Mizuno S18 Wedge

The Mizuno S18 wedge lineup is fascinating.  With 29 different options (all Grain Flow Forged in Hiroshima, Japan), each loft/bounce combination offered in the S18 is designed to specifically meet playing requirements for that club.  The sole grinds, profiles, top lines, and groove depths change with each wedge from start to finish.  This concept helps Mizuno manage and control the center of gravity to give you the optimal ball flight and spin rate for each specific wedge leading to a better overall short game.

The Looks

Mizuno will be the first one to tell you that the S18 wedge has a more mid-sized, rounded profile.  Throughout the whole lineup, the S18 maintains that shape but there are some small refinements that can be noticeable.  For instance, as the loft is increased, Mizuno moves the weight higher up the blade.  Doing so also creates a slightly thicker top line.  While I understand a classic wedge purist may not love this, I assure you there’s a payoff in performance.

Aesthetically speaking, the Mizuno S18 wedge comes in both a white satin (chrome) finish and a gun metal black finish.  Both finishes are super sharp and it’s just going to come down to personal preference.  There is minimal branding on the S18 wedge and the overall look is a smooth modern twist of classic Mizuno.  I think the S18 wedge looks great in these pictures, but to really do this wedge justice, you need to see it in person.

How Does it Feel?

The feel of the Mizuno S18 wedges is going to vary through the lineup based on the design concept.  What’s important to note is that the feel is appropriate for each specific club.  Correct, I did not hit all 29 variations of the S18, but the 54º and 60º I tested had the perfect feel for how I use each club.  The 54º S18 specifically jumped out at me with its clean feel.  For both short shots and full swings, the 54º felt as if it just slipped right into the ball with perfectly pure contact.  Both wedges had that signature soft Mizuno forged feel with perfect response.

How Does it Sound?

I’ve found that Mizuno historically makes some of the best sounding clubs in the game.  While the S18 doesn’t have that signature precision “click” you know from clubs like the MP-33, it does still have a clean soft “click” off the face at impact.  The extra bit of thickness and medium profile muffle the sound a bit more than a smaller and thinner wedge would.

Between the 54º and 60º S18 wedges, the turf interaction had a different sound.  The 54º S18 had more of a “ripping” sound through the turf while the 60º made more of a “thump.”  Again, this is largely based on the sole grinds that are unique to the loft/bounce combo and what types of shots are played with these clubs.

On-Course Performance

There’s a lot to cover here to strap in!  Based on the design concept, it’s important to understand that not all 29 S18 combinations are right for you.  It’s important to understand your game and play the right wedges for your needs.  (This is a hint to go get fit.)

One of the performance features implemented in the Mizuno S18 wedge is its groove progression.  For the lower lofts, Mizuno uses a narrower and deeper groove that’s better for a full-swing shot.  In the higher loft, the grooves are wider but shallower to cater more to short plays.  Regardless of what type of player you are, this is going to have an impact on your game.

Now, based on the S18 concept, I expect what I’m about to say makes total sense, but my experience confirmed it for me.  I found the 54º S18 to be more versatile and I could play a wider range of shots.  High, low.  Short, long.  Spin, no spin.  Dare I say, the S18 even made all of those shots seem easy.  The 60º was a little different for me.  Still great at what it does, I felt I could really only hit two types of shots with the 60º.  Those were a short-range high ball on a full swing, and little straight up, straight down shots around the green.  Listen, for my wedge game, that’s TOTALLY FINE.  In fact, it probably helps me out not trying to be too cute with my wedges.  But I’ll tell you what, that 60º hits that little soft thumping pop around the green really nicely.

Final Thoughts

True, there are a lot of loft options to consider and navigate with the Mizuno S18 wedge.  That said, Mizuno has created arguably one of the most versatile and widely appealing wedge lines for the golf market.  I’m certain low handicaps will say “it’s not enough of a player’s wedge for me.”  Or real high handicaps will say “I’ve hit all 29 wedges and I’m still struggling.”  The reality is the former is a small minority of the buying public and the latter is not going to find a magic bullet in a single wedge.  Mizuno made a wedge line that combines extraordinary performance, great feel, and a wide range of options to be a great fit for more golfers.  Just make sure you get properly fit and buy the right wedges for your game.

Previous Next

Stock Mizuno S18 Wedge Specs