Gear: TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 wedges
Price: $179.99 each with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue 115 shafts and Lamkin Crossline 360 grips
Specs: Cast and milled 8620 carbon steel body with raw-steel hitting area, five sole grinds, and lofts from 50 to 60 degrees
Available: Sept. 6
Who it’s for: Golfers who want more spin and more versatility on greenside shots.
What you should know: TaylorMade is now offering its high-toe wedges in five sole grinds, so golfers who like the copper finish and the idea of a larger hitting area on open-face shots can also find a sole grind that matches the conditions they typically confront.
The Deep Dive: There was a time when a wedge with an extra-high toe section raised eyebrows and was seen as a novelty, but those days are long gone. Over the last several seasons, many of the game’s elite players have added a high-toe wedge (or two) to their bags to handle unique conditions, and recreational golfers have accepted high-toe wedges too.
TaylorMade debuted its first Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges back in 2018 and has updated them regularly. With the release of the fourth generation of Hi-Toe wedges, the Carlsbad, California-based equipment maker is now coupling the design benefits of high-toe wedges with more sole grinds than ever before.
The advantage and appeal of a high-toe wedge for many golfers is the ability to open the face and slide the leading edge under the ball while having an extra portion of the hitting area available. It’s confidence-inspiring, and with a hitting area covered from heel to toe by 20 grooves, TaylorMade feels it can give players of every level more options and shots around the green.
Each Hi-Toe 4 wedge is cast using soft 8620 carbon steel and given an aged copper finish that will mature and patina over time. However, the hitting area is un-chromed and unfinished, so the raw steel is exposed. Over time and with exposure to water and air, the face will rust and create a natural anti-glare coloring that many golfers love. The grooves extend over the entire hitting area in the 56, 58 and 60-degree wedges, but to make the hitting area appear more iron-like in the 50 and 52-degree gap wedges, the grooves do not extend to the end of the heel and toe areas.
Between the main grooves, TaylorMade has added a new laser-etched Spin Trend microgroove pattern. In dry conditions, the Spin Trend does not do much, but in wet conditions, it adds more places where water can be removed from the hitting area to increase spin consistency.
The Hi-Toe 4 gap wedges, sand wedges and lob wedges each have a hollowed-out area low in the back heel, with the mass repositioned high behind the toe. This helps to shift the center of gravity (CG) location up, aiding golfers in hitting lower, more precise shots for enhanced distance control.
The most significant update to the TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges in their fourth generation is the availability of five different sole grinds to help golfers find wedges better matched to their playing style and the conditions they face.
ATS Grind: This is the all-terrain standard grind, and it is meant to be an all-purpose design that can be used in a variety of conditions. The ATS Grind is available in lofts from 50 to 60 degrees.
ATV Grind: This sole profile has been in the TaylorMade lineup in years past. It has a concave sole and asymmetric bounce that makes it ideal for shallow-swinging players and golfers who play in firmer conditions despite having 11 degrees of measured bounce. The ATV Grind is available in lofts from 56 to 60 degrees.
ATX Grind: This is a new grind for TaylorMade and features a wide design with three distinct areas. The leading edge is beveled, followed by a flat midsection and an aggressive trailing edge. The wedge sole and 12 degrees of bounce should make it ideal in bunkers but surprisingly useful on fairway lies. The ATX Grind is available in lofts from 56 to 60 degrees.
ATC Grind: This is a classic C grind wedge with significant heel and toe relief. The sole is narrower, and the ATC has only 8 degrees of bounce, so it is meant for skilled players in firm conditions. The ATC Grind is available in 58- and 60-degree versions.
ATW Grind: The ATW stands for all-terrain wide, and this wedge has the widest sole of any Hi-Toe 4 offering. With 14 degrees of bounce, it is the most forgiving wedge in the family and is designed to handle soft turf, fluffy sand and thick greenside rough. The ATW Grind is available in lofts from 56 to 60 degrees.
Below are several close-up images of the TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 wedges.