RAW versus other finishes

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By SHAWN E

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  • 18 Replies
  1. SHAWN E

    SHAWN E
    Sarasota FL

    So I have been playing RAW finish wedges since the first Vokey wedges hit the Tour. I’m wondering who likes other finishes and why you prefer the finish you prefer.

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  2. Chris92009

    Chris92009
    Ohio

    I have played, Chrome, RAW, Nickel wedges over the years... I prefer RAW since they feel softer and seem to spin slightly more. They tend to bend more easily which is great for adjusting the lie or loft as needed.

    I also really enjoy the rust that may appear over time, especially after they get wet. Some golfers have said they will wrap a wet towel around RAW wedges to encourage them to rust faster....not my thing but if you like it go with it!

    Cheers
  3. Matt G

    Matt G
    Cincinnati, OH

    I got a set of sm9 raw wedges last year and love them! I feel like the more you use them the better they look and that can't be said for the other finishes. I'm not buying that the raw wedges feel or perform better, but if you believe it than the boost in confidence is worth getting raw wedges alone. I was pumped to see they are offering sm10 raw wedges so you dont have to go through wedgeworks.

    Wish they would offer raw iron finishes, but im sure they have a good reason for not doing that.
  4. Chris92009

    Chris92009
    Ohio

    Matt G said:

    I got a set of sm9 raw wedges last year and love them! I feel like the more you use them the better they look and that can't be said for the other finishes. I'm not buying that the raw wedges feel or perform better, but if you believe it than the boost in confidence is worth getting raw wedges alone. I was pumped to see they are offering sm10 raw wedges so you dont have to go through wedgeworks.

    Wish they would offer raw iron finishes, but im sure they have a good reason for not doing that.

    Matt, the advantage of RAW are a few things, the first is that you can bend them easier since they are softer than the other metal options, second, since they are a satin finish there is no shine so sun doesn't bother you off chrome as an example and lastly they do not have the firm feel that chrome has an example...the sound translates to feel just like in putters so thus they feel softer.

    IMHO
  5. Chris92009

    Chris92009
    Ohio

    Matt G said:

    I got a set of sm9 raw wedges last year and love them! I feel like the more you use them the better they look and that can't be said for the other finishes. I'm not buying that the raw wedges feel or perform better, but if you believe it than the boost in confidence is worth getting raw wedges alone. I was pumped to see they are offering sm10 raw wedges so you dont have to go through wedgeworks.

    Wish they would offer raw iron finishes, but im sure they have a good reason for not doing that.

    there is a reason that tour pros primarily ONLY play RAW...I will leave the rest up to your imagination...

    IMHO
  6. Matt G

    Matt G
    Cincinnati, OH

    I got a set of sm9 raw wedges last year and love them! I feel like the more you use them the better they look and that can't be said for the other finishes. I'm not buying that the raw wedges feel or perform better, but if you believe it than the boost in confidence is worth getting raw wedges alone. I was pumped to see they are offering sm10 raw wedges so you dont have to go through wedgeworks.

    Wish they would offer raw iron finishes, but im sure they have a good reason for not doing that.
  7. Fred H

    Fred H

    Chrome convert here, after playing raw forever. Chrome grooves seem to hold their integrity if you practice a lot
  8. Reed S

    Reed S
    Muskegon, Michigan

    I just bought chrome SM10s this year. Really like them so far.
  9. Anthony D.

    Anthony D.
    Long Island, NY

    I love raw wedges more than other finishes for a few reasons; the feel softer, they don't reflect as much glare from the sun, and they spin more. The only issue I have with raw wedges is the misconception of why/how raw wedges spin more. The added spin comes from not having a layer of finish over the face and grooves which causes an increase in traction between the ball and wedge. A lot of people think the added spin comes from the rust that develops on the face, which is incorrect. Actually, the opposite is true. If you play a wedge with a rusted face the spin will decrease because similar to a non-raw wedge there is a layer getting in between the grooves and the ball.
  10. Mike M

    Mike M
    Marblehead MA

    All my wedges are chrome. That said, my son plays raw wedges and swears by them. My 60 is pretty beat up. I've been thinking of getting a new one with a raw finis.
  11. Rob R

    Rob R
    Chicago, IL

    I have been playing raw finish wedges for about 5 years. I love the look of them after about 6months of use.
  12. JAM

    JAM

    I've always been all chrome, however, I have been thinking about replacing my 60 degree TVD with a WEDGEWORK 60 degree raw to see if there is a difference.
  13. Mike W

    Mike W
    Pudsey

    I went for the raw finish, they look stunning and I like the idea of the eventual rust finish. Not sure I appreciate the difference in play, but I work on it and ownership gives me a great deal of pleasure!
  14. Daniel P

    Daniel P
    South wales

    I love my raw 60°, love the softness and spin. I wish I waited for a 56° in a raw finish, but being me, had to have it that day and the only one they had was chrome. Still really like it but feels different to the raw finish
  15. Daniel P

    Daniel P
    South wales

    Love my 60° in raw, love the softness and spin. I've got a 56° in chrome, me being me needed a 56 and they only had it in stock. 100% will change them all soon to raw
  16. LSteffy

    LSteffy
    South Carolina

    I’ve played all different finishes with different wedges but I always come back to vokey raw wedges. To me it’s all about feel and looks. When I look down it just looks better. Another reason I like raw wedges is I’m a tinker. I like to play around with grinds, take a lil bit off here and there. It’s a lot easier to do with a wedge that doesn’t have a finish on it.
  17. Allan H

    Allan H
    Smyrna, TN

    Military
    How are the raw wedges on longevity? Do you need to replace them yearly or every couple of years?
  18. Eric N

    Eric N
    Northwood, NH

    I don't find they differ from any of the other finishes regarding how quickly the grooves wear. With that said, I've been playing raw exclusively for the past 8 years and don't have first hand experience with some of the updated finishes.
  19. MRoseski

    MRoseski
    Palm Harbor, FL

    I have always loved raw wedges for the look and the feel. I'm not a fan of the increased upcharge to get a raw head, so I have been playing the jet black finish in the SM8s and SM9s. I prep them by stripping off the finish in a simple CLR solution.

    One of the main reason most pros play raw/unfinished wedges is the ease of grinding them. It's much easier to grind an unfinished wedge than having to grind off a chrome finished one.

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