Titleist Vokey feel-I know I'm in minority.

[MelloYello]

> @bodhi555 said:

> > @MelloYello said:

> > > @"GHIN n Juice" said:

> > > > @MelloYello said:

> > > > Does the feel of a wedge really matter?

> > > >

> > > > I know that everyone can sense a slight difference, but the "feel" has never seemed to matter one bit to me during a round of golf.

> > > >

> > > > I've played forged and non-forged. I've played multiple brands. I happen to have Vokeys now. All I can say is that results seem to be entirely tied to skill and ability while feel and sound are irrelevant.

> > >

> > > For me “feel” in a club is probably most important in the wedges. When I’m within 70 yards all shots are feel shots and a wedge that offers no feedback makes those shots more difficult. This is actually the exact reason I left Vokey wedges years ago.

> >

> > The "feel" of a club the "feel" one uses to hit a shot are two separate things. Same word, different meanings.

> >

> >

> > The feel of a club through impact is essentially the sound that it makes combined with how it gets through the ground as perceived through the hands. Obviously hitting it flush feels better than not because there's less extraneous vibration. And certain misses like those off the toe induce a particularly bad twisting in the hands that is often described as "feeling bad."

> >

> > But that is not the same as saying _"I have a good feel for distance because I can pitch a ball within 3-yds of a given number."_ Such a statement presumes good contact and says something about the players actual abilities beyond merely hitting a crisp shot.

> >

> > One is a reflection of mechanical characteristics while the other is a reflection of skill. To whatever degree they are intertwined, it is not enough to affect one's actual abilities.

> >

> > Do Vokeys make a different sound? Possibly. But to whatever degree that's the case it's not going to limit a player by any stretch of the imagination. People can have all the supposed preferences they want but I would encourage them not to embrace unnecessary preferences where they have no correlation to actual scoring ability.

>

> Totally agree that "feel" off the face is fairly immaterial to someone's ability to judge a shot, as by the time you get any feedback it's too late to affect anything as the ball has already left the face. But more critical for me is the overall feel of the club - how does it swing, how easy is it to tell where the club head is during that swing? I find that far more critical when I have to hit a partial wedge shot than noise or clickiness, and favour heavier clubs to get that feel.

>

> That being said I like the overall feel of a Vokey, and can normally get pretty good results. I do prefer the slightly head heavy feel of my Engages, so to game the Vokeys I'd probably need to add some lead tape.

 

Spot on.

 

So as not to cause further confusion, it's probably best to isolate static weight, shaft flex, swing weight, and other such variables as being part of the overall setup as opposed to the "feel" of a club.

 

It's not uncommon for players to have preferences w.r.t. various features of the club, but it's important we don't being overly picky about the things which don't matter (i.e. a Vokey wedge being too "clicky").

[MelloYello]

> @"GHIN n Juice" said:

> > @MelloYello said:

> > > @"GHIN n Juice" said:

> > > > @MelloYello said:

> > > > Does the feel of a wedge really matter?

> > > >

> > > > I know that everyone can sense a slight difference, but the "feel" has never seemed to matter one bit to me during a round of golf.

> > > >

> > > > I've played forged and non-forged. I've played multiple brands. I happen to have Vokeys now. All I can say is that results seem to be entirely tied to skill and ability while feel and sound are irrelevant.

> > >

> > > For me “feel” in a club is probably most important in the wedges. When I’m within 70 yards all shots are feel shots and a wedge that offers no feedback makes those shots more difficult. This is actually the exact reason I left Vokey wedges years ago.

> >

> > The "feel" of a club the "feel" one uses to hit a shot are two separate things. Same word, different meanings.

> >

> >

> > The feel of a club through impact is essentially the sound that it makes combined with how it gets through the ground as perceived through the hands. Obviously hitting it flush feels better than not because there's less extraneous vibration. And certain misses like those off the toe induce a particularly bad twisting in the hands that is often described as "feeling bad."

> >

> > But that is not the same as saying _"I have a good feel for distance because I can pitch a ball within 3-yds of a given number."_ Such a statement presumes good contact and says something about the players actual abilities beyond merely hitting a crisp shot.

> >

> > One is a reflection of mechanical characteristics while the other is a reflection of skill. To whatever degree they are intertwined, it is not enough to affect one's actual abilities.

> >

> > Do Vokeys make a different sound? Possibly. But to whatever degree that's the case it's not going to limit a player by any stretch of the imagination. People can have all the supposed preferences they want but I would encourage them not to embrace unnecessary preferences where they have no correlation to actual scoring ability.

>

> Lol, thanks for clarifying how I approach my game.

 

Lol, thanks for being careless.

[jmiller3483]

> @ChipNRun said:

> I admire Vokey engineering and variety, but I'm not wild about the feel. Not sure what it is.

>

> I prefer Callaway and Cleveland products.

 

Totally agree

[GHIN n Juice]

> @MelloYello said:

> > @"GHIN n Juice" said:

> > > @MelloYello said:

> > > > @"GHIN n Juice" said:

> > > > > @MelloYello said:

> > > > > Does the feel of a wedge really matter?

> > > > >

> > > > > I know that everyone can sense a slight difference, but the "feel" has never seemed to matter one bit to me during a round of golf.

> > > > >

> > > > > I've played forged and non-forged. I've played multiple brands. I happen to have Vokeys now. All I can say is that results seem to be entirely tied to skill and ability while feel and sound are irrelevant.

> > > >

> > > > For me “feel” in a club is probably most important in the wedges. When I’m within 70 yards all shots are feel shots and a wedge that offers no feedback makes those shots more difficult. This is actually the exact reason I left Vokey wedges years ago.

> > >

> > > The "feel" of a club the "feel" one uses to hit a shot are two separate things. Same word, different meanings.

> > >

> > >

> > > The feel of a club through impact is essentially the sound that it makes combined with how it gets through the ground as perceived through the hands. Obviously hitting it flush feels better than not because there's less extraneous vibration. And certain misses like those off the toe induce a particularly bad twisting in the hands that is often described as "feeling bad."

> > >

> > > But that is not the same as saying _"I have a good feel for distance because I can pitch a ball within 3-yds of a given number."_ Such a statement presumes good contact and says something about the players actual abilities beyond merely hitting a crisp shot.

> > >

> > > One is a reflection of mechanical characteristics while the other is a reflection of skill. To whatever degree they are intertwined, it is not enough to affect one's actual abilities.

> > >

> > > Do Vokeys make a different sound? Possibly. But to whatever degree that's the case it's not going to limit a player by any stretch of the imagination. People can have all the supposed preferences they want but I would encourage them not to embrace unnecessary preferences where they have no correlation to actual scoring ability.

> >

> > Lol, thanks for clarifying how I approach my game.

>

> Lol, thanks for being careless.

 

Careless for describing that I like a wedge that feels a certain way for shots that require feel...okay. I know the feel of a 50 yard shot when it comes off the face. That equates to muscle memory over time. Playing with dead or stiff feeling wedges makes the feedback on a particular shot more difficult to discern.

[brew4eagle]

I've played lots of different brands/models of wedges over the years. The SM6's currently in the bag feel and perform very well. They feel no 'clickier' than my super soft Nike VR Forged irons. When I need new wedges, I'll first look for another set of Vokey SM6's.

[QuigleyDU]

I have 54 and 60 degree vokeys, and 48,52,58,64 RTX4s. I prefer the clevelands. The sm7s are brand new so I am probably going to unload them.

[morrisminor]

Why is it important not to be 'overly picky' about things you say don't matter? Sound affects how you perceive a club and for some people this can affect overall confidence over a shot which in turn can influence the swing.

Just a guess but I would think that sound would be a more important factor for more musical individuals

[KarstenK]

I've played lots of wedges over the years and feel just isn't that important to me anymore. Shafts can play a part as well in what feels clicky or not. I love my SM7's but also enjoy most Callaway and Ping wedges. I think what wedge fits your eye and bounce needs is what needs to be in the bag.

[Bubbtubbs]

It may have more to do with hitting indoors vs outdoors, since feel is largely about sound perception.

[fore left]

I've tried many and while the Vokeys are clicky they also give me the best results

[GolfChannel]

This is why you have to get fit. I am the same way when it comes to Vokeys, short game is the best facet of my game and Vokeys have never inspired confidence. Give me anything designed or inspired by Roger Cleveland. On that note, I’m about to move into some RTX4’s from my MD3’s.

[puttingmatt]

Look at the Cleveland RTX 4 's, nice feel and good performance. One of Cleveland's best all around wedges.

[DaRiz]

I agree SM4 to SM6 have been very clicky sounding, but the SM7 in raw black actually is very soft. I’m actually swapping out all my SM5s for SM7s in raw right now. And if you go back to the red saw SM3, that was pretty soft too.

[MelloYello]

Does it though?

 

Are you really learning through sound?

 

You're telling me that if you were deaf you'd be a worse wedge player?

[MelloYello]

That's the theory but as a good wedge player myself I don't buy it.

 

As I mentioned above, would we expect a deaf person to be a worse wedge player because they weren't "hearing" their wedges?

 

I apologize if I'm wrong but I bet I could go practice with some headphones on or ear-plugs in and end up being just as good. I think any obsession with how much "click" you hear at impact is rather impractical if not altogether silly.

 

Does sound clue you in as to the shot you just hit? Yes, of course. We've all experienced that sound/feeling of a crisply-struck shot. But does it give you the power to recreate that shot? No.

[GHIN n Juice]

Man, I bet you’re a riot to play with. That is, if you ever take the time to play instead of walking the range telling people that they’re doing it all wrong and that you have the secret.

You sound like the type of guy who argues with his doctor even though you don’t have one of those pesky medical degrees.

[MelloYello]

LOL...I'm actually a terrible person.

 

When I'm not here I'm generally strolling through my neighborhood kicking puppies. But honestly, is that relevant?

[uglande]

I love the feel of the Vokeys. I use the stock shaft, which is very soft, DGS200, which helps. When I hit the center they feel great and I get nice feedback on mishits but they never feel "harsh."

On a related note, I'm not sure why people are interested in forged wedges or why softness is a key criterion. These are precision clubs. Good feedback is a must.

[morrisminor]

Not sure if you didn't get my point or if you're just straw manning hard, but in case you didn't get it I'll try again.

I'm not saying people can hear their impacts to become better players. I'm saying that for some people sound plays a major part in how they feel about a shot. For example if I tee up a a molitor and put an R11S down behind it I'm flinching before I've started my swing because there is no way that impact can sound good to me. If I'm hitting a Srixon Soft Feel with a J33R I know that I'm almost guaranteed a nice sound so I swing with more confidence.

Like I said, if you have a tin ear this probably isn't too important to you.

[MelloYello]

Everyone can hear those differences, dude.

 

Everyone generally comes to the same conclusions regarding "feel." We hear that same stuff being spouted by virtually everyone about which clubs "feel" best. Everyone agrees that Nike Sumo drivers were loud AF. Everyone could recognize the Cleveland HiBores were the same way. Everyone agrees Mizuno clubs typically feel softer than Titleist. I've hit all those clubs and those statements seem accurate to me.

 

But being able to hear a slight difference does not mean that difference is at all relevant. The strike of a Vokey definitely sounds a little higher in pitch in comparison to other wedges. So what? If people are complaining about that they have too much time on their hands.

 

People just want to have opinions to have them. Some folks use this stuff as an excuse about their game. Someone saying that a Vokey doesn't provide ample feedback shouldn't be giving advice to anyone because their offering up a lie disguised as an opinion.

 

Vokey's aren't good enough because they don't sound right?! Give me a break.

[morrisminor]

 

Straw man arguments. Got it. I'll just leave you to argue amongst yourself.

[JStang]

I hit a bunch of chip shots with a ProV1 today paying specific attention to feel and shots struck perfectly out of the middle felt soft and those that weren't offered that clicky feedback. IMO, this is the way it should be.

[VNutz]

Never understood how people get so territorial about personal opinions on wedges, everybody's different. Feel in a wedge is always nice, but to me it's about ground interaction, spin and overall results. I was a Cleveland guy for 10-15 years, but tried the RTX3s and did not care for them, just didn't work for me. Found some Vokeys I liked and moved to those, a combination of sm6 and sm4 models that gap nicely. They're probably due for replacement next season and I'll look at everything.

[GolfMinimalist]

I'd agree. I've gamed Vokeys, too, but the feel has never been the selling point for me.

[MelloYello]

Too cool for school Johnny Jet-pack over here...

[collje26]

What wedges do you game? I have the Mack daddy forged and I can’t find anything with a straight leaning edge except for another set or the Nike engage dual sole.

[onafriday]

Vokey’s are all about grind and shaft combinations.

Off the rack s200s with ill fitting grinds ain’t it.

[StarFleetGolfer]

Vokey are not clicky , the sweet spot is more towards heel. Agree with this. Vokey good enough for pros but wrxer cant control their short game due to lack of feel.

 

[GHIN n Juice]

I completely agree! In fact I think the mods should shut down the entire equipment section since regular people’s opinions don’t matter since none of us are getting paid to play our clubs.

[jholz]

Vokeys are obviously good wedges. They perform for lots of various players from pros to weekend amateurs. I don't think anyone can argue against that point.

 

Titleist has also always been criticized for their "clicky" feel.

 

One way or another, good golfers go out and shoot good scores with Vokey wedges and Titliest irons. Seems like the clubs work pretty well for them.