Vokey SM9 Wedges

Bob Vokey has been a legendary wedge designer for Titleist since the mid-1990’s.

Now 83, he first made a name for himself in the early 1980’s as the personal club master for some of the biggest names in professional golf.

In 1986, he joined TaylorMade, and by 1991, he had helped to start Founder’s Club with Gary Adams, the founder of TaylorMade and the creator of the metal wood.

Five years later, in 1996, Vokey joined Titleist, where he was soon given the responsibility for leading a new high performance wedge design initiative for the company.

The success of that venture over the past 25-plus years is one the most remarkable achievements in golf club manufacturing history.

Today, one out of two wedges on the PGA Tour is a Vokey and 60 percent of PGA Tour winners last season had at least one Vokey wedge in their bag.

Around the world, Vokey wedges are synonymous with excellence, more popular than any other wedge for players of all abilities.

The reason, says Vokey, is very straightforward.

“Wedge play is simple,” he says. “It’s about proximity to the hole. With the new SM9 wedges, you’re going to hit it closer to the hole, more often.”

Let’s explore what makes this latest evolution of Vokey wedge design the best one yet.

Perhaps the biggest improvement in the new SM9 wedge line is the progressive center of gravity (CG) throughout the lofts.

This optimizes the ball flight, accuracy and forgiveness of every shot.

By using tapered top lines and varied hosel lengths, the Vokey team has raised the height of the CG in the higher lofts, which promotes a lower, more controlled flight.

The CG is also forward of the face, which results in increased MOI, exceptional feel and a club face that wants to square up at impact.

When it comes to wedge play, a flatter trajectory with plenty of spin is the Holy Grail for better players.

It’s the definition of control, and if you’ve ever experienced it, you understand the magic of such precision.

What’s more, with new Vokey SM9 wedges, you will not only hit flatter shots with more spin on your clean strikes…

…but the high/forward CG will also help prevent those high right squirt shots that occur when the face hangs open a bit.

To counterbalance the progressive hosels and thicker topline, Vokey has put additional weight in the forward toe section.

This leaves the new Vokey SM9 wedges with a slightly heel-favoring center of gravity.

Over the decades, Bob Vokey has found that a bit of heel bias works better for distance and trajectory control.

The new SM9 wedges also feature patented Spin Milled grooves that are meticulously engineered through a new cutting process to maximize spin and versatility.

Every groove on every SM9 wedge is individually cut based on loft and finish. 

Low lofts (42-54-degrees) are designed with narrower, deeper grooves…while higher lofts (56-62-degrees) have wider, shallower grooves.

The grind is the shape of the sole and arguably the key element for fitting. 

When the grind isn’t right, it can lead to digging and fat shots that come up short.

If the grind isn’t helping you get into the turf enough, it can lead to thin shots.

Vokey wedges are designed to deliver the right grind for the right shot.

This means that all the wedges in your bag should not necessarily have the same grind. You need the right tool for the right job.

The new Vokey SM9 wedges come in six different grinds to serve every purpose.

The F Grind is an all-purpose grind particularly suited for full shots and shots hit with a square face. It is ideal for players who prefer a   traditional wedge sole. The F grind is the most played sand wedge on Tour.

The M Grind is Bob Vokey’s favorite, designed for players who like to rotate the club face open and closed to execute shots around the green. It is ideal for players with a shallower, more sweeping swing who play shots from a variety of club face positions.

The S Grind features a full sole that has been narrowed by a trailing edge grind, giving it a faster feel through the turf. This grind is best for neutral to firm conditions and for players who like to control loft with their hands ahead or behind the ball.

The D Grind blends versatility from a heel, toe and trailing edge grind and forgiveness with its high measured bounce. The D Grind is ideal for players with a steeper angle of attack who play shots from a variety of clubface positions.

The K Grind is the highest bounce wedge in the lineup and is the ultimate bunker club. A wide, full sole wedge with enhanced camber, the K Grind is forgiving from a variety of softer sand and turf conditions.

The L Grind is the lowest bounce option in the mix. The heel, toe, and trailing edge relief allow for maximum greenside versatility. This club is perfect for firm conditions and designed for precise players who have complete control at impact, allowing for maximum shot-making versatility.

The new Vokey SM9 wedges come in a variety of finishes, including Tour Chrome, Brushed Steel, Jet Black and Raw.

The stock shaft is True Temper Dynamic Gold and the grip is Golf Pride Tour Velvet White.

Anyone can manufacture a wedge, but it takes a master to turn a piece of high-performance technology into an instrument of creative control.

Bob Vokey has spent decades crafting, developing and improving his high performance wedge designs—in collaboration with top PGA Tour Pros.

You’ll find that the new Vokey SM9 wedges are his best versions yet.

Come try the exceptional new Vokey SM9 wedges in our state-of-the-art indoor fitting bays.

Our stores feature TrackMan 4 and GCQuad indoor simulators to provide invaluable high-tech feedback as a key part of our expert custom club fitting process.

You‘ll see all the performance data on the screen as we provide you with an expert custom fit. It’s the best way to improve your short game this year with the new Vokey SM9 wedges.