There are two types of golfer in this world.
Those who get high-toe wedges and those who don’t.
Those who get high-toe wedges value versatility and forgiveness and creativity around the greens, hit a lot of open-faced shots and understand that the right equipment can help them pull those shots off.
Of those who don’t get high-toe wedges, they either mostly hit square-faced chips and pitches and/or insist that everyone should just learn to hit a “regular” wedge their way.
If that little bit of foreshadowing tells you we’re about to come out in praise of high-toe wedges, you’re correct.
Partially, anyway.
We’ll get to the why on high-toe wedge use in a bit. First, however, we need to brief you on the most recent update to the high-toe wedge arsenal, the TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5.
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TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 wedges: What’s the buzz?
TaylorMade has been in the high-toe wedge game since 2017 when it released its original Hi-Toe wedge in collaboration with Justin Rose. Hi-Toe 5, as the name suggests, is the fifth iteration. It’s also the first to be forged and joins TaylorMade’s MG wedge line to complete a fully forged wedge family.
“Hi-Toe has always been designed to be different,” says Mat Bovee, TaylorMade’s Product Category Director. “The expanded toe, the full-face grooves, the willingness to look different in the bag. Those are unique features that drew players to this line in the first place.”
While we can debate the relative merits of forged wedges ad nauseum, let’s instead focus the two performance features that might actually matter to you. Those would be the five sole grind options and Hi-Toe 5’s newly added saw-milled grooves.
Saw-milled grooves with “Spin Tread” technology
TaylorMade introduced saw-milled grooves a year ago in the new MG5 wedges. At the time, the company claimed its updated groove geometry brought them closer to USGA limits with steeper walls, sharper edge radii and tighter manufacturing tolerances.
The idea, of course, is to create more controlled spin.
The TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 wedges also feature the company’s Spin Tread Technology. Introduced in 2023, Spin Tread Technology is a system of laser-etched micro-channels integrated into Hi-Toe 5’s raw face. The idea is that those channels redirect moisture away from the point of impact, kind of like how tire treads redirect moisture on a wet road. It’s all in the name of improving spin consistency in wet conditions.
Perhaps the most striking feature of any high-toe wedge (along with the high toe, of course) is the full-face groove pattern. Why full-face, you may ask? Why not? The whole point of a high-toe wedge is versatility around the green. When you open up higher-lofted wedges, impact naturally progresses toward the toe. If that’s the case, why not put grooves out there?
You can argue that the value of full face grooves – and high-toe wedges in general – is minimal on lower-lofted wedges. It probably is. However, if you do miss the center every once in a while, as we all do, it can’t hurt.
Five grind options
Sole grind options can get overwhelming but let’s give TaylorMade credit. It does a better job than most of helping you choose.
ATS Grind: This is the line’s most popular and most versatile grind, perfect for different playing conditions or if you’re just not sure which grind to choose. Its wide-ish sole is more forgiving for steep swingers. It’s available in all lofts.
ATV Grind: Its concave sole and asymmetric bounce minimize turf interaction. It plays like a high-bounce wedge in the square position and a low-bounce wedge when you open it up. It’s the most versatile and is available in 58- and 60-degree lofts.
ATW Grind: The highest bounce in the line is the go-to grind if you need extra help in bunkers and in soft conditions. TaylorMade says it’s the most “error-tolerant” and is for golfers who like to play it square-faced. It’s available in the 56- and 60-degree lofts.
ATX Grind: A wide, yet mid-bounce, sole features three distinct ledges for added stability. The leading edge protects against digging with steeper attack angles. The center ledge is for stability through impact and the trailing edge is narrow for a clean, quick exit from the turf or sand. It’s for the 58- and 60-degree lofts.
ATC Grind: For tight lies and creative golfers who like to manipulate the clubface. It’s the lowest bounce of the group with a narrow, split-sole grind and ample heel and toe relief. The reverse-C trailing edge and narrow sole is for shallow angles of attack. This grind is available through TaylorMade’s Custom Order program only, in 58- and 60-degree lofts.
Do you need high-toe wedges?
A full set? Probably not. However, you can make a compelling case for your highest-lofted, most-used wedge to be high-toe.
If you like to get creative and open the face, having full-face grooves is nice but the high-toe design moves mass toward the toe. When you open it up, impact trends toward the toe anyway so the extra groove space and mass help with flops, bunker shots or delicate chips when you have precious little green to work with.
Additionally, high-toe design moves the CG higher and more towards the center. Higher CG helps with more consistent spin performance and lower, more controlled trajectory.
If you mostly hit square-faced chip and pitch shots, high-toe won’t do much for you. If, however, you’re into versatility, having a high-toe model as your highest-lofted wedge can be a useful weapon. As you go down in loft, the high-toe design may give you a consistent look and feel but the practical benefits might lessen.
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 wedges: Specs, price and availability
As mentioned, the TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 wedges are available in five distinct sole grinds but there are some asterisks.
The ATS (50- through 60-degree), the ATV (58-60 degree) and ATX (58-60 degree) grinds will be available in left- and right-handed models. The high-bounce ATW grind (56- and 60-degree) and the low-bounce ATC grind (58-60 degree) will be available in right-handed only. Additionally, the ATC grind is available through custom order only.
The stock steel shaft is an all-black, 115-gram KBS Hi-Rev 2.0, while the 80-gram UST Recoil DART is the stock graphite. A SuperStroke (nee Lamkin) Crossline 2.0 in a proprietary black and copper colorway is the stock grip.
The entire TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 wedge line comes standard in an Aged Copper finish. You can get an optional Satin Chrome finish through the custom department. They’ll retail for $199 each.
TaylorMade is also offering a MyHi-Toe 5 personalized wedge configurator online. You can choose two additional finishes (Tour Raw or Charcoal Black) as well as stamped text in a variety of configurations plus a logo or one of over 50 icons. There are also custom ferrules available as well as 15 different paint-fill colors.
Custom MyHi-Toe 5 wedges will run you $249.99 each.
They hit retail and the worldwide web on Sept. 3.
For more information, visit the TaylorMade website.
The post Do The New TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 Wedges Deserve A Spot In Your Bag? appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
Article Link: https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/do-the-new-taylormade-hi-toe-5-wedges-deserve-a-spot-in-your-bag/