Vokey Wedges: About the SM9

In our sport, when you need to make short, accurate shots, you need a wedge. These are the clubs you pull from your golf bag when you need to make a chip shot, a pitch shot, a lob shot, or any number of others.

Making these shots accurately requires no small measure of practice and control - but the right clubs sure do help.

Vokey Wedges are some of the best - especially the SM9. Here’s what you need to know about how these clubs are engineered for precision control.

Versatility, Distance Control, and Spin

Vokey SM9 wedges are designed primarily for three things: distance control, optimal spin characteristics, and overall versatility.

Technologically advanced, featuring precision engineering and milling, and precisely formed and weighted, these Vokey Wedges deliver next-level performance.

But to understand this, two of the things you must first understand are Vokey Wedge grind and bounce.

About the Different Wedge Grind and Bounce

Just as a shaft’s flex and torque must be matched to a player’s swing speed and tempo, so too must wedge grinds be matched to the player’s swing mechanics and ground conditions.

Except in this case, instead of looking at shaft material and kick point, we are looking at wedge grind and bounce.

Wedge grind refers to the manner in which the sole of the club has been ground, in order to remove material from it and change the shape and angle of the sole.

Grind customizes the shape of the club sole, manipulating how it interacts with the turf on contact, and by extension, how the golf ball contacts the club face.

Vokey wedges have elevated wedge grind to an art form, and the SM9 is made with 7 different wedge grind configurations that are the cumulative product of years of research, development, and testing.

Grind suitability for a swing is impacted not only by the player’s mechanics but also by the ground conditions. For instance, Vokey SM9 wedges with an L grind are suitable for firm ground conditions and produce low bounce.

By contrast, the D and K grinds are more suitable for soft ground - like sand - and offer the greatest forgiveness and highest bounce.

Bounce is the area on the sole of the club that actually contacts the ground on the swing, and can be customized by altering the angle between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole.

Wedges are usually categorized as either low, mid, or high bounce.

Low bounce wedges are usually between 4° and 6° and are ideal for firmer ground conditions; they’re also more suitable for players with sweeping swing styles and shallower attack angles.

Mid bounce wedges are usually between 7° and 10°, and are typically considered the most versatile of all wedges. They are good for use on “normal” turf, and most players would consider their performance to be somewhat neutral, making them suitable for most course conditions and swing types.

Finally, we have high bounce wedges that have 10° or more of bounce. These wedges are most suitable for softer ground conditions, such as soft turf, fluffy lies, and sand. With aggressive attack angles, they usually produce deep divots as well as high launch and spin characteristics.

Whereas in a driver, many players prefer low-spin characteristics, in the short game, high spin characteristics can be desirable. A Vokey Wedge that produces optimal (high) spin can help control not only how the ball lands on the green but how it will roll-out and react once it comes down. For skilled golfers, this equates to precision shot placement.

Vokey Wedges like SM9 wedges are also engineered with a higher forward center of gravity (CG), which ensures more solid contact and promotes more controlled spin and flight.

Optimizing wedge grind and bounce is the key to tailoring the Vokey wedge to your mechanics while guaranteeing ideal ball contact and launch and spin characteristics.

Spin Milled Grooves

Another secret to the performance of the SM9 wedges is the presence of spin milled grooves on the wedge face.

Fresh grooves are one of the keys to shot spin and dispersion. Titleist’s research and development team extensively tested wedges with varying degrees of groove wear and made a shocking - and telling - discovery.

Notably: all grooves wear, and groove wear is directly correlated to shot roll out. On average, shots made with wedges with fresh grooves at a 33° launch angle rolled out ten feet on average. After 125 rounds, shots rolled out much further - up to 24 feet.

The solution? Precision-milled grooves. Vokey wedges are all precision-milled and fully inspected for quality prior to sale. Titleist also applies a localized heat treatment to each wedge face, doubling groove durability and wear-resistance, prior to sale.

However, all grooves wear out. If you have questions about your Vokey Wedges’ mill wear, contact our club fitters.

Don’t See Your Question About Vokey Wedges Answered Here? Contact Us

Do you still have questions about Titleist Vokey Wedges and their maximum shot-making versatility and potential? Either visit us in Dallas or get in touch with us at 800-955-9550 for more information.