CONFIDENTIAL – Taylormade XFT Wedge!
Posted August 27, 2009 by mygolfspy
THE EXCLUSIVE! – Taylormade XFT Wedge
You might have been hearing rumors of these if you are a regular MGS Twitter & Facebook follower. We have been getting more and more info on these wedges in the past couple weeks…and there have been LOTS of emails asking what these are all about. So…today we want to give you the exclusive photos and documents on the new interchangeable wedge…the Taylormade XFT wedges (Exchangeable Face Technology).
Taylormade Would Love To Hear What You Think (YOUR OPINIONS)
Taylormade has tried to keep this new wedge super confidential and hush-hush (well they want you to think that) for the last week or so. Lots of images and info had been leaking out and getting posted on other golf forums but Taylormade had those sites remove the information. Hmmm…do you smell something? Looks like another marketing ploy to promote another product launch on their part though…I say this with a high level of confidence because of where the information came from to begin with. Taylormade is well known for being able to create some major buzz for product launches like this.
YOUR OPINIONS
All the details on the wedges are listed in the first 2 documents you see below…so take a quick look at those and the photos beneath them. Then take a couple minutes to let this new technology soak in real good to the brain…I know it is a little different and new. Well…it’s not really new technology (Spin Doctor Wedge) but the first time a major OEM has released it. So…after you have had a few minutes to think about it…take a look at some of the items below and tell us how you feel about them:
- Do you think this wedge will be judged as a gimmick, functional gimmick or worthwhile technology for the masses?
- What % of golfers play enough to wear their grooves out and want to replace them instead of buying a new wedge?
- Would you choose to go with non-aggressive groove s vs. aggressive grooves?
- The replacement wedge faces will run you $39…so is this like a piece of gum that never loses its flavor? Do you think they will sell enough of these to make up for people not buying a whole new wedge.
- Would you buy this wedge?
OUR OPINIONS
Like I suggested for you to do…I took a few minutes and really thought about this new wedge and technology. I sat down with pen and paper like I always do when first coming up with a design and this is the conclusion of my brainstorm.
- I appreciate that Taylormade continues to push the envelope of design… even though I prefer a more traditional looking wedge.
- I feel that it will not be around more then one or two seasons and then will be phased out. I feel they probably said to themselves, “Well even if it does not catch on it will at least create enough buzz to sell some wedges…just cause it’s different…and because we can market the bejesus out of it.”
- The majority of golfers (don’t recall the %) don’t play enough to wear their grooves out…and that is what makes up the largest % of customers so why then develop this? And by the time they do they would prefer just to get something new and shiny instead of a new face insert.
- I don’t think many golfers would choose to have non-aggressive grooves over ones that help them spin the ball more…but it does help get them around the new USGA groove rulings a hellova lot easier.
- I think this will help out there builds on the tour van for the guys on tour. Since they will no longer have to build an entire new wedge for them like every damn week and make sure they have the same specs correct. All they will have to do now is swap out faces for new fresh ones. And these guys switch them out a ton. I heard that a couple of their guys already put in an order for 300 faces…crazy huh?
Taylormade XFT Wedge
Taylor Made XFT Wedge
XFT Wedges (Face Plate)
XFT Wedge (Interchangable Face)
 |
NEW TAYLORMADE TP XFT 56.12 & 60.06 SAND LOB WEDGE SET US $159.99 End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 13:15:50 PDT Add to watch list |
FREE Updates!
Did you like this article? Want more top-secret golf news?
Award Winning, controversial, creative...the "Holy-Grail of Golf Sites". Subscribe today!
· Subscribe to RSS Feed
· Subscribe for Email Updates
If you enjoyed this post, then you can choose from the following:
Loading ...
August 27th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I know I’m a TaylorMade cynic, but.. Is this really necessary for the average golfer??? Would your average 20 handicapper hit the middle of the face enough to need to replace it? Nice idea but not needed in reality…
August 28th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Yeah Simon I dont think the average golfer will be buying. I think it is just something to keep them in the news and keep interest levels up for the recreational golfer who is looking for a new wedge. Good or bad they stay in the press.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Depends on what the replacement faces cost. I play daily and here in florida its sandy. My vokeys are worn to nothing.. If I could purchase 3 replacement faces for 60% of the price of a new wedge. DEAL. Buying a new wedge 2 – 3 times a year is no fun. Then again isnt that what the companies need? Us replacing our equipment? Seems like they are shooting themselves in the foot financially.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:19 am
The face will run $40. Good point though about the sandy and grainier course out in the midwest also.
Yeah we said it is kind of like a piece of gum that never looses its flavor…you never need to buy a new piece and therefore the company doesn’t sell much gum
August 27th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
When it comes to wedges i love me titleist and nike wedges…when they wear out i plan on just buying an exact replacement of them…this seems like a very unnecessary technology…to me it appears that taylormade is pressing a little bit with this one….a wedge is a wedge and it doesnt seem to me that you need to change much about them
August 28th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Well it is of benefit to the pros but not the average golfer…and also I dont know if they tested this aspect of the club but the material they used to dampen sound will be effected by weather and could cause some face irregularities.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
What I like about this is if they use a really hard, durable steel for the soleplate, then you can literally use the same wedge for the rest of your life! Just replace the face plate when your grooves are too far gone.
It’s a little gimmicky, but gimmicky golf clubs aren’t going away, and this is one gimmick I’d really like to try!
August 28th, 2009 at 8:23 am
You are right about that Chris. Gimmicky is in!
August 27th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I can’t wait to spin my 5-piece ball with that thing!
August 28th, 2009 at 8:24 am
3-piece, 4-piece, 5-piece….kind of like razors to me. Just because it has more blades does not mean it is a better shave.
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:59 pm
yes it does…
August 28th, 2009 at 5:14 am
Well, this is interesting. I have my concerns about these wedges. First concern is how long will they continue to make the replacement faces? If they make them for a few years and then stop people are still going to have to buy new wedges. Second concern is how secure is the face to the wedge? The design is beautiful in my opinion, but I have the reservations that the face wont be as reliable being held on by screws.
I will say that I play Taylor Made wedges right now and I would love to give these a try and see if they are what they say they are. The concept is admirable, but we will have to see just how successful they will be with this concept
August 28th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Very good point CJ. I wonder if they will continue to make these faces.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:39 am
I understand the concerns – but I will say – I love the first few rounds with a new wedge. Ball definitely spins more. I don’t know if it is the grooves or the face just being a little sticky.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:55 am
So when Spin Doctor wedges came out, people laughed and said what a stupid gimmick. But when TaylorMade endorses it, it is a genius idea? I don’t see how a wedge with changeable faces could have the same feel as a solid one piece head like all the other wedges. I will stick with my Scratch wedges.
What’s next for TaylorMade, an inverted driver that looks similar to the Hammer Driver? Or maybe a club that resembles the E-Club Type 2 Jigger? Or an air-filled driver head for added yards similar to the Power Bilt Air Force One driver? They should go back to pumping out new drivers every 3 months…Isn’t it time for the R11, yet?
August 28th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I could just see the TM commercial now….maybe the grooves will be so new that it can backspin on concrete lol!
August 28th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Exactly TX…happens all the time in this industry.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:55 am
TM loves to take the adjustability factor to the max w/ this line up of wedges. What’s next, irons w/ replaceable faces? The bottom line for the recreational player will be cost. If TM tries to move this wedge at anything over $125.00, it’s doomed. Too many other conforming wedges out there for much less cash. I guess like everything TM, the price will eventually drop to a more available price, and by then something new and better will be out. Don’t think TM will be satisfied selling $60.00 replacement faces for long, when they can get double that for a new wedge. Lastly, the wedges just look clunky with the screws in the back of the cavity.
August 28th, 2009 at 10:08 am
This Taylor Made wedges could remind me the printer bussines…where companies made profit by selling the ink, instead of making profit by selling de printer.. When a company sells you a club, is no telling you what are you going to buy to replace it…
At the same time, if everyone has new grooves…aren´t the golf last less?
August 29th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Won’t the feel be affected?
I have a feeling that a good wedge shot will never feel the same using this wedge. The face will just be too hollow.
August 29th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Hmmm it took me awhile to think about this one I mean who doesn’t love new wedges and it certanly isn’t a bad idea but I think because the majority of the club will be such a durable material that the wedge will lack a soft carbon feel, and who wants that?
August 30th, 2009 at 7:01 am
I know it gives the amount of times you would change if you were a pro, but would these be conforming? I think being able to change your club’s configuration is what everybody’s making now, but it seems like a tour professional wouldn’t need to make all these adjustments with his clubs. All these “advancements” with clubs are starting to take some of the skill out of the game, not necessarily these wedges, but all the new adjustable drivers.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Couple of things… with the TP badge, they aren’t aiming this at the once a month golfer. KBS shaft points to that too. Even at 117 gram, I bet that is a very stiff shaft. I also echo what others have said about the body. It’s going to have to be made out of something strong enough that’s going to ruin the feel of a good wedge.
That said, I love the look of the design. Something about the double armor look to the muscle back would make me feel confident to pull out a 54* and rip something out of the sand.
I wonder if the wrench comes with? Or do they expect that everyone that’s going to buy this already has an R9? Stuff like this is why I stay away from TM.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:51 am
There have been several wedges with face inserts Carbite and the Odyssey spring to mind, how did they feel? I wonder if they’ll release different insert materials copper and so on? I seem to remember Mickelson using a grove sharpner during play/practice. This technology would be useful for forged irons you could refurbish your own irons or change the spin rates! In the near future you’ll have to take a college course to play Taylor Made clubs!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:21 am
I think these things look awesome! I love the concept of being able to change the face. I”d much rather just shell out $40 for a new face then have to pay $120 twice a year. I think the huge advantage of being able to switch out the face and not buy a whole new club is feel. If you’ve ever had a certain club and hit an identical one that wasn’t the same you’ll know what I mean. All the guys on tour know what I”m talking about and most amateurs do as well. Being able to just change the face will keep the same grip the same shaft alignment the same swing weight that you’ve been accustomed to. For me that’s a huge benefit. As far as the over all feel of the club goes, I’m not worried at all. You can see in the figure above that there is a urethane layer on the back of the wedge’s face that will both allow for a tight fit and dampen vibration. Giving a nice soft feel at impact. I am concerned though with how long they will make the faces. Will we have to stock up or will they be produced for a long time? Either way when all is said and done I really think this is a big win for Taylor Made. And just so you don’t think I’m biased I’m not I”m actually on staff with Wilson Staff.
August 30th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I would buy it all the way! 1st im a taylormade fan 2nd changing my wedges because of worn out grooves is not fun.. i have to change them 2 times a year.. this is the case for low handicapper but i dont think an average handicapper will buy it
August 30th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
I have to admit when I first heard of the idea I thought it sounded very gimmicky and I was thinking there wasn’t a need for this or they would make less money because people wouldn’t buy a new wedge. But then I started to think a little more about the ability to switch from more aggressive grooves to conventional and this is something I wrestle with myself now. I play a MD Cally 56* wedge when it is wet it spins too much and when the greens are firmer it is just right and I have been debating getting a second 56 without the MD and this could be interesting idea to try. My only problem with TM wedges is I played them last year the TP y-cutter and just thought the feel of them was horrible the Cally’s X-forged are much softer being forged and give me much more feel. I have some reserves how these will feel being made from multiple pieces I practice a lot of wedge shots at the range and pitching areas and I wonder if these will hold up with all the use.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:30 am
Well good point about the wet conditions…but the average golfer has no interest in making changes like that. And I also agree about the feel of the wedges…the TM’s feel a little harsh in general. Difference between cast vs. forged.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:31 am
I agree Peter…good for you but not the average golfer.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:34 am
Yeah it is frustrating to have an identical model made up and it not feel the same. This is a major benefit of this design.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:35 am
I think some different inserts would be be on tour and as collectibles if they marketed them correctly.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Does no-one get this – this is the way TM gets around the much hated and nightmare groove ruling – Yes Mr USGA we make wedges that conform but some golfer may choose to use the non-conforming grooves for recreational play. What? They can use them in competition until 2024 unless they’re elite players – Oh dear me! Good on TM for getting around this mad ruling.
Nic
September 1st, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Great call Nic, this was the first thing that I thought myself. Yet another great call by the TM R&D team.
I’d happily sacrifice a tiny amount of feel to not lose 30-50% of spin! Although I’ve never bought a TM club in my life I’d definitely buy this if suitable grind and shaft options were available.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:03 am
This is absolutely brilliant, I was using a Cleveland 485 sand wedge from the late 80’s, it had absolutely no grooves even though I tried numerous times to re-groove them but I still couldn’t bring myself to stop using it because I loved the way they looked, set up and played except for the spin they where great. I finally gave in and started using a new sand wedge this year (coincidentally it happens to be a Taylor Made) that I had won at a tournament last year. I would still be using that Cleveland wedge if this technology was available back then.
September 4th, 2009 at 9:58 am
You hve to be kidding me TM. Please respect the general golfing public by not releasing this club. Why even give most everyday golfers (who do not need to conform to the club) such an akward option; why not just release two different wedges one conforming, and one with max limit grooves? I love your clubs but I feel this is a step in the wrong direction. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel and just perfect what is already out, your current wedges are awesome why not offer them in different grinds and maybe a different head shape.
September 7th, 2009 at 12:16 am
They are not allowed to even make a whole “non-conforming” club after 31st December 2009 – That’s why!
Nic
September 8th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
This is the best thing Taylormade has come up with yet! It is the one club that I go through 4 or 5 a year of in each loft. I play 4 rounds a week and after a month I am actually ready to change to get back the feel of the fresh Z groove wedges I play. I would buy three of these and enough faces to change the face every other week. I am sold for sure. I am going to be in the TM Van at the Presidents Cup and I will for sure have my hands on one of these if at all possible. This is the greatest yet I am a Happy Golfer!
September 9th, 2009 at 7:02 am
September 9th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Looking at the comments from others, if these inserts actually become popular TM may also consider a low cost semi-disposable “sticky” face insert. I’m unsure if the rules would allow it but it would be cool to have a face designed to really grip Urethane covered balls on chips around the greens. Maybe along the lines of a insert similar to the Odyssey BlackSpin wedge of old (http://www.clubsncovers.com/catalog/clubs09-501/IMG_2089.jpg).
September 9th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Good find Dr. J!
November 21st, 2009 at 11:22 am
Im interested in buying a set of these but when do they come on sale in the UK?
And is it really worth buying them if i play of 9?
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:42 am
I am not sure about in the UK Jack…US models hit the streets Dec.1
November 21st, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Just found out about these last week and was lucky enough to have a “demo days” event here today. I use the tp Z wedges now and got to do a side by side comparison with a 56 deg XFT. It’s a touch heavier than the Z, which I liked. The feel is very crisp and the spin results were pretty much the same from what I could tell with range ball. I will have 3 of these wedges in my bag as soon as the hit the sales floor.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:44 am
From what we have heard Eddie they are only launching the 56* in December and the rest in Feb. 2010.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Thanks for the intel………I tried to squeeze some info out of all the local golf shops here in the Seattle area……best answer I got was MAYBE late Dec. So much for putting these on my xmas list. Still looking forward to getting on the course with these though. BTW, great website, just getting acquainted with it.
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Sorry for just getting back to you Eddie…the email fell into the dreaded spam folder for some reason. Glad you enjoy the site. If you have any suggestions or article ideas you would like to see let us know.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
i think the idea is good but most golfers will not need to utilize this technology. for forty bucks a face plate, you could just buy a new wedge from 1-2 years ago for only 10-30 dollars more. i think that is what most people will do. and i would imagine if the screws were not all the way tight the wedge would feel and hit as though it was broken.
November 30th, 2009 at 7:31 am
It was really actually developed for the pro guys and to get around the new ruling for the USGA groove rule.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:08 am
You’re probably right about “most golfers” but for those who play enough to wear out wegdes after a year or so its a great set up. Regardless of brand, the top end wedges all seem to go for about $120. I replace my lob and sandy every year. Well worth the extra $10 on the initial buy for me. Of course you have to actually like the feel and performance of the club to make any of this worth while. The 56 I demo’d felt crisper than my 56 Z wedge (which I was more than happy with). As far as loose screws go, if you have any of the r7/r9 and TP hybrid gear you petty much have to check them every few rounds to make sure they’re snug. It’s not uncommon for me to get an 1/8 turn on wieghts and shaft screws with the TM torque wrench.
November 30th, 2009 at 7:30 am
It was really developed for the pro guys and to get around the new ruling for the USGA groove rule.
December 19th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
When exactly are these coming out?! i cant wait to get one in my bag! Great idea TM.. Im a teenager, and i know that in the summer i will play 3-5 rounds a week, and will need to replace my grooves frequently.. REPLY BACK IF YOU KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE RELEASED!!
December 21st, 2009 at 10:14 am
From what we have heard they are only launching the 56* in December and the rest in Feb. 2010.
January 3rd, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Has there been a delay on the release of these??
March 13th, 2010 at 12:16 am
I have the conforming (pro) version of these (because I have to) and they are great. Same playability, feel and function but knowing that I’ll save money in the long run on replacing the faces rather than the whole wedge is awesome. They really are a leg up in technology without compromising feel…pretty phenomenal if you ask me…plus they just look sweet. Love mine so far!
June 14th, 2010 at 12:14 am
I have both the 56 and 60 and am very happy. My only complaint is that the stock KBS shaft was too weak and too light. So I sent them to TM to have the shafts replaced with KBS Tour x-flex. That will match the shafts in my R9 TP B irons. I also changed the faces to the conforming grooves because I occasionally play in tournaments that require conforming grooves. I think the wedges feel just as good as the Vokey’s and almost as good as the Cleveland’s I own. I admit I had concerns because of the replaceable face technology, but the clubs are just as solid as any other cast wedges. None of these clubs are as good as my Mizuno MP-T’s, but alas, they are non-conforming. Hope these comments are helpful.
July 19th, 2010 at 10:05 am
I love this idea.. Even though I am only a mid handicapper I find myself buying new wedges every year because the only part of my game that is consistent enough to need to replace equipment is my wedge play..
I will definitely be buying a couple of these wedges because I have custom grinds put on my wedges and It always feels different on new wedges.. However now I can get a custom grind and keep the feel of it and just replace the grooves..
The only problem I would have is that the feel could be comprimised with the exchangeable faces. Could anyone who owns one tell me if the feels is as good as with other wedges?? (i.e vokeys or mp-t10.)