PXG’s forged wedge line gets a refresh at a price point that won’t make you question your life choices.
If you know anything about PXG, you know the company has never been shy about charging a premium.
The Sugar Daddy wedges—milled from a single block of steel, adorned (or saddled, depending on your perspective) with visible milling marks and signature weight ports—are very much a reflection of that ethos. They look expensive because they are expensive.
The new “Stick ‘Em” Forged line is PXG’s other wedge play—the one that strips away the aggressive cosmetic detailing, simplifies the manufacturing process and comes at a price point, which, while not bargain-basement, is at least competitive with the rest of the market.
I suppose that’s something.
What you need to know
The new PXG Stick ‘Em forged wedges are available now in Chrome ($199) and Xtreme Dark ($219) finishes across six lofts: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees. Two sole options—a BP-Grind (13-degree bounce) and an S-Grind (10 degrees)—cover the expected range from full-sole forgiveness to something with a bit more versatility around the greens.
It’s not the robust grind lineup on the market, but I suppose two options are better than one.
For what it’s worth, the S-Grind, with its tapered sole and heel-toe relief, sits tighter to the ground than that 10-degree bounce number might suggest. It’s not a T-grind—you’re probably not going to lay it completely flat—but there’s enough relief there to open the face and get creative. The BP-Grind is your standard wider-sole, higher-bounce option for steeper swingers and softer conditions. It’s Bob Parsons’ grind and it might be your grind too (just don’t expect PXG to stick your initials on it).
“Clean” is the play here
If Sugar Daddy wedges are PXG at its most PXG (milled, ported, unapologetically XTREME), the Stick ‘Em Forged line is PXG trying to be a bit more mainstream.
Granted, it’s a fine line between clean and boring, but the point is, there are no milling marks (and no milling to justify them), no weight ports, no screws—just a relatively clean, tour-inspired profile that doesn’t desperately beg for attention at address. As with the Sugar Daddy series, the footprint runs slightly larger than what you’d get from the industry leaders which some players will appreciate, particularly those who are looking for a bit of extra forgiveness … or at least higher MOI.
Broadly, PXG’s lower-priced offerings—the 0211 irons, the Forged wedge line—tend to be less ornate than the flagship stuff. Whether that’s a function of keeping costs down or making the premium lineup feel more premium (or both), the result is a wedge that looks like it belongs in any bag without requiring a brand loyalty oath.
Does forging matter?
PXG Stick ‘Em S-Grind
As the name suggests, Stick ‘Em forged wedges are forged—specifically, three-times forged from 8620 soft carbon steel. PXG’s pitch is that repeated forging compresses and refines the grain structure, resulting in a softer, solider feel at impact and grooves that hold their edge longer.
The reality is that 8620 is equally suitable to casting and forging. Could you convince yourself that forged 8620 feels softer than cast 8620? Maybe. I’d suggest that feel is driven primarily by geometry (head shape, sole design, center of gravity) rather than whether the metal was beaten or poured into shape. But if “forged” is a box you need checked, consider it checked.
Where the forging process (and PXG’s robotic polishing) may matter more is in the tolerance story. PXG has been leaning into tighter manufacturing tolerances across its lineup and there’s something to the idea that taking humans out of the finishing process reduces inconsistency. That said, things like changing cutting wheels at regular intervals (which nobody talks about because it’s not sexy) probably do more for performance consistency than the forging process itself. To be clear, none of this is a knock on the Stick ‘Em Forged. It’s just a reminder that the marketing story and the engineering story don’t always align without some small gaps.
Updated groove geometry
The Stick ‘Em Forged pairs wider grooves with tighter spacing between them. The wider grooves provide more surface to engage the ball’s cover while channeling away grass, moisture, and whatever else gets between the clubface and the ball. Tighter spacing means more groove edges making contact at impact, which should help with consistent spin generation. And while none of this is unique to PXG (everyone is optimizing groove geometry within the constraints of the rules), the combination should promote consistent spin and trajectory control—particularly from less-than-perfect lies where debris between the ball and face can be an absolute spin killer.
High toe, full face and industry trends
The Stick ‘Em Forged features high-toe weighting and—on the 54- through 60-degree models—full-face grooves. The 50 and 52 keep traditional groove patterns for full-swing control.
PXG’s rationale for the high toe is that it increases MOI and positions the center of gravity more in line with open-face shots, promoting a more consistent trajectory when you’re working the face. That’s a reasonable argument and it’s the same one everyone else made when high-toe designs were having their moment.
Here’s the thing: both high-toe and full-face groove designs have cooled off a bit over the last couple of years. Callaway, in its push to be taken more seriously in the wedge space, has moved away from them. PING has dialed back its E grinds. Vokey never bought in. TaylorMade may circle back but the broader trend line suggests decline.
That said, PXG’s high-toe profile isn’t particularly extreme (Brother). It’s restrained enough that it doesn’t dramatically alter the look at address which is probably the right call. I suppose there’s a logical case for full-face grooves. If you’re opening the face on a lob wedge, you want grooves where you’re making contact—even if some of us prefer the visual framing that something less than a full-face groove provides.
PXG Stick ‘Em BP-Grind
The bottom line
While not as sexy as the Sugar Daddy, I suppose PXG needs the Stick ‘Em Forged in its lineup. It’s a clean, competitive, no-nonsense option at a lower cost.
The Stick ‘Em Forged line gives the company a legitimate entry point for players who aren’t interested in paying extra for visual baggage (even if the milling story is cool). Whether the high-toe and full-face groove features move the needle for you is a matter of preference but most won’t find that either is implemented aggressively enough to be a dealbreaker.
PXG Stick ‘Em Forged wedges are available now. For more information, visit PXG.com.
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