Titleist Vokey SM11 Wedge Review: Still the wedge to beat?

For what feels like an eternity, the Vokey name has dominated the wedge market.

Whether it’s amateurs looking for dependable short-game performance or non-contracted tour players choosing what goes in the bag, wedges designed by Bob Vokey and produced by Titleist have long been seen as the benchmark of performance.

That dominance creates a challenge when a new model arrives. When your wedges are already considered the gold standard, how do you make them even better?

I went down to Woburn Golf Club to get fitted to see whether Titleist has managed to improve the performance of their new wedges.

What was clear is that the SM11 doesn’t try to reinvent the wedge, it doesn’t need to, but it does refine the formula in some clever ways. Here’s how…

NCG Summary

NCG SUMMARY

There is certainly no dip in performance here and this is very much worthy of its Vokey name. This is a wedge I found that launches slightly lower, generates impressive stopping power, and performs consistently across a wide range of different shot types.

The cleaner aesthetics and premium finish options also enhance the shelf and bag appeal.

But I should note that if you have the SM10 iteration then I wouldn’t be too disheartened. The performance gains are incremental.

PROS

Excellent spin rates
Produces a lower, more controlled ball flight
Durable grooves maintain performance over time

CONS

The performance gains over previous generations are minimal

First Impressions

I think visually, the SM11 is a tidy evolution.

The most noticeable change I could find is on the back of the head. The SM11 branding has moved from the centre of the wedge to the hosel, which leaves the back of the club looking cleaner and less cluttered.

That might sound like a small tweak to a lot of you, but wedges are clubs golfers stare down at constantly. A cleaner back profile gives the club a more premium, tour-inspired look, closer to the sort of aesthetics you’d expect from a Tour-issue wedge.

The updated Vokey Design logo also leans into that ‘WedgeWorks-style’ feel.

There are a number of finish options. But the one that I found the most pleasing was the Jet Black model.

It looked particularly striking, especially paired with a black shaft and black grip for a stealthy, all-black setup.

NCG Verdict

To cut a long story short, the SM11 delivers exactly what you’d expect from a Vokey wedge; that’s predictable control and plenty of spin.

In soft conditions, the spin levels are impressively high. The ball consistently stops quickly on the greens, and on a few occasions it even checked harder than I expected on some chip shots.

That level of stopping power gives confidence across the golf course. This includes when hitting out of bunkers and executing more delicate shots around the greens.

From pretty much any lie, I thought the club feels capable of generating the spin needed to control the ball.

The consistency across different types of shots is particularly impressive. Full swings, pitch shots and short-game finesse shots all feel equally comfortable.

Durability also deserves a mention. The Jet Black finish held up well during testing, with minimal visible wear and grooves that still looked fresh despite regular use.

There has been a few technological changes under the hood. Titleist has introduced Spin Milled grooves with 5% more volume than the previous generation.

This helps to especially in wet or rough conditions, where wedges traditionally lose grip on the ball.

Arguably the biggest alteration of this wedge from its predecessors is the movement of the centre of gravity.

Titleist believes that the ideal strike on a wedge sees the ball make contact around the third or fourth groove, which is a bit lower on the face than many golfers expect.

In line with this belief, Titleist has moved the CG higher in the face. This helps to produce a lower and more penetrating ball flight and increased amounts of spin.

NCG Verdict

The SM11 is a classic Vokey wedge. It’s subtle and simply focuses on refining what already works. Why would’ that be the case when you already produce the best wedge out there.

The cleaner looks, combined with the new bits of tech, produce a wedge that performs brilliantly across the entire short game.

It might not be revolutionary, but when you’re already at the top of the category, evolution is exactly what you want. Another Vokey masterpiece.

The Details

RRP: £179.00 / $199

More information: Titleist UK / Titleist US

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