2008 Wedge Buyer's Guide

Often dubbed as a “scoring tool,” the right wedge can be a real lifesaver on the golf course. Whether it’s a pitching, sand, gap or lob wedge, each can be used from a perfect lie in the fairway or a buried lie in the bunker. In fact, there’s a reason why the distance from within 100 yards is called the scoring zone. It’s the “make or break” area, where a great wedge shot can redeem a bad drive or poor approach to the green. Any miscue from this zone is considered an unforced error that should have been avoided (especially from the fairway). So, what’s that mean? Choosing the right wedges can be the difference between one or more strokes on any given hole! To start, it’s important to find a wedge that matches your needs, and luckily, if you’re in the market for game-improvement models, ’08 has plenty of options. The key, as with every other club, is in finding the right setup for you. Pay attention to loft, bounce angles (more bounce is better for soft surfaces or for those who tend to hit it heavy), and grooves, as well as sole grinds, since each are designed to perform differently from all sorts of lies.

Understanding Our Charts
Key Features: What distinguishes this wedge from the rest.
What We Like: We have our preferences, too. Basically, what impressed us in our review.
Who It’s For: The type of player these wedges were made for.
Clubhead: The material used for head construction.
Clubface: Indicates the material used for the strike area.
Design:Indicates the club’s general shape. Generally, wedges fall into two shape categories—blades or cavity-backs.
Custom Options: Whether or not custom options are available. This includes shafts, grips, etc. 
Shafts: The stock shaft offerings from the manufacturer.