The point of making a non-conforming wedge, is that most of us and I’m probably guessing 99% plus, don’t compete in competitions. We won to add fun to the game and having a wedge that spins a lot provides more fun for us. It makes Golf enjoyable. For someone who doesn’t compete, I think it’s great that they make the non-conforming clubs. Just adds happiness. For the guys that compete, obviously you can’t use that because it’s not allowed. For the other 99% plus of us who don’t ever compete, I think it’s fantastic!
I experimented with my golf partners Smithworks castmill wedge 60 degree. It was frickin awesome. The particular green on a hill where balls roll off the green. I hit it and it checked up the moment it hit the green.
Mike, I just ordered one myself but it will be weeks before the courses open here in Canada. I'm curious whether you noticed any wear on the golf balls?
Head of Reviews, I am impressed ! Nice product placement too ! What I want from a wedge is a consistant result so I don't want 10,000 rpm one hit and 5,000 the next. As for spin around the greens, its the same. I want it to check every time or not check every time. All the things I want relate to my stroke rather than the club. I can imagine performance is fairly standard so it comes back to my ability to be consistent (or lack of ability !). I've seen a couple of reviews of the illegal ones and they spin for miles and so I think they get them just for a laugh and the enjoyment of huge spin.
From what I see, it’s no better and no worse than a “leading brand” wedge. What about price? I figure if it’s less expensive, it would be a good choice for those that are cost conscious and not “club snobs”. Good review guys.
Review is they do appear to spin like crazy, but they absolutely rip the ball to shreds, you are going to need a new ball every round or even every 9 holes if your playing lots of pitch shots !!!!
4 года назад
Just keep the grooves clean and change them when they are worn. Great review Love the questions being asked by Dan on the actual video.
Nice analysis, the proof is in the performance around the greens and Lester showed that this club was a good club but not special. I think the key is the quality of the strike made by the golfer. You can’t buy your game off the Pro Shop shelf.
Numbers stack up well to your fitted brand leading wedge. Imagine it might perform better than most others which would back up their claims? Be interesting if you could get one that was fitted for you and then compare again...
Lester congratulations on your new position as Head of Reviews I'm sure it came with a hefty raise!!! At least a bonus Mars bar :-))) Would love to see your thoughts on types of wedges bounce lofts etc for sand shots different types of sand or an all around type and how to manipulate it for different types of sand? Good stuff lads stay safe Cheers from Norcal
Hi guys, 1. Do Smithworks claim more spin for the legal wedge, or only the non-conforming one? 2. Ball speed consistency on the Vokey was within 2.5 mph, versus Smithworks at almost 5mph. But you didn’t tell us about clubhead speed so we don’t know if that’s the wedge or variations in your swing Dan. If the latter, then a larger spin range of 1,000 rpm vs 500 rpm on the SM8 isn’t a total surprise. 3. With an average ball speed of 1.7 mph less it spun within 30 revs of the SM8. Increase the speed to match, and it could’ve possibly spun more than the Vokey. 4.Given the price is also less than SM8 I reckon it’s a winner. Over 3 wedges than can add up to quite a bit
I play Mizuno S18s but it’s about time to replace as I’ve played over 200 rounds with them and quite a bit of practice chipping. I’d probably gravitate towards the T20s, but also entertaining the Ping Glide 3. Living in a very humid, damp place, performance in wet conditions is a big factor. Both T20 and Glide 3 are supposedly good in wet conditions. For your wedge tests I’d love to see wet vs dry spin and trajectory data. I’m also interested in a full review of the Bettinardi HLX3 with feel, wet-v-dry 30/50/75/full shots, packed and fluffy bunker, etc.
I have the non-conforming wedge. It’s a lot of fun. There’s no way I’d ever use it in competition and, even if I did, it would be very obvious - the spin is crazy. They do tear up your ball. I do question why I spent £120 on it as my SM8s were similar in price and are absolute quality.
The Nike VR Pro and forged wedge face has the X’s on the face and that face looks very much like the Nike. I still play the Nike’s and only other wedges that I swap in with them is my Mizuno and Cleveland’s depending on course and lofts I want to play. Mash up between Nike and Mac Daddy, the Nike wedges are heavy headed.
Seems like a good option for people? £20 less than an SM8 and preforming fairly close. Is the non conforming easily identifiable? Would love to see the non conforming review guys! Absolutely loving the content guys!
I have both conforming and non conforming. Difference in spin is night and day and you can easily tell the difference and non conforming the X’s on the face are raised and the grooves are bigger
yes the average spin numbers come out very similar but that just looks to be a coincidence - the numbers on the individual shots are jumping around all over the place with the Smithworks, but very consistent with the SM8 .. i'd rather take the SM8 and know that each shot is going to return the same result!
I know this is an old review but I just found (Australia) a later conforming model (Laser Milled XSpin Wedge) where they moved the CG higher on the face like Cleveland for under $150 per club. Reduced from $249 per club. They come with KBS shafts.
I guess the other way to look at it would be that Smith wedge is matching up to the Vokey. That asks the question, other than status, why pay for a Vokey when you could buy the Smith wedge and getting such a similar performance that you can't tell them apart?
I have to say I can’t see any visible difference as lester said not seeing what they seem to be claiming I don’t like the thick top line but there are plenty of people out there who it would suit and maybe the price would make a lot of difference good review boys
Please Lester I love you, but stop chipping cross handed. Start with teeing up the ball and then go gradually from there to get rid of your yips. Ive been there with the yips but got rid of it this way. Good Luck!! Love you guys!!!
Sadly we are going through a spin fetish period. I would prefer to have a wedge that has consistency of spin rate across the face rather than a wedge which gives me 1000 rpm more from one place on the face. Currently I play Mizuno S18 wedges which I love but the spin does drop off a lot if you move the strike a little higher up the club face - often a problem from fluffy green side lies (ie the rough!). From Dan's numbers when you take into statistically significance, the Smithworks & SM8 are functionally identical
So this wedge is £18 cheaper than a vokey and £9 cheaper than the jaws (my gaming wedge) wedges but you have less options in bounce and grind and it does not perform as well. If the cost was significantly cheaper £30-£40 cheaper more people would be tempted to try them. Its a big investment for golfers especially if you are not getting fitted you could spend nearly £400 and get the incorrect lofts and your gapping be all wrong
This is over priced for an illegal club. But honestly if people want to spend money on this and they are weekend golfers is it really that offensive to have an illegal golf club?! Perhaps the golf police should be called and give life long bans!!!
Alright so I'll ask the obvious. Who see's mostly 'O's and who see's mostly 'X's when they show the face to you, and does the perception change as it moves on camera.
