye and moves through the turf,” said True Spec’s VP of tour and education, Kris McCormack. “Feel is subjective, whether it be a cast club, forged club or milled club. Or even Callaway’s new Opus wedge that’s MIM (Metal Injection Molded) technology. There’s so many different variables that go into a wedge fitting, and for a tour player who has access to anything out there, their feel is going to be associated with consistency of weight, turf interaction and playability around the greens.”

According to Gene Parente, Golf Laboratories’ founder, robotic testing with forged and cast products revealed little in the way of performance differences.

Titleist Vokey SM10 Raw Custom Wedge

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.

$225.00 from Fairway Jockey

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“There’s a little bit of a loft difference [during testing], but I was like, Oh, wow, wait a minute. What’s going on here with these categories? I was so confused,” Parente said of the results. “It’s not about performance, it’s about feel. Titleist did a test where they quantified it. They tested different grooves of different wedges. As they hit around 1,000 balls, consistency started to decrease.”

If you prefer a buttery feel, forged wedges provide that in spades. But it usually comes at the cost of groove wear. Parente noted that “forged wedges don’t last because the material is substantially softer, so the grooves don’t last nearly as long.”

However, that’s never a problem for pros who swap wedges whenever they see a decline in spin and launch characteristics. Cast wedges generally found at retail have a plating covering the carbon steel that keeps the head from rusting and extends groove life. Depending on who you ask, the chrome-nickel plating makes the wedge “feel” firmer at impact. However, that’s entirely based on the golfer and their feel preferences.

Some believe removing the plating and using a raw wedge elicits a softer feel at impact, but it comes at the expense of accelerated wear (rust) and grooves that tend to wear down faster than a plated head. (And before you ask, rusty wedges don’t spin more than a plated option.)

As for why pros prefer milled wedge products, it generally comes down to the ability to create a very specific shape and make additional modifications, if need be, that fit their eye.

“Whether the club is forged, cast, MIM’d or milled — the feel, performance and playability all come into play,” McCormack said.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Should I swap my 3-wood for a mini driver? Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

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The goal is to give every club in the bag some love during your round, but if you were to keep tabs on usage, chances are you’d find a club or two collecting dust. If the 3-wood happens to be that club — and it’s possible depending on how often you hit driver — consider a contrarian option like TaylorMade’s BRNR Mini Copper ($450).

“The Mini is a great option for the player who tends to be a little more shallow with their angle of attack,” says Kris McCormack, True Spec’s VP of tour and education. “Or even somebody who has a positive angle of attack with their fairway woods, it gives them a better option off the tee.”

If you’ve never heard of a mini driver before, think of it as the best bits of a driver and fairway wood. The shorter shaft (less than 44 inches) makes it easier to control than a driver, while the deeper 304cc head offers an abundance of off-center forgiveness a traditional fairway wood simply can’t provide.

Refinements have also been made to the sole in recent years, meaning you can rely on it off the tee and from the fairway. Even Tommy Fleetwood and Adam Scott have made the club a bag staple this season.

If you need a reliable 1B option after the driver, the Mini could be the ticket to long-game consistency.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post How high should I tee up the golf ball? | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

The post How high should I tee up the golf ball? | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped mailbag, an interactive GOLF.com series in which our resident dimplehead (a.k.a., GOLF’s managing editor of equipment, Jonathan Wall) fields your hard-hitting gear questions. 

Is there a standard tee height for the driver, fairway wood and hybrid? I recently picked up the game and noticed golfers teeing it high and low during the round. — Trey, Lake Oswego, Ore.

Back in 2022, we conducted a tee-height test that confirmed it was possible to gain 25 yards by simply teeing the ball higher and impacting the upper half of the face. That’s it. This particular test was conducted using a driver, which happens to be the one club where a decidedly positive attack angle yields more distance.

If you’ve never heard the term positive attack angle, it’s a fancy way to say you’re meeting the ball with an ascending blow, as opposed to driving the clubhead into the ground at impact. Increasing the dynamic loft can lead to an increase in launch and a lower spin rate. The result is more hangtime and increased carry distance. (That’s assuming you’re using a driver optimized for your swing.)

If the goal is to swing upward with the driver, it makes sense that you’d want to have the tee positioned higher to account for the positive angle of attack. In most cases, teeing the ball 1.5 inches off the turf will situate the equator of the ball near the top of the face in the address position.

The height varies depending on whether you’re playing a driver with a deep or shallow face, so focus on getting the equator of the ball near the top edge of the crown.

If you currently impact the ball with a descending angle of attack, going higher with the tee height could lead to scuff marks on the crown and the occasional popup. Chances are you’re teeing the ball lower and seeing more spin in this case. Spin can be your friend, especially if you’re on the slower end of the speed spectrum, but it wouldn’t hurt to see if you could get the angle of attack to neutral and bump up the tee height for some extra yards off the tee.

With regards to a fairway wood, unless you’re playing a Mini Driver or something with an incredibly deep face, the general rule of thumb is about half an inch above the ground. If you can see the cone of the tee sticking out of the ground, you’re in good shape. A more neutral to slightly positive angle of attack with the fairway will produce the best results on a tee shot.

Just remember, not all fairway woods are designed the same, so don’t assume half an inch is the hard and fast rule. Set your club down on the range and move the tee height around until you find the best launch and spin conditions. That said, the tee height mentioned should work with most fairway woods.

As for the hybrid, embrace Jack Nicklaus’ sage advice: “Air offers less resistance than dirt.” As much as you might be inclined to try and hit a hybrid “off the deck” (without a tee), you should still use a tee in most cases so the club can lift the ball into the air, even with a descending angle of attack. Only the top of the tee should be visible — similar to how you’d tee it up with an iron — in this case.

Varying the tee height is allowed during a round, but we wouldn’t advise making drastic changes unless you know what you’re doing. Find a good tee height for each of these clubs and swing away.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Is a 10K driver worth the money? We found out | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

The post Is a 10K driver worth the money? We found out | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

Chances are you’ve heard the term 10K being bandied about at your local course, but you’re still not quite sure what it means.

Without getting too far into the gear weeds, it’s a mythical number combining heel-to-toe and top-to-bottom Moment of Inertia. Better known as overall forgiveness. The higher the number, the more stable and forgiving a driver will be.

Drivers

Up until this year, no driver had been able to break the 10K g-cm2 threshold — until Ping’s G430 Max 10K, TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max and PXG Black Ops came along.

For golfers wondering if upgrading to a 10K product is worth the dinero, we pitted G430 Max 10K against G430 Max in a head-to-head test that revealed 10K was more forgiving and retained launch characteristics and spin rates on common mishits, particularly low on the face.

Considering Ping is known for stability, adding even more of the good stuff for golfers who don’t consistently find the center of the face is a massive win that confirms 10K isn’t just marketing hype. Check out the video below.

PING G430 Max 10K Custom Driver

The G430 MAX 10K is PING’s straightest and highest MOI driver to date, eclipsing the 10,000 g-cm2 combined moment of inertia threshold first surpassed by the G400 MAX five years earlier. FIXED BACK WEIGHT The fixed back weight allows for the record-setting MOI as it drives mass down and back to increase forgiveness and optimize the center of gravity position. LARGER HEAD PROFILE PING’s biggest head profile to date maximizes the USGA-allowable heel-toe and front-back dimensions while staying within the 460cc volume limit. This eye-pleasing shape helps square the golfer to the target and inspires the confidence to hit longer, straighter tee shots.

$599.99 $449.99 from Fairway Jockey

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WHAT’S UNDER THE HOOD

LIGHTWEIGHT

Ping’s Carbonfly Wrap crown redistributes weight around the head to achieve limit-pushing MOI.

HEFTY

A 28-gram weight in the rear keeps the CG as low and deep as possible for stability purposes.

STEADY STUFF

The high-tech Spinsistency face curvature helps control spin rate variation, regardless of impact location.

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The post What’s the difference between cast and forged golf clubs? | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

The post What’s the difference between cast and forged golf clubs? | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped mailbag, an interactive GOLF.com series in which our resident dimplehead (a.k.a., GOLF’s managing editor of equipment, Jonathan Wall) fields your hard-hitting gear questions. 

I recently got into golf and saw two different sets of irons on the rack at my local shop. There was a noticeable difference in price, which made me wonder why one was more expensive than the other. I was told it had to do with the more expensive set being forged. Why on earth would you place a premium on something that was forged when they look pretty similar? — Chase, Silver Spring, Maryland

If you’re new to the game, it’s understandable that you’d look at, say, two cavity-back irons and assume they should be close to the same price. After all, how much different could they really be?

To answer your initial question, the materials and time used to forge an iron generally warrant a steeper price tag. Several years ago, we actually posed this exact same question to Patrick Boyd, founder of National Custom Works, on an episode of the Fully Equipped podcast.

So instead of giving you my take on the forged versus cast debate, I’ll offer up a few quotes from an expert that should spell out the differences.

Srixon Z Forged II Custom Irons

Z-Forged II is a traditional muscle back blade Iron designed in close collaboration with Srixon tour pros. Z-Forged II Irons offer crisp feel, maximum control, and pinpoint workability. Feel is born in the forge. On Z-Forged II, Srixon precision forged 1020 Carbon Steel to create an Iron that puts premium feel and exceptional playability at your fingertips. Designed in close collaboration with Srixon’s professional tour staff, Z-Forged II is a highly-workable muscle back blade for skilled players demanding the most from forged feel. PUREFRAME Carefully crafted from 1020 Carbon Steel, Z-Forged II features enhanced feel thanks to PureFrame. The shaping feature strategically adds mass right where you strike the ball for unmatched feel, playability, and performance. BLADE SHAPING Z-Forged II offers everything you’d expect from a contemporary blade design: a compact players package with precision shaping and a stunningly clean address profile. Shaping on the back of the head optimizes CG location and MOI without sacrificing any of the feel or workability demanded by the purest of ball strikers. PROGRESSIVE GROOVES The 3i–7i feature wide grooves, ideal for longer shots in all conditions. The 8i–PW have deeper, closer-set grooves which cut through grass and debris to enhance spin on approach shots. Laser milling between each groove, on every loft, enhances friction in all conditions. TOUR V.T. SOLE Using a proprietary combination of sole-widths, bounce angles, and toe/heel notches, Tour V.T. Sole takes turf interaction to a whole new level of detail. Highly regarded by Srixon tour staff, this unique sole technology encourages a smooth glide through fairway, rough and sand so you can strike the ball solidly without losing speed.  

$199.99 from Fairway Jockey

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What’s the difference between cast and forged?

Boyd: “The forging process is taking a solid billet of steel, and then through various steps, using heat, pressure, and tooling dyes to refine it into a part that can be used for golf clubs. And in the process of forging a golf club, the grain structure ­— the internal structure of the metal — is further condensed. … [Forging is] really the most time-consuming and expensive way to manufacture golf clubs. With cast, you’re taking something liquid, pouring it into a mold, and then it’s cooling in that mold.”

Do tradeoffs exist between cast and forged?

Boyd: “There’s kind of a tradeoff with both as far as manufacturing. You have a bit more flexibility with cast as far as what you can do with the tooling. It’s a lot simpler to tool and a lot less expensive to tool and produce cast golf clubs. When you’re forging, you have several dyes that you’re going through in the process. There are a lot of steps, and it’s very expensive to tool a forged golf club.

“And a lot of people think [the forging process] really translates into a better feel, a lot of it has to do with the materials. Nobody casts 1025 steel [which is common for forgings] … both processes work with completely different materials. I’d be interested to see if anyone ever would cast something out of 1020 steel. You probably could. I don’t know how the part would be after it cooled down. But it’s like I was saying; it’s a really different process. You’re taking something solid and reforming it (with forged), versus taking something molten and forming it (with cast).”

So there you go, those are obvious differences between forged and cast products. Some golfers swear by forged irons and won’t play anything else, while others believe cast products are just as good in the feel and performance departments.

In the end, it all comes down to personal preference — and whether you’re willing to splash the cash for a set of forged sticks.

Want to overhaul your bag? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post This 2023 driver exceeded our expectations | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

The post This 2023 driver exceeded our expectations | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped mailbag, an interactive GOLF.com series in which our resident dimplehead (a.k.a., GOLF’s managing editor of equipment, Jonathan Wall) fields your hard-hitting gear questions. 

I know you try to remain diplomatic, but was there one club that really impressed you from this year’s crop of equipment? I’m in the market for a driver. — Victor, Castroville, Calif.

It really depends on what you’re looking for, Victor. If you haven’t taken the time, check out our ClubTest landing page for player testing and robotic insights to get a feel for what’s out there. Each cycle produces plenty of great options worth testing, and this year was no different.

But for the sake of not ducking your question, I’ll say Ping’s G430 driver lineup. And if I’m getting specific, the G430 LST model. This is going to sound like a broken record, but the G430 is built on some of the best stability in the marketplace. Looking strictly at carry distance loss from robotic testing, all three models (SFT, LST and Max) averaged 9.3 yards, which happened to be the smallest delta produced by any manufacturer who went through our rigorous 9-point testing process.

I point this out because forgiveness benefits all golfers, not just beginners and high handicappers. For example, G430 LST is built for low launch and low spin — think faster swing speeds — which tends to come at the expense of off-center strikes with a more forward center of gravity. In the past, the Max model was the way to go for golfers with inconsistent contact.

In this case, we actually saw game-improvement driver numbers — a single-digit carry distance delta of 9.7 yards — when looking at the center carry number compared to the other 8 mishit locations on the face. To put that number into perspective, G430 LST soundly beat several “game-improvement” models by 6 or 7 yards during robot testing.

Even more impressive? High-toe misses ended up just 2 yards behind center strikes. I’ve said it before, but LST truly is a low-spin offering masquerading as a max forgiveness model.

And I haven’t even mentioned the ball speed. The G430 LST was 1.3 mph faster than the previous G425 LST during robot testing, and based on what I’ve seen on the course at home, it can hang with pretty much any driver out there in a head-to-head.

Even with a new crop of drivers in the pipeline, I still expect G430 LST to continue to hold its own as we prepare for another round of player and robotic testing in the coming months.

Even though Ping was one of the last manufacturers to add carbon fiber, they only recently saw enough benefits to green-light the material in the driver. Based on what I’ve seen during testing, the wait was worth it.

I expected G430 to stick to its roots and be an incredibly stable product, but it’s definitely been that and more. It’s without question the driver that exceeded expectations this year.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2023? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post How do I combat sweaty hands on the course? | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

The post How do I combat sweaty hands on the course? | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped mailbag, an interactive GOLF.com series in which our resident dimplehead (a.k.a., GOLF’s managing editor of equipment, Jonathan Wall) fields your hard-hitting gear questions. 

I spent most of the summer struggling to get a good grip on my golf grips, but I lost count of the number of times the club would twist in my hands. I wear a glove but still struggle with sweaty hands when it’s hot. Am I better off wearing two gloves? Or do you have a better suggestion? — Trent, Atlanta

In my opinion, feeling the club move in your hands during the downswing is right up there with shanking one into the woods. You feel absolutely helpless in the moment, and that awful sensation continues to linger for the rest of the round. Speaking from experience, I’ll apply even more pressure to the grip to ensure it doesn’t happen again, but that usually makes things worse.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with going the two-gloves route to reduce the amount of moisture on the grip. Just make sure you’re changing them out regularly if sweaty hands are an issue. Rain gloves could be an option, too, if you prefer a set versus trying to buy one for each hand — not to mention they’re designed for precipitation.

Talcum powder is another option to combat sweaty palms, and I’d for sure have a fresh towel at the ready. Those should be bag staples if they aren’t already.

Another suggestion is to take a closer look at your grips. You didn’t mention the grip model, so I’ll just assume you’re playing the standard rubber variety. Excess sweat is going to add a layer of oils and dirt to the surface that, over time, will increase the chances of grip slippage.

A grip with some sort of cotton cord infused in the rubber — think Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord — is designed to wick away moisture and keep the surface tacky, so you might want to do some more research and consider a change.

If anything, I’d suggest trying out a cord grip first to see if it helps solve the slippage issue. If it doesn’t make a noticeable difference, add a second glove (and/or talc) and go from there.

I can promise you other golfers are struggling with the same issue. It’s all about finding the correct combination that keeps the grip tacky so you can shift the focus back to your play on the course.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2023? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Think it’s time for fresh wedges? Do this test to be sure | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

The post Think it’s time for fresh wedges? Do this test to be sure | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped mailbag, an interactive GOLF.com series in which our resident dimplehead (a.k.a., GOLF’s managing editor of equipment, Jonathan Wall) fields your hard-hitting gear questions. 

I picked up a set of used wedges recently that have some noticeable wear on the faces. I’m not quite sure if the wear is messing with my short game, so I’ve continued to play them because they were relatively cheap. Is there a way to know for sure when they are completely shot? — Titus, Sacramento

Titus, I want you to think of your wedge grooves as a set of tires. When the tread starts to wear down, you increase the chances of a host of things going wrong — suspension, alignment, blowout. These are just a few of the major issues that could occur if you drive on tires with little to no tread. And we haven’t even discussed adding rain to the equation.

This isn’t an automotive mailbag, but it’s important to point out the value in keeping tabs on your tires. The “penny test” is a simple way to determine if it’s time for new wheels. Grab a single Abe Lincoln and you’re good to go.

What’s interesting is a similar groove test can be conducted on your wedges to determine if they need to be replaced. Commonly referred to as the “fingernail test,” it simply requires you to run your fingernail down the face of the wedge to see if your nail gets caught in each groove. If you’re catching each groove along the way, then you can rest easy knowing the wedge still has life.

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.

$179.99 $149.99 from Fairway Jockey

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However, if your nail runs right across any of the grooves — the lower grooves are the most important for most amateurs — it’s probably because they’re completely worn. That’s when you know it’s time to spring for a new wedge.

Thankfully, wedges are relatively inexpensive compared to a new driver or iron, so you won’t have to break the bank for a fresh sand or lob wedge.

And if you’re still skeptical about how much groove wear impacts performance, GOLF.com ran a test a few years back that revealed a new wedge produced nearly 2,000 RPMs more spin on a 90-yard shot when compared to a wedge with grooves that weren’t anywhere close to being shot.

Now imagine what that spin delta would look like against a worn-out scoring tool. Give the “fingernail test” a try to ensure you never have to worry about sacrificing performance on the course.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2023? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Why do Ping irons have a notch in the hosel? | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

The post Why do Ping irons have a notch in the hosel? | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped mailbag, an interactive GOLF.com series in which our resident dimplehead (a.k.a., GOLF’s managing editor of equipment, Jonathan Wall) fields your hard-hitting gear questions. 

I’m a relative newcomer to golf who acquired a set of used Ping irons from my uncle. While playing with my buddies recently, I noticed my set has a scooped-out area in the neck, just above the head, that wasn’t found on their irons. Is that normal or a defect? — Cal, Nebraska

I can tell you with absolute certainty the notch is not a defect. Go look at some of Ping’s current irons — the i230 and G430 come to mind — and you’ll notice the “scooped-out area” is found on every head.

The simple answer is it helps Ping’s club-building team — or anyone working on a set of Ping irons — make loft and lie adjustments without much effort. Removing a section of metal makes bending the club exponentially easier, thereby reducing the possibility of damaging the hosel along the way.

Take a look at Ping’s color-coded fitting chart and you’ll notice irons can be bent anywhere from 4 degrees flat to 5 degrees upright. It’s a substantial lie angle range that’s highly beneficial for golfers. As we’ve discussed in previous mailbags, dialing in the lie angle greatly increases your chances of consistent contact.

If your iron’s lie angles are too upright for your swing, you’ll likely make heel contact with the ball and leftward divots, which then lead to leftward pulls and hook shots. On the flip side, with a lie angle that’s too flat for your swing, it’s very likely you’ll make contact and divots from the toe section, which will push shots out to the right.

What’s interesting is the notch didn’t become a design addition on Ping irons until the i3 was released in 2000. Go back and look at photos of the iconic ISI irons — released just before i3 — and you’ll find a substantial hosel affixed to the head, but no notch.

So why the design change? Prior to i3, Ping irons were cast from stainless steel that was extremely durable but didn’t take to being bent multiple times. When you consider a set of irons might have multiple owners during their lifetime, it’s easy to see how the hosel could snap at some point, especially if there was an extreme change in lie angle.

What’s great about the current notch is it remains concealed in the address position, so you can rest easy knowing it serves a valuable purpose but won’t get in the way.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2023? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post How to determine which pitching wedge is best for your game | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

The post How to determine which pitching wedge is best for your game | Fully Equipped Mailbag appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped mailbag, an interactive GOLF.com series in which our resident dimplehead (a.k.a., GOLF’s managing editor of equipment, Jonathan Wall) fields your hard-hitting gear questions. 

I’ve started to notice some pros play a pitching wedge that matches their iron set while others go with a Vokey, Cleveland or something of the blade variety. What’s the reasoning behind using one over the other? — Marcos V.

If you’ve been keeping tabs on our robotic club testing with Golf Laboratories, then you’re probably aware we tested a plethora of 2023 wedges recently and highlighted those that produced specific launch and spin characteristics.

Launch and spin are important performance characteristics golfers need to consider when they’re looking for new scoring tools. But there’s another important aspect of the wedge search that’s a bit more difficult to quantify — and that’s deciding on a set pitching wedge versus another option, such as a Titleist Vokey SM9, Callaway Jaws Raw, TaylorMade MG3 or Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore.

The latter are blade versions that don’t come with a set of irons but can be purchased in a pitching wedge loft. And yes, the blade versions are popular with tour pros.

On average, you’ll probably see anywhere from 40-50 percent of the field at a Tour event with a blade pitching wedge in the bag during a tournament. But unless you’re actively seeing out the specific set makeup for a player, you’d likely have no idea the pitching wedge didn’t match the rest of the iron set.

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It’s one of those subtle gear adjustments that’s fairly common at the pro level, but it rarely gets discussed.

If you’re currently playing a pitching wedge from the iron set you purchased and the idea of trying out a blade version has piqued your interest, just make sure you’re taking a few things into consideration.

The most important aspect is the quality of your ball-striking, especially if you’re someone who’s playing game-improvement or players-distance irons. Moving into a blade wedge, such as a Vokey SM9 or Callaway Jaws Raw, means you’ll be playing a wedge with a more compact shape. A smaller profile means less forgiveness, in most cases, so just take that into consideration. Distance control is very important when you get into the wedges.

It should be noted that some blade wedges now include new technology that enhances the sweet spot and repositions the center of gravity (CG) in a way that ball speed is recaptured. So depending on the wedge you’re selecting, it’s possible you might not see a significant dip in distance loss on a heel or toe strike.

It’s also likely you’ll notice a better feel (due to softer head materials), more control, workability and improved launch conditions, but again, it’s all player dependent.

Something else to consider? A few of the pros I’ve spoken to over the years have claimed the sole design and face technology (the grooves) on a blade wedge makes it easier to manage flier lies from the rough. That might feel like a very specific performance benefit, but you have to consider the audience who’s currently using a blade version.

Wedges

A blade version also grants you the ability to select from a number of unqiue options depending on turf interaction and course conditions you typically play. It’s just another way you can personalize the pitching wedge for your game.

While this mailbag might feel like an anti-set pitching wedge story, it’s all but assured most golfers will likely stay with the pitching wedge from their set. And that’s totally fine. With a consistent look and feel to the rest of your set — not to mention added heel-toe forgiveness — it’s very likely the best option for your game.

As you start to shave strokes off the handicap and dig into the details of your setup, consider the idea of inserting a blade pitching wedge. It has more than enough benefits to warrant a hard look.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2023? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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