I had an old set of Cleveland wedges with square grooves (one of the last models before square grooves became illegal). They had some serious spin but chewed up the ball on every shot. I feel like my new SM9s spin just as much, if not more, and no more damaged golf balls.
I would only play conforming clubs, in the Netherlands all rounds with another player with a handicap is qualifying. So would not just play for fun with non conforming clubs.
Great video as usual. Question. Played today 39 points, very hot. Sweaty hands. Should I wear 2 gloves? Never seen it before only when it’s wet, be good to hear your thoughts 👍
Spin depends totally on the clip factor the force you hit it with and overall quality of the swing. Do you want spin on or off ? Then you decide how to hit it.
Got 48, 54 and 60 in my bag, legal ones. They are really good to hit, give spin and are better than my old Jaws raws. The copper coating doesn't last long, also they do scrape the golf ball when you hit them hard (but given my average ball life is 6 holes, who cares). Buy them, simple really.
so basically these clubs either roll the ball forward a bit or stop the ball in the same place... but no spin backwards or crazy spin back.... or maybe i watched a different video... these clubs do nothing more than any other wedge today... i guess thats fun...
I would not use the illegal wedges just from the simple fact that I play in some of my local USGA chapter tournaments through out the year. So it would not make sense to use a club that I couldn’t use in tournament play and get use to it then have to adjust back to a tournament wedge….. though the average player I think it would be fun for them to use.
Soft golf balls and trusting your strike to throw it high enough that you can use sufficient force. People tend to chicken out subconsciously as they swing when they’re close to the green and hit a low shot without spin. You need to commit to it, use enough power to throw it high and the spin will happen.
The owner of Smith Works plays at my club and my uncle got 'mates rates' on a set, they are ridiculous for spin but absolute ball killers. They really are amazing quality and do work very well for stopping the ball!
I remember playing a few strangers for money, one of the guys was spinning the ball like crazy and stopping it on a dime and winning holes more often than not but he wasn't that great of a player. I then realized that he was using a cheater wedge and told him I wasn't paying or betting him anymore. At first he was upset but his buddies didn't know he was cheating and also wouldn't pay him and backed me up so he just pouted for the rest of the round lol.
I have to be honest, the shots you took had spin of course, but still seemed to be rolling out as well like any other wedge. I wouldn’t play non conforming anything personally. I don’t see the point
The “Illegal” wedges don’t look like there’s much of a “fun spin” advantage over a legal wedge. Based on what I’m seeing I get more backspin with my SM9’s than your getting with the illegal ones
I play a set of Eye 2 Beryllium Copper irons and wedges with ZZ-Lite shafts, and my back up set is a standard set of Eye 2’s with the K-Shafts. I haven’t found a set of modern irons that look and feel as good to me as these (almost) 40 year old irons. I want to keep playing the the rest of my life, so naturally I did some research: Eye2 clubs produced before 1990 are NOT allowed in a number of places (including US Opens, PGA and LPGA Tour events, but are still considered conforming under the 2010 rules (based on the terms of 1990 settlement.) I don’t plan on qualifying for the Open, the PGA Tour, or the LPGA tour, so I think I’m good unless a scramble or something I’m playing in specifically bans the irons. The softness of COVER on your ball has much of of an effect on spin rate/RPM of your ball than the differences between an aggressive legal club vs a traditional square groove illegal club. Most current balls marketed as “SOFT” have very soft cores that allow the ball to be compressed on impact, but this requires a harder cover to allow the ball to have decent play characteristics. The harder cover kills the spin rate. You’d much rather what a ball with a harder core and a butter soft cover if your going after green side pull back spin with a wedge. That’s about all I know on the subject, but I don’t know a lot. Do your own research. Chuck
If you're going to play illegal weges, you should just buy spin doctor wedges. They come with a bunch of face inserts, so they should last a decade or longer and spin Lot more than that.
"Oh honey, you stay here on the green with the camera, and I'm going to back up 100 yds and hit shots in your general direction. " Now that's trust in a marriage!
Don’t see any point in the illegal ones. I enjoy playing competitive golf monthly medals etc. No point in spending money on kit I can’t put into play and destroying the left dashes in the process!
I have one. After a week with the 50 I found it's nothing more than a gimmick club. My Pings work better. It acted like a shovel from the fairway and dead from the rough.
What is your Channel even about? I never know anymore, are you just trying to make whatever you can for as long as you can because you know this isn’t gonna be a thing forever?
I had an old set of Cleveland wedges with square grooves (one of the last models before square grooves became illegal). They had some serious spin but chewed up the ball on every shot. I feel like my new SM9s spin just as much, if not more, and no more damaged golf balls.
Excellent presentation thank you for your time posting this content, very interesting.
Had the legal version in the bag for a couple of months 54 and 58. Not only high spin but lovely feeling as well. Really enjoying them 👌🏻
Good to know. I’m looking at the legal 60 in copper.
Did the legal version cut up the balls?
@@potter147 no more than normal wedges. Really can’t recommend them enough
Great vid James. I’m looking to buy these wedges now.
I would only play conforming clubs, in the Netherlands all rounds with another player with a handicap is qualifying. So would not just play for fun with non conforming clubs.
ive got a set of scor wedges just had grooves sharpened just as much spin as the illegal ones
Loved that review on those wedges James
Have you seen PXG 3x Forged Wedges? I haven’t seen any review videos on them yet but look like great wedges.
A lovely bit of spin there, how do they compare to the vokey sm9?
With my SM8’s a 60 degree im getting consistent 11500-12500. Im not impressed by james’ showcased wedges at all. Whole lotta fancy for nothing.
Great video as usual. Question. Played today 39 points, very hot. Sweaty hands. Should I wear 2 gloves? Never seen it before only when it’s wet, be good to hear your thoughts 👍
Thought these were the new Taylormade Hi-Toes lol
Love the daily uploads James always high quality 👍
Use the yellow, black callaway. Spin shows up great .
Will you be doing a review on the new cobra forged tec irons with Chris Dennis soon?
Great camera work Laura
Spin depends totally on the clip factor the force you hit it with and overall quality of the swing. Do you want spin on or off ? Then you decide how to hit it.
Bro......not with these clubs, you can thin a shot and still getvthe ball the spin
Any wedge needs to be consistent or you will not be close to the pin . Get wedges you hit well and practice with them so you get predictable length.
Should show them on the simulator vs sm9 etc. let’s see how much more they are actually spinning?
Got 48, 54 and 60 in my bag, legal ones.
They are really good to hit, give spin and are better than my old Jaws raws.
The copper coating doesn't last long, also they do scrape the golf ball when you hit them hard (but given my average ball life is 6 holes, who cares).
Buy them, simple really.
I'll get more spin from my Cleveland 588 tour action 56 than those. They draw back a whole green if you need it.
My Ping Glide 4.0 puts these in the shade on performance
So those wedges are trash. Appreciate it. Tired of seeing their IG ads. This puts that to rest
Well done James 👏
so basically these clubs either roll the ball forward a bit or stop the ball in the same place... but no spin backwards or crazy spin back.... or maybe i watched a different video...
these clubs do nothing more than any other wedge today...
i guess thats fun...
I would not use the illegal wedges just from the simple fact that I play in some of my local USGA chapter tournaments through out the year. So it would not make sense to use a club that I couldn’t use in tournament play and get use to it then have to adjust back to a tournament wedge….. though the average player I think it would be fun for them to use.
They are lovely james
I have the non conforming Wedges from Smithworks i love them i nick named mine the paper shredders
I am thinking that neither of those wedges will end up in your bag.
Based on how similarly matched they are I'd have to go legal. Or, save the money and get a few lessons and learn to hit my current wedges better!
No matter what wedges I hit, no matter what lie, location or conditions, I cannot generate spin.... what's the key to mastering this??
Soft golf balls and trusting your strike to throw it high enough that you can use sufficient force. People tend to chicken out subconsciously as they swing when they’re close to the green and hit a low shot without spin. You need to commit to it, use enough power to throw it high and the spin will happen.
Get a jigger ….Cleveland Smart Sole chipper ….legal, approved by PGA, etc….one club and it does the job
new wedges loose 30% of their spin in the first six weeks - it’s silly testing new wedges against your own if any older
The owner of Smith Works plays at my club and my uncle got 'mates rates' on a set, they are ridiculous for spin but absolute ball killers.
They really are amazing quality and do work very well for stopping the ball!
I remember playing a few strangers for money, one of the guys was spinning the ball like crazy and stopping it on a dime and winning holes more often than not but he wasn't that great of a player. I then realized that he was using a cheater wedge and told him I wasn't paying or betting him anymore. At first he was upset but his buddies didn't know he was cheating and also wouldn't pay him and backed me up so he just pouted for the rest of the round lol.
That’s funny!
I have to be honest, the shots you took had spin of course, but still seemed to be rolling out as well like any other wedge. I wouldn’t play non conforming anything personally. I don’t see the point
The “Illegal” wedges don’t look like there’s much of a “fun spin” advantage over a legal wedge. Based on what I’m seeing I get more backspin with my SM9’s than your getting with the illegal ones
Much more spin with my mg3 wedges!
With all the face doctoring that is going on with today's clubs, the old Eye 2's should certainly be allowed back in the bags.
I play a set of Eye 2 Beryllium Copper irons and wedges with ZZ-Lite shafts, and my back up set is a standard set of Eye 2’s with the K-Shafts. I haven’t found a set of modern irons that look and feel as good to me as these (almost) 40 year old irons. I want to keep playing the the rest of my life, so naturally I did some research:
Eye2 clubs produced before 1990 are NOT allowed in a number of places (including US Opens, PGA and LPGA Tour events, but are still considered conforming under the 2010 rules (based on the terms of 1990 settlement.)
I don’t plan on qualifying for the Open, the PGA Tour, or the LPGA tour, so I think I’m good unless a scramble or something I’m playing in specifically bans the irons.
The softness of COVER on your ball has much of of an effect on spin rate/RPM of your ball than the differences between an aggressive legal club vs a traditional square groove illegal club.
Most current balls marketed as “SOFT” have very soft cores that allow the ball to be compressed on impact, but this requires a harder cover to allow the ball to have decent play characteristics. The harder cover kills the spin rate. You’d much rather what a ball with a harder core and a butter soft cover if your going after green side pull back spin with a wedge.
That’s about all I know on the subject, but I don’t know a lot. Do your own research.
Chuck
@@paulmcgee1867 Not on tour, no.
Yay Laura!!!! Who cares about illegal clubs?!? More Laura?? Yes!!!
Spin it to win it
James who can afford 2 sets of wedges? I don't know anybody who plays to a good standard and not play in comps?
Sorry, my sounds not working. Can someone comment how much are the new TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 wedges are.
So zero spin then?
Laura will be filing her nails with them later....
I'm not seeing anymore spin than my zipgroove wedges.
From what i can see in the video, my sm8’s do as good if not better than those gimmicky wedges.
If you're going to play illegal weges, you should just buy spin doctor wedges. They come with a bunch of face inserts, so they should last a decade or longer and spin Lot more than that.
I'll never play a comp. No interest in ever playing one! So i'd play one of the non-conforming one..
Where are the TP5X balls?
Your utube mates are not going to like you using these wedges? Kinda like using the old square groove clubs?
"Oh honey, you stay here on the green with the camera, and I'm going to back up 100 yds and hit shots in your general direction. "
Now that's trust in a marriage!
Don’t see any point in the illegal ones. I enjoy playing competitive golf monthly medals etc. No point in spending money on kit I can’t put into play and destroying the left dashes in the process!
castore sponsorship end?
Legal all the way I’m afraid.
I wouldn't use non-conforming clubs, especially against my mates
I have one. After a week with the 50 I found it's nothing more than a gimmick club. My Pings work better. It acted like a shovel from the fairway and dead from the rough.
I wouldn’t use illegal equipment. That’s called cheating. And the most important person you’re cheating is yourself.
What is your Channel even about? I never know anymore, are you just trying to make whatever you can for as long as you can because you know this isn’t gonna be a thing forever?
Looks pretty self explanatory to me it's about having fun. Isn't that supposed to be the point of playing?