The A-Grind is ideal for golfers who typically play firm setups and have a shallow delivery.
Jonathan Mur/GOLF
What comes to mind when you think of the 2006 US Open? It is probable Phil Mickelson’s epic meltdown on the 18th hole that prevented him from lifting the only major trophy that has continually eluded him over the years. It may be that of Colin Montgomerie incredible blunder from the center of the fairway.
In terms of memorable moments, these two lists are the biggest.
Few people remember the top to bottom from eventual winner Geoff Ogilvy – a deft throw that settled next to the hole for a tournament-deciding par. The Australian calls it “the best high and low I’ve ever done.” Those are big words from someone with a world short game.
When you play an elite short game, people tend to listen when you think about the scoring tools in your bag.
Titleist Vokey SM9 Tour Chrome Custom Wedge
$179.99
For every shot, every lie, every course, there is a grind suited to your swing. Finding the right grind to match your swing and playing conditions will give you the best turf interaction, contact and shot performance. Master craftsman Bob Vokey has spent decades creating, developing and improving his proven grinds to suit players of all levels. Anyone can make a wedge, but it takes a master to transform a piece of high-performance technology into an instrument of creative control. Bob’s six proven grinds are designed to deliver maximum creativity, versatility and consistency, all meticulously developed over years of working with the world’s best players. PROGRESSIVE CENTER OF GRAVITY The SM9 features a progressive center of gravity (CG) in all lofts, which optimizes ball flight, precision and forgiveness. Using tapered toplines and varied pipe lengths, the Vokey R&D team increased the CG height in the upper lofts, which promotes a lower, more controlled flight. The CG is also forward of the face, resulting in increased moment of inertia, great feel, and a clubface that just wants to buck at impact. SPIN MILLED GROOVES The SM9’s patented Spin Milled grooves are meticulously crafted using a new cutting process to maximize spin and durability. The process begins by cutting the face perfectly flat with a high-speed saw. Then each groove is cut individually based on loft and finish; Low lofts (46°-54°) are designed with narrower, deeper grooves, while higher lofts (56°-62°) have wider, shallower grooves. Micro-grooves are individually cut between the grooves, which maximizes spin on partial hits. A proprietary heat treatment is applied to the impact zone that doubles the durability of the groove without affecting feel, making it the most durable groove in golf. The process is only complete when each Vokey corner is 100% inspected to ensure optimal quality and performance.
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The new Vokey WedgeWorks 60A lob wedge? Yes, it was Ogilvy who helped bring it to life.
“I spoke with Geoff and we got on the subject of Australian golf courses and how they compare to courses in America and around the world,” recalls Vokey Tour representative Aaron Dill. “I asked him specific questions which resulted in the idea of designing another lob wedge grind option that complements the firm links type conditions players face – not just in Australia and Europe – but around the world Geoff has always been a low bounce player in his 60 degrees, so I took his 60-04L wedge and removed the tape, resulting in a grind that moves quickly across the turf with very little resistance.
Jonathan Mur/GOLF
Creating Ogilvy and Dill has become a popular option for a number of today’s professionals, including Wyndham Clark, winner of the 2023 US Open, Max Homa, six-time Tour winner And Tom Kim, three-time winner. For some of the best players in the world, the low bounce design is ideal for shorn areas where the club needs to get under the ball quickly and efficiently.
THE Vokey WedgeWorks 60A ($225) The lob wedge features 4 degrees of bounce with a smoothed sole that allows the leading edge to slide under the ball with little effort – assuming you have the hands and action to execute the shot. As Vokey noted, “the smooth, fast wedge requires precise delivery at impact, especially in soft conditions.”
Jonathan Mur/GOLF
In other words, the 60A isn’t for everyone.
“The most important club for me, probably in my bag, is this A grind,” Clark said. “I use the SM9 60 degree A grind, which is a low bounce 60 grind and very versatile. I’m able – on tight, rough, wet, firm lies, whatever – to hit the shot I want, and with the amount of spin I want, trajectory and all.
For golfers who have the skills to handle the 60A, the wedge is available through WedgeWorks (right hand only) in a raw finish and can be equipped with six toe engravings and a myriad of stamping options ( 10 character straight/freestyle stamping; 15 characters around the tip and two lines of 10 characters each). The popular Flight Line Alignment A feature can also be added to the corner.
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