About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the wedge, which I purchased with my own money in May of 2020.

My take

I’ll never switch away from Vokey wedges, plain and simple. The sleek and compact looking Titleist SM8 Wedges are the best-performing wedges I’ve encountered for those shooting in the mid 80s and lower.

About the club I own

• Model: 2020 Titleist Vokey SM8 Wedges
• Loft: 58 and 52
• Bounce: 12 and 12
• Grind: D and F
• Finish: Brushed Steel

About me

• Average Score: 76
• Handicap: 4
• Experience: 16 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Golf Ball Used: Titleist Pro v1
• Angle Of Attack: Normal

Test conditions

• When I bought the wedge: May 2020
• Days tested: 2 years
• Where I’ve used it: In-store Launch Monitor; Lake Park Golf Range, Hank Haney Golf Range, Hackberry Golf Course in Texas
• Weather Conditions: I’ve played on all types of courses in many different conditions. Dry, wet, hard, soft, rainy, snowy, etc.
• Green Conditions: All types

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a wedge where I could hit full and chip shots with complete confidence. Along with this, it’s always necessary to have great looks and feel.

Why I chose this club

I tested this wedge alongside the other 2020 flagship models from brands, such as TaylorMade, Callaway, and Ping. The reason I went with the Vokeys was simply that the wedges were great. I didn’t get the right ‘feel’ from the other wedges, especially around the greens. I couldn’t put the right ‘touch’ on them as I did with the SM8 wedges.

What I love about it

• Launch: Vokey’s SM8 progressive CG (center of gravity) design, which was originally implemented in the SM6, helps the ball launch perfectly.
• Feel: While this isn’t a forged face, the feel is still great. It’s just as soft as any other wedge
• Spin: These wedges stick and spin so well. They’ve stripped some of the weight out of the top of the wedge and put it in the bottom to help get underneath it and spin it.
• Bounce: My wedges both glide and stick in the ground very well, whether I need to flop or dig into it.
• Around the Green: I can’t stress how amazing these feel and perform around the green. They are incredibly easy to chip and run or flop and spin. I feel like the shape and look of it in itself combined with the proper weight distribution makes me that much more confident while chipping.
• Full Shots: My favorite shot of them all. Has a great launch and spin combination that lets me stick it right on the green. The look behind the ball, a relatively compact and classic look, also adds a placebo effect that helps me with my confidence. However, the look may not be for everyone, since it can be a little too compact for those who can’t hit their wedges well.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Perfect. There’s nothing else to be said besides that it looks great down the line. The compact look along with the sleek backside helps me appreciate and respect this wedge at another level. This is definitely a huge part of why I love this wedge so much as it helps me through every shot.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Forgiveness: I recommend a thicker wedge for those who can’t hit their wedges too well. A perfect example of this would be the Callaway Mack Daddy CB wedge that has a slightly thicker top line with a bit more weight behind the ball. If you need a bit of forgiveness in your wedges, this is the only problem you’ll face.
• Innovation: There isn’t anything too special here, which makes it a classic performing wedge for those who don’t need forgiveness.
• Other: This is definitely not a wedge for the average golfer. While many benefits come with this wedge, there are a lot of drawbacks if you have trouble hitting your wedges. For example, the smaller face in comparison to more forgiving wedges may be an issue and produce a negative placebo effect.

Best shot with this wedge

I’ve had multiple great chip-in shots with my 58-degree, as it’s perfect around the greens. It’s super versatile from the fringe, fairway, rough, and bunker. I have, however, made a couple nice bunker chip shots that I won’t ever forget!

Value for the money vs. other options

The SM8 wedges are a great value as the SM9s just recently came out, thus putting them on sale permanently. I would highly recommend checking these out over other newer more expensive wedges.

Final verdict

I sincerely don’t know how you can make a better-performing wedge and I can confidently say that I won’t be trading these out anytime soon. The SM8 wedges are ideal for any golfer shooting from the low 70s to mid 80s who is looking to get their confidence back up with their wedges.