FAIRHAVEN, Mass. (Jan. 21, 2014) – New Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 5 wedges
deliver more spin and more types of shots, providing golfers with more ways to
hit it close and shoot lower scores.
Vokey Spin Milled 5 (SM5) wedges are the best performing wedges in the
game, a result of Master Craftsman Bob Vokey’s decades of research and
collaborating with the world’s best players, such as Adam Scott, Steve Stricker
and Jason Dufner. Since 2004, Vokey Design wedges have been the #1 wedge
on the PGA Tour and the most played wedge at every level of competitive golf.
Precisely designed and manufactured using proprietary Spin Milled technology,
Vokey SM5 wedges provide a distinct performance advantage through new,
deeper TX3 grooves, tour-driven shapes and the industry’s most extensive
range of bounce and grind options.
New TX3 grooves, with seven percent larger groove volume and two
performance configurations, deliver maximum spin by channeling away grass
and sand for improved contact between the ball and groove edge. Spin Milled
technology also provides trajectory and distance control through precisely
milled grooves and machined face texture. Every SM5 wedge is milled to the
tightest tolerance in the industry, with each groove individually cut to the
maximum dimensions allowed by the Rules of Golf and 100-percent inspected.
A localized, high frequency face treatment provides increased groove durability
for longer spin retention over the life of the wedge.
For years, Vokey and his team of craftsmen, including Vokey Tour
representative Aaron Dill, have utilized tour player input and feedback to
produce the largest and most effective range of bounce and sole grind options
in the game. Vokey SM5 wedges are available in 21 different loft/bounce/grind
combinations and six tour-inspired sole grinds, appropriately slotted into low,
mid and high bounce categories to fit all swing types, shot-making styles and
short game conditions.
“I’ve always said I have the best R&D facility in the world – the PGA Tour,”
Vokey said. “I worked closely with our team of craftsmen and engineers to
apply everything I’ve learned from the best players in the world to Spin Milled
5. We’ve increased the spin. We’ve given players more control. And we’ve got a
bounce and grind matrix that will provide the versatility and confidence to hit a
variety shots around the green and get up and down more.”
Available in golf shops beginning March 14, SM5 wedges feature a more
compact and balanced profile with three new finish options Tour Chrome, Gold
Nickel and Raw Black. Each wedge has new, clean graphics, with the grind
designation (i.e., “S Grind”) called out on the club, and increased space for
five-character personalized stamping. Vokey’s popular personalization and
custom options have also been expanded.
MORE SPIN THROUGH NEW TX3 GROOVES: New Spin Milled TX3 grooves, the
third generation of Vokey’s tour extreme scoreline, produce maximum spin for
improved trajectory and distance control. TX3 scorelines – with two different
performance configurations – feature 17 precise, individually cut and 100-
percent inspected grooves that continue to push the confirming limits of
effective edge radius for increased backspin.
TX3 grooves in the 46º to 54º lofts are deeper and narrower than the previous
generation Vokey SM4 grooves. With seven percent larger volume, each groove
better channels away grass, sand and debris for cleaner ball to edge radius
contact and increased spin. The narrower geometry delivers precision distance
and trajectory control, significantly reducing the chance of “flyers” from the
rough.
“We received a lot of feedback from tour players regarding ‘flyers.’ They don’t
want them,” said Dill, who works on the Titleist Tour Van, building and grinding
wedges for PGA Tour players. “On tour these guys have to aim to a lot of small
targets. They need to trust that their golf ball will travel the exact distance they
need it to, even from a tough lie in the rough. The deep and narrow TX3 groove
helps push the grass down better, which gives you that increased edge radius
contact for more spin and consistent distance.”
TX3 grooves in the 56º to 62º lofts take advantage of the highly precise Spin
Milled process. They maintain the same width as the prior generation but are
deeper, with seven percent larger volume, for more spin and control around the
greens.Most players will experience up to 500 rpm of additional spin on full
shots from the rough with the lower-lofted SM5 wedges, and up to 400 rpm in
the higher lofts, compared to previous generation SM4 wedges. Both
configurations provide the same spin performance from the fairway and shorter
grass.
“These two groove geometries delivered the best performance,” Vokey said.
“The groove configuration changes with the 56º model because this is where
testing showed that the player makes a more oblique impact versus a more
direct impact in the lower lofts. The wider TX3 groove on the higher lofts will
sheer away the grass, rather than pushing it into the groove, and perform
better on partial shots.”
SPIN MILLED PROCESS: Every Spin Milled 5 wedge is made of 8620 carbon steel
and manufactured with industry-leading, proprietary Spin Milled technology. The
process begins with a double fly cut face that provides the perfect preparation
for texture and grooves. The face surface is precisely machined with a series of
milled micro edges to the maximum conforming surface roughness, creating
higher face friction for more consistent spin on partial shots. TX3 grooves are
CNC milled for precision to the maximum dimensions allowed by the Rules of
Golf, resulting in maximum spin for trajectory and distance control. Each
groove is individually cut at a slower speed for improved tolerances on both
groove size and edge radius. Every SM5 wedge also undergoes a unique
localized face heat treatment that significantly increases the durability of the
wedge’s groove edge radius, substantially impeding the loss of spin due to wear
with no difference in feel.
100% GROOVE INSPECTION: Prior to the launch of the Vokey SM4 wedges,
Titleist made a significant investment in technology that establishes 100-percent
inspection of every groove on every Vokey wedge that is produced. This allows
Titleist to manufacture wedges to tighter tolerances than the rest of the
industry. Each new TX3 groove is evaluated using computer-guided plotting
technology in which a digital stylus is piloted to trace the contours of each
groove. Three-dimensional coordinates are recorded and plotted as the stylus
moves, compiling data that can be translated into measurements of the
groove’s total volume and edge radius. This enables the manufacturing team to
machine the grooves right up against the edge of the maximum allowable
0.011-inch radius specification, providing players the highest possible spin and
trajectory control without fear of non-compliance.
MORE TYPES OF SHOTS: With more bounce and sole grind options, as part of an
industry-leading model matrix, Vokey SM5 wedges provide the versatility for
improved shotmaking, giving players the confidence to execute more shots
around the green.
Spin Milled 5 wedges are available in lofts of 46º to 62º (in two degree
increments) and six tour-inspired sole grinds (L, T, S, M, F and K), with each
model properly sorted into low, mid and high bounce categories. The result is
the game’s most extensive and effective selection of bounce and grind options,
made up of 21 different loft/bounce/grind combinations to satisfy all swing
types, shot-making styles and turf conditions.
“With wedges, it’s never one size fits all,” Vokey said. “Wedges are required to
hit many different types of shots. And every player has a different technique, a
different style. That’s why we have so many options. It’s important that players
see an authorized Titleist fitter to get fit for their SM5 wedges, so they know
they’re playing a setup that fits their game.”
Two of Vokey’s most popular grinds – S and M – are now available in 54º, 56º,
58º and 60º lofts. There are also four bounce and grind choices in the 58º and
60º lofts, including the addition of the new K Grind, which played a part in two
major championship victories last season. The 46º to 52º F Grind models
feature wider soles for increased playability, while the 54º to 60º M Grind
models have enhanced heel to toe radius for improved turf interaction.
SM5 offers two mid-bounce sand wedge options in both the 54º and 56º lofts,
based on feedback from Titleist fitters and tour players that more bounce is
preferred out of the bunker. The S and M Grinds, with 10º of bounce, also
provide more versatility from the sand.
TOUR-PROVEN SOLE GRINDS: Each SM5 sole grind is derived from Vokey’s
work with players on the PGA Tour. The S Grind, for example, was inspired by
Steve Stricker, who likes to play his wedges in a square position with the shaft
leaning away from the target. Available on four mid-bounce SM5 models (54º to
60º), the S Grind features a full sole with moderate heel relief and a medium
ribbon ground along the trailing edge.
“Steve has a shallow angle of attack, with little to no wrist action. The S Grind
gives him the versatility to hit many different shots around the green, even
with his neutral style,” Vokey said. “For players that like to rotate the face
open, the M Grind is a very popular option.”
The K Grind, the newest addition to the Vokey Spin Milled family, was born out
of Vokey’s recent work with several tour players, including Adam Scott and
Jason Dufner. The K Grind features a wide sole with increased bounce and
enhanced camber that is playable in a variety of conditions. Last season, both
Scott and Dufner played K Grind wedges in their victories at the Masters
Tournament and PGA Championship, respectively.
“Both Adam and Jason were looking for a sand wedge that was very forgiving
out of the bunker, but still allowed them to hit a lot of different shots around
the green,” Vokey said. “When Adam put it into play last year at Augusta
National, with all of its tight lies, I knew we’d found it.”
