How many of you are still gaming that old trusty wedge from nearly a decade ago, maybe even older? I know, I know —you're comfortable with it and it gets the job done — maybe. But, have you ever wondered how it actually affects your game? Could you really shoot lower scores with a new set of wedges?

Well, Frank and Mike Fasano from Golficity met up with the Titleist Supervisor of Player Research Karen Gray at our Manchester Lane testing facility to break down the numbers and compare their old gamers with a fresh set of Vokey SM7's.

WHAT CAUSES WEDGE GROOVES TO WEAR DOWN?

Golfers encounter a variety of conditions with their wedges that lead to the groove edge wearing down over time.

- FREQUENT PLAY: Regular practice and play creates normal wear and tear to the wedge and results in a gradual wearing down of the groove.
- BUNKER SHOTS: Bunker shots expose the face to millions of small pebbles and rocks, essentially sand blasting the face of the wedge.
- ABNORMAL CONDITIONS: Sandy lies, debris on the golf ball, rocks, and bag chatter can all lead to gradual groove wear.
- RANGE GOLF BALLS: Vokey Wedges are cast from soft 8620 carbon steel. Range balls and other hard covered balls will, over time, wear down the edge of the groove.

The Vokey R&D team tested three levels of groove wear using a proprietary wedge robot at the Manchester Lane test facility. The results? Wedges with fresh grooves lead to more precise shots.

We recommend that every golfer should evaluate their wedges and grooves at ~75 rounds of play to get the best spin performance.

HOW DO I INSPECT MY WEDGES FOR GROOVE WEAR AND SPIN LOSS?

Wedges may look fine, but may not be delivering maximum spin. You should inspect your wedges for groove wear every 60-70 rounds. Start by inspecting the overall physical condition of the wedge and groove. A visit to your local Titleist Certified Fitter to evaluate launch, spin, and roll out will ensure you are playing with the best performing wedges.

ALL WEDGE GROOVES WEAR OUT OVER TIME.

At Titleist, we make every effort to deliver the best performance and quality. This includes inspecting every groove on every Vokey wedge head, and taking the extra step to apply a localized face heat treatment that doubles the groove durability. However, because all wedge grooves wear out eventually, our Titleist Certified Fitters are also here to provide professional wedge evaluations, helping you maximize spin and stay on top of your game. Find a Titleist Certified Fitter to see if a wedge replacement can help add spin to your short game.

“It’s vital during the year to have nice clean sharp grooves, it’s no coincidence that there are four majors and I switch my wedges out four times per year. I want ultimate performance for those four events.” - ADAM SCOTT

...

Enjoy the video above, and if you're interested in learning more about how the Vokey R&D team used a proprietary wedge robot to test three levels of groove wear, check out the video below:

And if you're interested in learning more about the Titleist R&D process, visit https://www.titleist.com/company/product-testing/validation