WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The new Titleist Vokey SM9 features the first redesigned groove on a Titleist wedge in six years along with a progressive center-of-gravity position to help assist flight and control, particularly with higher lofts. Given the rapid adoption of previous Vokey launches, expect the SM9 to quickly go into the bags of tour players and likely be the No. Three finishesbrushed steel, tour chrome and jet blackare available. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. If youre a high-handicap golfer, I would avoid these wedges until you groove a more consistent swing. All rights reserved. The extra mass helps raise the CG but some clever beveling effectively hides the extra girth at address. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Posted on March 21, 2023 by Stuart Bell in Equipment. By Ross Y. hi, Hoped for a re-release of the 58-4 L grind.my sm7 58 is almost gone! When a new wedge launches, Vokey SM9 or otherwise, you may wonder, Do I need new wedges?. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. I just dont understand what people are talking about when they say X works on the tour or at a high end CC but it would never work on these other courses. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 TX, Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 (50-12SS, 56-12SS), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (60-T) 16. The Slate Blue finish is expensive and time-consuming to produce and while I cant say with absolute certainty that we wont ever see it again, based on what Ive heard, its unlikely well see it any time soon. In addition, progressive hosel lengths are also used to help raise the CG in the higher lofts, particularly 58-62-degrees in design to improve distance and trajectory control and increase stability for more consistency. Grip: Garsen Golf Ultimate. To that end, the SM9 maintains the center-of-gravity position in front of the face that assists squaring the clubhead at impact. Cant wait to get these bad boys into the bag, I am wondering how much different they will feel from the SM7's.I have really liked my wedges but eager to see if this line will cause me to flip, Titleist Response to USGA / R&A Distance Insights. $10 for a regrooving tool. One out of every two wedges on the PGA TOUR is a Vokey and 60 percent of Tour winners last season had at least one Vokey wedge in the bag. Titleist Vokey SM8, 54.10S, Dynamic Gold S200 Must be special releases like the copper v grinds from a couple of years ago. Driver: Titleist Tony Finau whats in the bag accurate as of the Mexico Open. With wedges, its the opposite. Rust on a Wedge: Does it actually add Spin? There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. If you buy a linked product, Grip: Ping Pistol PP61, Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees @9.25) I currently play the 54M SM7, have played it since it was an SM4 TVD. It takes some education. Or would they call it something else and keep the Vokey line as fine blade wedges? Do you need a whole new set? Ideal for players who prefer a traditional wedge sole. Required fields are marked *. This is observational only but hitting the SM9 side by side next to SM8, trajectory, particularly in the higher-lofted wedges, was noticeably flatter. Correct. Do my buddies care? so potential of maybe some wedgework grinds or finishes? Please sign in to comment Jeff M North Carolina February 11, 2022 at 09:17 PM I would like to add a hybrid on the other side of my bag to gap from 3 hybrid to 5 iron. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. It sounds simple, but having the correct wedge and knowing when to use it has a direct impact on scoring performance. Retail price is $179.99. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, (your email address will not be published), Costco Kirkland Performance + Golf Ball (Version 3), Costco Kirkland Signature Wedges Version 2. I once read that Tiger Woods plays with new wedges each tournament week! Fairway woods, hybrids, and irons can last several years (or more). The D grind blends versatility from a heel, toe, and trailing edge grind and forgiveness with its high measured bounce. In this article, we take a look at the differences vs SM8 wedges, the grind options available and how well the SM9s perform. Micro-grooves are cut between the grooves to add spin on partial shots. SM9 wedges can also be custom ordered with an industry-leading selection of shafts, grips, shaft bands and ferrules. Hit it closer more often. The SM9 wedges retail at around 120 / $160 per wedge. My thinking is that most of you wont notice and, if the looks dont bother the Tour guys, the rest of us probably shouldnt overthink it. Whats great about this wedge is that its available in 62 degrees of loft as well (they are available in 56-62). Ideal wedge fitting environments are few and far between. With that in mind, the reality is that many golfers will benefit from having a mix of grinds at their disposal. All-New T Grind Sharper Shotmaking Unlike other wedges, theyre heavy and designed for skilled players who want maximum versatility around the greens. Hit it closer more often. Titleists SM8 Vokey model was the most played wedge on tour for a reason and a high class performer from around the greens and on approach play. For Bob Vokey, this is the grind without end. When the shape of the solethe grindisnt right, it can lead to digging and fat shots that come up short. His response was, wait a few months and get the SM8s at a discount. That one was a kick to the pills because I had just bought the 8s and hadnt even received them in the mail. In moving the CG further in front of the clubface, the SM9 produces shots with lower trajectory and greater spin, giving players more control. Vokey's SM9 (Tour Chrome, Brushed Steel and Jet Black finishes) retails for $179 and will be available for pre-order Feb. 17, and at retail March 11. Vokey's first wedge was in the bag of tour player Andy Bean in 1997 at the St Jude Classic . This club is perfect for firm conditions and designed for precise players who have complete control at impact, allowing for maximum shot-making versatility. Great wedge play comes from shot versatility, distance control and spin. Best of Both Worlds: The Best Hybrid Golf Bags in 2023. Bob Vokey'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 . Equipment counts courtesy of Darrell Survey. Titleist and 2nd Swing Golf have partnered to offer you an opportunity to sell back your golf clubs in just three (3) easy steps: 1. More photos from the event here. However, this is one of the few downsides to this wedge as some players would be better off with a lighter steel or graphite shaft option. This is a great question as fresh new wedges can have a huge impact on your short game. I think theyre one of the few manufacturers where you could play all 14 clubs in your bag with one brand and get the most out of your game. Needless to say, I struggled from the sand, especially when it was fluffy and other tight lies around the green. Matching a wedge to a player is never a matter of one size fits all. SM9 goes to new heights, taking the forward center of gravity (CG) and raising it even further, promoting a more controlled ball flight and solid contact. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Great wedge play comes from shot versatility, distance control and spin. Regardless, at some point, you will need new wedges. The Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges are available for pre-order through golf shops and Vokey.com beginning Feb. 17 and are scheduled to be in stores on March 11. What separates Vokey from other wedges is the huge selection of different grinds. Price is $179 per wedge. Now, you can add these flight lines to help you get into the right position at address position. Which is saying something, because a lot of brands are good at one thing; drivers, irons, wedges, golf balls, or putters. The heart of Vokey SM9 distance control and trajectory story is this: relative to SM8, the new SM9 will give golfers a flatter trajectory with high spin and do it without looking goober-ish in your bag or at address. Somewhere in between lies better. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Thinking in terms of good, better and best, I suppose an outdoor fitting is best and the Vokey wedge selector tool is good. Finding the right grind for your swing type will provide you flawless contact, so you can be prepared to hit every kind of wedge shot in all conditions. This grind is best for neutral to firm conditions and for players that like to control loft with their hands ahead or behind the ball. Shafts: Nippon N.S. I was hoping for the possibility of the Wedgeworks T grind to make its way into the SM9. Your email address will not be published. Titleist also overhauled its groove cutting process, tightening the spin tolerance to ensure sharper grooves and higher overall spin rates. Titleist has not released a new wedge since the launch of the SM8 (from $159.99 at PGA Tour Superstore) in January 2020, so the arrival of the SM9 is . The new SM9 maintains the forward CG a position that actually hovers in front of the wedge face in design to produce a solid feeling wedge that squares up at impact for more consistent results. The new models feature higher centers of gravity to deliver a flatter trajectory with increased spin. Clear editor. The K-grind is ideal for playing in soft conditions such as locations with wet climates. Whether you have a shallow or steep swing, this club can help you out around the greens. TS woods had a bit of a gap between the main TS2/TS3 and the recent announcement to release TS3/TS4 . The exact Titleist SM9 release date for the average golfer was on March 11. Fresh grips. Titleist 's Vokey Design group unveiled the new SM9 Wedges created by distinguished club fabricator Bob Vokey. best wedge i have ever played. The new SM9 Vokeys went on sale in early 2022 following feedback from Titleists tour stars and have proven to be a top class addition to the market. I think its well worth investment for your short game! While that gives plenty of opportunities to be as versatile as you like, I should point out that the catalog hasnt changed since SM8. I've been fitted for everything except the wedges, so I'm looking forward to seeing how accurate the online Vokey fitting tool was for me. Rounding out the list is the L-grind, which is the lowest bounce option. These newly designed wedges are fabricated for higher quality performance and. Got fit yesterday at the Titleist national fitting centre and asked about SM9. How to Play a Short Par 4, How to Set Goals in Golf (Realistic Ones), In Between: How to Hit a Wedge Shot 50 to 75 yards. Pros are playing on elite manicured green conditions. A waste of time unless youre the SM9. According to Vokey, only about 10 percent of golfers have been fitted for their wedges. Thats a lot of options, so where to start? TSR215*/AD-DI 7x When are the Titleist SM9 Vokey Wedges being released? Dont worry, you dont need to update them that regularly though. They became available for everyday golfers on March 11, 2022. The M Grind, Vokes favorite, is designed for players that like to rotate the club face open and closed to manufacture shots around the green. I wonder how the center of gravity compares to the latest Fourteen TF wedge? https://www.titleist.com/product/vokey-sm9/MASTER-SM9.html. (Like Smoke Yellow was in TS4 compared to Smoke Black in TS2/TS3 ), Titleist TSi3 10* TPO 1K 60-TX I almost hope I miss the green in regulation. Like the S grind, its available in 54-60 degrees of loft and all variations come with 12 degrees of bounce. The grind, says Corey Gerrard, Marketing Director for Vokey Wedges, is the shape of the sole. Man, thats so simple I feel a little silly putting it in quotes but its kind of a big deal. A good rule of thumb that will save you from counting rounds: When its time to replace the grip, its probably time to replace the wedge. Cobra King Tour 4-PW Nippon Modus3 Tour 130S, Callaway 2019 PM Grind 60 KBS Hi-Rev 2.0. Either WedgeWorks options or a new grind for retail, IMO. Ideal for players who prefer a traditional wedge sole, and the most played sand wedge on Tour. Id tell you to do your own research but . Vokey Design Wedges make great wedge play even more accessible for all golfers, introducing featured lightweight shafts for moderate swing speed players seeking effortless control in their scoring clubs. Are Vokey SM8 forgiving? Luckily, Titleist offers six grind options across their wedge line to help you play a wedge that fits your swing and typical course conditions. If youre out grinding on the range every day, you may need to replace your wedges more often. GolfWRX Members Choice: Best wedge of 2022 GolfWRX, Bob Vokey reveals the 2 most amazing things hes ever seen a golfer do with a wedge GolfWRX, Tony Finau WITB 2021 Genesis Invitational, Tony Finaus winning WITB: 2022 Rocket Mortgage Classic, Tony Finaus winning WITB: 2021 Northern Trust. Distance control means hitting your target distance (or at least a reasonable proximity to said distance) with greater frequency. As they said on their website, Wedgeworks is your window into Bobs workshop. This was established in 2008 and allows you to get the tour experience for all golfers. Pro WV 125 Tour Only, Putter: Ping Sigma 2 ZB 2 Am I going to pay $190 each for new wedges when I love the ones I have? Tony Why do you think Voke says that a heel side COG works better for most golfers? This club is perfect for firm conditions and designed for precise players who have complete control at impact, allowing for maximum shot-making versatility. With the Vokey SM9, the spin story isnt exclusively about spin itself; its about preserving spin and extending the life of the wedge. Not that long ago. You get to create your own wedge by adding a toe engraving, hand stamping, or BV wings to your wedges. Complete the Vokey Wedge Selector to discover your ideal setup, and. But if you want maximum short game playability, these are the clubs for you. Think about the wedge shots you hit over your last several rounds. With that said, lets focus on what Titleist believes are three big-picture benefits of the Vokey SM9 line. SM9 goes to new heights, taking the forward center of gravity (CG) and raising it even further, promoting a more controlled ball flight and solid contact. When Was The Vokey SM9's Release Date? While they are known as The number one ball in golf, they also make some phenomenal wedges. January 24, 2022 at 07:43 AM This year they rolled out the newly upgraded, Vokey SM9 wedges. Man, I remember when new Vokeys were $129. For all golfers. It feels soft, it spins a lot, raved one member of GOLFs ClubTest. February 17 is first introduction in the Titleist fitting centers with availability scheduled for mid-March. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Gotta keep spin up on those toe shanks - revolutionary indeed. ENTER NOW! GET FIT FOR YOUR GAME WITH TRUE GOLFFIT Unbiased. Titleist TSi2 16.5 deg fairway Hzrdous Smoke Black RDX 70 6.0. The edge radius is rounded so the edge lasts longer. These cookies do not store any personal information. This has just been announced. Thats true for every golfer and every brand but at what point do you actually need new wedges? New wedges? If you need a dependable, trustworthy wedge from short range, this is a great option. Your email address will not be published. All of them look great but you should know that the brushed steel and jet black finishes can rust. Plus, decide the paint fill colors as well. The face is once again Spin Milled and features 16 grooves to help generate even more spin than in any previous Vokey model. The original price for the Vokey SM9 was $179.99. Focus on what Matters: The Muscles Used in a Golf Swing, Hold on to your Wallet: How to Play Skins in Golf, The Simple Steps to get a Handicap in Golf. The wedge debuted on tour in January 2022 and have been on sale since March 2022. NEW FOR 2023 SM9 T GRIND Shop Now SM9 LIGHTWEIGHT OPTIONS The basics of the story havent changed since the SM8 but with the Vokey SM9, the company has taken a more aggressive approach that some purists might find controversial. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Find a fitting location near you at GOLFs affiliate companyTrueSpecGolf. If you want even more bounce than the D-grind, then you will love this model. Retail price is $179.99. I have some old vokeys that are beat to hell way, way worse than old iron sets I used much longer than those wedges. A number of custom options including a raw version, toe engraving, stamping and custom paintfills are available via the companys WedgeWorks program. Created by Parker McLachlin (who runs the popular Instagram @shortgamechef) partnered with Titleist to create this revolutionary design in the new SM9 wedges. The D-grind is perfect and known as the Players High Bounce wedge. This results in feeling the clubhead faster through the turf and ideal for firm or neutral playing conditions. In all fairness, the cost of steel has more than doubled in the last 8 months or so. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges: What you need to know. But wedges need to get replaced more frequently because the grooves wear down quickly. Titleist PENDING Titleist PENDING Titleist PENDING Titleist 716 T-MB 4-iron, KBS Tour Titleist T100S, 4-PW, Project X Titleist Vokey SM8 50.08F, Project X Titleist Vokey SM8, 54.10S, Dynamic Gold S200 Titleist Vokey SM8, 60.08M, Dynamic Gold S200 Titleist Scotty Cameron Special Select Newport 2.5 Pro V1x A full sole that has been narrowed by a trailing edge grind, giving it a faster feel through the turf. The SM9 wedges retail at around 120 / $160 per wedge. Click here to learn more about these wedges now. Read our complete reviews of Titleist's newest wedges below. Your swing is unique and requires a unique wedge. Pre-sale begins Feb. 17. As the #1 wedge in golf (alongside the #1 ball in golf), they have big names like Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Smith and more. Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White Hybrid 100 X (3), Nippon N.S. Driver: Ping Sam Saunders whats in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Now part of the SM9 family. If youre still with me, lets take the definition of versatility and extend it beyond a single wedge. The wedges are available in Chrome, Raw, Black and Brushed Steel, the same as what was offered in SM8 wedges. Available March 11, Stamping options | 10-character Straight/Freestyle stamping; 15 characters around the toe and two lines of 10 characters each, Custom paint-filled | Loft, bounce and grind markings and BV Wings logo. So what does all of this design stuff actually mean for you? Strikes above the fifth scoreline have a tendency to launch higher and fly shorter with less spin. Typically every two years alternating between irons and woods. Paste as plain text instead, In addition to his editorial responsibilities, he was instrumental in developing MyGolfSpy's data-driven testing methodologies and continues to sift through our data to find the insights that can help improve your game. Ping Rapture 2006 10.5 According to a Golf.com piece on this technology, The biggest issue McLachlin saw was too much forward shaft lean for the average amateur, which led to inconsistent contact on a myriad of shots. Dollars to doughnuts, I bet that you were all three. Ideal for players with a shallower, more sweeping swing type who play shots from a variety of clubface positions. Titleist Vokey SM8 Raw 52-08F/56-10S/60-04L PX 6.5/6.0/6.0 Probably some WedgeWorks designs. Dont make golf even harder on yourself by playing the wrong wedges like I did! In our wet tests, Vokey spin retention typically falls somewhere in the average range and, while average is fine, for the No. If nothing else, kudos to the entire Vokey team for continually pushing to improve a product for which simply not screwing it up would be plenty good enough. Titleist PENDING Titleist have worked on providing even more spin, more feel and more precision from the latest generation of the Vokeys. Complete the Vokey Wedge Selector to discover your ideal setup, andadd a new edge to your game with a professional Vokey fitting. The SM9s have honed the performance even further with the changes from its predecessor subtle rather than drastic. AVAILABILITY/PRICING: The Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges are available for pre-order through golf shops and Vokey.com beginning Feb. 17 and are scheduled to be in stores on March 11. I cant forget to mention Flight Lines either. One of the educational objectives with the Vokey SM9 (and probably every Vokey release I can remember) is to advance the wedge-fitting conversation beyond low, mid or high bounce and to get golfers thinking about (and ideally fitted for) grinds that provide a better result. The difference between fresh grooves and worn grooves works out to plus or minus the length of a conference tables worth of roll. The F grind is the most played sand wedge on Tour. You can post now and register later. If the goal is for golfers to hit great wedge shots, Vokey finds a bit of heel bias works better. Vokey Design product experts Aaron Dill, Corey Gerrard, and Kevin Tassistro discuss the keys to great wedge play and the improvements made to the SM9 line to enhance your distance & trajectory control, shot versatility, and spin. Vokey WedgeWorks 54 and 56 D Grind wedges are available in Tour Chrome finish beginning today. Taylormade Spider EX putter. Titleist Response to USGA / R&A Distance Insights. That doesnt sound like much but golf is a game of inches. Life goal is to become a scratch golfer! rushed steel, tour chrome and jet blackare available. More on that in the future. The third benefit of the Vokey SM9 lineup, as it is with every wedge lineup ever, is spin. Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100, Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 50-12F, 54-10S, 58-08M) For the name of the winner, send a self-addressed stamped legal size envelope by July 15th, 2023 TO: 2023 Vokey SM9 Sweepstakes, c/o Acushnet Canada Inc., 500 Harry Walker Pkw., Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 8T6. I hope youre right. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. Heres more information about each grind to find the perfect fit for your golf game. Blending versatility from a heel, toe, and trailing edge grind with forgiveness from its high measured bounce. Each Vokey wedge is 100% inspected for utmost quality and performance, and a localized heat treatment is applied to the impact area to double the durability of the groove. The right grind. The SM9 wedges include six grind options and a total of 23 different models ranging in lofts from 46 to 62 degrees for precision fitting. Its what theyre supposed to do and while one guys opinion doesnt make a fact, I think most golfers will experience the same. The F grind is an all-purpose grind particularly suited for full shots and shots hit with a square face. Equipment counts courtesy of Darrell Survey. Or, if you go with the custom WedgeWorks options, they have a Raw version too. looking to set up a fitting date for driver, fairway and ideally wedges at the same time. However, the CG has been slightly raised in the vertical direction by adding weight higher up in the clubhead (which is essentially invisible to the eye thanks to a tapered area at the rear of the toe). Stuart Bell provides insightful analysis of the latest golf equipment and reviews golf gear for GolfReviewsGuide.com. That might be true, but it is with a distinct purpose. As well as new grooves being cut to the edge to maximize spin, Titleist have also introduced a localised heat treatment to help enhanced the durability of the grooves and keep them performing for longer. This was my thought as well. That can be achieved by being properly fit based on swing and style of play, and understanding the roles for each. Master craftsman Bob Vokey. Titleist TSR3 9*, Tensei 1K Black 65X SM9 46F, 50F, 54S, 60T/PX LZ. I currently carry and hit the following Finding the right grind for your swing type will provide you flawless contact, so you can be prepared to hit every kind of wedge shot in all conditions. Typically the new lineup will be seen on in play by Tour Pro's first as Titleist uses a Tour validation process with their staffers and brand ambassadors. I bought a 46..10, 50..12 and a 60..12. Titleist TSi2 15 degree w/Accra TZ6 75 M5, Titleist TSi2 21 degreew/Accra TZ6 75 M5, Srixon ZX5 4-6w/KBS TGI 110 (SS 1x) @1/2" over standard, Srixon ZX7 7-PW w/KBS TGI 110 (SS 1x) @1/2" over standard Inflation is running amuck, good luck with $180 wedges. While your irons and putter might be in good shape, its always good to assess your driver and wedges. While bombing it long off the tee is critical, dont forget about sticking approach shots close to the pin as well. Vokey Design wedges have been #1 on tour since 2004, a leadership run that is eclipsed only by the historic run of the Titleist golf ball on the worldwide professional tours. Just saw this interesting release date list on the equipment sub forums. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, GolfReviewsGuide.com earns from qualifying purchases. As I mentioned earlier, bounce is your friend and this grind barely has any. With the SM9 wedge lineup, Vokey gives you 23 loft/grind (and, I suppose, bounce) combinations from which to choose. Micro-grooves are individually cut in between grooves, which helps maximize spin on partial shots, while a proprietary heat treatment is applied to the impact area to help double the durability of the groove without impacting feel.