Equipment

2012 PING Gorge Wedges: Story, Pictures and Video

Published

14 years ago

Jul 25, 2012

Rob Miller

For the complete write up on GolfWRX’s trip to PING HQ, click here.

by SheriffBooth

This summer, Ping is releasing its next evolution in its wedge line. Building on the success of the Tour-S wedges, Ping is calling the new line “Gorge” to highlight the new groove milling process that the company has implemented. GolfWRX was invited to Ping Headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona for an introduction to this new product.

Our first look came during a technical presentation by Ping’s Director of Engineering, Brad Schweigert. He shared that, with the new groove rule, Ping was forced to take a hard look at the best way to maximize spin and performance while staying within the groove dimension parameters. The answer for Ping was to focus on production tolerances and they felt that the only way they could achieve the high tolerance level they were hoping for was to bring the milling process home to Phoenix, AZ, USA.

Wedge blanks are received, groove free, from Ping’s overseas production facility. The blanks are delivered to Ping’s “Milling Room” on campus and grooves are computer milled using their proprietary method. According to Schweigert, the Gorge milling process creates the sharpest groove edge radius on the market today and mimics the grooves prior to the rule change a few years ago. The milling room runs 22 hours a day, 7 days a week, producing the entire world’s supply of Tour wedges with Gorge grooves.

I am currently a Tour-S player, and I felt an immediate sense of familiarity with the Gorge. Very little is changed with the shape, which in my opinion is a good thing. What is different is the finish – Ping has chosen a dark gray (Ping calls it “Dark Satin”) finish that looks fantastic.

Also new with the Gorge wedges is a selection of sole grinds. The TS grind (currently available in the Tour-S) is a low bounce option ideal for players that frequently encounter firm playing conditions or take a very shallow divot. The SS grind is the most versatile, mid bounce option which is probably most similar to the current grinds on the standard Tour-S models. And finally a WS grind is being added to the line, which is for players that are looking for a wider flange and higher bounce for soft conditions, soft sand, or that have steep angle of attack.

We got to try out the three different bounces in the 60 degree wedge on the Ping campus driving range. I currently play a TS grind in the Tour-S wedge, and the TS Gorge felt and played similarly. Since we were not hitting into actual greens, and I did not have my personal wedge with me, it was difficult to assess the increase in spin. This will come with more testing. The difference in the SS and WS grinds was apparent, and I struggled a bit with the WS due to the much higher bounce. This is a good thing, though, as it will allow players to customize their wedge set without having to pay for specialized grinds. Some players may opt to own multiple bounce options and put an SS or WS in play when conditions dictate.

All told, the Gorge is an impressive and exciting new release for Ping. The wedges have a great looking finish and a very solid, almost forged feel to them. I’m looking forward to putting them in play to truly test the Gorge milled grooves and evaluate the difference they make around the green.

To discuss the PING Gorge Wedges and see detailed pictures of different grinds, click here.

[youtube id=”-07iIGdeKuo” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Up Close Sole Grid Pictures:

TS Grind

SS Grind:

WS Grind:

Equipment

Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report

Published

20 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.

Joel Thelen

Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.

First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.

Mitchell Meissner

Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.

Whats in the Bag

Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)

Published

20 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.

Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX

7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX

Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

See more in-hand photos of Bud Cauley’s clubs here.

Equipment

Name every set of irons you’ve owned – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

20 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.

@Lamosteve began:

Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine

Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6

Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”

Entire Thread: “Name every set of irons you’ve owned.”