 Vokey Spin Milled Wedge Review created: 08/09/06(updated 01/30/08) 111 of 118 people found this review helpful.
For those of you who put credence in a persons opinion based upon their golfing ability, my handicap is a 2. I am also a collector of golf clubs, especially the older Wilson forged blade models. I tend to be a traditionalist when it comes to club design, preferring the smaller compact blades to the robust designs of today. Setting a Wilson blade behind the ball, gives me a feeling of exactness and forces me to really focus on the shot at hand. But this is a review on Vokey wedges isn't it? Precisely! I compare today's Vokey wedges to the same style of wedge that Bob Mendralla designed for Wilson for the last 50+ years. Bob Vokey has really fine tuned the traditional design, giving the golfer a real sense of confidence when placing the wedge behind the ball. My own personal experience has been nothing short of amazing. I've changed nothing in my club set except for the wedges. I use a Vokey 248-06 Tour Chrome in place of my regular Pitching Wedge, a 252-08 Tour Chrome as a Gap Wedge, a Spin Milled Oil Can 256-10 for my Sand Wedge and a Spin Milled 260-04 for my Lob Wedge. What I have experienced is improved accuracy and distance control over my short game. When you think about it, what else is there when it comes to your short game? My scores have decreased as well, dropping from a 6 handicap at the beginning of the year to a 2 handicap now. I can't say I've really noticed a huge difference in increased backspin between the regular Tour Chrome and the Spin Milled wedges, but I think that has as much to do with the ball as it does the club. Both wedges seem to hold the green equally well for me. What I have noticed is a better feel for the short shots. Maybe some of that is mental, I don't know. But for several rounds now, I can't wait to get my hands on a Vokey wedge because I know I can 'get it close' and save strokes. Cleveland may advertise they are the #1 wedge on tour but from what I've seen this year on the Pro Tour, more of the tournament winners are playing Vokey wedges just like Geoff Olgilvie at the U.S. Open. The wedges sit well behind the ball, they have a very clean appearance, Titleist offers them in several lofts and bounces so there's no reason you shouldn't be able to find one that works for you. By the way, I prefer the lower bounce models because I get a better sense of control and workability, able to 'clip' the ball off hard pan, than with the higher bounce wedges. They've been on Golf Digest's Hot List for several years running.
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What’s the one shot most players would like to add to their game for lower scores?
If you answered a high soft shot within about 60 yards of the green I think you’d be right. Most mid to high handicap players want to know how to master the lob wedge.
From time to time you’ll be faced with shots that require high carries over bunkers or water hazards to tight pin positions. You could certainly hit those shots with an open faced sand wedge, but a lob wedge makes it much easier. Lob wedges are used most commonly when players need very high trajectories and a lot of spin.
A good lob wedge can make all the difference...
Lob wedges come in lofts ranging from about 58° to 61°, and some “super” lob wedges come in lofts from 62° to 65°. Because of its wide sole the lob wedge is sometimes used for high, soft sand shots.
The problem some of us run into is the low bounce angle on some lob wedges. With their high lofts, low bounce lob wedges can become like shovels and I see a lot of players taking huge divots with them.
In the hands of a skilled player a lob wedge adds versatility and a new dimension to the short game. If you’re looking to add a lob wedge to your set but don’t have much experience with one, follow these guidelines before making a purchase...
First, look for lob wedges with no more than 60° of loft. The higher the loft the harder it is to master.
Second, narrow your choices down to wedges with a bounce angle of at least 8°. Bounce angles of 10° to 13° are preferable. Why? Added bounce makes it easier to play without digging too deeply into the turf.
Another benefit? More bounce makes it useful as a sand wedge. A low bounce lob wedge can be a tricky play from the sand.
Develop your technique for more effective wedge shots...
What’s one of the biggest stumbling blocks to hitting the lob wedge? Confidence. It’s easy to tighten up and that limits your range of motion. The lob requires a soft touch; anxiety makes taking a good pass at the ball more difficult.
It is possible to master the high soft wedge shot. Use these keys to help groove the right swing:
Keep your weight evenly balanced between your feet. Don’t play the ball too far forward or too far backward in your stance.
Take a three quarter swing; don’t take the club past parallel.
Try to feel your hands leading the clubhead at impact.
Make sure you keep accelerating through the ball.
The lob wedge does work... in the right situations...
The lob wedge is the right club when you’re faced with shots that require high trajectories and very soft landings. For flying over hazards and bunkers a lob wedge is a necessity.
Unless you need that extra carry, think twice before using a lob wedge. Harvey Penick was an advocate of chipping the ball whenever possible. He felt using lower lofts to get the ball rolling as soon as possible was the best way to get closer to the hole.
You can easily prove this for yourself. Stand off the green about 40 feet from the hole. Try these two methods of tossing the ball and see which gets the ball closer to the cup. First, lob the ball to the hole with a high trajectory. Then roll the ball to the hole getting it on ground as soon as possible.
My guess is you’ll get it a lot closer by rolling it like a billiard ball. When you put a lob wedge in your bag, use it when you really need to.
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