CLEVELAND Niblick

Loyal GolfBlogger reader Martin extolls the virtues of this club. The price is right. I think I may get one.

The Cleveland Niblick combines a wedge’s sole (8° bounce) to prevent fat shots, a putter’s length for control, an irons leading edge to hosel transition for a natural address position, and a hybrid’s increased heel-toe blade length, perimeter weighting and CG (center of gravity) depth to raise MOI (moment of inertia) and improve stability.

CLEVELAND CG14 Black Pearl Wedge

The time is running out for purchases of new non-conforming wedges. December 31 is the USGA’s appointed last day, and that ‘s just under three months away.

Cleveland Golf has been running a “year of the wedge” promotion, featuring products such as their Black Pearl wedges with the Zip Grooves. Cleveland says that it can only manufacture these until Dec. 31, but I wonder what the USGA could do if Cleveland doesn’t conform. The answer: nothing.

If I were Cleveland—and the other manufacturers—I’d keep right on selling the old clubs, but stamp the head with an impression indicating that they’re non-conforming. How about the numbers “24.” That’s the year—more than a decade in the future—when the USGA won’t allow these clubs for regular handicap purposes. The USGA will require conforming clubs in their championships by 2014, but 99.9% of Cleveland’s customers will never play in the US Amateur, Mid-Amateur, etc. And I’ll bet that 75% or more of their customers don’t keep a handicap.

I’m urging Cleveland to keep the Black Pearls and other Zip Grooves available for sale.

Dynacraft DMC Forged Wedge - Custom Assembled

A forged wedge for $40?

Absolutely. The Dynacraft DMC Forged Wedge uses a five step forging process on a billet of soft carbon steel. Unlike many cheaper clubs, this is a true forging, not a form forging using the harder 8620 steel. Each groove is CNC milled to USGA conforming U-grooves that ensures consistency of both groove width and depth that less sophisticated methods such as stamping or hand grinding cannot. A secondary skim milling operation is performed on the face to create tiny micro-grooves which helps to increase surface roughness and further channel moisture between the ball and clubface for maximum spin. A brilliant high-chrome finish provides the classic look for years of durability and beauty. A thin topline and minimal offset, preferred at address, augment the semi-narrow 4-way camber sole design.

Dynacraft is an old name in the component business. At one time, they were headquartered in Newark, Ohio, and I made several stops to their factory outlet to pick up parts on the way to and from Ann Arbor and Morgantown, WV. I’ve always liked the company designs and haven’t found much of a change since they were bought by Hireko.

ADAMS A7 OS Chipper

All of the golf experts say that the fastest way for an amateur to lower his scores is to improve play around the greens. That said, I’ve wondered about the average player’s obsession with newer, faster, “longer” drivers. It might make more sense (both score wise and financially) to spend a small fraction of that money on a club that could help you from 20 yards in.

The Adams A7 OS Chipper tries to do just that. A cross between a wedge and a putter, the Adams Chipper has a 37 degree loft to get the ball up quickly, and rolling. The sole is designed to cut through turf.

I have a chipper that I built years ago from a GolfWorks kit and I pull it out of storage when I hit one of those streaks where I’ve completely lost my short-game feel. I use a putting grip and stroke and it usually works wonders from 50 yards in.

The difficulty of using one is, of course, trying to figure out what club to drop in its place. For me, its usually the three or four iron. I can’t hit those consistently anyway.

CLEVELAND CG15 Oil Quench Wedge

I’ve got a Cleveland “Oil Can” wedge from a few years ago, and really like the finish.

I like its play, too.

CALLAWAY X Series Jaws Chrome Wedge with Steel Shaft

New from Callaway is the X Series Jaws Chrome Wedge. Designed by Roger Cleveland, it incorporates Callaway’s Mac Daddy grooves, which are set at the maximum conforming width and depth. That’s going to be a big issue as the new grooves rules from the USGA come into effect. Manufacturers are going to advertise that their grooves are at the “legal” limit, just as drivers are advertised as being at the maximum permissible COR.

The wedges are constructed from 1020 carbon steel with a triple forging process. The C-Grind sole is designed to offer great shots from a variety of lies. The heel, toe and trailing edge are shaped so that the club has a “‘C’ shape on the sole. The shape, along with a tighter heel-toe radius and ideal bounce, improves turf interaction and enables golfers to lay the face open while keeping the leading edge down. I need that. My big miss around the green is a skulled shot as I send one off the knife’s edge.

Pursuit s510 True Forged

Grade: A
Teacher’s Comments: A classic wedge

Even as my distances off the tee and from the fairway deteriorate, my short game has stepped up to help me keep my fifteen handicap. Get me anywhere within a hundred yards of the green, and I’ll get up and down in short order. It’s the thing I find most fun about the game.

So I’ve become a connoisseur of wedges. I carry five in my bag (pitching, gap, lob and two sand wedges, for different lies). A dozen more live in my shed. Each has its season and place.

One that’s found its way into my bag this spring is a 52 degree (Gap) Pursuit s510 True Forged from GigaGolf. Designed with a classic teardrop shape, it’s as easy to look at as it is to play.

And it’s versatile. Playing from the fairway, from tight lies, bunkers, thick grass and all manner of positions, the Pursuit s510 has proved its worth. I found it especially useful in playing from hard, tight lies. The six degrees of bounce and the ability to lay the leading edge flush with the ground minimizes for me the chance of a skull, and allows me to play those shots as high and soft as out of fluffy grass.

GigaGolf manufactured the club from 1035 carbon steel with a five step forging process. This, they say, packs the molecules densely for greater feel and control. In fact, the feel of the club is what you might expect from a forging. When struck cleanly, it’s as soft and pure as any club I’ve played.

The finish on the club is chrome, with the classic dark region framing the striking area. I haven’t noticed any wear on the finish or rust, but I’ve only had the club for a month or so. The logo and lettering on the back are understated, and not in the least distracting.

Workmanship on the club is excellent. The grip is properly aligned, and the ferrule flush with the hosel, with no gaps. That last is a sure sign of care in manufacture. As a semi-pro clubmaker, I know how easy it is to just shove a ferrule on with no regard for proper fitting.

You can get the Pursuit s510 made with a variety of shaft brands and flexes, as well as various grip types. You can also get the shaft length cut to custom lengths, and a lie adjustment.

The best part is that you can get all for as little as $45. That’s about half the price of a forged wedge from one of the big names.

Recommended.