Anyone else feel like their SM7's were a better fit for them than the SM8's??

[Jace_bkr]

Just curious if i'm the only one?

 

I gamed my SM7's for over two years up until the centers had browned out and the grooves had thinned down.. I absolutely loved them..  52 & 56 w/ F grinds and a 60 with a D grind all 1 degree flat w/ modus 125X shafts..

 

Ordered a new set of SM8's  (same lofts/lies/grinds/bounce & shafts) to replace them & I don't love them.. 

 

I thought maybe it was a mental deal having parted with a set I felt I couldn't miss with & I'd just give them some time to grow on me.

 

Well, its been about 4 months & I'm still forcing myself to stick with them.  To me it seems like they just love to go high & left where my 7's were point and shoot. 

 

Any opinions? Did they change something from the 7's to the 8's  that would cause as set built identical to be totally different??

[theorangeman]

That's a good question.  I have both that I'm playing with right now - SM7 54* M grind and a SM8 58* S grind.  I just picked up the SM8 last week.  Initially I didn't like the SM8 as much.  It feels like more club oddly enough.  However, the last couple rounds out, I've found myself gravitating towards it over the SM7 (probably for more loft than anything else though).  I've hit some really good shots with it and as a result, am finding myself more and more confident pulling it out of the bag.

 

Four months seems like a fairly long time to continue with a club that you don't really care for.  Although I play 5-6 times a week.  If it were me, I'd put them up for sale and go back to the club you obviously prefer.  There are a lot of used SM7 wedges out there.

[Jace_bkr]

I 

5 minutes ago, theorangeman said:

Four months seems like a fairly long time to continue with a club that you don't really care for.  Although I play 5-6 times a week.  If it were me, I'd put them up for sale and go back to the club you obviously prefer.  There are a lot of used SM7 wedges out there.

 

Around the greens they are fine. I have made some spectacular shots with the 60, its mainly full shots with the 52 & 56 where I'm seeing the difference.

 

[theorangeman]

That's funny because I'm just the opposite.  I have more confidence in my SM8 on full shots to the green.  

[Abh159]

20 minutes ago, theorangeman said:

If it were me, I'd put them up for sale and go back to the club you obviously prefer.  There are a lot of used SM7 wedges out there.

 

You don't even need to buy used. I picked up a new 60* M grind SM7 last week. Because they are the older model I got it for $100 brand new. 

 

Although finding your exact specs in lie and shaft might be a challenge as inventory dwindles. 

Edited January 8, 2021 by Abh159

[Bye]

I haven’t tried the SM8’s as I picked up a new set of the 7’s just before the new ones were released.

 

They definitely vary from generation to generation. I had the opposite issue with the SM5 & 6’s, I missed so many shots to the right. I also find that my 50 degree goes much higher than what I’ve had before.

 

Wasn’t there a slight CG adjustment with this generation?

 

I find there is always one that is not quite right. If I had the choice from any year, this is what I would play.
 

46 - SM6

50 - 200 series

54M - SM7

60M - Sm4

[theorangeman]

26 minutes ago, Abh159 said:

 

You don't even need to buy used. I picked up a new 60* M grind SM7 last week. Because they are the older model I got it for $100 brand new. 

 

Although finding your exact specs in lie and shaft might be a challenge as inventory dwindles. 

 

That's a good point for the SM7s.  I got my SM8 used for $115.  Not a bargain but decent priced I think.

[lefty1978]

Funny, I play the SM5 52°F, 58°K and 62°T. I recently picked up SM7 replacements in 52°F and 58°K, as of now I prefer the SM5s. I think I just need to get used to them.

[Shupe]

They are pretty much the exact same club if you zero out differential in delivery conditions, so it must be visual, mental, or swing difference from year to year.  My numbers were spot on the same like others who have done tests on YouTube.

[Mookieb10]

Yes. I do. I purchased my sm7’s with a different shaft and different color, so perhaps that is the difference, but yes, I much prefer my SM7’s. 
 

I’ve heard Ian from TXG say the SM 8 is the most perfect looking gap wedge he’s ever seen... I just don’t see it. 

[andyk856]

i like my SM8's better. it def took me a little while to get used to the SM8 but i do like them better.

[BYK]

Hell, I'll go one further

I love my sm6s better than the sm7s and way more than the sm8s 

[theorangeman]

50 minutes ago, andyk856 said:

i like my SM8's better. it def took me a little while to get used to the SM8 but i do like them better.

 

I'm curious, can you describe what you had to get used to with the SM8?  For me, it feels a bit bigger over the SM7.

[tjcarsillo]

Glad I saw this thread, I am thinking of trying Vokeys for the first time ever and the SM7 being discounted all over the place is enticing. Ive also never really heard/read a bad thing about the SM7. What does everyone seem to like/dislike about the SM8

[Tree Levino]

SM7 was much better than SM8 IMO. Something weird with the SM8 in launch consistency. My dad plays new old stock SM7 and they felt much more consistent than my SM8s. I have the TW grind MG2 now and I can't even describe how much better they are. Lower launch, forward flight, tons of spin, and actually go further - not higher- when you hit it harder. 

[mtg]

I agree there are small differences, but I like them about the same in the S/F grind. I did pick up a new old stock SM7 60L though and there is not a thing in the world I would change about that club. Been thinking about grabbing another while I still can.  

[Jace_bkr]

1 hour ago, TigerInTheWoods said:

SM7 was much better than SM8 IMO. Something weird with the SM8 in launch consistency. My dad plays new old stock SM7 and they felt much more consistent than my SM8s. I have the TW grind MG2 now and I can't even describe how much better they are. Lower launch, forward flight, tons of spin, and actually go further - not higher- when you hit it harder. 

Funny you say that, I thought about buying a 56/60 Set of TW grinds posted on the BST the other night but talked myself out of messaging the guy. 

[FlopShotGang]

Absolutely. Although it’s hard for me to make a complete critique because Ive only played a SM7 46.10 which was given to me for my birthday one year. Haven’t tried SM7s in higher lofts But I absolutely love playing my 46° and can’t wait to break it out during rounds. Mostly use it for full and 3/4 swings.
 

I bought SM8s 52.08 and 60.12 thinking I’d love them too because of the SM7 but I was wrong. Something just felt off in them- I’d hit the 52 with full and 3/4 swings while chipping with the 60.12. Maybe the grinds weren’t suited for me but I returned them after a month. Just not a fan of the SM8s but I’ll definitely give SM9s(?) a try haha.

[DixieD]

I much prefer the 7's over the 8's too, however I wish they would just re-release the 4's! Perfection.

[TimBuma]

15 hours ago, Mookieb10 said:

Yes. I do. I purchased my sm7’s with a different shaft and different color, so perhaps that is the difference, but yes, I much prefer my SM7’s. 
 

I’ve heard Ian from TXG say the SM 8 is the most perfect looking gap wedge he’s ever seen... I just don’t see it. 

Ian also had his customized and bent by Aaron Dill so it looks like there is no offset. So not the same wedge as you or I would pick up off the rack.

[dmeeksDC]

On 1/8/2021 at 7:11 PM, BYK said:

Hell, I'll go one further

I love my sm6s better than the sm7s and way more than the sm8s 

+1 on the SM6. Loved the F grind in that one and on the whole liked them more than the Sm7, no real reason why as they seem very similar. 

[golfing_penguin]

When the SM7's came into the shop to do fittings with I gave them a go and couldn't get on with any of them, all contact felt stubby. So I measured the F grinds for giggles and the SM7's were just a little wider, but they looked a little flatter. Really doesn't surprise me that each generation changes the camber/radius/width just a little, which could be enough to make it a big difference

[ScoPro]

On 1/9/2021 at 12:11 AM, BYK said:

Hell, I'll go one further

I love my sm6s better than the sm7s and way more than the sm8s 

Yeah I agree. I even thought the finishes were better in the SM6 line too

[1221]

I have SM7 Wedge in 50, 54 and 58 and absolutely love them. Wedge play is by far the best part of my game. The grooves on my 58 are worn but hard to see my swapping them out for a good while. They have the stock wedge flex shaft. Love them so much I'll probably end up buying a 46 to replace my PW. 

Edited January 10, 2021 by 1221

[Sniperman]

I played SM7 50-54-58 then as a true WRXer couldn’t help but sell em to buy more toys.  I ended up with the Ping Glide 2.0 ES in 54-58 and has changed my game!  It’s the 50 that I’ve had multiple experiments that included SM6 Bridgestone Ping and... back to the SM7 after I found this gem in the used bin with my initials to boot!!!

 

Handground SM7

Edited January 11, 2021 by Sniperman
Edit

[andyk856]

On 1/8/2021 at 7:53 PM, theorangeman said:

 

I'm curious, can you describe what you had to get used to with the SM8?  For me, it feels a bit bigger over the SM7.

they felt a little heavier then the sm7 to me. I put the same grips on the wedges that i had on my irons, the swing weight was a little to heavy so i went to a little bit of a heavier grip and everything was fine.