Are there any wedges that have a significantly softer feel?

[rollingrock]

Mizuno makes amazing soft forged *irons* but I’ve yet to hit one of their  wedges that feel half as good.  The T20 was one of the worst feeling wedges I’ve ever hit - clicky and hard.

[Lloyd_Christmas29]

Just now, rollingrock said:

Mizuno makes amazing soft forged *irons* but I’ve yet to hit one of their  wedges that feel half as good.  The T20 was one of the worst feeling wedges I’ve ever hit - clicky and hard.

Never hit the T20 but the T22's are pretty soft feeling. Nicer feeling than an SM9. I didn't like the grinds/turf interaction with the T22's though.

[Dillydilly31]

The PXG Sugar Daddy 2 wedges are forged and super soft. They are expensive but man they feel way better then my old Sm8’s and Sm9 wedges. 

[Mob]

In general, the type of steel used to forge the wedge affects the feel.  Harder steel is going to feel harder, but the sharpness of the grooves will last longer.  The softer the steel, the softer the feel, but the grooves will wear down quicker.  This doesn't include factors such as insert, elastomers, etc. that can all affect the feel at impact.  Shaft inserts, graphite shafts, softer balls, etc. can all achieve that "softer feel" you want as well.  There are many different ways to get to the "soft feel at impact".  If you are a purest, then a wedge forged with S20C steel is going to feel the softer than other pure steel wedges, but the grooves will wear down faster.  If you don't mind changing your wedges more frequently and don't want elastomer inserts to soften the feel, or any of the other measures mentioned above, then choose a forged S20C steel wedge.

[gvogel]

On 2/23/2023 at 6:54 PM, Honman said:

Without going too niche, I'd suggest try Mizuno T22 as they are forged. 

Titleist wedges are cast, but they are cast from a very soft steel.  Try bending one - it's easy.

 

If you want something to feel softer, try a different shaft.

[TarHeelGolfer2325]

My Miura wedges are "soft" but solid if that makes sense. Especially when I hit them right on the sweet spot, on the rare occasion! I feel like the shaft you have in them could make a difference as well. And slightly harder to tell the softness on swings that are easy and soft with the higher lofts. 

[lefthack]

On 2/25/2023 at 3:16 AM, Therealpatgiles said:

Epon wedges.

 

I just came across a set of Epon Tour wedges that look amazing. I might have to get them. 

[texsuihei]

If you can find them...Titleist High Performance (pre-Vokey), but I'm searching for a replacement as well because they're about 30 years old and I can only sharpen the grooves so much!

[lance1420]

When I want softness and great spin I’ll play a ProV with Corey Paul wedges. 
 

Not as well known but I paired my with S300s and they play really well…

 

the DW scratch had great feel as well. 

[Cactus Jack]

Honma makes the softest wedge I’ve experienced. So soft it feels like you miss the ball only to see it flying down range. 

[hagimihale]

Forged + good steel (S20C etc) tends to result in soft feel, as others have mentioned.  

 

I'm very happy with the Edels I am gaming.  But the Grindworks Barrett wedges that came with my gamer irons are Endo forged, S20C and feel incredibly soft.  

[SwingBlade]

My Miura K Grinds are the softest I've hit but my SM 8 raw wedges spin more and are a little more forgiving.  Always a toss up.  

[BCULAW]

The only wedge I’ve ever tried that I felt was dramatically softer feeling was the original PXG Sugar Daddy. No way I would justify shelling out the cash for them, but I actually considered it after trying them. They felt amazing. Dense, muted, and super soft. 

[LRick]

On 2/23/2023 at 8:06 PM, realmfg said:

Bettinardi 

agreed. i play t22 but i tested these and they stood out above all other options. feel was amazing. 

[jda]

I got some Japanese forged wedge blanks.  They are as soft as butter.  I had to grind and finish them, but I grind some of my wedges a bit anyway.

 

They are still too new to know how they spin.  They tear some cover off of the ball at full swing with the fresh grooves, but that will stop before long and I will check them out on the Garmin for spin rate.

 

If you want some Japanese steel and do not want to finish them, there are finishers that can do it for you.

[Asics10]

Fourteen 

[055]

On 7/1/2023 at 6:17 PM, BCULAW said:

The only wedge I’ve ever tried that I felt was dramatically softer feeling was the original PXG Sugar Daddy. No way I would justify shelling out the cash for them, but I actually considered it after trying them. They felt amazing. Dense, muted, and super soft. 

I agree. I have not hit them, but I would not pay even the discounted price on them. I also won't play anything but black wedges due to glare. So they go up another $100 if you want that.

[SwingMan]

Tough topic ... I stick with a forged wedge. In the last 2.5 yrs, I've played Mizuno T22, Ping Glide Forged Pro, and Artisan. Not much difference in feel, only in the grinds. I keep the lie angle a degree flatter than std. No longer chasing "soft." I use a urethane golf ball.

 

Artisan fit best, the other two were 1B and 1C

 

People complain about Mizuno but they have 3% boron, only 3%! and the boron exists for the grooves to last longer. They are excellent.

 

Ping feels good, too.

 

Both Ping and MIzuno have tech for consistent spin in the wet. A feature one may consider.

 

I'd pay more attention to whether a grind fits you than differences in feel between wedges, and I played Miura Wedges for a long time - but they did not fit me as well as the others mentioned above. I'd stick with forged, although I have played Vokey. But again, not the best fit or feel.

Edited July 8, 2023 by SwingMan

[TM135]

Pxg sugar daddy 2 are probably the softest. I also found MG3s very soft 

[North Butte]

Softness of "feel" in a wedge is like soft "feel" in golf balls. It never even enters into my mind when choosing.

I'll tell you what for me is the best feel thing in a wedge...bend that sucker a couple degrees flatter than my iron...somehow I got addicted to doing that more than a decade ago and when I try out new wedges, then get around to having the lies flattened, the difference in feel at impact is immense. 

[bladehunter]

Vega ( Kyoei ) is the softest on the planet.  No doubt , no competition.  

[LeoLeo99]

I've tried a lot of wedges and Vokeys just feel very hard to me.  I don't think it's the metal.  I think they just don't have the sweet spot where I like it.  Pretty much every other wedge feels softer and gives me better results than the Vokeys.  I'm weird.  

[craz-e]

I am trying to find a set of irons that feel as good as my Bettinardi wedge!

[TKS]

A lot of feel can come from the shaft too. The ball is on the face such a short time - just a glancing blow. I believe a common understanding from the tour guys is a 75 rounds per wedge, then get a fresh one. In my search for the perfect wedge, it has to be bendable for lie with a heel relief and a leading edge for the AoA and general conditions played. Forged, cast and materials is less important to me. A good urethane ball is a given.

[Burningbushh]

Forged wedges. Sub 70 golf has forged wedges for a great price. Malibu by the golf works also offers forged wedges for a really really great price. Forged iron/wedges wear more than most. This is why there’s only a handful of wedges that are truly forged.

 

 

[dmeeksDC]

New Level SPN wedges are forged and feel quite soft. Excellent wedges that don’t dig. Look great too. 

[wam78]

Zipcore tour rack’s feel pretty soft for being a cast wedge.  I thought the T7’s felt very soft on center contact.  Bridgestone j15 wedges felt amazing!  Of course, these are all older.  Vokey’s always felt pretty solid to me, not so much soft.  The s159’s have a nice thumpy feel to them.  Feel is so subjective.

 

It’s hard to create softness with such little metal being used.  The ball makes a huge difference.

[GoldenAges]

Mizuno S23. Butter.

I have a 52, 56 and just ordered a 60. Eyeing a 48 as well, as my iron set matching gap wedge is underperforming.

 

S23 are the best wedges l've ever had.

[stratgolf]

Very interesting thread. I recently bought a set of Jaws Raw after some extensive wedge testing, not the wedge I was expecting to come away with but really impressed with feel, look and performance.