Forget 2012! Wedge Armageddon Comes 1/1/2011!

This story was first at WR on 11/20/09, but in recent weeks, we've seen a slew of stories on the same topic.  Figured it was time to bring it back to the forefront since Wedgemagddon is closer than ever.

AHHHH!  THE SKY IS FALLING!  WE ARE JUST 406 SHORT DAYS FROM THE END OF THE WORLD!1111!!

On January 1, 2011, equipment manufacturers will no longer be able to produce wedges that do not conform to the new grooves standard set forth by the USGA and R&A.  Although the rules of competition state that most players won't have to actually play clubs with these new grooves until 2024, the manufacturers will not be making wedges with both U grooves and the simulated V grooves.  It's not that they don't want to; they just can't.

But, starting 1/1/10 and for one spectacular year, manufacturers will sell wedges with U grooves and V grooves.  This is because all of the pro golf tours have adopted the standard for next season.  And since all us hackers are professional golfers in a cocoon of dormancy, we want to play their clubs.

So, of course, this is a jackpot opportunity for manufacturers.  For the next 406 days, you will hear nothing but the following meme:

BUY WEDGES NOW!  STOCK UP ON THEM!  NEW, USED, OR DISASSEMBLED!  BEFORE THEY GO AWAY FOREVER!

For the golfer in your life, buy them a wedge.  Or ten.  Seriously, wedges are going to be bigger than drivers next year - for perhaps the first time ever - because of this perceived change. 

Sure, 99% of players cannot control the spin on their wedges, but you don't know that.  Ok, yeah, two players won last week while playing with 2010 conforming wedges, but don't think about that. 

You. Must. Buy. Wedges. Now. Or. You. Will. Never. Be. The. Same.

In truth, there's going to be a really great secondary market for soon-to-be nonconforming wedges that either didn't sell this year, or are gently used.  Like I said, almost all players won't notice the difference, but wedges will be hot.

Personally, I am very interested to see what comes out of the famous wedge shops like Cleveland and Vokey (Titleist) to combat the new grooves rules.  But, they have some very nice offerings in '09 and '10 that you can snatch up now while there's still time.

In February, Taylor Made will introducing their new TP wedges with exchangable faces.  They have been cleared to be sold by the USGA.  As part of an appeal to the USGA, the governing body said that face plates for the club will be able to be sold with non-conforming grooves for about $45 next year.  This means that you can still buy up fresh, non-conforming groove faces well into 2010 without having to buy a whole new wedge each time.  TaylorMade wins and you win (if you know what you're doing).

One interesting final caveat to this grooves thing.  While manufacturers may no longer MAKE clubs that don't conform after 2011, retailers are allowed to SELL non-conforming wedges that are shipped to them by manufacturers before 1/1/11.  In other words, the manufacturers could send a massive surplus of non-conforming wedges to stores in order to keep selling them for an extended period into 2011.

Neat, huh?