Interview: Titleist's Bob Vokey

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Bob Vokey (left) with Zach Johnson

May. 9, 2008

PONTE VEDRA VEACH, Fla. -- A 64-degree wedge was available decades ago. This time, the trend finally has some staying power on the PGA TOUR.

Titleist's Bob Vokey has been working on his latest line of wedges, and his new designs will be available to the public later this year. Included is an increased emphasis on high-lofted wedges.

Vokey talked to PGATOUR.COM before the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship.

PGATOUR.COM: What is the current state of 64-degree wedges on the PGA TOUR? Lot of guys using them?

Yes. I make a 64 -- it's not for sale yet but it will be in the new line that is coming out. I have some 62-degree wedges and some 64-degree wedges. It will come out in late fall if everything goes well and according to plan.

Recently, J.B. Holmes put one in the bag. D.J. Trahan has one and Peter Lonard has one. Tom Pernice has a 64 and a 63 that he takes in and out depending on the course that he may play. I just think that the toughest shot in golf, even for a TOUR player, is the 50-yard shot, especially with a 60-degree, having to back off [the shot]. Especially under the gun. It is tough to back off and get the spin and trajectory control.

PGATOUR.COM: Do the players come to you or do you go to them?

They will ask me. What will say, "Vok, what do you think?" We will put our heads together. I am only as good as they are. All of us out here want them to play their best possible golf.

I have always said that 4-6 degrees is a very good compliment to go between wedges. 48, 52, 56. Cut your gap down. I hate to see guys drop to 7-8 degrees, because it is hard to hit that little knockdown shot with consistency. You can do it Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, but how about the backside on Sunday afternoon?

PGATOUR.COM: How is a guy like Steve Stricker so good from a wedge from any distance?

Distance control. He definitely knows exactly how far he can hit it. A lot of these players spend a lot of time on that. They will hit shots and they will tweak their wedges one degree or another, and they will say, 'I want to hit it 96 yards.' And they will say, 'What is my go-to shot? What is the yardage I like to lay up to?' sometimes will work with a player and say, 'What is your go-to shot?' then we will work on it. That is the club you won't get out of their bag. That the club they know they can hit on the backside Sunday afternoon.

Distance and control. That is what it is all about. Yesterday, with Tom Pernice, the gap he was hitting some shots with one wedge, and he asked his caddie to go out, look at the shots and see how much gap he had.

PGATOUR.COM: Do they need a 64-degree wedge at TPC Sawgrass?

I am going to make a prediction. You're talking to a player [me] that grew up with one wedge. The players now look for one wedge for different shots. Balls are flying so far, these guys are so strong, they are hitting it so far, the 64s are making a trend. Of course, this is coming from a guy that said that metal woods would never replace persimmon, graphite shafts would never make it, and titanium is too expensive. So I was wrong in all of them.

I am due for one out of four.