Bob Vokey - Titleist Vokey Wedges

1. How did you get started building wedges and what made you one of the most sought after wedge craftsman in golf?

Bob: I actually got started working with my dad in our garage. My dad was a tool & die maker and always loved to tinker with golf clubs. So I was always around clubs, grinders, etc. When I moved to California in 1976, I started Bob’s Custom Golf Shop in Vista. I worked on and repaired all kinds of clubs, not just wedges. This was the early 80′s. When Gary Adams moved TalyorMade to California in the mid 80′s, he hired me to work on irons and metals. That was where I met Lee Trevino, I used to work on his clubs. I really didn’t concentrate on wedges until I started with Titleist in 1996. The first project I worked on was the 975D driver. I’m still very proud of that club. After that, Wally Uihlein [Titleist CEO] asked me to start working on wedges. I already had a lot of relationships with the Tour guys, and I just took my notebook and listened to what they wanted. I guess the rest is history as they say.

2. How much bounce should a golfer look for in a wedge and for what type playing conditions does different bounce angle help?

Bob: The right bounce for a player is really dependent on two things: swing type and playing conditions. If you’re a steep swinger, a Digger as I like to say, then you need more bounce. If you’re a picker or Sweeper, you can get away with less bounce. But you Sweepers need to make sure you have enough bounce to get out of the bunker effectively. If you play in soft conditions often, think about having at least one club with more bounce.

3. Is more loft beneficial to the higher handicap golfer?

Bob: Not necessarily. I see a lot of higher handicappers that can’t hit a 60 degree Lob wedge effectively. More bounce is beneficial to the higher handicapper. It gives you a bit more margin for error. I like to say “Bounce is Your Friend”.

4. Is the wedge flex in the shaft best for all golfers or should he use the flex that matches the rest of his clubs?

Bob: We use the Dynamic Gold S200 (Wedge Flex) as the standard shaft in all of our wedges. We did significant testing on different shafts and we found that the S200 had the best combination of control and feel for the average golfer. Believe it or not, but a lot of Tour Players use that exact same shaft. It feels good to them. But I am not against matching your iron shafts with your wedge shafts. A lot of guys do this because they like the consistent feel. It’s really a personal thing.

5. What is the most valuable wedge in your opinion?

Bob: All of my wedges are valuable! Just kidding. I would say the Sand Wedge is the most valuable because it’s the most versatile. You can use it out of the bunker, but it’s still effective around the greens and for full shots. It you had to use only one wedge, I’d say make it a sand wedge.

*** Bonus Questions!!***

6. What is your favorite wedge of all time?

Bob: My favorite wedge is from the 400 Series. It’s the 456.14. Sand wedge with 14 degrees of bounce. The shape is classic, kind of “old school”, just like me. We don’t make them anymore, but I still have one in my office. Some of the Tour guys still use it as well.

7. What mistakes do most amateurs make when selecting wedges?

Bob: I see two things all the time. They don’t take enough bounce and they don’t know their wedge yardage gaps. Bounce is like a rudder on a ship, it helps stabilize the club through the turf. If you’re struggling with your wedges, try a little more bounce. Take some time to figure out your wedge yardages. I see guys who tell me that their 7 iron goes exactly 150 yards, but they have no idea how far their sand wedge goes. Wedges are your scoring clubs, you need to know your distances.