The post Collin Morikawa corrects ‘stupid’ decision, vaults into U.S. Open contention appeared first on Golf.

The post Collin Morikawa corrects ‘stupid’ decision, vaults into U.S. Open contention appeared first on Golf.

Before Thursday’s opening round of the U.S. Open, Collin Morikawa made a “stupid” decision.

On Friday, he smartened up.

The result was an 8-shot improvement. In breezy sunshine at Shinnecock Hills, Morikawa fired a five-under 65, rebounding from a first-round 73 to leapfrog up the leaderboard. He finished the day at two-under for the tournament, in a tie for fourth, with much of the field still on the course.

What accounted for the turnabout?

His wedge. Specifically, the sole.

On Friday afternoon, Morikawa revealed that he’d played his first round with a new wedge — same TaylorMade MG5 60 SC he usually employs, but without the bounce ground off. The move backfired.

“I usually kind of [take] a little bit of the bounce off. Stupid of me to do it,” Morikawa said.

The decision traced back to Monday’s practice round. Shinnecock had taken on rain Sunday night, leaving the course soft and wet for Morikawa’s first look at the setup. Working on chips on the back of the 10th hole, he found himself digging the club into the turf.

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A lot of golfers would read that as a reason to add bounce, not remove it, as more bounce helps keep the leading edge from digging into the ground. But Morikawa was playing the long game. He expected the course to firm up considerably by Thursday, and figured the trickier, grainier lies that come with firmer turf would suit a lower-bounce wedge just fine.

“I knew it was going to dry out,” he said. “I felt like it was okay. So I didn’t grind it off.”

He took that new wedge into Thursday’s opening round and his short game wasn’t as sharp as he’d hoped.

TaylorMade Milled Grind 5 Custom Wedge

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA TOUR Superstore, TaylorMade

“Just yesterday, average chip shot,” he said. “Partially bad technically, but partially [it] felt like everything was just going to bounce. Out here, you have to just have a great low point. You have to know what the spin is going to be.”

Golf is nothing if not a game of adjustments. After finishing his weather-delayed first round Friday morning, Morikawa undid his decision. Back into his bag went the wedge he’d trusted all season, bounce and all.

“I went back to my old wedge just after I finished up this morning,” he said. “Whether it worked or not, it just gave me enough confidence to say I can kind of dial them in. Felt like I hit a lot better chip shots out there.”

It’s been that kind of season for Morikawa, a campaign marked by changes beyond his control. A back injury sidelined him at the Players in March and kept popping up enough to cost him more starts before the Masters. He’s been managing that issue ever since. On Thursday, though, his body seemed fine. It was his decision-making and his equipment that betrayed him. By Friday, he’d gotten those right, too.

The post Collin Morikawa corrects ‘stupid’ decision, vaults into U.S. Open contention appeared first on Golf.

The post Chunking your wedges? How to fix these 2 common causes appeared first on Golf.

The post Chunking your wedges? How to fix these 2 common causes appeared first on Golf.

How many times have you stood over a short wedge shot with one thought running through your head, “Don’t chunk this.”

Those three words can trigger a chain reaction. Your confidence disappears, your fundamentals vanish and suddenly you’re overthinking what should be a simple shot.

The frustrating part is that chunked wedges usually aren’t random. Most stem from a few common swing faults. Once you identify what’s causing your poor contact, you can make the necessary adjustments to start making crisp, consistent contact every time.

Are you steep or shallow? 

According to Krista Dunton, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, most chunked wedge shots come from one of two swing patterns:

An easy way to diagnose your miss is to pay attention to how the shot feels.

If the leading edge digs sharply into the turf — producing fat shots, deep divots or even the occasional skull — you’re likely getting too steep at impact.

If it feels like the bounce of the club hits the ground first and skips into the ball — leading to a weak, dribbly shot — you’re probably too shallow at impact.

Too steep? Think: neutral hands, less hinge

If you tend to get steep, start with your setup. Dunton explains that many amateurs address the ball with their hands too far forward. This setup adjustment unintentionally shuts the clubface and steepens your angle into the ball.

Instead, she says to aim for a more neutral setup. The first step is to check that your clubface is square. You can do this by holding the club out in front of you, like you would for a stand-up grip. Next, position the butt of your grip so it’s in line with your belly button. This will set your hands in a neutral position that will shallow your angle into the ball.

Another common issue is getting too vertical with the takeaway. 

“If you tend to pick the club up pretty abruptly, you’re creating another really steep downward angle into the ball,” Dunton says.

To fix this, make a few practice swings with quieter wrists. The takeaway should feel more connected and around your body rather than the club moving straight up.

“It should feel like a sweepier, inside motion,” Dunton says. “That position will allow you to let the club slide under the ball.”

Too shallow? Think: head forward, turn through

Players who get too shallow often make one critical mistake: hanging back through impact.

Tilting backwards as the club enters impact causes it to bottom out too early, making clean contact difficult. One reason this happens is a poor setup. 

Dunton explains that many golfers set up with their nose too far behind the ball, which encourages them to hang back through impact. Instead, start with your nose in a more centered position. A simple checkpoint is to keep it in line with the buttons on your shirt, ensuring it doesn’t drift backward.

Another key to avoid hanging back is maintaining pressure on your lead side. A simple way to achieve this, Dunton says, is to feel your head move slightly forward in your backswing.

“All good short game players on tour, their head actually moves slightly forward as the club goes back,” Dunton says. “That will keep the weight on that front side.”

Lastly, make sure your swing doesn’t stop at impact. Many players who chunk wedges quit rotating through the shot, causing them to stall and hit the turf early. To know if you’re turning completely through the shot, check that your chest and hips finish at the target.

Once you can identify where your miss is coming from, the fix becomes much simpler. Crisp wedge shots are usually the product of solid fundamentals — neutral setup, weight forward and committed rotation through impact. Get those basics dialed, and contact becomes more consistent, even under pressure.

The post Chunking your wedges? How to fix these 2 common causes appeared first on Golf.

The post This Aronimink feature has pros re-thinking their wedge setup at the PGA appeared first on Golf.

The post This Aronimink feature has pros re-thinking their wedge setup at the PGA appeared first on Golf.

When Keegan Bradley arrived in Philadelphia for this week’s PGA Championship, something felt more at home.

“I even went out on my deck today when I was at my house and I could smell, like, the northeast,” Bradley said on Monday.

Now, this Philadelphia-native writer challenges the notion that a New England sports fan should ever feel truly comfortable in Philadelphia, but there is some truth to his statement.

What Bradley is smelling is the bent grass of the Northeast. That’s something PGA Tour pros have yet to see in the fairways at any other host site this season.

As the PGA Tour begins on the West Coast and then makes its way to the south, pros often see primarily bermuda grases and overseeded rye grass in the fairways with the occasional appearence of kikuyu and paspalum. Augusta National regressed its greens with bentgrass years ago, but the fairways are still overseeded rye grass.

The PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club is the first chance this season Tour pros have seen a setup of entirely cool season grasses. Add to the fact the cool temperatures and a touch of moisture from overnight rain on Wednesday, and the turf conditions are dramatically different than what players have seen all year.

That means players were making lots of decisions around their wedge setup to optimize for those unique turf conditions, and the man guiding most of the field through that change was Vokey Tour rep Aaron Dill.

“That opens up some unique challenges in wedge selection because now we have some opportunities to change a couple things if we feel like conditions warrant it,” Dill told GOLF.

What players are seeing at Aronimink

Bent grass naturally grows straight up and is cut tight. So it feels like there’s a small cushion underneath before you hit firm ground. Dill said that can make it very satisfying to pitch and chip the ball around Aronimink’s greens.

Earlier in the week, it seemed like there was going to be more rain in the forecast and softer conditions, but the weather didn’t materialize. The course recieved just about a quarter-inch or rain Wednesday night and none more is expected for the rest of the week.

Contrary to popular belief, Dill said the transition to bent grass could potentially lead to players opting for wider soles and more bounce with their wedges.

“Unlike Bermuda, which has more of a grain structure to it, the bent’s just … it’s kind of soft underneath, so it might not fold over like Bermuda will, but you can produce a nice divot with it,” Dill said.

But without the expected moisture (and conditions expecting to dry out more), Dill said the decision making for wedge changes was influenced more for conditions in the rough rather than the fairway.

Titleist Vokey SM11 Tour Chrome Custom Wedge

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The fescue rough at Aronimink isn’t overly long by major championship standards, but Dill said there was lots of variation in how the ball was sitting in the rough. Some balls would sit on top of the rough, while others have fallen toward the middle or all the way to the bottom.

There’s also the more than 170 bunkers dotting the Donald Ross layout. With so many sand traps, Dill said many players were making decisions about their wedges based on them.

What wedges players are using

With the conditions firming up, it was the rough and the bunkers that were driving most of the grind decisions.

Despite the dramatic shift in turf, Dill said players make subtle changes to their wedges, especially at major championships. While many players are sticking with what they have, Dill said the common grinds he’s seeing players switch into are the L, A+ and K*, while many players are still staying in the T-Grind, the most popular grind on Tour.

Those grinds all represent versatility, giving players tools they can use for mutltiple different lies. One common thing Dill said was the goal of finding a wedge that got through the rough faster.

Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks SM11 A+ Grind Custom Wedge

The A+ Grind is a mid-bounce wedge that originated from removing the grind lines from an M Grind — the same modification that turns an L Grind into an A. Because of this, the A+ moves faster through the turf than its related M Grind, but it features more bounce and a wider sole than the A. This helps the A+ Grind excel in firm to neutral conditions. “On tour over the years, we started seeing some loyal M Grind players who were finding that sole to be a little too bouncy for their liking,” said Dill. “Those players found the leading edge of the A+ sat a bit lower, and the wedge moved faster through the ground, unlocking a bit more versatility.” The 2013 Masters champion is one such player, regularly gaming a 58A+ on the PGA TOUR. 

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“If you’re playing an M grind today and you feel like it’s not moving fast enough, you might switch to an A+ because it’s essentially an M with no ribbon. It moves to the rough faster,” Dill said. “If we go thinner, if we remove some bounce, we often will have players comment on it moving faster and freer through that style of condition.”

Meanwhile players in the T, Vokey’s narrowest sole, are considering slightly wider sole options like the L or K* to give them more forgiveness out of the bunkers.

Dill also said that the variability in the rough is changing strategy for some players as they may opt for sand wedges with less loft than their lob wedge to get a better strike.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post This Aronimink feature has pros re-thinking their wedge setup at the PGA appeared first on Golf.

The post Cleveland releases limited edition set of legendary 588 Tour Action wedges appeared first on Golf.

The post Cleveland releases limited edition set of legendary 588 Tour Action wedges appeared first on Golf.

If there’s one wedge that set the standard for the modern look and performance of today’s models, it’s Cleveland’s 588.

Now, with founder Roger Cleveland returning to the company last year, Cleveland is giving today’s generation of golfers the chance to experience the legendary wedge design with the release of the Limited Edition 588 Tour Action Wedge set.

“From the very beginning, the 588 was built around feedback from the best players in the world,” Cleveland said in a release. “For this release, we stayed true to the original shaping and turf interaction that made it special, while integrating modern materials and technologies inside the club. It’s the same trusted look and performance, refined for today’s game.”

Released in May of 1988 (hence the 588 name), Cleveland’s 588 wedge instantly became the standard for shaping, turf interaction and performance for the modern wedge. The wedge went on to notch hundreds of professional victories and dozens of major championships.

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Earlier this year, the Cleveland/Srixon Tour team began seeding Cleveland RTZ prototypes to pros with the distinctive 588 Wide sole design and offset profile, the first wedges Cleveland helped influence since his return to the company in early 2025.

“The 588 has always meant something special to me because of how golfers embraced it,” Cleveland said. “Seeing players build real trust in that wedge, leaning on it in the moments that matter most was unforgettable. And now a new generation will have a chance to experience that too.”

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The new edition of the 588 retains the original’s shaping and distinctive chrome finish, with the Cleveland brand mark stamped on the sole. But the modern touches include the use of Cleveland’s new Z-Alloy material, which debuted in the RTZ line, along with ZipCore, HydraZip, UltiZip grooves and Rotex Face Milling to boost the original design.

The wedges are part of the three-piece, boxed set, which includes a 52˚, 56˚ and 60˚ wedge. Each wedge is ground and finished to Cleveland’s specification and presented in a premium collector’s box, and includes a brushed brass plaque. Only 588 sets will be available.

Price, Specs and Availability

Cleveland Limited Edition 588 Tour Action Wedge

Designed by Roger Cleveland, the Limited Edition588 Tour Action pairs its legendary shape with modern Wedge technology. Finished in classic chrome and presented in a premium collector’s box with a brushed brass plaque. The Limited Edition 588 Tour Action comes in a 3-piece set including G (52*), S (56*), L (60*).

$588.00 from Fairway Jockey

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Cleveland’s Limited Edition 588 Tour Action Wedge set is available starting May 8.

The sets come with True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shafts and Golf Pride Victory grips.

Each set will cost $588 and there will only be 588 sets available in the U.S.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Cleveland releases limited edition set of legendary 588 Tour Action wedges appeared first on Golf.

The post Bettinardi releases limited-run HLX 6.0 copper-finish wedges. Act fast! appeared first on Golf.

The post Bettinardi releases limited-run HLX 6.0 copper-finish wedges. Act fast! appeared first on Golf.

Bettinardi has released a limited run of its HLX 6.0 Forged Wedges in a molten copper PVD finish, adding a fresh new look to same line of wedges that have been getting some eyeballs on the bag of Bryson DeChambeau.

Built from soft carbon steel, the HLX 6.0 Forged Wedges are designed in two grind offerings that give players a choice between a wider sole in the RJ grind or a more narrow player’s sole in the C grind. The copper finish pairs a rich copper-toned coating with a copper-plated scoring surface designed to naturally patina through play. Over time, the finish gradually develops a deeper tone and character, giving each wedge a unique appearance while resisting corrosion.

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The wedges are spectacular. Bettinardi kindly sent me out a set, and the clubs have a much more lustrous finish in person than I had expected based on photos. I love the idea of them developing a natural patina over time, and the copper-toned coating also gives the wedges anti-glare properties, which is something many golfers don’t pay attention to with their wedges — particularly on the wide open face of their lob wedges. As you’re trying to create some greenside magic, the sun reflecting into your face can be troublesome. 

The HLX 6.0 wedges have received some attention lately thanks to DeChambeau, who had them in his bag at his LIV South Africa win. He first put the 6.0s into play after winning in Australia with the Bettinardi HLX 5.0 wedges that his caddie, Greg Bodine, had bought from for him from a retail store — with the aim of injecting a little confidence into DeChambeau’s short game. Mission accomplished.

Ben Giunta of The Tour Van — who is DeChambeau’s go-to club builder — told me that the Bettinardi wedges have a sole design that work with DeChambeau’s swing and also allow him to feel a bit freer in his technique. The Bettinardi wedges also have slightly more bounce than what DeChambeau had been playing, particularly the RJ grind he plays in his sand wedge, and that allowed for easier shot-making in softer conditions.

That RJ grind provides a nice wide sole with plenty of bounce but also is easy to open up if you’re a player who likes to be a bit more creative and deliver, say, one-hop stoppers from 40 yards out. 

“The HLX 6.0 wedges have been extremely well received by players looking for control and reliability in their short game,” Sam Bettinardi, Bettinardi Golf’s president, said in a release. “This limited Molten Copper PVD finish gives golfers added flair and a bespoke look while maintaining the same performance-driven design.”

The HLX 6.0 Molten Copper PVD Forged Wedges will be available in a limited run beginning April 17. The wedges will be available through Bettinardi.com, Studio B Oak Brook and select authorized Bettinardi dealers worldwide. The wedges will retail for $250 and are available in 10 different combinations of loft and grind.

Bettinardi HLX 6.0 Molten Copper PVD Wedges

Crafted from premium Soft Carbon Steel, the HLX 6.0 wedges set a new standard in performance and control, elevating your game to its peak. Engineered for golfers demanding precision and versatility, the HLX 6.0 blends cutting-edge innovation with Bettinardi’s legendary craftsmanship. Finished in Molten Copper PVD and paired with a copper-plated hitting face, this wedge set is designed to naturally patina through play, developing a unique depth and character over time while resisting corrosion. *Due to the nature of the finish, color and intensity may vary.

$250.00 from Bettinardi Golf

The post Bettinardi releases limited-run HLX 6.0 copper-finish wedges. Act fast! appeared first on Golf.

The post Cleveland/Srixon is turning back the clock on Masters wedges appeared first on Golf.

The post Cleveland/Srixon is turning back the clock on Masters wedges appeared first on Golf.

Roger Cleveland’s influence is once again making an impact at the Masters.

Cleveland returned to the company he founded last year and his designs have started to infiltrate not only the bags of Srixon/Cleveland staffers, but non-staffers too.

Take J.J. Spaun, who earned his third PGA Tour win last week at the Valero Texas Open and first since his breakthrough at the U.S. Open. While Spaun still uses a previous generation RTX 6 Zipcore lob wedge platform, his lobber features a unique wide sole grind with both leading and trail edge relief.

The wide sole starts with the original shaping from Cleveland’s 588 Wide wedge design from the late 1990s, which is one of the most famous in clubmaking.

“We were doing a lot of grinding to get to what he wanted,” Srixon Tour Rep Michael Jolly told GOLF. “That’s just a lot of trial and error of him hitting different shots and trying to find the right combination of open face, bunker [versatility], and all of those things.”

But Spaun’s wedge is not the only Cleveland wedge prototype inspired by the original 588 shape.

Several pros this year, including Gary Woodland who won with it two weeks ago in Houston, are using a prototype offset lob wedge built on Cleveland’s updated RTZ platform with the 588 Wide sole.

“It started with the sole,” Jolly said. “More and more players are seeing the benefits of a wide sole. The 588 Wide goes back to 1998; it’s something we’ve always had. We wanted to reintroduce it with the new RTZ material. That has gone really really well.

“With Roger being back, Roger has talked a lot about offset and the benefits of offset. It’s not something that the young players are used to seeing it, but there a lot of benefits to offset.”

Offset, when the leading edge of the club is set behind the hosel, often scares good players away because it makes the face easier to square and gives the club a left bias.

But on wedges, offset can help give the feeling of trapping the ball. Though it naturally adds a little dynamic loft, most players will instinctively add shaft lean, which lowers flight and adds spin.

In addition to Woodland, Rickie Fowler is using an offset RTZ wedge this season, while Justin Rose just added an RTZ with the 588 Wide sole to the bag for the Masters specifically.

Cleveland RTZ Tour Satin Wedge

All-new RTZ Wedges are made with Z-Alloy, a completely new steel formula that enables a zero-compromise design approach for incredible feel, better durability, and more consistency for our best performing tour Wedges yet. For classic groove length and head shape, select either FULL, MID, or LOW sole grinds. For Full-Face grooves and a higher toe profile, select the new ADAPT sole grind —the only full face groove option for this generation—crafted on tour for open-faced finesse shots.

$179.99 from Cleveland Golf

Jolly added that players like Spaun prefer the grind with leading and trailing edge relief because they like to manipulate the face, while players who like the full sole usually keep things more square.

Srixon ZXi irons show remarkable consistency

Srixon irons had a tremendous year last season, racking up eight victories, including Spaun’s U.S. Open and they’ve already collected two more this season from their 15 staff players.

Eight of Srixon’s 10 staff players at the Masters this week are using the company’s latest platform, ZXi, with all eight employing some sort of combo between the ZXi5 and ZXi7.

Jolly also noted that the staff had an unbelievable stat for the entirety of last season.

“After the first event of the year, we had zero iron shaft changes across the whole staff,” Jolly said. “That speaks to the consistency the guys see with our irons week in and week out. It just performs the way they want it to and there’s not really a reason to go fishing down that stream.”

What irons and wedges Cleveland/Srixon’s staff is using at the Masters

Keegan Bradley
Irons: Srixon ZXi5 (4-5), ZXi7 (6-9), Z-Forged II (PW)
Lofts: 25/27/31/36/39/43/47
Lies: 62/62/62.5/63/64/65/65
Shafts: True Temper Dyanmic Gold X100
Length: 37.25″ 7-iron

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ
Lofts/Grinds: 52 Mid, 56 Mid, 58 Low (C)
Shafts: True Temper Dyanmic Gold S400

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Nico Echavarria
Irons: Srixon ZXi5 (4-5), ZXi7 (6-PW)
Lofts: 24/26/31/35/39/43/47
Lies: 62/62.25/62/61.5/62.25/62.5/63.5
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X (4-5), Nippon Modus3 Tour 125 X (6-PW)
Length: 37″ 7-iron

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ
Lofts/Grinds: 50 Mid, 54 Mid, 60 Low
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 125 X (50), True Temper Dyanmic Gold S400 (54, 60)

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Ryan Fox
Irons: Srixon ZXi (2), ZXi5 (4), ZXi7 (5-PW)
Lofts: 19/24/26/31/35/39/43/47
Lies: 60/60.5/61/61.5/62/62.5/63/63.5
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Blue+ HB 10-X (2), True Temper Dyanmic Gold X100
Length: 36.75″ 7-iron

Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6
Lofts/Grinds: 50 Mid, 56 Mid, 60 Full LB
Shafts: True Temper Dyanmic Gold X100 (50, 56), True Temper Dyanmic Gold S400 (60)

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

Naoyuki Kataoka
Irons: Srixon ZXi5 (4-5), ZXi7 (6-7), Z-Forged II (8-9)

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ
Lofts/Grinds: 52 Mid, 58 Mid

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

Brooks Koepka
Irons: ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Lofts: 23.5/26.5/31/45/38.5/42/46
Lies: 60.5/61/61.5/62/62.5/63/63.5/64
Shafts: True Temper Dyanmic Gold X100
Length: 36.75″ 7-iron

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ
Lofts/Grinds: 50 Mid, 56 Mid, 60 Full C
Shafts: True Temper Dyanmic Gold S400

Shane Lowry
Irons: Srixon ZXi (3), ZXi5 (4-5), ZXi7 (6-PW)
Lofts: 21/24/27/30/34/38/43/47
Lies: 61.5/63/64/64.5/65/65.5/66.5/66.5
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 9-X (3), Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X (4), KBS Tour X (5-PW)
Length: 37″ 7-iron

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ
Lofts/Grinds: 50 Mid, 56 Mid, 60 Low C
Shafts: KBS Tour X

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

Hideki Matsuyama
Irons: Srixon Z-Forged II (4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

Wedges: Cleveland RTX4
Lofts/Grinds: 48, 52, 56, 60
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

Andrew Novak
Irons: ZXi5 (4), ZXi7 (5-PW)
Lofts: 23/26/30/34/38/42/46
Lies: 61.5/62/62.5/63/64/65/65
Shafts: True Temper Dyanmic Gold X100
Length: 37″ 7-iron

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ
Lofts/Grinds: 50 Mid, 54 High, 60 Full LB
Shafts: True Temper Dyanmic Gold S400

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

J.J. Spaun
Irons: Sirxon ZXi5 (4), ZXi7 (5-PW)
Lofts: 23/26/30/34/38/42/46
Lies: 60/60.5/61/62/63/63.5/64
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Length: 37″ 7-iron

Wedges: Cleveland RTX Zipcore Tour Rack (50), RTZ Tour Rack (54), RTX 6 Tour Rack (60)
Lofts/Grinds: 50 Mid, 54 Full, 60 Low C
Shafts: True Temper Dyanmic Gold S400

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Sepp Straka
Irons: Sirxon ZXi5 (4-5), ZXi7 (6-PW)
Lofts: 24/27/30/34/38/42/47
Lies: 61/61.5/62/63/64/65/65
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Length: 37″ 7-iron

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ
Lofts/Grinds: 52 Mid, 56 Full, 60 Full HB
Shafts: True Temper Dyanmic Gold S400

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

Want to find the best irons and wedges for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Cleveland/Srixon is turning back the clock on Masters wedges appeared first on Golf.

The post The 6 wedges our staff loved during testing | Fully Fit 2026 appeared first on Golf.

The post The 6 wedges our staff loved during testing | Fully Fit 2026 appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to Fully Fit 2026, GOLF’s new platform for providing you with real-golfer insights into what 2026 gear might be best suited for your game. To this end, we assembled six GOLF content creators of varying abilities and ran them through the gauntlet of six full-bag fittings (driver to putter!) at six major club manufacturers in Phoenix and Carlsbad, Calif. Our hope: that you might see shades of your own game in one of our panelists’ and take some learnings and inspiration from their fitting experiences. In this installment (below), check out the wedges that each of our Fully Fit 2026 panelists chose for their golf bags. You may browse each of our panelists’ full 2026 dream bags here:

Jake Morrow (0 handicap) | Johnny Wunder (2) | Wadeh Maroun (2) | Jack Hirsh (2.4) | Maddi MacClurg (5.6) | Sean Zak (7.8)

MORE FULLY FIT: Fully Fit hub page | Why we’re ‘testing’ golf clubs differently this year | Inside 6 days of fittings and testing | Browse 2026 drivers | Browse 2026 irons | How 5 days of club fittings changed my mind on golf equipment

Wedges are the precision scoring tools of a golfer’s bag and there’s a ton of nuance that goes into finding the right setup. Wedge fitting is often a supremely overlooked process for building out your golf bag, but our panelists spared no time in dialing in the optimal loft and grind combinations for our games.

Perhaps no other category across all of Fully Fit was dominated like wedges were by Titleist’s Vokey SM11 wedges, with four of our panelists selecting Vokey’s latest line for our 2026 bags.

Interestingly, between our four lob wedges, only two of the six grinds selected were M and S, but each grind had both a 60 and 58-degree lobber represented.

Keep reading below for our entire detailed wedge setups.

Jack Hirsh’s Wedges

Heads: Titleist Vokey SM11 Raw
Lofts/grinds: 46.10F, 50.12F, 55.14F (@ 55), 60.08M
Shafts: Nippon N.S.Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X (46, 50), Project X Wedge 6.5 (55, 60)
Length: +.5″ (35.5″ 60-degree)
Lie: 2˚ Flat (62˚ on 60-degree)
Swingweight: D6.5 60-degree

Titleist Vokey SM11 Raw Custom Wedge

A Grind For Every Player For every player, there’s a set of grinds fit for clean contact. SM11 provides a leading combination of lofts, bounces, and grinds to promote solid contact (between grooves 2-5), predictable performance, and the confidence to take on whatever the shot demands. Grind Comparison Consistent CG Location For a given loft, SM11 features the same CG location in all grinds, resulting in a controlled, consistent launch angle. No matter which sole design fits your swing or course conditions, your launch window is locked in—leaving you free to choose the lofts and grinds that work for you. A Smarter Way To Spin The new Vokey Spin System combines an angled face texture, shot-specific groove shapes, and deeper spin milled grooves to deliver the right amount of spin from any lie, in all conditions  

$229.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Titleist

Why they’re in my bag: The new Vokey SM11 switch from my previous set of SM10s was the easiest test I have made over this whole project. What really makes the transition so easy is the process and lengths Vokey fittings go through. I got to work with TPI’s Louis Raynard, who put me through the blind grind test. We hit shots with each of the six options, listening for strike, watching the launch window and then the spin on the green. Neither he nor I knew which one we were hitting at the time.

By the end, we revealed the M-Grind as my favorite, which was surprising as I’d previously played the higher bounce D- or V-Grinds. But the more I think about it, the more I realize the work I’ve done to shallow my attack angle, and the M-Grind was producing much more spin.

I stuck with the 54.14F sand wedge bent to 55˚ to contrast that mid-bounce lob wedge. I’m also sticking with the 46˚ specialty pitching wedge because of the higher bounce on the sole and getting the Vokey grooves out of the rough. Another big change I made with this set was switching from my wedge shafts (previously the DG S400) to my iron shafts, which brought more control with clubs, that are full-swing clubs, even if I don’t always hit them “full.” The other thing was switching from the DG S400 to the Project X wedge shaft. Even though I’m leaving the standard Project X shafts in my irons, the wedge part gives me the ability to flight the ball down without trying to force it, something I’ve always struggled with.

See Jack’s full bag here

Jake Morrow’s Wedges

Heads: Cobra King RAW
Lofts/grinds: 50V (Custom Grind) 56W (Custom Grind), 60T (Custom Grind)
Shafts: Nippon Tour Modus 125 Wedge
Length: 35.5″
Lie: 2º Flat

Cobra KING Custom Wedge

Crafted from 8620 steel using MIM (Metal Injection Molding), KING Wedges are one of the softest feelings in market. Choose from four new grinds (DROP, WIDELOW, VERSATILE, TOUR) for enhanced greenside creativity and optimized CG with Flight Window Technology (F.W.T) for tour inspired launch. The redesigned Cobra Speed Notch, 67% larger than before, ensures better glide and speed on open-face shots. MIM (METAL INJECTION MOLDING) Experience precision with MIM technology, offering 50% tighter tolerances than traditional casted wedges. Each head is heat-treated to nearly 1400°C, ensuring a tighter grain structure for a softer feel and enhanced longevity, resisting groove degradation for lasting performance. COBRA SPEED NOTCH Discover the newly redesigned Cobra Speed Notch, featuring softer, blended shaping that complements our new grinds. Now 67% larger, it ensures smooth glide through the ground while maintaining speed and delivering high spinning shots.

$189.00 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Cobra

Why they’re in my bag: I had the very fortunate opportunity to work with both Jose Miraflor and Cobra tour rep Ben Schomin on this set of wedges. With the 50º and the 56º, we took off just a little bit of the toe and the heel, and we also gave the leading edge a bit more of a blunt shape, and slightly squared off. My primary use for the 56º is on full shots, or out of the bunker, so something with a bit more of a ski effect on the leading edge was really helpful. The W-grind is quite lovely on the 56, as it’s a lower bounce option that’s easy to play on approach shots, but it’s a wide sole that works really well in wet conditions or out of the bunkers. The 60º has been through a couple of iterations and the latest one, courtesy of Ben and a night spent on the Cobra tour truck, is actually inspired by a Rickie Fowler custom grind I found lying on the truck one night. Lots of heel relief, and a little bit taken off the back of the wedge to make it come out of the turf a bit cleaner. The Cobra King wedges are highly underrated, but they’re really, really good. The spin just as well as anything else, and I really appreciate the shape of the wedges as well as the CG locations. They just seem to come out of a perfect window for my game. Yes, I am a bit biased. It helps when you’ve gotten a little extra attention and some custom grinds.

See Jake’s full bag here

Johnny Wunder’s Wedges

1/5

2/5

3/5

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5/5

Heads: Vokey SM11 (44/50/54/58)
Lofts/grinds: (44.10F, 50.08F @ 49, 54.12D, 58.08M)
Shafts: Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Length: Std (35″ 58-degree)
Lie: 64˚ on all

Titleist Vokey SM11 Raw Custom Wedge

A Grind For Every Player For every player, there’s a set of grinds fit for clean contact. SM11 provides a leading combination of lofts, bounces, and grinds to promote solid contact (between grooves 2-5), predictable performance, and the confidence to take on whatever the shot demands. Grind Comparison Consistent CG Location For a given loft, SM11 features the same CG location in all grinds, resulting in a controlled, consistent launch angle. No matter which sole design fits your swing or course conditions, your launch window is locked in—leaving you free to choose the lofts and grinds that work for you. A Smarter Way To Spin The new Vokey Spin System combines an angled face texture, shot-specific groove shapes, and deeper spin milled grooves to deliver the right amount of spin from any lie, in all conditions  

$229.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Titleist

Why they’re in my bag: When PGA Tour fitter Aaron Dill dials you in, there is kind of nowhere else to go. As a player who always wants to hit his wedges down, the SM11 brought down my launch by about two to three degrees with a ton of spin. Couple that with the new Callaway CTX ball, and it’s become a no-brainer.

1 key data point: From 60 yards, 27˚ launch, 8300 RPM

See Johnny’s full bag here

Maddi MacClurg’s Wedges

Heads: SM11 Tour Chrome
Lofts/grinds: 52.08 F Grind, 56.12 D Grind, 60.10 S Grind
Shafts: Nippon 850 GH R
Length: -1″ (34″ on 60-degree)
Lie: 1° Flat (63˚)

Titleist Vokey SM11 Tour Chrome Custom Wedge

$199.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Titleist

Why they’re in my bag: I selected the Vokey SM11 wedges because the combination of grinds gives me the versatility I want around the greens. The 52° features an F-grind that’s great on full-swing shots. The fuller sole inspires confidence and resists digging. For my 56°, we went with a D-grind. It gives me a blend of forgiveness and versatility, so I can open the face without fear of the leading edge digging. And the 60° S-grind has a slightly narrower sole that feels reliable when I need to control my trajectory and spin on delicate shots.

See Maddi’s full bag here

Sean Zak’s Wedges

Heads: Vokey SM11 Tour Chrome
Lofts/grinds: 50.12F, 54.14F, 58.10S
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Length: 35″ on 60-degree
Lie: 64˚

Titleist Vokey SM11 Tour Chrome Custom Wedge

$199.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Titleist

Why they’re in my bag: I think they’re in the bag because of the blind wedge test my fitter put me through. He laid all different types of grinds on the turf and wouldn’t let me look at the grind before playing various short game shots. We played to short-sided pins, bump-and-run pins, hop-and-stop pins, and even a few shots from bunkers. The whole point became obvious: some grinds work for me and how my short game mind wants to attack various shots. My short-game instincts, if you will. All my fitter did was try and find the best performing grind for the shots that I feel most comfortable playing. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

See Sean’s full bag here

Wadeh Maroun’s Wedges

Heads: Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack
Lofts/grinds: 50-Mid, 54-Mid, 58-Low
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S300
Length: -0.5” (34.5” on 58-degree)
Lie: Standard (64˚ on 58-degree)

Cleveland RTZ Custom Wedge

All-new RTZ Wedges are made with Z-Alloy, a completely new steel formula that enables a zero-compromise design approach for incredible feel, better durability, and more consistency for our best performing tour Wedges yet. Plus, there’s an all-new ADAPT grind featuring full-face grooves, to give RTZ Wedges more versatility than ever before.  Z-Alloy  Z-Alloy is a brand-new steel with better feel. It’s softer, lighter, and remarkably durable. It gives RTZ Wedges superior feel, better forgiveness, and more consistency. On RTZ Tour Rack Wedges, Z-Alloy’s rust-resistant properties ensure longer-lasting, like-new performance.  HydraZip HydraZip is a unique system of face blasts and laser-milled lines formulated to maximize spin performance under wet conditions. This technology is dynamically configured by loft groupings, which helps balance spin across lofts, while maximizing spin in adverse conditions.  ZipCore This low-density core technology replaces heavier material in the heel and hosel area with a lightweight, low-density, vibration-dampening material. This proprietary core allows us to shift the Center of Gravity closer to where you strike the ball, while simultaneously adding MOI.  UltiZip UltiZip’s sharper grooves cut through grass and debris at contact, while deeper grooves help make space for grass, sand, dirt, or water to clear the impact zone, giving RTZ Wedges stronger, more consistent spin from the fairway, rough, or bunker. 

$199.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Cleveland

Why they’re in my bag: They look and feel amazing. I haven’t had a lot of time with them on course, but out of all the wedges I was able to test before making this decision, these felt the best. The spin around the greens and the ability to flight and play full wedges with confidence is why they are staying in the bag.

See Wadeh’s full bag here

Watch Fully Fit 2026 below!

Ready to overhaul your bag in 2026 like our Fully Fit panelists? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post The 6 wedges our staff loved during testing | Fully Fit 2026 appeared first on Golf.

The post PXG drops new Stick’em forged wedges appeared first on Golf.

The post PXG drops new Stick’em forged wedges appeared first on Golf.

PXG’s new wedges won’t just help you stick the ball close to the hole, but also stick softly on the face.

The company announced its new Stick’em Forged wedge line Thursday, each precision-crafted from three-times forged 8620 soft carbon steel.

“The short game is where players either gain confidence or lose it,” PXG senior director of engineering Mike Nicolette said in a release. “With Stick’em Forged Wedges, the goal was to give golfers a wedge that performs predictably shot after shot. The head stays stable when you open the face, the grooves generate reliable spin, and the forged construction delivers the soft feedback players rely on to judge distance and touch around the green. When a wedge reacts exactly the way a player expects, it frees them up to be more aggressive and creative.”

PXG’s three-times forging process helps to align the metal’s grain structure at a molecular level. That’s how the company is able to create a super soft feel while retaining a crisp sound at impact.

Center of Gravity is also a focus of the design, as a high-toe shape helps to raise the CG and align it for open-face shots. That’s going to lead to lower launch angles and more spin, especially on open-face shots where spin is crucial.

The wedges also feature PXG’s high-performance groove geometry to maximize friction at impact to produce more consistent spin. The wider grooves help to grip the ball better and channel more water and debris away from the face.

The Stick’em Forged wedges will be offered in lofts ranging from 50˚ to 60˚ with the 54˚ to 60˚ lofts offered in either the wider, full-soled BP-grind or the tapered-sole S-Grind for more versatile performance.

Price and Availability

PXG‘s new Stick’em Forged wedges are available starting March 12 on PXG.com.

Each wedge will cost $199 in chrome, while the Xtreme Dark finish costs $219.

Want to find the best wedges for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post PXG drops new Stick’em forged wedges appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedge fills a unique niche | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedge fills a unique niche | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

We all want to hit low, spinny wedge shots and wrap skip once and rip back on a putting green. Callaway’s new Opus SP+ wedge is built to do exactly that.

So should everyone be seeking out Callaway’s newest short game option?

On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, co-host Johnny Wunder explained why Callaway is now offering this unique wedge with an ultra-high center of gravity.

As Wunder explained, modern wedge design was primarily influenced by the Cleveland 588 wedge, which didn’t really have a super high CG. But in order to generate those low launch and high spin shots, a player could adjust their technique to play the ball back in their stance and trap it to produce the trajectory they wanted.

Callaway Opus SP+ Custom Wedge

Introducing the all-new Opus SP+ with Spin Pocket™ Construction + Tungsten, a new extension of our Opus SP family. Tour-preferred shaping with an even higher center of gravity for more spin and precision. 

$229.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway

“It kind of relied on the player to, if you needed to get it up, you get it up. If you need to hit it down, technique was going to allow you to do that,” Wunder said. So, SP+ is kind of baking that in for you. So, if you’re a player, if you’re a good player with good hands that wants to hit it even lower and doesn’t really want to have to play it off your right foot and just kind of hit a stock shot and bring the launch down, then that’s a great wedge to have.”

This wedge instantly becomes a great option for players who like to drive the CG as high as they can with lead tape on the top of the club, like Akshay Bhatia.

The interesting thing is the Opus SP platform already had a high CG with the hollowed out sole of the club to remove weight low in the head. SP+ takes that concept a step further by making that cavity larger and adding tungsten in the topline.

It’s not a huge difference in launch and spin, maybe a degree, Wunder said for his testing, but it gives you the option. It’s also not a replacement for the Opus SP, just another option in the family.

“It’s kind of like the comparison I would draw between if you are a [Qunatum] TD Max player and you like how that flies but you need slightly less spin, then you would go to the TD head,” Wunder said. “It just gives you that little silo over there that you can go to if you want to drive it, drive the launch down even more.”

For more from Wunder,

For more from Wunder, listen to the full episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped here, or watch it below.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Why Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedge fills a unique niche | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.