Mizuno ES21 Wedge £ 155
Sitting alongside the T20 model is the new ES21 wedge, a curious offering that provides something very different visually for the golfer.
The fact the wedge is semi-hollow in construction means it doesn’t feel as soft as a muscleback model. It still feels solid on full shots, but the sensation at impact was slightly different to what we are accustomed to. The carry distances on a variety of shot lengths were very consistent, as was the ball flight, which meant it seemed easy to predict how the ball would fly and react when it landed.
Spin levels were comparable with other wedges we’ve tested this year. The oversized, triangular shape at address means there’s lots of metal behind the ball, which gives you confidence that you can pull off different shots around the green and manipulate the clubface in different ways.
Our 56° sample had quite low bounce, but it still seemed to be forgiving enough through the wet winter turf. Our 58° Wide Sole sample worked even better because it had four degrees more bounce, and while the heel and toe relief is only fairly minor, you can still play the shots you need to. We also noticed how well the spin levels were maintained even when the ball and clubface were wet, which is encouraging for the conditions we face in the UK. We also love the look of the blacked-out KBS Hi-rev 2.0 shaft and the tacky feel of the stock Lamkin ST hybrid grip.
The ES21 might seem like a relatively niche wedge offering, especially given it only comes in lofts of 54-60°. But for those who use an iron-set pitching wedge and are looking for something more bespoke and forgiving in the speciality wedge department, the ES21 is certainly worth a try.