TaylorMade MG4 Milled Grind Wedge Review
Last updated:
-
At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
-
Pros
- The MG4's are beautifully shaped.
- Dropping virtually no spin is wet conditions is a massive plus for shot predictability.
- Expect additional feel over previous generations.
-
Cons
- You will get a fraction more spin from the TaylorMade Hi-Toe 3 wedges
What we say...
Spin Tread Grooves allow the new TaylorMade MG4 wedge to channel away moisture, which gives golfers almost identical spin in wet and dry conditions.
TaylorMade have transformed their business over the last decade. Ask any serious golfer what they thought of the brand 10 years ago and many would say they come up with great ideas, market the hell out of them, and then swiftly move on to the next big thing. And when talking about the best wedges available, TaylorMade just wouldn’t have been part of the conversation.
Since 2016, though, the idea of launching product after product has gone out of the window at TaylorMade. Today, more so than ever, the brand see longevity as the way to adoption throughout more golfers’ bags.
Thanks to the dedication the brand has shown to creating a leading family of players’ irons, more and more golfers now see TaylorMade as making some of the best irons and wedges available.
You need look no further than the likes of Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Collin Morikawa for validation of the brand’s new way of thinking.
TaylorMade have revealed the new MG4 wedges. They’re the 4th generation of the franchise, which speaks volumes about how far the company has come. It also proves their longevity theory is working. A decade ago very few TM products made it past a couple of generations. With golfers now more willing to accept modest advancements in each product generation, rather than expecting complete franchise overhauls every two years, TaylorMade are on the up and up. Here’s what’s new with the MG4 wedges.
Everything you need to know about the TaylorMade MG4 wedges
Spin Tread Grooves
The MG4 wedges have strategically angled deep laser-etched Spin Tread Grooves on the face. They channel more moisture away at impact so golfers can expect almost identical spin rates in dry and wet conditions.
Lighter equals more feel
Traditional wedge shafts have been heavy old beasts for years. By switching to a 115g Dynamic Gold Tour Issue shaft (that’s 15g lighter than a traditional wedge shaft), TaylorMade say golfers will experience better feel and control.
Refined shape
Expect a slightly reshaped top edge, with more leading edge roundness in the higher lofts. A new hosel blend also gives a fuller look at address, input that’s come straight from the company’s elite athletes.
New finish, new options
A new Tour Chrome Satin finish gives the look of a raw head, yet unlike the club face it won’t rust over time. There’s also a Tour Matte Black option and three new sole grinds (low Bounce Versatility, High Bounce Versatility and Standard Bounce Versatility). The Tiger Woods-inspired Tiger Grind also shows how seriously committed TaylorMade are to fitting golfers only to their best matched wedges.
Details: TaylorMade MG4 Wedges
RRP: £159, £199 TW Grind
Lofts:
Standard Bounce 46° / 48° / 50° / 52° / 54° / 56° / 58° / 60°
Tiger Grind: 56° / 60°
Low Bounce: 56° / 58° / 60°
Custom order only
Standard Bounce C Grind: 58° / 60°
Low Bounce V Grind: 58° / 60°
High Bounce: 52° / 54° / 56° / 58° / 60°
High Bounce W Grind: 58° / 60°
Finishes: Tour Chrome Satin, Tour Matte Black
Stock shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue 115g
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360
TaylorMade on the MG4 wedges
“This is a major step forward in the progression of the Milled Grind family. With MG4 we have evolved our approach to wet spin and developed an all-new Spin Tread technology. We use a laser etching treatment to create face roughness, which translates to better friction and moisture channeling for optimal ball control, especially on partial shots.”
– Bill Price, Senior Director of Product Creation, Putter & Wedge
“The feel component is a significant factor. By replacing the chrome-plated face with raw finishes early in the Milled Grind evolution, we were able to influence spin and also enhance the overall feel of the wedge. Adding our reconstructed backbar, with more weight positioned directly behind the strike zone, allows us to help players achieve their desired shot trajectories and spin rates with premium feel and confidence.”
– Greg Cesario, TaylorMade Wedge Design Team
The TaylorMade MG4 wedge sole grinds explained
Low Bounce (LB): Low leading edge for added versatility and shot-making in firm conditions.
Low Bounce V (LBV): Designed for skilled players with a shallow attack angle, offering exceptional spin and the ability to manipulate face angles effectively.
Standard Bounce (SB): All-around performance that prevents excessive digging and allows the clubhead to glide through the turf smoothly.
Standard Bounce C (SBC): Provides increased versatility for players who prefer to manipulate face angles, without compromising bounce performance.
High Bounce (HB): TaylorMade’s standard high bounce design is playable for skilled golfers and defies the convention that high bounce wedges are only for high handicappers. In fact, Rory McIlroy uses a HB 60° Milled Grind 4 depending on course conditions.
High Bounce Wide (HBW): With an increased sole width, this high bounce option offers improved playability and excels in sand play.
Tiger Woods Grind (TW): Offered in 56° and 60° lofts, each sole on the MG4 TW was inspired by Tiger’s grind. The 56° wedge is a dual sole with heavy heel relief, while the 60° has an extremely high bounce on the leading edge with a shaved heel. Designed to be supremely versatile, these unique grinds allow Tiger to take on any shot, on any course, anywhere in the world.
Video: How does the TaylorMade MG4 compare to other leading 2024 wedges?
Verdict: TaylorMade MG4 wedge
Thanks to making two cracking families (the Hi-Toe 3 and MG4) TaylorMade always gives us a really tough choice to make when it comes to testing wedges. Don’t get me wrong there are some definite benefits to using Hi-Toe wedges (lower flying, higher spinning shots), but you will need to love their shape and be happy using full-face grooves, which from my experience often means they’re not everyone’s cup of tea.
If you’re the type of golfer who just wants a brilliant traditionally shaped wedge with a familiar groove pattern, and your game will benefit from a ton of loft, sole grind, and finish options the MG4’s will be right up your street. In my book, if you see the MG4 as a Titleist Vokey SM10 alternative you are thinking exactly along the right lines.
From what I’ve seen I can’t say the MG4 will ensure you’ll see no spin difference between wet and dry conditions, as my 2023 Wet Wedge Test highlighted how the model generated 30% less backspin in damp conditions. This however is often the case with many leading wedges.
Golfers who love very straight leading-edge wedges though will adore the MG4 lower lofts, they’re just about the straightest I’ve seen. Be prepared for them though to get progressively more rounded as lofts increase.
We all want to know we’re buying the right equipment when we splash the cash and if you’re looking at data to confirm your tour-level wedge choice the MG4’s definitely won’t let you down.
The model was one of only three wedges in 2024 to create more than 8000 RPM backspin in the hands of our test pro. With 8003 RPM the MG4 created 4.4% more spin than our test average, which warranted a seriously impressive third-best performance among the 20 models (at 52° test loft) tested. Throw in a smaller/tighter carry distance drop-off and shot area performance than our test averages and you can absolutely understand why the MG4 ranks among my four best performing wedges of 2024.
Data comparison: How do the TaylorMade MG4 wedges compare to leading competitor models in 2024?
Model | Loft | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Backspin | Backspin Drop Off | Height | Descent Angle | Carry Distance | Carry Distance Drop Off | Shot Area |
Vega VWX | 52° | 78.8 MPH | 24.6° | 8974 RPM (1) | 1212 RPM | 18 YDS | 43.4° | 94 YDS | 11 YDS | 62.7 SQ YDS |
Ram Tour Grind | 52° | 78.4 MPH | 24.2° | 8402 RPM (2) | 1746 RPM | 17 YDS | 42.3° | 94 YDS | 15 YDS | 64.5 SQ YDS |
TaylorMade MG4 | 52° | 78.3 MPH | 25.8° | 8003 RPM (3) | 1092 RPM | 19 YDS | 43.9° | 94 YDS | 8 YDS | 60.8 SQ YDS |
Mizuno S23 | 52° | 81 MPH | 26.1° | 7987 RPM | 1289 RPM | 20 YDS | 45.2° | 99 YDS | 6 YDS (T1) | 23.4 SQ YDS (1) |
Tour Edge Wingman | 52° | 80.5 MPH | 25.1° | 7982 RPM | 1382 RPM | 19 YDS | 43.9° | 98 YDS | 12 YDS | 100.8 SQ YDS |
Ping S159 | 52° | 77.5 MPH | 24.9° | 7974 RPM | 791 (1) | 18 YDS | 42.5° | 93 YDS | 12 YDS | 68.4 SQ YDS |
Cleveland RTX 6 | 52° | 77.4 MPH | 26° | 7911 RPM | 1791 RPM | 18 YDS | 43.7° | 93 YDS | 9 YDS | 44.1 SQ YDS |
Sub 70 286 Forged Raw | 52° | 77.9 MPH | 25.5° | 7820 RPM | 2339 RPM | 18 YDS | 43.3° | 94 YDS | 7 YDS | 58.8 SQ YDS |
Cleveland CBX 4 | 52° | 78.4 MPH | 26.5° | 7800 RPM | 949 RPM (3) | 19 YDS | 44.6° | 95 YDS | 9 YDS | 53.1 SQ YDS |
Bettinardi HLX 5.0 | 52° | 78.5 MPH | 24.3° | 7797 RPM | 2109 RPM | 17 YDS | 42.1° | 95 YDS | 10 YDS | 45 SQ YDS |
PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II | 52° | 79.2 MPH | 25.7° | 7741 RPM | 2240 RPM | 19 YDS | 44° | 96 YDS | 10 YDS | 44 SQ YDS |
Titleist Vokey Design SM10 | 52° | 78.2 MPH | 26° | 7653 RPM | 1926 RPM | 19 YDS | 43.9° | 95 YDS | 15 YDS | 139.5 SQ YDS |
Vega Alcor | 52° | 79.9 MPH | 25.7° | 7633 RPM | 2006 RPM | 19 YDS | 44.1° | 97 YDS | 9 YDS | 64.8 SQ YDS |
More MOD 1 | 52° | 79.2 MPH | 25.4° | 7512 RPM | 894 RPM (2) | 19 YDS | 43.4° | 96 YDS | 6 YDS (T1) | 28.8 SQ YDS (2) |
Callaway Jaws Raw | 52° | 78.9 MPH | 26.3° | 7408 RPM | 2805 RPM | 19 YDS | 44.3° | 96 YDS | 7 YDS | 30.1 SQ YDS (3) |
Ping Glide Forged Pro | 52° | 78.8 MPH | 26.2° | 7165 RPM | 2246 RPM | 19 YDS | 44° | 96 YDS | 11 YDS | 119.9 SQ YDS |
Mizuno T24 | 52° | 76.3 MPH | 26.2° | 7059 RPM | 2131 RPM | 18 YDS | 43.1° | 92 YDS | 6 YDS (T1) | 44.4 SQ YDS |
Wilson Staff Model ZM | 52° | 77.8 MPH | 26.4° | 7003 RPM | 1963 RPM | 19 YDS | 43.8° | 95 YDS | 13 YDS | 81.9 SQ YDS |
Callaway CB | 52° | 78.9 MPH | 26.1° | 6856 RPM | 1672 RPM | 19 YDS | 43.7° | 96 YDS | 11 YDS | 90.2 SQ YDS |
Inesis 900 | 52° | 78.8 MPH | 27.6° | 6685 RPM | 2168 RPM | 20 YDS | 45.2° | 97 YDS | 16 YDS | 172.8 SQ YDS |
Average | 78.6 MPH | 25.7° | 7668 RPM | 1738 RPM | 18.7 YDS | 43.7° | 95.3 YDS | 10.2 YDS | 69.9 SQ YDS |
Spec sheet: TaylorMade MG4 Wedge
READ NEXT:
– Which TaylorMade iron best suits your game?
Product Information
TaylorMade MG4 Wedges
RRP: £159, £199 TW Grind
Lofts:
Standard Bounce 46° / 48° / 50° / 52° / 54° / 56° / 58° / 60°
Tiger Grind: 56° / 60°
Low Bounce: 56° / 58° / 60°
Custom order only
Standard Bounce C Grind: 58° / 60°
Low Bounce V Grind: 58° / 60°
High Bounce: 52° / 54° / 56° / 58° / 60°
High Bounce W Grind: 58° / 60°
Finishes: Tour Chrome Satin, Tour Matte Black
Stock shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue 115g
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360
Visit the TaylorMade website here