Building wedges that allow the layman to “Fear No Shot” is the mission of Terry Koehler and the Edison Golf company, and through working with him and his organization on my own new set it’s evident that his understanding and addressing of what makes wedge play a challenge can quickly result in a tremendous tune-up for customers’ short games.
The Edison buying process is a unique experience and I’m excited to share my thoughts on it and the company’s wedges here.
The Process
When I say process I mean a process. Edison has created quite an in-depth process to fit each golfer to the right set of wedges. Almost like Cinderella to her glass slipper. You start your Edison Journey by taking a robust “Wedgefit” questionnaire. This asks for information ranging from your current clubs to the way you play the game today. All of this information is factored in when helping to build your correct wedge profile.
Once the questionnaire is completed you will be contacted by one of the company’s wedge fitters. One of the most important factors in spec’ing the right wedges is gapping. As described in more detail in the WiscoGolfAddict Wedge Buying Guide (linked below), you need consistent distances between the end of your iron set and throughout your wedges. I found Terry’s analysis of my game to be spot on and he recommended a combination of 49-, 53- and 57-degree wedges to round out my bag.
One interesting thing about Edison’s wedge offering is that everything is offered in odd numbers. While most golf enthusiasts are used to 52-, 56- and 60-degree clubs, for example, you won’t find them with Edison. While this may initially throw you, trust the process and the gapping they recommend.
As I continued my Koehler journey I received numerous emails from the company with amazing information about wedge design and technology. It was very interesting to read through facts such as how grind and bounce impact your shots. I thought this detailed communication was awesome and it helped to educate me more on the everyday lingo heard at the course or in the golf shop. For more insight into all the terminology associated with wedges, check out Paul’s Wedge Buying Guide.
Koehler Sole
A unique aspect of the Edison wedges is their Koehler Sole. This sole combines a high bounce angle in the front and low bounce angle in the back. This dual-sole concept allows players the greatest flexibility based on playing conditions.
If your swing is steep or you play in soft conditions, Edison Forged Wedges will perform like a high-bounce wedge. If your swing is shallow or you play in firmer conditions, Edison Forged Wedges will perform like a low-bounce wedge.
Sweet Spot
Terry states it every chance he gets, but he is designing wedges for the common player: Someone who wants forgiveness, control and a little spin, to boot. With those principles in mind, Terry changed the mass of the club to be above the center, creating a larger sweet spot. Honestly, who couldn’t use that? I was very excited to try this for myself and see if Edison’s wedges could deliver on these principles.
Out on the Course
Before receiving my wedges I got another email from Edison outlining the expectations I should set for my new clubs. I was warned they may look and feel a little different than what I’m used to playing, and was additionally reminded that nothing is a silver bullet. Practice will still help hone any golf game (amen to that!). There was also a recommendation to make sure to test and use these wedges on grass. Hitting shots off a mat at the driving range will never simulate a full experience, especially with wedges.
With my reading complete, I finally hit the range to test them out. Following instructions I bypassed the mats and headed straight to the grass area. I noticed the difference in the sole, weight and visual appeal the moment I took my first swings. Because I have been playing off-the-rack standard wedges my entire life, these took some getting used to. I found myself hitting a lot of thin shots until I finally moved them back slightly in my stance. That did the trick instantly and my new wedges started to come alive.
Flight
One thing that was called out was that ball flight may be a little lower with the Edison wedges. I don’t know if I experienced that consistently with many of my shots having a similar trajectory to my previous clubs. This may be due to moving the wedge slightly back in my stance so your experience may differ.
Distance + Feel
After getting enough practice shots in I decided to take the clubs out on the course. I matched up the equivalent wedges from my bag for some shot comparisons. I used a Callaway 50, 54 and 56 to compare to the new Edison clubs. I found my distances to be just about the same when hitting practice shots around the course. I did find, however, that I was able to “jump” on the Edison clubs a bit more out of the rough, giving myself a couple extra yards of distance when I needed it.
For shorter pitch shots around the green I found the heavier club head to make the ball roll out a little more. I think this distance control will be honed a bit after a few more rounds with them. I did notice that I had fewer skulled shots. That is typically a problem for me, and I think the weight of the club helped me make more consistently solid contact. I could also tell the difference in the sole, as I mentioned before. There was definitely a more consistent feel playing from the collar and short rough.
Grooves + Stopping
A difficult transition for me was a move away from a full-face groove pattern like found in clubs like the Callaway Jaws. I have been playing this for years and have always told myself it makes my clubs more forgiving. After speaking with Terry, he told me this is more of a marketing gimmick than a true playing crutch. I had to retrain myself to be ok with a standard groove pattern and trust that I’ll hit a good shot.
Getting to test any new wedge is always a treat, in my opinion, especially when I can see what the stopping power is like. Edison did not disappoint in this category and I was happy with the performance I got. I am not one to overly spin the ball on shots so you won’t see me “zipping” or “pulling the string” when it comes to my short game. That being said, I would like to be able to control the distance as to how far the ball hops forward when it hits the green. I am happy to say that I found the wedges to be great in that regard.
What are you waiting for?
You know that tired old wedge in your bag needs replacement. Trust the expert wedge fitters at Edison to help you build the perfect clubs to take your short game to the next level. Don’t spend another round kicking yourself at the missed chip or skulled pitch. Get the right equipment and conquer the course once and for all.