Equipment
Spotted: Titleist’s new Vokey SM7 wedges
As promised by Bob Vokey on our new 19th Hole podcast (around the 19-minute mark), Titleist has unveiled its new Vokey SM7 wedges at the Shriner Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. We have so many in-hand photos of the new wedges they needed to be broken up into two photo albums; here’s Part 1 and Part 2 of the photos.
SM6 (left) vs new SM7

From the photos, we can tell that Titleist is sticking with it’s progressive center of gravity (CG) design that was featured in its SM6 wedges, highlighted by the curves on the back cavities of the new SM7 wedges. Although in this year’s model — at least when comparing the 46-degree F Grinds — it appears the curve is going in the opposite direction, possibly relocating the CG for different launch, flight characteristics and spin.
Among some aesthetic changes, such as the placement of grind stampings, Titleist is also apparently introducing a new “D” grind into this lineup. Some GolfWRX members speculate it could stand for “Dill,” as in Titleist’s PGA Tour rep and grind master Aaron Dill, or as in PGA Tour player and major champion Jason Dufner, who uses a unique grind in his wedges.

We’ll be on the lookout for more information on design, specs and release dates for the new SM7 wedges, but for now, enjoy the photos from Las Vegas.
More Photos of the SM7 wedges
Discussion: See what GolfWRX members are saying about the SM7 wedges in Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 in our forums
Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet








Acew7iron
Oct 31, 2017 at 2:50 pm
jwowzer…ban is for USGA sanctioned events and amateurs can play the old grooves until 2022. guess your a pro though, so don’t you already have the SM8s?
By then Ill have the face as smooth as babys bottom and ready to buy a 6 yo SM7 inlike new condition for $25
Dan
Oct 31, 2017 at 1:42 pm
Looks great!! I really wish Bob will produce the entire Iron range with his wedge design before he retires.
Bob Jacobs
Oct 31, 2017 at 12:53 pm
looks like just another wedge to me…tough to get all that excited
C.B.
Oct 31, 2017 at 3:04 am
No CBs? Where’s the Cleveland copy from Titleist? I need to make my AP1 set complete and I need a set of AP1 type wedge in SW and LW. lol
TigerMom
Oct 30, 2017 at 8:39 pm
The SM6 looks frowny 🙁 and the SM7 looks smiley 🙂
ronnie
Oct 30, 2017 at 8:34 pm
Awesome Vokey’s and I want them in my Fantasy WITB
Acew7iron
Oct 30, 2017 at 5:09 pm
So I just purchased a 06 model Vokey 200 series 60 deg wedge off ebay for $25 in like new condition.
What is *better about this one than what Im bagging?
Steve
Oct 30, 2017 at 5:39 pm
It’s Vokey/Titleist “brand new” and the latest shiny bright Vokey Design.
Yours is old and second hand and has no new mojo designed into it by Vokey Design.
Otherwise, there is no significant difference if you are a decent golfer and you don’t flaunt your WITB.
Jwowzer
Oct 30, 2017 at 5:41 pm
The SM7 wedges are conforming to the rules, whereas yours is not. Hope you don’t plan on playing in any events ever.
Dat
Oct 30, 2017 at 8:45 pm
jwowzer…ban is for USGA sanctioned events and amateurs can play the old grooves until 2022. guess your a pro though, so don’t you already have the SM8s?
Chuck
Oct 31, 2017 at 4:21 am
2024 actually. And even then, the decision of the USGA might be to just let it go anyway.
Remember that the old grooves have never been made illegal. The USGA imposed its rule only on wedges built after a certain date. (After 12/31/10, if memory serves me.) And only via a “condition of competition,” which the USGA recommends be utilized only in elite-level competitions.
Darryl
Nov 16, 2017 at 7:53 am
As I’m given to understand also, the onus is on the tournament committee to prove your club is non conforming, which means they need to have the (no doubt very expensive) test rig.
Someone may correct me on that.
Either way my Mizuno TP 2000’s are good until 2024 :-))
Stinger26
Oct 30, 2017 at 4:51 pm
still no forged offerings. much of the same.
The dude
Oct 30, 2017 at 8:45 pm
Why do you want a forged wedge?.
Steve Sands
Oct 30, 2017 at 10:44 pm
Everybody wants a Forged wedge….why don’t you? We’ve been asking Vokey forever, and he makes them for the Japanese market which is much smaller than the USA market. Have you ever hit a Callaway X Forged wedges flush or a Mizuno MP series? There is no comparing a Forged wedge to the cast.
The dude
Oct 31, 2017 at 8:50 am
….I knew you’d say that….point is..you don’t know the difference…(don’t bother saying you do)….with a high lofted club…it’s almost impossible to distinguish. And Cast has the benefit of durability for amateurs. Also…Why do you think so many tour players use Vokes?
Scott
Nov 1, 2017 at 11:33 am
uhh. being paid maybe?
Pat
Dec 8, 2017 at 11:24 am
Steve Sands, cost. Would you buy a set of 3 wedges at $350 each JUST because they’re forged?
Geof
Oct 30, 2017 at 3:51 pm
this is a joke!
IcomingElizabeth
Oct 30, 2017 at 4:34 pm
Awesome post…what is?!?
Donnie
Oct 30, 2017 at 8:40 pm
Vokey = Jokey = Dopey