Adams Idea A30S Chipper

Yes, it’s a one trick pony, but I honestly believe that clubs like this Adams chipper could help some players score.

Case in point: The team of players my partner and I beat in the last league match had two guys who out rove us by 50 to 100 yards on every hole. On the par 4s, they often were just a pitching wedge away after the drive. And then six shots later they were in the hole.

Neither of them could effectively wield a wedge, or chip. And yet, there they were, trying to flop with a 60 degree wedge. If I had a game like that, I’d drop a wedge or a wood and put one of these into the bag. The chipper I have (and put into use when my short game falls apart) is good from 50 yards out in the fairway, from around the green, and even out of traps.

I hope neither of our opponents is reading this, in case we have to play them again later this season.

Acer XK Chipper

It’s a one trick pony, but it could really lower your scores by improving your game around the greens. The Acer XK Chipper combines the loft of an 8-iron with the weight and lie of a putter. To prevent the club from digging, it has an ultrawide sole, that still allows it to cut through rough. The gooseneck over the hosel design is designed to help reduce the possibility of shanking the ball.

I have a couple of chippers, and when my short game is not going well, I get them out until things straighten out.

TITLEIST Vokey Spin Milled Oil Can Wedge

Titleist Vokey wedges have for years been the gold standard. Every serious player I know has one.

It comes in a variety of flavors, ranging from 48 degrees of loft with six degrees of bounce, all the way to 64 degrees of loft with seven degrees of bounce.

Vokey Spin Milled wedges feature a CNC machine cut face and grooves. A special circular saw style cutting tool is used to create precise grooves with a steeper draft angle and a tighter edge radius for increased friction. Vokey Spin Milled wedges have 30% more groove volume than a conventional wedge. This provides more consistent and higher spin, particularly from grassy lies and wet conditions.

CLEVELAND CG14 Camo Wedge

This Cleveland CG14 wedge almost made it to the Ridiculous Golf Item of the Week, but I decided I actually liked it.

From a design point of view, it’s apparently the same same as others in the CG14 wedge line: “Zip” grooves for spin, a Gelback insert for feel, and a sole designed for more consistent impact.

Obviously, what makes it different is the finish. For reasons known only to the manufacturer, they’ve given this wedge a “laser burn” multi color camouflage finish.

It’s cool, but ...

CLEVELAND Niblick Putter

The fastest way to improve your game is to improve your play around the greens. When you miss getting to the green in regulation, you still can get up and down for par if you can get the ball in one-putt distance.

Cleveland aims to make this easier by introducing the Niblick utility iron. It combines the sole of a wedge with 8° bounce (to prevent fat shots), with the leading edge of an iron for a more natural address position. It’s longer from heel to toe, like a hybrid and has increased perimeter weighting and lower center of gravity than a typical wedge. Finally, the shaft length is that of a typical putter. The whole package has been designed to

I have a club similar to this from the mad scientist of golf design, Ralph Maltby. It works well, and I expect this one will, too.

Sand Blaster Wedge

If you have a lot of trouble getting out of the sand, you should perhaps consider a “trick” club like this Sand Blaster from Hireko Golf. Hireko says that the Dual Sole on this unique design acts like skis in the water, gliding across the sand or rough. The hollow 2 piece construction allows the sole width to be increased dramatically to make it ultra forgiving in either soft or firm sand, and even chipping and pitching around the green. It also features a negative offset or face-forward feature which will help those who may have a tendency to pick or sweep the ball and makes this club virtually shank-proof.

I have a lob wedge of virtually the same design, and can tell you that it works like a charm.

CLEVELAND 588 RS Wedge with Steel Shaft

Cleveland Golf is justifiably famous for its line of wedges. Every golfer I know has at one time or another had a Cleveland wedge in their bag.

The 588 RS Wedge is a wide sole model, designed to offer a low center of gravity, for a high and soft launch angle. A back cavity is supposed to reduce vibration, while enabling Cleveland engineers to move more weight away from the face. The Cleveland 588 RS Wedge is one of the most popular wedge face profiles in golf and insures confidence at address disguising the large recovery sole.