An Unbiased Guide to the Best Wedges

There are some great wedges out there. They are all pretty much the same, let’s be real. OK, I think the article is over. Thanks for reading. Check back next week for the best putters (hint: they are all the same too).

Apparently you can’t just write a short, honest article these days. I tried to submit the above research paper to the website owner (myself). He said he couldn’t pay me for that (I don’t get paid anyway, I don’t know what he meant by that). Alright, I’ll try again. Take two.

There are some awesome wedges out there. They’re roughly all the same….. dang it. Let’s just talk about the two best wedges, along with two cheaper options that are basically the same at half the price.

The Most Forgiving Wedge: Cleveland Smart Sole S 4.0

Listen, if you suck with a wedge, you have the option of buying a wedge that is EASIER TO HIT. Did you know that? Did you know wedges aren’t made all the same? Well, now you do .

The 2020 Cleveland Smart Sole 4.0 wedge is the most forgiving wedge that you can buy right now. The sweet spot is bigger. The sole is bigger. There is more bounce. What does that mean? Even off-center hits will end up OK. While a normal wedge might have lead to skulled shots, fatted shots, and shanks, the Smart Sole will still give you decent results.

There are three Smart Sole wedges:

• S: Sandwedge. Has a super wide sole (lots of bounce) to make it easier to get out of bunkers. The club literally “bounces” off the sand and results in a clean bunker shot.
• C: Chipper. Tired of chunking chip shots and hitting chip shots fat, too? Get the C. Wider sole for more bounce (less digging into the ground).
• G: Gap wedge. Need a wedge for longer shots (70-120 yards) that won’t dig into the ground? Get the G.

Let me guess. You sit at a chair for 40 hours a week and play golf anywhere from 1-10 times a year (closer to 1 I bet). You don’t have the time, money, or energy to practice golf all day. When you DO practice, you hit drivers on the range cause it boosts your ego when you hit one (out of 50) good drives.

Therefore, you suck with a wedge. So either practice more (not happening), buy the smart sole 4, or buy an older version of the smart sole for less money.

Better Value: Cleveland Smart Sole 2 (or 3)

As I mentioned before, the Cleveland Smart Sole 4.o wedge is awesome. The price? Not so much. I don’t blame Cleveland. They have to price them well over $100 to make money.

Who do I blame? People like YOU, who buy new clubs when they could have bought older, slightly used clubs that work just the same at a fraction of the price.

For half the price of the Smart Sole 4, you can buy the Cleveland Smart Sole 2 or 3 slightly used from 3Balls. Same club. Same design. Just a different paint job. That’s it. Save your money, but this club instead. The money you saved? Put it towards a lesson, you lazy POS.

The Best Wedge for Spin: Titleist Vokey SM8

Oh, so you’re one of those guys that likes the ball to spin back when you watch pro golf tournaments. I don’t blame you. How do they do that? Technique, playing on good greens (not like your local muni), good wedges, and good golf balls. Buying a cheap wedge isn’t going to lead to the spin that you are looking for.

Cleveland and Vokey are pretty much the same, but I’ve never spun the ball as much as I did when I gamed Vokeys. Full wedge shots spun like crazy, and even shots around the green checked up quickly.

So, if you want a wedge that will allow you to spin the ball as much as possible (when you want it t0), check out the Titleist Vokey Design SM8 wedges. It’s the newest model of Vokeys (as of 2020), and Vokeys are the most popular wedges on tour. What other confirmation do you need?

Oh, and the price of a new wedge isn’t BAD per se, but I’d still consider a slightly used wedge if you want to save money. Or, at least choose a wedge a few years old that is still in the original wrapping.

Best Under $50: Titleist Vokey Design SM4 Wedge

Looking for the best wedge under $50? Check out a slightly used Vokey SM4 wedge, or even the SM5 or SM6. They are at least a few years old and there are tons on the market. That has led the price to continue to drop every year, allowing you to now pick up a hardly used one for $40-$50.

What’s the difference between the SM4 and the SM7? 3. That’s it. Please hold your laughter and applause. Thanks. I’ll be here all week (seriously, I should probably get up and do something instead of keep writing these articles that no one is actually going to read).

The Best Overall Wedge: Cleveland CBX 2

Maybe you are like me. You don’t want a bulky, super forgiving wedge. But you do want at least a LITTLE bit of forgiveness. After all, looking down at a razor blade looking wedge doesn’t scream confidence. And with a wedge, you NEED confidence over the ball.

With that being said, check out the Cleveland CBX 2 wedge. It’s a great mix of performance and forgiveness. It’s not too bulky that it takes away from the feel of the wedge, but it’s not super thin/compact either.

If money were no option (I’d get a set of three of these). Unfortunately, I’ve found writing golf articles surprisingly didn’t make me a millionaire, so I try to save money when I can when it comes to golf. As a result, I’d recommend passing on this brand new wedge and getting a set of older, slightly used wedges.

Cheaper Option: Cleveland CBX

If you like saving money like I do, I’d buy the original Cleveland CBX wedges. They are older, but they perform just the same as the newer model. Do you really think they made huge improvements in just a couple of years? Come on now.

Just like the updated version, the original CBX model is great for those that want a little forgiveness along with great control & feel. What more do you expect me to say about a wedge? IT’S A GOOD CLUB BRO. JUST TRUST ME.