Callaway PM Grind Wedge Review
Well after playing Titleist Vokey Wedges for Years, using the SM5, SM6, SM7 and the latest SM8, I could be called a loyal Vokey wedge player.
To be honest, I did not like the look of the Callaway wedges for many years, but I had a fortunate meeting with a friend of mine, who had just bought the 64-degree Callaway PM Grind Wedge.
We were having a beer in his garden and it was just sat there with a bucket he had been chipping balls into with about fifty balls.
I picked the wedge up and just started chipping balls into the bucket, straight away I found it so easy to hit, the ball popped off the face with ease, and didn’t seem to dig.
At that time, I had been in the market to change my 60 Degree Vokey SM6 for ages which you can see in the below image, I had tried the SM7 Introduction
Well after playing Titleist Vokey Wedges for Years, using the SM5, SM6, SM7 and the latest SM8, I could be called a loyal Vokey wedge player.
To be honest, I did not like the look of the Callaway wedges for many years, but I had a fortunate meeting with a friend of mine, who had just bought the 64-degree Callaway PM Grind Wedge.
We were having a beer in his garden and it was just sat there with a bucket he had been chipping balls into with about fifty balls.
I picked the wedge up and just started chipping balls into the bucket, straight away I found it so easy to hit, the ball popped off the face with ease, and didn’t seem to dig.
At that time, I had been in the market to change my 60 Degree Vokey SM6 for ages, I had tried the SM7 and waited for the SM8 to be released.
On testing the SM8, I didn’t like the 60-degree version in the S grind, which I had been using in the SM6 for years.
It was ok in general play but was awful in the bunkers for me.
It was so disheartening that I just could not find one that I felt as confident with.
It was a very strange time, I am currently using Mizuno irons and love them so decided to buy the wedges, and decided on the Mizuno S18 60 degree which I just hated.
So, I have waited six weeks to review this product, because I wanted to put it to the test.
What does Callaway say about the PM Grind?
Callaway is saying that the higher toe on the wedge and increased off set will help us hit more flags easier, the higher centre of gravity in the wedge is meant to help us control the trajectory better, with both full and partial shots.
They are also stating at Callaway that the C-Grind sole helps us hit golf shots from a broad variety of lies, from the greenside close-cut lies to heavier lies in the rough.
The wedge also has the KBS Hi-Rev Shaft which is steel, the grip is the Lamkin UTX, and the head comes with a choice of colours, either being the Platinum Chrome or the Tour Grey.
The below image is my Callaway PM Grind after 6-8 weeks of use.
Look and Style of the Callaway PM Grind
In the past, I have never really been a fan of how the Callaway wedges look to me, but what I did like about this one is how it sits so flat to the ground.
It manages this with a huge 12 degrees of bounce, me being a Vokey player, I was unsure of the look at first of the high toe on the wedge, but I have now come to love it, I find it helps me on certain thicker grassy lies.
The Callaway PM Grind makes a nod to Ping in my opinion, with a lot of styling coming from the older Ping Eye models. But if it works then why not go back to it.
Is the wedge as good looking at the Titleist Vokey SM8?
I would have to say no, even though the appearance and the style of this wedge are very important, and makes a large part of the buying consideration, the performance, in my opinion, will rank over that every time.
Performance of the Callaway PM Grind
So, a collaboration with Phil Mickelson who is hailed as having one of the best short games in the world, and being a wizard with his wedge play has teamed up with master craftsman wedge designer Roger Cleveland.
With this partnership, you should have a good chance of producing a decent wedge for us mere mortals.
Callaway has designed the wedge with micro-grooves, they have also offset the grooves which is meant to help spin the ball more on lob shots.
Well after a couple of months of use, I can say it is a hit for me, I have found it very easy use and helps play different shots.
On the face of the club, I enjoy how the bounce lets me hit the ground with force and, it pops the ball up cleanly.
Full Shots with the Callaway PM Grind
Even with my Titleist SM6 which I liked, I would not have the confidence to hit full shots with it and opt to hit my 54-degree wedge instead, I would find it to be a little erratic when I did, and some shots would pop up too high, or I would push them right.
The Callaway PM Grind is not perfect for me on these shots, but I have found it to be a lot more consistent, the flight is a little lower than I would expect from a 60 degree wedge, but the ball control is great, with a real solid spin rate, and more to the point I will now hit full shots with it.
Over the last two months, I have not had the wedge on the launch monitor, and am only judging from actual play but I have been impressed with the performance and the control I have seen.
Half Shots with the Callaway PM Grind
The half shots are where I have found the biggest change on my general wedge game.
The weight of the club and the bounce has helped me chip the ball closer more often than before.
It also has helped my demons in my head, it has aided me to gain a little more confidence over most of these shots.
So rather than hitting my 54-degree, I will often hit my 60, which I never would do before.
Bunker Shots with the Callaway PM Grind
This is the part of my game which had the biggest impact with this wedge.
How I used to hit out of bunkers has changed since I bought the Callaway PM Grind.
One of the reasons I kept the Titleist SM6 for so long was how it worked in bunkers.
I would open the face of the club and splash the ball out, which I had generally decent results.
With the PM Grind, I do not need to open up the face at all while in bunkers, maybe it is the larger offset, I do not know, but I have found that I am now more accurate, and with the large bounce I find it helps me get out the bunker without having to open the wedge up. If you are unsure of what bounce is, read the article here. What Bounce and Loft do I want on my wedges?
Another positive with my bunker play now, is I can nip the golf ball out and it will stop and spin, in the past, it would just splash out and run, so this has given me another shot to perform.
Conclusion
Well if this helps you then great, it has been a real relief for me to find this wedge, I have been trying for ages to get a great performing wedge to replace my old and knackered Titleist SM6, and have finally done it.
Also, I was so aware that I didn’t want to make another mistake like I did putting the Mizuno S18 in the bag, which was a fail for me.
One of the great things I am thankful for with this wedge is the confidence it has given me, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but just sit that wedge down on the ground and hit some shots, and I am sure you will also be a believer.
Well If it is good enough for the Phil Mickelson then it will do for me.
