Why Is Wilson Golf Releasing A Raw Wedge?

We need to start this little update with a statement. You long-time readers will probably respond with an eyeroll and mutter, “Arright arready, we get it,” under your breath. Just be patient. For every senior halfway through Year Four, a wide-eyed freshman is hoping he doesn’t get a swirly in the boys’ room.

Yes, raw wedges rust. Yes, rusted wedges look cool to some. No, rusted wedges do not spin more. Go ask ChatGPT, Copilot or Grok if you need more convincing.

Why, then, is Wilson Golf releasing a raw, unplated version of its current ZM Staff Model wedge line?

Simple.

Because it can.

OK, that one we’ll elaborate on.

Wilson Staff Model ZM wedges in raw

Let’s clear something up right away. It’s possible, if not likely, that a raw, unplated wedge might spin more than a typical plated model. There is something to be said for not having an extra layer of material between the grooves and the ball. However, once the face starts to rust, all bets are off.

Wilson Golf is giving its Staff Model ZM wedges a second-year kick in the pants by offering them in raw (they capitalize it but we’re not; too much of that already). Besides looking kinda cool (depending on your eye), Wilson says a raw finish can enhance feel.

“For golfers who want a more responsive feel at their fingertips, raw is a great option,” says Wilson Product Line Manager Harry Nodwell. “We remove the plating, allowing for oxidation to occur.”

Another benefit of rust is that it will cut down on sun glare. Additionally, each club will develop a unique rust pattern which, if you’re looking for a silver lining, might be the least expensive way there is to personalize your wedge.

Grooves, microgrooves and face blasts (Oh my!)

When Wilson Golf launched the Staff Model ZM wedges just over a year ago, it was the first time since Gene Sarazen completed the career Grand Slam that Wilson had an actual “wedge story” to tell. OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration but before the Staff Model ZM, Wilson’s wedges were serviceable pieces of equipment. What they lacked was a groove/face milling/face blast/wet-dry spin/bounce and grind story.

The Staff Model ZM tells a few of those stories (grinds remain limited), particularly when it comes to grooves. Wilson says the ZM Grooves are made using a proprietary process to mill grooves more deeply into the face than previous models. When combined with a Garnet Face Blast, the grooves ensure longer ball-to-face interaction to provide consistently high spin, even in wet conditions.

Additionally, the Staff Model ZM wedges feature microgrooves milled on the face in between each groove. Wilson says milled microgrooves add additional feel and control.

In last year’s MyGolfSpy wedge testing, the Staff Model ZM ranked seventh out of 26 wedges tested for consistency and 11th for spin. A poor accuracy score caused the ZM to rank 22nd overall, however.

Now for the obvious question …

So, if wedges are designed to spin and rust hurts spin, why on earth would anyone want to buy a wedge that’s designed to rust?

When worded like that, the question is almost rhetorical.

Well, as we said above (feel free to scroll up and check if you like), an unfinished face can actually enhance spin due to the lack of plating. Many OEMs are now selling wedges with so-called raw faces, just for that reason. For the avid golfer who considers wedges sacrificial, they’ll most likely replace their wedges before rust becomes a problem.

Cleveland has gone one step further by creating its new wedge material, called RTZ, that doesn’t rust.

In a micro sense, Wilson is giving you a wedge that, in theory, could enhance spin immediately. Like any wedge, it’ll lose spin over time and the spin inconsistency will go into overdrive once the face starts to rust.

In a macro sense, however, Wilson is doing what most companies do when a product line hits its second and final life-cycle year. It’s just trying to jazz it up a little to give year two sales a bit of a jolt.

Wilson Golf Staff Model ZM raw wedges: Specs, price and availability

Wilson’s Staff Model ZM wedges in raw come in even-numbered lofts ranging from 50 to 60 degrees in two-degree increments. They’ll only be available through Wilson’s Golf Club Customizer option on the company’s website.

Sorry, lefties, they’ll be available in right-handed only.

Additionally, since they’re being sold through the Golf Club Customizer, there isn’t what you’d call a “stock” setup. You can specify any grip and shaft in Wilson’s catalog and the price will adjust accordingly. For reference, if you go no-upcharge across the board, each wedge will run $169.99.

If you’re wondering why an unplated raw wedge would cost more than the exact same wedge that goes through the extra plating process, you’re not alone. There is, however, a logical rationale for it.

It’s not the same wedge. Because both have to meet USGA regulations, the plated models, when raw, are a fraction smaller than the raw versions. When the plating is added, they become their specified size. If those plated models were left raw, there’s a likelihood they’d be deemed non-conforming.

The raw models are made to the final specification size. Since more plated models are made and sold than raw models, pricing becomes an issue of scale, not plating.