After your putter, the wedge is arguably the most important club in your bag. Get it right and they will be vital in saving pars and making birdies. Tony Finau recently won the Northern Trust Open with 50 and a 54 degree Glide Pro wedges in the bag but how does this relate to the amateur golfer?
If a club doesn’t fit your eye you will always struggle with it. Players using a combo set sometimes struggle when shifting from their irons to utility wedges. I’m sure this doesn’t affect the pros but the transition from a pitching wedge in a set to your gap wedges, should flow. This is where the Glide Pro wedges will be effective as they fit perfectly alongside the PING Blueprint: i210, iBlade and the latest i59.
DESIGN
PING worked with their pros on the Glide Forged Pro to deliver a shot-maker’s wedge that could bring predictable, consistent results. The Tour-preferred shape is shorter heel-toe and the smaller profile gives a compact look that will appeal to the better player, paired with a new face to add friction and increase spin.
NEW FACE
The Friction Face is fully machined with steeper grooves and added texture from a new Emery face blast, all designed to ensure consistent launch and spin from both wet and dry lies.
Grinds
S Grind
Moderate bounce, rounded lead edge, broadest appeal.
T Grind
Narrower sole, approx. 3° less bounce than S, high versatility.
EYE2 TOE 59°
Karsten Solheim’s iconic high-toe shaping has approximately 1.5° less bounce than the S grind and creates a look at address that has appealed to generations of golfers.
Verdict
The Glide Forged Pro wedges are at the top end when it comes to price, so it opens up the whole wedge market. We found the distance and trajectory control exceptional, plus the Friction Face certainly creates serious spin while being hard-wearing. So, it would be interesting to see how the longevity stands up against the rival brands. I’m very tempted to put the PING i59 in the bag and if that were the case, the Glide Forged Pro wedges would follow.
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