Bob Vokey recreates his original M Grind in a 1,000-piece run, finished in a color I’ve spent the better part of five years asking for.
The good news is that Slate Blue is back in the Vokey wedge lineup. The bad news is that quantities are limited and scarcity (by design or otherwise) commands a pretty (blue) penny. It’s not exactly what I had in mind when I politely asked (or demanded) that Slate Blue return to the lineup but, for now, we’ll call it a good start.
Earlier this year, in my SM11 story, I asked if anyone had Bob Vokey’s number. Apparently, someone did.
Slate Blue: The long way back
Slate Blue debuted on a limited-edition WedgeWorks T Grind in 2018 and joined the SM7 lineup in 2019. It came back for SM8 and then, without so much as a proper goodbye, it was gone.
SM9 came and went. No Slate Blue. SM10 gave us Nickel, which is, at the risk of stating the obvious, not blue. SM11 arrived this year with Tour Chrome, Nickel, and an enhanced Jet Black. Still no Slate Blue.
Along the way, I’ve threatened to change my name to Tony Slateblue, I’ve asked to speak to the manager and I’ve suggested that the only way to get a Slate Blue wedge out of Vokey was to be Australian. I’m still not Australian. Yet, here we are.
To be clear, nobody is suggesting I’m the reason Slate Blue is back. I’m just saying I’ve been right about this for a long time and I’d like that noted for the record. It is, as it always has been, The Best Finish™.
So, yeah, whether I’m directly responsible for the return or not, you’re welcome. To be clear, the price wasn’t my idea.
The original M Grind
As for the wedge underneath Slate Blue, the Vokey Signature 60M is a recreation of Bob Vokey’s first M Grind, the one that became a PGA Tour favorite nearly 30 years ago and, by Vokey’s own account, “started it all.”
The backstory goes like this. When Vokey started working with PGA Tour players, most were playing full-sole wedges. The only custom grinds were pretty basic: take some material off the heel, take off the trailing edge or reduce bounce in the toe. Vokey’s insight was to combine all three into a single wedge. The result was a crescent-shaped sole that became the M Grind.
The M Grind quickly gained momentum. As Vokey tells it, one player would get a wedge and the next guy would come up and ask for one just like his buddy’s. Over time, the M spawned many of the grinds in the current lineup including the D Grind (forward bounce added to reduce digging) and the T Grind (a narrow, low-bounce sole that lets the leading edge sit almost underneath the ground).
“I think M Grind is Bob’s best work,” said Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill. “It gives you the best of both worlds. It has the bounce you need to hit square-face shots and a shape that allows you to open up the face around the green.”
The Signature 60M combines the original M Grind profile, sole dimensions and shaping with modern SM11 technology. It’s offered in 60 degrees only.
Vokey Signature 60M pricing and availability
Here’s where the fun stops, at least a little. The Vokey Signature 60M wedge retails for $399. That’s roughly double the price of an SM11 and a good chunk of the premium goes toward the signature details including a bag tag designating it as one of only 1,000 available worldwide.
It is what it is … for now.
Stock spec is a Project X wedge shaft with a BV Signature Series shaft band and a Golf Pride BCT Cord grip bearing Vokey’s initials.
Yes, the price is high and, yes, quantities are low. The former won’t offset the latter. My guess is these sell out before your rage subsides.
The Vokey Signature 60M wedge is available worldwide now.
For more information, visit Vokey.com.
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