PXG’s Wedge Forged line gets a refresh at a price that won’t make you question your life choices.
If you know anything about PXG, you know the company has never been shy about charging a premium.
Sugar Daddy’s wedges—milled from a single block of steel, adorned (or saddled, depending on your perspective) with visible mill marks and signature weight gates—are very much a reflection of that ethos. They look expensive because they are expensive.
The new “Stick ‘Em” Forged line is PXG’s next game – one that does away with aggressive cosmetic detailing, simplifies the manufacturing process, and comes at a price point that, while not cheap, is at least competitive with the rest of the market.
I think that’s something.
What you need to know
The new forged PXG Stick ‘Em tips are available now in Chrome ($199) and Xtreme Dark ($219) in six lofts: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees. Two single options – a BP-Grind (13-degree bounce) and an S-Grind (10-degree) – cover the expected range from full toe forgiveness to something with a little more agility around the greens.
It’s not the most powerful grinding lineup on the market, but I suppose two options are better than one.
For what it’s worth, the S-Grind, with its tapered sole and toe relief, stays more firmly on the ground than that 10-degree jump number might suggest. It’s not a T-grind—you probably won’t stretch it all the way—but there’s enough relief to open up your face and get creative. The BP-Grind is your standard wider, higher bounce sole option for steeper swings and softer conditions. It’s Bob Parsons’ fight and it can be your fight too (just don’t expect PXG to stick your initials on it).
“Clean” is the show here
If Sugar Daddy wedges are PXG at its most PXG (milled, carried, unapologetically XTREME), the Stick ‘Em Forged line is PXG trying to be a little more mainstream.
Granted, it’s a fine line between purely AND boringbut the thing is, there are no mill marks (and no milling to justify them), no weight ports, no screws—just a relatively clean, tour-inspired profile that doesn’t desperately need attention at address. As with the Sugar Daddy series, the footprint is a little larger than what you’d get from industry leaders, which some players will appreciate, especially those looking for a little extra forgiveness … or at least higher MOI.
In general, PXG’s lower-priced offerings — the 0211 irons, the forged wedge line — tend to be less fancy than the mainstays. Whether this is a function of cutting costs or making the premium line feel more premium (or both), the result is a wedge that looks like it belongs in any bag without requiring an oath of brand loyalty.
Does counterfeiting matter?
As the name suggests, Stick ‘Em forged wedges are forged—specifically, triple-forged from 8620 mild carbon steel. PXG’s trick is that repeated forging compresses and refines the grain structure, resulting in a softer, stronger feel on impact and holes that hold their edges longer.
The reality is that 8620 is equally amenable to casting and forging. Can you convince yourself that the forged 8620 feels softer than the cast 8620? Maybe. I would suggest that the feel is mostly driven by geometry (head shape, sole pattern, center of gravity) rather than whether the metal was hammered or cast into shape. But if “fake” is a box you need to check, consider it checked.
Where the forging process (and PXG’s robotic polishing) may matter most is the history of tolerance. PXG has leaned toward tighter manufacturing tolerances across its lineup, and there’s something to the idea that taking people out of the finishing process reduces inconsistency. That said, things like changing cutting wheels at regular intervals (which no one talks about because it’s not sexy) probably do more for consistency of performance than the forging process itself. To be clear, none of this is a knock on Stick ‘Em Forged. It’s just a reminder that marketing history and engineering history don’t always line up without a few small gaps.
Updated groove geometry
Stick ‘Em Forged pairs wider grooves with tighter spacing between them. Wider channels provide more surface area to cover the ball while channeling grass, moisture and anything else that gets between the club face and the ball. Tighter spacing means more groove edges making contact at impact, which should help generate consistent spin. And while none of this is unique to PXG (they’re all optimizing groove geometry within the constraints of the rules), the combination should promote consistent spin and trajectory control — especially from less-than-perfect lies where debris between ball and face can be an absolute spin killer.
Thumbs up, full face and industry trends
Stick ‘Em Forged features high toe weight and – on 54- to 60-degree models – full-face grooves. The 50 and 52 retain the traditional groove patterns for full control.
PXG’s rationale for the high toe is that it increases MOI and positions the center of gravity more in line with open-face shots, promoting a more stable trajectory when working the face. That’s a reasonable argument, and it’s the same one everyone else made when high-toe designs were having their moment.
Here’s the thing: both high-toe and full-face designs have cooled off a bit over the past couple of years. Callaway, in its push to get more serious in the wedge space, has moved away from them. PING has brought back his E. Vokey attrition never bought. TaylorMade may be circling back, but the broader trend line suggests bearishness.
That said, the PXG’s high leg profile isn’t particularly extreme (Brother). It’s restrained enough that it doesn’t dramatically change the look of the address, which is probably the right call. I suppose there is a logical case for full face grooves. If you’re opening the face on a lob wedge, you want grooves where you’re making contact—even if some of us prefer the visual frame that offers something less than a full-face groove.
conclusion
While not as hot as Sugar Daddy, I think PXG needs Stick ‘Em Forged in its lineup. It’s a clean, competitive, no-nonsense option at a lower cost.
The Stick ‘Em Forged line gives the company a legitimate entry point for gamers who aren’t interested in paying extra for visual baggage (even if the grinding story is cool). Whether the high toe groove and full face features move the needle for you is a matter of preference, but most won’t find either implemented aggressively enough to be a deal breaker.
PXG Stick ‘Em Forged Points are available now. For more information, visit PXG.com.
