Vokey SM 8 wear question

[zstokes]

Hello golfers.

 

This SM8 was purchased in May 2022, and has less than 20 rounds on it.  Less than 100 bunker shots.

 

Is this normal?  I clean it with a medium bristle brush and a regular towel.  Clubs stored out of the elements.

 

 

[zstokes]

I forgot to add, at this point I can easily fleck off the finish at the edge where it’s bubbling.

[iclypso]

Looks like flaking plating, not wear. Normal wear would not have the jagged corners like your club is exhibiting.  Flaking can be caused by a number of issues during the plating process and isn't unusual, but is usually caught by testing witness coupons that are co-processed.

[philly2kuk]

That’s not normal wear. My black sm8 sand wedge is in its third season, has seen maybe 100-130 rounds and is used multiple times a round as it’s my 80-100 yard club, as well as for bunker shots. This looks like damage to the coating, have you kept it in a wet headcover or bag at all?

[zstokes]

44 minutes ago, philly2kuk said:

That’s not normal wear. My black sm8 sand wedge is in its third season, has seen maybe 100-130 rounds and is used multiple times a round as it’s my 80-100 yard club, as well as for bunker shots. This looks like damage to the coating, have you kept it in a wet headcover or bag at all?

The first year is was kept dry in a golf bag in the garage.  Sometimes temps got in the 90s but it’s not like the southeast….SoCal.  It was never left “wet”.

Second year we moved to Ventura near the coast.  A bit more humid but mellow temps.

 

a couple months ago it just started flaking.

[zstokes]

To add:  a few weeks ago I saw what I thought looks like a weld line on the leading edge.  Turns out it was the finish bubbling.

 

I’m not mad or upset, I’m just hoping it’s a manufacturing bug.  Not too keen on going through a wedge fitting right now.

Edited May 27 by zstokes

[philly2kuk]

Just wondered if it could be down to rust, as I’ve had rust bubbles on a wet wedge before. It’s literally deplating, that’s not normal from my experience.

[hammergolf]

14 hours ago, zstokes said:

Hello golfers.

 

This SM8 was purchased in May 2022, and has less than 20 rounds on it.  Less than 100 bunker shots.

 

Is this normal?  I clean it with a medium bristle brush and a regular towel.  Clubs stored out of the elements.

 

 

As others have said, that’s the chrome plating coming off. Question is, would Titleist warranty it since it’s quite a few years old.

[tatertot]

Never saw that in a Vokey of any kind. 

 

Are you sure it's authentic?

[alpineto]

Yea thats not normal send it back to Titleist I've never seen 

a wedge delaminate like that before .

[zstokes]

6 hours ago, tatertot said:

Never saw that in a Vokey of any kind. 

 

Are you sure it's authentic?

100% ordered direct from their site 

[zstokes]

6 hours ago, alpineto said:

Yea thats not normal send it back to Titleist I've never seen 

a wedge delaminate like that before .

I do think I’ll give them a call tomorrow and see if they had a batch or run issue with it.  I’m not looking for a free club but it is kind of a bummer.

 

Now of it was my 54 degree, I’d just buy a new one straight away - the face has a normal amount of wear because I use it a lot more.

 

[golow]

They had problems with plating on T100s 1.0 so it's possible that same place plates the Vokeys.

 

SM8s may be a bit old for Titleist to warranty but I'd inquire

 

 

[rsballer10]

13 hours ago, zstokes said:

I do think I’ll give them a call tomorrow and see if they had a batch or run issue with it.  I’m not looking for a free club but it is kind of a bummer.

 

Now of it was my 54 degree, I’d just buy a new one straight away - the face has a normal amount of wear because I use it a lot more.

 

 

I definitely noticed there were some inconsistencies with the SM8's - I'd chalk it up to pandemic era manufacturing. I had (1) 60.10S grind wedge that had a larger hosel OD than the rest of my wedges. It was always a little 'off' and could never tell why.