FairwayWren Browse gear
Wedgesby Titleist

Titleist Vokey SM9 Wedge

The Titleist Vokey SM9 remains a benchmark wedge for golfers serious about short-game precision.

4.7/54.7
Our verdict

The Titleist Vokey SM9 remains a benchmark wedge for golfers serious about short-game precision. With its extensive grind and bounce options, tour-level spin performance, and refined feel, it caters equally to low handicappers chasing exact yardage gaps and mid-handicappers wanting more control around the greens. The investment pays off in consistency and versatility across varied lies and conditions.

Key features

  • Tour-proven Spin Milled grooves for maximum spin consistency
  • Progressive center of gravity across all lofts and bounce options
  • 21 loft/bounce/grind combinations for precise gapping
  • High-density tungsten weighting in select grinds for optimal feel
  • Custom-tuned sole grinds (F, S, M, L, K grinds) for varied turf and swing types
  • Available in Tour Chrome, Black Oxide, and raw finishes for spin and aesthetics

Tech specs

Loft Options
46-62 degrees
Grind Types
F, S, M, L, K
Finish Options
Tour Chrome, Black Oxide, Raw
Groove Technology
Spin Milled SM9 grooves
Shaft Options
True Temper Dynamic Gold S200 (stock steel)

Strengths & trade-offs

What we liked

  • Exceptional greenside spin and control on full and partial shots
  • Wide range of grinds allows precise fit for any swing type or turf condition
  • Soft, buttery feel off the face on all shot types
  • Consistent performance even as grooves begin to wear
  • Trusted and used by majority of professional tour players

Worth noting

  • Premium price point compared to game-improvement wedges
  • Raw finish requires maintenance to prevent unwanted rust if desired otherwise
  • Grind options can overwhelm higher-handicap golfers unfamiliar with fitting
  • Grooves wear over time requiring replacement for tournament-level spin

In depth

The Titleist Vokey SM9 wedge represents the ninth generation of Bob Vokey's storied wedge design, refined through relentless feedback from tour professionals who demand precision around the greens. Built with a progressive center of gravity that shifts based on loft, the SM9 ensures that lower lofted wedges produce a more penetrating ball flight for full swings, while higher lofted options are optimized for the finesse shots played from tight lies and greenside bunkers. The forged, high-density tungsten weighting used in the higher lofts allows Vokey's designers to maintain optimal feel and turf interaction without compromising the low center of gravity that golfers rely on for consistent contact, even when they don't strike the ball perfectly out of the center of the face.

Spin performance has always been the calling card of Vokey wedges, and the SM9 pushes this further with an updated version of the Spin Milled grooves, now paired with a new micro-surface texture between the grooves themselves. This combination increases surface roughness at impact, which translates into more consistent spin rates across a variety of conditions, including wet or dewy turf where spin loss has traditionally been a challenge. Golfers will notice the difference most on delicate chip shots and full approach shots into greens, where the ball checks up quickly rather than skidding, giving players the confidence to attack pins aggressively even from awkward yardages.

Sole grinds remain a defining feature of the Vokey lineup, and the SM9 offers a comprehensive range including the versatile S grind, the aggressive M grind favored by better players who like to open the face, the F grind for full-swing precision on steeper attack angles, the K grind designed for maximum bounce in soft sand conditions, the L grind for shot-makers who like to manipulate the clubface, and the D grind that suits firmer turf and shallower swings. This variety allows fitters and golfers alike to match the wedge's sole design to their exact swing type, turf conditions, and shot preferences. Finished in Tour Chrome, Brushed Steel, or Jet Black, and featuring Vokey's signature stampings that echo decades of tour heritage, the SM9 wedge blends artisanal craftsmanship with modern technology, making it one of the most trusted tools in every skilled golfer's bag from 100 yards and in.

What golfers say

Mike Talbot2023-03-14
Best wedge I've gamed

Switched from a generic wedge to the SM9 in 56 S-grind and the spin difference on chips is night and day. Feels buttery soft too.

Danielle Ruiz2023-05-02
Great but pricey

Performance is outstanding, especially out of bunkers, but you definitely pay for the Titleist name. Worth it if you play often.

Chris Odom2023-07-19
Fitting made all the difference

Got fit for the correct grind and loft gapping and my scrambling has improved significantly. Highly recommend a proper fitting session.

Sam Patterson2023-09-11
Solid tour-level wedge

Great feel and consistent spin, though the raw finish started showing surface rust within a few months of regular play.

Julia Chen2023-11-30
Confidence around the greens

The variety of grinds let me dial in exactly what I needed for my steep angle of attack. Bunker shots have become a strength now.