TaylorMade’s Hi-Toe wedges have been a mainstay in the short game arsenal of many golfers, offering a distinctive design aimed at improving forgiveness and spin control around the greens.
Now, in 2024, TaylorMade has introduced the fourth generation of these wedges, the Hi-Toe 4. This latest iteration features a larger toe area and grooves that extend across the entire face, continuing the brand's commitment to helping players with their wedge play.
In this review, we’ll look at how the Hi-Toe 4 performs compared to TaylorMade's more traditional MG4 wedges, breaking down the tech, performance, and whether it’s a worthwhile addition to your bag.
Who Are They Aimed At?
The TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedges are primarily aimed at golfers who may struggle with their short game and are looking for a bit more forgiveness in their wedges. If you’re someone who often misses greens or struggles with consistency on high-lofted shots, the larger face and extended grooves of the Hi-Toe 4 could be a lifesaver. These wedges are designed to offer forgiveness when the face is opened up for high, soft-landing shots, and they particularly shine in tricky bunker situations and difficult lies.
That said, these wedges can also appeal to better players who like to experiment with different wedge shots around the green. The design makes them well-suited for those who want to add versatility to their game, allowing you to play flop shots, chips, and open-faced bunker shots with confidence. Players who are comfortable manipulating loft and face angles will find the Hi-Toe 4 to be a highly flexible tool in their short game repertoire.
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The Tech
TaylorMade has packed the Hi-Toe 4 wedges with a variety of features aimed at improving performance, particularly for players who need extra help with their short game. Some of the standout technologies include:
Full-Face Grooves: As in previous generations, the grooves extend across the entire clubface, which is especially useful for shots where you open the face and strike the ball near the toe. This design is intended to provide more spin and control, even on mishits.
High-Toe Design: The most notable feature of these wedges is the enlarged toe area, which makes the face look significantly larger at address. This larger hitting area provides additional forgiveness, especially when hitting open-faced shots, and makes it easier to hit higher lofted shots with added spin.
Mass Pad: The fourth generation introduces a larger mass pad on the back of the club, concentrated in the toe area. This feature helps redistribute weight and makes off-center hits more forgiving, adding stability and control for shots struck away from the center.
Raw Face Technology: The clubface is designed to rust over time, a deliberate feature that enhances friction and increases spin. While some golfers may not love the look of a rusted clubface, the performance benefits are clear, particularly for generating spin around the greens.
Golden Bottom Groove: One new addition in this generation is a gold-painted groove at the bottom of the clubface, which serves as a visual aid to help golfers line up the ball correctly toward the toe, encouraging better contact and alignment, especially on tricky open-faced shots.
Variety of Grinds: The Hi-Toe 4 is available in multiple grinds, including the ATC that I tested which has 8° of bounce for firmer conditions and shallower angles of attack. This customisation ensures golfers can find the right sole configuration for their playing style and course conditions.
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedge Review
Looks and Feel
Aesthetically, the Hi-Toe 4 wedges are distinctive and, frankly, divisive. The larger, high-toe design is a far cry from the classic wedge profile many golfers are accustomed to. When placed next to the more traditional MG4 wedge, the Hi-Toe immediately stands out due to its larger clubface and full-face grooves.
For traditionalists, this can be off-putting. However, golfers who prioritize performance over looks may be willing to overlook this unconventional design.
At address, the larger toe area and full-face grooves make the club feel a bit intimidating, especially if you’re used to more conventional wedges.
However, the feel of the club is solid and responsive, providing ample feedback on both good and bad strikes. Despite the larger face, the club doesn’t feel clunky or awkward during the swing, and the added mass pad in the toe area offers a more stable, consistent feel on contact.
One subtle feature that stands out is the gold-painted groove. While it’s a small visual aid, it makes a surprising difference in lining up shots, especially when opening the face on bunker shots or flop shots. This small detail adds to the confidence you get when addressing the ball.
Performance
When it comes to performance, the Hi-Toe 4 wedges truly shine in situations that require a high degree of versatility and forgiveness. Throughout testing, they consistently performed well in a variety of scenarios, from pitch shots and bunker shots to lob shots and chip shots.
Pitch Shots: At around 65 yards, the Hi-Toe 4 performed nicely. The gold bottom groove helped with alignment, and the larger face provided confidence. In terms of distance control, the wedges performed similarly to the more traditional MG4, but the full-face grooves offered a little extra bite on the ball, helping with spin control.
Bunker Shots: The Hi-Toe wedges are particularly effective in the bunker. Opening the face wide while still getting solid contact was easier due to the full-face grooves. The larger surface area made it feel more forgiving, and escaping the sand felt more predictable compared to the MG4.
Tricky Lies: On delicate lob shots, the Hi-Toe 4 proved its worth. With the face opened up, the larger sweet spot and increased forgiveness came into play. The wider sole also helped with turf interaction, allowing the club to slide under the ball more smoothly.
However, for bump-and-run shots, the traditional MG4 wedge was easier to control. The Hi-Toe’s design didn’t allow for as much manipulation of the clubface, which might be a drawback for players who prefer versatility in their lower shots around the greens.
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedges Verdict
The TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedges are a great option for golfers who want more forgiveness and consistency in their short game, particularly in tricky lies or when playing open-faced shots. The full-face grooves, larger hitting area, and raw face technology all contribute to improved spin and control, while the larger toe design adds a significant degree of forgiveness. For golfers who struggle with their short game or want added versatility around the greens, the Hi-Toe 4 is a solid choice.
However, if you’re more comfortable with a traditional wedge design and prefer a clean, classic look at address, the Hi-Toe may not be your ideal wedge. In some scenarios, like bump-and-run shots, the conventional MG4 wedge might offer more workability and control.
Would I Use It?
Personally, I was skeptical about the Hi-Toe 4 before testing, largely due to its unusual appearance. However, after putting it through its paces, I can definitely see the benefits, particularly for those tough bunker shots and high-lofted shots from tight lies. The forgiveness it offers in tricky situations is hard to ignore, and the spin control is impressive.
That said, I still lean toward the traditional MG4 for certain shots, especially those where I prefer a bit more control and finesse. If I were to mix and match, I’d probably keep one Hi-Toe in the bag for bunkers and lob shots, while relying on a more conventional wedge for lower trajectory shots.
Ultimately, whether you’d use it comes down to your style of play and what you prioritize in a wedge.
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedge Pros and Cons
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