Does everyone rate the SM5's?

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By James P

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  • 8 Replies
  1. James P

    James P
    sutton coldfield, VI

    I recently purchased a new SM5 58 degree wedge with 8 degrees of bounce (M grind), after playing with SM4's including a 58.09 for the past few years. I  have quite a good short game and like to open up the face with a 58 for a lot of my chip shots around the green. With the old SM4 when i opened the face up the leading edge sat pretty square to the ground, but with the SM5 there seems to be a very large gap between the leading edge and the ground. Additionally  when i play shots with a square face the large sole just seems to make the club bounce excessively. At first i thought this may be as a result of having the incorrect grind, but when i went into the local pro shop the large sole and problem with the face not sitting square to the ground seemed to be a common feature across all of the higher lofted wedges and various grinds. Whereas with the SM4's pretty much all  of the wedges sit square to the ground when opening the face, and some of them have much narrower soles. It is as though there has been a massive change in the sole design, does anyone think this? Also not keen on the finishes?

    I have always rated titleist wedges extremely highly, but find the quality of the new ones to be poor and struggling to find anywhere that still does new SM4's as i need to replace both my existing 58 and 52. I am considering going to another brand of wedge (possibly cleveland) as a result of this. 

  2. Adrian P

    Adrian P
    Melbourne, VIC

    I think the SM5's are brilliant, But I do use the 4 or 5 depending on where I'm playing and what shots I need. To write them off as poor quality is a little misguided as I am certain that these are the most consistent wedges I've got, and certainly from a feel perspective they are just incredible. 

    if I were you I would look at custom grinding your SM5's the wedges in question to suit your shots. Once you have the right grind I am certain you will notice the difference. This combined with getting the right bounce for the conditions and what you want to do is vital. 

    I'm sure you will find a few SM4's out there.

  3. Edward K

    Edward K
    Wesley Chapel, FL

    Military

    Adrian P said:

    I think the SM5's are brilliant, But I do use the 4 or 5 depending on where I'm playing and what shots I need. To write them off as poor quality is a little misguided as I am certain that these are the most consistent wedges I've got, and certainly from a feel perspective they are just incredible. 

    if I were you I would look at custom grinding your SM5's the wedges in question to suit your shots. Once you have the right grind I am certain you will notice the difference. This combined with getting the right bounce for the conditions and what you want to do is vital. 

    I'm sure you will find a few SM4's out there.

    I love mine, but I can see where many will struggle. There is more to buying a wedge than just thinking it looks pretty in the shop. People would be surprised at how much effort the Tour players put into fitting for the perfect wedge/bounce combination.....
  4. Gitesh

    Gitesh
    Leicester

    Hi I have sm5 54 and 58 degree. Quality is second to none. But I would say the style of shot you make needs to right bounce to sit properly. It's all confidence. Options are to change the way you play your shots or change wedges. As before there is nothing wrong with the wedges and a quality all day long compared to other clubs. Lie the other chap said get sm4 wedges if they feel better. Good luck
  5. Spudstarch

    Spudstarch
    Walnut Creek, CA

    Hi James,

    I googled the SM4 58.09 wedge that you are accustomed to. Based on the brochure, I think the grind that you want is actually the S grind, not the M. The M grind is more crescent shaped and the S grind has moderate heal relief. This is why you are seeing a gap at address even though they have similar loft and bounce numbers.

    http://media.titleist.com/images/titleist/pdfs/US/2011/2011_Fall_SM4.pdf

  6. Tom B

    Tom B
    Northborough, MA

    I too love the SM5's. I tested them last fall and I bought a 58.11 right away. In my opinion they are the closest anyone has come under the new rules to producing a wedge with spin of the old rules. Greenside, rough, bunkers, I'm getting the spin to stop the ball quickly when I need to. I bought the black finish that will fade and rust since I had the "raw" before with the SM4's. Just added the 52.12 a couple weeks ago again in the black finish. I like the options available with the bounce of both. Good for the bunkers, and heavy rough, and at the same time great to be able to open it up on tight lies and not have to worry about digging it and chunking one. Again bought the Titleist finding them the best. Practice with them a little and I think you'll be happy
  7. andy r

    andy r
    Cheshire, CT

    I would suggest since your happy with SM 4 model that you have a wedge fitting session with a certified Titleist fitter.

    Going over the numbers and matching a couple wedges to you specifically I am sure the SM5 would be the way to go.

  8. Max B-A

    Max B-A
    Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

    Im still using the sm4's but will be changing to the sm5's at the end of the year. My 58 degree (12 bounce)  sits with a gap when layed open and I would suggest that if you have a higher bounce it is very difficult nomatter what grind In whatever wedge to find a wedge which sits flat...as suggested above I would definitely recommend staying with titliest for a number of reasons quality being at the forefront... But custom grind the wedges to try and find what you're looking for. 

  9. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    I bought a 60-07 S grind SM5 and had the same problem with skulling it off a tight light.  Switched to a 60-04 L grind and things can't be any better.

    I have SM4 48-06 and 54-11 (bent to 53) and they still have good grooves

    I had Cleve DSG 58 and 64 in 2009-2010.  I went to SM2 60-07 and 64-07 and no looking back on my short game.

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