PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II wedges

Gear: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II wedges
Price: $499 each
Specs: Forged and milled 8620 carbon steel with tungsten weights. Even lofts from 50-62 degrees. Available in Chrome and Xtreme Dark finishes
Available: Feb. 1

The world’s elite golfers, the PGA Tour and LPGA players, are demanding when it comes to wedges because when there is big money on the line, they know delicate shots around the greens can mean the difference between having tap-in pars instead of knee-knockers. They want wedges to work through turf, rough and sand predictably, and they want to maximize spin for extra control on fast greens.

PXG has spared no expense in developing the 0311 Sugar Daddy II wedges to give such players everything they could want in a short-game tool.

Each 0311 Sugar Daddy II starts as a billet of 8620 carbon steel that is forged three times to create the basic shape of the head. Then, using a high-speed, computer-controlled bit, they are CNC-milled to create the precise shape and specifications that designers envisioned. PXG said forging enhances the feel produced at impact, while CNC-milling produces a more consistent product than hand grinding and polishing.

To ensure the hitting surface is perfectly flat and the grooves are made as sharp as the USGA and R&A allow, PXG also mills the hitting area of each Sugar Daddy II.

Since the first 0311 irons were made in 2014, they have featured a unique weighing system that involves a series of small screws around the perimeter of the heads, and the 0311 Sugar Daddy II wedges have them too. The screws are made of tungsten, a dense material that is ideal for concentrating weight. By adding five tungsten weights high in the toe area, the center of gravity elevates, which should help golfers hit their wedges on a lower, more-controllable trajectory.

PXG designed the 0311 Sugar Daddy wedges with a large center weight in the back of the head. Fitters can change this weight to increase or decrease the swingweight of the clubs without having to tinker with lead tape.

The BP Grind (left) is straighter and has more bounce than the C Grind. (PXG)

The wedges are available in two sole grinds. The BP Grind has some heel relief but is relatively straight through the middle and toe areas. This grind has more bounce (13 degrees) and is ideally suited for golfers with a steep attack angle and for golfers who typically play in lush, soft conditions.

The C Grind has 10 degrees of bounce with more heel and toe relief. The sole is thinner too, so it is a better choice for players who compete on firm courses and who tend to sweep the ball off the turf.