Wedges discussion: Taylormade MG4 vs Titleist Vokey SM9

[Dooby]

I noticed in the wedge guide for 2023 that the SM9 was not in the consideration since it was previously covered and the guides only cover new/unreviewed products.  So, I was wondering what everyone has thought of the MG4s vs the SM9s.  I personally own a set of SM9s but the new tech in the MG4 face has me pretty curious about them.  I had an opportunity to see and feel MG4s in person recently and it is pretty interesting how rough(?) (not sure how to describe the face) the face of them felt with the newly marketed "Spin Tread".  Honestly, it felt like it would take the cover off of any ball pretty quickly.

Does anyone game the MG4s or has anyone tested them versus SM9s or another competitors wedges? Or even the previous model, MG3s?

[cnosil]

I have a. SM8 and an SM9 in my bag.  I typically played Cleveland wedges in the past and have had Mizuno in my bag as well.   As one if the most wanted testers, I have the opportunity to hit all the clubs in the various tests.  The TM wedges have been really good the past few years and I wouldn’t hesitate to game them.  IMO, Titleist are overrated and wear really quickly.  If I were looking for new wedges it would probably be a toss up between TM and Cleveland with TM having a slight edge.  

[Dooby]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

I have a. SM8 and an SM9 in my bag.  I typically played Cleveland wedges in the past and have had Mizuno in my bag as well.   As one if the most wanted testers, I have the opportunity to hit all the clubs in the various tests.  The TM wedges have been really good the past few years and I wouldn’t hesitate to game them.  IMO, Titleist are overrated and wear really quickly.  If I were looking for new wedges it would probably be a toss up between TM and Cleveland with TM having a slight edge.  

Do you think that new "Spin Tread" tech is noticeable? I mean to the actual, physical touch it is very different than other wedges. I'm more curious if it is actually something that shows a benefit in play.

[GaDawg]

I have played Titleist wedges for years due to the wide selection of bounces and grinds available. I was struggling with my sand play late last summer and purchased a TM MG3 56*. I have played it for around a year now hitting full shots at 75-85 yds, bunker shots and some chips around the green. I feel that the MG3 has a lot of grab with the face, but don't think it's that much greater than a Titleist. I will be buying a MG4 in the same loft, but will most likely stick with my Titleist on the 50* and 60* wedges because I like the grinds and lofts that are not available with TM.

If you shop around, you probably can find a nice used TM MG3 or 4 to test for your own comparison.

[cnosil]

3 hours ago, Dooby said:

Do you think that new "Spin Tread" tech is noticeable? I mean to the actual, physical touch it is very different than other wedges. I'm more curious if it is actually something that shows a benefit in play.

Noticeble?  No.    But I guess that is based on what you consider noticeable.   The spin tread is primarily to move water out of the way on damp/wet shots to maintain spin.  The wedges finished 6th in spin so they are near the top.  In dry conditions all the wedges are basically the same. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

I have yet to try either, but they are both on my list of wedges to try. While I like the wedges I have they are getting old and need replacing. Heard great things about both and truthfully have never actually owned vokey wedges. 

[Hans...not Franz]

Wedges to me a personal .I’ve been using the ping since the wet wedge test run and had much success . The V grind sm9 has replaced one of the ping . Are you wanting full shot or the paintbrush for delicate strokes around the green . Application is key and imo I don’t think there’s a one wedge solution .  I use a set PW and Gap zx5s  they also have built in”help” with turf interaction . For me the face is the last part of the equation if I hit thin/ fat shots with a non fitting club . 

[Josh Parker]

I haven't tried the newest yet on either but currently game the vokeys and had a 60° TM. For me personally I didn't like the leading edge on the TM I had but spin was good.

[Loose]

I was never a big wedge player as I honestly found ways to game my pw and sw as needed UNTIL I finally got myself a 52 MG3. Smooth ball striking and nice playability around the greens, thought I’d get another loft or two until I tried the SM9 in 54 and 58. I took back my 52 MG3 and got an SM9 50. For me nothing gave me the feel of control with the ball and the purity of each strike that the vokeys do. I haven’t had them long enough to comment on their wear but it’s going to be a difficult sell for me to steer away from vokey at this point.

[Golfrtm]

I bought the MG4 when it came out and have some mix feelings. There is nothing like pulling off the plastic protection off a new wedge! Straight out the grooves are the roughest surface I have ever felt on a club. Spin is tremondous, even in wet conditions (play in GA at 7:30 am and there is alway dew) to a point that you need to plan on hit and stop even from short chips. After about 4 rounds (only 2 bunker shots) I started to notice the angled grooves started to disapear below the first groove. Slowly they started to wear more and more and I have attached the picture of the face after 10 rounds. Not a bad thing to have the grooves wear down a bit and would have loved if they stayed longer. The one surprising thing about the wedge is the Lamkin grip. I do not like Lamkin grips and favor GP Tour 360, but the grip is really nice and have not changed. 

Compared to a Vokey (long time user), I would say the Vokey groove last longer and the heads are slightly harder feeling than the MG4. As of now, the MG4 is still in the bag.

[ChitownM2]

On 10/30/2023 at 2:02 PM, Dooby said:

Do you think that new "Spin Tread" tech is noticeable? I mean to the actual, physical touch it is very different than other wedges. I'm more curious if it is actually something that shows a benefit in play.

I guess my opinion differs from the above but I would say that it is extremely noticeable.  Like a fine 500 grit sandpaper.  I do have concerns though about the durability of the spin tread grooves....it seems like they really do show wear extremely fast. I'm not sure how deep they really need to be to do their job in the wet so maybe it's not a big deal, but from a looks and feel perspective they wear down to being much smoother than they are out of the package after only a few rounds.  

That said, I think once these micro grooves wear down the club will be the same as a Vokey or similar that don't have much in the way of micro grooves for wet performance so it's not really a total loss.  I'll be paying attention as I use them but I'm betting the best performance is going to be for guys on tour who get new wedges every tournament and the new tech isn't going to be a big deal for the average golfer who keeps wedges for a season or 2 or 5.

[Preeway]

On 10/30/2023 at 12:42 PM, cnosil said:

I have a. SM8 and an SM9 in my bag.  I typically played Cleveland wedges in the past and have had Mizuno in my bag as well.   As one if the most wanted testers, I have the opportunity to hit all the clubs in the various tests.  The TM wedges have been really good the past few years and I wouldn’t hesitate to game them.  IMO, Titleist are overrated and wear really quickly.  If I were looking for new wedges it would probably be a toss up between TM and Cleveland with TM having a slight edge.  

I’m a long time Cleveland wedge fan and looking to add a 50° wedge to my arsenal this winter. I currently play Mizuno irons and I’m debating between the T24 and the RTX6. I feel like I know what to expect from the RTX6 but there some appeal to getting a wedge that will match up with my current iron set. Curious on your thoughts of the two wedges. 

[cnosil]

6 minutes ago, Preeway said:

I’m a long time Cleveland wedge fan and looking to add a 50° wedge to my arsenal this winter. I currently play Mizuno irons and I’m debating between the T24 and the RTX6. I feel like I know what to expect from the RTX6 but there some appeal to getting a wedge that will match up with my current iron set. Curious on your thoughts of the two wedges. 

I think it comes down to personal preference.   I have always been a fan of Cleveland wedges so I’d probably lean that way.  I had a T20 wedges my bag and it was good but in my mind not as good as Cleveland.   Since I am not a strong believer in matching up brands,  so if you didn’t catch it earlier, I’d go Cleveland .  

[Swood1994]

Probably not the best add to the discussion as Taylormade wedges are one of the only brand I have not played. However, I have played Cleveland, Mizuno, Wilson, and Vokeys.

For me Vokeys were always at the top. They are not the most forgiving, but they have a lot of spin and playability for my game. 

[Preeway]

26 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I think it comes down to personal preference.   I have always been a fan of Cleveland wedges so I’d probably lean that way.  I had a T20 wedges my bag and it was good but in my mind not as good as Cleveland.   Since I am not a strong believer in matching up brands,  so if you didn’t catch it earlier, I’d go Cleveland .  

Yeah, that’s where I’m leaning too. Might have to test out the T24 just to see how it swings compared to my 921s. Only thing pushing me that direction is this will be more of a full-ish swing GW so matching it close to my PW might make sense. I don’t swing my 56° full very often and play it more often from 50-100 yards. 

[Dooby]

45 minutes ago, ChitownM2 said:

I guess my opinion differs from the above but I would say that it is extremely noticeable.  Like a fine 500 grit sandpaper.  I do have concerns though about the durability of the spin tread grooves....it seems like they really do show wear extremely fast. I'm not sure how deep they really need to be to do their job in the wet so maybe it's not a big deal, but from a looks and feel perspective they wear down to being much smoother than they are out of the package after only a few rounds.  

That said, I think once these micro grooves wear down the club will be the same as a Vokey or similar that don't have much in the way of micro grooves for wet performance so it's not really a total loss.  I'll be paying attention as I use them but I'm betting the best performance is going to be for guys on tour who get new wedges every tournament and the new tech isn't going to be a big deal for the average golfer who keeps wedges for a season or 2 or 5.

Interesting and that actually makes a lot of sense.  I've only felt the spin tread with my hands and not with a swing/ball and you are right about it feeling like sandpaper. It's honestly what piqued my interest. It is something different and new that is tangible.  Please update over time if you do think the spin tread wears off quite fast.  That would almost kill the trade-in/buying used market for these clubs as well I would think.

[funkyjudge]

On 10/30/2023 at 12:45 PM, Dooby said:

I noticed in the wedge guide for 2023 that the SM9 was not in the consideration since it was previously covered and the guides only cover new/unreviewed products.  So, I was wondering what everyone has thought of the MG4s vs the SM9s.  I personally own a set of SM9s but the new tech in the MG4 face has me pretty curious about them.  I had an opportunity to see and feel MG4s in person recently and it is pretty interesting how rough(?) (not sure how to describe the face) the face of them felt with the newly marketed "Spin Tread".  Honestly, it felt like it would take the cover off of any ball pretty quickly.

Does anyone game the MG4s or has anyone tested them versus SM9s or another competitors wedges? Or even the previous model, MG3s?

I have tested the TM MG4 and Vokey SM9 wedges vs. my Ping Glide 2.0 (54.12 and 58.10) wedges, as well as two of my first-generation Edison wedges (54* and 59* lofts). I now have the Edison 2.0 wedges in 48*, 53* and 58* lofts, but didn't have them when I did this wedge comparison/test in August.  The SM4 wedges gave me a bit more spin than any of the others (about 200-300 RPM on full shots and less than 200 RPM on partial shots vs. my Ping Glide 2.0 wedges, which I consider to be pretty-much insignificant). The Vokey SM9 wedges actually gave me LESS spin than the well-used Ping Glide 2.0 wedges (not worn-out or smooth on the faces, but played a good 40-50 rounds, I would estimate) and LESS spin than the first-generation Edison wedges, which had been in my bag for close to as many rounds as the Pings.

The worst thing about those MG4 wedges is that they absolutely DO tear up the cover of Urethane golf balls, as you suspected they would do. Right from the first full-swing shot, there was a significant amount of white cover material on the faces of the MG4 wedges (not so much, if any on partial shots, but it was evident after full shots). I didn't get much, if any, ball-shredding with any of the other wedges .... maybe just a little bit with the new Vokey SM9s, but very little.

My first-gen Edison wedges were showing the most wear (especially the 54* and 59*, both of which I have used out of the sand a great deal; I have 4 of them in total - 44*, 49*, 54* and 59*), so I put the Ping Glide 2.0 wedges back in my bag until I got my new Edison 2.0 wedges last month. I am still getting used to the Edison 2.0s, so the Glide 2.0 wedges have been in my bag for my season-ending tournaments and competitive golf, and they have served me extremely well, particularly in damp conditions and with the morning dew that I see almost every round that I play. I don't consider 200-300 RPM to be a significant loss of spin, when I was getting 10,000+ RPM with all but the first-gen Edison wedges and the SM9s when I did my test, so I will not be gaming the ball-shredding MG4 wedges, and certainly not the SM9 wedges, which gave me 9,300-9,400 RPM on my absolute best full shots with them.

[funkyjudge]

One thing that I will add to this discussion -- I own some older Vokey wedges (mostly SM7 models, plus two lower-bounce SM8 wedges).  I took the two low-bounce Vokeys on my NW England + Scotland golf trip last July for use on those tight links fairways and around the greens from the firm turf.  They haven't been hit since that trip, but they will definitely be in my bag for the golf trip that I am taking to Scotland (St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and several more Scottish links courses) next May and June.  The variety of sole grinds and bounces offered in the Vokey wedge linup can't be beat.

[RHB75]

This year I started with Taylormade MG3's. But I knew it was time to replace my worn out wedges. I read all the reviews on the SM9s and since I've played Titleist wedges exclusively in the past, I gave them a go. Immediately I missed the sound, the feel and the accuracy of my MG3s. So I traded in my SM9s for MG4s and love them. Once again I can feel all my shots and the accuracy I have with them is outstanding.  My game depends on my short game. I am good off the tee and around the green....its the approach game that needs work. And once again I am shooting around 75 or below.

[Coachbutnotgolf]

I have a 52° MG4 and I love it. I have used it extensively in 2 rounds. I didn’t see any extra “wear” on balls. I use Titleist Tour Speed and Maxfli Tour. I love the spin and stopping of the MG4 compared to the SM9. I am not a “brand” guy, just want what works best for me. I am just your average golfer, but wedge play is usually pretty good. Just my 2 cents. 

[Gmangolfr]

I go back and forth between the Clevelands RTX and thet Taylormade MG3s Both are great wdges but I thinnk that the TM3s give a bit more stop on approach. I look forward to trying out the TM4s soon however we just got 10 inches of snow in Denver on September 28th so it might be a while until I get the chance.

[KC Golf]

8 hours ago, Golfrtm said:

I bought the MG4 when it came out and have some mix feelings. There is nothing like pulling off the plastic protection off a new wedge! Straight out the grooves are the roughest surface I have ever felt on a club. Spin is tremondous, even in wet conditions (play in GA at 7:30 am and there is alway dew) to a point that you need to plan on hit and stop even from short chips. After about 4 rounds (only 2 bunker shots) I started to notice the angled grooves started to disapear below the first groove. Slowly they started to wear more and more and I have attached the picture of the face after 10 rounds. Not a bad thing to have the grooves wear down a bit and would have loved if they stayed longer. The one surprising thing about the wedge is the Lamkin grip. I do not like Lamkin grips and favor GP Tour 360, but the grip is really nice and have not changed. 

Compared to a Vokey (long time user), I would say the Vokey groove last longer and the heads are slightly harder feeling than the MG4. As of now, the MG4 is still in the bag.

Wow, this wear looks serious compared to my SM9s.  I am more than 20 rounds in with my 52 and I am no where near that kind of wear.  Loving my Vokeys.  I am thinking about trying a TM MG3 Wedge 60 - 10, to see why its winning the MGS tests.  

[GolfSpy_BEN]

I game a 48 degree SM-9 and MG3’s in 54 & 58 degrees. The Vokey is solid, but the MG3’s are my favorite wedges of all time. When it comes time to replace the MG3’s, I would lean toward the MG4’s but by then the SM-10 will be out, so

[bens197]

I WANT to love the MG4 wedges so bad.  The design and shape of them are everything I want in a wedge…

…I’ve had an awful experience with the first gen Milled Grind and the Milled Grind 2.  I gave up trying and know what I have in my Vokey wedge.  It doesn’t mean I won’t try again however it’s one of those things where you can’t put a club in your bag knowing you can’t “hope it” to be effective.

[climberboy2000]

I've mostly played with Titleist wedges throughout the years.  But I recently bought a new 50 degree MG4 and love the spin on it.  Like everyone has said, the face when you pull it out of the plastic is the roughest I've ever seen.  I bought the 50 degree to replace my 52 degree and gain some distance.  But I'm still about the same distance, but now no roll out, it just sticks.  I also just picked up a Ping Glide 4.0 60 degree to try it out the other day.  Feels good swinging, but my first three shots during my round were "rough".  Need to take it the range and play around a bit.

[wely324]

i recently picked up a sm9 54 and 60, and compared to my ping glide 3.0 wedges they had noticeably less spin. Was it a lot? Not a huge difference around the green, but very noticeable on full shots. I might need more time with them, but the ping glides would rip back while the SM9 seemed like a potato sac landing on the green like a dud. The SM9 had S400 while the pings had x100.

[Dooby]

22 hours ago, RHB75 said:

This year I started with Taylormade MG3's. But I knew it was time to replace my worn out wedges. I read all the reviews on the SM9s and since I've played Titleist wedges exclusively in the past, I gave them a go. Immediately I missed the sound, the feel and the accuracy of my MG3s. So I traded in my SM9s for MG4s and love them. Once again I can feel all my shots and the accuracy I have with them is outstanding.  My game depends on my short game. I am good off the tee and around the green....its the approach game that needs work. And once again I am shooting around 75 or below.

How do you feel about the Spin Tread and new tech in the MG4? Especially compared to the SM9s and the MG3s

[mackdaddy]

I play a MD 3 56* bent to 54* in the Tiger grind.  I also had an SM 8 60* in M grind for part of the year.  I switched to a Renegar 58* wedge, it is just so versatile.  I am planning to have a different Tiger grind 56* bent to 58* to try in the spring.  I love the grind on the Tiger 56 the leading edge and sole shape work well for me on the 54* and bending it added bounce.  Bending one to 58* would lower the bounce and I think that would be great to add for tight fairways.  I plan to try it and see how it works for me.  I can really spin the ball with my TM MD3 tiger grind.

[Fred Mitchell]

What no love for the Hi Toe 4 Taylormade lol. I Have 1 in 56 but prefer my 52 RTX Zipcore fullface for anything but sand or hacking out of the deep stuff.

[Josh Parker]

Just saw that Vokey is releasing a WedgeWorks A Grind built for hard turf/sand but only for the Right Handers currently.  4 degree bounce.