The latest wedge offering from TaylorMade Golf, the ATV (All-Terrain Versatility), is designed to help golfers execute a number of short-game shots with one club such as chips or pitches, flops or explosions.
According to Brian Bazzel, product creation manager for irons, putters and wedges at TaylorMade, that is the result of the ATV’s unique sole geometries, which allows players to change bounce angle by manipulating the position of the clubhead and face.
Bazzel says the idea behind the ATV’s sole design was to use every curve, angle and edge to make the club more versatile. Relief at the toe, heel and trailing edge was intended to reduce resistance as it changed how the sole reacted with turf and sand. And each ATV sole is slightly different, depending on the loft.
“You won’t find a bounce number etched anywhere into the ATV clubhead because the sole takes on different bounces depending on how you position the club for the type of shot you’re hitting, including where your hands are positioned in relation to the clubhead and depending on whether the face is square or to what degree it’s open,” he says.
Made of 304 stainless steel, the ATV wedge also incorporates a new groove design that utilizes a micro-texture that helps hold the ball to impart backspin. It is offered in a non-plated tour satin finish in seven lofts: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 and 64 degrees.
Each sole is slightly different, depending on the loft.
A new Lamkin grip extends further down the shaft to provide improved traction when choking down on the club and includes reference points to help create consistency in how far down the grip a golfer should go.
