Golf Wedges

First Look: Callaway Sure Out Wedge

BY Tony Covey
Feb 28th 2017
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20 Second Intro

Model: Callaway Sure Out Wedge
Available Lofts: 58° and 64°
Stock Shafts: KBS Tour 90 (Steel) UST Wedge 65 (Graphite)
MSRP: $119.99

The Sure Out Wedge

When I saw the Callaway Sure Out Wedge at the PGA Show, I was instantly reminded of two things:

The Cleveland Smart Sole Wedge
Basically every infomercial wedge ever made.

To be sure, it’s a design that’s appreciably different than what most of us carry, and for that reason alone, it quickly became a point of discussion at PGA Show between myself and one of the other equipment media guys.

I say it looks pretty good for what it is. The differing opinion; it doesn’t look good, regardless of what it is.

The differing assessments boil down to two things.

Super Game Improvement Wedges Look Weird – mostly because we seldom see them. The majority of golfers, regardless of their ability, carry a conventional blade-style wedge…Vokey, most Cleveland stuff, Mack Daddy, and even the occasional TaylorMade. True game-improvement wedges are few and far between. Super-Game-Improvement wedges? Fewer still. Until now the category included the Cleveland Smart Sole and whatever happens to pop-up on the Golf Channel between showings of Tin Cup. The infomercial component is likely why many of us shake our heads when we see something like the Sure Out.
The Rounded Leading Edge – If you like the way the Callaway PM Grind Wedge sets up (where the rounded leading edge appears to sit a bit under the ball, you’ll likely find the Sure Out a bit more appealing than a guy who hates the way the PM Grind looks at address. I love it. My discussion partner, however; not what you’d call a PM Grind fan.

Why Make Such Visually Distinct Wedge?

Yeah, I’m being kind. Visually distinct is a kinder take on weird looking, perhaps even ugly. So why make such a weird looking wedge? Because it simplifies the game for the target demographic.

If that’s not you, then it’s not you. No hard feelings. No need to grumble, but if it is you, allow me to tell you more.

The Sure Out Wedge is the result of Callaway’s work with Hank Haney. Tiger time behind him, Haney’s current pool of students is mostly made up of middle and high handicap golfers, many of whom admittedly don’t spend a lot of time practicing their short games.

At Haney’s urging Callaway set about to design a high lofted wedge that’s easy to use.

What does that actually mean?

Allow me to answer your question with a question: Have you ever carried a 64° wedge?

Talk about risk reward…

That easy to use stuff means is a wedge that doesn’t require the golfer to change his stance, is designed to be hit with a square face from any lie (no manipulating the face to get out of the bunker), and is basically impossible to chunk, blade, or shank.

There’s a small part of me thinking sign me up right now.

The enhanced playability is the result of Sure Out’s unconventional design. Like the PM Grind the Sure Out features grooves across the full face. So no matter how awful the swing, you’ll (almost) always catch groove.

The wedge is larger heel to toe than a conventional wedge (more forgiveness), and it has a wider (massively wide) sole with lots of bounce and plenty of camber (the radius of the sole front to back) to help the club travel through the fairway, rough, and sand without digging.

All of this, plus a bit of shank-proofing in the hosel transition, should make it easier for guys who struggle with their short games to get up and down more often.

Stock Shafts that Make Sense

Consider that as many stock iron shafts have gotten lighter, wedge shafts have remained on the heavy side. With the Sure Out wedge, Callaway has made a reasonable effort to align the wedge shaft with the type of iron shaft that’s likely in the bags of the intended audience.

Instead of your typical way-above-100-gram offering, the stock shafts in the Sure Out wedge are a 90 gram KBS (steel) or a 65 gram UST (graphite). It’s the kind of makes perfect sense design decision that should further enhance the playability for slower speed golfers including seniors and women.

Specs, Pricing, and Availability

Available in two lofts (58° and 64°) it’s plenty reasonable to say that the Sure Out wedge isn’t for everyone – and I suspect Callaway isn’t banking on it setting the market on fire. For those who struggle with their short games, particularly with higher lofted wedges, however; the Sure Out make a lot of sense…despite its distinctive aesthetic.

The Callaway Sure Out wedge will retail for $119.99. Availability beings 3/10 through CallawayGolf.com.

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Tony Covey

Tony is the Editor of MyGolfSpy where his job is to bring fresh and innovative content to the site. In addition to his editorial responsibilities, he was instrumental in developing MyGolfSpy's data-driven testing methodologies and continues to sift through our data to find the insights that can help improve your game. Tony believes that golfers deserve to know what's real and what's not, and that means MyGolfSpy's equipment coverage must extend beyond the so-called facts as dictated by the same companies that created them. Most of all Tony believes in performance over hype and #PowerToThePlayer.

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Tony Covey

Driver Titleist TSi3	3-Wood Titleist TSi2 13.5°
5-Wood Titleist TSi2 18°	7-Wood Titleist TSi2 21°
Irons (5-9) PXG 0311 GEN5 T	Wedges Vokey SM9 (46° F, 50° F, 54° D, 60° T)
Putter PXG Blackbird	Ball Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash

Tony Covey

comments

Join The Discussion

Patti Bronson

7 years ago

I am a 5’2″ woman who is 71 years old. I am a 27 handicap. Will this club fit me. I’m concerned that it will be too long.

Fyearoldgolfer East of Seattle where it rains twice as much more

7 years ago

6 years ago some members had a snit when ongoing heavy rains would pull a significant amount of sand out of our bunkers, plus we get a lot of rain in the off season, that’s why they allow metal spikes November 1st to March 31st, with extensions if the water table is barely below the surface. They had just been redesigned with USGA drainage drain piping, buried overlapping sod, water permeable layer, two years before. Any steep banked bunker is going to have sand come down from the face in a heavy rain, and if the water buildup exceeds the drainage, (water table, natural area, limited recourse to build drainage) there will be sand eroding out of the low point of the bunker lip. Back edge of bunkers were raised and 18 inched of our soft sand was added above the washed out portion. With play, tractor weight raking of the sand, it was now 6 – 9 inches to the bottom of the bunkers, fluffed shots were the norm and any complaints were referred back to sand movement complaint. I purchased a Hogan Sure Out 58* and started empting some pockets. But then health issues have kept me off the course for 4 – 5 years and I am out of the loop of the current bunker setup and preparation. The Sure Out has a beveled leading edge to scoop balls out of down lies or some idiots unrepaired divot, wide sole insures there will be sand displacement even with very little bounce. When I heal up I will hit the bunkers with my Hogan Fifty-Three, the best sand wedge ever engineered, a little practice and I will fly it to the pin and jizz it to a stop a couple feet for birdie/par.

Dave

7 years ago

Might have to try one just to see …

Patrick Doherty

7 years ago

This is all I see

Fran Steffler

7 years ago

Sure! If it helps golfers enjoy the game more, why not?

Jeremy

7 years ago

Fran,
I agree with you. This club is not designed for the golfer who can hit a normal wedge out of bad lies or bunkers. This club is designed for the everyday golfer who either doesn’t have the time to practice as much or one that just struggles with these shots. Golf has been in a decline for the past couple years now and I think anything that manufacturers can do to make this game easier or more fun for the average Joe or Jane can only benefit the game in the king run.
Jeremy

Matt Bo

7 years ago

Isn’t the Mygolfspy spirit to test and determine if these truly help a golfer? More specifically, it seems this article suggests these forgiving wedges could help the 10 – 20 handicap player that has a poor short game. I have no doubt this is true. My question is, despite the ugly look of the clubs (i agree), would these make a good short game player even better? Why do we assume there would be little value to a pretty good player? I have an okay short game (8 handicap) and I can tell you I am markedly better with the Cleveland Smart Sole than my Callaway Mackdaddy or previous Titlest Vokey wedge. It’s not even close. I say let’s test these forgiving wedges across the skill spectrum and see how they perform.

Lex

7 years ago

Well said my man, test a variety of skill levels and let the boys and girls make their decisions. I have a need to replace my 60 wedge and would be heavily swayed by the test and the knowledge of my skill level

Tom Connell

7 years ago

The “Bite Wedge” made by Gene Lesch, Professional at the Arizona Country Club was the best !

Gary Potter

7 years ago

The Hogan Sure Out of the early ’60’s had the wide flange but close to zero bounce. Thus Could hit it easily off hard pan if you didn’t open it up. I still have a couple of them in my collection.

Al Sherbo

7 years ago

Hogan had a “Sure Out” wedge back in the 1960’s, if I remember right, so basic design is not that new.

Chester Morin

7 years ago

Used to have a Ben Hogan sure out years ago.

David St.Clair

7 years ago

Test them!

Lance Ferguson

7 years ago

Dean Ferguson. Never up never in!

Bob Gomavitz

7 years ago

For all those that hated TMAG, I am starting to get it as the Callaway train comes rolling thru the Golf Industry feeding the consumer more stuff like this than TMAG ever did! Start writing your article on the rise and fall of an Industry Giant right now.

Michael Eleftheriou

7 years ago

Haha

Brian Cook

7 years ago

Not even a mention of the original Sure Out by Hogan? You guys should be better than that.

Gary Bridgewater

7 years ago

I used to have a Hogan Sure Out. This is kind of like Hollywood remaking a movie every 15 years or so.

Todd D Heugly

7 years ago

Go take lessons and learn how to use your wedges. This club will not help those who have horrible technique.

Arnie Kourtjian

7 years ago

For SURE

Steve Thorne

7 years ago

Alien Wedge from the 90s.

Steve Thorne

7 years ago

Look back about 80 years and you will see the same thing.

Kevin Loichle

7 years ago

Thinking they are more like the ATV wedges from TM.

Dave S

7 years ago

It’s a shame they had to go and stamp “SURE OUT” on the bottom, making it look even more like an infomercial wedge. I’m sure they want to advertise the difference b/w this and their normal wedges, but most people who want a club like this would prefer it didn’t scream to everyone in eyesight: “I SUCK!!” haha.

Jon

7 years ago

I would really like to see you test this one. My brother in law gamed the Alien years ago and it was a boon to his sand game. After watching the XE1 commercials and the C3i commercials I started to think that one of the these types of clubs would be great for my wife. She is a fair weather golfer who hates the sand. Also, I thought if it really worked for her I would consider one, even though I am really happy with my 58 degree Cleveland 588 RTX.

I have spent as much time as she will let me trying to teach her how to hit out of the sand to no avail. It would be great to see you test as many of these as you can, only how about with women testers? But not women that can already hit out of the sand but ones that can’t.

Tony, though you may have done it and I missed it, I don’t remember any female specific tests that you have done. I know you must have a number of female followers on this site but if you did this kind of test with women, you might be able to increase that demographic.

Just a thought.

cksurfdude

7 years ago

Good point.

Bought my wife a Tour Edge 1-Out Plus, counterbalanced and light graphite shaft.

I have the 1-Out. Both have a heavy head with a really wide flange that has a lot of bounce and a lot of camber.

Excellent club to help get out of soft bunkers, deep rough and other buried lies, etc.

Sean Wicks

7 years ago

Please do. I think this is awesome for people like my dad who are getting into golf at the tip age of 70. Makes the game that much easier.

Oren Geri

7 years ago

Yes!

Chris Komas

7 years ago

Test everything!

Cory Tolliver

7 years ago

Yes! My dad added the xe1 last season as he could never hit a flop or lob shot. These clubs belong in players bags who stab chip

John Duval

7 years ago

Wedge design can help, but no amount of golf club trickery will help without at least some skill. Seve learned bunker shots with a 4 iron. Technique always beats technology.

Tom Smith

7 years ago

You’re right, John. Agree 100%, but the average player (15 to 25 hdcp) does not practice, particularly short game. Have done many bunker clinics and rarely did I see the students in the practice bunkers.

Dave S

7 years ago

Did you read the article though? This wedge has a “target demographic” that is typically made up of mid-to-high handicappers who have trouble with their short game, especially bunker play. This demographic may not have the time or resources to practice much, let alone the short game, which many public courses don’t have (you can’t practice bunker shots at a driving range).

Seve is not a good example, b/c clearly he practiced a TON… it was how he made his living. There’s a sizable fraction of the public for which hitting into a bunker is an automatic double bogey (or worse). I don’t see any issue with there being a club that can help them get out of these situations with as little damage as possible.

indyvic

7 years ago

Exactly! You finished out this so so article with common sense. Why not provide recreational golfers with game improvement clubs without the attitude? After all they are the ones playing and paying all across the planet and advancing the game. Pros and scratch golfers can’t grow the game like the public can. So what if Callaway offers an easy to use wedge? Ever hear of aluminum bats?

John Sears

7 years ago

Callaway copying someone else once again. How about standing up for “the little guy” in XE1 and NOT testing this wedge, nor posting about giving them free publicity…

Devlin Keenoy

7 years ago

Callaway owns the Original Hogan copyrights. Apex, Sure out, etc. Not really copying, just re-introducing

Dave S

7 years ago

MGS is not in the business of “standing up” for anyone. It shouldn’t matter who makes the club, they should all be on an equal playing field in terms of testing and performance. I can assure you XE1 or C3i don’t have a patent on this wedge design… in fact, I think they copied it from the Cleveland Smart Sole in the first place. MGS should test them all and see which is objectively the best.

MyGolfSpy

7 years ago

Agree 100%.

Bob

7 years ago

Cleveland has been making this style of wedge for years, the Smart Sole. That’s not to say they invented it but they’ve certainly perfected it.

Their smart sole alone has more market share in wedges than Cobra, Ping, and Nike (when they were out).

There’s a market for this and Callaway is just trying to get their piece as they do in every category.

Chester Morin

7 years ago

Nope, purchased Hogan years ago and kept rights to some of the names and such. Apex was one, sure out must be another.

Alex Shaw

7 years ago

Why not have a little explore on how to improve technique. The club can’t do anything about flawed fundamentals/ideas on how to go about playing a bunker shot

Michael

7 years ago

The C3i wedge is a massively improved XE1. It works well from all lies. I actually have a short game and would not be a targeted golfer, but it has improved my game. The C3i is good from tight lies. I’m sure that the Cally sure out will get out of the sand and rough, but I need to see what it does from tight lies with the high bounce.

Dave S

7 years ago

What club did the C3i replace in your bag (LW or SW)? I see it’s like 64 degrees so I’m assuming LW. Looks like the Cally is quite a bit lower lofted (58). Do you find the 64 deg to be too high?

James Wallace

7 years ago

13 GROOVES

Adam Varney

7 years ago

Seriously, how hard is it to learn basic fundamentals anymore? It only takes 15 minutes to learn how to hit a bunker shot. It’s one of the easiest shots in golf.

John Duval

7 years ago

Agreed. Only shot in golf where you don’t have to hit the ball!

Ron Gillette

7 years ago

I have a hard time with it, especially when the bunkers are more dirt than sand and the ground beneath is hard packed.

keith irvine

7 years ago

I agree with Ron. I find the problem is when the sand varies from bunker to bunker. Digging your feet in helps so some degree, but playing at a public course, you can never be sure how much sand is below the ball or if there is hardpan just under a thin layer of sand. Has ruined many a game for me, and I do practice bunker shots on a regular basis. It is the variable which is the problem for most…imo..

Adam Varney

7 years ago

If you fixed your fundamentals you wouldn’t have any problems. Open your stance, open the face, swing down your feet line, hit behind the ball. Based on your comment, you don’t understand the basics. Buying a wedge with even more bounce will not help you with hard bunkers. It will only make it worse. Only fix is to learn it and practice it a little bit.

Adam Varney

7 years ago

And you probably aren’t swinging hard enough. Club needs to be moving fast enough that it doesn’t bounce off the hard pan or get stuck in the ground.

John Duval

7 years ago

Ron – in firm sand, you want less bounce. With too much bounce in firm sand the wedge will bounce into the ball. You want to get under it. Square the face up a bit more or use a club with less bounce. Assuming your technique is sound, that’s the easy fix for firm sand/dirt.

Dave S

7 years ago

The issue is not with the level of difficulty of the bunker shot, in a vaccuum, but the fact that it differs significantly from pretty much any other shot you’ll hit. It’s like having to totally change your stance, set-up, swing and contact point a few times throughout a round. For those that don’t have the time or resources to practice the short game much, this can be a problem.

Ibo

7 years ago

Well, that’s why it’s a specialist shot. Not too much to worry about once you get setup, grip and the concept of hitting behind right.

Dan

7 years ago

Would you test these against the Cleveland Smart Sole line please?

Ron

7 years ago

Agreed if you are going to test them then put them head to head with Cleveland Smart Sole 2.0 so we can see which is better.
Thank you.

Tom Smith

7 years ago

Sold 100’s of Hogan “Sure Out” sand irons and the players loved them. These Callaways will help the average golfer tremendously. Good move, Chip.

Adam Andrew

7 years ago

You mean they re-made the Alien Wedge?

Kenny B

7 years ago

One guy I play with had an XE-1 wedge last year and used it on some lies in the rough; not sand. He is a 6 hcp and really didn’t need it. Before he sold it, I borrowed it; didn’t like it. I let my wife use it; she didn’t like it; said it was too heavy. She could probably benefit from this Callaway version with the lighter shaft.

Jason Humes

7 years ago

uh… YES!… you should actually let the forum members test a few so you get real world results along with your test results!

Santiago Lahitou

7 years ago

Hogan sure out

Robert Hwang

7 years ago

I really struggle in the bunker so I’d def like to know if this is a good club for someone like myself.

Tom Smith

7 years ago

This club was designed specifically for players like you. Lots of bounce, but not a real deep flange….just deep enough to keep from digging.

Matt Bellner

7 years ago

Test it and they will read.

Vincent D’Antonio

7 years ago

Well it’s a wedge with a lot of bounce so….

Michael Manavian

7 years ago

Technically, it’s got a wide sole so it better have little bounce but love the photo

Vincent D’Antonio

7 years ago

Looks like they’ve revolutionized the golf industry.

Shanon Hoyt

7 years ago

Why wouldn’t you? Seems presumptive to assume people wouldn’t want to know.

Aleksi Lepistö

7 years ago

Probably could sell lots of these

Burt Zielke

7 years ago

If it is conforming test it

Connor Gagnon

7 years ago

Id say they should be tested alongside the Cleveland Smart sole and perhaps the XE1 as well

K Hadden Miller

7 years ago

Pass

Scott Romines

7 years ago

yes, test them out of greenside bunkers vs conventional wedges…..using ‘everyday’ golfers who struggle with those shots….would be great

cksurfdude

7 years ago

Have the Tour Edge 1-Out (58-14; my 54° and 50° are standard style). I’m a decent – not great, but not poor – wedge and short game player. This wedge has really helped me *easily* get the ball out of deep rough, bunkers and other messy lies. Believe many recreational / weekend players could benefit from carrying one .. or more .. wedges of this type.

John Muir

7 years ago

I need an entire set of these. :-(

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