Earlier this year we saw the first signs of a new Callaway wedge in the bag of a select few Tour Pros, and now they have arrived.
Whilst Callaway’s previous wedge lines have usually included the Mack Daddy name, or more recently, the Jaws groove system, the new line is called Opus and uses all-new Spin Gen Face technology.
Who are they aimed at?
In short, anybody who is looking to improve their short game performance. They look fantastic, there’s a number of great grind options and the forgiveness was actually better than I expected whilst still retaining the feel and spin rates you’d expect from a Tour-level wedge.
If you want even more control and spin with a lower flight, there is also the Opus Platinum wedge, but they are going to have an RRP of around £50 more so if you’re on a budget, the standard Opus may be the better choice.
The Tech
Callaway are saying that the headline bit of technology in their new wedge comes in the form of the Spin Gen Face, which works in three different areas – a new groove package, enhanced surface roughness, and angled micro features.
This time around there are essentially more grooves on the face, with tighter gaps between each groove, which helps to provide more spin and also lowers the launch a little for more control.
A new face blast creates extra roughness which acts more like a raw finish, despite being a fully chrome head, and also is said to perform better in wetter conditions.
Finally, the angle micro features are essentially grooves within the grooves, angled so that you still get great spin rates even when you open up the face for higher lofted shots.
Callaway are calling their new Opus wedge the most Tour tested and Tour validated shapes in their history, with the likes of major winners Xander Schauffele, Yuka Saso and Jon Rahm all using early versions of the wedge. This has resulted in a higher toe, more angled leading edge and sleeker hosel transitions.
There are four different grinds available in the wedge, helping golfers of all chipping and pitching techniques get the best results, from the popular S grind, forgiving W, versatile C and Tour-favoured T grind for precise shot-making.
The Opus is available in brushed chrome or black shadow finishes, with a raw version also available through custom, and is available from a 48 degree pitching wedge all the way up to 60 degrees.
Callaway Opus Wedge Review
Looks and Feel
If you look back at Callaway’s wedges over the last few years there has not been a great deal of change in the looks department, so the Opus line represents a bit of a reset and therefore really does look like it’s a new model, rather than an update on a previous one.
When we first saw these wedges in the Golfalot office they divided opinion – some really weren’t a fan of the new design on the back of the head – but I quite like the fact that they look a little different to previous generations.
That Opus badge on the back of the head did remind me a little of the new Ping s159 Wedges, and the brushed chrome finish looked fantastic.
There’s also the option of a new black shadow finish, which looked a bit different to previous black wedges that I have seen with a slightly more natural ‘raw’ finish which may not mark up as much as usual.
Down by the ball you get the same clean look as always from a Callaway wedge, and as an MD5 user I felt comfortable straight away when addressing the ball. At the moment there are no options for high-toe shapes or full-face grooves which gives the wedges a more traditional look which I do tend to prefer.
At impact there’s a really nice solid click, whilst it really feels as if the ball is just gripping on to the face for a fraction of a second longer on shorter shots which is great.
You can’t beat new wedge grooves and I found that it just gave me more confidence to be a little more aggressive with shorter shots, trusting that it was going to spin.
Performance
I experienced plenty of spin even on some shorter pitch shots from around 30 yards. Although the face isn’t quite as rough as a TaylorMade raw face, the new face blast felt a bit more reactive than previous models.
My angle of attack is quite shallow, so I don’t tend to take very big divots with my wedges. It felt nice to just clip the ball away and still see it stop, particularly on a few half-shots when I was between yardages.
I also tested the wedges in damp underfoot conditions, even when it wasn’t actually raining. I hit a few chip shots without cleaning the wedge between shots to evaluate their performance. The spin rates remained impressive, suggesting that the new groove technology is having some effect.
Around the greens, the wedges were nice and workable, making it easy to control ball flight. I tend to hit my chips and pitches quite low, and this felt easy to do while still giving me the confidence that the ball would check up.
I was pleasantly surprised by the forgiveness levels, particularly with the 48-degree pitching wedge. I have considered using a bladed pitching wedge in the past but was always concerned about sacrificing forgiveness. However, I was really impressed with how it performed, even when I didn’t hit it perfectly.
Callaway Opus Wedge Verdict
It's nice to see Callaway branching out a little bit with the new Opus range compared to the last few years, which have all been quite similar, and the result is an excellent new wedge.
The brand have spoken about improvements to spin rates and this is something that I did see whilst testing in wet conditions, and I loved the combination of confidence they gave me whilst still retaining plenty of workability.
An RRP of £179 is expensive, putting it level with the Titleist Vokey SM10 and the Ping s159 at the top end of the market, but it backs it up with great performance and is undoubtedly one of the best options available for golfers looking to a traditional wedge shape and profile.
There are a number of different grind options which make it easier to find a wedge that suits your game, and I was impressed by the forgiveness too. All in all, a really great wedge.
Would I Use It?
Absolutely, I have been using the MD5 Jaws wedges for a few years now, but it might just be time for an upgrade…
Callaway Opus Wedge Pros and Cons
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