Originally I was going to throw in a quick little blurb about Scratch Golf in my upcoming “Best of the Rest” post, but after reading up on what the guys at Scratch Golf were doing (not only for tour pros, but for the average golfer), I began to realize that Scratch Golf is not your average off-the-shelf club maker.  Instead of making wedges for the masses, Scratch Golf will build you a wedge based on the information you provide. Buying a wedge from Scratch Golf is like having access to your very own Tour Van.  If that doesn’t deserve my full attention, what does?

So what makes Scratch Golf wedges so different? One word: Options. No other club maker gives the average golfer anything close to the options available from Scratch Golf. To get fit for a Scratch Wedge, you first need to answer four simple questions designed to determine the average depth of your divots, what your divots look like on your average mishit, whether you try to sweep the ball or hit down on it, and finally, the condition of the courses you normally play.

Once you’ve answered the questions, Scratch Golf will suggest a couple of different grinds based on your swing type. Scratch has identified 3 basic swing types (Sweeper/Slider, Driver/Slider, Digger/Diver). With 5 different grinds available, you already have 3-4 more grind choices (options) than you do with any other major manufacturer.

Certain grinds work best with certain lofts, so Scratch will only allow you to choose a loft that makes sense for the grind. Of course, should have you have any questions, Scratch provides not only a standard help request form, but also the email addresses of the CEO, COO, Master Grinder, as well as numerous other direct contacts. Now that’s customer service!  It’s a safe bet that whether you’re looking for a single wedge, or a complete set, the team at Scratch Golf will work with you to pair you with the best club(s) for your game.

All Scratch Wedges are forged from 1018 Super Soft Carbon Steel, the same material used by many of the bigger name manufacturers.  The grooves are milled using the standard U shape found in many of today’s popular wedges.  Scratch asserts that the U-groove design promotes a high spin rate, without being overly destructive to your ball’s cover.

In addition to the stock, True Temper shaft, a multitude of upgrades are available from manufacturers such as Nippon, Aerotech, and Rifle (Project X shafts are also available).

Your basic run of the mill Scratch Golf Wedge retails for $199

For those of you (us) who want a complete custom fitting experience, Scratch Golf offers even more options through it’s Custom Design Studio. The studio experience is the most comprehensive direct-from-the-manufacturer ordering system I’ve seen for any single piece of golf equipment – ever. If the 5 standard sole grinds aren’t enough for you, the Custom Studio option raises that number to 18. You’ll also have your choice of 3 distinct head shapes (standard, round, square), and 6 custom finishes (Raw, Antique, XXX Black, Satin Chrome, Polished Chrome, Satin Nickle, and Satin Copper).

You’ll have complete control over all the details including the placement of loft stamp, and the color of the paint for the inlays. You can also add your initials (or other text), and choose from a handful of stock icons to decorate your new Scratch Wedge.

Unlike the standard options, where loft selection is somewhat limited (and tops out at 60°), wedges ordered through the Custom Studio are available in lofts from 45° to 64° in 1° increments. Some tour players don’t have it that good.

A completely customized wedge from the Scratch Golf Custom Studio will run you $299. It sounds like a lot, but considering how a club designed for your swing – and your swing only – will perform, it’s definitely worth considering. We are talking about one of your scoring clubs, right?  A wise man once taught me about the importance of the short game.  I’m a believer, and you should be too.
If your an average golfer at best, and are wondering if a Scratch Golf Wedge would make a difference in your game; here’s the official Scratch position on the issue:

We have found that everyone benefits from playing the right grind but higher handicap players can benefit even more than better players in a lot of cases.

Simply put all golfers benefit from playing the correct grind. We have found that in many cases higher handicap players can benefit even more than a low handicap players. We have found that our higher handicap customers are playing with wedges that do not fit them more often than low handicap players. The higher handicap player also has a much harder time adjusting to a wedge grind that does not fit. The bottom line is, everyone will benefit from a properly fit wedge. You simply cannot play to your potential without it.

Whether you’ll spend the extra $$$ on a Scratch Wedge will probably come down to whether or not you believe you’ll see $70+ worth of improvement compared to an off the rack wedge from Titleist, Cleveland, or Callaway. While I’ll stop short of saying I’m going to order one tomorrow, I’m as intrigued by Scratch Golf’s take on wedges, as I’ve been by any product I’ve seen so far this year (that’s not to say Scratch Wedges haven’t been on the market for some time). At the very least, I’ll strongly consider a Scratch Wedge when next I feel the need to buy such an implement. For me, such things have a way of happening sooner rather than later.

Even if you don’t need a new wedge, you may still want to check out the Scratch Golf web site.  They make irons too.