Best Golf Wedges 2024: Buyer's Guide and things you need to know

Best Golf Wedges 2024: Buyer’s Guide and things you need to know

Posted by Admin May 28, 2024 Golf

Whether you’re aiming for the pin from 100 yards or executing a delicate greenside chip, equipping yourself with the best golf wedges in your bag is a surefire way to enhance your game.

With that in mind, the team at GolfMagic has put together our best golf wedges of 2024 list to help you pick the right wedges for you.

We’ve tested models from all of the best brands, including Titleist, PING, TaylorMade and Callaway.

Making sure you have the right wedges to fit your game can sometimes be confusing, so we’ve spent hours on the range and course digging deep into the data to ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed choice.

Wedges are scoring clubs and will have a dramatic effect on your performance and scoring.

While the information provided below is based on extensive testing, we recommend getting fit for your wedges to ensure your clubs are optimised for your swing.

Best Golf Wedges 2024

Okay, now for our Golf Wedges Test 2024.

GolfMagic Equipment Editor Alex Lodge and Reviews Editor Johnny Percival tested out a number of different wedge models from 50 degrees through to 60 degrees to ensure a fair test.

All of the wedges featured in our test very much impressed us, making it extremely hard to pick an overall winner. But we did eventually settle on one, and here it is:

Titleist Vokey SM10

Price: £169

Key Features:

Progressive centre of gravity: individually calibrated for each loft for maximum performance
Spin Milled Grooves: each groove is individually cut based on loft and finish; with narrower, deeper grooves in lower lofts (46°-54°) and wider, shallower grooves in higher lofts (56°-62°)
Tour proven grinds: designed to offer maximum creativity, versatility and consistency, all meticulously developed through years of working with the best players in the world

Pros:

Fantastic performer in every single category
Best feeling wedges on the market
look superb in the bag

Cons:

No noticeable improvement from the previous iteration

The Titleist Vokey SM10 wedges maintain the brand’s reputation for fantastic aesthetics and feel, with only slight design changes from the SM9s. The chrome panel along the back is more pronounced, and a small black cut-out adds a modern touch. The Bob Vokey logo and numbering remain unchanged, keeping the classic look.

In terms of feel, the SM10s deliver a clean, crisp, and powerful sensation, much like the SM9s. The solid impact and satisfying feel through the hands make them a favourite among Tour players.

The SM10s excel in performance, available in six grind options for versatility on various turf types. The spin-milled grooves ensure consistent spin in both wet and dry conditions. During testing, the wedges produced serious spin, maintaining about 10k RPM on 100-yard shots with minimal drop-off when wet. Consistency in spin rates across the face was particularly impressive, making them reliable for precision shots.

Around the green, the SM10s performed excellently on pitch shots and chips, with the sole gliding through turf and providing forgiveness when needed. Spin rates allowed for excellent roll-out control.

If you seek top-performing wedges, the SM10s are an excellent choice. They look great, feel fantastic, and deliver exceptional results. However, if you already own SM9s, the differences are minimal, so upgrading might not be necessary. Otherwise, the SM10s should be at the top of your list.

READ OUR FULL TITLEIST VOKEY SM10 REVIEW

PING S159

Price: £159

Key Features:

Wheel cut grooves: precision-milled to varying dimensions, depending on loft for optimal launch and spin from every wedge
Friction Face: a friction-adding face blast to deliver optimal spin rates and control
Webfit Wedge App: a new fitting app that allows you to quickly figure out exactly which grind you should have on your wedges
Six grind options: to help deliver an ideal setup dependent on swing and shot type

Pros:

Stunning aesthetics
Excellent greenside control
Stable, crisp sensation at impact

Cons:

One of the most expensive wedges on the market

The PING S159 wedges feature a clean, simple design with PING branding near the sole and a thin black line being the main features. A generous head size provides a confidence-boosting profile, while the traditional teardrop shape and minimal offset contribute to the overall superb look, informed by extensive Tour feedback.

Feel-wise, the wedges are crisp, clean, and highly responsive, offering substantial feedback on both full shots and delicate chips. During testing, they provided a grippy sensation at impact, enhancing greenside spin.

Extensive testing revealed exceptional performance. The S159 wedges delivered impressive spin and control on chips and pitches, with the added bounce of the S grind offering excellent forgiveness on tricky shots. Consistency in performance, even on less-than-optimal strikes, ensured closer proximity to the hole.

On longer shots, these wedges produced a mid-to-high trajectory, allowing for excellent spin and flight control in windy conditions. The solid, crisp feel off the face was also reflected in tight offline dispersion.

Using a GC Quad, the S159 wedges produced around 9,000 RPM from 100 yards, slightly lower than the Titleist SM10’s 10,000 RPM. Despite this, the stopping power was nearly identical, with both wedges rolling out about two yards on average.

The PING S159 wedges are among the best in 2024, offering a variety of grind options, fantastic looks, and premium performance. The Webfit Wedge App is also a fantastic tool for helping you find the right grind profile, making these wedges a must-try for anyone looking to upgrade their short game.

READ OUR FULL PING S159 REVIEW

TaylorMade MG4

Price: £159

Key Features:

Spin Tread Technology: laser etching that helps channel water away from the face to retain spin in wet conditions
Raw Face: Unplated material will rust over time to preserve consistent spin
Refined Shaping: Tour inspired shape and design focused on perceived look at address
Milled grind soles: produce optimal turf interaction and consistent performance

Pros:

Perform much better than MG3 in wet conditions
Excellent feel and workability
Tour-inspired shape looks great behind the ball

Cons:

Raw face will tear up softer golf balls

The introduction of Spin Tread Technology is the main innovation for TaylorMade’s MG4 wedges. Designed for improved performance in wet conditions, the new laser-etched grooves allow water to be channelled away from the face for increased ball interaction and better spin retention.

The newly refined head has a classic teardrop design that looks fantastic at address, and the sleek satin contoured back contrasts beautifully with the rough texture of the milled sole to give the head an appealing, modern finish.

Providing a soft yet responsive feel at impact, they produce a slightly lower ball flight than other wedges on this list, which proved particularly useful when trying to hit flighted shots into tricky pins.

Off the face, you can really feel the ball ripping off the grooves, and the resulting spin rates were outstanding on full shots. On more delicate chips around the green, we were able to control our rollout, with the milled grind sole gliding effortlessly across the turf.

Available in seven different grind options, the MG4 range offers fantastic versatility, with the newly introduced high bounce W grind providing a whopping 13 degrees of bounce.

At £159 per wedge, they don’t come cheap, but if you’re looking for Tour-validated performance in a sleek and modern design, then look no further.

READ OUR FULL TAYLORMADE MG4 REVIEW

Mizuno T24

Price: £159

Key Features:

Quadcut Grooves: An adjustment of the groove shoulder camber and the taper of the groove profile allows a tighter groove pattern for increased spin rates on all shots
HydroFlow Micro Grooves: laser etched to release moisture and reduce spin drop-off
Wrap-around sole relief: Increased sole relief to heel and toe across all five grind options

Pros:

Fantastic variety of finishes and sole profiles
Improved aesthetics
excellent versatility around the greens

Cons:

Other wedges on this list provided greater levels of spin

Mizuno, known for its forged irons, has significantly improved its wedge game with the new T24 wedges. These wedges, featuring a refined profile with a slightly reduced topline width and shorter blade length, have quickly made it into our best golf wedges guide. The mass moved higher in the head aids spin and trajectory control, while the progressive groove system optimises performance based on loft.

The T24 wedges, available in 17 loft and bounce combinations, five sole profiles, and three finishes, offer customisation to suit different swings and course types. At Custom Golf Works and on the course, the T24s impressed us. Due to their compact head shape and fantastic feel, they are ideal for mid- to low-handicappers.

The classic teardrop shape and clean design, with subtle Mizuno branding, are a significant upgrade from the T22s. The bounce and loft details are now positioned traditionally on the club’s toe. The wedges’ forged head provides a soft, receptive feel at impact, with the 52-degree model delivering a controlled ball flight and excellent turf interaction.

In terms of performance, the 52-degree wedge offered consistent distance and spin, performing well on full and three-quarter shots. The new Quadcut grooves provided excellent spin, even from rough and bunkers. The 58-degree wedge, with 10 degrees of bounce, was versatile, allowing for various shot manipulations.

Overall, the T24 wedges offer improved aesthetics, fantastic feel, and outstanding versatility. Although priced at £159, their performance justifies the cost for those prioritising a fully forged construction. These wedges are a top-tier offering from Mizuno, worth testing at your next fitting.

READ OUR FULL MIZUNO T24 WEDGE REVIEW

Srixon RTX Full Face 2

Cleveland RTX Full Face 2

Price: £139

Key Features:

HydraZip: dynamic blast and laser-milled line system creates roughness to enhance friction on the face for increased spin
ZipCore: low-density core technology that contributes to MOI gains of up to 13%
UltiZip: full-face network of sharp, deep, and tightly-spaced grooves maximises performance at contact

Pros:

High toe profile and full face grooves produce excellent levels of forgiveness and versatility
Confidence-inspiring look at address
Excellent spin rates from across the face

Cons:

High-toe design may not suit the eye of every golfer

Featuring a full face of grooves and a high-toe design, the Cleveland RTX Full Face 2 wedges delivered outstanding spin rates and excellent levels of forgiveness from across the face during testing.

Utilising ZipCore technology, the Cleveland designers have been able to push weight further to the perimeter on these wedges to increase MOI, which in turn delivers a very stable and solid sensation through impact.

The wedges also benefit from HydraZip, a dynamic blast face treatment, which creates roughness on the face to increase friction and spin.

This added roughness not only provided excellent spin rates during testing but also dramatically improved the wedges’ performance in wet conditions, a key trait for those of you who play regularly in wet weather.

In terms of spin profile, we would say these wedges are at the top of the list. The UltiZip groove pattern grips the ball aggressively, and on full shots, we were able to achieve spin rates hovering around the 9k rpm mark, which is optimal.

Around the greens, these wedges also performed admirably, and the high toe adds an extra layer of versatility, which came in particularly handy when opening the face to hit high lofted chips.

READ OUR FULL CLEVELAND RTX FULL FACE 2 REVIEW

Callaway Jaws Raw

Callaway JAWS Raw

Price: £149

Key Features:

Groove-in-groove technology: milled micro grooves positioned at a 20 degree angle to promote added spin
Raw face technology: allows the face to rust over time for improved friction
Variable length hosels: engineered to control trajectory and enhance forgiveness

Pros:

Most aggressive grooves ever increase spin rate
Improved feel from previous iterations
Two impressive designs to choose from

Cons:

Same price as the Titleist Vokey SM9 and doesn’t quite reach the same level of overall performance
Raw face doesn’t suit every golfer

Much like the TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 wedges, we were impressed with the spin rate of the Callaway Jaws Raw wedges. We found the most spin with full shots and short chips and this is because of the aggressive grooves in the club face.

Callaway used off-set groove-in-groove technology to produce what they describe as “the most aggressive groove in golf.” The brand has removed plating on the face which allows for maximum spin and we experienced this first-hand.

However, as these golf wedges encourage spin control, we believe they suit good amateurs and tour professionals. The aggressive grooves suit players who can use them to their full potential and players who can control spin and one-hope-and-stop shots.

As with the TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 wedges, Raw Face technology is another feature here which may not suit mid-to-high handicappers or golfers who dislike the rusted element.

In this way, we won’t rave about the forgiveness of the Jaws Raw wedges. Nonetheless, the design of these wedges appeals to every golfer. We liked both the black and silver designs and by removing the plating on the face, this causes long-term rusting.

We were huge fans of the rusted element because this also helps with spin rate and performance over time. As we stated at the start of this guide, golf wedges are constructed for creativity and the Jaws Raw wedges encourage workability with the amount of spin you can generate.

READ OUR FULL CALLAWAY JAWS RAW WEDGE REVIEW

Types of wedges

Types of golf wedge

Lob wedge

The lob wedge is the most lofted club in the bag. The lob wedge can range from 58 to 64 degrees and it is the perfect club to use from the bunker as the thin face slices through the sand.

Although the lob wedge can be used for intricate shots from around the green, it can also be used from between 70 to 90 yards when hit on the full. This club achieves very high apexes when used from short distances.

Sand wedge

The sand wedge usually carries a loft of 54 to 56 degrees. As you can tell by the name, this club is built to be used from bunkers, but the lob wedge can be used to better effect in this case.

Much like all wedges, the sand wedge is perfect for deft chips around the greens and they can also be used to hit shots of up to 100 yards from the green.

Gap wedge

A gap wedge is usually found in the range of 50 to 52 degrees. It is seen as a compromise between a pitching wedge and a gap wedge.

If you add one into your bag having not had one before, you will feel the benefit because you no longer have to adapt a hard sand wedge or a soft pitching wedge shot.

The degree difference between a sand wedge and a pitching wedge has grown to around 10 degrees, which leaves space for a gap wedge in your bag to cover every type of shot.

Pitching wedge

Pitching wedges are the next most-lofted club in the bag after the 9-iron. They usually have lofts between 45 and 48 degrees. Sometimes, players will have a 48-degree wedge in their bag that isn’t specified as a pitching wedge.

This is arguably one of the most versatile clubs in the game because it can be used for full shots of around 100 to 150 yards, but also with chips around the green and low pitches too. Pitching wedges are largely included in iron sets while you largely have to buy your sand wedge and or lob wedge separately.

Key features of golf wedges

Titleist Vokey SM10

Loft

Wedges have the highest lofts of any clubs in your bag. Loft refers to the angle of the club face and how open it is compared to the shaft.

A pitching wedge is the least lofted club in this department as this can have an angle as low as 45 degrees. But a lob wedge can be as open as 64 degrees and it is useful to have both in your bag so you have your bases covered on different shots.

TaylorMade MG4

Sole Grind

The sole grind is the extra shaping on the sole of the club which is usually around the heel or the toe.

The grind on your wedge can be manipulated by removing material from the heel, toe or trailing edge. This manipulation is used by manufacturers to improve the golf wedge’s interaction with the turf.

Finding the right grind for your wedge is very important because a certain type of grind suits a certain type of swing. This is a process that would be explained to you in a custom fitting session.

Grooves

Grooves are an essential part of the golf club because they help to control spin and increase the quality of connection with the golf ball.

Similar to the way tyres have lines running through them to increase grip on the roads, golf wedges have numerous grooves in the face. The design of grooves also allows water to flow and clean the face and it also helps your connection with the golf ball in wet conditions.

Many different brands have created their own groove designs. Callaway used groove-in-groove technology with the Jaws Raw wedges to create aggressive grooves and increase spin.

Bounce

Bounce is essentially the angle between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole. This part of the club will hit the ground at impact.

The bounce is what you see when you lay the club flat on the ground and the leading edge is slightly off the ground. A high bounce means that the leading edge is higher off the floor.

Golf wedges with a lower bounce suit dry and fast lies or golfers with shallow attack angles who look to just brush the turf.

Standard bounce wedges are the most common. They range between seven to 10 degrees and they suit golfers with a standard swing and a moderate attack angle.

High-bounce wedges will have more than 10 degrees of bounce. They suit players who like taking divots and those who achieve a lot of spin.

Finish

The term finish refers to the look of the golf wedge and what material is in the club head. Finishes usually include black nickel, chrome, rusty or raw, beryllium copper and nickel-coated.

There is largely no impact on the performance of the wedge based on its finish, the difference is mainly cosmetic.

How do we test golf wedges?

GolfMagic Equipment Editor Alex Lodge tests all of the best golf wedges out on the golf course, testing the connection off the club face and the overall performance.

Wedges are versatile clubs because they can be used for a 50-yard pitch and a full 100-yard shot from the middle of the fairway. We test these clubs from every distance to get a well-rounded view of their quality.

Golf is not always sunshine and rainbows, you are not always in the fairway. You may be faced with a tough bunker shot or an approach from some juicy rough. We test each golf wedge from all positions on the course.

After each shot, we take note of how much spin was generated and how straight the flight was too. These are two key features of a golf wedge’s performance. We also look at how well the wedges perform when we don’t find the middle of the club face.

This refers to the forgiveness of a club and this is a key feature that appeals to golfers. We want to inform our readers about how forgiving each wedge is, how consistent they are and ultimately, how much they improve your game.