on Worldwide Golf

EQUIPMENT: WHICH WEDGE IS BEST?

Wedge test

Drive for show and putt for dough… But just make sure you don’t neglect your short game. Here, Worldwide Golf’s mid-handicapper Will Kent tested seven different wedges under the Middle Eastern sun to see what each one can offer if you’re in the market for an upgrade this summer.

According to Arccos data, from 75 to 100 yards, the standard 20-handicapper is hitting the green in regulation 49 percent of the time while a 10-handicapper hits it 59 percent of the time. To compare, the average Tour professional finds a whopping 78 percent of greens from the same distance. That huge variability led us to delve deep into eGolf Megastore’s catalogue to find some tools to help close the gap.

TAYLORMADE MILLED GRIND 3

Specs Available:
17 options
4 sole grinds
2 finishes
We Tested: 52 degree SB09

Review: The rusty face at first glance wasn’t for me, but after some time actually using the club I could definitely see myself putting this in the bag. Under the glare of the bright Dubai sun, a darker finish on the face at address installed confidence as I had greater awareness of the face. It was something I didn’t know I wanted, so I encourage you to try this if you haven’t as well. Combine this fresh look with exceptionally clean turf interaction, and this wedge started to tempt me into a possible purchase in the near future. RRP: 795 AED

PXG 0311 3X

Specs Available:
7 options
1 grind
1 finish
We Tested:
52 degree, 10 degrees of bounce

Review: This was an absolute rocket of a golf club. Personally, I’m not after any additional distance with these shorter clubs until I can improve my swing, but if my goal was simply to hit it further, I would buy this in a heartbeat. It had no difficulty cutting through the turf and I was getting up to 10 yards more distance with this in comparison to the rest. The slightly thicker top line gave me less confidence and feel around those tricky tight lies, but it had no trouble finding the 75 to 100 yard distance. A superb option for the player looking to find more greens and improve quickly. RRP: 679 AED

CLEVELAND RTX 6 ZIPCORE

Specs Available:
15 options
3 sole grinds
1 finish
We Tested:
52 degree, 10 degrees of bounce

Review: Cleveland have removed weight from the heel area and redistributed it elsewhere to increase forgiveness in this club, and for my level of golf where I need all the forgiveness I can get, I found this to be a fantastic wedge. This technology helped to mitigate the loss of distance on mishits, while my dispersion from 80 yards was as tight as I could have hoped for. When you’re trying to get up and down on the daunting ninth hole at the Els Club to save par, this club is definitely your friend. No complaints and lots of positives for this one. RRP: 745 AED

TITLEIST VOKEY DESIGN SM9

Specs Available:
23 options
6 grinds
4 finishes
We Tested: 52 degree, 8 degrees of bounce

Review: The SM9 features the first groove revision in a Vokey since the SM6, and this sharper clubface impressed me with the increased spin. When hitting it flush, it was a one-hop-and-stop type wedge from 80 yards while it was also easy to control the trajectory. The SM9 is a reliable short game weapon while the word ‘finesse’ came to mind when testing it. The club felt as if it was designed perfectly for those shorter shots from 50 yards and in. You just can’t go wrong with a Vokey wedge; they remain one of the most versatile and popular options on the market, especially with so many options to choose from.RRP: 795 AED

BETTINARDI HLX 5.0

Specs Available:
11 options
2 grinds
2 finishes
We Tested:
52 degree, 8 degrees of bounce

Review: Bettinardi are renowned for producing top-tier putters used by golf’s elite. However, they also craft exceptional wedges that are worth your attention. This latest iteration of the HLX series incorporates innovative technology to raise the center of gravity while also featuring a slim top line, making them tailored for more skilled ballstrikers than myself. Nonetheless, using such a high-quality club evokes a similar feeling to driving a Lamborghini. Tight dispersion was there for me personally, and for those seeking a premium brand with great performance, you don’t need to look any further. RRP: 1095 AED

CALLAWAY JAWS RAW

Specs Available:
17 options
4 sole grinds
2 finishes
We Tested: 50 degree 10S

Review: Callaway have incorporated a fresh design in this wedge with micro-milled grooves between the actual grooves, hugely enhancing its spin capabilities even on shorter shots. At address, the clubhead appeared and felt slightly more substantial compared to other wedges in this article and if you desire added solidity upon impact while still maintaining a remarkable level of feel, this wedge could be the perfect choice for you. Moreover, the raw face basking under the desert sun adds an aesthetic appeal that will undoubtedly appeal to many, including myself. RRP: 850 AED

TAYLORMADE HI-TOE 3

Specs Available:
10 options
3 grinds
2 finishes
We Tested: 52 degree 09

Review: After analysing the wedge-impact positions of over 100,000 golfers, TaylorMade discovered that around 66 percent of them made contact with the toe of the club. I found that statistic out after I hit this wedge, and then it all made sense when I noted my strike location for this club was consistently more towards the hosel. If hitting wedges off the toe is something you struggle with, testing this club is a no-brainer. Aesthetically, the shape of the club head has a similar visual look to the Bettinardi, which is equally as impressive in performance. RRP: 835 AED

All wedges available at eGolf Megastore