Bench Tested: Vokey SM11 Wedges, Explained

*In Partnership with Titleist*

Equipment companies are working harder than ever to create products that help golfers maximize performance, but with so much choice also comes confusion. This is where seeking out an experienced fitter with proper tools and a launch monitor can be a big help.

However, we also understand that a lot of people are simply looking for a place to start when it comes to understanding how certain products are designed to work for them, and how they compare to each other. That is exactly why we’ve created our Bench Tested series.

Bench Tested is dedicated to walking you through various models of clubs, balls, and any other gear to help you better understand how they stack up and educate you on what to look for when shopping for new gear.

In this Bench Tested episode, we're taking a look at Titleist's newest Vokey SM11 wedges and how the updated grind options and design tweaks make them the most versatile and complete Vokey wedges yet.

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What Vokey SM11 Wedges Are All About

Grinds

The Vokey SM11 wedges are built around subtle yet notable refinements to areas of the wedge that can deliver advantages to you, the player.

First up is the addition of the Low Bounce K-Grind, a design that was popular on tour and earned two major wins in 2025. This made it such a popular option through Wedge Works that it has earned a spot in the full-time lineup.

Speaking of the K-Grind, the core higher bounce, wide sole options in lofts of 58° and 60° has gone through a subtle sole refinements to maintain the overall performance objectives, but with reduced effective bounce down to 12° from 14°

And last but not least, another notable wedge option is the 44° (44-10F) pitching wedge. With lofts getting strong through the bag, this helps add versatility for golfers who use their pitching wedges on more than just full shots.

Center Of Gravity Placement

One of the biggest changes is something you won’t see but can feel as you play your way through the bag is how Titleist has tuned center of gravity placement across the lofts.

Stronger lofts like the pitching and gap wedges feature a low and centered CG to transition from full swing clubs, while lob wedges have a CoG placement higher and slightly heel biased to make it easier to generate a higher spinning, lower flying trajectory. As for sand wedges, they sit in the middle.

Added Spin Consistency

Speaking to loft-specific engineering that is also brought to groove design.

Pitching and gap wedges have deeper narrow grooves to maximize spin and control on full shots. Lob wedges will have a wider and shallower groove—a feature that has been proven to offer better performance on lower speed shots along with shots hit with an open face.

One final part of the new groove system is an updated directional face texture which has been angled toward the leading edge. This upgraded texture increases friction and serves a second purpose of helping protect the groove edges for improved durability too.

Zoomed out, Titleist's newest Vokey SM11 wedges are all about refinement—both in technology and performance. If you’re between grinds, get on a launch monitor, hit from turf, and test partial shots to get a feel on how those refinements may shine through.

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