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(UPDATED: March, 2025.)
Wedges are a special breed of golf club. Their core design has changed less over the last century than any other genre of club. There have been important refinements, but from their tear-drop shapes to their substantial soles made to bust through turf, sand and other impediments, they are proud links to the game's past. They need to be just as good on defense (getting you out of nasty greenside lies) as on offense (dropping a surgically precise fairway approach next to the cup).
As a result, golfers tend to get attached to their wedges, sometimes buying multiple sets of the same one in order to spread out wear over several seasons. I have done this myself, resorting to both eBay and online golf store clearance sections to grab multiples of a certain wedge model that was three or four generations out-of-date at the time. As of this writing, I am tempted to get a copy of my current 58-degree gamer, which is starting to show some wear.
In the realm of new golf clubs, the first shots with a brand-new wedge are awfully exciting, as fresh grooves can put silly amounts of spin on a golf ball.
As was the case last year, the 2025 crop of new wedges doesn't exactly reinvent the category, largely because there isn't much need to. But there are some interesting developments to be aware of, and most golfers - especially those who play more than 40-50 rounds per year - come due for new wedges on a fairly regular basis.
The 2 most important current trends in new wedges
More options than ever
Touring pros are very particular about the grinds on the soles of their wedges. The ways in which craftspeople like Titleist's Bob Vokey and Aaron Dill are able to shape specific parts of the wedge to affect the way the club interacts with turf and sand has major implications for the techniques that the world's best players deploy on a variety of greenside shots. This base of knowledge trickles down to us mortal golfers, who are able to choose wedges based on the turf conditions we experience and the way we deliver the club to the ball. "Bounce" is the main term related to this dynamic; as a general rule, golfers who play in soft turf and/or tend to descend sharply into the ball benefit from higher-bounce wedges, while lower bounce figures tend to benefit golfers who play in firmer conditions and create shallower impact angles on their shots. Knowing your own tendencies and preferences will help you find wedges that will help you with your greenside struggles.
This expanding menu of options even extends into the aesthetic realm, with most companies offering varying amounts of custom stamping and even different artwork to make your wedge truly one-of-a-kind.
Full-face grooves
Several years ago, Phil Mickelson and some of the great wedge players started talking about how they intentionally hit certain shots high on the face or out towards the toe of their wedges in order to deaden both impact and the way the ball lands on the fast, firm greens professionals often confront. As a result, Callaway, TaylorMade, Cleveland and other companies have started producing wedges whose grooves traverse the entire length of the clubface. Many golfers initially reacted negatively to the unfamiliar look of these clubs, but acceptance has broadened, even though these wedges are still a minority part of the market.
Titleist Vokey SM10 wedges
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Just as Scotty Cameron is synonymous with Titleist putters, Bob Vokey is the patron saint of Titleist wedges. Titleist's current Vokey SM10 wedges continue to enjoy widespread use on tour and among amateurs. Titleist's list of wedge grinds is as extensive as any company's too, and has expanded with a few specialty options in 2025.
Callaway wedge art
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Callaway is rolling along with its existing JAWS lineup of wedges, but as Lauren Thompson learns from Callaway's Anthony Taranto, a wedge isn't just a golf club - it can be an artist's canvas, too.
Cobra KING wedges
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Cobra continues to punch up at its competition with forward-thinking design concepts and fresh aesthetics. Their new KING wedge line focuses on four distinct grind options: a low-bounce, tour-inspired T grind, a higher-bounce, forgiving D grind, a W grind for soft turf and bunker conditions and finally a V grind (i.e. "versatile") that seeks to please the widest swath of golfers. The KING wedge line also includes a cavity-back X model of wedge for higher handicappers.
Mizuno T24 wedges (2024)
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Mizuno has always been steadfastly performance-focused, with a devoted following that adores their forged irons. Their wedges are strong, too, and their T24 series has a refined head shape and comes in three different finishes - including "Denim Copper" - and five different grind profiles.
PING S159 wedges (2024)
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For the last several years, PING has proceeded with two separate wedge lines: The Glide series and the forged Glide Pro line. Now, they've streamlined to one line, S159, with two available finishes, an impressive array of grind options and a brand-new, free WebFit Wedge app that any golfer can use to whittle down the options to the best ones for his or her game. $179.99.
Cleveland RTZ wedges
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Cleveland has made great wedges for decades, and their run continues with the new RTZ series, which follows six generations under the RTX name. Their tour-preferred shape and traditional looks are right up purists' alley, and a new steel compound called Z-alloy - purported to improve feel, durability and consistency - lends these wedges their name.
Tour Edge Exotics Wingman wedges (2024)
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Tour Edge's latest Wingman wedge comes with its proprietary VIBRCOR material in two pockets that help with feel as well as forgiveness via enhanced perimeter weighting, all in a traditional silhouette. $139.99 at TourEdge.com.
Other companies' current wedge lines
TaylorMade MG4 wedges
Introduced in 2023, TaylorMade's latest Milled Grind series of wedges continues to be popular, with pros like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods both gaming them. Raw clubfaces with etched Spin Treads seek to optimize spin. $179.99.
Wilson
A 2024 model hasn't been announced, so Wilson golfers can still buy the previous-generation forged Staff Model wedges from the iconic sporting goods brand. $99.98.
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