Vokey SM8 Wedges

The latest version of the popular Vokey Spin Milled Wedge lineup is the new Titleist Vokey SM8 wedge.  In this season’s model, Titleist revamped the design to bring us their most versatile and controlled wedges yet.

The Looks

At first glance, you’ll immediately notice that the new Titleist Vokey SM8 has a completely overhauled aesthetic, and it’s for the better.  The new, minimalist design features the BV wings with the standard “SM8” and “Vokey Design” to round out the branding.  Simple, yet effective.

In terms of shape, the SM8 keeps the traditional tear-drop head shape that Tour pros and amateurs alike have come to love about Vokey wedges.  No major changes there.  And per usual, Vokey offers different finish options to pick from.  The options are Jet Black (pictured) and the plated Tour Chrome and Brushed Steel finishes.  For those who want the real Tour look, Vokey also offers a raw finish via their custom Wedge Works shop.  Oh and with my homage to The Office, they look even better.

How Does it Feel?

In my opinion, both feel and sound in wedges is heavily dependent on the ball you are using, just as much as the club.  With that, I will say the Titleist Vokey SM8 feels pretty good.  Not great, but pretty good.  I tend to like a very soft wedge, and the SM8 has more of a medium-soft feel in the sweet spot.  What it does best, however, is provide feedback on misses.  As soon as I miss a shot with an SM8, whether it be chipping, half, or full swings, I know exactly where I missed it based on feedback in the hands.  Off the toe, a groove too low, or high on the face, I can tell exactly where I hit it.

How Does it Sound?

Since they usually go hand-in-hand, the sound of the Titleist Vokey SM8 is similar to how it feels.  How so?  It’s a medium pitched, firm sounding click.  I, myself, don’t even know if that last sentence makes sense so I’ll try better.  The sound itself is more of a deeper clicking sound.  It’s not a loud click or “tick” sound.  It’s more in the medium range.  Again, I think sound will have a lot to do with the ball you play.  If you play a marshmallow, the sound is going to be more muted than if you’re playing a rock like a Pinnacle Gold.

On-Course Performance

For starters, Vokey’s have always had a ton of loft and grind options.  The new Titleist Vokey SM8 wedges are no different with six different grind options.   This means that there are options for every type of shot and every golfer, so fitting is important.

In terms of technology, the SM8 has progressive COG, meaning the COG moves up the face as lofts go up.  This is done with a tungsten weight in the toe of each wedge, and variable hosel sizing.  Why does it matter?  This makes getting the ball in the air easier in the higher lofted wedges, while still providing great feel at those different target spots.  It also helps the club face square itself at impact. Lastly, the spin milled grooves get even more refined, allowing for more spin and shot control.

After my wedge fitting, I got a set of wedges to fit my game.  Having the correct setup through my wedges made flight control extremely easy.  I can get the ball in the air quickly when needed, or hit a low spin-and-stop if required.  With the right sole grind options, turf interaction is smooth and efficient.  The SM8 generates a good amount of spin as well.  Do they spin more than the SM7?  I won’t say yes or no, but I personally found the SM8 to be really easy to control around the greens.

I’ve said this about irons, but I’ll say it for wedges too.  Consistency is huge.  If you know exactly what your wedge is going to do, your short game will improve.  The SM8 is very consistent and predictable for any shot.  Overall, I felt like I could hit any shot I needed to, and I have a newly restored confidence in my short game.

Final Thoughts – Titleist Vokey SM8

I think the new Titleist Vokey SM8 is a winner.  I absolutely love the new look and design of the wedge, with the performance to match making them an easy choice to put in my bag.  The sound and feel are pretty good as well, which is just as important as performance in scoring clubs like your wedges.  With so many finish, bounce, and grind options from Vokey, there’s sure to be one to fit your game too.

Stock Titleist Vokey SM8 Specs

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