Alex Etches
Custom fitter, gear deep-dives
“Love the feel. Very, very soft.”
Alex loves the first fully forged MG5: buttery soft feel, big wet-weather spin gains from the new spin-thread grooves, and the surprise that every head is handmade and hand-milled despite TaylorMade's volume.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +First fully forged Milled Grind wedge; very soft, buttery tour-driven feel
- +New groove design with spin thread adds about 1,500 rpm more than MG4 in wet conditions
- +Handmade and hand-milled heads with tight tolerances
- −Huge option matrix of finish, loft, bounce and grind makes a fitting essentially mandatory
For: Anyone wanting a soft-feeling, high-spin wedge that holds its spin in wet conditions
Golf Monthly
UK magazine, season-long testing
“control that I had from distance and close range around the greens was unrivaled”
Overall winner of the 17-wedge test, taking the performance category with unrivaled spin, control and wet-weather consistency.
+ the facts · 5 pros− the facts
- +Milled Grind sole looks premium and glides through turf
- +Raw face against satin chrome frames the ball superbly
- +New spin tread pattern maintained spin and control from wet rough
For: Anyone wanting the best all-round premium wedge of 2025
James Robinson Golf
Mid-handicap everyman reviews
“you can play some outrageous shots with them”
His best wedges of 2025: versatile, forged-feeling, great-looking in chrome with the raw face, and they make him want to practice short game.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Forged-like soft feel that's rare in wedges
- +Huge versatility, plays any shot he wants with spin control
- +Raw face with chrome finish looks great, multiple grinds and finishes
- −Expensive, not the cheapest wedges money can buy
For: Golfers who want to build an arsenal of short-game shots
TrottieGolf
Tour-level club builder
“It's a great wedge. It's a good addition.”
A genuine step forward for the Milled Grind line, with forged feel added on top of a deep grind matrix, and he's putting the standard bounce 56 in his own bag.
+ the facts · 7 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Forged construction adds real feel and a soft sound, a first for the line
- +Raw face with raised micro ribs between the grooves for more grip
- +Reworked groove entry disperses water better in wet conditions and allows a shape that gives more spin
- −Low bounce option is much less forgiving and wants to dig in softer turf
- −Tiger grind is still not as forgiving as the other options
- −The grind matrix requires you to understand bounce and your own conditions to buy well
For: Any golfer serious about their wedge game who wants scoring wedges fitted to their turf conditions and strike.
Club Champion (TXG)
Tour-level fitting studio
“if I wasn't gaming Vokey wedges, I would absolutely be gaming MG5s”
A rare mainstream forged wedge that spins enormously and stays consistent across yardages, with the only trade-off being firmer off-center feel and heavy ball wear.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Huge spin numbers, close to 11,000 rpm on a full 58-degree shot
- +Raw face gives instant visual feedback on strike location and grips the ball
- +Consistent spin, height and distance across full, 70-yard and 50-yard shots
- −Feels firmer and a bit clunky on off-center strikes, the opposite of what you'd expect from a forged wedge
- −Chews up a golf ball fast, you may need a new ball after a few wedge shots
For: Players who want maximum spin and a raw face, especially anyone already in MG4s.
2nd Swing Golf
Master fitters, Trackman-heavy testing
“Spin is through the roof”
TaylorMade's first fully forged wedge delivered massive, extremely consistent spin (nearly 12,000 RPM on full 56-degree shots) with a softer feel than past MG models.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Spin through the roof: over 11,500 RPM average on full shots and around 9,200 on three-quarter shots, far above typical 56-degree numbers
- +Extremely consistent spin windows, within about 50-100 RPM on partial shots, making distances predictable on course
- +Fully forged construction feels noticeably softer than older TaylorMade wedges, especially on touch shots
- −Larger head may not suit players who prefer a compact blade-style wedge
For: Players on softer courses who want a wedge that stops on a dime
National Club Golfer
UK magazine, hands-on club testing
His pick for performance among the marquee wedges heading into testing.
+ the facts · 1 pros− the facts
- +Rated best for performance of the big names
