From the Tour Launch at January’s Sentry to Tournament of Champions, to wins up the California Coast… it’s safe to say that new SM9 Vokey Design Wedges are making serious waves on the PGA Tour.
Master Craftsman Bob Vokey and Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill, working alongside Vokey’s team of engineers, have spent the last two years designing prototypes and testing them with the world’s best players, pushing forward in their relentless mission to craft better performing and better feeling wedges. The result? The newest generation of Vokey Design Wedges.
Both AD and Bob have been out on Tour over the past month, working with players to test out the new models and ultimately dial them in to complete their setups. The initial impressions from the world’s best? Well, you’ll have to keep reading to see.
Spoiler alert… In the 4 weeks that SM9’s have been available on worldwide professional tours, three players have won with the new models in the bag - including Cameron Smith (Sentry TOC) and Thomas Pieters (Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship). In addition, not only was SM9 was the most played wedge in its first week on Tour at the Sentry TOC, but the most played wedge at The American Express and last week's Farmer's Insurance Open.
And don’t forget – It’s almost your turn to get your hands on the new models, Team Titleist - fittings and pre-orders start 2/17!
Cameron Smith Cards First TOUR Victory for New SM9 Models
The first player to win in 2022… and the first player to win with the all-new SM9 wedges.
Smith didn’t get his hands on his new SM9’s until Monday morning of Sentry TOC, when he found them sitting in his locker - a delivery from Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill. Smith carried both his SM8’s and SM9’s during the practice rounds, but stepped to the tee Thursday morning with four new SM9’s in the bag – 46.10F, 52.08F, 56.08M and 60.10S.
“I turned up and found some nice fresh wedges in the locker - put them in the bag straight away.”
Hear what else Cam had to say about the new models after his win at Kapalua:
Straight into Justin Thomas’ Bag
Like Smith, several players also followed suit at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, adding new SM9 wedges to the bag.
Justin Thomas, who finished in tie for 5th at the first event of the year, has kept the wedges in the bag ever since.
“When I was testing SM9, it was nice to see the low controlled flight,” said Thomas. “For me, for someone who likes to flight my wedges and control my spin a lot, I need to be able to see that ball hit the windows. And I’m looking both low and high, but especially low.”
Jordan Spieth – “Yeah, these are better.”
Not a doubt in his mind, Jordan Spieth crossed the Pacific with new SM9 models in hand - leaving his trusted SM8 wedges at home.
“I took them to the range with a launch machine to check out spin rate and stuff on more of the full shots,” said Spieth. “I had the SM8’s and the SM9’s in for maybe two or three days before I was comfortable just saying, ‘Yeah, these are better.’
Total Trust from Max Homa
“I put [the SM9’s] right in just because honestly I trust Voke and I trust (Aaron) Dill a lot. But I got here and could tell right away it was just something that was going to be a little bit easier to flight in the breeze, which is always good.”
Homa, who games a four-wedge setup (46.10F, 50.12F, 56.14F, 60.04L) also made the immediate switch at the Sentry TOC.
New PGA Tour Season for Davis Riley, New SM9 Wedges
Riley, one of six Titleist Brand Ambassadors that are playing their Rookie season on the PGA Tour, added the new SM9 Wedges to the bag immediately after being introduced to the new models at The American Express.
He gave us an in-depth look at the four grinds and lofts that he plays:
The short answer? New SM9 Wedges are a player favorite on the PGA Tour. Keep following our social channels for all the in-the-moment updates on all things Titleist equipment.