Power Play Raw Spin Wedge

PowerPlay Raw Spin Wedge

Grade: A
Teacher’s Comments: Beautiful, Versatile

The Power Play Raw Spin wedge is a beautiful, versatile, playable tool. The model I tested is a 56 degree sand wedge with 12 degrees of bounce.

Several things about the Raw Spin caught my eye immediately. The first is the rich copper finish. At first, I thought it was some sort of copper coating designed to make the wedge softer, but it seems mostly cosmetic. The copper color is applied using a physical vapor deposition process which is used in plumbing fixtures and offers a very durable finish. Certainly several rounds has had no impact on the finish.

The second thing I noticed was the thin top line and multi-tiered muscle back. That gives the wedge a very professional look. From address, the lines suggest the club’s ability to slide under the ball and pop it up. This in contrast to many game improvement wedges, which are thick enough to cause a player to question whether the clubface can actually glide through sand.

Doubt breeds bad shot making. The Raw Spin breeds confidence.

Finally, I picked up on the beautiful way in which the club rotates from closed and upright to flat and open with all the stops between. It is as smooth a design as I have seen. With the flat, thin leading edge and zero degrees of offset, I have been able to pick the ball off tight lies as well as sand and grass.

In play, I found the Raw Spin highly versatile. In fact, for my game, it almost offers too many choices in set up. There were many times when I found I had rotated the face too far open, leaving the ball short. It will take some practice to be able to figure out how far to open the face on each type of shot.

As its looks suggest, the club glides smoothly through sand, popping the ball up softly. It performed as well in fluffy country club sand as it did on my home course’s mix of sand, gravel and clay. I also like the Raw Spin’s utility around the green.

One area in which I did not find the Raw Spin wedge playing as well as my cavity backs is from the middle of the fairway. I just don’t hit it as far. I’m pretty good at placing my sand wedge shots on the green from 80 yards out with my cavity backs. I consistently left the Raw Spin short.

For my sensibilities, this wedge is easily the equal of one of my Cleveland or Bobby Jones wedges.

This one stays in the bag.

As with all Hireko clubs, the price can’t be beat. The Raw Spin comes in at around $35.