by James Achenbach
Several Titleist staff pros favor vivid paintfill colors on
their irons and wedges. Rickie Fowler, for example,
likes Cowboy Orange because of his days at Oklahoma
State.
It didn’t take long for the general public to ask for
personalized clubs, and Titleist has responded with new
wedges under the WedgeWorks banner. Consumers will
be able to choose from four toe engravings with 10
color combinations, eight grips, five shafts and four
shaft bands, in addition to personalized and hand-
stamped names or nicknames with 20 paintfill colors.
It isn’t all cosmetic. One of Vokey’s favorite grinds,
called TVD (Tour Van Design), will be featured in this
new WedgeWorks series. It will be available in lofts of
52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees.
“This is something I have wanted to do for a long
time,” Vokey said. “I’ve spent the last few years
training some very talented people. We use them in
our tour department, and now we will use them for
these WedgeWorks TVD wedges.”
For the remainder of 2010, these wedges will be
manufactured with a choice of two groove
configurations – the larger aggressive grooves (chrome
finish only) or the smaller condition-of-competition
grooves (chrome or Oil Can Zero finish).
Beginning Jan. 1, all manufacturers will be prohibited
from making the larger grooves, although retailers will
be allowed to sell their remaining stock.
The new TVD wedges are part of the evolution of
WedgeWorks, which was started by Titleist in 2008. At
first, the company released special WedgeWorks
editions of Vokey wedges, usually from 150 to 300
pieces, and usually they sold out quickly.
Now comes the extended program of customized
options.
• • •
Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled TVD wedges
The skinny: The TVD grind is a first cousin of Vokey’s
famous M grind. Avid golfers should note that the
distinctive Oil Can Zero finish can be bent up to 2
degrees for loft and lie as opposed to 1 degree for
chrome (because chrome plating can crack if bent too
vigorously).
Cost: $150 for base wedge with Dynamic Gold shaft
(upcharges from $15 to $25 for other shafts);
additional $25 personalization package includes four
stamped characters, manufacturer’s shaft band, eight
grip options; additional $50 personalization package
includes eight stamped characters, choice of four toe
engravings, four shaft band options, eight grip choices.
Available: Immediate for larger aggressive grooves
(chrome finish); late September or early October for
smaller condition-of-competition grooves (chrome or
Oil Can Zero finish).
