TaylorMade is back with their third generation of the innovative Hi-Toe wedge line, so what has changed for 2022?
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 wedge review: First Impressions
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.
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 wedge review: The Technology
The Hi-Toe 3 is designed for maximum versatility; TaylorMade wanted to create a wedge that could provide maximum performance in various scenarios.
Can you hit everything from low-launching checkers to high floating open-face flop shots with the same wedge? Thanks to tour player feedback the Hi-Toe 3 is designed for exactly that.
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.
There is also a trailing edge relief which allows golfers to easily open the club face up and manipulate loft and trajectory.
On the club-face, we see a mixture of technologies to provide spin control from different lies. There are large ZTP RAW grooves across all lofts with additional full-length scoring lines on lofts of 54° and higher.
There are also raised micro-ribs between the full grooves. These add texture to the face, which increases friction and, therefore, spin. These are especially crucial on partial shots around the green.
If you like the TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 style but want to make it your own, you can completely customise the design. Pick your own colours, grip, shaft, loft and bounce and add personalised stamping to the club head via the MyHi-Toe 3 programme on the TaylorMade golf website.
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 wedge review: NCG Verdict
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.
The higher bounce also brings down trajectory on full shots. This helps to control pitch shots in your highest lofted clubs, especially in the wind. I naturally have a very high ball flight, and even with a 60° wedge, I could control my ball flight on half and full pitches, which was seriously impressive.
In the higher lofts, we have grooves covering the entire club face; although untraditional, I like how this looks. You may also get more spin if you catch one out of the toe! From 54° down, they go to a more traditional look. I understand this, as these lofts will be mainly for full shots, but I wish they had stuck with the full grooves throughout the range.
Given we have grooves, and micro grooves, I may have expected slightly more spin on higher-flighted partial shots but on full shots into the green I was really pleased with the control. They were also really easy to hit a low spinny-nipped shot with.
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.
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 wedge review: The Details
Available: 9th September
RRP: £139
Lofts: 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58° and 60° (Standard Bounce) 58° and 60° (Low Bounce) 58° and 60° (High Bounce)
Stock shaft: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 shaft (115g)
Grip: Lamkin Crossline 360 Round 52g grips (Gray/Blue/Black End Cap)
More information: TaylorMade website
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Hannah Holden
