Price
$TBD
1 / 3
2 / 3
matt martian photography
3 / 3
Why We Like It
- Placing weight in the high-toe area improves stability and promotes a more consistent trajectory.
- The cross-sectional area of the grooves is significantly larger. This allows for more displacement of grass, water and debris to give the groove edge a better chance of interacting with the cover of the ball.
- The wedges are three-times forged to produce an exact geometry and pure feel.
- The BP grind, named after company founder Bob Parsons, remains. It boasts a wider, fuller sole and offers the most bounce across the entire club. The wide sole will be appreciated by golfers with a steep angle of attack.
- An Xtreme Dark version is available with a diamond-like carbon coating that extends the life of the club in addition to looking badass.
- Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps
- SPECS: 10 options (50-60 degrees), 2 grinds, 2 finishes
what our testers said
handicap
- all
- low
- mid
- high
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted excellent greenside control — tons of spin, predictable stopping power and standout bunker performance (edge-to-edge/full-face grooves and a thicker cavity helped scoop through sand). Versatile shot-making: high flops, low checkers, shaped full swings with reliable distance and forgiving off-center behavior. Turf interaction impressed on tight and grabby lies, often running chips beautifully. One caveat: a few found the head a touch light, which sometimes reduced impact feel.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List panelists observed a versatile, forgiving wedge with a clean head and easy-to-shape ball flight: reliable spin, soft greenside feel, and strong bunker performance that lets you hit high or keep it low. Full-face grooves expanded shot creativity around the greens, and many found full swings surprisingly forgiving with minimal loss on off-center hits. One downside: a few found it too light, losing feel on impact and making sand distance control hit-or-miss.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List panelists observed exceptional short-game performance — tight‑lie chips ran true and produced surprising spin, while greenside and bunker shots offered high, soft flights and reliable stopping power. Testers praised the sticky, edge‑to‑edge grooved face, excellent turf interaction (even in Bermuda), easy shot‑shaping from flops to low checkers, and added forgiveness from a higher toe and thicker cavity in sand. Full swings delivered crisp feedback and repeatable distance. One downside: a few found the full‑swing feel firmer and less springy than preferred.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List panelists observed excellent distance and reliable control on full swings, with high, stable launch and a crisp feel many liked. A full-face, longer heel-to-toe shape and ample bounce gave smooth turf and sand interaction—easy loft through bunkers and strong greenside spin and stopping power. Lightweight/hot-face versions added lively feel and extra length when struck clean. Range of performance included some lower, heavier-feeling examples with less height and spin.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
A blunt-force wedge. In sand I had to attack it just to pop the ball out, and it lacked sensitivity around the greens. Hot face on full swings, but the overall feel was heavy, hard, and not enjoyable to hit.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
Full-face design and longer heel-to-toe length helped scoop the ball cleanly through sand with easy height. Strong on standard chips, but less versatile on tight, short-sided flops. A little size-dependent in what shots it’s comfortable hitting.
Jack
36, Handicap 1
3 years testing
Classic PXG execution — very forgiving on full swings with minimal loss on off-center hits. Good greenside control with soft feel and reliable spin. Excellent bunker performance in both firm and soft sand. Easy to hit high or keep low.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
Full swings were underwhelming — low height, less distance, heavier feel and not much spin. Longer chips felt decent but short ones were less consistent. The weight actually helped in the sand, giving it some stability.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Feels like a forged 8-iron. Not usually a fan of rounded leading edges, but turf interaction was excellent. Sticky, high-spin face; edge-to-edge grooves helped in bunkers.
SEE ALL (31)
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
A blunt-force wedge. In sand I had to attack it just to pop the ball out, and it lacked sensitivity around the greens. Hot face on full swings, but the overall feel was heavy, hard, and not enjoyable to hit.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
Full-face design and longer heel-to-toe length helped scoop the ball cleanly through sand with easy height. Strong on standard chips, but less versatile on tight, short-sided flops. A little size-dependent in what shots it’s comfortable hitting.
Jack
36, Handicap 1
3 years testing
Classic PXG execution — very forgiving on full swings with minimal loss on off-center hits. Good greenside control with soft feel and reliable spin. Excellent bunker performance in both firm and soft sand. Easy to hit high or keep low.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
Full swings were underwhelming — low height, less distance, heavier feel and not much spin. Longer chips felt decent but short ones were less consistent. The weight actually helped in the sand, giving it some stability.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Feels like a forged 8-iron. Not usually a fan of rounded leading edges, but turf interaction was excellent. Sticky, high-spin face; edge-to-edge grooves helped in bunkers.
Megan
40, Handicap 0
2 years testing
Shined more around the greens than anywhere else. Full-face grooves let me get creative with shot types, and I could hit more variations than expected. Very solid out of bunkers too.
Wesley
31, Handicap 4
3 years testing
Too light — lost feel through impact on a number of occasions. Fast through sand but distance control was guesswork.
Ricky
47, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
Clean, simple head shape. Easy to hit full swings with a flat but controlled ball flight. Solid spin without feeling jumpy.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Too lightweight to be effective in sand — felt like you had to hit a full shot to make anything happen. Low bounce didn’t help either. Greenside performance was fine thanks to the abundance of grooves, with workable spin and shot shaping.
BK
42, Handicap 2
10+ years testing
Offers good versatility and surprisingly forgiving full swings. A wedge that works for a wide range of players, not just highly skilled ones.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
Excellent turf interaction — basically the anti-chunk wedge. Even in grabby Bermuda it slid through cleanly and popped the ball up with solid stopping power. Super reliable greenside.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
Hot face paired with a lightweight build made full swings feel great, but distance control was inconsistent. Loved the extra length when I caught it clean. Greenside it was extremely versatile with tons of spin, especially helpful since I tend to hit on the toe. Full-face grooves were a big plus.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
Full swings produced excellent distance and reliable distance control. Feel leaned firm for my taste, but some will like that crispness. Greenside shots came off with tons of spin and great predictability. Sand interaction was smooth—the leading edge just glides.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Extremely easy to hit — glided through grass effortlessly. Could shape anything: high, low, left, right, flop, runner. No shot felt out of reach. Just a super playable wedge.
Robert
29, Handicap +2
2 years testing
Firmer feel on both full swings and greenside shots. Harder for me to set square at address, and the full-face grooves introduced some inconsistency on bunker shots and long chips. Didn’t feel as naturally balanced.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Fantastic wedge with a clean, crisp feel. Full swings produced a confident sound and good distance. Greenside and in sand it offered solid spin and touch.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
Tons of spin, especially greenside and from the bunker. Got high, soft flights easily, and I could add or take off spin on command. Full swings flew high and soft with effortless turf interaction. Overall just felt reliable and repeatable.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Best performance came off tight lies—ran chips beautifully and added surprising spin when I needed it. Really accurate from both tight and fluffy setups, consistently finishing close. Greenside confidence was a standout.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Made bunker shots simple — cleared sand easily and created more than enough spin. I could hit flops, hooded toe-down shots, and low checkers without hesitation. Plenty of versatility across the board.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
I was sticking shots close repeatedly — easy to be aggressive without losing distance thanks to the spin. In the bunker it was predictable and did exactly what I asked. Very intuitive wedge.
Todd
62, Handicap 13
1 year testing
Excellent performer — solid feel, high launch, strong feedback, and clean turf action. Loved how easily it pushed through sand with a great sound and upbeat control. Greenside feedback was positive with strong rollout and stopping power. High marks across the board.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
Clean look and strong performance. I liked the thicker cavity near the bounce; it helped me get the ball out of the sand with less effort. Solid and predictable wedge.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
A winner all around. Full swings had the right amount of feedback, which was a feeling of the ball barely coming off the face. Versatile in shot shaping and the ability to generate spin or take it off.
Jason
49, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
Better as a full-swing wedge. Grooves make it look big and shovel-y. Tons of bounce in the bunker — only worked in deep, soft sand.
Alan
31, Handicap 3
2 years testing
Strictly a greenside wedge for me — full swings were a non-starter. Turf interaction felt sticky, like cleats catching on turf, with almost no give. Diggers will hate it. Firm, clunky feel off the face.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
Couldn’t control the spin — kept flying past the pin. Had to adjust my swing just to make it check, which isn’t ideal. Struggled getting over high bunker lips. Felt like trying to climb a hill in the wrong gear.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Higher toe gave a little added forgiveness. Sand dispersed nicely through impact, and the full-face grooves really helped around the green. Good stability across different lies.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Had to manipulate the head at address because of the way the bounce is shaped. Not as workable on longer shots as I’d like, and it doesn’t have much pop off the face. But in bunkers it gave good spin and dependable distance control.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
A bit of heft gave it a stable, mid-to-high full-swing flight. Very user-friendly. Plenty of greenside spin, and the bounce kept it from catching in grainy turf. Just smooth overall.
Jin
30, Handicap 10
2 years testing
The tiny grooves inside the main grooves aren’t aggressive enough for real bite around the green. Very smooth through the bunker, though, and the full-face grooves help on toe strikes. Firm on full swings and not as springy as I prefer.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Strength lies around the greens and in bunkers — responsive, lively feel. On full swings the dispersion widened and mishits felt harsh. Carry numbers stayed average, not exceptional.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
A blunt-force wedge. In sand I had to attack it just to pop the ball out, and it lacked sensitivity around the greens. Hot face on full swings, but the overall feel was heavy, hard, and not enjoyable to hit.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
Full-face design and longer heel-to-toe length helped scoop the ball cleanly through sand with easy height. Strong on standard chips, but less versatile on tight, short-sided flops. A little size-dependent in what shots it’s comfortable hitting.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
Full swings were underwhelming — low height, less distance, heavier feel and not much spin. Longer chips felt decent but short ones were less consistent. The weight actually helped in the sand, giving it some stability.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
Excellent turf interaction — basically the anti-chunk wedge. Even in grabby Bermuda it slid through cleanly and popped the ball up with solid stopping power. Super reliable greenside.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
Hot face paired with a lightweight build made full swings feel great, but distance control was inconsistent. Loved the extra length when I caught it clean. Greenside it was extremely versatile with tons of spin, especially helpful since I tend to hit on the toe. Full-face grooves were a big plus.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
Full swings produced excellent distance and reliable distance control. Feel leaned firm for my taste, but some will like that crispness. Greenside shots came off with tons of spin and great predictability. Sand interaction was smooth—the leading edge just glides.
Todd
62, Handicap 13
1 year testing
Excellent performer — solid feel, high launch, strong feedback, and clean turf action. Loved how easily it pushed through sand with a great sound and upbeat control. Greenside feedback was positive with strong rollout and stopping power. High marks across the board.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
Couldn’t control the spin — kept flying past the pin. Had to adjust my swing just to make it check, which isn’t ideal. Struggled getting over high bunker lips. Felt like trying to climb a hill in the wrong gear.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Higher toe gave a little added forgiveness. Sand dispersed nicely through impact, and the full-face grooves really helped around the green. Good stability across different lies.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
A bit of heft gave it a stable, mid-to-high full-swing flight. Very user-friendly. Plenty of greenside spin, and the bounce kept it from catching in grainy turf. Just smooth overall.
Jin
30, Handicap 10
2 years testing
The tiny grooves inside the main grooves aren’t aggressive enough for real bite around the green. Very smooth through the bunker, though, and the full-face grooves help on toe strikes. Firm on full swings and not as springy as I prefer.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Feels like a forged 8-iron. Not usually a fan of rounded leading edges, but turf interaction was excellent. Sticky, high-spin face; edge-to-edge grooves helped in bunkers.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Too lightweight to be effective in sand — felt like you had to hit a full shot to make anything happen. Low bounce didn’t help either. Greenside performance was fine thanks to the abundance of grooves, with workable spin and shot shaping.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Extremely easy to hit — glided through grass effortlessly. Could shape anything: high, low, left, right, flop, runner. No shot felt out of reach. Just a super playable wedge.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Fantastic wedge with a clean, crisp feel. Full swings produced a confident sound and good distance. Greenside and in sand it offered solid spin and touch.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
Tons of spin, especially greenside and from the bunker. Got high, soft flights easily, and I could add or take off spin on command. Full swings flew high and soft with effortless turf interaction. Overall just felt reliable and repeatable.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Best performance came off tight lies—ran chips beautifully and added surprising spin when I needed it. Really accurate from both tight and fluffy setups, consistently finishing close. Greenside confidence was a standout.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Made bunker shots simple — cleared sand easily and created more than enough spin. I could hit flops, hooded toe-down shots, and low checkers without hesitation. Plenty of versatility across the board.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
I was sticking shots close repeatedly — easy to be aggressive without losing distance thanks to the spin. In the bunker it was predictable and did exactly what I asked. Very intuitive wedge.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
Clean look and strong performance. I liked the thicker cavity near the bounce; it helped me get the ball out of the sand with less effort. Solid and predictable wedge.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
A winner all around. Full swings had the right amount of feedback, which was a feeling of the ball barely coming off the face. Versatile in shot shaping and the ability to generate spin or take it off.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Had to manipulate the head at address because of the way the bounce is shaped. Not as workable on longer shots as I’d like, and it doesn’t have much pop off the face. But in bunkers it gave good spin and dependable distance control.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Strength lies around the greens and in bunkers — responsive, lively feel. On full swings the dispersion widened and mishits felt harsh. Carry numbers stayed average, not exceptional.
Jack
36, Handicap 1
3 years testing
Classic PXG execution — very forgiving on full swings with minimal loss on off-center hits. Good greenside control with soft feel and reliable spin. Excellent bunker performance in both firm and soft sand. Easy to hit high or keep low.
Megan
40, Handicap 0
2 years testing
Shined more around the greens than anywhere else. Full-face grooves let me get creative with shot types, and I could hit more variations than expected. Very solid out of bunkers too.
Wesley
31, Handicap 4
3 years testing
Too light — lost feel through impact on a number of occasions. Fast through sand but distance control was guesswork.
Ricky
47, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
Clean, simple head shape. Easy to hit full swings with a flat but controlled ball flight. Solid spin without feeling jumpy.
BK
42, Handicap 2
10+ years testing
Offers good versatility and surprisingly forgiving full swings. A wedge that works for a wide range of players, not just highly skilled ones.
Robert
29, Handicap +2
2 years testing
Firmer feel on both full swings and greenside shots. Harder for me to set square at address, and the full-face grooves introduced some inconsistency on bunker shots and long chips. Didn’t feel as naturally balanced.
Jason
49, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
Better as a full-swing wedge. Grooves make it look big and shovel-y. Tons of bounce in the bunker — only worked in deep, soft sand.
Alan
31, Handicap 3
2 years testing
Strictly a greenside wedge for me — full swings were a non-starter. Turf interaction felt sticky, like cleats catching on turf, with almost no give. Diggers will hate it. Firm, clunky feel off the face.
NO REVIEWS
There are no tester reviews here.
A Skeptic’s Guide To New Golf Equipment
Featured In
Related Clubs
1 / 13
Callaway
Opus SP
$200
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$200
The two-piece design features a pocket low in the head. This concentrates mass higher in the club, raising the center of gravity for a penetrating flight and the kind of control needed to flight shots or attack tight pins.
A new 17-degree groove angle has tighter pitch spacing to promote more groove-edge contact. This produces consistent spin across a variety of lies.
The grooves and a deep cross-hatch laser pattern across the face combine to generate additional friction for maximum control.
2 / 13
Cleveland
RTZ
$180
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$180
Cleveland used a proprietary steel alloy that features a tighter grain structure for a softer feel. It also saves six grams.
In its raw state, the alloy has the benefit of not rusting over time as other steel alloys tend to do. This preserves the look and performance of the grooves.
The ZipCore material in the hosel saves weight, some of which is repositioned low and toward the toe where golfers tend to strike the ball. The rest of the saved weight is used to make the hosel longer and wider to increase forgiveness.
3 / 13
Ping
s259
$218
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$218
The grooves are milled and loft dependent. The 46- to 52-degree wedges maximize groove volume for better control on full shots. The 54- to 62-degreee options are tightly spaced to engage more edges on the ball.
A face blast adds friction, delivering extra spin and assisting launch.
The lower-lofted wedges have a straighter leading edge and center of gravity more in line with the center of the face to make the transition from the irons seamless. Higher lofts have extra offset to provide a comfortable look at address.
4 / 13
TaylorMade
Milled Grind 5
$200
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$200
TaylorMade’s latest wedge line is fully forged, a first for the Milled Grind line and a decision made as a result of its tour staff’s request for more feel.
The wedge is the first in the line to use saw-milled grooves, which were created using a new machining process that tightens tolerances and allows engineers to push groove geometry. The grooves have steeper walls and sharper edges for maximum grab—especially on partial shots.
The raw face features a tread design between the grooves to channel away moisture like a set of all-weather tires. This produces 13 percent more spin from damp conditions, according to the company.
5 / 13
Titleist
Vokey Design SM11
$200
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$200
A new version of Titleist’s Spin Milled grooves features 5 percent more volume than the SM10 to channel away debris and retain more spin.
A new directional face texture provides increased friction and prolongs contact on the face, delivering reliable spin on short shots.
A heat treatment is applied to increase the durability of the groove edges to prolong maximum stopping power.
6 / 13
Cleveland
CBZ
$180
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$180
The fifth generation of the company’s cavity-back wedges charts a fresh path by using the same Z-alloy found in the company’s tour-played RTZ line. The Z-alloy is 25 percent softer than the 431 stainless steel used in past CBX models.
Cleveland’s research found that about 80 percent of all wedge shots by middle- and high-handicappers occur slightly toward the toe side of the center of the face, right where CBZ’s sweet spot is designed to be.
The “gelback” insert in the cavity is a thermoplastic-urethane polymer designed to control unwanted vibration and sound.
7 / 13
Cobra
King
$170
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$170
The grooves are produced using a CNC milling process and feature a new face blast to help improve performance in wet conditions.
Cobra updated the popular “notch” grinds in the high-lofted wedges based on the old designs made by short-game guru Phil Rodgers. This helps the contact area in the heel glide through the turf more easily when opening the face on the 58- and 60-degree models.
The wedges are manufactured from 8620 carbon steel using a metal-injection-molding process that produces tighter manufacturing tolerances, reducing the need for hand polishing that can lead to inconsistencies.
8 / 13
Edel
SMS Pro
$180
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$180
The SMS Pro continues Edel’s tradition of customizable wedges, but on this updated version, a 25-gram weight is used in place of three screws. Those with an over-the-top swing will want more weight in the heel to promote the face staying closed at impact. If you tend to pull wedge shots, the weight goes in the toe.
A new groove pattern adds three grooves depending on the loft for more spin. In addition to the updated groove pattern, Edel continues its use of cross-hatch laser etching to increase surface roughness for maximum control.
CNC milling ensures consistent sole geometry on each wedge as opposed to hand polishing.
9 / 13
LA Golf
FS-26
$200
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$200
To maximize spin, these wedges use saw-cut grooves and milled-face roughness.
The wedges are forged in a multi-stage process from 1025 carbon steel to deliver the soft feel players prefer.
A hydrophobic coating repels water from the face, resulting in more consistent shots and improved performance in wet conditions.
10 / 13
Maxfli
XCW
$130
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$130
It’s difficult to do things differently in a traditional wedge design. Maxfli accomplishes this by using an internal ceramic-matrix-composite insert that positions mass in the optimal position for trajectory control and a soft feel.
The grooves are CNC milled “micro grooves” that let more groove edges engage the ball for maximum spin.
The center of gravity is lower in the low-lofted wedges and higher in the high-lofted options to promote the proper trajectory for each loft.
11 / 13
Mizuno
Mizuno Pro T1
$180
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$180
The new muscle-back shape has a taller heel section and more mass in the upper portion of the head to bring ball flight down for greater control.
The head is no longer made from boron but rather a softer 1025 carbon steel to improve feel.
The sharper leading edge with additional sole camber reduces turf resistance for those who tend to take divots.
12 / 13
Proto-Concept
RR Forged
$310
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$310
To simplify the wedge-selection process, Proto-Concept developed three sole grinds that differ in effective bounce and are based on playing style.
The NT grind is on lower lofts and is primarily for full swings. The SP grind is on lofts 56 and up and is designed for those with sweeping swings. The AG grind is another option for 56 degrees and up and is made for those who hit down on the ball.
Through precise cold forging, groove width and depth have been optimized for maximum spin. The face features two types of laser milling—diagonal and horizontal—significantly improving spin in wet conditions.
13 / 13
TaylorMade
Hi-Toe 4
$180
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$180
These wedges are more than just their high-toe shape. The pronounced shaping shifts the center of gravity higher and toward the toe to produce shots with increased spin.
The computer-milled sole grinds eliminate excessive hand work in the manufacturing process for more consistency from club to club.
Laser-etched ribs between the grooves create additional surface friction. Called “spin tread,” the rows of diagonal lines between the grooves are designed to redirect moisture to create cleaner contact with the groove edges.