An overview of Tiger Woods WITB for the PGA Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty)
After another month break Tiger Woods makes his next tournament appearance at the US Open 2024. The record golfer trusts a mix of TaylorMade golf clubs with his iconic Scotty Cameron putter and a Bridgestone golf ball.
Arguably the most important part of your game: Golf Wedges. (Image. Getty)
Golf wedges are the scoring clubs. 70 percent of all shots occur within 100 yards of the green, making wedges essential for every golfer’s game. Wedges are crucial for creating birdie opportunities from the fairway or saving par after missing the green, but they can also cause significant trouble for golfers who struggle within the 100-yard range. Therefore, it is crucial that the wedges you have in your bag suit you and support your game.
Even though golf wedges may seem to have undergone less technological development compared to irons or drivers, this is not true upon closer inspection. There are many different wedges with unique specifications, making the search for the right club to enhance your game a worthwhile endeavor. The following explanations are intended to expand your knowledge of golf wedges and help you make a decision for or against a wedge to improve your game.
There are basically four different types of wedges:
Pitching Wedges (PW)
The first and most widely used wedge is the pitching wedge. It generally has a loft of 44 to 48 degrees and is primarily used for full swings into the green and longer chips. Many club sets today tend to give the pitching wedge a lower loft, making it “longer”. This suggests to the player that they have more distance in their shots, but it also creates a gap in the shot distances, necessitating a gap wedge.
As the name suggests, the gap wedge fills the gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. The loft usually ranges between 50 and 55 degrees. In terms of use, it is very similar to the pitching wedge, but the gap wedge is used from slightly shorter distances and offers a wider range of options from the fairway and around the green.
Sand Wedges (SW)
Typically, sand wedges have a loft of around 56 degrees and are primarily used to escape green-side bunkers or for short pitches. Due to the design of the sole, they are specifically tailored for these shots but also offer additional options for approach shots.
Gradually, the lob wedge has gained increasing popularity and significance in golfers’ club selections. As the name suggests, the lob wedge has the highest loft – usually 60 to 62 degrees, sometimes even up to 64 degrees – to allow the player to achieve extreme heights on the ball with pitch and chip shots. It is mostly used as a short-game club around the green rather than for approach shots. For shots from deep rough or sand, it is often more suitable due to its high loft, though it is more challenging for the less experienced golfer to play compared to wedges with lower loft.
The loft of a golf wedge is simply the angle at which it lifts the ball off the ground. As mentioned above, wedges range from about 44 to 64 degrees. Most professionals, as well as many amateur golfers, have three to four wedges in their bag to have the widest possible range of options for short shots. The higher the loft of a wedge, the higher the ball flight will be, with a correspondingly shorter distance.
The bounce of a wedge refers to various characteristics of the club’s sole. The bounce focuses on the part of the club that touches the ground during a shot, causing the club to ‘bounce’ through the ball. Bounce is the overarching term for the elements involved in the design of the club’s sole: the bounce angle, the width of the sole, the leading edge, and the camber (the curvature of the sole). Finding the right bounce for your wedge will especially improve your chipping and pitching.
Golf wedges come with different bounces. The bounce refers to the sole of the club.
For firm ground, such as that found on links courses, a lower bounce wedge is generally more suitable. This produces a “sharper” ball contact because less surface area of the club interacts with the ground due to the flatter angle, resulting in a shallower divot. In contrast, a standard bounce is more appropriate for softer ground as it allows the club to dig deeper into the ground after impact, enabling a steeper, more aggressive swing.
Finishes of Wedges
Wedges are crafted from various materials and thus come in different finishes, which refer to the various surface treatments of a club. Here’s a selection of common coatings and their benefits.
The traditional coating in which most wedges are delivered is chrome. It provides the classic look, a soft, solid feel, and simultaneously protects the club from corrosion.
Black Nickel
Black Nickel is a special color variant of the classic chrome coating. It offers the same durability and the same soft, solid feel as traditional chrome coating.
Similar to the Black Nickel finish, Nickel provides a blend of the alloy’s soft characteristics with the steadfast properties of the surface. Additionally, the matte color of nickel reduces potential reflections that can occur with shiny materials, giving the wedge a traditional appearance.
Rusty/Raw
These untreated steel wedges are designed to rust over time. The corrosion on the surface provides the player with a more immediate feel and increases the spin imparted on the ball. These wedges are also matte but have the shortest lifespan of all finishes and are typically used by better players.
This finish is offered by some companies and is created through a special heat treatment. This process produces a non-reflective appearance as well as a soft feel. Over time, the Oil Can finish will evolve more and more towards a Rusty/Raw finish.
This finish shares the characteristics of both the Oil-Can and Rusty/Raw variants, producing an extremely soft feel. The difference from the aforementioned options lies in the material composition. Over time, the Beryllium Copper finish will darken as oxygen reacts with the metal.
Wedge shafts are mostly made of steel
Nearly all golf wedges come with steel shafts, except for clubs that are part of a graphite shaft set or have a custom fitting option. Additionally, most wedges come with a standard wedge flex in stores. This flex is similar in flexibility to a steel shaft with a stiffness rating of ‘stiff’, but tailored to the length – or rather, the shortness – of a wedge. It is designed to provide maximum feel and accuracy, but flex is generally less critical in short clubs like wedges.
Robert MacIntyre's winning WITB 2024. (Image: Getty)
After a thrilling final, Robert MacIntyre can finally call himself a PGA Tour winner. The 27-year-old Scot prevailed against strong competition at the RBC Canadian Open 2024 and emerged victorious.
WITB: Robert MacIntyre with a diverse mix
Robert MacIntyre is one of the few players on the tour who is left-handed and therefore stands out. The Scot has been dreaming of winning on the PGA Tour for several years. On 2 June, his dream was to come true and he celebrated an emotional triumph. The clubs that led him to victory are a colourful mix of Titleist, Cobra and TaylorMade. His father supported him on the bag, which is hugely important for the left-hander: ‘It was always my dream to win on the PGA Tour when I got my PGA Tour card and I just can’t believe I did it with my dad on the bag. The guy taught me how to play golf.’
Hybrids are intended to replace long irons and are an alternative to short woods. (Photo: flickr/proforged)
The industry is known to be very inventive. After the loft of golf clubs became less and less over time and the difficulty of the so-called “long irons” increased at the same time, the hybrid was born. This is one of the reasons why sets from 5 iron upwards are sold today; the longer irons can easily be replaced with hybrids. The advantage of hybrids is that the center of gravity is low and very close to the clubface. Hybrids are therefore easier to play than long irons.
A hybrid should primarily be regarded as a replacement club for an iron. Due to the shaft length, a hybrid 5 replaces a 4 iron, a hybrid 4 a 3 iron and so on. You can find out how to find the right irons here. Alternatively, if you assume that a golfer always swings the ball the same way, a hybrid 3 can also replace a 5 wood, a hybrid 4 a 7 wood and a hybrid 5 a 9 wood. You can find out how to find the right woods here. Basically, however, humans are not robots, so it is always a question of swing type and preference.
The steeper the swing, the more likely a golf hybrid
The combination of hybrids in the bag is usually determined according to the golfer’s swing speed and preference. It is quite possible that up to three hybrids are suitable for the player. However, hybrids are not suitable for every swing type. As a guide, the steeper the vertical angle of attack, the better suited you are to hybrid clubs and the more you can carry in your golf bag. The flatter the impact angle, the less or no hybrids are recommended.
Loft intervals of the hybrids depend on swing speed
At a swing speed of less than 50 miles per hour (approx. 80 km/h; e.g. with the 6 iron), a loft interval of five to six degrees between hybrids is recommended. At a swing speed of up to 75 miles per hour (120 km/h, 6 iron), a loft interval of four to five degrees is recommended; at more than 75 miles per hour (6 iron), three to four degrees between the hybrids. You can find out how to increase your swing speed here.
swing speed (with a 6 iron)
50 Mph
75 Mph
more than 75 Mph
Loft-Intervall between the hybrids
5° – 6°
4° – 5°
3° – 4°
Is the focus on length or precision? As hybrids are primarily iron replacement clubs, it is generally clear that precision is the main focus with these tools. So don’t expect extra length in your shots. If you are looking for length, you should consider woods.
Ball position like a wood or more like an iron?
Ball position like a wood or more like an iron? Experience has shown that if you position the ball like a wood, it will be topped with the hybrids. The ball position should be more like a 5 iron, even if hybrids are visually closer to woods. The ball flight height of the hybrid is flatter compared to irons and higher compared to woods.
Nacho Elvira at the Soudal Open on the DP World Tour. (Photo: Getty)
Nacho Elvira wins on the DP World Tour for the second time in his career. After his victory at the Cazoo Open in 2021, the Spaniard secured victory at the Soudal Open 2024 in Belgium on a thrilling final day. After three dominant days, Nacho Elvira had his problems, especially after a rain interruption on the final day, allowing his two pursuers Niklas Norgaard Moller and Romain Langasque to close the gap. In the end, however, a round of 71 was enough for the triumph in Antwerp. For his victory, Elvira opted for a bag similar to the one Xander Schauffele used at the PGA Championship the previous week and therefore put his trust in the equipment supplier Callaway.
Nacho Elvira has the latest Paradym AI Smoke Driver in the Triple Diamond Max edition in his bag. This has a neutral to fade-oriented clubface, which is particularly aimed at low handicappers and tour pros. The club offers good handling from the tee, which should ensure a high ball launch and low spin. Among the fairway woods, Elvira also uses the same Triple Diamond model for golfers with a higher swing speed who are looking for precise ball control and a penetrating, low-spin ball flight. A Callaway X Forged Utility Wood bridges the gap to the Callaway Apex TCB irons. The Spaniard relies on the latest model from this year. When it comes to wedges, the newly crowned Tour winner puts the Callaway JAWS MD5 (50° and 54°) and the Callaway JAWS Raw (58°) in his bag. For the putter, Elvira opts for the White Hot OG Rossie from Callaway’s Odyssey brand, which specializes in the manufacture of putters. The Callaway Chrome Tour golf ball completes the Spaniard’s bag.
The driver is not only the longest club in your bag but also the most spectacular. (Photo: Getty)
Advances in sweet spot technology, size, launch angle, composition, ball speed, and forgiveness are just a few categories where manufacturers like Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade or Cobra invest considerable time and money in research and development. The result is a vast array of drivers on the market, each with unique features and benefits.
How to Choose the Right Driver: Key Factors and Considerations
Golfers face a tough decision in selecting the “right” driver from this extensive range, while pairing this with goals like aiming for shorter approach shots, greater distances, or even the chance for eagles. Although it’s just one club in the bag, it’s often the most expensive. To help you make an informed decision, here are the key factors to consider when buying a driver.
Clubheads are measured by volume in cubic centimeters (cc), with the maximum allowed size being 460 cc. Nearly all modern drivers utilize the full 460 cc, offering more forgiveness. Compact or mini drivers are available for players seeking greater control and precision. The shape of the clubhead, whether vertical or horizontal, and its degree of forgiveness and loft vary based on the manufacturer’s design.
Best Material for the Driver
Driver technology has come a long way from persimmon and even steel woods. Today, drivers are predominantly made from titanium, carbon or similar lightweight materials. Titanium is favored for its strength, durability, and light weight, allowing for larger clubheads without a significant increase in weight. This enables faster swings, longer drives, and greater forgiveness thanks to a larger sweet spot. Some drivers feature a mix of materials, incorporating light substances like carbon or heavier ones like tungsten to optimize performance.
Moment of Inertia (MOI) and Center of Gravity (CG)
The CG of a driver is a singular balance point. Adjusting fixed or movable weights in the clubhead shifts this balance. Generally, a lower and rearward CG produces more spin, resulting in a higher ball flight and increased forgiveness. Moving the CG forward enhances ball speed but reduces spin and MOI, which impacts forgiveness. A higher MOI means less likelihood of club twisting on off-center hits.
Optimal Launch Angle for Your Driver
Getting fitted by a professional is crucial to determine the best launch angle. Key factors influencing ball flight include ball spin and launch angle. The loft angle significantly affects how high or low the ball launches.
Selecting the Right Loft
Loft determines the ball’s flight height and is measured vertically. Most drivers have a loft between 8 and 12 degrees. Higher loft creates more backspin, lifting the ball. Many golfers mistakenly believe lower loft equals longer drives, but a higher loft often results in a longer carry for most players.
Recommended Lofts and Shafts for Drivers by Skill Level
Player Type
Shaft
Loft
Women and seniors with a swing speed of less than 60 mph
How Does Adjusting the Driver Work (Loft, Clubhead & Weight)?
Loft
Determining the ideal loft and launch angle can be challenging. To address this, manufacturers have introduced adjustable features that allow customization by turning a screw. Many drivers enable loft adjustments of up to 4 or 5 degrees, varying by brand and model. It’s important to realign the clubface during these adjustments, as misalignment can affect the ball’s horizontal flight, causing it to veer right or left.
Clubhead
The clubhead’s angle to the target is crucial. When the clubhead is perfectly vertical, it is perpendicular to the target. Turning the clubface away opens the clubhead and reduces loft, while turning it towards the player closes the clubface and increases loft. For players who slice, a closed clubface helps maintain the target angle and prevent the ball from veering right. Conversely, an open clubhead can help players who hook to the left achieve straighter shots. Here are some tips to improve your clubhead speed.
Driver Weight
Adjustable weights in the clubhead can significantly influence the ball’s flight by affecting the center of gravity and moment of inertia. The goal is to achieve the optimal center of gravity at impact, regardless of weight settings. Drivers can have various weights ranging from 1 to 20 grams, which can be positioned on the sole to promote a draw (more weight at the back), fade (more weight at the front), or higher ball flight (more weight at the back). Each manufacturer offers different methods for adjusting these weights.
COR Value and Smash Factor: What Do They Mean?
COR (Coefficient of Restitution) measures the energy transfer from the clubhead to the ball, with a maximum allowed COR of 0.83. The smash factor indicates how efficiently energy is transferred, calculated by dividing ball speed by clubhead speed. An ideal smash factor is 1.50.
Shaft Type and Length: How They Affect Your Driver
The shaft is crucial for driver performance. Manufacturers offer shafts in various flexes, such as regular (R), stiff (S), and extra stiff (XS). Less stiff shafts promote a higher, right-to-left ball flight, while stiffer shafts create a lower trajectory with a tendency to the right. The standard driver length is 48 inches, but most range between 43 and 46 inches. A longer shaft can generate more speed but may reduce control.
What Comes After the Driver?
Once you’ve nailed your driver shot from the tee, the goal is to reach the green in regulation or better. This brings fairway woods and irons into play. Check out our comprehensive guides on fairway woods and irons for more insights.
By considering these factors and getting properly fitted, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect driver to enhance your game.
The new tequila inspired golf bag range from OGIO. (Image: OGIO)
OGIO Europe has unveiled its limited-edition signature design for 2024, the eye-catching tequila-themed Agave Ahora golf bag range, just in time for the next happy hour.
Inspired by the agave plant used to create the popular spirit, the collection serves up a fun-filled print of agave flowers and tequila glasses, accompanied by a slice of lime and cube of ice.
(Image: OGIO)
The new Design Highlight in the OGIO Golf Bag Range
Continuing to shake up the golf bag market, the white and green design is the latest bold, stand-out marquee colourway produced by OGIO and is available on three of the brand’s much-loved golf bags.
Launching for the first time in Europe at the start of this year, the Fuse Stand Bag – now available in six colourways following the launch of the Agave Ahora collection – is designed as a lightweight, bold and functional carry option for golfers of all ages and abilities. All Fuse bags come with a four-way full length divider top for traditional organisation of clubs and six front facing pockets, including a rapid snap access pocket.
(Image: OGIO)
Featuring OGIO’s unique silencer technology, a premium 15-way moulded top that delivers a more efficient way of organising sets by easily locking each club into place to prevent noisy rattling and damage, the All Elements Silencer Cart Bag is available to buy in the Agave Ahora design, while the All Elements Woodē Hybrid Bag – a full waterproof bag featuring an eight-way top – is also available in the design.
Michael Birch: “We Have Always Looked to Push the Boundaries”
Michael Birch, head of OGIO, said: “At OGIO, we have always looked to push the boundaries when it comes to creating something different and distinctive in a crowded marketplace.
“Our limited-edition Agave Ahora design is a great example of that, and if pre-sales are anything to go by, this promises to be one of the most popular golf products in the history of our business.”
The latest OGIO range hits the market just a month after the release of its first premium synthetic golf bag, the OGIO SHADOW.
Taking inspiration from the aerodynamic lines and meticulously crafted details of a luxury sports car, the SHADOW is the latest addition to OGIO’s industry-defining portfolio. The bag combines modern design with a timeless aesthetic, including a perforated hip pad for maximum carrying comfort and a magnetic pocket for accessories.
Founded in 1987, OGIO has become well established with its inventive designs and technologically advanced personal storage products – making them a vital cog in the wheel across a wide variety of sports.
Xander Schauffele's Bag at the PGA Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty)
It was a thrilling competition, but in the end Xander Schauffele won the 2024 PGA Championship under his own steam and with it his first major victory. With seven PGA Tour victories and six top five finishes in major tournaments, he was considered one of the best golfers without a major title – until now.
Even though it’s been two years since his last victory, it was his mental assertiveness that carried Xander Schauffele all the way to his major win. Especially with Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland breathing down his neck, the 30-year-old was aware that he had to play his game patiently. Even though he did not reach his target of 22 under par, 21 under par was enough for him to win and set the all-time record for the lowest major score. He relied mainly on Callaway for this performance.
WITB Xander Schauffele – The Equipment for the PGA Championship 2024
In his bag he has the latest Paradym AI Smoke Driver in the Triple Diamond edition. This has a neutral to fade-orientated clubface, which is aimed particularly at low handicappers and tour pros. It offers good handling from the tee, which should ensure a high ball launch and low spin. Schauffele also uses the same Triple Diamond model among the fairway woods for golfers with a higher swing speed who are looking for precise ball control and a penetrating, low-spin ball flight. A Callaway Apex Utility Wood bridges the gap to the Callaway Apex TCB irons. In doing so, he seems to favour the 21′ version of the UW over the newer 2023 version. In addition to a Callaway JAWS Raw (52°), Schauffele complements his bag with Vokey SM 10 wedges (56°, 60°) from Titleist. His Odyssey Las Vegas putter is a prototype.
Trailing close behind at the PGA Championship 2024: Shane Lowry. (Image: Getty)
The Moving Day of the PGA Championship 2024 is over and Shane Lowry just missed a record score that hasn’t been broken for over 100 years by a few centimeters. The 62 he played has been played only four times in the history of the major event. With two mediocre rounds on the first two days, Lowry’s only goal was to get himself back into the tournament, which he certainly did. Helping him reach the newest record round after Schauffele’s 62 on the first day, was his selection of clubs.
New investor and Tour ambassador for Arccos: Matt Fitzpatrick.
Arccos proudly welcomes U.S. Open Champion Matthew Fitzpatrick as an investor and Tour Ambassador, which will see him continue using Arccos to analyze his performance and refine his preparations for PGA Tour events, major championships and Ryder Cups.
Currently No. 14 on the Official World Golf Ranking, Fitzpatrick has tracked his on-course data for over a decade, leveraging it to become the world’s top-ranked amateur by winning the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship. As a pro, the native of Sheffield, England has represented Europe in three Ryder Cups and claimed eight DP World Tour titles along with the 2022 U.S. Open and the 2023 RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour.
Matt Fitzpatrick as Arccos’ pioneer
Fitzpatrick became the first client of Molinari’s analytics service, now called Arccos Pro Insights, which he credits as key to his U.S. Open victory at Brookline Country Club. Arccos Pro Insights counts more than 35 top professionals as clients – including Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, and Nelly Korda – with Molinari serving as Arccos’ Chief Data Strategist and Lead Tour Ambassador.
“Matt’s success to this point and the role data has played is so impressive to me and speaks to the authenticity of his relationship with Arccos,” said Sal Syed, Arccos CEO & Co-Founder. “He is a user and true advocate for the power of what we have built, especially through his accomplishments while working with Edoardo. With Matt now an investor in Arccos and using the system to capture his data, the insights he provides will help fuel our product development and further accelerate our growth.”
Large variety of data
Arccos has built the sport’s largest on-course dataset, now encompassing over 900 million shots and more than 1.5 trillion data points across 18 million rounds recorded by Arccos members. The system, featuring a smart sensor in each club grip paired with a mobile app, is a trusted tool for both amateurs and elite players worldwide.
“I’ve always had a huge interest in the power of data and how it can help me play my best. That’s why I started to work with Edoardo Molinari and what drove me to use Arccos,” Fitzpatrick shared. “After learning more about the company and meeting CEO Sal Syed, I’m thoroughly impressed by how much they’ve helped golfers make smarter decisions and shoot lower scores. On Tour we use the data to shave a fraction of a stroke so you can imagine the impact Arccos insights have for amateur players.”
New convenient tracking device
Arccos recently launched Link Pro, a device that tracks a player’s shots automatically without a phone and works inside a player’s front pocket to seamlessly capture on-course data. Ideal for use in professional competitions, Link Pro is the size of a car key fob and comes standard with a wireless charging case that provides up to 12 rounds on a single charge.
About Arccos Golf LLC
Arccos Golf LLC offers a game tracking experience that integrates Artificial Intelligence with real-time on-course data to deliver insights that help players maximize their potential. Listed among the “World’s Most Innovative Companies” by Fast Company, Arccos boasts the golf industry’s richest data set. Among its official partners and investors are PGA Tour, PING, Cobra PUMA Golf, TaylorMade, Srixon-Cleveland Golf, Club Champion, EA Sports, Golf Digest, Topgolf, Callaway Brands Corp. and others.
