Shredding skin never felt so good: The TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedge Review

With the new Hi-Toe 4, TaylorMade are making a strong argument that they have the most versatile wedge on the market. But can it do everything you need it to where it matters?

Whisper it, but over the last few generations, TaylorMade Golf have developed a wedge line (now in its 4th iteration) that stands up as one of the best wedges available today. While there’s no reason to suggest that a company like TaylorMade isn’t capable of that, it’s not the traditional category that you expect the brand to put at the forefront of any technological pushes.

After the release of the original Milled Grind and the follow-up, MG2. TaylorMade had a construction that was starting to get noticed. When MG3 released, TaylorMade was acknowledged as a premier wedge manufacturer within the space and solidified by the tweaks that came with the current MG4 series.

For those that need to stretch their wedge versatility beyond what’s offered in the MG wedge series though, TaylorMade do carry another line of wedges. The Hi-Toe model, with its unique look, is built for the golfer who spends the majority of his time with his wedge face pointing to the sky. Weight moved high and toe-side (something the name obviously hints at) helps stabilize the club where impact is likely to occur.

However, as someone who played the last version of Hi-Toe, I’ve had some issues with these wedges in the past that I feel have held them back from being spoken about in the same breath as MG4. TaylorMade says the improvements they’ve made should address everything I had difficulties with and more.

Curiosity triggered…

Bleeding Edge

Let’s not tease you for the next few paragraphs. The concerns I have with Hi-Toe have been present in both of the previous two generations have been two-fold. Having played the PM Grind Callaway wedges for many years, I had ruined the faces to the point of no return and wanted to move into a similar model.

The Hi-Toe was the obvious replacement for me and I will say they’ve produced some memorable shots in my time with them. What I haven’t liked, though, is what I found to be inconsistent spin depending on where I struck across the face, as well as the leading edge being too straight for how much I wanted to open the club up. I find it raised the sole too far and brought an unpredictable thin/knife/blade – choose your word preference – into my game.

The leading edge is clearly something TaylorMade also wanted to address, with the press release highlighting the work the team, including in-house legend Greg Cesario, has done to Hi-Toe to make the design interact with the ground as cleanly as they can.

Looking down at the wedge, you immediately notice two things. The first is the roundness of the leading edge, and the second is how low the new club sits in the ground; both are key for confidence when that wedge gets set onto its backfoot because you need to go vertical. TaylorMade has introduced three different grind options for the 4th edition of the line to make sure you have the correct turf interaction, with ATS, ATV, and ATC designs.

These sole options have been purpose-built to provide a blend of bounce and lie adaptability while keeping the bottom of the wedge as close to the ground as they can.

ATS, the mid-bounce option, is the only option available in a complete set of lofts, from 50º to 60º (although without full-face grooves in the 50º and 52º), and comes with the 4-way camber from the previous Hi-Toe 3 which has been increased for the 4 to provide better resistance to digging in soft conditions.

ATV is the slightly higher bounce option, which features an asymmetrical sole to help with both closed- and open-face shots. Opening the face will also increase Effective Bounce (the bounce delivered at impact) to further decrease the club’s ability to get ‘stuck’ in the ground. A better option for steep players.

ATC is the lowest bounce option, although I will add that the bounce difference at either end of what’s offered is only 3º. This grind offers reduced leading edge width and increased sharpness, although it still has a healthy 8º of static bounce so isn’t unplayable for golfers who play with steep swings in firm conditions.

Of the three options, I generally gravitate to lower bounce, so wasn’t surprised by how much I enjoyed the ATC. That’s not to say any of the soles are bad, digging down into the ground more had the ATV working a treat and I feel like in softer, winter conditions, I’d rather have an ATV or ATS in my hands than the ATC.

My favorite thing about this autumn’s release though, is the leading edge change. For me, it’s a vital part of any wedge that aspires to offer complete versatility in greenside creativity, with the rounded edge keeping those last few grooves tight to the turf to give supreme confidence in the ability of the club to slide underneath the ball. Combined with the best grind for you, the Hi-Toe really does provide everything you need to hit those high-risk, high-reward shots with confidence.

For those who do prefer a straighter leading edge to assist in lining the ball to the target, TaylorMade has painted the final groove of every Hi-Toe 4 with a gold inlay so you can have the best of both worlds in one design.

Taking it for a spin

Learning from previous success is certainly one of TaylorMade’s strong suits as a business, and the wedge category is no exception.

Spin Tread, taken from the face design of the MG4 wedges, has been introduced to Hi-Toe 4 with good reason. The laser-etched patterning creates additional face roughness to grab hold of the ball while also channeling water away in wet conditions (think about the tread of a car tire – hence the name!).

The roughness achieved with this method also improves on the durability over previous micro-groove engravings, meaning you’ll see the benefits for longer before it wears down.

Spin Tread has been matched up with a raw metal face, allowing grooves to be cut even more precisely and increasing traction as they rust, as well as a more pronounced Toe Mass Pad. The pad is designed to allow more mass and weight to be placed higher up the club, dragging the CG (center of gravity) with it.

The benefits gained from the implemented changes are that, with raised CG, you raise spin while also lowering launch, creating optimal control from partial wedge shots. This is great to know, again providing a sense of confidence, but the secondary advantage of this is that you move the CG into a more stable position for open-face shots.

One of my issues, as we spoke about, has been the inconsistency of high-face strikes. The engineers at TaylorMade have put me completely at ease with the new Hi-Toe. There’s no unpredictable deflection from shots caught high up anymore, perfect for someone who immediately opens the face at the smallest hint of a flop shot being required (hey, life is more fun living on the edge!).

On the course

Going back to serious use of these wedges, I couldn’t be much happier with how the Hi-Toe 4 has progressed in its design. The new approach from TaylorMade has addressed the few issues that were raised with the last version of the wedge and added even more with the inclusion of the Spin Tread face from their other successful wedge line.

I even like the aesthetics of the Hi-Toe with the aged copper finish a great match for where the raw face will discolor and darken over time. For someone who’s spent enough time with a mallet and stamp in hand, there’s also plenty of space on the back for making your new wedges custom to you – not an important fact but something interesting to note if you’re considering using the MyHiToe4 customization options that TaylorMade provide through their app or website.

The only negative I have for my feedback is the size of the wedge. I understand the reason for the larger profile, as it’s part of the reason that the performance can be achieved, but, despite my comfort with oversized wedges in the past, I have found it jarring to go from a compact head like the Vokeys I play with to go back into a model like this. That being said, spending more time with the product would likely remove this doubt in my mind.

Back around the greens, I’ve been having no trouble hitting the shots that I want to, even ones I’m not as comfortable with, like closing the face to get the ball releasing, in practice for my next linksland golf trip. I’d still encourage you to test the varying grinds out to find what will suit the needs of your game, but I’d have confidence in every version of Hi-Toe being a club you can trust to get the job done, no matter the demands.

About the author

Lewis Daff

Lewis Daff joined the Today’s Golfer digital team in 2024, having spent more than a decade in both big box golf retail and independent stores, working as a club fitter and builder.

Experienced with every level of golfer, from beginner to professional, he has achieved Master Fitter and Builder status with most major manufacturers, including Mizuno, Taylormade, and Callaway, helping him to cement both a wide and deep knowledge base. Lewis specializes in Clubs, Shafts, Training Aids, Launch Monitors and Grips.

In Lewis’ bag is Titleist GT3 Driver (9º) with Fujikura Ventus Black, Titleist GT2 Fairway Wood (15º), Wilson Staff D9 Forged 3-iron, Srixon ZX7 MKii Irons (4-PW), Titleist SM9 Wedges (52º, 60º), Toulon San Diego Putter, and Callaway Chrome Tour Ball.

Talk to Lewis about why steel shafts are now dead and graphite is the only way forward or any other equipment you’d like to debate via his email.

RRP: £149, $179

Lofts and Grinds

ATS: 50° / 52° / 54° / 56° / 58° / 60°

ATV: 56° / 58º / 60°

ATC: 58° / 60°

Finishes: Aged Copper (will Patina over time)

Stock shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue 115g

Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360 Black/Gold

Customizable: Yes, through Taylormade's app or websites - taylormadegolf.com and taylormadegolf.co.uk