The golf equipment market is competitive. I understood it at a Macro level for a very long time, but my eyes were opened once it became my profession.
Everyone does this innovation thing well.
YES, there are some that have the ability to raise the bar year in and year out (we are superb at this), with some hitting home runs year after year, but ultimately, the bar and its movement upwards become more nuanced and harder to achieve as we go along. Take metal woods for example, if you are paying attention, gone are the claims of 10-15-20 yards longer. It’s now a game of efficiency, quality of miss, and spin management. In all honesty, it’s those details that are actually best for golfers. HOWEVER, finding the sunlight amongst the cloud of information and claims becomes more of a challenge.
I can look at our CHROME TOUR/X platform and point to a significant uptick in performance compared to previous years. Significant is the keyword there. Paradym and Ai-Smoke, same drill. The last two years have been an R&D triumph because that bar I mentioned earlier went a foot or two up the rack as opposed to the normal few inches.
BUT WHAT ABOUT WEDGES?
This is where the situation gets very tricky. WHY? Well, wedges don’t require ball speed, maximum launch vs. minimal spin, etc. You can’t make hyperbolic statements about wedges. At the end of the day, wedge tech hasn’t and shouldn’t evolve all that much. Some have tried to overcomplicate the issue, but the classics still remain the standard by which we all live.
A wedge from 20-25 years ago can still perform today and perform well, assuming the grooves are still there. The point is, for the AVID golfer, wedges are a club that are typically replaced every year and, for some, even more. So what players require is predictability…actually, I’ll take it a step further…
What they require is SIMPLICITY. Wedges are used almost as much as the putter and are a piece of equipment that can’t afford to “surprise” you mid-round. Even for higher handicaps, a wedge MUST perform properly for scores to go down. It’s one of those clubs that have a DIRECT and TARGETED impact on your scores. A good wedge for some can outpace even poor technique.
The application of mass technology can only take a wedge so far. It’s not to say that technology doesn’t make an impact, but I have found that with wedges, the human touch can make the biggest impact, and in the case of OPUS, it’s proven to be true.
Designed in the modern but perfected with a nod to history.
INTRODUCING THE NEW CALLAWAY OPUS AND OPUS PLATINUM WEDGES
Let’s first define what a GOOD wedge does…
-Looks good at address and laid open (I’ll explain this)
-Feels good
-Interacts with the turf properly
-Versatility
-Forgiveness (YES, this is big)
-Grind Options
-Keeps the ball flight DOWN
-SPIN SPIN SPIN (Grooves)
-Validated by the best players in the world
Ask any avid golfer what makes a good wedge, and I guarantee that the above features will cover just about everything.
SO WHAT IS OPUS?
With the Jaws Raw platform as successful as it was, something was missing. It needs to be said that, like putters, wedges are an emotional category. Every player is looking, listening, and watching for a feel. All great wedges have a “click’ when struck properly, almost like the snapping of fingers. On TOUR, it will sometimes be the make or break of whether a wedge gets playing time or not. Actually, I think sound comes into play more than anything else. This “click” is produced by the proper harmony between the shape, the sole, the metal, and the grooves.
Jaws Raw achieved this in many ways, but on TOUR, there were some notes…
The TOUR wish list
-More offset
-More radius upfront (roundness at the leading edge)
-If at all possible, more spin
-HIGHER CG
This was the list that our TOUR R&D team had to satisfy, and off they went to create a work of art, AKA OPUS.
The notebook of the Tour R&D specialist Dean Teykl
All great art is SIMPLE, and that’s what we have now. The OPUS wedge uses modern techniques to craft an old-school tool.
If I had to nail it down, I’d say what we have here is a simple, old-school shape that asks zero compromise of the player. Sometimes, after all the R&D, marketing, etc., the simplest answer is the correct one. I tend to say, “Just play the hits” a ton in this gig. Well, Opus is exactly that.
We all had a wedge in the past that we loved. For me, it was the 588, Ping Eye 2 copper, and Callaway MD5 T. All three of those were elite for different reasons, but ultimately, it was the user experience that made them tick. I had immense trust in all of them and felt like there wasn’t a shot I couldn’t call upon. Now, to be fair to other wedges, there were some bangers, but the performance chart had more peaks and valleys.
If I rank wedge categories on a scale of 1-10, some wedges may have some 10s but also have some 2s and 3s. The REALLY good wedges have nothing but 7s and 8s.
The OPUS Elevator Pitch (Via Callaway)
Callaway’s very best in wedge design, taking wedge play around the world to an entirely new level. By utilizing an all-new SpinGen Face Technology™, three elements of spin come together to provide short-game action and control like never before. We’ve spent hours poring over every detail of shape and design with the very best players in the world so you can have a wedge that sits confidently behind the ball, poised to hit any shot your game may require.
Spin Gen Face Technology™ (Opus and Platinum)
Spin Gen Face Technology provides spin and control in your wedges by combining three key elements on the face: an all-new tighter pitch that puts more grooves on the face, offset groove-in-groove for spin when opening the face, and a new aggressive face blast that provides spin and bite on partial shots. These three elements work in conjunction to provide a crisp, tour-level spin.
Tour Certified Shaping (Opus and Platinum)
Opus wedges are the most Tour-tested, Tour-validated shapes in Callaway history. A higher toe peak, radius in the leading edge, and easier hosel transitions make Opus our best wedge shape ever.
Long hosel length in the 58/60’s to raise CG for ower ball flight and increased spin. All of the great wedges of the past have a longer hosel which raises the CG. In past models adding a weight pad to the top of the wedge was a way to do it but the longer hosel is the best. The hosels get progressively shorter as the lofts go down to harmonize with shot preference, speed and launch conditions.
Grind Options to Fit Your Game
Your technique travels with you, so finding the right grind for your swing is paramount in wedge play. With Opus, we have a complete lineup of narrow and wide sole shapes, available in our popular S grind, forgiving W, versatile C, and Tour-favorite T grind.
Premium Components and Finishes
Opus is available in two finishes: brushed chrome and black shadow. A raw version is also available only for customs. Stock shaft options include True Temper Dynamic Gold MID 115g (steel) and UST Recoil DART HDC shaft 65g (graphite) paired with the Golf Pride Tour Velvet +2 Gray.
Opus Platinum
Very few times in club design can you say a true barrier has been broken. Opus Platinum is a true leap forward in wedge technology, fusing advancements from metal injection molding (MiM) and tungsten for launch control. MiM Construction has opened the door for Callaway to deliver precision in wedge construction like never before, dialing in touch and feel where players need it. Tungsten has been incorporated into the topline, bringing the flight lower for more control and spin into greens.
MiM Construction for Precise Feel
Opus Platinum has been designed through metal injection molding (MiM), using a proprietary blend of metals to dial in performance and feel precise. This delivers the ultimate in wedge performance, deserving of the Opus Platinum name.
Bonded Tungsten for a Lower, More Controlled Flight
By using tungsten high in the top line, we’re able to give players a shot that will naturally launch lower, providing more control and spinning into the green.
Ultra Premium Components and Finishes
Opus Platinum is available in two stunning finishes: an all-new Platinum Chrome and an ultra-premium Platinum Blue. It also features an upgraded True Temper Dynamic Gold MID in a Gunmetal finish (115g) or the graphite UST Recoil DART HDC (65g), with a premium grey/black MCC grip from Golf Pride.
The Grinds:
T-Grind | Tour Inspired for Precise Shotmaking
Developed for tour players with tremendous feel and touch around the greens, the T Grind is a shot-makers grind. Shaped with tons of heel relief, the leading edge will stay low even when opening the face. Think open-face players who want almost all of the ownership to be on them.
C-Grind | Maximum Versatility for Skilled Players
A crescent grind, designed with toe and heel relief to keep the leading edge low
when opening the face. Players who can maintain swing speed through the ball while opening the face are able to manufacture a variety of greenside shots with the C grind. Players that hit shots with spin and a shallower AOA will respond well here. Think WIDE delivery, shallow, and speed.
Z-Grind (Platinum Only) | Shotmakers Grind with Versatility & Reduced Dig
A tri-level sole design with an aggressive leading-edge chamfer that acts as a skid plate for enhanced turf interaction. The chamfer also reduces digging, making this a more playable low-bounce grind. This is a versatile grind around the course, as we have optimized the bounce to have more in the sand wedges and a bit less in the Lob Wedges. Available in Opus Platinum only.
S-Grind | A Grind for Every Situation
Standard medium-width sole with a slight ribbon at the back and moderate heel relief to keep the leading edge low through impact. Think fastball down the middle, a wedge grind that works at any loft and will allow any shot.
W-Grind | Wide Sole for Max Forgiveness
Our widest full-sole option has generous camber and high bounce to promote skidding and reduce digging. Think forgiveness (especially out of the bunkers), but don’t for a minute think it’s a high handicap wedge. In my opinion, this W has more better players in it than you may see.
OPUS OPTIONS
OPUS Platinum OPTIONS
So….what exactly am I getting here?
This is where, in the past, I might point to trackman data or marketing speak, but I won’t today. No need here. The truth is, that isn’t really the story. Opus was designed as an evergreen product, a tool to be used and trusted for a long time. If you follow TOUR bags at all, wedges don’t change much. Sure, the badging and some small tweaks here and there might happen, but the shape and overall experience do not. That’s the idea with OPUS: creating a shape and a few that will stand the test of time.
Wanna see what an “AHA” moment looks like for a TOUR player?
The TOUR CONVERSION has been immediate, but there was a little bait and switch that happened…namely the S6 (AKA Shape 6)
Since the Genesis (EARLY DAYS testing) and US Open last year, OPUS has been on TOUR.
OPUS Proto from Genesis 2023
Opus Platinum PROTO from Genesis 2023
The OG S6 from LACC US OPEN 2023
This was put in the bag at LACC last year, and the field testing began. As we moved towards the fall/winter, more S6 wedges went into the bags of players like Kirk, Bez, Svenny, and Will Gordon. There was a “Wide C/6 and a Narrow C/4,” both disguised as a Jaws Raw to hide from the WRX crowd:)
The immediate TOUR feedback was “YES!!”
The main thing was the shape; most TOUR players like a bit of offset and some roundness to the leading edge area. WHY? Because if there is too little offset and too square a leading edge when the wedge is laid open, it looks like the ball is going to go 100 yards to the right. When there is some roundness and offset, the player has the optical confidence to release the club head and knows the ball will start in the window they want. This is HUGE and probably the biggest change we made VS Jaws Raw.
Jaws Raw (Left) vs OPUS (Right)
Opus
Jaws Raw
As you can see, these are very slight tweaks, but the devil is in the details. Our tour staff reacted to those slight mods very quickly and very positively.
Who has OPUS in play TODAY…
Rahm (60), Xander (52), Akshay (54/60), Min (50), Nico Hojgaard (50/56/60), Rasmus Hojgaard (52/56/60, Rose (58), EVR (60), Kirk (52/56/60), Hadwin (52/56/60), BEZ (60), Detry (50/54/58), Si Woo (52/58), Ronni Yin (58)
… to name a few.
My Take
Look, I’m not going to over-sell or overtalk this thing into submission. I don’t need to.
The Opus wedges are a simple, clean, and classic design that satisfies every category that players ask of a wedge. There is no crazy tech story here; just years of club design experience, a ton of notes and feedback from our tour staff, and a now great wedge platform that we could let ride for a long time.
If we stopped making wedges at any point and this was the final “Opus,” we would have very little concern. These will stand the test of time.
More content to come…
Happy Hunting
LFG
JDub
