Equipment
New WedgeWorks 456.14 commemorates a very special Vokey anniversary
In July 1997, Bob Vokey’s first wedge went into play on the PGA Tour at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. In the 20 years since, his wedges have become the most popular models on the PGA Tour. They are now dozens of Vokey wedge configurations available to golfers, but it all started with the one wedge that Vokey has recreated for a very special WedgeWorks launch.
At the time, the special wedge that went in the bag of PGA Tour player Andy Bean in Memphis was just a prototype — the only markings on Bean’s wedge were the Titleist script and loft — but the wedge became known as the 456.14. The leading number (4) indicated that the wedge was a part of Vokey’s 400 Series, while 56 noted the loft and 14 noted the bounce (both measured in degrees).
”I had two in my bag, and let Andy try it,” Vokey says. “He canned the first one and lipped out the second one, and he says to me, ‘Voke, I’ve got to put this in play!'”
After confirming with Titleist’s R&D team that the wedge was conforming, Vokey obliged and Bean became the first PGA Tour player to use a Vokey wedge in competition.
The new, limited-edition wedges have the same rounded shape and increased offset as the original 456-14, and they’re currently available for purchase through Vokey.com or by custom order for $250. They have a polished-chrome finish, as well as Vokey’s new TX4 groove configuration, which are inspected for maximum sharpness and have a parallel face texture that the company says delivers more backspin and control. They’re also customizable with different stampings, characters paintfill, shafts, grips, shaft bands and ferrules.
Vokey says the added bounce of the 456-14 makes it best for golfers who play in soft conditions and soft sand, as well as those with steeper angles of attack.
Another important day for Bob Vokey this summer will come at the RBC Canadian Open, where the Verdun, Québec, native will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Vokey was born in Montreal and joined Titleist in 1996.
“This is something I would never have dreamed of as a young boy growing up in Verdun, working in my Dad’s machine shop,” Vokey says. “I’ve never forgotten where I came from, so to see my name on the same list of Canadian golf legends is overwhelming. I have always been surrounded by passionate, hardworking people who love the game as much as I do. This honor really is a reflection of everybody that has provided me the opportunities to live out my passion over the past 50 years in golf.”
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.
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
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”
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Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Mad-Mex
Jun 13, 2017 at 5:11 am
Nah,,,, I’ll stick with Cleveland 588’s ,,,,,,
Dave R
Jun 8, 2017 at 5:05 pm
Ya but aren’t you supposed to change you’re wedges every year? I think I read an article about that somewhere oh ya it was here.
Warrick Lawrence
Jun 8, 2017 at 5:27 am
$250 for a single wedge does seem a bit steep, but then it is a commemorative piece. I don’t think you would actually play with one, but rather have it over the bar or displayed in your “Man cave”
Ideal father’s day gift..from dad, (me)… to dad(me).
But wait , I see he also has a signature series??? Which is more collectable?
Duk Koo Kim
Jun 8, 2017 at 5:00 am
Huh, whaaaa only $2500 for a wedge?! That’s peanuts!! Oh wait, I thought I was in year 2080!
$250!!!! Ahahahahahahahahaha!!! Come on Voke, dude, really……..2 fiddy, for a hunk ‘o steel?
Please!!! Get ‘th kuhp (backwards) outta here!!
Com
Jun 8, 2017 at 3:07 am
Spoken like a person who truly knows nothing, again. Well done. Congrats.
KC
Jun 7, 2017 at 3:59 pm
$250 for a wedge is insane. Love my Vokeys but I got both of mine for $250 and they perform exactly the same as this one.
coastieyaker
Jun 7, 2017 at 11:56 am
I am so fed up with overpriced gear. Vokey/Titleist should be ashamed for gouging the consumer the way they do.
C
Jun 8, 2017 at 1:42 pm
It’s not gouging if you have a choice.
Xav
Jun 7, 2017 at 11:38 am
Why not play the original release if one can be found in mint condition?
Tom1
Jun 7, 2017 at 7:08 pm
“if” this design is over twenty years old ya would have better luck finding a hooker with all her teeth.
C
Jun 8, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Doubt the grooves would be conforming.
Tom1
Jun 7, 2017 at 11:10 am
one of the best wedge design. I will gladly try em’