Types of wedges

[Mr. Desmond]

FWIW, the only time I've felt a difference between an 8620 cast (Vokey, Bridgestone) and a soft forging is on short, finesse shots. The Vokeys feel a little lighter than a Miura, but a good club maker can help with that... I am adding a small counterweight to all my wedges - it gives a swing itself kind of feeling and adds overall weight. The putter already has a counterweight.

[iacas]

I have forged Edel wedges coming but Dave opted for the cast wedges. Why did I opt for forged? Because they're the only ones available in the finish I like. :) They feel the same.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by jnew47

I want to try to get a little more back spin around the greens.  I have been looking at the new 56 degree wedge, clevland 588 forged.  what about yall and what do yall recommend?

The wedges that I've hit that had the most "check" are the TaylorMade ATV wedges.  Not sure if they're available yet but might be ones to check out.  Kinda fugly but they will definitely help you increase your spin rate.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

Actually, Bob Vokey chooses to cast his wedges because its a much cheaper manufacturing process.  The wedges that he sells in Japan are forged because people in Japan have no interest in cast clubs.

Probably a pretty poor example. It would sem that a lot of Japanese are not interested in cast clubs because they are interested in glitz, glamour and what they may perceive to be status symbols. Along with that is the false belief about forged being "better". Many of them swallow the Mizuno marketing nonsense hook line and sinker, just as you have.

Here is an example of the type of thing that some (not all) Japanese golfers have an "intetest" in, just in case you think that what a particular market wants has any relevance:

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

A simple demonstration of this would be to take a small trash can and then crumple up a dozen or so sheets of paper.  Now, drop those sheets of paper into the trash can.  Notice the air pockets and the irregular shapes?  Now, do the same thing but pack the crumpled up piece of paper into the can.  Notice the lack of spaces between the paper and how uniform the shapes are?  Its the same with forming metal.  I find it actually laughable that is ever other field where metal parts are used (automobiles, motorcycles, trains) forged parts are always considered to be of highly quality, high durability, more precise and just overall better than their forged counterparts but somehow in golf people have been convinced that forged and cast is the same.  They are not the same and never will be.

You may well find it laughable, but that only goes to show that you don't understand the process.

You may as well say that Damascus steel is of poor quality becuase it has been folded and hammered.

[danieldrieberg]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

*sigh* Once again, forged is not what makes it soft.  Carbon steel is what makes it soft.

Well said----I make the assumption that forged clubs us the softer carbon steel. Either way the more brittle harder steel holds the edge longer. Personally I do not believe one can feel the difference in ball striking between either steel types. Main feel difference is generated by club head shape.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by danieldrieberg

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

*sigh* Once again, forged is not what makes it soft.  Carbon steel is what makes it soft.

Well said----I make the assumption that forged clubs us the softer carbon steel. Either way the more brittle harder steel holds the edge longer. Personally I do not believe one can feel the difference in ball striking between either steel types. Main feel difference is generated by club head shape.

I've never hit rock hard irons that I liked, but perhaps it was the shaft/grip combination as well. My first full set were "investment cast" and even though I played a lot of good shots with them, I never felt the "butter". I was also using terrible balls back then and that's where I think people are tricked. Of course a vibration dampening iron striking a Pro V1 feels good - put a rock hard grip on that stick and hit a vintage Top Flite. How's that feel?

[lewisgl]

I have had pretty good luck with the Vokey Spin Milled wedges as well as the Cally X Tour and X Forged, Nike VR forged, Mizuno MPT 11, Ping Tour S cast, and others, and now have a couple of the  new Vokey SM4's, a few Nike Vr Pro wedges, and a couple of the new 2012 Cally forged wedges.  Yes, I am a wedge ho, undoubtedly.   The Vokey Spin Milled wedges are very good wedges but surprisingly to me the grooves didn't hold up well at all (probably why the SM4 wedge grooves have been hardened).   After a few hours of practice most of the spin went away. Really shocked me a significant amount of spin around the green and fairway was gone within a month or so after I got them.     By contrast the Cally X Tour wedges with 1020 or 1025 steel, with the Mack Daddy grooves, were still spinning the ball pretty well after several months of play and quite a bit of practice, as did the Nike VR's, which were also 1020 or 1025.    I also notice that the sole of the Vokey marked and scuffed up easier too.   That is the only thing about the Vokey wedges I don't care for.    The feel is just about as good as forged probably and the performance is as good or better than most.

[trickymicky69]

I have tried many wedges and much prefer Cleveland over Vokeys

[adh241]

Get out there and try a few different models. For me I havent found anything else to rival the spin of Callaway Jaws MD wedges...but I havent tried ALL wedges out there. I compared Titleist Vokey (Spin Milled non conforming), Mizuno MP T11, Cleveland various models & the Callaways won out on spin which was the over-riding factor to me given my home course firm conditions & fast greens. The flip side to that is soft balls (Pro V1/Penta etc) wont last more than a round with these wedges & you'll be picking pieces of ball out of the grooves. I did compromise slightly with my 56 deg wedge & went with the Callaway Jaws CC version. Great feel & just seemed to be the right one for me. Also a lot easier on the balls.

[MSDOGS1976]

The 2012 Callaway forged wedges are pretty good. I just picked up a 56* dark chrome one and really like it. Easy to spin and like the gradual c grind. But wedges are a personal thing. What works for me may not for you.

http://www.callawaygolf.com/global/en-au/golf-equipment/golf-clubs/wedges/callaway-forged-wedges/gallery.html