Product Reviews
GolfWRX member testing: Reviewing Wilson Staff Model ZM wedges
Our forum faithful are well acquainted with the incredible giveaways and review opportunities in the realm of threads and comments, but we want to ensure front-page readers are involved as well.
Check out what GolfWRXers are saying about Wilson’s new Staff Model ZM wedges after putting them through their paces.
Wilson Staff Model ZM wedges

We have five GolfWRX members testing Wilson’s new Staff Model ZM wedges.
Wilson on new Staff Model ZM wedges
“This family of low, mid and high-bounce wedges delivers short-game confidence for players at every ability level. The forged 8620 carbon steel and precision-milled face provide a soft feel, maximum spin and greater stopping power in all conditions thanks to the unique engineering of the ZM Grooves and our high-tech garnet face blasting.”
How we choose our testers
GolfWRX staff evaluates each entry against the criteria laid out in the testing thread to determine the best fit for each specific product — For example, if a game-improvement iron is being tested, game-improvement iron-playing golfers will be considered.
Member testers
- @Ben Berube
- @QuigleyDU
- @wam78
- @wcbjr
- @DallasSteve
Wilson Staff Model ZM wedges review themes
- Classic looks, shaping — appealing look at address
- Face roughness, durability, spin generation
- Glare-reducing finish
- Versatile grind options without creating confusion
- Excellent distance and consistency
- Solid feel — not mushy, not clicky
- Compelling price point — value
Member review highlights
@Ben Berube
“First impression is wow! Take a look at these babies and how old-school they look. But right out of the box I was blown away. They look legit…”
“On the range, these wedges were locked in. It was 52/53 degrees out so chilly and hitting range balls, but wow they were on point. Familiar shape, topline is perfect, which I am a big fan of. I hate thin top lines in wedges and like when they blend well with my irons…immediately I was thumping the 100-yard flag left and right and then even 20 yards behind that with the 50*.
“Team, these wedges GO! Sure, looks, feel and sound are all important. But kind of hard to screw that up in wedges. I need accurate distances and repeatable feel. These ZF wedges have that factored.”
“Sound and feel are pure. Awesome wedges that stop. Awesome-looking throwbacks.”
“These ZM wedges are performing. The ball blasts off the face and not sure why I am the only one talking about this. The sound is so crisp and not a mush feeling. They feel just as you would expect with the sound…The ball spins too. I continue to suck shots back several feet with the 58-degree.”
“I am truly impressed with these Wilson ZM wedges. Plus for the price point, how can you pay double for a Vokey that will not guarantee anything?”
“Long. Solid. The ball goes. Sound is great. Spin is exceptional, stops on a dime and can suck them back easily.”
“Like we have all said, not “clicky” but a hard hitting sound that I am really liking. Matches the distances and results in full swings. The feel is just solid. What one would expect forged wedges to feel. Not soft like Fourteen. But a nice hard feel like older Miuras or Forged Vokeys used to. Older Pings also come to mind.”
“I dig them all around.”
“I guarantee these Wilson ZM wedges add, or feel like they add an extra 1/2 a club. 58* – goes over 100y easily. 50* – goes like 135’sh for me which is very odd. They are long and what we all want. No? Or maybe it’s the Spinner shafts are kicking these things, fellas?”
“58* – lays nice and flat, I am a big flop shot guy, love to open my faces on all irons and play “super flops”. Nice heel grind so the square leading edge sits flat. It runs through sand like butter.”
“These ZM wedges go like a bandit for me. I am liking it because the sound and feel match the distances and the spin.““Absolutely worth the $$.”
“They are long. Stop on a dime. Have a grind that most would expect. Traditional looks. Sound and feel is really what anyone would expect from crispy-looking wedges like these. Hands down I am so impressed with these wedges…”
@QuigleyDU
“I think these wedges look fantastic…they are a great size and shape. They are a chrome plated wedge that has a little bit of a dull finish that is appreciated to ward off glare.”
“I took them to a practice area and hit some short chips and pitches with the 56 and 60. I actually enjoyed the feel. They are a bit more firm. But I am not yet willing to call the “clicky”. I did like the launch window I was seeing coming off the 60. It was coming off and pitching out low.. I love that. That means the face is grabbing the ball and it is not sliding up the face. That means control.. again love it.”
“The 60 High is the one wedge that is a bit different. But I love the shape. I have loved full-face wedges since they became a thing, I think this wedge is the best shape of all the full toe/high toe wedges out there. The sole is also a bit different. It is wider but still only has 10 degrees of bounce. To me, that means forgiveness and margin for error. I need that at the moment.”

“The grinds to me are minimal. By looks, I would call my 52 an F grind for comparison, the 56 maybe a D grind with a little heel/toe relief. My 60 high toe is a bit of a wide sole. I am not really sure what to compare it to as the bounce is not super high like a K grind. I guess a low bounce K maybe? Personally, for 99.999% of golfers, I think grind is not something most really need to worry too much about. I know I am not really skilled enough with a wedge that I need something super specific. That is why in the past I have mostly opted for Cleveland wedges and the low/mid/high bounce system was fine for me…I think the Wilson bounce and grind options are simple and effective enough for basically all skill levels without getting overly complex.”
“One thing I enjoyed was the flight on fuller shots. It was pretty flat and didn’t get up in the wind. I was able to flight them and hit shots and see them in windows I expected.”
“Feel wise they are firm. I do not want to call the clicky as I don’t think that is true. But they are firmer feeling then say Mizuno or Cleveland wedges. So if that is something that you can’t look past you may want to look elsewhere.”
“I do really like the high toe 60. The shape is great and I felt really comfortable with it. The 56 may be my fav. I used it the most today. I hit some little bump and runs, some pitches, full swings, and even a bunker shot with it. It did well at everything. The sole was versatile enough and I felt I could trust the bounce and sole grind and get out of it what I put in.“
“The 56 is still the star in my book. I feel really comfortable with it. I even start using it more around the green were previously I would default to the 60. It just makes things simpler.”
“Very happy with these wedges”
@wam78
“The shape of these are outstanding! Really love the straighter leading edge and the pinched toe. Not as round as a Vokey and a little more squared off. Also, really love the look from hosel to leading edge as well, very smooth. Overall, the shaping from previous release is a little smaller, straighter lines and that squared off toe I mentioned. Really attractive!”
“Wilson wedges have had my interests since last year. Currently playing a split set of staff model cb’s and d9 forged irons and absolutely loving them! I’ve been a fan of Wilson irons for a while now, but ever since the PMP wedges and previous release, I’ve been wanting to give the wedges a go.”

“I was able to get a small bucket of balls in and have to say, the shape of these is really growing on me. Really like the sharp toe and straight leading edge…Feel off the face is firm, but not clicky at all. More of a solid, dense feel. Kind of addicting honestly.”
“The flight window is perfect. Really easy to flight down which I love!”
“All in all, fantastic look, nice solid feel with a great ball flight.”
@wcbjr
Appearance: “Finish is great. Not too busy. Font is nice, like the small insignia. Clubs are very nice and refined overall.”
50 degree
Definitely a full shot wedge. This is little to no trailing edge relief, as shown above on the left. This suits my game just fine. I use my 50* from about 90-110 yards depending on desired flight. 90 yards is a low shot with spin, 110 is a full shot with moderate spin. I can hit both of those shots, this wedge is very workable. With the combination of the head profile and the Dynamic Gold shaft, the flight is low/mid and boring. Turf interaction is great in all conditions. Rough, fairway, soft, and hard ground. I am a bit steep with my wedges and have not had any issues with digging, which is a very big positive for me. Shots toward the toe and heel obviously will have reduced distance, but not as bad as I had expected. There’s no added tungsten anywhere (I think) so this is the same as any other players wedges out there. Spin is in-line with other brand new, top of the line wedges. But again, I only use this on full shots. I don’t need a 50* spinning off the green.

54 degree
Things start to change a bit with this wedge. Two big things to note on the 54* against the 50*, there is a bit of trailing edge relief and the bounce stays the same at 8*. I only hit full shots with my 50*, and I only use my 60* when I really have to, so I need to hit a variety of yardages. This club is comfortable from 50 yards or all the way 90. I think it’s the combination of the edge relief and the lower bounce. This club is versatile. Spin is great, too. If you get really steep on one, which I do, you can start to scuff the ball. Performance in dry and wet is great. To be honest, I didn’t really even notice a change.
Feel: Overall on all the wedges, I compare them to a Vokey. Even though these wedges are forged, with the exception of the high-toe, they still have some feedback. They aren’t clicky by any means, but they aren’t as soft as say a Mizuno. I’m not really sure how they did that with the fluid-feel/bore-through design. Makes me wonder why they went that route. Maybe it’s just a throwback to their older models.

@DallasSteve
Full disclosure: I got my first set of good irons in 1975 – a set of 1957 Dyna-Powered, leather-gripped 2-PW. I’ve had a few other sets of Staff irons off and on over the years, but I fell in love again with WS because of the FG-59 irons. Now playing a combo set of 2021 Staff cb’s and mb’s, with a full set of mb’s in reserve. Still have the FG Tour V6 set, too, and they may jump back in the bag on occasion! I’ve never played the WS wedges for very long at a time; chipping and pitching are my major weakness and I’m always trying new wedges because it can’t possibly be me, right?!?!? The new Staff Model wedges have had my eye for a bit, and I’ve been really excited to test these beauties out!

“Everyone has seen pics of these wedges by now. They are gorgeous. I love how the weight is distributed in the heads, very much like the Fourteen wedges — more weight on the topline theoretically creates more spin. Vokey picked up on the concept, too. The styling on these Staff Models is superbly done.”
“I’m sure I’ll find something not-as-nice to say at some point, but right now, it’s all good!”

Any room for improvement?
GolfWRX members hoping for the addition of a raw finish. Multiple expressed their preference for a stock shaft other than True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner.
Bonus comment
QuigleyDU: “One cosmetic thing I want to call out right now that I am glad to see. It is a super simple thing. But! It is a slightly big deal. The bottom groove. It’s a full-size groove. Not some stupid half groove.”

Check out the full member review thread here.
More about GolfWRX member testing
Member testing gives our forum members the opportunity to put the latest golf equipment through the paces. In exchange for getting a product to test (and keep), forum members are expected to provide in-depth product feedback in the forums, along with photos, and engage with the questions of other forum members.
For brands, the GolfWRX member feedback and direct engagement is a vital window into the perceptions of avid golfers.
You can find additional testing opportunities in the GolfWRX forums.
Equipment
Bettinardi The Antidote SB3 and SB5 putter review – Club Junkie Reviews
Bettinardi launched The Antidote putters at the end of 2024 with the SB1 & SB2 models. It was their first jump into zero-torque putters and brought that solid Bettinardi feel to the hottest trend in putters. So at the end of 2025, Bettinardi expanded the line with two more models, the SB3 and SB5 putters, in order to appeal to more golfers. I have gotten to roll both models and think they are great in their own ways.
You can listen to the full review on the Club Junkie podcast, streaming on YouTube or any podcast platform — and be sure to follow on Instagram.
Both Antidote putters have faces milled from 303 stainless steel for a soft, solid feel. The faces feature Bettinardi’s signature F.I.T. Face milling, which removes 55 percent of the face material for a soft, responsive feel. Bettinardi then uses its Diamond Blast to finish the face, reducing glare and creating a durable, great-looking finish. The shafts are installed into the center of gravity of the putter head and feature a small amount of forward shaft lean. This gives each Antidote putter Simply Balanced Zero Torque to keep the face square to the target during the stroke.
The Antidote SB3
When I got the box with both putters, this was the one I was most excited for. Being a long-time fan of “fang” style putters, this one just jumped out to me as the one I need to try. Personally, the silver face and Sapphire Blue as the contrast between the two is another way to make sure the putter is aligned towards the target. This putter frames the ball really well between the fangs, or wings, on the back of the putter and the twin white sight lines that run down them. Getting this SB3 lined up to your target is easy and quick, so you can feel more confident as you are about to get that putt rolling.
The feel of the F.I.T. Face is nice and soft with just enough click to let you know the quality of your contact. While it isn’t something Bettinardi claims, I feel like the F.I.T. Face puts a nice roll on the ball, and you don’t ever encounter hopping or skipping as the ball starts out. My favorite way of explaining the feel of a zero torque putter going through the stroke is the feeling of the face pulling itself through impact. To me, the SB3 has a really stable feel, and it doesn’t want to be manipulated through the stroke. The SB1 might be the most stable feeling, to me, out of all The Antidote putters but the SB3 would be a very close 2nd place. If, and when, you strike the ball out on the toe or in the heel, you will have a feeling of the SB3 not wanting to twist and keeping the ball on line. If you are looking for a zero torque, high-MOI mallet, with great feel and sound, then The Antidote SB3 could be a great option to try.

The Antidote SB5
There are a lot of golfers who would love to try a ZT putter but just don’t love mallet putters. Thankfully, there are some really cool options out there, like The Antidote SB5 putter. To me, this is a really classic-looking putter from address with clean lines and a familiar look that should appeal to the more traditional golfer. Just like the SB3, you get a phenomenal-feeling putter, with both pieces precisely milled from 303 stainless steel. The triple site lines, one on the topline and two on the flange, again work better than I expected with this head shape, and I got comfortable with them fairly quickly.
I typically like ZT putters that feel super stable, but this SB5 seemed to fit my stroke right out of the gate. Players with more arc in their stroke might find the SB5 as something that feels more natural to them, as it will allow you to rotate it just a little more than you can with a traditional blade putter. Even with that, I feel the SB5 was really easy to square up, and I was never searching to find consistency in that. Miss hits with the SB5 were also pretty good. Shots off the heel stayed very straight and had a good, soft feel, while shots struck on the toe felt a little more vibration. Interestingly, when I did miss putts, I noticed that I missed more putts left with the SB3 and more right with the SB5. As I have spent more time with each putter, I have fallen more in love with the SB5, which is a little surprising to me. It has just become a comfortable option to use after a few years of gaming.

Bettinardi continues to excel in its ability to engineer and mill some of the finest putters you can get your hands on. With the SB3 & SB5 additions to the zero torque line, I think they have really widened who can and will play these style putters. If you have tried ZT putters in the past but haven’t found the right one due to the fact that they don’t live up to expectations, then maybe one of these Bettinardi putters can be The Antodote!
Equipment
SeeMore SBx & SKx zero-torque putter review – Club Junkie Reviews
SeeMore has had a long history of making precision putters. The company gained worldwide fame after Payne Stewart won the 1999 U.S. Open with one. SeeMore’s most famous putter is the FGP Blade, which Zach Johnson used to win the Masters and the Open Championship.
SeeMore is also the creator of a unique, simple, and very effective alignment aid in their Rifle Scope Technology. RST is the use of a red oval and two white lines on the heel of the putter. When the putter shaft, or hosel, covers the red dot and you can only see the white lines on either side of the shaft, then you know the putter is lined up square. SeeMore is now adding another technology to its putter lineup, zero torque.
You can listen to the full review on the Club Junkie podcast, streaming on YouTube or any podcast platform — and be sure to follow on Instagram.

The SBx and SKx putters are the latest additions to SeeMore’s lineup. Zero-torque putters are probably the most significant and hottest segment in golf right now. The design is based on installing the shaft into the putter head’s center of gravity so the toe points up when you set the putter on a table to hold it without restriction. That balance keeps the face square to the target throughout the entire stroke, eliminating the need to square the putter face like you have to do with traditional putters. Now, this isn’t going to turn you into a tour pro, but for many golfers, it can help them consistently get the ball started on the intended line.


SeeMore did a great job with the putter’s looks, keeping it simple without straying from what they do best. The platinum color face is milled from stainless steel for a solid feel and feedback to the golfer, while the body is precision-milled from a block of aluminum. I like the contrast of silver and black as that divide gives my eye an additional alignment aid to make sure I am putting the ball at the hole, or target.
The SBx is going to have a boxier, more straight and sharp look from address with straight wings that extend back from the body. Some golfers will like that look for framing the ball in combination with the single white sight line on the flange. If you like a little softer and more rounded look, then the SKx fits the bill with more rounded fangs that taper inward to give a more compact look at address.
SKx also uses a single alignment line on the stainless topline, and if you look closely, there are two milled sight lines on the back flange that aren’t painted. If you want a little more to look down at, then you could probably fill them in with white paint pretty easily.
Both putters use SeeMore’s RST alignment, and I do have to say it is a simple yet effective way to ensure the putter is lined up correctly. Usually, if I am testing out two zero-torque putters at the same time, one of them stands out as easier to line up or get rolling on the right start line, but these two were equally matched. Lining up putts and starting them on the intended line are easy and repeatable.

Sound and feel are very important when it comes to finding the putter, as it is the voice that speaks to you. I was really impressed, and so was another WRX staff member, by how soft both the SBx and SKx putters are. The first putts were right out of the box on the office carpet, and we both looked at each other with big smiles! The horizontal milling lines on the face provide a soft feel at impact, and the sound is excellent and low-pitched. Not clicky at all, but you still get a good sound with it that is easy to recognize where you hit it on the face.
Being zero torque, the putters have a good feeling of the face staying square through the stroke. They both are a good mix of highly stable feeling and have the ability to move with an arching putting stroke, also. While they may not have the strongest feeling of the face pulling the head through impact, they should be more versatile, as many golfers find success with them.
I still feel very confident when putting with these that the ball is going to come out on its intended line. I have found that with some zero-torque putters, I tend to have a ball that misses left of the hole or target, and I didn’t find that the case with either the SBx or SKx models. I was really impressed with how consistently I was rolling the ball at the target, and I think the heavy focus on the RST allowed me to avoid overthinking other putting thoughts and swing freely.
Overall the SeeMore SBx and SKx are just solid zero torque putters with a more classic shape to them for players who find zero torque hard to look at. The milling and finish work from SeeMore are fantastic and it shows through the performance.
Equipment
Sugarloaf Social Club x Makino Tour 3 putter review – Club Junkie Reviews
Most of us know Sugarloaf Social Club (SSC) as a clothing and accessory brand that has been leading the way in golf fashion and lifestyle since 2011. Ian Gilley is the founder of the brand and has created some amazing products, primarily in the soft goods category. While clubs have not been the focus of SSC, there have been some limited collabs in the space before working on the Tour 3 putter with Makino.
Makino is a Japanese golf brand founded by Shohei Nomura, an industrial designer based in Tokyo. All Makino’s products are made in small batches where precision and craftsmanship are the most important factors.

To be completely honest, I saw the putter on the Sugarloaf website and wasn’t blown away. When taking the putter out of the box, my mind changed, as the quality of the putter and classic look don’t come through with online pictures.
At first glance, the putter appears a little chunky, with larger shoulders that are very defined near the back cavity area. The bumpers are clean and a good blend of rectangular with softened edges. The topline is definitely on the thicker side, but for some golfers, like myself, it can be used as an additional alignment aid to ensure the face is square to the target.

A single sightline is machined into the flange and filled with white paint, creating a simple and traditional look. A shallow milling pattern is used on the face, featuring the model name and the “S” of Sugarloaf on the heel. The little details like the “Play or Perish” motto on the L-neck are excellent touches that let you know this isn’t a mass-produced putter. 

On the grip wrapping, I was surprised to see there is a sticker that says this is an un-plated putter and could rust…but the putter is made from stainless steel? Now I am not a metallurgist, but a search on the old Google machine told me that SUS303 stainless steel uses materials in the alloy, like sulphur, that make it a little more susceptible to corrosion if you aren’t careful. No rust has shown up yet, but I guess that explains it.
On the green, this putter offers a much softer feel than I and a coworker expected from the face milling. SUS303 and the thick face create a really nice feel and sound! The putter is still responsive, however, and you will get good feedback on putts that you don’t hit on the center of the face.
The putter’s sound is also softer, with not really a click but a more gentle knock as the ball leaves the face, even with a firmer ball like the Pro V1x. Ball speed is consistent and repeatable, and while there is no real high-tech engineering in this head, it performs well enough on mishits. Distance drop off from putts off the toe and heel aren’t massive, and there is still a decent chance you get that ball to the hole.

At the end of the day, this putter is much more than I thought it was going to be. The shaping and quality of the finish are phenomenal, showcasing the skill of Makino and the creativity of Sugarloaf. Traditionalists will love the classic look, while feel players will be impressed by the softness and responsiveness the Sugarloaf Social Club x Makino Tour 3 provides.
See more in-hand photos and read what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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