Review – Harry Taylor Wedges

Previously, we introduced Harry Taylor and the Series 305. Now, we’re back to tell you if they’re any good. The quick answer is yes… well, for 80% of you it’s yes. More on that in a bit.

There’s a plenty to like in the Series 305, which we’ll get to, but first let’s address the obvious shortcomings. Many of you commented on the limited loft and bounce options. You were further annoyed with minimal finish options (satin or black). The lineup certainly doesn’t offer the veritable cornucopia of options some of us are used to. When I asked Harry about this, his reply was “You’re right. You’re exactly right.”

Harry isn’t dumb. In fact, he’s well aware of what he’s up against and it is just dang tough to start a company without the financial resources of a major OEM. Given these limitations, Harry needed to build a wedge that had maximum playability for the majority of golfers. Harry readily admits “This is an 80/20 kind of deal.” Translation: One out of every five of you aren’t going to like it, try it or buy it.

He’s not after the hardcore wedge fanatic or the player who packs several wedges for different course conditions. Harry’s target is the player who wants to pay a “bargain price for a premium product.”

 

So, Can One Size Really Fit Most?

What about the guy who has a 45* or 46* pitching wedge and doesn’t want a 6* or 7* gap from their pitching wedge to their strong sand wedge/gap wedge? Harry’s answer – “Too many golfers try to hit their short irons and wedges too far.” Translation: Higher swing speed players could benefit from learning to hit a variety of shots with their wedges by learning how to throttle down. However, Harry did indicate a 50* option is likely in future releases, indicating this gap in the product line is a bit of a miss.

Another mitigating factor is direct to consumer sales. Without a middle-man in play, some costs are averted, but it provides some barriers to access which is not ideal.

Harry’s positive spin on this is – “We’re the only one doing it this way and I have a tremendous amount of faith in Paul and his ability to market.” This isn’t Harry’s first club design and it certainly isn’t Paul’s first marketing challenge. Emphasis on the word challenge, in that golf clubs are much different than golf balls and other typical DTC items. With balls and accessories, the cost per item is low, so if you buy it and don’t like it, you’re out a couple bucks.

With clubs, it’s an entirely different deal.  If a player can’t see, feel, and smell a product before they shell out $100 for it, I think it’s going to be a tough sell. Consider a company like Bridgestone, who has a track record of excellence and PGA tour exposure, yet the lack of product availability is a common complaint from would-be consumers.

Color me skeptical.

That said, I’m certain there are plenty of people who fall right into Harry’s “one size fits most” approach. Hey, you have to start somewhere and Harry went with what his decades of club design and gut told him. You do have to keep in mind this gut is the product of conversations and feedback from people like Nick Faldo, Luke Donald and Lee Trevino. The stock C grind (below) is pleasantly versatile and the DGS400 shaft is still my go-to wedge shaft.

Who cares about all of that… I thought you were going to tell us if they’re any good?

In taking these wedges to my course, they get my “90/90” stamp. I could play around 90% of the shots in about 90% of situations I typically face on the course. That said, depending on who you are, that other 10% might be a big deal – and if you’re a tournament or competitive player who can’t afford to leave anything to chance, 10% is a dealbreaker.

I do love the slightly rounder look at address, primarily because it really doesn’t look that different if I need to open the face a bit or get creative trying to hit different shots around the green. The more teardrop-shaped the club is the more off-kilter it looks to me whenever I try to open the face or do anything other than hit a straight-faced shot.

 “Why wedges and why right now?”

What on God’s green earth could convince Harry to start a wedge business and go toe to toe with Bob Vokey and Roger Cleveland? Well, a couple things.

First, for all intents and purposes Harry should be dead. On June 7^th, 2014 Harry collapsed on the course; his heart weakened by a virus. Doctors said over 80% of people who suffer such an episode die. With that reality weighing heavy upon Harry’s mind, there was no time like the present to, for the first time, finally stamp his name on the outside of club.

Secondly, he’s not going up against the juggernauts of the industry. While “Voke” and Roger are dear friends, Harry is working on his own definition of success. While he readily admits “Me and Paul certainly have some wedges to sell”, there’s a lot of satisfaction in getting a product to market and feeling confident you’ve done exactly what you set out to do.

So where does this leave us?

With premium cast wedges (Vokey SM6 anyone?) pushing the $150 mark, the Series 305 performs just as well, feels softer, and will work for the majority of golfers. This wedge is worth every bit of $99, but if they don’t sell there’s not going to be a Series 405, 306, or whatever number might be next in line.

Additionally, there’s a juxtaposition of premium and generic which is hard to resolve. Harry’s pedigree and body of work as a club designer is worthy of any accolades you want to throw at him. He did, after all, design several irons which are on my personal Mount Rushmore – namely the Mizuno MP 32 and MP 60. Once you get the wedge on the course, my guess is people are going to love how the club looks and performs.

At the same time, the graphics look cluttered and too much like the Tom Watson 3-wedge pack from Adams. To boot, the limited options aren’t going to satisfy the more demanding players, especially someone who might be on the fence but can’t try one at their local course or big box store. It’s almost like Harry is still living in the world in which he played, where it was more about hitting shots and less about Trackman. Where clubs really only came in one “color” and the game wasn’t so hell bent on catering to every consumer want and need. But, at the end of the day, Harry asserts “If I can put it in my bag and use it with confidence, it’s good enough to sell.”

Maybe Harry’s right. Maybe he’s not. Either way, we’re going to find out.

Something You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

Series 305 is not some convoluted code or homage to the Miami area code. It actually comes from the CEO of a multi-level company for whom Harry’s wife and daughter work. During an all company gathering, every day at exactly 3:05 PM, everyone would stop, the CEO would say “Hi-Five 3:05” and that’s exactly what everyone would do – so many people, in fact, they set the Guinness Book world record for most hi-fives exchanged at a single time.

Hard to knock that kind of positive mojo.