EQUIPMENT: haywoodgolf Signature Wedges – Are They Worth It?

The price of golf equipment seems to increase with each passing year, making it hard for a beginner or entry-level golfer to know where to get equipment. Someone just starting out with the game isn’t going to spend $1,300 on a brand-new set of Callaway irons – or at least I hope not. That’s where direct to consumer clubs come in. 

haywoodgolf develops and manufactures premium golf clubs, for the fraction of the price. They make irons, putters, wedges, and most recently, a driving iron. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In this article, we’ll be discussing the 56 degree, brushed silver wedge – and if it keeps up with the big boys when it comes to performance. 

Looks

Straight-away, this wedge looks fantastic. The small, simplistic logo featured near the bounce of the club is the only aspect on the under-side, which I love. I like a club to be as quiet as possible, so this wedge definitely checks that box. 

Behind the ball, the haywood wedge looks great. It sets up square, and doesn’t give me the feeling I’m going to lose it left due to an open club-face. 

My favorite thing about this wedge is how it looks with an open face. I love to open the face to manipulate ball flight from the fairway, open it up green-side, and other situations where I need more loft.  The one place this wedge would be money – bunkers. I didn’t have the opportunity to hit it from a bunker, but just from the way it sits open I know it would install confidence for shots in the sand. 

Performance 

The first time I used the 56, it was 34 degrees out, with snow in the forecast later that day. I didn’t hit it great, but knew I needed to give it another chance. A week or so ago I was given the opportunity to use an indoor simulator, which was nice because I could get exact numbers in regards to carry distance and spin. 

First, let’s talk about feel. The haywood felt solid, but not too hard that it felt awkward in my hands. Some wedges can feel clunky, but this one was not. 

Second, performance. To start, the spin I’m looking for with a SW is anywhere from 9,500 to 10,000. With this wedge I got a bit less, on average about 9,300. This difference to an amateur golfer isn’t dramatic, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Next, carry distance. In my game, I’m looking to carry a stock 56 about 110. The haywood was right on, as I averaged 109 carry. And finally, workability. Could I move the ball flight in each direction? The answer was yes. I could hit a little cut, little draw, which is incredibly important to my game. 

Verdict

If you’re looking for a wedge that is solid in both performance and feel, haywood gets it done. Although I do think Vokey’s or TM’s are a bit better performance wise, the haywood comes with a much friendlier price tag, $99. 

Another great thing about haywood, you can get it customized to your exact specs. 1 degree flat, 1 degree strong, shaft options, all available right on their site. 

If you’re interested in purchasing a wedge, find it here. If you want to browse the other club options haywood offers, click here. And finally, follow haywoodgolf on IG: @haywoodgolf. 

Cover Image via Instagram