The script should be familiar to you. The second year of most product lifecycles brings some sort of refresh. Irons get a fresh coat of black or sometimes blue (but never Slate Blue, it appears) paint and new grinds often find their way into wedge lineups.
For Vokey, Year Two of SM10 wedges provides an opportunity to expand its already impressive matrix of loft and grind combinations, albeit with something familiar.
Low Bounce K joins the matrix
To kick off 2025, Vokey is bringing its previously WedgeWorks-only Low Bounce K Grind to the retail SM10 lineup.
We’ve written about Low Bounce K before. Your quick refresher is that LBK is Vokey’s lowest-bounce (six degrees), wide-sole wedge. You can also think of it as Vokey’s most forgiving low-bounce lob wedge.
The general idea is that the low-bounce version of the K Grind offers the greenside versatility of a low-bounce wedge but the wide sole provides more forgiveness than is typical for a low-bounce option.
In the wedge world, a good bit of forgiveness comes from sole grind and there’s always some trade-off between forgiveness and versatility.
Vokey Low Bounce K versus the others
For the sake of comparison, Vokey’s most versatile grind, the T Grind, sits tight to the ground. With a narrow sole, generous heel and trailing-edge relief, it still sits tight, even when laid open.
The T often requires a deft touch as it tends to dig when delivery is less than precise. That’s especially true in softer turf conditions.
The Low Bounce K doesn’t offer the same heel and trailing-edge relief but with the low bounce, it still sits relatively close to the ground and is far less prone to digging.
To complete our comparison, Vokey’s other low-bounce lob wedge – the L Grind – sits between T and LBK on the versatility-to-forgiveness continuum.
If you tend to play the majority of your greenside shots with a square face but still need something to navigate tighter lies or soft bunkers, the low-bounce K might be the one.
About those bunkers
The K Grind has developed a reputation for being outstanding from bunkers which is why it’s sometimes described as the “ultimate bunker club” (at least among serious wedges). That’s true for the original (high-bounce) K but there’s something to that for Low Bounce K as well. With that in mind, Vokey wants to make sure golfers understand that K grind (regardless of bounce) isn’t just a bunker club.
Think of the K Grind as the Vokey wedge for golfers who can’t bunker good and wanna do other wedge stuff good, too.
The point is that unlike some of the specialty bunker (and chipper) stuff out there, the Low Bounce K is a fully functional wedge that can be used anywhere on the course.
Fairway, rough, bunker … Low Bounce K can handle it all.
The upside of going mainstream
With Low Bounce K going mainstream, there are a few added benefits for golfers.
Wider availability: As a previously WedgeWorks-only offering, I’m not sure how many golfers are aware the Low Bounce K Grind even exists. With greater distribution should come greater awareness. That’s a good thing as I think this is one of those semi-niche options that is probably more niche than it should be.
More finish options: Unless the finish is the thing (and it usually isn’t), WedgeWorks drops are typically available in raw finish only. That is to say there is no finish.
As part of the retail lineup, you can get the Vokey SM10 Low Bounce K in Tour Chrome, Jet Black and Nickel finishes. You can still get raw but that’s through custom only.
Lower price: WedgeWorks offerings command a premium price and while I’m not sure anybody will say $189 for a wedge is a bargain, it’s less than what you had to pay previously to get a Low Bounce K.
Specs, Options, Availability
The Vokey SM10 Low Bounce K Grind wedge is available in 58 and 60 degrees. The stock shaft is a True Temper Dynamic Gold S200 and the stock grip is a Titleist Universal 360.
As with all Vokey Wedges, the SM10 Low Bounce K can be customized to your tastes. Options include:
- Eight unique toe engravings
- Multiple stamping options: 10-character Straight/Freestyle stamping; 15 characters around the toe; and two lines of 10 characters each
- Custom paint-fill: Loft and grind markings and BV Wings logo
Vokey wedges can also be custom ordered with your choice of shafts, grips, shaft bands and ferrules.
Retail price for the Vokey SM10 K Grind wedge is $189. Available March 7.
For more information, visit Vokey.com.
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