Master Wedge Craftsman Bob Vokey frequently says "if it looks worn, it probably is"... But, let's take that to another level. The tricky thing about groove wear is that it doesn't happen overnight, it takes time, which can make it difficult to identify. "A sure sign that you are starting to lose spin is if you notice the ball launch higher than normal, carry shorter, and roll out further," says Corey Gerrard, Brand Director of Vokey Wedges.
What Causes Wedge Grooves to Wear Down?
Golfers encounter a variety of conditions with their wedges that lead to the groove edge wearing down over time. Every golfer should evaluate their wedges and grooves at ~75 rounds of play to get the best spin performance.
FREQUENT PLAY
- Regular practice and play creates normal wear and tear to the wedge that results in a gradual wearing down of the groove.
BUNKER SHOTS
- Bunker shots expose the face to millions of small pebbles and rocks, essentially sand blasting the face and grooves of the wedge.
ABNORMAL CONDITIONS
- Sandy lies, debris on the golf ball, rocks, and bag chatter can all lead to gradual groove wear.
RANGE GOLF BALLS
- Vokey Wedges are cast from soft 8620 carbon steel. Range balls and other hard covered balls will, over time, wear down the edge of the groove.
Not all wedges in your set will wear out at the same time. It's likely that you will wear through the wedge that has the most frequent play, or practice, particularly out of sand or abnormal conditions. On tour, players use the 4-3-2-1 as a general guide. That is, they will update 4 lob wedges, 3 sand wedges, 2 gap wedges and 1 pitching wedge per year. "This makes sense when you think about which club you play and practice with the most, let alone blasting one from the sand," says Gerrard.
MORE SPIN
- A new wedge can spin up to 2,000 RPM more than a wedge played for 125+ rounds.
LOWER LAUNCH
- A new wedge will launch lower than a wedge with 125 rounds of play.
MAXIMUM CONTROL
- A new wedge has less than half the roll out of a wedge played 125 rounds.
What are the Effects of Groove Wear on Performance?
We tested wedges played for 125 rounds, 75 rounds, and a new wedge with fresh grooves.
- 125 Rounds: 35° launch angle | 6500 RPM Spin | 24' of roll out.
- 75 Rounds: 34° launch angle | 7400 RPM Spin | 18' of roll out.
- Fresh Grooves: 33° launch angle | 8500 RPM Spin | 10' of roll out
ALL WEDGE GROOVES WEAR OUT OVER TIME
At Titleist, we make every effort to deliver the best performance and quality. This includes inspecting every groove on every Vokey wedge head, and taking the extra step to apply a localized face heat treatment that doubles the groove durability. However, because all wedge grooves wear out eventually, our Titleist Certified Fitters are also here to provide professional wedge evaluations, helping you maximize spin and stay on top of your game.
WEDGE EVALUATION: GET FIT TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL SWING
Custom fit wedges lead to lower scores. Meet with a Titleist Certified Fitter to see if a wedge replacement can help add spin to your short game.
To learn more about groove wear and Vokey Wedges, check out past Team Titleist Talks to hear directly from the experts behind Vokey Design Wedges.
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