Scratch Wedges... Nothing Comes Close!!!

... Lets start with a little history. Ari Techner, the CEO of Scratch Golf was a golf forum member just like the rest of us. After ordering some custom clubs, he got an idea that starting his own company and building custom made wedges might be pretty cool. Many of us have had thoughts like these. Or more accurately, dreams like these. The big difference is, Ari actually made it happen!!!

… Fast forward to the early days of the company. I ordered a couple of wedges that were to be made to VERY specific size, shape and specifications. At the time, each wedge had a “handmade” look to it. I was disappointed in the outcome, as I was expecting something a little more refined. Ari, much to his credit, took the return with no problems, but there were questions asked. Not “what’s the problem” instead Ari wanted to know what I liked and more importantly, what I disliked. He wanted to know how he could make his product better. I was impressed with his enthusiasm to become better at everything he could. I wanted him to get in touch with me when he thought he had a product that could compete with the big boys like Vokey, Mizuno, Cleveland, etc. To be honest, I didn’t expect to hear from him. I am so glad I was wrong.

… This year, Scratch Wedges were featured in Golf Illustrated, Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. GolfWeek has an article in the 5.26.07 edition. I got an email from Ari, saying he’d like another chance to make me some wedges and that he thought he has it right. Does he? I am going to go out on a limb here. But the team of Jeff McCoy, Scratch’s master grinder, and Ari Techner just might be the new Scotty Cameron of wedges. By that I mean, they have not reinvented the wheel, they are just talking a proven design, adding amazing balance, extraordinary feel, customization never seen in a wedge and a perfect look. Scratch wedges are in use on several tours, are the #2 forged wedge on the Nationwide Tour right now only 2 behind Callaway, and 5 clubs ahead of Mizuno. Quite honestly, I cannot exaggerate how good Scratch Wedges are. I can see Ari and Jeff having the same cult like status Scotty Cameron does. When tour use picks up, and some of their early prototypes start going for BIG bucks, you’ll know my prediction has come true.

… Starting with aesthetics, there is not a better looking wedge out there. Especially if you go with a Tour Dept. custom wedge. You pick a finish of Raw, Antique Raw, 3x Black, Satin Copper, Brushed Nickel or Satin Chrome. You can select a standard teardrop, square or round toe. I love a dead straight leading edge and that is exactly what I got. I also like a Raw 60*, but decided to try the brushed nickel in my 54*. They are without a doubt the most beautiful looking wedges I have ever laid my eyes on. His stock JLM wedges come in Satin Chrome and are identical to the custom wedges, without stampings, choice of finish and shape, or a unique grind above and beyond his standard 5 grinds that fit the vast majority of all golfers.

… Feel. Scratch uses 1018 carbon steel, and it produces the softest, most responsive wedges I have ever played. It seems as if the wedge face grabs the ball, and holds it a fraction longer. This results in a feel with chips and pitches, that you can put the ball anywhere your skill level is capable of. I use the flop shot a lot, and combined with the correct grind, I have never had as much confidence as I do with my 60* EGG grind.
… Where feel really separates Scratch Wedges from it’s competitors, playability widens the gap even further. I have ground my own wedges, and while I am nowhere near an expert, I know what I am doing. I was pretty sure I had found the best grind for my game. Turned out I was wrong, especially with my most important scoring club, my 60* wedge. Scratch offers three types of swing profiles. A Sweeper/Slider, a Driver/Slider and a Digger/Driver. Below is an innovative fitting guide from the website to help you decide which type of swing you use:

http://www.scratchgolf.com/index.php?categoryid=25

… But Ari did not stop here. Scratch then offers 5 different grinds that can accommodate these different types of swings. I am a Driver/Slider and chose the TNC grind for my 60* which is my primary wedge for bunker play. I have always performed better out of sand with a moderate to low bounce angle. We have very little fluffy sand in Chicagoland, so the TNC not only looked best to my eye, it provided the specs I have found optimum through years of practice and experience. After talking with Ari, and counter to my experience, I went with his recommendation for the EGG grind. This is exactly why Pro’s seek advice from the experts! Ari assured me the high bounce would only come into play from the sand and rough, exactly where I need it, but when opening the face the very aggressive relief in the toe, heel and trailing edge allow the club to sit flat. I have hit some of my best shots in the last few weeks and am amazed at just how well this grind performs. I went with a pretty standard 54* SND wedge. My full shots have been dead on with that same “hold the ball a fraction longer” feel. And chipping is just a joy with this wedge. Below is a sampling and description of the Scratch grinds:

http://www.scratchgolf.com/index.php?categoryid=79

... This brings me to the cost. As I said, I am totally blown away by just how good Scratch wedges are, and words simply cannot do them justice. People will hand over $400+ for a driver and putter without blinking. While your wedges are not more important than your putter, I’d say they are equal. Personally I think they are more important than a driver, but that is certainly debatable. Many wedges are now selling for $109 or $119, and rest assured these wedges are vastly inferior in quality. I will not go into specific dollar values, but many, if not all of the oems are buying cheap ‘castings’, and basically touching them up a little. Purchasing quality 1018 carbon steel raw ‘forgings’ is about 25 times more expensive than the most popular wedge on tour!!! There is a ton of work that goes into each wedge whether it is JLM or custom tour. Each club starts as a raw forging and is hand ground. Every club is made by hand which takes some time, but assures Scratch can offer their different grinds and a level of craftsmanship not seen with their competitors. Most forged wedges are forged much closer to weight and shape and the companies have generally unskilled, non golfing grinders and polishers in China or Taiwan that just clean up the edges. The end result is generally very inconsistent from wedge to wedge. Take a close look at any two wedges from the same oem, and you will see a lot of small, subtle differences. Just look at the leading edge and it’s difficult to find two that look the same! All of Scratch’s grinders in Japan that work on the JLM wedges are lifetime golfers and golf club grinders. They have all ground clubs for almost every old school OEM and made clubs for many tour players. They take great care with each JLM wedge to make sure they come out perfect and consistent from one to the next. The Tour Department custom grinder, is at Scratch right here in the good ole US of A. Jeff McCoy is his name, and he truly is a master at what he does. Ari has worked with him for 10+ years and is still amazed at some of the things he can do. This kind of expertise combined with the very best quality is not cheap, but imo, well worth it.

… One mans golfing adventure is not always relevant to another’s. I am not a fan of the “… I hit it 342 yards and reached a par 5 in two but just missed my eagle putt” because few of us hit a drive 342. However, we all have had shots from around the green. I was playing with the . Pro at George Dunne and he had been admiring my Scratch wedges. He chipped a couple balls with them and LOVED the feel. I had a shot of about 45 feet, over a bunker with a high lip, to a pin sitting very close to the edge. It was relatively flat around the hole, but about 4 feet on the other side, it sloped all the way to the water and anything with decent speed would roll in. Lloyd came over and looked at the lie, which was pretty tight and said “lets see what your Scratch wedge can do with this shot!” I opened the face, took almost a full swing, threw it straight up and dropped it about 6 inches from the hole and it sat like a beanbag. Which prompted “I gotta get me some Scratch wedges!!!” After talking with Ari, Lloyd was so impressed with Scratch, he set up a Demo Day at George Dunne in Chicago on Friday June 1st open to ALL forum members. Ari Techner will actually be there to answer any of your questions, and have on hand a variety of wedges to demo!!!

… this might be my most extensive review ever, and I am just so impressed with Scratch wedges that I ordered a Scratch AR-1 CB 48* pw from their iron line up. If it is anything like the wedges, and I have no reason to think it won’t be, I’ll order the rest of the set. So do yourself a HUGE favor, and demo a Scratch wedge if you get the opportunity. I have never said this in any of the reviews I have ever written, but I have no reservations at all about suggesting ordering one without a demo. With the right grind, and swing profile, they are more than good enough for me to make that kind of recommendation. I am posting this on all forums I frequent, something I have never done. I am pretty sure this review will be followed up with similar opinions from those that already own Scratch wedges. That kind of unsolicited testimony, especially for a new company, is as good as it gets.