Equipment

Looking to replicate the feel of raw artisan wedges in irons

Published

2 months ago

Mar 30, 2026

In our forums, our members have been discussing a project from one user attempting to replicate the feel of raw artisan wedges in their irons. WRXer ‘JoeyA’ recently hit some artisan wedges and was so blown away by the experience that he wants the same feeling in his irons. He kicks off the discussion saying:

“Recently had the chance to game some raw finish artisan wedges built up with Project X Wedge flex shafts, and I have to say — they are comfortably the best feeling clubs I’ve ever put my hands on.

The combination of the uncoated face and the dampened feedback through that shaft profile is genuinely in a league of its own for me.Naturally, it’s got me on the hunt for an iron set that can replicate that sensation across the full bag. I’m aware that wedges will always have an inherent feel advantage given the mass distribution and shorter length, but there are clearly irons out there that get closer than others.

After doing some research, I’m considering the OnOff 2015 Kuro as my leading candidate. The consensus seems to be that the soft carbon steel construction and laser-milled faces give them an unusually pure, almost buttery feel at impact — arguably some of the softest forged irons ever produced out of Japan. My plan would be to order a set and strip them back to raw to further soften the feedback and bring them closer in character to the wedges.

Has anyone here gone down a similar path — either with the Kuro specifically, or with raw-stripped irons more broadly?

Keen to hear whether the stripping process made a meaningful difference to feel, and whether there are other JDM or boutique irons I should be cross-shopping before I pull the trigger.”

And our members have been sharing their thoughts and experiences in our forum.

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.

Jenksy13: “I originally had the black set of Avoda irons that I had stripped back to raw and the have rusted up nicely since and feel amazing to hit.”
GolfGearhead: “Not tried to replicate in irons but I do game some custom Artisan wedges that Mike made for me over at the Oven. Great clubs and I actually had the PX Wedge Flex specialist oil can finish shafts, will send some photos later but they’ve got an unbelievable brushed chrome finish that goes well with the raw heads, I had to buy a new set of the Vokey oil can wedges to have them built just to throw away the heads!! Interested to see some of the replies as I may follow suit.”

Entire Thread: “Looking to replicate feel of raw artisan wedges in irons”

Equipment

Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report

Published

16 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

16 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

16 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.”