Titleist Vokey SM9 Wedge Review - The Swiss Army Knife of Shotmaking

Titleist and Vokey explored every opportunity to make the new Vokey Design SM9 the best, most complete wedges they've ever designed.

I  know this because SM9 has begged me to push any shot imaginable to the limits, and more times than not has rewarded me for doing so.  SM9 wedges are flat out the swiss army knives of shotmaking that will let you hit shots you didn't know you even had.

We always want to know how new equipment compares to previous models, and (generally speaking) you're going to see more spin and a lower launch with the Vokey SM9.  I'll go into more detail on that in a bit.  But first I want to point out the subtle change in feel, because I think that's significant in its own right.

 

On full and half shots from a variety of lies, feedback with my SM9 wedges was more distinctive and amplified than SM8.  These are extremely responsive.  You're not going to get the same feel of a 1020 forging, but Vokey still works his magic with SM9 so they feel crisper, stronger, and resonate more than ever at impact.

 

My set includes a 50.08 degree F grind, 54.10 degree S grind, and 60.12 degree D grind, all in the brushed steel finish.  I'm going to talk about each wedge separately because even though there are similar designs and technologies involved, I'm obviously using them for different kinds of shots.  And honestly, they each deserve their own spotlight and attention.  You can read details about the new SM9 design and technology changes from Titleist here.  And I'll touch on some briefly as they relate to the main focus of how each wedge plays, performs, and feels.

 

My SM9 50 degree gap wedge has 8 degrees of bounce and a full sole F grind.  The Vokey all-purpose F grind is the most played grind for sand wedges on Tour, and for me it's been ideal for my gap wedge.

 

I'm not doing anything fancy with my gap wedge.  Pretty much it's just two kinds of shots; an approach into the green from a clean lie, rough, or fairway bunker, or a long chip or bump and run if the green is open.  I just want to find the green and hold it with this club.  And my SM9 50 degree has been incredibly stable with control that's damn near impeccable.

 

On chips I could drive the ball low into the green with a hard check.  And this touches on what I said earlier about all the wedges really launching just a tad lower than the SM8.  It's something better players prefer, but really helps all skill levels with control, especially on windy days.  Full shots were also lower, but still high enough with distance control and higher spin that blends into my T100S short irons.

 

And it's been more forgiving than I expected as well.  You don't normally think forgiveness in a wedge like this, but SM9 will change your mind.  On some shots out towards the toe backspin created incredibly similar check.  Vokey says the new redesigned grooves (with microgrooves) are cut to maximize spin, and I definitely saw this on half swings and chips.  But beyond even that, spin control on full shots was just ridiculously precise. I felt like I could hit this to and through the smallest of windows. 

 

What surprised me most about my SM9 50 degree was how clean it interacts with the turf and how stable it is through impact.  We've had a few sunny, warm, and dry days here in NE Ohio early in the season, but it's generally been wet and soft conditions.  And my SM9 doesn't want to dig despite having just 8 degrees of bounce.  It even slides nicely through the turf when I was hitting from divots.  This is a smartly conceived and constructed gap wedge. 

 

My SM9 54 degree sand wedge has 10 degrees of bounce and an S grind.  The S grind is a full sole with trailing edge relief to let it play narrower than it actually is.  Trajectory control is fantastic with this combination, and has let me use it effectively from tight lies as well as greenside bunkers.  No joke, it immediately improved the quality of shots I hit with this kind of club.

 

Full shots cut through the grass perfectly, and there's even more nip and zip spin than with the gap wedge.  It's not a heavy club but sounds and feels that way from the sand, with that consistent thump and spin that make you feel like you have soft hands even if you don't.  And here again, Vokey gets all the little things right.  With your higher lofted wedges you don't just want more spin.  You want better spin, more controlled spin.

 

The SM9 wedges accomplish this primarily in two distinct ways.  First, CG and weight move higher up to lower launch and increase spin (and you can actually see this in the top toe areas that get progressively wider, and in the necks that get progressively longer).  With previous Vokey wedges if I hit them harder they just went higher.  But you're already going to hit higher lofted clubs high enough.  SM9 now flights down these higher lofted wedges for more control.  Low checking fades and running draws to more pin positions?  Mission accomplished Vokey.

 

Vokey also uses different groove designs in the lower and higher lofted wedges.  Deeper and narrower grooves in the lower lofted wedges move more water, grass, and debris away from the face, giving you more predictability and control out of the rough.  While shallower and wider grooves in the higher lofted wedges creates more friction and additional spin that you want out of the sand and for those delicate shots when you lay the face open.

 

For some players (if you're honest enough to admit it), the 54/56 degree sand wedges can give you fits.  It's just a club we sometimes swing wildly and end up skulling, or decelerate because we're not confident with it and just dump shots.  And I'm telling you... forget about all that.  The SM9 54 degree S grind lets you hit it where you want to more often from the fairway with exceptional distance and spin control.  It laughs at deep rough.  And shots come out of both hard and soft sand like you were throwing your ball out.  Case closed.

 

That leaves us with my SM9 60 degree lob wedge with 12 degrees of bounce and a D grind.  And I can probably sum up this lob wedge best by asking you to imagine being anywhere inside 70 yards on the course.  And then imagine being able to get as cute as you want with any shot you want to hit.   This is a lob wedge that excels in executing multiple types of shots, and it doesn't require expert skill to pull them off successfully.

 

Set it square or close it and hit chips and runners close like they were putts.  Open this baby up and hit flops to your hearts desire.  And from the bunkers whatever type of lie your ball has it glides through the sand like its on rails.  Compared to other lob wedges I've played, this one feels exceptionally balanced in my hands with a feeling of total clubhead control.

 

The D grind has all kinds of versatility thanks to trailing edge, heel, and toe relief.  And combined with a high bounce option, you can get really aggressive with this club (particularly if you have a steep swing).  Just pick it up and hit your shot.  Great for getting you out of trouble.  Great on touch shots.  Easy to send it high or keep it low.  The SM9 60 degree D grind will make your ball dance.

 

This review is a lot longer than most of my reviews, but it kinda had to be.  My gap, sand, and lob wedge all share the same Vokey Design SM9 name, but they're really three different clubs.  Each has its own specialty for sure, but I was also very impressed with the versatility each club has in its own right.

 

What they all have in common however is consistent, reliable performance created by precision groove, sole, and weight design.  That's the new Vokey SM9 wedges in a nutshell.  And that's outright getting the job done in all aspects of the short game.

 

There are plenty of locations across the country where you can get fit by Titleist Fitting Specialists.  And to dive deeper into different bounce and grind options than what I reviewed for you here you can check out Vokey's Wedge Selector Tool.