If there is one name in this sport which invokes immediate recognition among golfers regardless of skill level, then Vokey might just be it. For decades, Titleist and Bob Vokey have taken the importance as well as performance of wedges to new levels by way of blending science with art.
Given the importance of the short game when it comes to scores, the Vokey evolution has never stopped. Each iteration sets out to not only be the best yet, but to find solutions to making things more enjoyable for golfers through not just precision, shaping, or grinds, but also a commitment to fitting and individualized performance which is not rivaled in the wedge segment.
In order to experience all that Vokey brings to the table, we here at The Hackers Paradise joined forces with Titleist to take things one step further. Rather than simply sending out wedges to our community members for traditional testing and feedback, six THP’ers were selected to be part of the Vokey Experience. The group was welcomed to the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) where they spent an entire day being educated, and fit by the best in the business to a full set of SM10 wedges, just for them.
From the grind selection process to being able to see firsthand how small incremental tweaks in things like bounce and loft would translate to their personal game, this opportunity was unlike any other. Not only did each participant come away with a dialed set of wedges, but they also took on testing them and providing our community with detailed feedback. As always, the full testing thread is well worth the read, but we also wanted to provide a platform to share their stories directly with each of you.
The T grind has become such a weapon – the grind itself has allowed me to add more creativity to my short game
ChrisATL – THP Community Member from Georgia
Long have I wanted to understand how loft, bounce, and grind combinations in wedges fit my game – from setup, path, and delivery of the club to the ball, the Vokey SM10 wedge has truly transformed my short game.
Long have I wanted to understand how loft, bounce, and grind combinations in wedges fit my game – from setup, path, and delivery of the club to the ball, the Vokey SM10 wedge has truly transformed my short game.
Starting with pitching & gap wedges, the SM10 has unlocked a bit more versatility in longer pitch & chip shots – the F grind has given me confidence in those full wedge shots to shape / direct shots in ways I’ve never been able to control. With the S grind in my sand wedge, I’ve found a club that has become a true workhorse around the green – being able to get up and down from a variety of lies & conditions with ease. Finally, the T grind has become such a weapon – the grind itself has allowed me to add more creativity to my short game, from shots where I need a bit of loft to carry a hazard, to short & spinny shots that need to check and stop, this club does it all.
The SM10 wedge line offers an incredible options for any player out there – with its tour-inspired shaping & styling, to numerous grinds that cater to every golfer / condition / delivery combination out there, this is the best wedge I’ve gamed, hands down. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Titleist offers multiple finish options (I’m partial to raw – love the patina), custom stamping options (hello John, Paul, George, & Ringo), and numerous ways to make your wedges your own.
con93 – THP Community Member from Georgia
The SM10 series continues Titleist’s legacy of producing tour-proven wedges and after visiting TPI I can understand why! These wedges do what they’re supposed to do, they provide confidence, feel great/provide great feedback and they just look dang good.
My SM10’s includes 50-12F, 54-14F, and 58-06K. The 50-12F has always been a staple gap wedge for me. I love using the F grind for full, square-face shots. The straighter leading edge and compact head shape give confidence at address, especially for players who prefer a more iron-like look in their gap wedge.
The 54-14F Sand Wedge is a great follow-up from the 50-12F regarding gapping. The 14-degree high bounce option is great for someone like me with a steep angle of attack. It helps provide consistent contact whether I’m 50 yards out or greenside. I feel extremely confident with this wedge and even like to open the face from time to time. It really allowed me to gain more confidence in my short game.
The 58-06K Lob Wedge is typically only used to get out of the sand for me, or if I’m 25-50 yards out and I need some launch and stopping power on the green. The K grind is a wide sole that provides a lot of confidence behind the ball whether you’re in the sand, long stuff, or fairway. The wider sole resists digging, which makes it a favorite for me in regard to finesses shots or out of the bunker. It’s very easy to open up and still feel good about the following shot.
Chile – THP Community Member from California
As a higher handicap player, forgiveness wasn’t something I associated with any wedge, let alone Vokey’s, even having tried prior iterations. Being honest, they just always felt like I had to be dialed in to the best of my ability in order to to get the desired outcome.
But once I got fitted at TPI for the Vokey Experience, it opened up a new level of confidence in my wedge play overall.
Not only do they look spectacular, they were also a little daunting to me coming from the CBX line of wedges I was playing before. However, after getting my fitter (Lucas Bro) to watch me, and give a few pointers, I was hitting wedge shots like I never thought possible for my game.
From partial, greenside shots to full swings with the 51*, I was/am getting the performance I thought could only come from an “easier” wedge. The nickel finish has held up nicely to some harsh course conditions. Also, I have had no issues with groove wear (maybe because I swing like a toddler).
The whole experience converted me to a Titleist believer for the whole bag.
fdheadwear – THP Community Member from Massachusetts
I’ve been a Vokey wedge user for a long time, but I’d never actually been fit for any of the grinds I’d chosen in the past. That all changed after a proper fitting session at TPI.
My fitter Travis fit me into a 50.12 F, 54.12 D, and 58.10 S. He gave me slightly more bounce in the 50° and swapped the grinds between my 54° and 58° from my previous setup. The biggest change, though, came from the shaft. I went from the KBS $-Taper S Flex to the True Temper DG Tour Issue S400, which feels noticeably heavier. Surprisingly, I love that change—the extra weight makes me feel like I don’t have to swing as hard and can let the club do the work.
For the finish, I went with Raw, which I’d never used before. I absolutely love the look of the raw head paired with the black shafts—it’s such a clean, confident setup.
During the fitting, Travis also picked up on a small but important flaw in my technique. I was releasing the clubface and turning it over through impact instead of rotating my body and keeping the face more “pointed up” through the strike. Once he showed me the difference, it was a total AHA moment. He could even tell what I was doing wrong just by looking at the wear pattern on my 58° sole—I wasn’t using the bounce properly. Once he demonstrated how to engage it correctly, it completely changed how I approached my short game.
After receiving my new wedges from Titleist, I spent a lot of time in the short game area and on the course dialing in that technique and letting the grinds do their thing. The results were incredible, and my short game has been the most consistent and confident it’s been in years. Knowing I now have the right tools and the right motion has made such a difference. Overall, the combination of the proper fitting, equipment, and technique has been a game-changer.
I have increased confidence in my short game knowing these wedges fit my delivery
Bernoulli – THP Community Member from New York
My wedge fitting session at TPI was truly eye opening for me. I’ve never had a wedge fitting and chose wedges based on what I assumed would be best for me. I played higher bounce wedges because I thought I was a steep swinger and play in somewhat softer conditions in the Northeast, even the wedge selector tool from Titleist put me in higher bounce options.
So, imagine my surprise when I did the SM10 wedge fitting at TPI and I ended up in low bounce options in a 56 and 60 degree wedge. In fact, during the fitting, my surprise at what I was seeing was obvious to my fitter and to a couple of the people I was being fitted with.
I ended up being fit in a 50.12 F, a 56.08 M and a 60.04 T. I learned so much during the fitting as to my delivery and as to why lower bounce options were better.
In the several months I have had the Vokey’s in the bag, my short game has markedly improved. I have chipped in twice for birdie and have had countless shots with these wedges end up with very reasonable, makable putts. A good number of those have been tap ins. I have increased confidence in my short game knowing these wedges fit my delivery and understanding how to utilize the spin generated. I have gone from someone who hoped to get the ball close with my wedges to someone who is thinking about holing out when facing a shot with these wedges. As someone who doesn’t hit nearly enough greens, my short game is critical to my ability to score.
My initial skepticism regarding the low bounce has been clearly eliminated by the performance I have been seeing with these wedges. Truly eye opening. I have often found myself thanking Mr. Vokey or saying Mr. Vokey would be proud when I hit a great shot.
I couldn’t be more thankful to THP and Vokey for providing us the experience.
Surfinguru – THP Community Member from California
As far as the fitting process goes, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to not only get fitted but to ultimately get fitted on grass. I won’t rehash the process as that’s been done and can be re-read for the fine print. I will say though that what I got fitted into and what I thought I was going to land on were quite different.
The set I ended up in was: 52-08F, 56-14F and 60-10S in Jet Black. The finish is holding up remarkably well with a bit of strike pattern wear just starting to show on the 60.
The 60 continues to be my workhorse of the three. Prior to the Vokey SM10 wedge, I wasn’t really all that creative with my wedge shots. I kept everything square and just moved the ball back or forwards depending on what I was after. Now? I’ve gained the confidence to try anything.
The 56 is just money for me between 65-90 yds. I really trust the turf interaction out of the rough as it doesn’t tend to get stuck or grabby on me. The higher bounce really helps here in my opinion. It’s been a very accurate club for me and I’ve started using in more places where I’d been reliant on the 60.
Closing out the group is the 52. A little lower bounce to help with the tighter fairway lies has been a big help for me. Just for some clarity, I had some overlap in the bag here with the set Approach wedge (50 vs 52 Vokey) The 50 is a much larger body and sole comparatively, so I wasn’t sure how it was going to work out. When I first got the Vokey’s, I was still leaning on the set A wedge for the balls ending up in the rough along with shots there were longer than say 102yds. Over time I’ve leaned on the 52 more and more and have now taken the A wedge out of the bag. I’ve learned to get few extra yards out of the 52 and I haven’t really given up anything when getting out of the deeper rough.
jdtox – THP Community Member from Michigan
Prior to attending this THP event at TPI I had never been fit for any kind of wedge, nor have I ever played a Vokey wedge. Not only did we go through a thorough blind fitting from expert Titleist fitters, but we were given some tips and education on the wedge game, along with the exact wedges we were fit into and some custom stamping for fun.
I was fit into 48.10F, 54.14F and 60.12D, all higher bounce options and certainly nothing I would have chosen for myself without the professional fitting. Further proof to me that a proper fitting is very important if you are looking to improve your game.
This entire experience was very eye opening and the on course results speak for themselves. Not only do I have increased confidence knowing that the wedges were fit for me, I’m seeing better turf interaction, increased control, and more spin with these wedges which allows me to go pin hunting a lot more that I was able to before.
Canadan – THP Community Member from Ohio
My wedge contact quality is as high as it has been in years. The SM10 wedge frames the ball perfectly and the grinds that were selected in my fitting are giving me every opportunity greenside to perform rather than survive. There is such a different mental space going from “let’s save par” to “let’s see if we can hole this” and it’s wild how much a grind can support that.
Have you tried a Vokey SM10 wedge? Our testers certainly love them, if you want to read more detailed thoughts visit our forum thread, where not only our testers but those have been playing them share their thoughts as well.
For more info on the Vokey SM10 wedge lineup or for specific bounce and grind options visit titleist.com.
