What's the difference?

[mikeyp74]

In laymans terms - what's the difference between the different finishes on the Titleist Wedges?

A friend had given me a 60 Titleist Vokey - Oil Can?

It looks like a rust-bucket!

Very new and un-educated to this so be gentle!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Basically the rust is thought to deliver extra spin as the ball grips to the rusty face fractionally longer therefore imparting more spin.

 

[OldWindy]

Yeah, the oil can finish is weird but with a bit of care it does work. I think the other finishes are more cosmetic, though, save for glints from the sun.

 

[mikeyp74]

Lol, thanks HJS, thought he was just giving me a piece of rubbish he no longer wanted!

I used it on Sunday, really good if played with conviction from greenside - not so good otherwise!

Cheers

 

[HomerJSimpson]

That basically sums up the problem with a LW. It needs 100% committment on every shot and a fair bit of skill to master it properly. For me I was losing more shots than it was saving so I took it out of my bag. I not have 3 woods (driver, 3 and 5) a 3 hybrid, 4-PW and then a 52 and 56 wedge.

I guess if I was desperate to use a LW again I could ditch either the 4 iron or 5 wood/hybrid but I'll have to work on my short game before that happens

 

[USER1999]

Rust won't enhance spin. It just acts as an anti glare finish. Rusty finished are often popular with wedges, most manufacturers do a version. The satin chrome is satin for the same reason. It is just personal preference.

Back to the rust issue, If the face is rusty, it would wear off the first time you hit the ball, and so it would only work for one shot. It is also a loose, powdery substance, which if anything would act as a lubricant (much like talcum powder), and prevent the club from gripping the ball. To grip the ball you need a stable surface, not a rusty one. It would also clog up the roughness on the face of the club, again, lessening the grip of the face on the ball. Urban myth.

I know the sand in a bunker aids spin, but sand is a much more aggressive substance than rust, and it bited into both the ball, and the club face.

 

[Herbie]

If you want this effect just rub your silver wedge with sand paper and leave it in a bucket of water for a week lol.

 

[OldWindy]

Rust won't enhance spin. It just acts as an anti glare finish. Rusty finished are often popular with wedges, most manufacturers do a version. The satin chrome is satin for the same reason. It is just personal preference.

Back to the rust issue, If the face is rusty, it would wear off the first time you hit the ball, and so it would only work for one shot. It is also a loose, powdery substance, which if anything would act as a lubricant (much like talcum powder), and prevent the club from gripping the ball. To grip the ball you need a stable surface, not a rusty one. It would also clog up the roughness on the face of the club, again, lessening the grip of the face on the ball. Urban myth.

While it's true the rust will wear off, I have noticed the metal is very slightly pitted after cleaning with fine wire wool (as per Titleist's recommendations) and 3-in-1. Either way, the face seems less prone to rust than the rest of the club head. Whether or not I get more spin as a result I can't say as I don't consider my game to be worthy of a benchmark but I do believe the face is that little bit rougher.