Vokey SM11 Wedges: Lofts, Bounces and Grinds Explained

Three numbers describe a Vokey

A Vokey specification reads as loft, bounce, grind — for example 56.10 S. That is 56° of loft, 10° of bounce, and the S grind.

Most golfers focus on the first number and ignore the other two. The other two decide how the club actually behaves.

Loft

Set by your gapping, working down from your pitching wedge. Space each wedge roughly 4–6° apart and stop when the highest-lofted wedge is one you can genuinely use.

A 60° wedge is not compulsory. Plenty of golfers score better with 50/54/58 and nothing above it.

Bounce

The angle between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole. It determines whether the club digs or glides.

Low bounce suits firm turf, tight lies and shallow swings. It punishes a steep attack.

Mid bounce is the safe default across most conditions and most swings. If you are unsure, this is your answer.

High bounce suits soft turf, fluffy sand and steep swings. It prevents digging at some cost to versatility on tight lies.

Grind

The shaping of the sole, which determines how the club sits when you open the face and how it moves through turf and sand.

Broadly, Vokey’s grinds run from full soles built for maximum bounce and soft conditions, through versatile mid-bounce shapes that suit most golfers, to heavily relieved low-bounce grinds for firm turf and open-face shots.

A fitter will match a grind to your divot in a few swings. Choosing one from a chart without hitting shots is guesswork.

Choose by divot, not by tour bag

Take a wedge to grass and hit five shots.

• Deep divots — you are steep. Take more bounce.
• Shallow bruises — you are shallow. Take less.
• No divot at all — significantly less bounce, and a relieved grind.

That five-minute test outperforms any amount of reading, including this.

Finish is cosmetic

Tour Chrome, Nickel, Jet Black and Raw look different and, in the case of Raw, wear differently over time. None of them changes how the club plays.

Do not pay attention to finish until loft, bounce and grind are settled.

Grooves wear out

Wedge grooves degrade gradually enough that you will not notice it happening. A wedge four seasons old is not the club you bought.

A useful check: if your 9-iron stops the ball better than your sand wedge does, your sand wedge is finished.

Coach’s tip: Test wedges in a practice bunker before buying. Sand exposes wrong bounce faster than any shot from grass.

Model names current as of September 2026.