In the staff bag of Sam Burns on Wednesday, at the 2023 memorial tournament, I was surprised to find that he had recently switched over to a new Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks prototype 60-degree wedge.
It’s a shame that I was surprised.
Titleist’s representative confirmed that 31 players in the OWGR Top-100 use the Vokey Tgrind. Or, at the very least, they carry the T-grind as an alternative depending on the course conditions. (Tour players carry both a higher bounce option and a low bounce option before making a decision during the game).
Titleist has provided a full list of users who use T-grind. This includes Xander Schneffele, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Cameron Smith. Also included are Tony Finau, Sam Burns. Justin Thomas. Cameron Young. Tyrrell Hatton. Tom Kim. Jason Day. Tommy Fleetwood. Russell Henley. Tom Hoge. Billy Horschel. Chris Kirk. Adam Scott. Patrick Reed. Keith Mitchell. Min Woo Lee. Taylor Montgomery. Harold Varner III. Kevin Kisner
That’s a long list of players who use a specific wedge grind.
It’s also worth noting that LPGA stars Jin Young Ko, Nelly Korda, and Fred Biondi, who won the 2023 Men’s NCAA Golf Championships, use Vokey Tgrind wedges.
What is so special about the T-grind? !
Aaron Dill, a Titleist Vokey representative (and master wedge artist) who was in 2020, spoke with GolfWRX.com to learn more.
Dill stated that “the T-grind was the result of a collaborative effort between Tom Pernice and Bob Vokey.” Tom has a great short game, and Bob is able to trust Tom’s feedback when designing soles. Together, they designed the T. It is one of our best low-bounce offerings.
The T is an excellent low-bounce option for players who want to be able to slide the ball under in the open position. The wedge is best for players who have a good technique and play in firm conditions or bunkers.
This visual inspires confidence and gives them the freedom to be aggressive in every short game situation. This visual gives them confidence and the freedom to be more aggressive in any short game situation .”
The shaved parts of the T-grind are clearly visible thanks to the sun glare that reflects off Spieth’s wedge during the Waste Management.
Here’s another angle…
Here’s an overview of Justin Thomas’ Tgrind wedge from a toe perspective…
What does this mean to golfers on the street? ?
The T-grind is a movement that I believe amateur golfers should embrace. You should definitely get a wedge fitted!
The T-grind is the wedge of choice for pro golfers because it suits their delivery style and the conditions found on PGA Tour courses. Most golfers don’t play on the tight, closely mowed fairways of professional golfers. The majority of amateur golfers don’t know how to use a lob-wedge in an open-faced position, nor do they have the same level of precision when striking the ball.
The T-grind was a niche product that was made available to the general public in 2023. It should be considered as a testing option.
Titleist has posted an article on its own website. The company says:
The wedge grind is the removal or manipulation of material on the sole of the golf club to help improve contact with the grass. Grinds give you more flexibility and consistency on the green. You can play with spin, flight, and power among other factors.
Vokey offers many different wedge grind options for different situations. Vokey has a variety of wedge grinds for various situations.
“For example, the L grinding is best for conditions with firmer surfaces and sweeper-style swings, while the M grind provides the most playability. For some players, however, the best Vokey grinder for sand would be the K grind because it has the highest bounce.”
I would translate that to mean that each golfer should experiment with different wedge grinds in order to find the one that suits them.
A random wedge that has a random grind or bounce will give you random results in your wedge game.
Choose the right grind to take back control of your wedge-game!
In general, low-bounce grinds work better in firm conditions or for players who don’t take many divots on their pitch shots. Golfers with steeper swings or who play in soft conditions will benefit from higher bounce wedges.
Although there is no perfect system for wedge fitting, every golfer has a slightly different swing. It is a fact that wedge grinds are important. The best way to make sure you have the correct wedge grinds is by trial and error under the guidance of a professional instructor or fitter.
