Taylormade MG4 Wedges

[tphilp]

On 11/20/2023 at 10:27 AM, PickItUpGolf said:

This is what my bag looked like this morning:

 

4 X Milled Grind 4s

2 X Titleist Vokey SM9s (ignore the 54s nickel/steel, didn't use it)

2 X Mizuno S23s

1 X Cobra Snakebite

 

And a few of my p790s to play some par 3s with...

 

Going to try and make some sense of all this, and keep it somewhat brief, I can ramble a bit!

 

Feel

 

Feel is something that's super important to me, but might be difficult to nail down with different shafts and different weights, but I'll try my best.

 

Vokey SM9s

 

It's not surprising why these are so popular, overall they feel really nicely balanced to me, and they swing really nicely, with good feel off the face.

 

Mizuno s23s

 

Feel a little lighter weight, so if that's something you enjoy? You'll not go wrong here. You might not be surprised that I'm going to say the face on these feels absolutely superb. Only downside to me personally is the weight, because they feel a little too loose to me, but that face interaction is something! 

 

Cobra Snakebite

 

These to me feel the heaviest heads of the bunch, and they would give me the most confidence in thick rough and wetter conditions. There's something different to the shape too, being the more pearl drop shaped of the bunch I've played with here. 

 

NOTE: I only have a 50* and 56* in these so just took the 56 along because I was comparing against a 54, 58 and a 60.

 

TaylorMade Milled Grind 4s

 

Feel wise, I think these might be the most balanced of the lot. They're not as soft as the Mizunos off the face, but they do feel a little softer to me than the other 2.

 

They also swing really nicely, and I think they feel among the best balanced also.

 

Not a perfect test...

I've got a mix of shafts here, from s400 dynamic golds in the Cobras, to the lighter weight 115g tour issues in the MG4s, so maybe that influences some of these feels at least a little.

 

If I had to pick a winner based off of feel? I think as an overall package, I do think the MG4 wins it ever so slightly, but I'm not yet sure if I'll be replacing the SM9s with them or not.

 

Next I'll try to get some of my performance numbers across and also talk a little about those laser etches grooves. That might take a while to put together...

how was the SBC grind when u tested it? 

[PickItUpGolf]

53 minutes ago, tphilp said:

how was the SBC grind when u tested it? 

 

I liked it, It worked nicely off the turf too (I think that was one I tested on the range, photos further back somewhere to confirm).

 

EDIT:

 

Looking at the photo: Okay I didn't test that off the turf after all. I did like it though.

 

It must have been the HBW '13 I liked off the turf then.

I'd probably go with the LBV if I decided to buy them, just because I like the lower bounce.

 

Edited January 6 by PickItUpGolf

[Minarets]

54 minutes ago, OspreyCI said:

That is the exact setup I am going to pair with some new 790’s. Interested in hearing about that 60HB.

I am too. lol.  I have never had a HB 60.  We shall see. I am playing the 2021 P790s that I got back in January with MMT 105 shafts. I do love them.  Came from 921 forged. 

[OspreyCI]

3 hours ago, Minarets said:

I am too. lol.  I have never had a HB 60.  We shall see. I am playing the 2021 P790s that I got back in January with MMT 105 shafts. I do love them.  Came from 921 forged. 

I am going to switch things up and deciding between ‘21 and ‘23 790’s. Hoping the MG4 HB will play like a Vokey D grind. Loved the MG3 compared to the SM9’s I am now. 
 

Guess my bag is transitioning to TM again. 

[Minarets]

I was hitting the HB with ease on the mats at GG. Thought that would be tougher with that much bounce. Even when opened.   Obviously, no digging on mats but thought I’d be thinning some.  

[Brooks_Cupcake]

On 1/6/2024 at 7:37 AM, Danny_Johnson21 said:

So what I’ve noticed after rigorous testing both on range and trackman with the 60 TW grind was the ability to hit cut shots more effortlessly than with sb10 60 bounce. This was great for me because it allowed me to work it both ways and cut shots for me are huge because I play on firm fast greens, my cuts spin more as it does for most golfers. The reason for this was the lack of offset. As most of us know, hitting cut shots gets easier and easier as we go down in our clubs. Think about how much easier it is to hit a cut with a 4 iron vs a 60 degree wedge hahaha it’s a crazy difference. The wedge also made it easier for me to play a low trap skip and mid high pitch hop n stop. Something I recommend is that reading about what the wedge helps with is good and all but go see what it does for you as all swings are different and with wedges it’s important your getting the right texture feel and confidence to attack pins. Hope this helps!

Im sorry, you cut a 60* wedge? 🤦🏻‍♂️ 

[Pnwpingi210]

58 minutes ago, Brooks_Cupcake said:

Im sorry, you cut a 60* wedge? 🤦🏻‍♂️ 

Jordan Speith is on record saying every chip and pitch shot he hits around the green is a cut shot.

 

its not uncommon.

Edited January 8 by Pnwpingi210

[Brooks_Cupcake]

1 hour ago, Pnwpingi210 said:

Jordan Speith is on record saying every chip and pitch shot he hits around the green is a cut shot.

 

its not uncommon.

Yes, and he’s Jordan Speith, not a WRX’er

[Pnwpingi210]

9 minutes ago, Brooks_Cupcake said:

Yes, and he’s Jordan Speith, not a WRX’er

Oh got it.  I thought you might tell him to work on his mechanics, too. 😂

[Brooks_Cupcake]

5 minutes ago, Pnwpingi210 said:

Oh got it.  I thought you might tell him to work on his mechanics, too. 😂

Thats usually the easiest solution. But I will trust your judgement on when I need to give that insight, since I value your opinion.

Edited January 8 by Brooks_Cupcake

[Pnwpingi210]

3 minutes ago, Brooks_Cupcake said:

Thats usually the easiest solution. But I will trust your judgement on when I need to give that insight, since I value your opinion.

Right on.  I appreciate the support.

[Retsof2021]

I cut wedges when I need some added spin. Is that uncommon? 

[Danny_Johnson21]

On 1/7/2024 at 8:12 PM, Brooks_Cupcake said:

Im sorry, you cut a 60* wedge? 🤦🏻‍♂️ 

Yes I a cut a 60 degree wedge on certain shots and situations. Anyways… it’s a forum for golf man, we all just the love game. If I ever cought myself giving judgment on a golf forum I’d look at my life and think… I have too much negativity and time on my hands hahaha. Hope this coming season of golf goes well for you! 

[nikegolfer93]

On 1/7/2024 at 9:12 PM, Brooks_Cupcake said:

Im sorry, you cut a 60* wedge? 🤦🏻‍♂️ 

 

Is that really unfathomable to cut a wedge? 

I've played with players who like to draw their chip shots. 

[Brooks_Cupcake]

1 hour ago, nikegolfer93 said:

 

Is that really unfathomable to cut a wedge? 

I've played with players who like to draw their chip shots. 

That’s awesome! Great to hear 

[Minarets]

Anyway, everyone still loving their wedges? Even when the texture wears off the face? I still haven’t taken the plastic off mine yet. Headed to Myrtle in Feb and hoping to hit them before then. 

[Danny_Johnson21]

Yeah I still love them! good luck in myrtle

 

 

[Tree Levino]

What kind of crap is it that you can't order something other than SB in black or raw?

[Minarets]

53 minutes ago, Tree Levino said:

What kind of crap is it that you can't order something other than SB in black or raw?

It’s why I passed on black.  My OCD couldn’t handle black 50,54 and a retail 60.  

[Tree Levino]

2 hours ago, Minarets said:

It’s why I passed on black.  My OCD couldn’t handle black 50,54 and a retail 60.  

 

It's sort of ridiculous. If I could order all raw in the grinds I want I'd grab them in a heartbeat. Silliness. 

[Rbsiedsc]

sorry, didn't read the whole thread but have seen many reviews on these. Would these be an improvement of the original tour rack zipcores? I am still gaming those and likely due for a wedge upgrade. The C and W grinds really pike my interest due to versatility. 

[hammergolf]

2 hours ago, Rbsiedsc said:

sorry, didn't read the whole thread but have seen many reviews on these. Would these be an improvement of the original tour rack zipcores? I am still gaming those and likely due for a wedge upgrade. The C and W grinds really pike my interest due to versatility. 

I’m building a 54 and 60 MG4 wedges today and will be testing them on Thursday and will post a review. I’ve had Tour racks and they were very good.

[ChristianR]

Hi, checked the previous pages but I might have missed it...is the stock shaft DG115 comparable to KBS Hi-Rev 115?
As far as I've found online the DG is a sort of S200, while the KBS is sold as a Regular (also not sure why the stock DG is labeled Tour Issue as the same shaft is on TrueTemper website as standard DG 115 S200, is there any difference?).
I'm asking as I have a 58 Hi-Toe which has the KBS and I would like to add a 54 MG4.
Thanks!

[hammergolf]

Was able to get out and try my MG4 wedges. I have the 54* SB and 60* LBV. A little about the build, I’m experimenting with shafts and weight this spring. I built the wedges with Fujikura Pro 95 shafts (I have Axiom 75’s in my irons) to try and not have such a big weight gap between my irons. However, to make up for the lighter weight of the shafts I increased the swingweights by 2 points. My gamers right now are CBX Zips with DG 115 spinners. They are GREAT, however the feel difference from my irons is very different. Not bad, just different. 
 

FEEL

The MG4 feel similar to all other wedges, not butter soft but not firm either. I might have stumbled on something with the lighter shafts/heavier swingweights though. Partial shots and chips had much more feel. 
 

SPIN

Of Course new wedges are going to spin, but these are very spinny. Not sure if the shaft has anything to do with that, but 50yd shots with the 60* were one hop and stop or slightly backing up. 
 

TURF INTERACTION 

‘The SB sole on the 54* was good in pretty much all lies and bunkers. The LBV is good off tighter and fwy lies and in firmer bunker. You can lay it wide open and slip under the ball in even the worst lies. VERY versatile grind and not easy to use of fwy lies as long as you the bounce and keep the leading edge up. I’ll be very interested to try it when the ground forms up. 
 

Overall very impressed, I would put these slightly ahead of Vokey, RTX and others when it comes to performance. Looking forward to testing them some more.

[Minarets]

Can’t wait to finally hit mine.  Haven’t even removed the plastic yet and I’ve had them for almost 2 months.  

[casey_0507]

Just got mine today and hit a couple balls in backyard.  Golf ball eaters

[miboy]

Good strikes.

[BogeyWorkman]

I am not finding many black MG4s in stores.  TM's site only custom options are for the chrome? 

[gator022]

On 2/2/2024 at 6:34 PM, hammergolf said:

Was able to get out and try my MG4 wedges. I have the 54* SB and 60* LBV. A little about the build, I’m experimenting with shafts and weight this spring. I built the wedges with Fujikura Pro 95 shafts (I have Axiom 75’s in my irons) to try and not have such a big weight gap between my irons. However, to make up for the lighter weight of the shafts I increased the swingweights by 2 points. My gamers right now are CBX Zips with DG 115 spinners. They are GREAT, however the feel difference from my irons is very different. Not bad, just different. 
 

FEEL

The MG4 feel similar to all other wedges, not butter soft but not firm either. I might have stumbled on something with the lighter shafts/heavier swingweights though. Partial shots and chips had much more feel. 
 

SPIN

Of Course new wedges are going to spin, but these are very spinny. Not sure if the shaft has anything to do with that, but 50yd shots with the 60* were one hop and stop or slightly backing up. 
 

TURF INTERACTION 

‘The SB sole on the 54* was good in pretty much all lies and bunkers. The LBV is good off tighter and fwy lies and in firmer bunker. You can lay it wide open and slip under the ball in even the worst lies. VERY versatile grind and not easy to use of fwy lies as long as you the bounce and keep the leading edge up. I’ll be very interested to try it when the ground forms up. 
 

Overall very impressed, I would put these slightly ahead of Vokey, RTX and others when it comes to performance. Looking forward to testing them some more.

 

Will they unseat your CBX Zip's?

[hammergolf]

17 hours ago, gator022 said:

 

Will they unseat your CBX Zip's?

TBD, but first run was pretty good. I can see potentially swapping out the 60* in tight or firm conditions.