Getting creative around the greens
Chipping can be frustrating. Thankfully, we have multiple wedges in the bag for all different greenside scenarios. But are you using yours correctly?
Equipment
A peep under the hood
Have you ever stopped to consider how all the inner workings of a clubhead come together to allow us to produce excellent golf shots?
From the driver, to woods and irons, and wedges and putters, its’s remarkable how each golf club looks distinctly unique while being built for a specific purpose on the golf course. Today we want to talk about the latest golf wedges and how they help us overcome the hazards to land our ball on the greens.
Have you ever got right underneath a ball with one of your lofted wedges and surprised yourself with how much height you get? Each component has been carefully shaped to allow you to do it time and again.
The grooves on the face of the golf wedge have been carefully engineered to ensure that when you strike the ball you get plenty of spin. But please join us as we take a peep under the hood at how modern golf wedges are constructed, and give you a solid recommendation in the form of the latest Mizuno wedges.
What you see at address
We’ll start by clarifying the parts of the wedge clubhead you can see when you’re standing over the ball. Obviously, you’ve got the grip which leads into the shaft. The ferrule is the small black plastic section that provides a bit of a visual break between the shaft and the hosel.
The shaft is mounted into the hosel, the hosel naturally acts as the support that holds the clubhead in place. Depending on what wedge you have, the clubface loft will vary. When you have a 60-degree wedge the loft is very open, letting you see a lot of the clubface. If you’re hitting a shot with a 46-degree wedge, the face is more closed, giving you a comparatively steeper angle of attack.
On the clubface itself, you’ll find a lot of horizontal grooves that run from the hosel to the toe. While all golf clubs have grooves to allow for a successful contact with the ball, golf wedges have the deepest grooves to allow you to fluidly hit through the turf and elevate your ball through the air.
It’s essential that for your wedge to be effective, the grooves need to be sharp. Considering they’re the point of contact with the ball, if your grooves aren’t sharp, you’re going to generate far less spin and control.
Many modern golf wedges have full-face grooves, where the grooves extend across the toe section. The theory is that the longer the grooves remains in contact with the ball, the more spin is generated. The more spin imparted onto your ball, the more control you have over your shot.
The tech down under
As we’ve just mentioned, a good golf wedge needs to be instrumental in striking through turf, and the bottom of the club is critical to ensuring this happens.
The leading edge section is, as you can imagine, the very front and bottom edge of the clubface. This segment helps the clubhead cut through the ground when making contact with the ball.
Bounce
Every single wedge has a bounce angle. You measure the bounce angle when you stand the wedge vertically with the clubhead resting flat on a horizontal surface.
The angle between the flat surface beneath you and the front of the leading edge is the bounce angle. Without the bounce angle, it would be very difficult to make any kind of clean contact with the ball.
Grind
On the very bottom of the club you have the grind on the sole. The grind is the shape left by the removal of certain sections of the sole. Different grinds allow for different kinds of contact with the ground, and preference will vary by player.
Just as there are a whole range of golfers, from beginners right through to those looking to turn pro, so too are there grind options to accommodate each player’s needs.
More forgiving grinds have a wider sole and offer relief to players who tend to take a big divot when they chip, while grinds for skilled shot-making are narrower, and offer greater versatility.
Mizuno's latest golf wedges
You need look no further than the latest offerings from Mizuno to see a beautifully constructed wedge.
The T24 has been forged from a single piece of boron steel, giving it an impressive feel. On the face you’ll find the HydroFlow micro grooves that are laser etched to release moisture on your strikes and retain spin - perfect for winter golf in the UK. Mass has been taken from the toe portion of the club to create a more refined topline that looks fantastic when you’re standing over the ball.
You can pick up the T24 in a variety of lofts ranging between 48-60 degrees, and there are 5 distinct grind options available. Each of the three finishes look fantastic both when the club is resting in your bag and when you’re lining up your shot.
Just as impressive is the S23 wedge. This club features a heel-cavity and a short hosel, the result of which is an attractive players-preferred look. The HydroFlow micro grooves on the face have been quad cut milled, effectively giving them a longer lifespan.
This wedge is excellent for players that want to build up consistency in their short game, and you can get the S23 in lofts ranging from 44-62 degrees. Both the satin brush chrome and copper cobalt finishes are a sight to behold.
We all know that golf is a very difficult game, especially when it comes to getting your short game just right. So, whether you need to get yourself some new wedges or get yourself some lessons booked in, we’re ready to help you out in the pro shop.
