Japanese wedges

[drawboy]

I have a real hankering for a pair of butter soft Japanese wedges in 52 & 58 deg. I currently use vokeys. Does anyone have any and if so what do you think of yours in relation to the harder cast Vokeys?

 

[Lump]

I wouldn't pay over the odds for a pair Wayne, any forged wedge will be better than a cast.

 

[GreiginFife]

Maybe not in the same vein that you mean but I use 52 and 56 Mizuno forgings (MP-T4) and they are fantastic. I have tried Vokeys but found them too heavy. I also had cast Cleveland CG wedges, which were lighter and I really liked them.
There is nothing of note between the CG16 and the MP-T4 other than one is cast and one is forged, same weight (approx) and the same loft/bounce.
The Vokey's just weren't for me due to the weight. I do have to admit I think they look good though.

 

[One Planer]

Haven't hit Vokeys for a while but my Mizuno wedges will take some beating.

Mainstream yes. Cheaper than Miura, Vega and Hakusa? Very much so. Any worse? IMO no.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Got some Crews & Sonartec ones, from what I remember of Vokeys if you hit them out of the middle you'll struggle to tell the difference.

 

[Jaymosafehands]

I've got the Lindeberg Edt. Vega wedges. They are like butter. Best comparison I can give is I've just got hold of a pair of Callaway forged wedges and they feel very different. So much so I think I'll be getting rid of them and them and getting a new 56 degree Vega - mine has wore out on the grooves - and that's the downside, they do wear quickly.

On the whole they're a lot of cash but feel great.

 

[splashtryagain]

Have used for varying time - cleveland, ping tour w/s, mizuno mpt, vokey, miura (5 month loan on 2 wedges) and vega. They were all good, so good I now use bridgestone j40s - easily my favourite. BiM has a point though, anything out of the middle will feel indistinguishable from any other - we just aren't good enough to tell!

 

[Foxholer]

I wouldn't pay over the odds for a pair Wayne, any forged wedge will be better than a cast.

Depends what feel you like.

I happen to like the feel that I get from thin-ish (specially thin-soled) Cast wedges. Most Vokeys feel too soft for me, same as Miuras did. I've had over a dozen Miura wedges over the years and none of them sparkled, for me, in spite of trying loads of different grinds.

Vegas have more of the feel I prefer. Chikara, Hakusa, Yururi - from the same basic forging house (Cooper's in Edinburgh use Kyoie blanks too) - have a similar feel. A George Spirits never quite worked for me, but was very nice to look at!

There's a load of tosh spouted about forged vs cast irons, but more-so with wedges imo. The (only) advantage forged wedges have (to me) is the ease with which the sole can be ground.

And it's the Indian, not the Arrow! More expensive doesn't automatically mean better! If you want to flash, try these (#5) http://www.therichest.com/luxury/most-expensive/the-most-expensive-golf-clubs-in-the-world I've watched a guy playing, not very well, with a set of those. And he had/has 3 other sets - so he didn't have to carry them on planes - too!

 

[Ethan]

I agree with the forged vs cast fallacy. I have used forged and cast wedges including boutique makers and for me, can't tell the difference.

There are some non-Japanese makers these days too. OK, they are not trained Samurai, but the wedges still work.

Scratch, for example, is a good brand with a wide range of options.
http://www.scratchgolf.com

If you are desperate for forged, you could get some Japanese forged Vokeys
http://www.tourspecgolf.com/product_info.php?products_id=3458

Scor is a good American make which I currently use
http://www.tourspecgolf.com/product_info.php?products_id=3458

James Patrick is a custom maker who is now going to work with Titleist
http://www.jamespatrickgolf.com/home.html

 

[drawboy]

More expensive doesn't automatically mean better! If you want to flash, try these

Hang on! I do not remember saying anywhere that I wanted to Flash or show off, price has nothing to do with it either.

 

[harpo_72]

I feel a bit silly I did not know vokeys were cast, I knew the cleveland I have is cast. I used to have mizuno ones but drifted away from them because of shape and feel etc ... I dunno about the vega and muira stuff, maybe when my disposable cash is silly high

 

[Foxholer]

Hang on! I do not remember saying anywhere that I wanted to Flash or show off, price has nothing to do with it either.

As long as that's the case - or at least you believe it - that's fine!

Vokeys are as 'soft' as any forged wedge imo. They use a soft material. And as Ethan posted, you could always try the forged version.

Why not simply try the Mizunos? Japanese, forged and not apparently pretty good!

@Ethan. Scratch are good wedges too - had a couple of them too! American company and Design; Japan forged; Scratch finished (Ground etc).

 

[One Planer]

Something I'll admit has turned my head recently is Vokey.

The driving range I use has a fantastic selection of new gear in, the SM4's, as you can imagine are starting to see reductons with the introduction of the SM5 line. I had a swish with a Vokey in the shop and the head weight, didn't seem that much of an issue. Liked the look of it at address too.

To say I'm tempted would be putting it mildly.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

OP - Kind of been in a similar situation recently and invested a little time in seeing what's around. If you want excellent Japanese quality you could do a lot worse than Mizuno and they'll be simpler to find and try than some of the more boutique stuff. Best of luck if you have some Miura's close by though

I went Cleveland in the end as they offered a great forged feel and good value. They just suited my swing/style more than anything and provided the feel i was after so hence the deciding vote.

My Vokeys will gather dust for a while now but that's not to say they arn't great clubs - they are. As wisely mentioned before by others, SM5's come out next month so may be worth waiting to pitch them against your current set.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I have recently bought two wedges from Iain Clark of Icy Golf who, until recently, was Cleveland's man on Tour. Described by someone off another Tour van as "the first guy on the Tour to really know about grinding wedges to suit ".

Since I bought them the weather has meant that I have not had too many opportunities to try them out but when I have I was delighted with the results. Japanese forged heads and British craftsmanship, what's not to like.

www.icygolf.com

 

[standrew]

I dont understand whats so good about a soft feel. Is it just for enjoyment or for feedback? Once you hit the shot its too late for adjustments anyway.

I like a dead feel, with anti vibration tape, and shaft insert.

 

[need_my_wedge]

Well, I use both. I have a Japanese Honma 53 gap wedge, and a Vokey 56 sand wedge. I get on fine with both. I only use the Vokey in the sand, can't hit it for toffee off a grass lie, since there's mostly sand between it and the ball I don't notice the feel of the face so much, but it is heavier I think. I use the gap anywhere from 60yds and in, and it spins and stops quite well if I hit the ball properly, and feels nice to use. Having said that, been using it for a couple of seasons now, and been thinking about replacing it with something else. Tough choice and difficult to know what though. I'm thinking between three - Cleveland Tour Action 588, Ping Gorge or Wilson Staff FG Tour.

I know it's a slight digression on the original post, but I'm a little confused with the groove options available on the Clevelands. Seems there's still a few with the zip grooves available - still legal for another 10 years, and am not sure whether the Diadic or Zip grooves, or other is the best option?

 

[Foxholer]

I know it's a slight digression on the original post, but I'm a little confused with the groove options available on the Clevelands. Seems there's still a few with the zip grooves available - still legal for another 10 years, and am not sure whether the Diadic or Zip grooves, or other is the best option?

Since 2010, Grooves on all wedges manufactured have had to confirm to the 'Tour' specifications. Older wedges, that conformed to the regs at the time, can be used below 'Elite Amateur' level until 2024.

I don't believe Diadic is anything to do with grooves - it certainly wasn't when it first appeared on Cleveland 588s. I think it either means 'dual purpose' or 'between the two' - I believe it was the original Gap Wedge. Never bothered to hunt down which one - just more Marketing guff to me!

And grooves have virtually no effect on spin in themselves. They merely provide a means of getting other stuff (like water and grass) away from the surface of the club, so that that interaction can produce the spin. So old grooves and new grooves should produce the same spin from the fairway, but not the same where there's going to be grass between the ball and club-face.

 

[Alex1975]

Totally get where you are coming from with this(OP), I look at them all the time because of a website I am subscribed to on FB. There are loads I would love to try but might I suggest a little play with some of the better Orka wedges, they are super duper soft. I saw fundy use one out of a rough lie and the wedge ripped like a piece of cheese... so soft, literally...( I understand it was fixed or replaced) but am aware they use a really good grade steel.


Love the look of the Miura K Grind wedges... even if its a gimmick it looks cool!

http://www.pureforged.co.uk/wedges-13-c.asp

 

[need_my_wedge]

I have recently bought two wedges from Iain Clark of Icy Golf who, until recently, was Cleveland's man on Tour. Described by someone off another Tour van as "the first guy on the Tour to really know about grinding wedges to suit ".

Since I bought them the weather has meant that I have not had too many opportunities to try them out but when I have I was delighted with the results. Japanese forged heads and British craftsmanship, what's not to like.

www.icygolf.com

I've just had a phone chat with Iain Clarke up at Icygolf, he was very helpful, and knowledgeable. Since I was looking at Cleveland, and he was one of their tour guys for 15 years, am off to meet him on Saturday.