Sub 70 JB Wedge

Since Sub 70 Golf first burst on the scene, their clubs have been praised for their incredible quality and performance at an incredible price point. However, one area that the brand didn’t really have covered was a more “Tour-inspired” wedge for players with a versatile and creative wedge game typically associated with a lower handicap. Until now. Sub 70 has introduced the new forged JB Wedge fully designed by their master club builder, and former professional player, Jeff Bushnell. The Sub 70 JB wedge has a player’s appearance and is available in multiple finishes, a wide range of lofts, and both mid and low bounce options. Furthermore, the forged JB wedge will only set you back $110!

The Looks

Sub 70’s first ever wedge actually had a pretty impressive appearance but was geared toward the average amateur player just looking to hit basic wedge shots with a little help. The new JB wedge has a more defined pear shape reminiscent of a traditional “player’s wedge”. The toe of the club is slightly shaved down giving the illusion of a slightly higher point in the topline. I wouldn’t call the look at address “stubby” by any means, but the profile is definitely more compact. It looks great behind the ball and frames it nicely.

There are currently three different finish options: Tour satin (satin chrome), black, and raw as pictured here. While the raw finish will look like a matte silver when you receive it from Sub 70, the bare carbon steel is susceptible to rusting just like the pros! The amount of rust will depend on how you take care of your clubs, but this is a highly-desired finish by many players. That raw/rust finish will also help prevent glare from the sun when you’re standing over the ball. All three finishes have the signature Sub 70 mill marks on the muscle with straight milled lines along the upper half. (How did they get mill marks in the ports?!) In true Sub 70 fashion, the branding is contemporary, minimal, and tasteful resulting in an overall clean aesthetic.

How Does it Feel?

I would describe the Sub 70 JB wedge as feeling smooth and firm. The sole of the wedge glides smoothly through the turf, but the sole has a certain presence to it that makes it feel strong and sturdy. I would even call it powerful! It’s a very definitive bump along and through the ground. Something about this feel gives me a lot more confidence with the wedge like I can just throw it at the ball and the club will take care of the rest. It also helps a lot with “club awareness” at impact.

The JB wedge feels incredibly smooth off of the face as well. This was the first thing I noticed about the club in testing that really drew me in. A clean, crisp pick of the ball has that clean forged carbon steel feel that golfers crave. Shots where you might dig in a little more are still smooth and maintain precise feedback from the face. Though I keep repeating “smooth”, it really is the best overall description of the JB wedge’s super clean and responsive feel. This is a player’s wedge, however, and it will absolutely let you know when you mishit it – as it absolutely should.

How Does it Sound?

As golf clubs typically do, the Sub 70 JB wedge’s sound very much mirrors its feel. There’s a crisp, though slightly muted tone off of the face at impact. This may be a fairly subjective take, but it reminds me of how forged wedges “used to” sound. It’s very classic and has the right blend of “muted” and “faint click” to it. Overall, I’d explain clean shots as making a very soft “tick”. Taking a full swing with more club speed will add a little more pop into that sound.

Going back to the “firm” feel of the sole while interacting with the turf, the resulting sound is a moderate thump. Just enough to let you know that the bounce of the sole is doing its job for you. On fuller swings with more speed, that thump gives way to a crisp “sweep” through impact.

On-Course Performance

Being geared more toward better players, or at least above average wedge players, the Sub 70 JB wedge is designed to provide shot versatility into and around the greens. Jeff Bushnell designed this club to allow players to open or close the face as necessary to achieve desired levels of trajectory, spin, and distance. Other wedges with a more one-dimensional design may be more forgiving, but a lot of the shot creativity is removed as a result. Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a place for the latter in the wedge market, but the players that have the ability to get crafty with their wedges will appreciate the JB design.

My personal experience hitting these wedges left me significantly impressed based on how it feels and what I saw on the greens. I’m not a big wedge spinner currently, but I was able to really get a lot of “bite” out of the JB wedge. The CNC-milled face seems to really grab the ball with ease both on short chips and full shots from further back. Again, I only notice this as a player who typically struggles to get this spin. That said, sometimes you want the ball to run out a little bit. You won’t have a problem making that happen either. True to its intentions, the JB wedge will allow you to hit exactly the shot you’re looking to execute. As long as you know how to hit said shot, of course.

Final Thoughts – Sub 70 JB Wedge

From the very first shot I hit with a Sub 70 JB wedge, I knew it could be the one. It was hole 15 at the beloved KNG&PC and I had roughly 35 yards to the pin for my second shot. I said to my playing partner, who just happened to have these wedges in his bag, “hey, can I try one of your JB wedges?” He obliged, and I hit a perfect mid-launch nipped wedge about 8 to 10 feet past the hole, took one hop, and came back about 3 feet. That’s not a shot I’ve comfortably had in the bag…really ever. After trying the wedge a few more times throughout the rest of the round, I was officially fully impressed. Now that I have my own set in hand, I’m still really impressed and extremely excited to get ’em nice and rusty!

Stock Sub 70 JB Wedge Specs

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