What it does: The raw face and 37-degree wall angle on the grooves enhance the sharpness for increased grab, particularly on shots from 80 metres and in where players want a shot that stops after one hop. The new groove design gets help from micro-milled grooves between the grooves. These are milled at a 20-degree angle, helping spin on even shorter shots, specifically chips and pitches. The result is the most aggressive grooves in company history.

Why we like it: Callaway uses tungsten for the first time in a wedge (sand and lob wedges only) to position the centre of gravity in line with the middle of the face for maximum control and feel. The new Z grind – a more forgiving, low-bounce option – is an excellent addition to an already impressive line-up.

SPECS 17 options (48-60 degrees); 4 sole grinds; 2 finishes

What it does: A thoughtful mixture of technology good enough for tour players yet designed to mask the flaws of those less skilled. A low-density material inside the lower hosel, neck and sole areas moves the centre of gravity in line with the sweet spot and increases forgiveness by 26 percent vertically and 10 percent horizontally. That helps shots come off more consistently.

Why we like it: The sole design smartly changes through the lofts, which takes the agonising task of knowing what grind to use out of the equation. The C-shaped sole on the highest lofts boasts the most heel-and-toe relief for maximum versatility. The revamped Full Face model features a larger face and is designed for the player looking for even more forgiveness.

SPECS 15 options (44-60 degrees); 3 sole grinds; 1 finish

What it does: Cleveland’s innovative ZipCore technology involves removing weight from the lower heel area and using it elsewhere. In this latest update, 21 grams are redistributed to increase the moment of inertia (forgiveness) to mitigate the loss of distance on mis-hits, particularly on shots struck high on the face.

Why we like it: Although ZipCore is a true game changer, it would be criminal to overlook the new face finish that uses blast media and laser patterns. It is applied differently for low lofts (46 and 48 degrees), middle lofts (50 and 52) and high lofts (54 to 60). The idea behind the varying applications is to produce consistent spin between the wet and dry conditions – something all you dewsweepers out there can benefit from.

SPECS 15 options (46-60, 64 degrees); 3 sole grinds; 1 finish

What it does: There are plenty of subtle features that better players will appreciate. As usual with Mizuno, it starts with the grain-flow forging process that has been refined over the past 50 years at its facility in Hiroshima, Japan, to deliver a soft feel. The upper portion of the clubhead is flared to produce the high spin and penetrating flight that provide control on shots into the green.

Why we like it: The T22 is one of the few forged models in this category. Mizuno takes pride in offering a variety of options in wedges just like it does with irons. Those include four finishes and four sole grinds in which the heel and toe relief increases as the lofts increase. Also, the X grind has extreme heel, toe and trailing-edge relief to bring out the short-game artist in you.

SPECS 13 options (45-62 degrees, plus custom); 4 sole grinds; 4 finishes

What it does: From full shots to nip spinners around the green, one groove shape doesn’t fit all. The Glide’s lower lofts have grooves with a 20-degree sidewall to optimise volume on full shots where more turf is taken. On the higher lofts, the sidewall increases to 28 degrees with a sharper groove edge to maximise grab. One additional spin tactic: a new face blast adds texture to the hitting surface for additional friction.

Why we like it: Getting golfers into the proper fit has been Ping’s mission almost since the company’s inception. That extends to the short game. Four swing-specific options range from a thin sole
S-grind for players who take shallow divots to the bunker-friendly E-grind that is based on the iconic Eye2 lob wedge.

SPECS 17 options (46-60 degrees); 4 sole grinds; 1 finish

What it does: The challenge for the third iteration of this wedge was straightforward: produce a club that appeals to tour players and add the aggressive spin all golfers seek. To achieve this, the sole has undergone changes. The standard bounce has a slightly wider sole, the low bounce sits closer to the ground with more camber, and the high bounce is wider than the MG2 and features increased camber.

Why we like it: Elite players have no trouble generating tour sauce with wedge shots, but average golfers need all the spin they can get. This wedge maintains groove-edge sharpness through a process that leaves the face and grooves unplated. In addition, the face has tiny, raised ribs between the grooves to add surface roughness to increase spin on short shots.

SPECS 17 options (46-60 degrees); 4 sole grinds; 2 finishes

What it does: The SM9 builds on the SM8’s centre-of-gravity position in front of the face that assists squaring the club at impact. This version slightly raises the CG vertically by adding weight higher in the clubhead. Progressive hosel lengths also raise the CG, which promotes a lower, more controllable flight.

Why we like it: The SM9 features the first groove revision in a Vokey wedge since the SM6. A new “spin milled” cutting process creates the entire scoreline instead of just part of it. The result is a more consistent scoreline edge radius, allowing the grooves to be sharper and closer to the R&A/USGA limit. Confused by all the options? Here’s some advice from designer Bob Vokey: go with more bounce in the sand wedge and less bounce in the lob wedge.

SPECS 23 options (46-62 degrees); 6 sole grinds; 4 finishes

What it does: Milling is Bettinardi’s bailiwick, and that extends into its wedges. The forged carbon-steel head features a milled sole and machined grooves along with a new ladder-milling technique high on the back flange. This process removes less material compared to the company’s classic honeycomb pattern that ran the entire area of the back flange. The result is a higher centre of gravity, allowing for a lower trajectory with higher spin on full shots.

Why we like it: Yes, Bettinardi makes more than putters. In fact, this is the fourth version of its HLX wedge, but this model is more user-friendly. A new RJ grind, named for company founder Robert J. Bettinardi, has higher bounce with more heel and toe relief for players looking to manipulate the wedge on shorter shots.

SPECS 11 options (48-60 degrees); 2 sole grinds; 2 finishes

What it does: This wedge maintains its groove philosophy of having narrow, deep grooves for the 48 to 54-degree wedges and grooves that stretch across the entire face on the higher lofts. What’s new, however, is a face-mill blast that is applied after the chrome finish has been added to the head. Doing this helps mitigate the loss of spin in wet conditions. For those with the company’s One Length irons, there are wedges to match.

Why we like it: Wedge aficionados might recall the Phil Rodgers heelward notch grinds in the high-lofted wedges named for him. Cobra has brought them back. When opening the blade on the 58 and 60-degree models, contact will be in the heel area, and the notch allows the heel to glide through the grass with greater ease.

SPECS 13 options (48-60 degrees); 3 sole grinds; 2 finishes

What it does: We’ll get to the moveable weights in a bit, but even without them this is a wedge with a lot to offer. The soft feel comes from the forged 1025-carbon-steel head. The sole grinds (four to choose from, including the wide sole and low bounce
P-grind) are CNC milled to ensure precision from club to club, and the elongated groove pattern uses a diamond micro-texture
between the grooves to increase friction.

Why we like it: Getting fit for wedges is highly overlooked. The moveable weights in the rear-sole area are designed to allow golfers to match their swing profile. Edel says that moving the heaviest weight to its optimal position will enhance the player’s release motion. We applaud this kind of innovative thinking.

SPECS 28 options (48-60 degrees); 4 sole grinds; 1 finish