TaylorMade spearheaded the movement towards full-face grooves back in 2017 and four generations of Hi-Toe wedges later, the brand has released the Hi-Toe 4 wedge that looks to offer maximum versatility and performance. In order to see if the refinements have improved on its predecessor, the Hi-Toe 3 wedge, I took the new short-game offering out onto the golf course and put it through its paces, testing it from a variety of lies and distances.
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First up, I love how clean the new TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 wedges look. The refined aesthetics almost give this wedge a ‘prototype’ visual. I could see how some people would say it almost doesn’t look finished due to the large clear space on the back but this is a change I like. The copper finish is something that has remained consistent throughout all of the TaylorMade Hi-Toe models and the Hi-Toe 4 is no exception. This finish, alongside the raw face, helps reduce glare on sunny days and is a finish many tour players love.
The Hi-Toe 4 has the bottom groove filled with golf paint which has been designed to help with alignment, alongside the reduced offset found on the Hi-Toe 4 models. While I can’t say the offset was overly noticeable, I did appreciate how the colored groove helped me align the face to my target. These wedges are available in lofts from 50° through to 60° although the full-face grooves only feature in lofts of 54° and upwards.
The face and groove pattern is the same as those found on the TaylorMade MG4 wedges - considered among the best wedges for spin control, certainly from our testing. I can’t say I’m a massive fan of the overall shape of the head and personally I prefer a slightly straighter leading edge, like that found on the Titleist Vokey SM10 or Ping S159 wedges, but that’s a matter of personal preference.
While the cosmetics of this wedge can be seen to help with the performance, the main storyline with the Hi-Toe 4 wedges is how versatile they are. The Spin Tread technology on the face meant that I saw really high levels of spin and control not only from the fairway but also from the rough. Laser etching is used to help repel water from the clubface, creating more friction with the grooves and the ball and therefore resulting in more spin and this is something I really noticed on the course.
As someone who is fairly shallow with their attack angle and plays on firm ground conditions of a heathland golf course for most of my season, I tested the ATC grind option with 8° of bounce. This really helped me slide the club under the ball when short sided and get the ball landing softly with spin. If you don’t play your golf in firm conditions, don’t panic. One of the best things about these Hi-Toe 4 wedges is that they are offered in multiple grind options, designed to help golfers no matter what conditions they play in or the shots they like to play.
In the US, these wedges will be offered in five different grind options, some with less bounce and more relief for those who want to be more creative around the greens and some with more bounce and forgiveness, ideal for those playing on Bermuda grass in the south and want some help with those tricky chip shots into the grain. The ATV is perfect for this and when selected in this grind, the Hi-Toe 4 wedge could easily be considered one of the most forgiving wedges on the market.
In Europe, the Hi-Toe 4 wedges will be available in three of the five grind options available in the US catering for those with shallow, medium and steep attack angles. Choosing the right bounce and grind on wedges is something most golfers overlook and don’t appreciate how much difference it can make to their game. If you take less divots and sweep the ball you’re likely to be shallow and if you take big divots, you’re likely to be steep, from there you can usually get a good understanding of what bounce and grind will suit your game the best. If not, simply consult your local PGA Professional or club fitter who will be able to help you.
Overall I was really impressed with the new TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 wedges and the performance on display when testing. Having the ATC grind was perfect for me, particularly on the firmer ground in the UK summer but it is only offered in lofts of 58° and 60°. At $179/£149, I feel the performance is justified and after choosing the right lofts and grind options, there’s no doubt the Hi-Toe 4 wedges will help golfers see better results when playing shots from into and around the greens.
