2009 Equipment Reviews

Wedges Gloves Improvement Irons Players Irons Fairway woods Putters Carry Bags Waterproofs Waterproof Shoes

Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Unique products that provide a truly discernible performance option - increased spin Full range of lofts, low, mid, and full bounce sole options in many lofts, and three distinct non-glare finishes – to execute more shots from around the greens Lofts: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 & 64° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £93 www.titleist.co.uk 01480 301 114 Our verdict: VOKEY wedges continue to set the standards by which all the others are judged – at least in the eyes of better players. While every other wedge in this test attracted at least one dissenting voice in terms of head shape and style, the Vokeys were universally loved. The other thing that the discerning golfer likes is the sheer number of options – the lofts come in 2° gaps from 48 to 64°, there are several bounce options and even three head finishes. It means that Titleist can offer precision in a part of the game where it is most needed. You can play lots of different shots, the head is heavy enough to offer maximum feedback and the feel is fantastic. Worthy winners.

MD Golf NV Drew By reducing the bounce you get a leading edge that sits ‘flush’ to the ground and gives maximum spin from a tight lie Combined with a CNC-milled face you have got the ultimate ‘spin machine’ from tight lies Lofts: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? No SRP: £49.99 www.mdgolf.co.uk 02894 460 333 Our verdict: MD GOLF have rightly earned a reputation for their wedges and the latest NV Drew models are surely their best yet. The design principle behind them is the low bounce on the soles that means the leading edge sits tight to the turf, a look that many of us prefer when using a wedge. But what our panellists really liked was the shape of the head and also the feel – the NV Drew is a class act. It looks great at set-up, the finish is appealing and the amount of control it gives was consistently impressive.

Mizuno MX Series Midsize cavity design offers increased forgiveness while Y-Tune technology extends the exceptionally large sweet area Lofts: 50, 55 & 60° Left-handed? No SRP: £79 www.mizuno.com 0118 936 2100 Our verdict: THIS was the big surprise in our test. Let’s be honest – these do not look like Mizuno wedges and so expectations were not necessarily high. But if ever there were a case of not judging a book by its cover, this is it. We can’t describe just how easy this wedge is to use compared to any other on test. Its large head may look clumsy but in practice it just helps mishits behave like well-struck shots. It got under the ball surprisingly well and what’s more it felt good too. It’s true that you wouldn’t necessarily choose the MX Series with finesse shots and versatility in mind but any mid-handicapper looking to add much-needed consistency to their short game must give them a go.

Snake Eyes 685BX Fluid forged using soft 8620 carbon steel for ultimate in feel and distance control Tour-influenced sole grind takes material from both heel and toe for excellent versatility from both turf and sand Lofts: 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 & 64° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £109 www.snakeeyescustom.com 01480 308 800 Our verdict: CLASSY, sleek and distinctive. These wedges promise quality and certainly deliver it – with the feel off the face a delight. They feel like they deliver lots of spin and look great at address, while the sole design certainly allows different types of shots to be played. It’s easy to open the face and slide the head underneath the ball with the lob wedge. They are available in two different finishes so chrome and oil-can fans can both have their way and find their preferred look. By a majority of two to one, our panel preferred the latter!

Callaway X-Forged Designed with input from tour players, these wedges are constructed from soft 1020 carbon steel for incredible feel and feature a tighter heel-toe radius that provides increased versatility from anywhere around the green Lofts: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 & 64° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £99 (Vintage); £89 (Chrome) www.callawaygolf.com 0208 391 0100 Our verdict: THERE’S no question that the head shapes on these wedges are a delight and the graduation from one loft to the next is very smooth. Callaway wedges didn’t used to be as good as this but that has all changed now thanks largely to the input and expertise of Roger Cleveland. Just one note of caution – two of our testers felt the head on the lob wedge was a little light, and that made it difficult to judge shots.

Nike VR Forged New High Rev grooves are milled into the clubface to the maximum allowable tolerances of width and depth for maximum spin and increased control and accuracy Lofts: 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £95 www.nikegolfeurope.com 0800 056 1640 Our verdict: WE definitely like the blade appearance of the VR Forged – it’s just how this type of club should be. The lob wedge was particularly impressive, allowing for some pleasing cut-up shots. A heavy head will suit those who like to feel where the clubhead is throughout the swing and we found these wedges to be fairly forgiving considering their bladed nature.

Bobby Jones Pelz Wedge Made from Cronidur 30 wear-resistant alloy to provide unparalleled spin longevity Classic shape with true cavity-back forgiveness Lofts: 52, 56, 60 & 64° Left-handed? No SRP: £99 www.bobbyjoneseurope.net 0845 456 5120 Our verdict: LIKE all of the current Bobby Jones range, the appearance of this wedge is unusual and distinctive. The company’s chief designer, Jesse Ortiz, worked extensively with short game guru Dave Pelz on its groove design, which he claims will ensure maximum spin is imparted for much longer than any other wedge. The theory is that most wedges lose their performance edge very quickly – whereas this one will just keep on spinning.

Cleveland CG14 Offers a perfect balance of performance, versatility, and forgiveness Lofts: 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £89 www.clevelandgolf.com 01252 761 300 Our verdict: CLEVELAND wedges have always had a very strong following among the pros but the CG14 is designed to have a less intimidating look and style and therefore have similar appeal to the club player. Cleveland were surprised when several of their tour pros – most notably Boo Weekley – made the switch and they are proving equally popular with club golfers. We would recommend one of these to any serious golfer looking to add some finesse to their short game but lacking the confidence to go with an out-and-out bladed model. You will find a wedge with a generous hitting area but that – crucially – still looks like a weapon of precision.

Ping Tour-W Milled face and grooves of the Tour-W increase spin and provide greater control from all lies Compact, teardrop head shape features a tungsten toe weight for added forgiveness Lofts: 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £90 www.pinggolf.com 01427 615 405 Our verdict: WE can safely say this is the best-looking wedge Ping have ever brought to market and is far removed from the functional yet frankly ugly models that used to be their trademark in this area. It sits well, the looks are clean and it’s relatively forgiving. It’s not an out-and-out blade and the feel is not the softest but for the vast majority of us it’s a great all-round option.

Mizuno T-Series & R-Series R-Series features round head for consistent look regardless of face angle; T-Series features teardrop shape for sharper leading edge R-Series lofts: 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60° T-Series lofts: 47, 51, 53, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £89 www.mizuno.com 0118 936 2100 Our verdict: AS experts in the field of forged irons, you would expect these wedges to be good. Available in two head shapes, the T (teardrop) and R (round), we much prefer the former, certainly in the stronger lofts. Clearly, this is down to personal preference to a large degree but all our panellists agreed on this style point. The T is more of classical shape, but the R is designed to make it easy to open the face up, which is definitely a thought if it’s a lob wedge you’re after. But for longer shots it’s got to be the T, which has the kind of head shape any purist would appreciate.

Cleveland CG12 Combines classic wedge design with advanced manufacturing processes ZIP Grooves, milled to maximum conforming dimensions, are Cleveland’s most consistent, precise, and visible wedge technology to date Lofts: 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £89 www.clevelandgolf.com 01252 761 300 Our verdict: CLEVELAND’S flagship bladed wedge is a club of undoubted beauty – but it is not forgiving on mishits and should therefore be left to those who know how to wield it properly. It can feel dead if you don’t catch one right and that’s where its stablemate the CG14 comes in. With a full array of loft options, the expert will be able to find exactly the right combination of CG12s to suit their game.

Orka RS18 Hot Billet Forged from S25c steel and a CNC Precision Milled cavity design Lofts: 52, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? No SRP: >From £79 www.orkagolf.com 0845 862 0061 Our verdict: FIRST things first – these babies certainly spin it! The seriously sharp-looking grooves seem to impart a tremendous amount of spin on the ball and while it’s hard to prove it conclusively, that’s a fantastic feeling to have in your mind when there’s not much green to work with. The head shape is blade style and perhaps a little ‘boxy’ for some tastes, while there is a distinctive pattern on the face that some might find off-putting. But feel is very good - the materials used are obviously first-rate – and you get plenty of control over the flight.

Nicklaus Spin Slot Precision Short Game Shot Making - Versatility due to slot design for more control in short game situations and extra spin due to ultra flat, CNC-milled face Lofts: 52, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £59.99 www.nicklaus-golf.com 01925 267 818 Our verdict: THIS is another unusual looking wedge, and in this case there is a large gap between face and hosel – though some of us might consider that a distinct advantage! But in general we liked the finish and the way the club sat behind the ball. It felt like a 'proper' wedge. It isn't the most versatile in terms of the range of shots you can play but it is solid and reliable.

MD Golf Seve Icon The Icon wedges feature the same classic shape as MD Golf’s popular Superstrong wedges but after extensive testing Seve has added his little bit of magic by improving the groove system used in these clubs Lofts: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? No SRP: £69.99 www.mdgolf.co.uk 02894 460 333 Our verdict: WE like the shiny chrome finish on the Seve Icon wedges and it’s hard to argue with the traditional shape. What did take a little getting used to was the join of head and shaft, which gives the appearance of a substantial offset – not necessarily what you would want to see on a lob wedge. That said, we liked the feel, which was really classy and the performance seemed unaffected by these slightly unusual aesthetics.

Benross VX51 The VX51 Forged wedges have been designed to suit the accomplished golfer. The accurate bounce angles, maximum spin groove configuration, exceptionally soft steel and satin finish are all features experienced golfers will prefer Lofts: 52, 56 & 60° Left-handed? No SRP: £59.99 www.benrossgolf.com 01932 821 200 Our verdict: THE 60° lob wedge was the most impressive performer of the VX51s we tried. It was very easy to use and presented little difficulty in terms of slipping the club underneath the ball. The head has quite an unusual shape but is none the worse for it – although the bulky hosel takes a little getting used to and could be considered off-putting. We liked the satin finish, which adds a touch of class, and the components are certainly of impressively high quality.

ADAMS Puglielli

Designed by Max Puglielli, an Adams Golf industry veteran, for the better amateur player with a classic teardrop shape and tour-proven performance Lofts: 52, 56 & 60° Left-handed? No SRP: £129 www.adamsgolf.com Our verdict: IT’S always interesting when a top manufacturer introduces a concept wedge, sacrificing classic looks to incorporate thoughtful design features. This has an enormous head and a very square shape with a thick hosel. Also, the leading edge is distinctly curved. But it is extremely user-friendly and surprisingly versatile – we found it easy to play a wide range of shots.

FORGAN Series 2

Low turf drag for consistent impact Lofts: 56, 60 & 64° Left-handed? No SRP: £14.99 www.forgan.co.uk 01527 598 388 Our verdict: FOR under £15 this is an amazingly good wedge. The head shape is appealing once you get used to the large toe section and the results extremely impressive. All of our testers hit pleasingly good shots with the Forgan and it’s nothing if not a genuine bargain.

SRIXON WG-706

These beautiful wedges follow a similar shape and design as the prototype currently played by Srixon tour professionals Reduced heel bounce and trimmed sole make it easier to set the face open while engraved U grooves and face milling treatment offer excellent spin performance Lofts: 52, 56 & 60° Left-handed? No SRP: £99 www.srixon.co.uk 01420 541 709 Our verdict: The large, rounded head shape certainly inspires confidence and the absence of sharp angles helps to prevent both thins and the head digging in behind the ball. The grey finish is an acquired taste and it offered slightly less feedback than some.

TAYLORMADE Z-TP

Milled Z grooves with aggressive edges and increased volume deliver higher spin for more stopping power Lofts: 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £89 www.taylormadegolf.com 00800 8624 4653 Our verdict: ALL our testers liked the Z TP yet none fell in love with it – and none could quite pinpoint why they didn’t like it more. We preferred the head shape on the lob wedge to that on the 52° (though that is just a personal thing) but the performance and feel are both impressive without quite standing out from the crowd.

YONEX Cyberstar T-1

Manufactured to produce all the characteristics tour players, like Colin Montgomerie, look for around the green Lofts: 52, 56 & 60° Left-handed? No SRP: £89 www.yonex.co.uk 0208 742 9777 Our verdict: While the purists among us love a small, precise wedge design, the rest of us would rather have one in the bag that is just easy to use and builds up confidence. The face of this wedge is large and round, which makes it pleasingly versatile from anywhere within 100 yards of the green.

WILSON STAFF Tw9

These tour-milled wedges combine exceptional feel and forgiveness with an innovative ‘gapping’ approach to distance control that enables golfers to get the very most from their short games Lofts: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? Yes SRP: £74.99 (Satin); £84.99 (Black PVD) www.wilsonstaff.com 01294 316 270 Our verdict: AN excellent mid-market wedge that offers decent feel without being too soft. The grip is probably a touch busy for some but the Black PVD head is smart and business-like, offering solid results and plenty of grab when you catch one sweetly.

BRIDGESTONE West Coast

West Coast wedges deliver performance to professionals through to mid-handicap amateurs. Variable Bounce Technology creates low bounce on the heel and toe sole areas Lofts: 48, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60° Left-handed? No SRP: £85 www.bridgestonegolf.com Our verdict: VERY unlucky not to make our ‘NCG recommends’ list. We liked the head shape and simple, clean gimmick-free aesthetics. It’s very clean-looking and would certainly suit the low-handicap player. The gap wedge seemed to be the best-performing loft.

LYNX Hallmark

Hand-forged from heat-treated 8620 mild carbon steel, to ensure tight tolerances and consistency with CNC-milled faces create an extra soft feel and added control Lofts: 52, 56 & 60° Left-handed? No SRP: £69.99 www.lynx-golf.co.uk 0870 428 1778 Our verdict: THIS wedge has a highly distinctive finish and style. We thought it was almost like an old-fashioned niblick, the way the hosel blended into the face. Also, the milled face creates a 'haze' when you look down on it at address. But it gives a lovely soft feel and is effective even from nasty tight lies.