New wedge options highlight late summer releases

When it comes to new golf club releases, late January and early February are the hottest times of the year, as manufacturers typically unveil their new products around the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

Over the course of the last several years, however, there has been an increasing number of late summer launches in the golf industry.

As it relates to 2019, new irons from Titleist, TaylorMade, and Mizuno have headlined the recent launch schedule, but over the course of the last several weeks, an impressive array of innovative new wedges also have been released.

Among the companies out with new wedges during that time frame are PING, TaylorMade, Cleveland, Mizuno, and Callaway.

And of course, when it comes to lowering your handicap quickly, there’s no better place to start than with upgraded wedges that fit your game, allowing you to play the shots you want to play and improve upon the shots that give you trouble.

Here’s a quick overview of the new wedges that have been released as of late. Could one of these help take your short game to new heights this fall?

TaylorMade Milled Grind 2

TaylorMade’s original Milled Grind wedges have been played and are still being played by some of the best players in the world, and Milled Grind 2 wedges look as if they’re going to be equally popular.

As was the case with the original Milled Grind lineup, MG2 wedges have been 100 percent machine milled to provide the precision shaping that hand polishing simply can’t accomplish, which results in improved consistency on the golf course when it comes to turf interaction, trajectory, and spin.

The most notable change with Milled Grind 2 is the use of a new Raw clubface area that will rust over time and provide players with more spin thanks to a ZTP Raw Groove design that features narrower, deeper, and sharper grooves to maximize spin, especially around the green.

Also new with Milled Grind 2 are modified CG locations, which improve feel and provide a more controlled ball flight on full shots, while further improving feel is a TPU insert that has been positioned deep in the cavity to reduce impact vibrations.

Milled Grind 2 wedges are available in lofts ranging from 48 to 60 degrees and in standard and low-bounce options. There are also two finishes to choose from -- Satin Chrome and Matte Black -- and the stock shaft is the True Temper Dynamic Gold S200.

Mizuno T20

Mizuno’s T-Series wedges might not get as much attention as some other wedges in golf, but through the years they have been extremely popular with better players based on their teardrop shape and impressive performance.

Mizuno fans have had to wait three years for the latest T-series wedge, and it comes in the form of the new T20 which has only been available for pre-order for a week now.

In the three years since the last T-Series wedge, there have been a number of new innovations. Most notable are the T20’s progressive quad-cut grooves, which are narrow and deep in the stronger lofted models but wider and more shallow in the higher lofted models to provide optimal spin. Additionally, new Hydroflow Micro Grooves have been utilized to channel away moisture, providing improved consistency in wet conditions.

The T20 wedges also undergo Mizuno’s proprietary Grain Flow Forging process to provide the exceptional feel that the company is known for, but 1025 Boron is used in the construction process to provide added longevity. Additionally, CG positions change based on loft to provide players with more control on all shots, and the face milling features increased surface roughness to maximize spin on shorter shots.

The T20 wedge lineup is also arguably the most comprehensive in golf, with lofts available in one-degree increments ranging from 45 to 62 degrees. There are also three finishes to choose from -- Satin Chrome. Blue Ion, and Raw -- as well as three different sole grinds, including options that will deliver more bounce and added forgiveness or less bounce and heightened versatility.

PING Glide 3.0

Earlier this summer, PING fans had been anxiously awaiting the release of the new Glide 3.0 wedges on the heels of what was an impressive run for Glide 2.0, a wedge line that many observers believed was PING’s best ever. And the early returns for Glide 3.0 appear to be just as promising.

Most notable about Glide 3.0 is a new cavity design, which maintains a tour-inspired shape while offering enhanced perimeter weighting to improve forgiveness on mis-hits. Additionally, a new elastomer Custom Tuning Port insert was implemented within the cavity to offer a softer, more responsive impact feel.

Also of note are more aggressive wheel-cut grooves that feature a sharper radius to create more spin on all shots and improved trajectory control on full shots. The sidewalls of the grooves also vary based on loft to provide the optimal spin for the shot being played.

All that said, where the Glide 3.0 wedges truly excel is when it comes to their four unique sole grind options. The WS Grind offers higher bounce and is great for players with steeper angles of attack, while the TS Grind is a low-bounce option that is ideal for pickers and from firm turf and sand.

The SS Grind, meanwhile, is a mid-bounce option that will suit a wide variety of golfers and excel from most any turf or sand condition, and the Eye2 Grind is a low-to-mid bounce wedge that is tremendous from the sand while also providing incredible versatility around the greens.

PING Glide 3.0 wedges are available in lofts ranging from 46 to 60 degrees. The stock shaft is the PING Z-Z115, but there are several other options available for those in need of a different profile.

Cleveland CBX 2

Cleveland’s CBX 2 wedges are unique in the marketplace given that they were developed solely with average golfers in mind. More specifically, the CBX franchise is intended for players who need the forgiveness of a cavity back iron in their wedges. But at the same time, these are wedges that offer the clubface technologies typically found in what would be considered “Tour” wedges.

In terms of their construction, a hollow-cavity design allows for significant perimeter weighting, which dramatically increases MOI to improve results on off-center strikes. CBX 2 wedges also feature Cleveland’s highly successful Feel Balancing Technology, which removes weight from the hosel area to better align the CG with the center of the clubface, a strategy that improves both feel and dispersion.

Also improving feel is a new TPU insert that has been positioned in the cavity, and the fourth generation Rotex clubface features sharper, deeper grooves and aggressive face milling, which combine to create the optimal spin for any shot.

And finally, the CBX 2 line also features three sole grinds that have been chosen based on loft to help players better execute the different wedge shots they’re asked to hit in any given round.

CBX 2 wedges are available in lofts ranging from 46 to 60 degrees and come standard with a True Temper Dynamic Gold 115 wedge shaft.

Callaway Jaws MD5

The newest wedge to market on this list is the Callaway Jaws MD5, which will begin pre-selling on September 13 and be available at retail on Sept. 20.

The Jaws MD5 wedges are the latest creation from the innovative mind of Callaway Chief Wedge Designer Roger Cleveland, and they have been developed to take spin and a player’s ability to control their golf ball to new heights.

Most noteworthy is that the wall angle on the Jaws MD5 grooves is now 37 degrees, which is a monumental change from the five-degree wall angle found in the MD4 wedges. Combine that with Groove-In-Groove Technology, which utilizes microridges to create more contact and friction with the golf ball, and the result is incredible spin from any sort of lie in the short game and on full shots.

Jaws MD5 wedges are constructed using mild 8620 carbon steel to provide a softer feel and sound at impact, and they also feature progressive shaping to better blend with a golfer’s iron set.

Also new in the Jaws MD5 range is a low-bounce W-Grind option that was born directly from Tour feedback. It provides players with a wider sole for turf forgiveness but more versatility to play different shots around the green. The MD5’s C-Grind has also been modified to provide even more shot-making capability thanks to the use of less bounce and increased heel relief. S and X sole grinds, which have long been popular in Callaway wedges, are also available.

Jaws MD5 wedges are offered in lofts ranging from 46 to 60 degrees and will come standard with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue 115 shafts.

TaylorMade Hi-Toe Big Foot

TaylorMade has had incredible success with its Hi-Toe wedges and the new Big Foot model is an extension of that popular line.

Like the original Hi-Toe wedges, the Big Foot has full-face scoring lines to help maintain maximum spin on off-center strikes from even the most challenging lies, and its expanded toe region allows for a higher center of gravity, giving players lower launch for control but higher spin for stopping power. They’re also constructed using soft 8620 carbon steel to provide a pleasing sound and feel at impact.

Where the Big Foot model differs, however, is when it comes to its wider sole and higher bounce, which makes these wedges incredibly forgiving around the greens, especially from greenside bunkers.

Additionally, despite the wider sole, a C-Grind design that offers trailing edge and heel relief provides players with the versatility they need to play shots with an open face, as well as from either thick lies in the rough or tighter lies in the fairway.

TaylorMade Hi-Toe Big Foot wedges are available in lofts of 58 and 60 degrees and come standard with a KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 shaft.