TaylorMade ATV Wedge Review

2013 Wedges Test

Even with the wide sole you can still open it up because of the large amount of heel relief in the sole, making it both versatile and forgiving from tight lies. Some testers struggled to get high levels of spin while others felt the leading edge was too rounded. Everyone enjoyed the headshape, classic and the chrome finish is classy. This scored the same overall mark as the bronze award winners when rounded, but the actual score meant it just missed out.

Ratings (out of 10):

Spin/Launch: 6983rpm/28º (Fairway) 2150rpm/36º (Rough)  Looks: 8 Feel: 8 Versatility: 8 Control: 8

2012 Review

Tested by Jon Greathead, 9 hcp.

TaylorMade products tend to make headlines, whether it be their colour, their name or simply their performance. So it’s no surprise that there’s a story behind the ATV wedges. TM’s Carlsbad equipment gurus say that wedges have traditionally been designed to deliver certain types of shots, meaning there were always compromises.

But the firm claims the new ATV has a unique sole design that changes the
amount of bounce for different shots, meaning optimal performance from a variety of lies and surfaces.

I was intrigued to test the new product, especially as my trusty TaylorMade xFT wedges were looking slightly battered. In terms of feel, I actually thought the old and new were quite similar, but the big difference did come with the different lies.

From the fairway on full shots, it sat nicely behind the ball and offered lots of stopping power on the green – but this also translated to tight lies around the green too. The grooves on my old wedges had worn, but I was still surprised by the lower ball flight off the face of the ATV. 

It was also good from the rough – ultimately, weekend hackers such as myself can’t expect Luke Donald-esque control from the shaggy stuff, but the ATV certainly didn’t let itself down.

But perhaps the biggest feather in the cap comes in the confidence stakes – I’ve got a tendency to thin a wedge like no other man on the planet, but the overall appearance, shape and address position of the ATV made me feel far happier with my short game.

Given a bit more time, this wedge will become a mainstay in my bag and if you’re on the hunt for a new one, take a closer look at this because at £89 it offers excellent value for money.

The final thing to consider is that the face isn’t exchangeable, unlike the xFT. We liked the concept in the previous model, but there was always a nagging doubt that we hadn’t tightened the screw properly!

The TaylorMade ATV wedge has a unique sole design that changes the amount of bounce for different shots, meaning optimal performance from a variety of lies and surfaces.

Contact: www.taylotmadegolf.eu