Titleiist parent The Acushnet Company has introduced the Vokey Design V Grind, which it says is a lob wedge that offers players increased bounce on square-faced shots with enhanced relief for open-faced shots. Available in lofts of 58 and 60 degrees – each with 10 degrees of bounce – ,the Vokey Design V Grind ($225) is now available through WedgeWorks on Vokey.com.
A “go-to” lob wedge for PGA Tour players such as Ludvig Åberg and Billy Horschel, the V Grind features high measured bounce forward on the sole, which works to prevent excessive digging. However, when the face of V Grind is opened, its heel, toe and trailing edge sole relief allows the leading edge to stay closer to the ground, providing exceptional versatility. The grind is ideal for players with a steeper angle of attack playing in normal to soft conditions.
When you look at how a V grind is constructed, we have a front or a forward bounce section,” said Vokey PGA Tour Rep Aaron Dill. “This is a really steep bounce angle, and then we have this grind in the back, allowing you to have some versatility as well.
“V Grind players are often a little steeper in their deliveries. They have a little more shaft lean which means they’re delofting and taking some bounce away. The V Grind also really suits them in softer conditions, or if they’re playing on courses with grainy turf. That’s where the forward bounce comes into play.”
Horschel, longtime V Grind loyalist, prefers a lob wedge setup that offers sufficient forward bounce without sacrificing greenside playability.
““When I hit full shots, there’s enough bounce there that it doesn’t slide underneath the ball,” Horschel said. “The bounce saves me and the ball – you want to hit it in a certain spot. It’s hitting right up in the second or third or fourth groove when you’re hitting full shots. And then out of bunkers and hitting flop shots, because of the relief on the backside as well, it opens up and I can really slide underneath.”
Before settling on the V Grind as his go-to, Horschel tested and played with other lob wedge grinds, including the 60.04T. He found that the V was the best fit for his technique, as narrower and lower-bounce options promoted contact high on the face. The higher bounce of the V Grind allowed him to make contact lower on the face, delivering consistent flight, spin and, ultimately, better distance control.
“As much as our technique is consistent, certain weeks how we enter and deliver the club is a little bit different,” Horschel said. “And so, what I found with the T is sometimes the ball will just ride up a little bit high… come out with not nearly as much spin. With the V, it just gave me that ability where I could, when I hit down, the bounce sort of engages a little bit more, [the ball] came out lower.”
Photos Courtesy of the Acushnet Company