BEST OF THE REST

CALLAWAY JAWS RAW

£179 TG VERDICT: A tour-level wedge designed with feedback from Callaway’s top players. Expect a very sharp leading edge, which will nip shots from the tightest of lies but can also dig into heavy turf. With a backspin average of 7,408rpm, it didn’t rip up any trees in terms of stopping power. However, it did hit shots into an area 57% tighter than our test average, third best dispersion ranking overall.

TOUR EDGE WINGMAN

£139

TG VERDICT: We’re always looking for good value golf club options, and the Wingman fits that bill perfectly. The heads were designed in conjunction with Bernhard Langer and are forged, not cast. Interestingly, Langer likes to see offset in his wedges, as he feels it keeps the hands ahead of the leading edge and improves consistency. At 7,982rpm, the Wingman were down as our fifth highest spinning wedge in 2024.

CLEVELAND RTX6 ZIPCORE

£159 TG VERDICT: We love the compact size, the straight leading-edge profile and the new super aggressive Cnc-milled pattern on the toe, which brings full face groove levels of stopping power to a traditional groove model. The Zipcore hovered 300rpm above average levels of backspin, and from 100 yards out our test pro’s shots had a 9-yard drop-off (from longest to shortest) and a 4.9-yard left to right dispersion, with a shot area 37% tighter than our average.

VEGA VWX

£249

TG VERDICT: The VWX was the only wedge to break the 8,500rpm backspin barrier, so have little doubt that Vega are onto something good with this cracking model. You will need to put a premium on Japanese forging to warrant it, as a set of three will set you back a hefty £747. If you do, expect a very sharp-edged wedge with a slightly higher heel shape from an excellent tour-level model.

MIZUNO S23

£185

TG VERDICT: The S23 attack cavity back forgiveness and consistency head on, a centralised sweet spot delivering better feel and greater spin performance. This was our fourth highest spinning wedge of 2024, and T1 for the smallest carry distance drop-off (six yards). It also delivered the tightest shot area of all 20 wedges hit. They’re impressive numbers, but at £185 a pop, you’re paying for the privilege.

WILSON STAFF MODEL ZM

£145 TG VERDICT: Wilson are turning back the clock and embracing heritage with their Staff Model franchise. Judging by the expanding line-up, the move is reaping rewards. The ZM sits really nicely at address, but there’s no covering up that it struggled to better our test averages in any category. That need not be a deal breaker as buying wedges is all about feel, reliability and confidence, and the ZM certainly gave our test team those traits in abundance.