pga tour pro wedges

What Wedges Do the Pros Use? Top 100 PGA Tour Player Analysis (2023 update)

Written by Graeme Hay | Last Updated: 21/05/2024

The march of golf technology has led to ever increasing numbers of specialist and highly customized clubs and when it comes to golf wedges especially that trend has been very clear.

Long gone are the days of golfers simply choosing a standard pitching and sand wedge and in its place have come wedges with seemingly infinite different loft, grind, bounce, and finish options.

The pros are always at the forefront of the latest and best wedges so to see what we can learn from the best players we have taken an in-depth look at the wedge setups of the top 100 players on the PGA Tour.

Titleist wedges are the most used by the top 100 PGA Tour pros with 59 playing at least one of their models. PING wedges are used by 14 pros with Callaway and Cleveland wedges chosen by 13 and 12 respectively. 88% of this group use 4 wedges including a pitching, gap, sand, and lob wedge of varying lofts from 46º to 64º.

That breakdown only gives us part of the picture however when it comes to the wedges being used by the pros and after examining the wedges chosen by the best players on the PGA Tour in detail it is fascinating to see the choices and the trends that emerge such as the rise of the specialist pitching wedge.

Also not only have we analyzed how many and what degree of wedges they carry but we’ve also checked out what bounce and grind of wedges they are using as well as looking at what has changed since we last time we did this in-depth study of the most popular wedges on Tour a couple of years back.

Most Popular Wedges on Tour? Vokey is Titleist’s Leader

When it comes to the wedge brands used by the best pros there is one clear winner.

Of the 387 different wedges used by the best players on the PGA Tour made by 12 different manufacturers 46% are produced by Titleist with the next most played brand being PING whose wedges account for only 14% of the wedges used by comparison.

Callaway wedges make up 12% of the wedges played with Cleveland’s models making up 10%.

Titleist Vokey’s SM9 is the most used wedge by the top 100 PGA Tour pros with 42 using at least one. It accounts for over 1/4 of all the wedges used by this group. Cleveland’s RTX Zipcore wedge is the next most popular including with Shane Lowry. PING’s Glide 4.0 & Callaway’s Jaws Raw models are those brands most used.

When we did this same in-depth study two years ago Titleist wedges accounted for 44% of all the wedges chosen by this elite group so it appears their dominance is only growing as time passes.

The most popular model back then was the Vokey SM8 and as such all that seems to have changed is that the large bunch of pros using them have simply upgraded to the SM9 version.

Such dominance by Titleist makes it far and away the wedge brand of choice for the best pros on Tour but when looking in detail at their wedges it doesn’t take long to see they have a huge number of unique preferences whether that be with respect to the bounce, loft, grind or finish of the wedges they chose.

We found 71 different wedge models in total being used by this group across all the different wedge types – pitching, gap, sand, and lob wedges – with a number of the wedges being listed as ‘prototypes’ or even having a specific grind attributed to a particular player.

It won’t surprise many to know also for example that Taylor Made’s Milled Grind 3 wedges are available with Tiger Woods’ chosen grind.

Every player is clearly different therefore and although different golfers may have the same model of wedge it is never one size fits all and many of the pros have their own unique requirements when it comes to bounce, grind, loft, and finish on that model.

How Many Wedges Do Pros Carry? Note the Specialists

The pros tend to tinker with their golf club set up a lot depending on where they are playing and the conditions they will be up against in any particular week.

But when we looked in detail at how many wedges the top 100 pros on the PGA Tour carry there were some clear indicators in terms of what they consider to be the best wedge set up.

88% of the top 100 PGA Tour pros carry 4 wedges including Rory McIlroy and Jordan Speith. The other 12% carry 3. The most common wedge set up, chosen by 50%, is a pitching wedge that matches their irons & 3 specialist wedges – a gap wedge ranging from 49º to 53º, a sand wedge from 53º to 59º and a lob wedge from 58º to 64º.

Players such as Phil Mickelson have been known in the past to occasionally carry a 5th wedge to give them more options for shots inside 125 yards, but that is a rare occurrence.

Indeed it is interesting to note that his great rival Tiger Woods carries only 3 wedges – a TaylorMade P7TW pitching wedge and a 56º sand wedge and a 60º lob wedge both of which are TaylorMade’s MG3 Raw TW Grind model.

The increasing trend we noticed when we did this study a couple of years ago is for the top pros to choose a specialty pitching wedge in place of a standard wedge which comes as part of their iron set and this group now stands at 36 strong across the top 100 compared to 28 two years back.

Justin Thomas, Jordan Speith, and Cameron Young are just a selection of some of the top 100 who are opting for the specialty wedge approach across all their wedges.

The arguments for doing this are that the narrower and deeper milled grooves give a more penetrating ball flight and more consistent spin while the increased grind and bounce options allow for increased shot creativity.

Commentators note that this trend is appearing across the younger generation of PGA Tour stars with the older guard sticking with their iron set matching pitching wedge but that also seems to be changing with Rory McIlroy for example now joining the four specialist wedge camp including a 46º MG3 wedge.

Irrespective of age however the trend of using specialty wedges exclusively is one we clearly saw again in our analysis with other notable names such as Hideki Matsuyama and Max Homa also following it.

Within the clear minority – 12% of the top 100 – opting to put only 3 wedges in their bag there are obviously some of the world’s best players, such as Shane Lowry, Adam Scott as well as the great Tiger Woods, in that group.

But these golfers are definitely among the few in terms of choosing that wedge set up on Tour.

It was interesting to note however that it tended to be the traditional 56º sand wedge that was the club that made way with those players using only 3 wedges typically opting for a gap wedge from between 51 to 54 degrees combined with a very lofted 58º sand or 60º lob wedge.

Within another definite minority also was Sam Burns who was in a group of only two in the top 100, alongside Maverick McNealy, using a non-specialist gap wedge – his Callaway Apex TCB ‘Approach’ wedge – that matched his iron set in addition to a pitching wedge.

Given Burns has been sitting comfortably in the top 20 on Tour for a couple of years now clearly shows however that there is more than one way to go about choosing your wedges and you don’t need a bag full of specialty wedges to be successful.

[Editor’s note – For our purposes we class a ‘specialty wedge’ as a wedge that isn’t sold as part of an iron set. Examples include Titleist’s Vokey range, PING’s Glide, Callaway’s Jaws, & Cleveland’s RTX wedges.]

What Degree Wedges Do the Pros Use on the PGA Tour?

I don’t know about you but one of the main things that strikes me when I watch the pros on TV these days is the ridiculous distances they seem to hit all their irons and especially their wedges.

Sitting about 150 yards out from the green it always amazes me that while I would be thinking 7-iron most likely players like Rory McIlroy we are told by the commentators are reaching for their pitching wedge.

We take a close look at how far the pros hit each club in another one of our articles here , and while they undoubtedly hit the ball a mile, on closer inspection of their wedges the disparity between us and them often becomes a bit clearer.

“What happened was years ago they always said a sand wedge was at 56 degrees, [then] all of a sudden along come irons that keep people for some reason [recognizing] distance so the manufacturers start strengthening all their irons. The next thing you know pitching wedges are all the way down to 43 degrees.” Bob Vokey, one of the world’s foremost wedge designers

For example, Brendan Todd’s ‘gap wedge’ has a degree loft of 49 degrees which is almost the same as my pitching wedge.

While I’m not saying for a minute that the differences in the iron lofts used by the pros explain why they hit the same club so much further than me it is important to bear in mind the degrees of wedges they are using if you are looking at the wedge models they use on Tour.

67% of the top 100 PGA Tour pros use a 46º pitching wedge with just over 10% each using a 47º and 48º model. For gap wedges 40% use 50º models with over 1/3 choosing a 52º loft. The most used sand wedge loft is 56º with nearly 1/2 of the top 100 picking that model while for lob wedges 64% of this group play with 60º models.

Looking at the degrees of wedges the pros use as a whole however doesn’t tell the whole story. One pro’s ‘sand’ wedge for example could be another player’s ‘lob wedge’.

CT Pan for example uses 4 wedges of lofts 46°, 52°, 59° and 64° while the degrees of the four wedges that Rory McIlroy chooses are 46 degrees, 50 degrees, 54 degrees, and 60 degrees.

So looking at a standard loft chart that classifies a ‘traditional’ sand wedge as 56° it would seem CT Pan doesn’t carry a sand wedge at all but instead uses 2 lob wedges given there’s only one degree of difference between his 59º wedge and McIlroy’s 60º lob wedge.

But Pan must use one of his four wedges out of the sand so which one is his ‘sand wedge’?

In reality it doesn’t matter of course and the point is simply that in the world of wedges today it is almost irrelevant what they are called.

The critical factor is that the various lofts of wedges any golfer carries cover a good degree of loft and therefore distances.

When it comes to the top 100 pros on the PGA Tour however they are far more precise than amateurs and can often go down to as much as a 1/4 of a degree when it comes to the shortest clubs in their bag to ensure their wedge distance gapping is as dialed in as possible.

Bob Vokey, one of the world’s foremost wedge designers, says he likes to see anywhere 4 to 6 degrees between the lofts of a golfer’s wedges which will equate to anywhere between 10 and 15 yards of distance for most male golfers.

Female and junior golfers will have 5 to 10-yard gaps by comparison.

A breakdown of the lofts of the lob wedges used by the top 100 PGA Tour golfers is given in the infographic below together with the brands of lob wedges they choose and you can see comparable information for the gap and sand wedges they play with in similar charts above.

What Grind and Bounce Wedges Do Pros Use?

One of the features of the advance of golf tech in recent times when it comes to wedges is the seemingly exponential rise in the options that are available.

And two of the key factors in these options are ‘grind’ and ‘bounce’.

While ‘bounce’ is the angle created between the leading edge of a wedge and the lowest point of the sole or trailing edge, wedge ‘grind’ is the manipulation or removal of material from the sole of the club, helping to improve contact with the turf or sand.

Grinds, in brief, therefore allow for more creativity and consistency around the green – providing the correct contact on the face – giving you the confidence to fly the ball lower, with more spin.

So what are the pros doing when it comes to the bounce and grind of the wedges that they use?

‘10’ bounce pitching wedges are the most used by the top 100 PGA Tour pros with ‘F’ the most chosen grind option. 8, 10, and 12 bounce gap and sand wedges are the most popular with F the most common gap wedge grind option compared to S grind for sand wedges. 8 bounce and T grinds are the most popular in lob wedges.

It should be noted however that bounce and grind data was not available for all the wedges we found used by the best pros on the PGA Tour and also different brands use different categorizations for their grind options which makes direct comparisons more difficult.

What was clear though from our analysis this year, and a couple of years back, is that there is clearly a large variety of grind and bounce options used across the top 100 pros on the Tour and especially when it comes to lob wedges where we found 15 different grinds being used.

“Bounce if your friend because it provides forgiveness on all types of wedge shots.” Bob Vokey, Master Craftsman and one of the world’s foremost wedge designers

The table below though gives a detailed breakdown of all the various bounce and grind wedges that we found through our research.

[Note – Just so you know, and we are upfront as an affiliate program participant, Golfing Focus, at no cost to you, earns from qualifying purchases made through links on this page.]

Before you go …

Ever wondered how far the pros hit their wedges compared to amateurs and how your own wedge distances stack up against other amateurs?

Read our next article to find out how far you should hit your wedges and the single best tip to hit your wedges those ‘inbetweener’ distances!

How Far Should You Hit Your Wedges? Be Sure to Fill the Gaps!

Other great articles related to this topic:

• What Clubs Do Pro Golfers Use? Top 100 PGA Tour Player Guide
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• The Fairway Woods Used by the Top 100 PGA Tour Pros
• What Hybrid Golf Clubs Do the Top 100 PGA Tour Pros Use?
• What Driving Irons Do the Pros Use on the PGA Tour?
• What Irons Do the Pros Use? Top 100 PGA Tour Player Guide
• What Putters Do the Pros Use? Top 100 PGA Tour Player Guide
• What Golf Balls Do the Pros Use? Top 100 PGA Tour Players Breakdown
• What Golf Grips Do the Pros Use? Top 100 PGA Tour Player Guide
• What Shafts Do Pros Use? Top 100 PGA Tour Player Breakdown
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What Wedges Do Pros Use? Most Used Wedges On Tour

• 7 mins read

For professional golfers, selecting the right wedges can be a critical part of their strategy. Even the slightest difference in loft or bounce can impact their ability to hit precise shots under varying course conditions. Read on to learn more about what wedges pros use and how you can apply their strategies to your own game.

The top 100 PGA Tour players utilize wedge models from a total of 15 different manufacturers, amounting to a selection of approximately 70 different options. Titleist, however, is the overwhelmingly preferred brand among these elite players.

Almost 80% of them carry four wedges in their bags, including a pitching wedge , a gap wedge , a sand wedge, and a lob wedge . These four wedges typically have varying loft angles ranging from 46° to 64°. When it comes to wedge bounce, 10 degrees is the most commonly used angle among these pros.

In this article, we’ll explore more about the different types of wedges used by professional golfers , the most popular on the PGA Tour, and also the number of wedges carried by professional golfers. 

What Wedges Do Pros Use?

When it comes to wedge selection, professional golfers have access to a wide range of options from various manufacturers, and here are some of the most used wedges on tour:

Titleist Vokey SM8

This wedge is a favorite among many top players, including Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. Its precise grooves and varied grind options make it a versatile choice for a variety of shots around the green.

TaylorMade Milled Grind Hi-Toe 

This is one the most used wedges on tour with a unique high-toe design that allows golfers to hit high, soft shots with more consistency. It’s a popular choice for players like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Callaway Mack Daddy 5

This wedge offers a variety of grind options and grooves that provide exceptional spin control. It’s a top choice for players like Phil Mickelson and Xander Schauffele.

Cleveland RTX ZipCore

This wedge features a unique core design that maximizes energy transfer for better ball speed and distance control. It’s a popular choice among players like Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama.

Some players may prefer wedges from different manufacturers or with different features. However, the most popular wedges on the PGA Tour tend to offer a balance of feel, spin control, and versatility.

How Many Wedges Do Pros Carry?

Best wedge players on tour typically carry between three and four wedges in their bags, in addition to their set of irons and woods. 

For example, a golfer who frequently plays on courses with challenging greens and deep bunkers may opt to carry four wedges to ensure they have the right club for any situation. 

A golfer who relies more heavily on their long game may choose to carry fewer wedges and instead focus on having a wider range of drivers and fairway woods.

A typical pro golfer’s wedge setup might include a pitching wedge with a loft of around 46-50 degrees, a gap wedge with a loft of around 50-54 degrees, a sand wedge with a loft of around 54-58 degrees, and a lob wedge with a loft of around 58-62 degrees.

Some best wedge players on tour may also carry a high-lob or flop wedge with a loft of 64-68 degrees for shots that require an extremely high trajectory.

However, below is a breakdown of the number of the most used wedges on a tour that gives a good overall idea of the trend of wedges used by the top 100 golfers on the PGA Tour:

What Brand Wedges Do Pros Use?

Professional golfers have a wide range of options when it comes to wedge brands, and some of the most popular wedge brands among pros include Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Cleveland, and Vokey.

What Bounce Wedges Do the Pros Use?

Pro golfers typically carry wedges with a variety of bounce angles to suit different conditions, but most pros tend to use wedges with mid-to-low bounce angles in the range of 4 to 10 degrees.

Given below is a breakdown of the various bounce wedges used by the top 100 PGA best wedge players on tour:

What Loft Wedges Do Pros Use?

Mostly best wedge players on tour tend to carry wedges with loft angles ranging from around 46 to 60 degrees, with the exact makeup of their set depending on their individual needs and preferences.

Below is a breakdown of the lofts of wedges used by the top 100 PGA Tour golfers. This breakdown represents the most commonly used loft ranges among these elite players but some golfers may carry wedges with lofts outside of these ranges.

According to Justin Thomas wedge setup, one of the best wedge players on tour, typically carries a Titleist Vokey SM8 pitching wedge with a loft of 46 degrees, a gap wedge with a loft of 52 degrees, a sand wedge with a loft of 56 degrees, and a lob wedge with a loft of 60 degrees. He also typically chooses PGA tour wedges with a relatively high bounce angle and a grind that allows him to open up the face for more versatility.

FAQs: What Wedges Do Pros Use

What degree wedges do the pros use on the pga tour.

Most pro golfers carry at least three or four wedges with varying degrees of loft to accommodate different shot types and situations. The top 100 PGA Tour players typically use pitching wedges with lofts ranging from 44 to 49 degrees, gap wedges with lofts ranging from 50 to 54 degrees, sand wedges with loft s ranging from 54 to 58 degrees, and lob wedges with lofts ranging from 58 to 64 degrees. 

What Wedge Do Most Pros Chip With?

Chipping is a critical part of the short game, and most pro golfers have a go-to wedge that they use for these types of shots. Many pros tend to use a wedge with a loft angle of around 58 to 60 degrees, combined with a grind and bounce angle that allows for versatility around the greens.

Are 72-Degree Wedges Legal?

Golfers often carry several wedges with varying lofts to accommodate different shots. However, it is illegal to use a wedge with a loft angle above the traditional maximum of 64 degrees. The maximum allowable loft angle for any club is 60 degrees, making any club with a loft angle above 60 degrees non-conforming and unsuitable for tournament play. The rules of golf may change over time, but for now, golfers must find alternative options if they need a wedge with a higher loft angle.

Conclusion: What Wedges Do Pros Use

Pro golfers may carry different numbers and types of wedges, but most tend to carry at least three or four wedges with varying lofts. The rules of golf dictate a maximum allowable loft angle of 60 degrees for any club, meaning that wedges with loft angles above this limit are not legal for use in tournament play.

The top 100 PGA Tour players use a diverse selection of approximately 380 different wedge models made by 15 different manufacturers. Titleist dominates the market with their clubs accounting for 44% of those used by these elite players. The most popular individual pitching, gap, sand, and lob wedge is Titleist’s Vokey Design SM8. Most players carry 4 wedges, including a pitching, gap, sand, and lob wedge of varying lofts from 46° to 64°.

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Opinion & Analysis

Three or four wedges what the top-10 wedge players on the pga tour use.

With the development and innovation of golf equipment through the years, golfers have more options now than ever. But with more options come more decisions. In this article, I share my research on an oft-debated topic: should you use three wedges or four?

Early on, golfers did not have much choice in the wedge department. They essentially had a relatively weak-lofted pitching wedge of around 50 degrees and a sand wedge around 56 degrees. In more modern times, short game guru Dave Pelz developed a very lofted wedge to help pros attack difficult pins. He persuaded Tom Kite to the “lob wedge” in tournament play and many pros followed suit. In 1984, Karsten Solheim, the founder of Ping, brought the lob wedge to the mass market. In the quest for distance and spin control, the lofts of iron sets have slowly gotten stronger. This started in the ’90s when cavity-back irons offered newfound levels of spin and launch.

A standard pitching wedge is now normally around 45 degrees, with better players’ sets coming in at around 46-47 degrees. During the transition in the ’90s, there was an issue with club gapping, as in many cases the wedge setup was potentially 46-56-60. The 10 degrees between the pitching wedge and sand wedge is a big yardage gap, and requires lots of finesse to dial in those middle distances. As a result of this trend, the gap wedge was born to fill the void and the modern option of four wedges arrived.

Modern golf balls have also played a part, as they have further stretched the yardage gaps between clubs. With the reduced spin rates and groove restrictions, more loft is required to guarantee control and accuracy when compared directly to traditional balata balls.

Top-10 Wedge Players

Above is a list of the top-10 wedge players on the PGA Tour in 2015 based on average proximity from the hole from 50-125 yards. Their wedge setups are varied, but interestingly it’s a 50:50 split between three wedges and four.

At the top level of the game, wedge setup is likely to do with a combination of preference and gapping. Gapping plays a big part, but it’s not the be-all and end-all for pros. These guys spend many hours on the range and short game area, have great feel and most have no problems with what are know as “in-between” distances. They use loft, bounce, trajectory and spin to vary their shots routinely.

Some longer hitters use three wedges, some shorter hitters use four, and vice-versa. They use what works for them and they’ve all got one thing in common; they’ve thought about what wedge/club combination helps their scoring the most and so should you.

What’s the Best Setup for You?

Not everyone carries four wedges, and not everyone needs to. We all know the importance of wedge play: getting up-and-down results in birdies and par saves at many levels of the game. Find your yardage gaps, consider your weaknesses and then build your setup to fill in the blanks.

A good starting point is to look at the loft of your pitching wedge then choose the highest-lofted wedge that you are comfortable using. Aim to fill the space between these two clubs with Bob Vokey’s recommended 12-15 yards of gapping between the scoring clubs.

The Four-Wedge Setup

Pros:  Yardage gaps are easier to reproduce with stock swings. Extra bounce options in your setup can help with awkward lies or varied turf/sand.

Cons:  Shorter hitters may have bunched yardages with more wedges. Loss of a longer club can result in a yardage gap at the long end of the bag.

The Three-Wedge Setup

Pros:  No gapping issues at the long end of the bag. Less confusion with wedge choice.

Cons:  Larger yardage gaps, so more difficult “in-between” yardages to circumvent. Need to spend more time practicing to dial in the partial shots.

If you spend endless hours on the range and can gauge yardages with feel, then any setup will work for you. If you are a weekend warrior who doesn’t have much time to work on the “in-between” shots, then thinking about your yardage gaps and aiming for 12-15 yards of separation is a good start. The loss of a long iron, high-lofted fairway wood or hybrid and addition of a wedge isn’t always bad, as you’ll likely be hitting more wedges than long irons during a round.

One thing is for sure, however; properly gapping your wedges will help you to lower your scores by saving strokes.

Focus on Fitness: What happens when an average golfer trains like a pro?

Golf has a cruel way of exposing a human, doesn’t it?

Nick grew up in Northern Ireland and now resides on the Isle of Man where he is a dentist in private practice. He is most likely to be found on the golf course or at the range working hard towards his ambition of becoming a scratch golfer. He is a serial club tinkerer and changes clubs and specs more often than a tour van. His golfing achievements include two hole-in-ones, a seventy-three and four-putting from fifteen feet.

48 Comments

Dec 27, 2018 at 2:19 pm

PING ZING2 wedges — W/G/LS/L … set 6-9 irons… lots of hybrids and fairways. PING G2 15.5 degree driver with stock soft shaft 47″…. 😮

May 3, 2016 at 12:46 pm

More than anything, the chart tells me that Roberto Castro needs to chat with Sneds about putting.

Apr 19, 2016 at 8:40 am

I think it boils down to if you plan to play a wedge past your Sand Wedge. Not everyone needs a 60* wedge, and reality is most probably don’t. I’ve even been told stay away from a 60* and if I wanted to play a higher lofted wedge use a 58* because they are more versatile. However; a 3 and 4 wedge setup can be the exact same with the only difference being is there a 58*/60* or not in the bag.

An old pro once told me the wedges are simple, always have them evenly gapped. To go one step further look at the gap between your 9 iron and your PW and use that gap or 1* more to space out your wedges.

Apr 17, 2016 at 4:34 am

Really it is a common sense approach as to what fits your game and works for you. Remember wedges are scoring clubs and not distance clubs. Personally I am a relic of the old school days when we only carried two wedges but I do carry 3 now and still use somewhat traditional lofts. I carry 48/52/57 and I have my bounces worked out for me. And yes I have seen some of these college and high school kids hit a PW 150 at sea level with a 43* PW and with delofting the face. I am a gambler but would not bet against that guy who says he hits a PW 160 or so. There are so any factors. LOL 150 for me now at sea level is my 38* 7 iron but that is ok 150 is 150

Apr 15, 2016 at 8:06 pm

It’s a longest pitching wedge competition…

Apr 14, 2016 at 12:26 pm

Haha very good! That player plays 46, 52, 56 and 60. Btw, have u ever tried a XE1? Is it any good?

Apr 24, 2016 at 3:31 am

I got one…its a great pooper scooper.

Apr 14, 2016 at 12:21 pm

I play 46, 50, 56, 60. But I will soon change to 46, 52, 58. Because it’s less expensive, I like to keep it simple and to play with max 12 clubs in my bags.

Apr 15, 2016 at 3:01 am

Yeah so you can spend more money on an expensive hybrid or fairway wood that costs twice as much as the extra wedge. Yeah that makes so much sense :-ppppp

Apr 15, 2016 at 8:21 am

You’re not helping!

Apr 15, 2016 at 10:42 pm

Apr 16, 2016 at 7:18 am

Actually I prefer to have three different Scotty Cameron putters in my bags. Just to have more options depending on the grass length, color, smell…

Apr 24, 2016 at 3:21 am

Exactly, wedges are for guys trying to save pars. knock it stiff and roll the rock I say. You need versatility in your putter for those stinky greens…

Double Mocha Man

Apr 14, 2016 at 10:58 am

What about the Five – Wedge setup? I carry a 45-48-54-60-64. Almost perfect gaps from 70 yards to 130 yards. If needed, I tweak the gaps by gripping up. I prefer full swings (for consistency) to partial swings.

Apr 14, 2016 at 10:59 am

Forgot to mention those are 15 yard gaps.

Apr 15, 2016 at 3:04 am

Those are pretty normal gaps, since your 45 is at 130, except that you have that extra 64 in it that most people wouldn’t have in this set up, they’ll do fine with the 60 and knocking it down. What do you have in the long end? Driver and 3w, then 4 hybrid? Obviously you’ve got enough distance from the looks of it

Apr 16, 2016 at 11:12 am

I have driver, 3 wood and 21 degree hybrid. Irons start at the 5 iron. Jeez, I remember when I had 2 through 9 iron. And two wedges.

Loser Smizzle

Apr 14, 2016 at 3:32 am

It’s the Indian and not the arrows! Thank you for this article!

11thatoneguy

Apr 14, 2016 at 2:10 am

“Other Paul” I have a 1000$ dollar challenge that says, you could not hit a PW 160 yards in carry distance and in real conditions. This I would assume would be carry distance, No one cares about roll with irons. I take it you play at a higher elevation than most, I play in Montana at elevation a lot and I get a significant increase in club distances. But those numbers are hard to fathom.

Apr 14, 2016 at 8:54 am

I suppose i could try and make a youtube video for you next i play golf and link it here. Don’t have a round planned at the moment…

Apr 14, 2016 at 9:09 am

Oops. Missed a word in my reply. Ha ha. I could hit some shots at a local performance center with my phone camera. And then go out doors and stand 10 yards back from a 150 yard marker and hit shots into the center of a green. But i have no idea if i can line my phone camera up to my laser for extra evidence.

Apr 14, 2016 at 10:36 am

You would lose that bet to soooo many people. The amount of golfers with 120+ driver swings is ridiculous nowadays. Many college teams have two or three guys that can carry driver 290 – 310. Add that kind of clubhead speed to someone who has some decent shaft lean and turns down their irons through impact, and you have a 160 carry PW. There’s a kid on my college golf team (I’m a coach) that can do that under “normal” conditions (75-85 degrees, 1000 feet above sea level), no problem.

But if by “normal conditions,” you mean “sea level at 50 degrees,” then the number of guys who can carry it 160 is much smaller! LOL!

Seriously, though, you need to watch out with bets like that on the internet nowadays….

Apr 14, 2016 at 2:07 pm

Shhhh. His $1000 could buy me a knew G series driver and pay for my golf for a month. I do deloft a fair bit…

Apr 14, 2016 at 11:19 pm

I got a little flightscope time tonight. Averaged 158 carry and 159 total with no warm up. Longest was 175 (Broke a few balls to, they ruin my average because they only go 120-130). I made a little video, and i will probably be done work early tomorrow and might get in 9 holes after work. I will take my clubs with and make a second video on the course. It appears i can line up my phone camera with my laser so i can get you some solid evidence. Cheers.

Dec 16, 2018 at 4:26 pm

Please do .

Apr 24, 2016 at 3:27 am

Ill take that challenge. And I’ll give ya 2 to 1 odds. I’ll even use my putter if you like

Apr 13, 2016 at 10:17 pm

46.52.58 at the bottom….Driver, Mini Driver, 5 Wood, 2 iron at the top. Works for me.

Apr 13, 2016 at 8:42 pm

Hmmmm I wonder who that could have been…………..?

Apr 13, 2016 at 6:19 pm

Good article. It does come down to knowing your yardages and knowing your short game skills.

Nick, do people still use the Manx language?

Apr 14, 2016 at 4:00 am

Hi Mike, thanks for the positive comment. Manx is not widely spoken at all save for people using some old Manx sayings day to day. There is one school on the Island that teaches in Manx but think its only 2% of the population claim to be able to speak and write Manx Gaelic. You should visit, great golf and motor sport.

Apr 13, 2016 at 6:07 pm

For those of us who don’t have the luxury of tons of practice, I would suggest consistent gaps and serious attention to bounce are the best guide from PW on up. 2 degrees one way or ‘tother don’t mean diddly. And, as we get older (like me), the long end of the bag gets less important as the short game becomes more critical. Find wedges that you really love and hold them dear. FYI, mine are the (modern) traditional 46/52/56/60. (The 46 is basically a 10 iron, which I seldom use around the greens.) Other clubs and creativity come in to play from there. Thanks for reading.

Apr 13, 2016 at 1:13 pm

I am surprised not to see any of the top 10 world ranked players on above list. Are those players without a GW really at a disadvantage? I would say that most amateurs should have a 50ish wedge to close the big gap between PW and SW unless you are skilled player and enjoy those 3/4 swings with your PW.

Apr 13, 2016 at 1:05 pm

So i hit it pretty far and use my wedges for these distances below. Should i add a 64° to have a club that doesnt go so far or would that be dumb? I could drop a 2 hybrid, that goes 275.

Pw full swing 160 52° 145 56 ° 130 60° 115-120

Apr 13, 2016 at 1:17 pm

Man, you should be on tour with thise numbers.

Apr 13, 2016 at 3:39 pm

I’m skeptical of anyone that claims to hit a 60* 120 yards. Tour players only hit their lob wedge around 95 yards on a full swing…

Apr 13, 2016 at 7:25 pm

Flightscope says i can do it. I average 117 MPH (can get to 125). Average drive is 306. Verified with a laser. I play a draw and i do struggle with a driver. I shoot in the low 80s. If i dont lose a ball of the tee then i have a 70% chance of making par or better. Im getting into stat tracking a little. I also only pulled out my 2 hybrid once in the last 18 holes. And i used every wedge.

Apr 14, 2016 at 1:27 am

With those yardages what is your effective loft with your 60 degree? Are you using the FlightScope off of grass? Sure, I can hit my 48 degree wedge almost 200 yards, but why would I if I can also do it with a my 6i. Nothing special with the yardages – just a question of whether it makes sense from a score point of view.

Apr 15, 2016 at 7:58 pm

They wont let me take the flightscope outside. I have about 8° forward shaft lean. So my pw is almost an 8i.

Apr 13, 2016 at 1:21 pm

You must have insane CH speed!!! Out of interest what’s your CH speed with driver??

Apr 13, 2016 at 6:42 pm

I have very similar numbers. My driver CH speed is upper 120’s. Working on feeling comfortable dialing that back to lower 120’s to pick up some accuracy.

Apr 13, 2016 at 7:30 pm

117 average but i can reach 125 on a hot day.

michael johnson

Apr 13, 2016 at 5:15 pm

just wanted to let you know that i hit low 64 135 and would definitely recommend it.

Deano Bravo

Hitting it that distance once doesn’t mean you do all the time. Its about consistent repeatable shots. I hit my PW 120m(132yds) but can hit it up to 130m(143yds) which i never do as i have no control or repeatability.

Carry distance and total distance are different numbers as well

Apr 13, 2016 at 7:28 pm

I have hooked my 56° SW 175. And a 9I i had to hit under a tree and i crushed it and delofted the crap out of it for a gps verified 220 to the edge of a lake. It took one bounce and then in.

Apr 13, 2016 at 7:34 pm

I paced 5 yards forwards of a 150 yard marker last fall and hit 10 shots with my gap wedge. I figured they would land at the front of the green. It was getting dark so i couldnt see the balls land. So i hit 10 shots. I walked up to see the results and stood in the middle with my gps. It said 144 +/- 3 yards. 8/10 were with in 3 paces. That was pretty good for me.

Apr 14, 2016 at 5:20 pm

figure out how hard you have to swing your PW to carry 110 and repeat swing with 52, 56 and 60 and it should step down your yardages nicely. I tried the 62 for this reason but could never get convertible hitting it on full shots unless I wanted to take a beaver tail which if you de-loft as much as you say you do then I can only assume you would do the same.

Apr 13, 2016 at 12:48 pm

I play an old set of Hogan irons (Apex Red Line) so my wedges set up very neatly at 48-52-56-60.

Apr 13, 2016 at 3:14 pm

I’m the same – I’ve debated going to three, but I prefer my 52 for chipping, my 56 for pitches, and my 60 for lobs. Plus, my 56 with the greater bounce compliments my lower bounce 60 when holes go from hardpan to swampland approaches during the same round.

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Vincenzi’s 2024 pga championship betting preview: rising star ready to join the immortals at valhalla.

The second major of the 2024 season is upon us as the world’s best players will tee it up this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky to compete for the Wanamaker Trophy.

The last time we saw Valhalla host a major championship, Rory McIlroy fended off Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler and the creeping darkness that was descending upon the golf course. The Northern Irishman had the golf world in the palm of his hand, joining only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as players who’d won four major championships by the time they were 25 years old. 

Valhalla is named after the great hall described in Norse mythology where the souls of Vikings feasted and celebrated with the Gods. The course is a Jack Nicklaus-design that has ranked among Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Courses” for three decades. 

Valhalla Golf Club is a par-71 measuring 7,542 yards with Zoysia fairways and Bentgrass greens. The course has rolling hills and dangerous streams scattered throughout and the signature 13th hole is picturesque with limestone and unique bunkering protecting the green. The 2024 PGA Championship will mark the fourth time Valhalla has hosted the event. 

The field this week will consist of 156 players, including 16 PGA Champions and 33 Major Champions. 

Past Winners of the PGA Championship

• 2023: Brooks Koepka (-9) Oak Hill
• 2022: Justin Thomas (-5) Southern Hills
• 2021: Phil Mickelson (-6) Kiawah Island
• 2020: Collin Morikawa (-13) TPC Harding Park
• 2019: Brooks Koepka (-8) Bethpage Black
• 2018: Brooks Koepka (-16) Bellerive
• 2017: Justin Thomas (-8) Quail Hollow
• 2016: Jimmy Walker (-14) Baltusrol
• 2015: Jason Day (-20) Whistling Straits
• 2014: Rory McIlroy (-16) Valhalla

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).

Key Stats For Valhalla

Let’s take a look at five key metrics for Oak Hill to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.

1. Strokes Gained: Approach

Valhalla will play as a true all-around test of golf for the world’s best. Of course, it will take strong approach play to win a major championship.

Strokes Gained: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

• Shane Lowry  (+1.25)
• Scottie Scheffler  (+1.09)
• Jordan Smith  (+1.05)
• Tom Hoge  (+.96)
• Corey Conners  (+.94)

2. Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

Valhalla will play long and the rough will be penal. Players who are incredibly short off the tee and/or have a hard time hitting fairways will be all but eliminated from contention this week at the PGA Championship. 

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee Over Past 24 Rounds:

• Bryson DeChambeau  (+1.47)
• Scottie Scheffler (+1.11)
• Keith Mitchell  (+.90)
• Alejandro Tosti  (+.89)
• Ludvig Aberg  (+.82)

Strokes Gained: Total on Nickalus Designs

Valhalla is a classic Nicklaus Design. Players who play well at Nicklaus designs should have an advantage coming into this major championship. 

Strokes Gained: Total on Nicklaus Designs over past 36 rounds:

• Jon Rahm  (+2.56)
• Scottie Scheffler  (+2.48)
• Patrick Cantlay  (+2.35)
• Collin Morikawa  (+1.79)
• Shane Lowry  (+1.57)

Strokes Gained: Tee to Green on Very Long Courses

Valhalla is going to play extremely long this week. Players who have had success playing very long golf courses should be better equipped to handle the conditions of this major championship.

Strokes Gained: Total on Very Long Courses Over Past 24 Rounds: 

• Scottie Scheffler  (+2.44)
• Rory McIlroy  (+2.24)
• Will Zalatoris  (+1.78)
• Viktor Hovland  (+1.69)
• Xander Schauffele  (+1.60)

Strokes Gained: Total in Major Championships

One factor that tends to play a large role in deciding major championships is which players have played well in previous majors leading up to the event. 

Strokes Gained: Total in Major Championships over past 20 rounds:

• Scottie Scheffler  (+3.14)
• Will Zalatoris  (+2.64)
• Rory McIlroy  (+2.49)
• Xander Schauffele  (+2.48)
• Tommy Fleetwood (2.09)

Strokes Gained: Putting on Bentgrass Greens

Valhalla features pure Bentgrass putting surfaces. Players who are comfortable putting on this surface will have an advantage on the greens. 

Strokes Gained: Putting on Bentgrass Greens over Past 24 Rounds:

• Ludvig Aberg  (+1.12)
• Denny McCarthy  (+1.08)
• Matt Fitzpatrick  (+0.99)
• Justin Rose  (+0.93)
• J.T. Poston (0.87)

Strokes Gained: Total on Zoysia Fairways

Valhalla features Zoysia fairways. Players who are comfortable playing on this surface will have an advantage on the field.

Strokes Gained: Total on Zoysia Fairways over past 36 rounds: 

• Justin Thomas  (+1.53)
• Will Zalatoris  (+1.47)
• Xander Schauffele  (+1.40)
• Brooks Koepka  (+1.35)
• Rory McIlroy (+1.23)

2024 PGA Championship Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (25%), SG: Off the Tee (22%), SG: T2G on Very Long Courses (12%), SG: Putting on Bentgrass (+12%), SG: Total on Nicklaus Designs (12%). SG: Total on Zoysia Fairways (8%), and SG: Total in Major Championships (8%). 

• Brooks Koepka
• Xander Schauffele
• Rory McIlroy
• Scottie Scheffler
• Bryson DeChambeau
• Shane Lowry
• Will Zalatoris
• Cameron Young
• Keith Mitchell
• Hideki Matsuyama
• Billy Horschel
• Patrick Cantlay
• Viktor Hovland
• Adam Schenk
• Sahith Theegala
• Min Woo Lee
• Joaquin Niemann
• Justin Thomas

2024 PGA Championship Picks

Ludvig aberg +1800 ( betmgm ).

At The Masters, Ludvig Aberg announced to the golf world that he’s no longer an “up and coming” player. He’s one of the best players in the game of golf, regardless of experience.

Augusta National gave Aberg some necessary scar tissue and showed him what being in contention at a major championship felt like down the stretch. Unsurprisingly, he made a costly mistake, hitting it in the water left of the 11th hole, but showed his resilience by immediately bouncing back. He went on to birdie two of his next three holes and finished in solo second by three shots. With the type of demeanor that remains cool in pressure situations, I believe Ludvig has the right mental game to win a major at this point in his career.

Aberg has not finished outside of the top-25 in his past eight starts, which includes two runner-up finishes at both a “Signature Event” and a major championship. The 24-year-old is absolutely dominant with his driver, which will give him a major advantage this week. In the field he ranks, in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, and has gained strokes in the category in each of his past ten starts. Aberg is already one of the best drivers of the golf ball on the planet.

In Norse mythology, Valhalla is the great hall where the souls of Vikings feasted and celebrated with the Gods. The Swedes, who are of Old Norse origin, were the last of the three Scandinavian Kingdoms to abandon the Old Norse Gods. A Swede played a major role in the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla, and I believe another, Ludvig Aberg, will be the one to conquer Valhalla in 2024. 

Bryson DeChambeau +2800 ( BetMGM )

Bryson DeChambeau is one of the few players in the world that I believe has the game to go blow-for-blow with Scottie Scheffler. Although he isn’t as consistent as Scheffler, when he’s at his best, Bryson has the talent to beat him.

At The Masters, DeChambeau put forth a valiant effort at a golf course that simply does not suit his game. Valhalla, on the other hand, is a course that should be perfect for the 30-year-old. His ability to overpower a golf course with his driver will be a serious weapon this week.

Bryson has had some success at Jack Nicklaus designs throughout his career as he won the Memorial at Muirfield Village back in 2018. He’s also had incredible results on Bentgrass greens for the entirety of his professional career. Of his 10 wins, nine of them have come on Bentgrass greens, with the only exception being the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. He also has second place finishes at Medinah and TPC Summerlin, which feature Bentgrass greens.

Love him or hate him, it’s impossible to argue that Bryson isn’t one of the most exciting and important players in the game of golf. He’s also one of the best players in the world. A second major is coming soon for DeChambeau, and I believe he should be amongst the favorites to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy this week.

Patrick Cantlay +4000 ( FanDuel )

There’s no way of getting around it: Patrick Cantlay has been dissapointing in major championships throughout his professional career. He’s been one of the top players on Tour for a handful of years and has yet to truly contend at a major championship, with the arguable exception of the 2019 Masters.

Despite not winning majors, Cantlay has won some big events. The 32-year-old has won two BMW Championships, two Memorial Tournaments as well as a Tour Championship. His victories at Memorial indicate how much Cantlay loves Nicklaus designs, where he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Total over his past 36 rounds behind only Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm.

Cantlay also loves Bentgrass greens. Six of Cantlay’s seven individual wins on the PGA Tour have come on Bentgrass greens and he also was one of the best putters at the 2023 Ryder cup at Marco Simone (also Bentgrass). At Caves Valley (2021 BMW Championship), he gained over 12 strokes putting to outduel another Bentgrass specialist, Bryson DeChambeau.

Cantlay finished 22nd in The Masters, which was a solid result considering how many elite players struggled that week. He also has two top-ten finishes in his past five PGA Championships. He’s undeniably one of the best players in the field, therefore, it comes down to believing Cantlay has the mental fortitude to win a major, which I do.

Joaquin Niemann +4000 ( BetMGM )

I believe Joaquin Niemann is one of the best players in the world. He has three worldwide wins since December and has continued to improve over the course of his impressive career thus far. Still only 25, the Chilean has all the tools to be a serious contender in major championships for years to come.

Niemann has been the best player on LIV this season. Plenty will argue with the format or source of the money on LIV, but no one can argue that beating players such as Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith is an unremarkable achievement. Niemann is an elite driver of the golf ball who hits it farther than just about anyone in the field not named Bryson DeChambeau or (arguably) Rory McIlroy.

Niemann is another player who has been fantastic throughout his career on Bentgrass greens. Prior to leaving the PGA Tour, Bentgrass was the only green surface in which Joaco was a positive putter. It’s clearly a surface that he is very comfortable putting on and should fare around and on the greens this week.

Niemann is a perfect fit for Valhalla. His low and penetrating ball flight will get him plenty of runout this week on the fairways and he should have shorter shots into the green complexes than his competitors. To this point in his career, the former top ranked amateur in the world (2018) has been underwhelming in major championships, but I don’t believe that will last much longer. Joaquin Niemann is a major championship caliber player and has a real chance to contend this week at Valhalla.

The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 2

In my last post, I explained the basic performance dynamics of “smash factor” and “gear effect” as they apply to your wedges and your wedge play success. If you missed that post, you can read it here .

At the end of that post, I promised “part 2” of this discussion of what makes a wedge work the way it does. So, let’s dive into the other two components of any wedge – the shaft and the grip.

It’s long been said that the shaft is “the engine of the golf club.” The shaft (and grip) are your only connection to all the technologies that are packed into the head of any golf club, whether it be a driver, fairway, hybrid, iron, wedge or even putter.

And you cannot ignore those two components of your wedges if your goal is optimizing your performance.

I’ve long been an advocate of what I call a “seamless transition” from your irons into your wedges, so that the feel and performance do not disconnect when you choose a gap wedge, for example, instead of your iron-set-matching “P-club.” In today’s golf equipment marketplace, more and more golfers are making the investment of time and money to experience an iron fitting, going through trial and error and launch monitor measuring to get just the right shaft in their irons.

But then so many of those same golfers just go into a store and choose wedges off the retail display, with no similar science involved at all. And that’s why I see so many golfers with a huge disconnect between their custom-fitted irons, often with lighter and/or softer graphite or light steel shafts . . . and their off-the-rack wedges with the stock stiff steel ‘wedge flex’ shaft common to those stock offerings.

If your wedge shafts are significantly heavier and stiffer than the shafts in your irons, it is physically impossible for you to make the same swing. Period.

To quickly improve your wedge play, one of the first things you can do is have your wedges re-shafted with the same or similar shaft that is in your irons.

There’s another side of that shaft weight equation; if you don’t have the forearm and hand strength of a PGA Tour professional, you simply cannot “handle” the same weight shaft that those guys play to master the myriad of ‘touch shots’ around the greens.

Now, let’s move on to the third and other key component of your wedges – the grips. If those are not similar in shape and feel to the grips on your irons, you have another disconnect. Have your grips checked by a qualified golf club professionals to make sure you are in sync there.

The one caveat to that advice is that I am a proponent of a reduced taper in your wedge grips – putting two to four more layers of tape under the lower hand, or selecting one of the many reduced taper grips on the market. That accomplishes two goals for your scoring.

First, it helps reduce overactive hands in your full and near-full wedge swings. Quiet hands are key to good wedge shots.

And secondly, it provides a more consistent feel of the wedge in your hands as you grip down for those shorter and more delicate shots around the greens. And you should always grip down as you get into those touch shots. I call it “getting closer to your work.”

So, if you will spend as much time selecting the shafts and grips for your wedges as you do choosing the brand, model, and loft of them, your scoring range performance will get better.

More from the Wedge Guy

• The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 1
• The Wedge Guy: The easiest-to-learn golf basic
• The Wedge Guy: Golf mastery begins with your wedge game

Vincenzi’s 2024 Wells Fargo Championship betting preview: Tommy Fleetwood ready to finally land maiden PGA Tour title

The PGA Tour season ramps back up this week for another “signature event,” as golf fans look forward to the year’s second major championship next week.

After two weaker-field events in the Zurich Classic and the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, most of the best players in the world will head to historic Quail Hollow for one of the best non-major tournaments of the year. 

Last season, Wyndham Clark won the event by four shots.

Quail Hollow is a par-71 measuring 7,521 yards that features Bermudagrass greens. The tree-lined, parkland style course can play quite difficult and features one of the most difficult three-hole stretches in golf known as “The Green Mile,” which makes up holes 16-18: two mammoth par 4s and a 221-yard par 3. All three holes have an average score over par, and water is in play in each of the last five holes on the course.

The field is excellent this week with 68 golfers teeing it up without a cut. All of the golfers who’ve qualified are set to tee it up, with the exception of Scottie Scheffler, who is expecting the birth of his first child. 

Past Winners at Quail Hollow

• 2023: Wyndham Clark (-19)
• 2022: Max Homa (-8)
• 2021: Rory McIlroy (-10)
• 2019: Max Homa (-15)
• 2018: Jason Day (-12)
• 2017: Justin Thomas (-8) (PGA Championship)
• 2016: James Hahn (-9)
• 2015: Rory McIlroy (-21)

Key Stats For Quail Hollow

Strokes gained: approach.

Strokes gained: Approach will be extremely important this week as second shots at Quail Hollow can be very difficult. 

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

• Akshay Bhatia  (+1.16)
• Tom Hoge  (+1.12)
• Corey Conners  (+1.01)
• Shane Lowry  (+0.93)
• Austin Eckroat  (+0.82)

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

Quail Hollow is a long course on which it is important to play from the fairway. Both distance and accuracy are important, as shorter tee shots will result in approach shots from 200 or more yards. With most of the holes heavily tree lined, errant drives will create some real trouble for the players.

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee Past 24 Rounds:

• Ludvig Aberg  (+0.73)
• Rory McIlroy  (+0.69)
• Xander Schauffele  (+0.62)
• Viktor Hovland  (+0.58)
• Chris Kirk  (+0.52)

Proximity: 175-200

The 175-200 range is key at Quail Hollow. Players who can hit their long irons well will rise to the top of the leaderboard. 

Proximity: 175-200+ over past 24 rounds:

• Cameron Young  (28’2″)
• Akshay Bhatia  (29’6″)
• Ludvig Aberg (+30’6″)
• Sam Burns  (+30’6″)
• Collin Morikawa  (+30’9″)

SG: Total on Tom Fazio Designs

Players who thrive on Tom Fazio designs get a bump for me at Quail Hollow this week. 

SG: Total on Tom Fazio Designs over past 36 rounds:

• Patrick Cantlay  (+2.10)
• Rory McIlroy  (+1.95)
• Tommy Fleetwood  (+1.68)
• Austin Eckroat  (+1.60)
• Will Zalatoris  (+1.57)

Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass)

Strokes Gained: Putting has historically graded out as the most important statistic at Quail Hollow. While it isn’t always predictable, I do want to have it in the model to bump up golfers who prefer to putt on Bermudagrass.

Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass) Over Past 24 Rounds:

• Taylor Moore  (+0.82)
• Nick Dunlap  (+.76)
• Wyndham Clark  (+.69)
• Emiliano Grillo  (+.64)
• Cam Davis  (+.61)

Course History

This stat will incorporate players that have played well in the past at Quail Hollow. 

Course History over past 36 rounds (per round):

• Rory McIlroy  (+2.50)
• Justin Thomas  (+1.96)
• Jason Day  (+1.92)
• Rickie Fowler  (+1.83)
• Viktor Hovland  (+1.78)

Wells Fargo Championship Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), SG: Off the Tee (23%), SG: Total on Fazio designs (12%), Proximity: 175-200 (12%), SG: Putting Bermuda grass (12%), and Course History (14%).

• Wyndham Clark
• Viktor Hovland 
• Austin Eckroat 
• Byeong Hun An

2024 Wells Fargo Championship Picks

Tommy Fleetwood +2500 ( DraftKings )

I know many out there have Tommy fatigue when it comes to betting, which is completely understandable given his lack of ability to win on the PGA Tour thus far in his career. However, history has shown us that players with Fleetwood’s talent eventually break though, and I believe for Tommy, it’s just a matter of time.

Fleetwood has been excellent on Tom Fazio designs. Over his past 36 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Total on Fazio tracks. He’s also been incredibly reliable off the tee this season. He’s gained strokes in the category in eight of his past nine starts, including at The Masters, the PLAYERS and the three “signature events” of the season. Tommy is a golfer built for tougher courses and can grind it out in difficult conditions.

Last year, Fleetwood was the first-round leader at this event, firing a Thursday 65. He finished the event in a tie for 5th place.

For those worried about Fleetwood’s disappointing start his last time out at Harbour Town, he’s bounced back nicely after plenty of poor outings this season. His T7 at the Valero Texas Open was after a MC and T35 in his prior two starts and his win at the Dubai Invitational came after a T47 at the Sentry.

I expect Tommy to bounce back this week and contend at Quail Hollow.

Justin Thomas +3000 ( DraftKings )

It’s been a rough couple of years for Justin Thomas, but I don’t believe things are quite as bad as they seem for JT. He got caught in the bad side of the draw at Augusta for last month’s Masters and has gained strokes on approach in seven of his nine starts in 2024. 

Thomas may have found something in his most recent start at the RBC Heritage. He finished T5 at a course that he isn’t the best fit for on paper. He also finally got the putter working and ranked 15th in Strokes Gained: Putting for the week.

The two-time PGA champion captured the first of his two major championships at Quail Hollow back in 2017, and some good vibes from the course may be enough to get JT out of his slump.

Thomas hasn’t won an event in just about two years. However, I still believe that will change soon as he’s been one of the most prolific winners throughout his PGA Tour career. Since 2015, he has 15 PGA Tour wins.

Course history is pretty sticky at Quail Hollow, with players who like the course playing well there on a regular basis. In addition to JT’s PGA Championship win in 2017, he went 4-1 at the 2022 Presidents Cup and finished T14 at the event last year despite being in poor form. Thomas can return as one of the top players on the PGA Tour with a win at a “signature event” this week. 

Cameron Young +3500 (DraftKings )

For many golf bettors, it’s been frustrating backing Cam Young this season. His talent is undeniable, and one of the best and most consistent performers on the PGA Tour. He just hasn’t broken through with a victory yet. Quail Hollow has been a great place for elite players to get their first victory. Rory McIlroy, Anthony Kim, Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark all notched their first PGA Tour win at Quail.

Throughout Cam Young’s career, he has thrived at tougher courses with strong fields. This season, he finished T16 at Riviera and T9 at Augusta National, demonstrating his preference of a tough test. His ability to hit the ball long and straight off the tee make him an ideal fit for Quail Hollow, despite playing pretty poorly his first time out in 2023 (T59). Young should be comfortable playing in the region as he played his college golf at Wake Forest, which is about an hour’s drive from Quail Hollow.

The 26-year-old has played well at Tom Fazio designs in the past and ranks 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Total on those courses in his last 36 rounds. Perhaps most importantly, this season, Young is the best player on the PGA Tour in terms of proximity from 175-200 in the fairway, which is where a plurality and many crucial shots will come from this week.

Young is an elite talent and Quail Hollow has been kind to players of his ilk who’ve yet to win on Tour.

Byeong Hun An +5000 (FanDuel)

Byeong Hun An missed some opportunities last weekend at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. He finished T4 and played some outstanding golf, but a couple of missed short putts prevented him from getting to the winning score of -23. Despite not getting the win, it’s hard to view An’s performance as anything other than an overwhelming success. It was An’s fourth top-ten finish of the season.

Last week, An gained 6.5 strokes ball striking, which was 7th in the field. He also ranked 12th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th for Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. The South Korean has been hitting the ball so well from tee to green all season long and he now heads to a golf course that should reward his precision.

An’s driver and long irons are absolute weapons. At Quail Hollow, players will see plenty of approach shots from the 175-200 range as well as some from 200+. In his past 24 rounds, Ben ranks 3rd in the field in proximity from 175-200 and 12th in proximity from 200+. Playing in an event that will not end up being a “birdie” fest should help An, who can separate from the field with his strong tee to green play. The putter may not always cooperate but getting to -15 is much easier than getting to -23 for elite ball strikers who tend to struggle on the greens.

Winning a “signature event” feels like a tall task for An this week with so many elite players in the field. However, he’s finished T16 at the Genesis Invitational, T16 at The Masters and T8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The 32-year-old’s game has improved drastically this season and I believe he’s ready to get the biggest win of his career.

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Ping Glide Forged Pro Wedge Review

Our verdict on the new Ping Glide Forged Pro wedge

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It’s hard for a wedge to blow you away but the pinpoint accuracy and consistent performance of the Glide Forged Pro wedge genuinely took us by surprise - in a good way. The control and versatility allows you to be confident and aggressive around the green with enough loft/bounce options in the range to create a set designed for your needs.

Consistently high spin from various lies and distances

Compact look will suit the better player

Rounded profile encourages versatility

Limited gains over the Glide 3.0 or Glide Forged

Why you can trust Golf Monthly Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

The Glide Forged Pro is a tour inspired wedge designed to maximise versatility and shot-making while also producing high levels of spin control. We tested a 54° sample in the S-sole shape out on the course and on the Foresight Sports GC2 launch monitor to capture some performance data.

At address, you’ll notice the more rounded shape versus the Glide 3.0 and also the slightly shorter blade length and lighter finish.

It’s by no means intimidating and looks as premium and elegant as the best golf wedges out there - we much prefer the cleaner, sleeker look. The S sole on the Glide Forged Pro is much narrower than on Glide 3.0 and it has less bounce, which provides more scope for golfers to manoeuvre the clubface and hit different shots around the green without the leading edge rising up too high.

You also have the option of the T sole, a more aggressive design with less bounce in three lofts up to 62° for players that like to get even more creative. You might think this isn't enough (most brands offer at least three) but in reality, you can hit 95 per cent of shots with these.

Nip a few chips away and the feel really impresses - there's a soft click as the club strikes the ball and then as the shots get longer it moves into feeling and sounding like a muscleback iron. The ball comes off low and then checks up, so you can fly the ball further than you might expect - an ideal solution if you short side yourself.

The consistency of the spin performance and resulting distance really stood out. Even in slightly damp conditions, the ball flight repeated itself time and time again and the ball seemed to react in the same way on the green when it landed.

This wedge will deliver on full shots, but it’s on those awkward in between pitch shots where it comes into its own - sliding under the ball with ease.

It’s arguably not as forgiving as Glide 3.0 and you could make a case for this wedge being aimed more towards the better player, although there isn’t a great deal of difference between how both of these wedges play.

Golfers once again have the option of the 59° EYE2 wedge, distinguished by the high-toe design with a blended hosel and a more traditional sole design than the original with less bounce than the other “S” grind lofts.

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Joel has worked in the golf industry for over 12 years covering both instruction and more recently equipment. He now oversees all product content here at Golf Monthly, managing a team of talented and passionate writers and presenters in delivering the most thorough and accurate reviews, buying advice, comparisons and deals to help the reader find exactly what they are looking for. So whether it's the latest driver, irons, putter or laser rangefinder, Joel has his finger on the pulse keeping up to date with the latest releases in golf. He is also responsible for all content on irons and golf tech, including distance measuring devices and launch monitors.

One of his career highlights came when covering the 2012 Masters he got to play the sacred Augusta National course on the Monday after the tournament concluded, shooting a respectable 86 with just one par and four birdies. To date, his best ever round of golf is a 5-under 67 back in 2011. He currently plays his golf at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincs, with a handicap index of 3.2.

Joel's current What's In The Bag?  

Driver: Titleist TSR3 , 9° 

Fairway wood: Titleist TSR3 , 15° 

Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 , 18° 

Irons: Ping i230  4-UW

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 , 54°. Titleist Vokey SM9 60° lob wedge, K Grind

Putter: Evnroll ER2V  

Ball: 2023 Titleist Pro V1x

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5 Most Popular Wedges On The PGA Tour (2023 Update)

A lot of attention is focused on the golf clubs that PGA Tour players use, and aside from drivers and putters, wedges get plenty of scrutiny from the golf-playing public so they can see what their favorite players are using. So, what are the most popular wedges on the PGA Tour?

The most popular wedges on the PGA Tour are Titleist, Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade, and Cleveland. The most popular models of wedges on the Tour are Titleist’s Vokey, with the SM8, SM7, and SM9 claiming the top three positions and the PING Glide and TaylorMade MG3 in 4th and 5th place, respectively.

Let’s look at the most popular wedges on the PGA Tour, from the brands to the most popular models.

Most Popular Wedges On The PGA Tour

The 5 most popular brands of wedges per number of players on the PGA Tour are as follows:

1. Titleist

When it comes to the No.1 spot of the most popular wedges played on Tour , Titleist are well ahead in this race. In fact, the total number of players using Titleist wedges is more than the other brands and models combined, with 92 players on the PGA Tour using them.

Combine that with the Pro V1 ball, and it’s evident that Titleist is the most popular brand with wedges and golf balls on the Tour.

Related: 7 Best Golf Ball Brands

Within the Titleist models, the Vokey SM8 wedge is the most popular, with 43 of the 92 pros using it.

I’m not going to list all 92 players that use Titleist wedges here, but here’s a sample of PGA Tour players that use the SM8 wedge:

Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel, Charley Hoffman, Chris Kirk, Corey Conners, Garrick Higgo, Ian Poulter, Jason Kokrak, Justin Rose, Justin Thomas, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Scottie Scheffler, Stewart Cink, Tyrell Hatton, and Will Zalatoris.

While not as popular as the SM8, some notable names have the SM7 wedge in their bags, including Brendan Todd and Brian Harman, Dylan Frittelli, Justin Rose, Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Lucas Glover, Matt Jones, Patrick Cantlay, and Paul Casey.

The other Titleist wedges used on Tour are the SM9 and SM9 Wedgeworks. Players that have these clubs in their golf bags include the likes of Billy Horschel, Cameron Young, Cameron Smith, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, and Tommy Fleetwood (WW).

2. Callaway

Between Callaway at no.2 and PING at no.3, there is only a difference of one player, with Callaway having 24 PGA Tour players using their wedges vs. the 23 of PING.

Callaway’s MD5 Jaws wedge is the most popular among Tour golfers, while the Mack Daddy Forged and Mack Daddy 4 are operated by a few players.

Phil Mickelson uses his signature PM LTD PRO, but then he is Phil Mickelson and has his range much like Tiger’s TW range from TaylorMade. You can read more on Tiger’s irons here, What Irons Does Tiger Woods Use ?

The PGA Tour players that use the Mack Daddy range of wedges are :

• Brandt Snedeker – Mack Daddy 4
• Christiaan Bezuidenhout – Mack Daddy Forged
• Daniel Berger uses both the Mack Daddy Forged and the Mack Daddy 4
• Kevin Na – Mack Daddy 4
• Maverick McNealy – Mack Daddy Forged

The Mack Daddy 5 Jaws (MD5 Jaws) players include:

Alex Noren, Branden Grace, Danny Willett, Danny Lee, Erik Van Rooyen, Francesco Molinari, Henrik Stenson, Maverick McNealy, Sam Burns, Siwoo Kim, Taylor Gooch, and Xander Schauffle.

Marc Leishman and Matt Wallace use the MD5 Raw, while John Rahm and Kevin Kisner plays with the Jaws Forged wedges.

Between PING at no.3 and Cleveland at no.5 on this list, there is a difference of 13 players, with PING having 23 players and Cleveland having 10, with TaylorMade in between at no.4 with 18 players.

The PING Glide models dominate this category, with only Lee Westwood using the PING i210 and a Glide 3.0. wedge.

Below is a list of golfers that use PING and which models they have in their bags. Bear in mind that some players would have more than one wedge model.

PING Glide Forged And Forged Pro (Pro):

• Viktor Hovland (Pro)
• Tyrell Hatton
• Louis Oosthuizen – Forged Pro Prototype
• Lee Westwood
• Joaquin Niemann (Pro)
• Harris English
• Guillermo Mita Pereira (Pro)

PING Wedges – Glide 2.0 And 2.0 Stealth (ST):

• Bubba Watson
• Corey Conners (ST)
• Louis Oosthuizen (ST)
• Mackenzie Hughes (ST)
• Sebastian Munoz (ST)

PING Glide 3.0:

• Guillermo Mita Pereira
• Joaquin Niemann
• Matt Fitzpatrick
• Seamus Power
• Victor Perez

PING Glide 4.0:

• Sahith Theegala
• Harold Varner III

4. TaylorMade

Next on the list is Taylormade, with 18 PGA players using their wedges on the Tour.

The most popular models are the MG or Milled Grind range, with the MG, MG2, and MG3 in various configurations all being played.

The PGA Tour players that use the MG3 wedge are Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy, Matthew Wolf, Lucas Herbert, Harry Higgs, Collin Morikawa, and Adam Long.

Tiger Woods has an MG2 TW Grind wedge that he personally designed and shaped to suit his game, and Collin Morikawa has an MG2 in his bag and an MG3.

The other TaylorMade wedge used is the Hi-Toe, and players like Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Martin Kaymer, Gary Woodland, Cameron Champ, and Adam Long all have this wedge in their golf bags.

5. Cleveland

The Cleveland RTX wedges come in at no.5 on the list of the most popular wedges on the PGA Tour.

The RTX ZipCore and RTX 4 Raw and Prototype are the two dominant models.

Below is the list of Cleveland wedges, eight players on Tour, and which models they are packing in their golf bags.

• Graeme MacDowell – Cleveland RTX 4 and RTX 2.0 Custom
• Brooks Koepka – Cleveland RTX Zip Core Tour Rack Raw
• Hideki Matsuyama – Cleveland RTX 4 Forged Prototype
• Keegan Bradley – Cleveland RTX Zip Core Tour Rack
• Martin Laird – Cleveland RTX 4 Raw and RTX 3 Raw
• Matt Kuchar – Cleveland RTX Zip Core Raw
• Sepp Straka – Cleveland RTX Zip Core
• Shane Lowry – Cleveland RTX Zip Core

Let’s Wrap This Up!

If we look at the most popular wedges on the PGA Tour, Titleist is the prevailing brand by some margin, with the others merely scrambling for position behind the market leaders.

Whether any of the other brands will erode Titleist’s place at the top remains to be seen, but for the time being, when you watch wedge shots being hit, the chances are that you see Titleist in action.

Related Posts You May Like:

• 5 Most Popular Putters on The PGA Tour
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• The Average Handicap For a Pro Golfer
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Titleist Vokey Design SM8 Wedge Tour Players

Which Tour Players Are Using Titleist Vokey Design SM8 Wedges?

Source: storefeederimages.blob.core.windows.net

Tour players do seem to like Titleist Wedges a lot, since 84 of the top PGA Tour Players right now are playing with Wedges made by Titleist.

Listed below are players who are currently playing with the Titleist Vokey Design SM8 Wedge in their most recent bag. Click the links to see more details about the player and their bag.

Shop for Titleist Wedges:

Fore! Regarding the shopping links below, we earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Seen in older bags:

Here are PGA Tour pros who previously had a Titleist Vokey Design SM8 Wedge in one of their older bags.

Related content:

Top 100 PGA Golf Wedges: Study Reveals Most Popular Models

When it comes to selecting a wedge, professional golfers often opt for top models that provide superior performance and versatility. Each brand has unique features and benefits catering to different golfing styles and preferences. Our study proves Titleist and Callaway wedges are popular among pro golfers. Their exceptional performance and design offer the precision and versatility that golfers of all levels crave on the course. 

We’ve taken a deep dive into the choices of the top 100 PGA Tour players in 2022 to bring you the Ultimate Study on What Golf Clubs Pro Golfers Use . So in 2023, if you want to add a wedge to your bag, take a cue from this article and choose the best golf wedge that suits your game. 

Table of Content

How Many Wedges Do Pros Carry? 

Most used wedges brand, what degree wedges do pros use, what bounce wedges do the pros use, how often do professional golfers change golf wedges.

Professional golfers typically carry between two and four wedges in their bags. We found more than 90% of top tour golfers carried at least 2 golf wedges. A lob wedge is very common in their bags. And the next most common type of wedge is the sand wedge. 

The number of wedges a pro carries depends on their playing style, the course conditions, and personal preference. Some prefer to carry multiple wedges with different lofts, while others opt for just one or two versatile wedges. Let’s look at the brands of wedges we found in our study. 

Most pro golfers preferred Titleist golf wedges over any other brands in 2022. More than 40% of top golfers used Titleist Wedges. Callaway was the second with 18% of users, and PING had 17%. 

While all brands offer high-quality wedges, the overwhelming preference for Titleist Vokey wedges in 2022 is for Titleist Vokey wedges. Callaway, the closest competitor, achieved double-digit performance with their range of options, excellent spin control, and long-lasting durability.

Titleist Vokey wedges are among the most popular and respected models on the market. The brand offers a range of lofts, bounces, and grinds to allow golfers to fine-tune their shots based on course conditions. The Spin Milled grooves on the wedges provide excellent spin control, making them an excellent choice for players who rely heavily on their short game. With their high-quality materials and construction, Titleist Vokey wedges are known for their performance and durability.

Callaway is another brand that offers a wide range of wedges to suit different playing styles. The Mack Daddy line is trendy, thanks to its unique groove-in-groove technology that provides extra spin and control on shots around the green. However, some golfers have noted that the softer metal used in Callaway wedges may wear down faster than other brands. This means that they may need to be replaced more frequently, which could be a consideration for professional golfers who rely heavily on their equipment.

On the other hand, PING wedges are often praised for their forgiveness. The wider sole and more perimeter weighting of the Glide line provide greater consistency on shots, even for golfers who struggle with their short game. The proprietary groove design ensures consistent spin and control, making PING wedges an excellent choice for golfers who need help with their short game. However, the wider sole may make it more difficult to hit certain shots, particularly from tight lies. 

The most common degrees of wedges pros use are 52, 56, and 60 degrees. That’s more of a gap, sand, and lob wedge . However, many pros also carry wedges with lofts ranging from 46 to 64 degrees to give them more options, like a pitching wedge and added lob wedge on the course. 

Wedges with varying lofts and bounces allow golfers to adjust to different shots and course conditions, increasing their versatility. It also helps improve their scoring, as they can get closer to the pin on approach shots and have more control over their short game. 

Carrying multiple wedges also portrays a professional image, showing that the golfer is prepared for any situation and takes their game seriously. Investing in high-quality wedges and practicing with them regularly can help golfers improve their game and succeed tremendously.

According to our analysis, pros use the most common bounce angles between 8 and 14 degrees, with some players opting for higher bounce angles to suit soft or wet conditions and others preferring lower bounce angles for firmer turf.

The angle between the leading edge of the clubface and the sole is called the bounce of a wedge. It influences how the club interacts with the ground. The bounce angle of wedges pros use varies widely depending on the course conditions and the shot they need to make. 

Wedges are one of a kind that pro golfers hardly change often. Our study shows that top golfers change their wedge models or brands once in 4-5 years. Our research also illustrates that less than 5% of golfers change their wedges regularly. 

So, it can be very beneficial for golf club manufacturers to make their mark on golfers’ minds with their top-quality golf wedges. Let’s find out which brand models are favorites of the top 100 golfers. 

Professional golfers, in particular, understand the importance of having a range of wedges in their golf bags to maximize their versatility and improve their scoring. In 2022, Titleist Vokey wedges emerged as the clear favorite among professional golfers, with over 40% of the top players using them on the course. 

We analyzed each brand and possible reasons for the remarkable success of Titleist. If you find this beneficial, share it with your golf friends. Also, let us know if you want to learn more from us.

Written by Michael Anderson

Michael Anderson loves to experience the latest innovation in the golf simulator industry and share it with fellow golfers. His favorite pastime is golf. He has been contributing and writing content for more than 03 years in golf. Besides, he enjoys spending quality time with family and friends.

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This is the 1/3rd rule one of the best wedge players on tour uses

JT Poston is really good at a really important skill.

Hitting wedge shots.

It's a skill that's important for literally every level of golfers. Pros need to be good at wedge shots because, basically, every other pro is good at wedge shots. Lots of pros stick lots of wedge shots and make lots of birdies as a result. If you're not keeping up with them by doing the same, you're falling behind.

For amateur golfers, wedge shots are important for a simpler reason: We miss lots of greens, especially the higher handicap you have. Just as wedges are important scoring clubs for making birdies, they're the key to saving par for amateurs.

Which brings us to JT Poston, who last season assumed the mantle from another JT (Justin Thomas) as the best wedge player from the crucial 75 to 100-yard proximity statistic. He ranked sixth in wedge shots inside 100 yards, and 14th in wedge shots from 50 to 125 yards.

In short, Poston is one of the best wedge players on tour — if not the best. So a few weeks ago, I asked him the one question I ask anyone who is good at basically anything: How does he do it?

Here's what he said.

The 1/3rd rule

There's no getting around it: You're going to need to practice wedge shots to get good at wedge shots. Generally speaking, the more the better, but the good news is that it's not an all-or-nothing situation. You can make incremental progress with your wedges just by adjusting the time you do spend on the range, especially during your warmups, which is when Poston does most of his wede work.

"If I'm hitting balls for an hour, I probably spend 20 to 25 minutes hitting wedge shots up to 130 yards," Poston says. "I hit a lot of these shots as I warm up. It's good for tempo for contact and tempo," he says. "You'll start developing a great feel for it."

That’s what I call the one third rule, and it’s a good benchmark for the rest of us: 20 minutes on an hour equates to exactly one third of your range session. A 30-minute range session would mean 10 minutes hitting wedge shots. A 15 minute warm up means five minutes hitting wedge. It will feel like an incredibly long time as you’re doing it, but it’ll be worth it. So the next time you hit the range to warm up, spend a third of your time hitting shots inside 130 yards or so.

Ross Kinnaird

Lots of small windows

So you're on the range and a devoting a third of your time hitting wedge shots. Good job! But don't fall into the trap of hitting lots of shots from 50 yards, say, then 100 yards, then moving on.

Instead, vary your distances as much as you can. It's a form of random practice that has proven really beneficial. Start with a few short shots, then a couple slightly longer, then slightly longer than that, and so on. The windows should be tight and close together.

"I work within five-yard increments," Poston says. "60, 65, 60, 75, 80 yards...I've gotten to the point where I can do a pretty good job in each little window."

There are lots of different ways to hit wedge shots. Some players are incredible precise, measuring their backswing by the inch to adjust their distances. Poston opts—and suggests — a different route. Using the two methods above to dial in your feel. It will take time, but it'll start becoming second nature. And when it does, it'll give you a sense of confidence that you will last.

"You'll start developing a great feel for it," he says. "And when you do there won’t be any doubt. No second guessing."

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Trackman Tour Averages

At Trackman, we're dedicated to providing the most accurate and up-to-date data to enhance your golfing experience. That's why we're excited to announce the release of our new Tour Averages, reflecting the latest insights from leading professional golf tours.

How We Gathered the Data

Our team has been hard at work collecting data from a wide range of pro players, utilizing Trackman technology to capture every swing and shot with precision.

Explore the New Tour Averages

Discover the latest numbers for both PGA and LPGA Tours, now presented in a redesigned format for easy reference. To see how the game has progressed over time, check out this link to see what’s changed compared to the last Tour Averages.

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Whether you're a seasoned pro or a weekend warrior, Trackman is here to help you reach new heights on the course. So stay tuned for more updates and insights from Trackman as we continue to push the boundaries of golf technology.

Get the New Tour Assets

The updated Tour Averages data is available for download here in various formats (incl. in meters or yards), whether you're a coaching professional or simply want them handy on your phone when you're on the range.

Key Insights:

Male data is captured across 40+ different events and 200+ different players.

Data is captured at both PGA TOUR and DP World Tour events with majority coming from PGA TOUR events.

Female data is captured across 30+ different events and 150+ different players.

Data is captured at both LPGA and LET events with majority coming from LPGA events.

Averages are based on data from competition as well as on the range.

There are multiple processes in place to eliminate shots hit with a non-driver during competition.

There could be a small number of non-driver shots in the dataset (less than 0.5 percent).

Official stat holes are picked going in opposite directions to reduce any effects from wind.

Jun 2, 2024 | 11:15 AM EDT

MEMPHIS, TN – AUGUST 12: Ben Griffin during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on August 12, 2023 at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire GOLF: AUG 12 PGA, Golf Herren – FedEx St. Jude Championship EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon230812144

Ben Griffin joined the PGA Tour in 2023. He has had 1 runner-up finish and 3 top-5 finishes so far. At the 2022 Butterfield Bermuda Championship, he finished tied for third with a total of 17-under par. In the 59 events he has played so far, he has made 39 cuts.

Currently sitting in second place at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club with a 10-under at the end of Saturday’s round, Griffin is proving himself to be a rising star. With no win so far on the American Tour, he is eyeing one, and his skill, along with his equipment, is to play an integral role. 

Ben Griffin’s arsenal of choice 

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At 28, Griffin relies on a Mizuno ST-X 230 driver for his long shots. Priced around $500, this driver features a more rounded, deeper profile with weight positioned closer to the hosel, resulting in a slightly higher spinning and draw-biased performance. This makes it more workable for elite players like Griffin. He pairs it with a LING M40X shaft, which enhances ball speed for natural drawers.

For his Fairway Woods, Griffin turns to TaylorMade. His 3-wood is a TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway with a 15-degree loft, popular among both Tour players and amateurs for its ideal blend of distance and forgiveness. This club is priced at around $349. Additionally, he uses a 5-wood with 18-degree lofts and a 7-wood TaylorMade Stealth with a 21-degree loft. His TaylorMade Stealth Plus fairway wood with a 19-degree loft delivers precision playability and fast ball speeds. Each of these fairway woods is equipped with a LING M40X shaft, with prices ranging from $349 to $429.

Griffin’s choice of irons then shifts back to Mizuno. He uses Mizuno Pro 241 golf irons (4-PW), which feature aggressively tapered blades for an ideal trajectory across the set, delivering flighted long irons and penetrating short irons. These irons are paired with Tour Dynamic Gold X100 shafts, and the set is priced at $1400 on the official Mizuno store. To know the rest of his equipment, that is wedges and putters, continue reading. 

Becoming the first PGA Tour pro for his different ball choice

For his wedges, Griffin relies on Mizuno T22 wedges with 46-degree, 50-degree, and 56-degree lofts. Additionally, he uses a TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 wedge with a 60-degree loft, priced around $179. This wedge utilizes a laser-etched spin tread and a raw face for a better bite around the greens and superior spin in wet conditions.

Finally , to perfect his putting game , Griffin uses the Scotty Cameron Tour Only Concept 2 GSS putter. This putter features a GSS insert for a tour-preferred sound and feel, helping him achieve those crucial finishing touches on the green. For golf balls, he relies on Maxfli. With Maxfli Tour X balls, he has seen increased distance off the tee, stability in the wind, and great control around the greens. Griffin might be the first PGA Tour player to put a new Maxfli golf ball in play, but he isn’t the first professional golfer to do so. Lexi Thompson did it before him.

As Ben Griffin prepares for the final round of the RBC Canadian Open, the question remains: can his chosen arsenal help him clinch his maiden win? Stay tuned to find out if Griffin’s choices take him to victory.

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Jatin Chauhan

EssentiallySports is a digital-first sports media house that surfaces the best stories on America's favorite sports celebrities with a fan's perspective to 30+ M average monthly readers.

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Family says PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray died by suicide

Webb Simpson and Peter Malnati reflect on the death of Grayson Murray, age 30. (2:24)

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The parents of professional golfer Grayson Murray on Sunday said the two-time PGA Tour winner died by suicide Saturday morning.

"We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone," Eric and Terry Murray said in a statement. "It's surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world. It's a nightmare.

"... Life wasn't always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now."

Grayson Murray, 30, withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial after the 16th hole of Friday's second round in Fort Worth, Texas. The PGA Tour cited the reason as illness.

"We have so many questions that have no answers. But one. Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes," his parents said in their statement. "By us, his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, all of his extended family, by his friends, by his fellow players and -- it seems -- by many of you who are reading this. He was loved and he will be missed.

"We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support. Please respect our privacy as we work through this incredible tragedy, and please honor Grayson by being kind to one another. If that becomes his legacy, we could ask for nothing else."

Many players competing at Colonial on Sunday wore black-and-red pins on their caps in honor of Murray. Those are the colors of the Carolina Hurricanes , his favorite NHL team.

"Obviously it was pretty difficult to come play golf," said Scottie Scheffler , who tied for second at Colonial. "But like his parents said, he would have wanted the tournament to continue."

Murray spoke about alcohol and mental health in the past, saying he used to drink during tournament weeks as a rookie because he knew he had talent and believed he was invincible. He made a massive turnaround this year and won the Sony Open, hitting a wedge to 3 feet for birdie on the final hole to get into a playoff and winning it with a 40-foot putt.

"It took me a long time to get to this point," Murray said in January. "That was seven years ago, over seven years ago. I'm a different man now. I would not be in this position right now today if I didn't put that drink down eight months ago."

He also won the Barbasol Championship as a 22-year-old PGA Tour rookie in 2017.

Murray, who was No. 58 in the world ranking, was coming off a tie for 43rd in the PGA Championship last week at Valhalla. He also made the cut in his Masters debut, finishing 51st, and was in the field for next month's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

Murray, who grew up in North Carolina, was among the most talented juniors in the country. He won the prestigious Junior World championship in San Diego three straight years and earned the Arnold Palmer Scholarship at Wake Forest.

His first coach was Ted Kiegiel in North Carolina, who like so many others was devastated.

"Words cannot express the tragedy of this moment," Kiegiel said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. "Grayson came from something that was ordinary and made it EXTRAORDINARY. ... He burned bright for the 30 years he gave us."

Murray wound up going to three colleges, lastly at Arizona State.

Murray said when he won the Sony Open in January that he had been sober for eight months, was engaged to be married and believed his best golf was ahead of him. He was appointed to the PGA Tour's 16-member player advisory council the same month.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who flew to Texas on Saturday, said grief counselors were on site at the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour event.

"To be in the locker room, to see the devastation on the faces of every player that's coming in, it's really difficult to see. And really just profound," Monahan said during the CBS broadcast Saturday.

"Grayson was a remarkable player on the PGA Tour, but he was a very courageous man, as well. And I've always loved that about him, and I know that the locker room is filled with people that really will take that away when they think about Grayson."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Inside Peyton Manning’s bag from the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday Pro-Am

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Despite all the star power in the pairing, it might actually have been Peyton Manning’s putter that stole the show.

The back of Peyton Manning's Scotty Cameron Concept 1 Super Rat “SB 41.50 PM 18” GSS custom putter. (GolfWRX)

On Wednesday, GolfWRX.com spotted Manning using a high-end Scotty Cameron Concept 1 Super Rat custom putter, stamped with “SB 41.50 PM 18” on the back bumpers. “SB 41.50” signifies Manning’s victories at Super Bowl XLI, while playing for the Indianapolis Colts, and Super Bowl 50, while playing for the Denver Broncos. “PM 18” stands for Manning’s initials, plus his NFL jersey No. 18 that he wore throughout his storied career.

The sole of Peyton Manning's Scotty Cameron Concept 1 Super Rat “SB 41.50 PM 18” GSS custom putter. (GolfWRX)

With two Super Bowl victories to his name, it's only right that Manning shows them off on a shiny, custom putter.

Peyton Manning's Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond driver, and Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke 3HL Max 3-wood and 5-wood. (GolfWRX)

GolfWRX.com also looked at Manning’s entire club setup, which is listed below.

Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue

3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke 3HL Max (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue

5-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke (18 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue

Peyton Manning's set of Callaway Apex irons and Jaws wedges. (GolfWRX)

Irons: Callaway Apex (4-PW, AW) Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber

Wedges: Callaway Jaws (54 degrees), Callaway Jaws Raw (60 degrees)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Concept 1 Super Rat “SB 41.50 PM 18” GSS custom

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Grayson Murray dies at age 30 a day after withdrawing from Colonial, PGA Tour says

FILE -Grayson Murray holds the trophy after winning the Sony Open golf event, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial(AP Photo/Matt York, File)

FILE -Grayson Murray hits off the 18th tee during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 20, 2023. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

FILE -Grayson Murray celebrates winning the Sony Open golf event, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Grayson Murray hits from the fairway on the 10th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Valhalla Golf Club, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Matt York)

FILE -Grayson Murray watches his tee shot on the third hole during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Charlotte, N.C. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

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Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.

There were no immediate details on the circumstances of his death, only shock and grief from the PGA Tour and his management team.

“I am at a loss for words,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. “The PGA Tour is a family, and when you lose a member of your family, you are never the same. We mourn Grayson and pray for comfort for his loved ones.”

His management company, GSE Worldwide, confirmed the death and said it was heartbroken.

“We will hold off on commenting until we learn further details, but our heart aches for his family, his friends and all who loved him during this very difficult time,” GSE said in a statement.

Monahan said he spoke with Murray’s parents to offer condolences, and they asked that the tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, continue.

He said grief counselors would be on site at the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour event in Knoxville, Tennessee. Monahan headed to Texas and later appeared on CBS as the third round was ending.

“To see the devastation on the faces of every player coming in is really difficult to see and really just profound,” Monahan said. “Grayson was a remarkable player, but he was a very courageous man. I’ve always loved that about him.”

Murray, who had dealt with alcohol and mental health issues in the past, made a massive turnaround this year and won the Sony Open , hitting wedge to 3 feet for birdie on the final hole to get into a playoff and winning it with a 40-foot putt.

He also won the Barbasol Championship in 2017.

“It was a huge shock. My heart sank,” said Webb Simpson, who learned of Murray’s death shortly before teeing off at Colonial. He said Murray was the first winner of his junior tournament and they shared the same swing coach as juniors.

“I just hate it so much,” Simpson said. “I’m going to miss him. I’m thankful he was in the place with his faith before this morning happened.”

Murray was No. 58 in the world rankings coming off a tie for 43rd in the PGA Championship last week at Valhalla. He also made the cut in his Masters debut, finishing 51st, and was in the field for the U.S. Open next month at Pinehurst No. 2.

Murray, who grew up in North Carolina, was among the most talented juniors in the country. He won the prestigious Junior World Championship in San Diego three straight years and earned the Arnold Palmer Scholarship at Wake Forest.

He wound up going to three colleges, lastly at Arizona State, and won as a 22-year-old PGA Tour rookie at the Barbasol Championship.

Murray said in January that he had been sober for eight months, was engaged to be married, had become a Christian and felt his best golf was ahead of him. He was appointed to the 16-member Player Advisory Council.

“My story is not finished. I think it’s just beginning,” Murray said in Hawaii. “I hope I can inspire a lot of people going forward that have their own issues.”

Murray said he used to drink during tournament weeks as a rookie because he knew he had talent and felt he was invincible. He also brought attention to himself through social media, openly criticizing other players and getting into one social media spat with Kevin Na over Na’s reputation as a slow player.

But he felt like he turned the corner when he sought help — letting others fight for him, is how he explained it this year.

“It took me a long time to get to this point,” Murray said in January. “That was seven years ago, over seven years ago. I’m a different man now. I would not be in this position right now today if I didn’t put that drink down eight months ago.”

Peter Malnati played with Murray at Colonial. He offered to go on the CBS telecast Saturday afternoon and immediately broke down trying to talk about him.

“It’s a huge loss for all of us on the PGA Tour,” Malnati said. “As much as we want to beat each other, we’re one big family, and we lost one today. It’s terrible.”

This story has been corrected to show that Murray won the Barbasol Championship in 2017, not last year.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

With Scheffler, Schauffele and other top players, Memorial leaderboard already stacked

When the PGA Tour designated this year's Memorial Tournament as a signature event with a smaller field, Thursday's leaderboard was probably what it sought.

Only 73 players competed at Muirfield Village Golf Club, about 50 fewer than in the past. The cream of the cream rose to the top right away.

Sure, first-round leader Adam Hadwin at 6-under 66 isn't a huge name, but most of the ones just below him have to make Jack Nicklaus and Memorial spectators quite happy.

Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player, is one shot back.

The group at 4-under is loaded. Collin Morikawa is a two-time major champion who won the Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village during the pandemic in 2020. Xander Schauffele, the No. 2-ranked golfer, won the PGA Championship last month. Ludvig Aberg, only 24 years old, already ranks 6 th in the world rankings.

Nick Dunlap at Memorial Tournament: Dunlap's whirlwind rookie PGA season continues with strong Thursday

Defending Memorial champion Viktor Hovland, the No. 5 player, is among the players at 3-under.

Thursday leaderboards frequently feature players who don't have the staying power to remain in contention for four days. Last year's first-round leader, Davis Riley, finished tied for 54 th . (Riley did win the Charles Schwab Challenge last month.) Among others at the top were journeymen such as Matt Wallace, Mark Hubbard, Austin Eckroat and David Lipsky.

“I think that's exactly what we were trying to do as a tour,” Schauffele said of Thursday's stacked leaderboard. “It's the product we want to put out. When you look up at that board, you want to see everyone's name as high up there as possible hashing it out on Sunday. That's what people want to see, and that's what we want to give 'em.”

It has been a trying time for professional golf. The fracture caused by the emergence of the LIV tour means that past Memorial winners like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau aren't in Dublin this week. TV ratings for the PGA tour have declined significantly this year.

More: After turning pro Monday, Max Moldovan enjoys stress-free Thursday at Memorial Tournament

A leaderboard like Thursday's, if it persists through the weekend, should get more eyes on the Memorial and excite spectators at Muirfield Village.

“It's nice seeing some good names up on the leaderboard,” Scheffler said. “I love being out here competing. I'm sure it's shaping up to be another great tournament here in Ohio.”

The top players took different paths to their superb rounds. Scheffler had only one bogey, which came on the par-5 No. 5 hole after a clump of mud stuck to his ball when his tee shot landed on a fairway softened by Wednesday night's rain.

“Because of the mud on the ball, you have absolutely no control over where it's going to go,” he said.

He said there was no clear way to lay up because of the water on the hole. He left his second shot 30 yards from the pin and needed four more shots to finish. But Scheffler rebounded with four birdies on the back nine.

Schauffele had the only bogey-free round of the day. It required much scrambling. His putter saved him multiple times after errant drives or approach shots.

“I'm going to go to the range after we finish talking and hit the center of the club face a little more (so that I) find some more fairways and some more greens,” he said.

Morikawa jump-started his round on No. 2 by sinking a sand wedge from about 127 yards away.

He would have tied Hadwin for the lead if he could have birdied No. 18, but he bogeyed it after his approach shot rolled down the slope in front of the green.

Still, he was far from displeased with a 4-under on such an unforgiving course.

“You're within yards of hitting a really good shot, and you're yards within hitting a very poor shot,” Morikawa said of Muirfield Village. “It just requires focus from tee all the way to the green.”

Now he's part of a first-day leaderboard that would be the envy of a major on a Sunday.

“I think the guys that are playing really well are at the tops of their games right now and they're putting together really good scores,” Morikawa said. “Hopefully, we can put together three more.”

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