Mizuno S5

jbrunk · June 25, 2017

I'm looking at an S5 sand wedge to finish a backup/travel bag. I'm not a great greenside bunker player, and have options of the 54.08 and 56.14 at our local shop. This will fit between the JPX-850 GW and an S5 60.06 LW. Any advice on choosing between the two lofts w/bounce & grind? My primary sand wedge is a SM5 54.10 S grind. Thanks, cheers!

DaveMac · June 25, 2017

Loads of wedge options available for reasonable money, so rather than jumping at just any S5, why not identify what is giving you bother with sand shots and pick a sand wedge that will help the most.

The two options you listed the 54 is too low a loft for an all purpose sand wedge and the 56's high bounce value is best for soft sand bunkers.

Have a think about what will help and go with that option rather than restricting yourself to such a limited set of options.

Best of luck.

Golf64 · June 25, 2017

Hard to say with what your game is like or conditions you might be playing?! I would err on the side of more bounce vs. less. Bob Vokey always says, 'bounce is your friend'. ;)

dmeeksDC · June 25, 2017

Not a big difference between 10 and 8 in bounce. Both are mid-bounce. You alao could bend the 54 to 56 and that also would get it to 10 bounce like your Vokey. Or just play it.

I've not played the S5. Like the look of it and love Mizunos in general. I am also interested in it in the samw loft range, though I will likely go lower bounce as I have pretty much decided to make my 60 degree club my main sand wedge and my 55 more of a full shot/lob club.

jbrunk · June 25, 2017

Thanks for your thoughts. Short game is my strongest area, except for bunker play which is 50/50. My gamer set is SM5s at 50.12 F 54.10 S and 58.11 K. In general, I use the 50° for most chipping, 54° for pitching, & 58° for bunkers & fast greens. I don't play a lot of spin, so I rely on height & pace to get close. Year round play for me is on a wide variety of conditions on multiple courses.

SM6 56 S is another option, if I want to stick with what's familiar; or RTX-3, which I've also demoed a lot. I've got the S5 60.06 on the way, which is why I'm thinking about these two options. Maybe I should just get the high bounce 56 and bend it to 55.13. I've always liked having a variety of grinds for different situations. Having played Vokeys forever, I guess I don't really get the difference between the soles on the S5, other than wide & narrow.

dmeeksDC · June 25, 2017

I really like the SM5 and SM6. And your game sounds similar. If I can shore up my sand game, and I do when I play more, my short game is a strength.

I am interested in the K grind, but not just the standard model, the custom low bounce (58 or 60 with 6 bounce.). Supposedly is great off tight lies and from bunkers due to wide sole and camber. Players are reporting it is just as solid from hardpan.

Never had played lower bounce wedges but have liked low bounce in irons and love it in a Cally MD Forged wedge I have.

jbrunk · June 26, 2017

K custom? Those were my first Zildjian cymbals back in the day.

The low bounce K sounds like a cool custom option, maybe I'll check it out down the road. I usually follow the regular release cycles by 1-2 years.

kylemd · June 26, 2017

K customs were great. I loved And played the A customs from Zildjian on a set of 80's white laquer Pearl Worlds ... square sizes. Ten peice double 24 x24 kicks. Would give all my blades up to have that set back. Paiste Novo china and the alex van halen prototype 22 inch crashes were cool too... very rare. I had one.

jbrunk · June 26, 2017

K customs were great. I loved And played the A customs from Zildjian on a set of 80's white laquer Pearl Worlds ... square sizes. Ten peice double 24 x24 kicks. Would give all my blades up to have that set back. Paiste Novo china and the alex van halen prototype 22 inch crashes were cool too... very rare. I had one.

Whoa, now that's a setup! I had the 10-piece Pearl Export in chrome. I sold off half of it in college, but I wish I'd kept it all too.