Ping · Wedge · 2021
Glide Forged Pro
CaddyIndex™ breakdown: what our research found across each of the six performance dimensions, with cited sources.
You're a skilled ball-striker who wants one of the highest-spinning, most compact forged wedges for shot-making and shaping around the green.
You need forgiveness from a bigger head, or you want a buttery, audibly soft forged feel - this one is compact and surprisingly muted.
Pros
- One of the highest-spinning wedges you can buy - Friction Face and wheel-cut grooves
- A compact tour shape with two grinds (S and T) for shot-making and shaping
- Pinpoint accuracy and consistent performance that surprised reviewers
- Tour-validated - played on the major tours by elite shot-makers
Cons
- Limited forgiveness - a compact wedge built for highly skilled players
- Feel is surprisingly nondescript for a forged wedge - neither soft nor hard, with little audio feedback
- A rounded leading edge and hosel transition look a touch unrefined
By dimension
Forgiveness
Players'-level, with a little help - built for the highly skilled player and not aiming for forgiveness, though tungsten toe weighting provides some good forgiveness compared to others in its class, nothing too extreme. The pro-focused option versus the more forgiving cast Glide. Demanding but not punishing for a compact forged wedge.
Distance
Elite spin and control - one of the highest-spinning wedges you can buy, with higher spin and a lower launch from the raised CG, the new Friction Face surface texture adding more spin. Pinpoint distance control on the scoring shots.
Workability
Tour-caliber shot-making - the narrower S sole with less bounce gives more scope to manoeuvre the clubface and play different shots without the leading edge rising too high, with two grinds (S and T) and a compact shape for shaping shots. Among the more workable wedges for a skilled player.
Feel
Forged, but surprisingly neutral - the forged 8620 carbon steel gives a soft feel and control, but impact can be nondescript, neither soft nor hard, hitting a premium ball. Solid and controlled rather than the buttery feel the name implies.
Sound
Very quiet - impact is very quiet with virtually no audio feedback on strike quality, a muted, understated note. Clean but low-information acoustically.
Looks at address
Very compact - a very compact head, as small as any wedge in recent memory, appealing to better players, though the rounded leading edge and hosel transition look a touch unrefined, with a clean, tour-inspired shape. A small, purposeful players' profile.
Sources
Some of the reviews, lab tests and head-to-head comparisons we read while grading this club.