Short-game skill is short-game skill. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing the latest equipment or a golf ball released two seasons ago, what you do around the greens comes down to feel, repetition and touch. That said, it’s still worth pulling back the curtain on what the best short-game players on the PGA Tour have in the bag. We looked at the current Strokes Gained: Around the Green leaders and broke down the wedges and golf balls they’re playing. Here’s what we found.
Titleist has a lot to do with this
The single biggest takeaway from this data is how thoroughly Titleist owns the short-game conversation. Four of the 10 best players in SG: Around the Green carry Vokey wedges. Four of them play a Pro V1 or Pro V1x.
Scottie Scheffler is still gaming SM8s. Brandt Snedeker, Nick Taylor and Eric Cole are all still on the SM10 with nobody having switched to the new SM11 wedges.
The Maxfli Tour X has a spot near the top
Even though it doesn’t carry the same price tag as the other tour-level balls on this list, the Maxfli Tour X performed well in our 2025 golf ball test. Ranking near the top of the field in ball speed at high swing speeds and spinning north of 5,900 rpm in the 35-yard wedge test, the Maxfli Tour X also stood out as a strong choice for greenside control.
Ben Griffin has had success with it on the PGA Tour and, at a price point well below the Pro V1 or TP5x, it’s worth a look if you’re trying to stretch your equipment budget without giving up short-game performance.
Almost every player on this list carries a 60-degree wedge
Amateur golfers often shy away from the lob wedge. The higher loft can feel unpredictable and a lot of recreational players worry about making clean contact. But look at this list and the message is pretty clear. Nine of the 10 best short-game players on the PGA Tour carry a 60-degree lob wedge. The one exception is Nick Taylor, who tops out at 58 degrees.
The professionals know that when you need a shot to stop quickly, check up on a firm green or get up and over something in a hurry, that extra loft isn’t optional. If you’ve been leaving the lob wedge out of your bag, this might be the nudge to reconsider.
Gary Ferguson
1 month ago
Personally I do not carry a 60deg but playing most UK courses we do not have the deep penal rough on the fringe of the green like so many US courses. I do own 60 deg wedges but find as I have become older that I have more need for clubs at the longer end of the bag to hit numbers or optimal trajectories into greens. Maybe this is an age thing as growing up we did not have 60deg wedges and learned to play opening up the face of the 56 to cope and adjusting the ball position when you need the high soft landing shot.
I do practice and tend to do chipping with 12 balls numbered 1 to 3 and use the number to dictate the shot type 1 normal, 2 High and 3 low spinner