Best Wedges 2023

If you’re on the quest to improve your golf game, one of the most crucial elements to consider is the golf wedge. This versatile club can either make or break your performance on the course, particularly when it comes to precision shots around the green. The best wedges 2023, not only offer superior control and spin, but they also inspire confidence at every lie, contributing to a better overall golfing experience.

This page provides a comprehensive review of some of the finest wedges available in the golf market, including the Titleist SM9, Cobra Snake Bite, Cleveland RTX 6 Rip Core, Callaway Jaws Raw, Ping Glide 4.0, and the TaylorMade Hi-Toe. Let’s delve into the unique features and qualities that make these models standout choices for every golfer, regardless of their skill level.

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Best Wedges 2023

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Reviewed by Hannah Holden

The SM9 wedge follows the same great design as previous Vokey wedges and somehow manages to look better year after year. Offered in a range of different finishes, the SM9 has very sleek design and overall looks great.

I really love the re-shaping and the thicker look at the top of the toe but, like the face, this is concealed when you put the club down behind the ball.

As we saw with the previous model, a large area of the clubhead is left plain giving golfers the option to customise the back with personalised stampings.

The lower lofts have lower centres of gravity to help increase trajectory. In the higher lofts the centre of gravity is raised significantly to help promote a lower ball flight.

As with the SM8, the aim is to have a forward centre of gravity near the club face and also move this slightly higher up the club face. This is because if the center of gravity gets too far back you will hit the shot with too much dynamic loft. This can cause the ball to slide up the face and not carry as far as you intended.

Overall, the SM9 performed really well on the course with plenty of spin around the greens as well as into greens. The SM9 wedge is also available in seven different grinds with a range of eleven different lofts ranging from 46 degrees to 64 degrees. This means that there is something for everyone.

PROS

• Lots of grind and loft options
• Sleek design
• Sleek and smooth design

CONS

• Nothing really.

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• RELATED: Read the full Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges
• RELATED: Watch the How to get the right wedge setup? Titleist Vokey wedge fitting

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More info: Titleist website

Reviewed by Nicola Slater

I really like the look of the full-face grooves, especially as these are blade wedges so it provides some confidence behind the ball. As there is a wide range of grinds I think it’s really handy that Cobra has labelled this very well, with bounce and grind being stamped on the neck of the wedge.

The versatile grind performed well out of all types of sand which I used it in. There was also a good amount of spin created. I felt quite comfortable opening up the face of the club at a 10-degree bounce and it sat the flattest out of the three wedges I tested.

The classic grind performed best in bunkers with little sand and this was even with the most amount of bounce. It did still work well out of softer sand as the description stated it works well with all ground conditions.

I didn’t really enjoy trying to use the wide low grind out of the bunker with little sand as the sole of the wedge just seemed to bounce off of the base of the bunker. When it came to a heavily sanded bunker the wide low was a dream as it so easily glided through the sand.

Overall, for the price you really can’t knock these wedges. Cobra has such a great selection on offer with wide ranges of loft, grinds, and bounces meaning that there really is something for every golfer.

PROS

• Simple design
• Great range of lofts, grinds, and bounces
• Feel nice off of the face

CONS

• Nothing

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• RELATED: Read our full Cobra Snakebite Wedge review

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More info: Cobra Golf

Reviewed by Nicola Slater

Design-wise Cleveland has made some subtle changes. The ZipCore and Cleveland wording has moved further up the back of the wedge. The face of the wedge has two extra grooves and much more texture than before. The RTX 6 comes in two different finishes the tour satin and this black satin finish which I got to test.

The RTX 6 ZipCore is Cleveland’s answer to a ‘better players’ wedge. Centred around maximum spin and consistency, Cleveland has used a mixture of their ‘zip’ technologies to improve this. The UltiZip technology used means that the spacings between the grooves have been tightened, allowing for anything i.e water, sand, or grass, between the club and the ball to escape better. The grooves are also the sharpest yet in an RTX wedge.

In order to increase the level of spin consistency, Cleveland has used their HydroZip technology. Each wedge has had a different level of face blast, depending on the loft. Higher lofts received more of a blast and more micro grooves, creating more texture on the face. This texture is there to help consistent spin and wet and dry conditions.

Overall, this is a classic Cleveland wedge that looks great and does exactly what it says it’s going to.

PROS

• Sleek design
• Great range of lofts and grinds
• A great amount of spin

CONS

• Less left-handed lofts

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• RELATED: Read our full Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Wedge review

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More info: Cleveland website

Reviewed by Hannah Holden

These look incredible, I have managed to get my hands on both a Chrome and Black offering and both look stunning. I really like the more rounded shaping these wedges provide behind the golf ball as well.

The latest addition to the Jaws family features the most aggressive grooves Callaway have ever put in a wedge. This is part of the story to achieve maximum spin, helped by the new Raw finish on the club face.

The wedges also feature tungsten technology for the first time. This is designed to make the wedges more balanced for better feel and control. Each loft has specific tungsten weightings to move the centre of gravity for optimal control. Variable hosel lengths are also used to control the CG and trajectory as well as providing more forgiveness.

With SEVENTEEN different loft and bounce options available in the range, I would have been hard pressed to try them all. The grind options I did test were the S and Z which both worked really well and straight away, these were spinning a lot. My ball was zipping back down the green for fun on full shots. But I was most impressed with the one check and stop grip I was getting on shorter chips.

PROS

• Amazing range of lofts and grinds
• Great feel
• Created lots of spin

CONS

• More rounded look might not be for everyone

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• RELATED: Read our full Callaway Jaws Raw wedges review
• RELATED: Watch the full review Why You NEED This Wedge Grind

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More info: Callaway website

Reviewed by Hannah Holden

The new Ping Glide 4.0 wedges have already been a huge hit on tour with professional golfers putting them in play around the world. It is easy to see why, the small compact shaping looks really good on the eye.

The aim with the Glide 4.0 wedges was to give golfers a lower-launching higher spinning product.

To achieve this the face features a new emery face blast, which adds more texture to the hitting surface. This creates more friction generating more spin at impact.

This is a performance product so it is important it suits the eye of the best players in the world. The shaping is rounded and compact but with differing sizes across the multiple grind offerings.

Every detail of these wedges has been designed to help golfers save shots. Ping have even gone to the extent of adding a longer grip, this allows players to choke down on the club more, to play a wider variety of shots around the green.

PROS

• Soft feel
• Creates consistent controlled trajectory
• Great spin on full shots
• T grind is extremely versatile

CONS

• Spin was sometimes inconsistent
• Compact shaping may be intimidating for some golfers

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• RELATED: Read our full Ping Glide 4.0 wedge review
• RELATED: Check out The Ultimate Wedge for Control?

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More info: Ping website

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Reviewed by Hannah Holden

I really like the unconventional Hi-Toe shaping, I think the larger profile is really confidence-inspiring over the ball. I also love the aged copper finish and think it gives the whole product a really premium look.

Advanced versatility comes from the four-way cambered sole. This allows for a wide sole design, which adds forgiveness, but keeps a low leading edge. This will enable golfers to execute shots from very tight lies with ease.

I love the way this sits behind the golf ball. TaylorMade have done a great job reworking the grind since the original model. The leading edge sits low to the ground, making shots off tight lies easier and allowing you to open the face without feeling like you will thin it.

I especially liked how this felt in bunkers; it performed well thanks to the forgiveness of the higher bounce. Having a club with a low leading edge and high bounce is quite unusual. It gave a nice blend of workability and forgiveness as the extra bounce helps if you don’t strike it perfectly.

Overall the performance was very impressive here, a serious contender for me to put in play. The versatility from the grind and forgiveness from the wider sole and higher bounce will make these a successful golf club for a broad spectrum of golfers.

PROS

• Provides confidence behind the ball
• Great shape
• Can manipulate the face well

CONS

• Full face might not be for everyone

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• RELATED: Read our full TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 wedge review

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More info: TaylorMade Golf

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Best Wedges 2023

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Choosing the right wedge is a pivotal decision that can dramatically impact your golf game. Each of the wedges we’ve reviewed – the Titleist SM9, Cobra Snake Bite, Cleveland RTX 6 Rip Core, Callaway Jaws Raw, Ping Glide 4.0, and TaylorMade Hi-Toe – have unique features that set them apart, including their craftsmanship, spin control, and overall performance.

Remember, the best wedge for you is not necessarily the most expensive or the most popular, but rather, it is the one that suits your playstyle and skill level the best. No matter what challenges the golf course throws at you, armed with the right wedge, every shot can become an opportunity to excel.

So, take your time, consider your options, and may your choice drive your game to its maximum potential.

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