Several factors may affect your performance while playing golf, but few are as relevant as your selection of golf clubs. You need gear that matches your skill level, playing style, conditions, etc., to get the results you want. Of course, your collection is incomplete without a wedge, which is why you should look at this list of the best Titleist wedges to select one for your collection.
Titleist is a renowned name in the golf world, and their products never fail to impress. However, you need to find the wedge that best suits your needs to make the most out of your purchase. Let’s look at the best wedges Titleist has to offer and a comprehensive guide about wedge selection.
Why You Need Wedges in Your Golf Bag
Experienced players know the reason, but if you are new to golf, never underestimate the utility of a wedge. Wedges are the perfect addition to your club collection because they are versatile in their abilities.
Wedges cannot achieve the same distance as drivers, but they can still help you cover a fair distance. Their design also makes them the ideal choice when you need to add elevation to get the ball out of the sand or a similarly tricky area.
The loft of a wedge determines the elevation and distance it can achieve; hence players often carry three or four types of wedges to ensure they are prepared for all circumstances.
Best Titleist Wedges
Titleist has a history of producing incredible golf clubs, and it has been a pleasure using them. However, we wanted to narrow down the options, so we have made a list of the 3 best Titleist wedges based on overall performance, forgiveness, and comfort of use.
1.Titleist SM8 Tour Chrome Wedge 50.08
The SM8 tour is one of the latest Titleist releases and has been perfected using innovative technological design and balance. There are several reasons why it has made it to our top 4:
- It is very forgiving, making it a great fit for people with handicaps.
- It is incredibly durable, meaning you won’t have to worry about deteriorating performance due to heat and similar factors.
- A versatile sole grind that fits various playing styles. This factor was especially critical because it helps when you initially try out different styles to see which one works for you.
- It maximizes spin and allows the player to have more control over the strike’s outcome.
Technically, our third option belongs to the same collection as the first, so there is extensive overlap in the features. However, the 50.08 is a favorite because it gives us a mix of distance and elevation to achieve some of the best possible results.
2.Titleist Vokey SM7 Tour Chrome Wedge 62
The Titleist Vokey SM7 is one of the best sand wedges you will have the pleasure of using. It is incredibly versatile and popular for precision and trajectory control. These two features come in handy because minor discrepancies can cause errors when getting the golf ball out of a sandy area. The last thing you want is to have your score get affected because your wedge couldn’t keep up.
The Vokey SM7 wedges also have an advanced design that optimizes the center of gravity for the loft, grind, and bounce. The optimization enhances control over distance and elevation while the overall design’s forgiveness balances possible handicaps.
3.Titleist Vokey SM8 Jet Black S Grind Sand Wedge
The Vokey SM8 Jet Black Sand Wedge belongs to the SM8 collection; hence, most of its features are similar to the 50.08 wedges. However, this product has its distinct charms as a sand wedge that are further enhanced through the innovative design characteristic of the SM8 series.
The S grind is specially made keeping versatility in mind, which works well when combined with the optimal weight and shaft length. We like to have more control over the loft when using a sand wedge, so this grind works perfectly for us.
Lastly, we cannot get over how gorgeous this sand wedge looks! The black color may not affect performance but gives it an elegant appearance, making it stand out even among some of the best clubs in the collection.
The three mentioned above are the best Titleist wedges available at the moment, in our opinion. The effort that has gone into their development makes us especially curious about the next series Titleist will launch.
How to Select the Right Wedge
You may know about the best Titleist wedges, but that is only half the journey. Although we aren’t the only ones who love these three products, each player has a unique experience with clubs based on their sense of balance, handling, style, and expertise.
Therefore, it is better to learn about the best way to select the right wedge. That way, you can independently decide which option works best for you.
1.Loft
The loft is the angle between the club’s face and the shaft. The higher the angle, the more elevation you can put into your shot. The elevation is the height of the golf ball’s flight, and the higher the height is, the lower the distance it covers.
There is no right and wrong when it comes to loft on a general level because all angle ranges are useful for one purpose or the other. Therefore, you will need to keep several wedges of different lofts as a professional player to cover all your situations.
2.Type of Wedges
As mentioned above, wedges are the most versatile golf club because of their unique and multipurpose attributes. They can be divided into four types depending on their loft ranges.
Pitching wedge (44°- 49°)
Pitching wedges are best when you need a little elevation to your shot but want to maximize the distance it will cover before coming to a stop. Pitching wedges set the base for understanding how a wedge needs to be used, so practicing with them is the first step to mastering this club type.
When using a pitching club, you can expect to achieve a distance within the 110-140 range, with the lower lofts achieving the greater distances.
Gap Wedge (50°- 54°)
A gap wedge has a higher elevation than the pitching wedge but achieves a lower distance. These wedges are ideal when lifting the ball just enough to send it flying through an opening. Such shots are critical and can differentiate between a par and a birdie if you play correctly.
Sand Wedge (54°- 58°)
Sand wedges are our favorite because they come in handy at the most crucial part of the game when the ball is stuck in sand or tall grass. In such moments, the ideal solution is to get the ball out of the bunker and onto the fairway, which makes sad wedges perfect for the job.
A sand wedge goes under the ball and lifts it out of the sand, its elevation and distance ensuring the ball will reach a safe distance that sends it outside the bunker or, at least, close enough to the edge to make it work next time.
Lob Wedge (59°- 65°)
A lob wedge is a special wedge that is needed for special shots that only a wedge with its elevation and distance can achieve. These wedges are used to lift the ball high to send them beyond obstacles without putting in the distance that would send them hopping too far away.
The point is to get through a tough spot without risking the ball rolling off onto rough patches or beyond.
3.Bounce
Bounce refers to the club’s area that comes in contact with the ground. It typically includes the angle between the ground and the club’s head, the sole width, camber edge, rocker, and leading-edge. There are three types of bounces available for wedges:
Higher Bounce
A wedge has a higher bounce when it has a bounce of ten degrees or more. Higher bounces are better on softer ground, like sand, because the leading edge sits high enough for you to get the required control over the ball’s movement.
Mid Bounce
Mid bounce is flexible and can adjust easily to various settings. It may not achieve the results a meticulously designed club with a high or low bounce will achieve, but it is a good choice if you only have space for one additional club.
Lower Bounce
Lower bounce wedges are perfect for firm grounds where the players need to sweep the ball rather than softly lift it out and send it rolling onto firmer ground. They are also useful in bunkers with rough or little sand because they aren’t as soft as usual.
4.Sole Grind
Most manufacturers pay special attention to the sole grind for a good reason. Sole grinds are the club’s heel that touches or rubs against the ground when you swing it for a shot. The feel, friction, smoothness of this interaction affects the hit, making them a critical consideration.
Hence, several club manufacturers, including Titleist, are paying attention to sole grinds when designing wedges, offering different options best suited for specific types of terrains.
Just remember that the sole grind comes into contact with the ground so that it may affect the bounce of your chosen wedge. Factor in this detail when evaluating different options and consult an expert if necessary.
5.Shaft
Shaft lengths affect the overall balance depending on their length and weight. Steel is the common and most popular material for making shafts; however, a few manufacturers have experimented with adding titanium to the mix to improve the balance and feel of the wedge.
In general, longer shafts are better suited to taller people, while shorter shafts are better for people with short heights. Using an unsuitable length will throw your off balance, so always get your wedge customized to suit your physical attributes.
6.Grooves
Grooves are tiny abrasions on the clubhead that gives it the friction needed to attach to the ball just enough to transfer the power from the hit into it optimally. Grooves add spin to the ball, giving it an advantage against elements as it flies through.
The current rules restrict how many grooves you can add to a wedge and their kind to prevent players from getting an unfair advantage (backspin). However, even their permissible design is helpful for amateurs and professionals alike.
7.Face Material
Face material refers to the material used to make the face of the club’s head. The first two of the three best Titleist wedges are chrome plated, one of the most common ways of designing a face. However, some manufacturers have also used nickel, copper, etc., for plating the face to achieve the desired optimization in performance.
The material affects how your hits land and the trajectory, so try out several materials to find one that suits you most.
8.Skill-Level
Lastly, have a realistic estimate of your skill level before selecting a wedge. Some wedges are designed to offer more forgiveness and are better suited to people with high or medium handicaps. Similarly, professionals prefer clubs with less forgiveness because the features may hinder their technique.
Therefore, it is always better to know how skillful you are before choosing a wedge. This way, you can ensure you get the best fit for your gear.
Our Final Thoughts
Overall, the best Titleist wedges all have unique attributes that have put them on our top three list, but the SM8 Jet Black sand wedge is our favorite because of the elegant finish.
Do check out the recommended wedges, but also look at our guide to choosing a wedge that suits your skill level and playing style. The better suited it is for you, the more quickly your technique will improve.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and welcome you to read others if you want more information about choosing golf clubs.
