Top Five Best Wedges for 2021
What is the best golf wedges for you and your game? What features should be addressed? What do the best manufacturers in the business have to offer and what can you expect to witness in 2021? These are all relevant questions if you ever want to improve your game and guesswork has little to do with success. Let us break this somewhat broad subject down into a series of easily digestible sections so that we can address the topic with a bit more clarity.
Callaway JAWS MD5 Wedge
Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge
OUR Choice
Ping Glide 3.0 Wedge
Titleist Vokey SM8 Tour Wedge
TaylorMade MG2 TW Â Wedge
Choosing the top five best wedges for 2021 to use
There are some major considerations that should be taken into account before purchasing one of the top five best wedges for 2021.
Wedges 101: The Four Different Types
There are four wedge varieties to choose from:
- Pitching wedges
- Gap Wedges
- Sand wedges
- Lob wedges
Pitching wedges are the most common and with loft angles of between 44 and 48 degrees, they are often used while on the green. Gap wedges have a higher loft angle and are intended to literally fill in the "gap" between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. Gap wedges can be employed when you do not require a full swing. As the name suggests, sand wedges are used for bunker and chip shots due to loft angles of between 54 and 58 degrees. Finally, lob wedges offer lofts higher than 60 degrees. Chips and flop shots can often be addressed with these variants, as height is their most important characteristic. Be sure to get to know each of these wedges in detail.
Addressing Wedge "Bounce"
The concept of "bounce" should also be mentioned. Wedge bounce is essentially the portion of the club that makes contact with the ground when you hit the ball. This bounce is measured in degrees. Wedges with higher bounces will offer leading edges that are higher above the surface. Bounce angles normally range between 2 and 16 degrees (although this may slightly vary between manufacturers). Bounce angles between 2 and 8 are often good to use within bunkers that contain firm sand. Softer surfaces can benefit from higher bounces (between 12 and 16). If you are not certain what bounce angle to choose, it is best to choose a 12, as this represents an intermediate angle.
Loft Angles
It is always important to cover loft angles, as these will directly affect the length, trajectory and accuracy of your shot. The majority of pros will normally carry between three and five wedges; depending upon their needs as well as the course. It is recommended that the gap between different wedge lofts is no more than four degrees from club to club (3). Keep this in mind in regards to your low-loft iron and the first wedge. This will help to prevent any inconsistencies when switching from model to model.
The Sole Grind
Most of the top manufacturers have been grinding the soles of their wedges to some degree. So, what is a sole grind? A sole grind represents the dimensions of the sole of your wedge; often around the toe or the heel. This grind will also impact how you make contact with the ball and its subsequent trajectory. For example, wedges with a heel grind will enable the club face to be located closer to the ground. This can allow you to open the face during your shot with greater ease. Still, it should be mentioned that sole grinds will modify the bounce of your wedge. Keep this in mind when looking where to buy the best golf wedges, as a bit of professional advice never hurts.
The Finish of the Club Head
It is always possible to choose different colours when deciding upon the appearance of your wedge. As illustrated in this YouTube video, such a decision will partially revolve around personal tastes and preferences. The majority of golfers opt for chrome or nickel-plated coatings, as these will stand up to the elements for a considerably long period of time. However, one lesser-known fact is that others might opt for no type of plating whatsoever (known as a "raw" finish). The theory behind this alternative is that the club head will begin to rust over time. In turn, this oxidation provides and extra level of friction when making contact with the ball. This also helps to improve spin and distance. However, beginners are recommended to choose a finish that is aesthetically pleasing while ensuring longevity (you don't want to have to replace one or more wedges ever few years).
Grooved Club Faces
The majority of modern golf clubs have incorporated grooves within their faces. This is not simply a marketing ploy. There is a real reason behind such technology. Grooves allow the wedge to "grip" the ball when it makes initial contact. In turn, a greater level of backspin is achieved. This provides superior backspin immediately after the launch. not only will backspin affect the loft of the ball, but it can also result in enhanced degrees of accuracy when the ball falls back to the green (it will not roll as far past the point of impact if played properly).
The Benefits of Trial and Error
The chances are high that you will not find the perfect golf wedge for your needs as a result of sheer luck. It is instead important to head to a reputable retail establishment, as you are provided with the option to test out many unique variants before making the final decision. Discovering the best golf wedges to use involves just as much intuition and "feel" as the suggestions mentioned above. So, be sure to speak with a trained professional and never be afraid to enquire about the price of an expert fitting.
What do the Top Golf Wedges for 2021 Have to Offer?
This years top golf wedges share a number of features in common. However, each brand is also outfitted with an impressive level of innovation alongside a decidedly user-friendly appeal. While it is still wise to test out each one in person, it is just as logical to take a look at the top brands in the game as well as some of the amenities that each is able to provide the end user. You will be amazed at how far technology has come in recent times.
1
Ping Glide 3.0 Wedge
Ping has been delivering quality clubs for the past 30 years, so it should not come as a surprise that their new Glide 3.0 design has made this list. Anyone who has been desperately searching for a well-rounded wedge will certainly be impressed. A low centre of gravity, a refined club head, a tapered hosel, and an elastomer insert designed to dampen vibrations are some of its key selling points. We also like the fact that the Glide 3.0 is one of the more cost-effective models currently on the market. Here are three distinct advantages which you can expect to enjoy:
PROS
The only possible drawback is:
CONS
Check out Prices below on
2
Titleist Vokey SM8 Tour Wedge
Titleist is easily one of the most popular golf club manufacturers and Bob Vokey is certainly known amongst professionals. This is why it makes perfect sense that these two legends teamed up in order to create the new SM8 tour wedge. The SM8 might initially appear to be similar to the SM7 series that enjoyed such popularity in 2020, but there are some major differences. The three most prominent include a modified CG, milled face grooves for extra spin and a massively refined sole. In fact, the centre of gravity has been placed towards the head of the club face to provide a much cleaner address upon impact. In terms of distance and stability, the SM8 is also not to be taken lightly. Here are some of the primary advantages:
PROS
In order to provide you with an objective perspective, here are some possible things to watch out for:
CONS
Check out Prices below on
3
Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge
All of the top 5 golf wedges for 2021 players share some characteristics in common. These are forgiveness, spin and control. The CBX2 offered by Cleveland is certainly no different. Offering a club with a hollow cavity and a CG located close to the toe, players can expect massive improvements in terms of their short game. Also, the CBX 2 boasts a maximised moment of inertia (MOI) and a more balanced perimeter weighting design. These are all very important elements if you have been looking to improve your performance while close to the hole; particularly when dealing with more challenging pars. The developers of the CBX 2 likewise claim that these new features result in no fewer than 25 per cent of all shots landing within the sweet spot of the club face. So, this wedge is a great option in terms of an overall balanced design. Here are some additional benefits which impressed our team:
PROS
To be fair, there are still a handful of possible pitfalls:
CONS
Check out Prices below on
4
Callaway JAWS MD5 Wedge
One glance at the Callaway JAWS MD5 hints at the amount of work that has gone into this wedge. Bold iconography, a refined club head and a variety of loft angles make this series one of the main workhorses within our list of the top 5 golf wedges for 2021. The MD5 is also unique in the fact that it offers an extremely soft feel upon address and yet, players can enjoy higher levels of ball spin. The new jaws (hence the name) have been aligned at a 37-degree angle in order to provide maximum grip; regardless of the type of lie that you may find yourself in. Players can likewise choose from a satin chrome or a polished grey finish. There are some of the main pros of the MD5:
PROS
Some possible drawbacks include:
CONS
Check out Prices below on
5
TaylorMade MG2 TW Grind Wedge
At least one of the top 5 wedges for 2021 should be associated with well-known names in the sport. It seems as if TaylorMade has this point covered. Tiger Woods himself is said to enjoy TaylorMade clubs, so we had to mention the new MG2 TW wedge that has just been introduced.
At first glance, this iteration might not appear that much different from previous models. There are still several features which have been dramatically enhanced. There are currently two variants to select: the MG2 TW sand wedge and the MG2 TW lob wedge. The main takeaway point is that both models are intended to address mid to high levels of bounce on the green. Additionally, the sole designs have been slightly modified in order to provide a higher degree of forgiveness. Here are three pros associated with the MG2 TW wedge:
PROS
Some drawbacks may include:
CONS
Check out Prices below on
Ping Glide 3.0 Wedge
It is clear that these wedges bring much to the table in terms of distance, accuracy, forgiveness, and loft angles. This is why determining the overall winner was rather difficult. However, we feel that the Ping Glide 3.0 is currently the best in its class. Not only does the Glide 3.0 offer a wide variety of loft angles and an incredible amount of forgiveness, but our team believes that the feel upon impact can make all of the difference in the world for players who are looking to analyse their swing. When we then remember that the Ping Glide 3.0 is affordably priced, it is also a great option if you happen to be governed by a limited budget.
Still, there is always a bit more than may initially meet the eye in terms of the best wedges that 2021 has to offer. This is why it could be wise to experiment with each of the models mentioned above so that you can determine which is the most appropriate. Of course, feel free to bookmark this page so that it can be used as a quick reference in the future.
Check out Prices below on
