TaylorMade TP xFT Wedge Review

Today’s Golfer Wedge Test 2011

TG SILVER AWARD

Tested: May 2011
Testing panel:
Chris Chamberlain, Pro at The Belfry
Jonathan Greathead, TG’s senior equipment editor (8HCP)
Pete Heighway (13 HCP)
Mike Cox (18 HCP)

TaylorMade are well-known for their superb range of woods – the new white-headed R11 and Burner SuperFast 2.0 have gone down a storm on Tour and with regular punters too. But their wedges are also pretty special, and the xFT is very clever. It features a detachable face, so when the grooves have worn down, you simply buy a replacement face for a fraction of the cost.

Pete took to the club straight away, getting good results from both just off the green and 75 yards away. Chris was also lethal with it, scoring 4/5 on the longer challenge and a maximum on the shorter one. Mike felt it was a little light, but got good results while Jon liked the overall look. We all know companies spend loads of money on R&D, but ultimately TaylorMade continues to come up with game-improving technology for all levels of golfer.

THE VERDICT (out of five):
Spin (56 degrees from 75 yards): 6,207 rpm
Looks: 4.3
Feel: 4.1
Sound: 4.0
Around the green: 4.5
75 yards: 4.5
Rating: 4.5 stars 

TG wedge test 2010

Another impressive performance for TaylorMade.

The xFT features exchangeable face technology, so you can attach the new faces until 2024 as the old grooves wear out.

Tony and John liked its heavier feel, due in part to the KBS shaft. The pair also found it produced longer shots.

There are plenty of options with the xFT, but Tom said he didn’t find it as versatile to use for various shots as some others. Our team didn’t get the impression that feel had been compromised because of the removable face.

Ratings from test out of 5:

Backspin: 5; Carry: 3.5; Looks: 4; Feel: 4.1; Consistent strike: 4.4; 65-yard test: 3; Around the green: 3.8

TaylorMade's xFT (Exchangeable Face Technology) allows players to easily remove a worn clubface and replace it with a new one to maintain peak performance in terms of spin and control.

When grooves wear down the edges lose the ability to grab the cover, reducing spin. The groove also loses volume into which moisture and debris once were channeled. Less groove volume means that more substances will come between the ball and the clubface, further reducing the amount of spin that can be imparted, especially from the rough.The texture on the surface of the face (from milling or sandblasting) is also reduced, which further limits the face's grip on the ball.

The exchangeable face on the xFT wedge can be replaced in a matter of seconds to keep spin at its maximum.

Each clubface is fully CNC-milled clubface with a thin urethane layer behind the clubface for enhanced feel. The xFt wedge is a classic teardrop shaped clubhead with nickel-chrome plating and pearl finish and KBS High-Rev shaft as standard.