Short game skill is short game skill. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing the latest equipment or a golf ball released two seasons ago, what you do around the green comes down to feel, repetition and touch. That said, it’s still worth pulling back the curtain on what the best short game players on the PGA Tour have in their bag. We looked at Current Strokes Gained: About the Greens Leaders and broke down the wedges and golf balls they’re playing. Here’s what we found.
The title has a lot to do with it
The single biggest takeaway from this data is how thorough it is Titleist master the short game chat. Four of the top 10 players in SG: Around the Green carry Vokey wedge. Four of them play one For V1 OR Pro V1x.
Scottie Scheffler is still playing with SM8. Brandt Snedeker, Nick Taylor and Eric Cole are all still in the game SM10 with no one has passed to the new wedge SM11.
The Maxfli Tour X has a place near the top
Although it doesn’t have the same price tag as the other tournament-level balls on this list, Maxfli Tour X performed well in our 2025 golf ball test. Ranking near the top of the field in ball speed with high swing speeds and spin north of 5,900 rpm in the 35-yard wedge test, Maxfli Tour X also stood out as a strong choice for green control.
Ben Griffin has had success with it on the PGA Tour and, at a much lower price point than For V1 OR TP5xit’s worth a look if you’re trying to stretch your hardware budget without sacrificing short-game performance.
Almost every player on this list carries a 60-degree wedge
Amateur players often shy away from the lobby wedge. Higher loft can feel unpredictable and many recreational players worry about making clean contact. But look at this list and the message is pretty clear. Nine of the top 10 short-game players on the PGA Tour carry a 60-degree lob wedge. An exception is Nick Taylor, who tops out at 58 degrees.
The pros know that when you need a shot to stop quickly, check a solid green or get up and over something in a hurry, that extra loft isn’t optional. If you’ve left the wedge out of your bag, this may be the impetus to reconsider.
