Titleist Vokey CC Wedges
Titleist announced that it will be releasing a new Vokey Design Spin Milled Wedge named the C-C which stands for condition of compitition.
The new Vokey CC Wedge is almost identical to previous Spin Milled models except for the groove size and the color of the saw blade. The current spin milled wedge features a red paint fill in the saw engraving while the new future conforming C-C wedge has gold paint in it. The new Condition of Competition version also has “C-C” marked on the hosel.
In 2010 both versions will be available the new Spin Milled C-C wedge will have a sticker on the face designating it conforms to the new groove rule.
Titleist is saying that the new C-C spin milled wedge will produce higher launch, less spin, and more run that previous versions.
Titleist also noted that they have improved their Spin Milling process:
“In reaction to the new groove rules we improved our Spin Milled process,” Dan Stone, vice president of research and development for Titleist golf clubs, said in a statement. “We created a new cutting tool that allowed us to tighten our groove manufacturing tolerances by more than 40 percent. With the new rules calling for a reduced edge radius and effectively less groove volume, we improved our process to get as close to the limits as possible.”
Golf.com’s David Dusek sums up the new groove rule and its schedule the best we have seen so far:
JANUARY 1, 2010
All products submitted to the USGA for approval must contain the new, conforming grooves.
PGA Tour players, and golfers who try to qualify for PGA Tour events, will need to use equipment that has the new grooves starting on this date. Golfers who compete in the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open will need to use clubs with the new grooves as well. However, the USGA has ruled that golfers may use the older, non-conforming grooves at local qualifying tournaments for these events. At the sectional qualifying level, the new conforming grooves must be used.
JANUARY 1, 2011
This is a key date for weekend players because manufacturers will have to stop making and shipping clubs that contain the larger, sharper grooves.
This is why we’ve been reporting on so many new wedges recently; companies are scrambling to get high-spin clubs into the marketplace while they still can. Still, it’s important to note that retailers will be able to sell any clubs they have in stock, even those with nonconforming grooves.
Amateur players who value spin may want to stock up before this date. Once supplies are gone, that’s it.
JANUARY 1, 2014
All USGA and R&A championships will require competitors to use the newer, conforming grooves.
JANUARY 1, 2020
The USGA has said that it will evaluate the effects of the groove rules no sooner than this date.
JANUARY 1, 2024
As things stand now, this is the date when the vast majority of the world’s golfers will have to start using the new grooves. Before this date, golfers will be free to play with the older, larger grooves, even in rounds used for handicap purposes.
( source Golf.com )
