By Alex Gallemore
In the UAE, standing out from the crowd is par for the course. Whether it’s a gold-wrapped Lamborghini in the car park or a super yacht parked outside your penthouse in the marina, extravagance and luxury is synonymous with the area. So when I heard the latest milled wedges from PXG were topping close to $1,000 it didn’t come as a surprise. Imagine spending $4,000 on wedges. But, I guess, if you’ve got the super yacht it probably sounds like a bargain. However, for less well-heeled mortals I needed to find out why they are so expensive and how they compared to regular wedges. I caught up with Alex Riggs, PXG Ambassador Middle East, at Trump International Dubai to find out more.
Why are the 0311T milled wedges so expensive?
Alex Riggs: The wedges at start at around $750 and go up to around a $1000 and the reason the wedges are at that price point is because of the process that is used to produce the clubs. They start off with an 11 pound piece of soft carbon steel which they then wear down with a CNC mill which takes around four and a half hours, this leaves you with a wedge that is more precise, has sharper grooves and lasts longer and feels better than anything else on the market.
Talk us through the difference in the models.
Alex: SUGAR DADDY: Think of the Sugar Daddy as the one-size-fits-all, which incorporates a moderate initial angle with a blended sole design. It can be used effectively from a wide variety of turf and sand conditions, allowing the golfer to use it for virtually any shot necessary.
ZULU: The narrow sole design of the Zulu incorporates a steep initial angle with aggressive heel and toe relief. This type of wedge is ideal for playing tight turf or firm ground, as it keeps the lead edge close to the ground from both a square or open-faced position.
ROMEO: The wide sole design of the Romeo wedge incorporates a mild initial angle with minimal heel relief, allowing the lead edge to stay close to the ground. This creates an extreme amount of bounce when the face is open, making it ideal for playing from high rough or soft sand.
DARKNESS: The Darkness sole design incorporates a moderate initial angle with moderate heel relief. The lower lead edge height is great for hitting from a tightly mown area, while the wide sole enables the club to slide easily through higher grass. It’s also effective for high flop shots and soft-landing sand shots. The Darkness model incorporates a slightly larger head size for added forgiveness.
Can you give us some more information on the lofts and bounces that are available on the wedges?
Alex: There are four different sole designs with each design offering different bounces, and within those sole designs they have a wide array of loft options to suit any golfer’s needs. Whether you are looking for a higher or lower bounce, these clubs will have you covered for whatever course you are playing.
What are the benefits of the tungsten weighting?
Alex: The tungsten weights are drawing the weight away from the centre of the wedge which offers maximum forgiveness thus making it easier to strike the ball.
