Kirkland Signature wedge review
I walked into my closest golf store recently and realized how EXPENSIVE wedges are getting!
A single wedge can cost upwards of $200. I like to replace my wedges as soon as the grooves wear out and I’ve got three in my bag. It’s safe to say that I’m scared my next new set is going to hurt (maybe even kill) my wallet.
The Kirkland Signature wedges hit a really affordable price point. Naturally, this will turn the heads of golfers who replace wedges frequently but don’t have a tour pros budget.
When it comes to golf clubs, price isn’t the most important factor I consider. I need to love the look and feel of the club I’m using. Looking down at a club I don’t like kills my confidence, so it’s key that I like what I see at address.
So, are the Kirkland Signature clubs an average set of wedges that offer good value for money, or can they rival some of golf’s premium wedges?
Kirkland Signature wedge review
To start the review off, let’s talk about what comes with the Kirkland signature wedge set. The clubs come in a box as a three-wedge bundle. You get a gap wedge, a sand wedge, and a lob wedge. The lofts of these clubs work out at 52, 56, and 60 degrees respectively. They come with 10 degrees of bounce on both the gap wedge and sand wedge and slightly less on the lob wedge which has 8 degrees. The gap wedge has a swing weight of D3, with the sand and lob wedges both weighted at D4.
How does this configuration compare to other wedge sets on the market? The 52, 56, and 60-degree setup is pretty common amongst golfers that I play with. I game a set of Callaway Mack Daddy (MD) wedges, in the exact same lofts and bounce angles offered by the Kirkland set. This makes them a really good fit for my bag, my pitching wedge is 48 degrees so the wedges fit my bag nicely in 4-degree increments.
I know some golfers who like their wedges with 50, 54, and 58 degrees of loft. This could be to match their irons and get consistent gapping. Other golfers prefer to use less loft and avoid a 60-degree wedge where they can. Unfortunately, the set is only available in a standard 52, 56, and 60 setup so if you prefer a 58-degree lob wedge you’re out of luck.
If you do shy away from using a lob wedge, but want to try the Kirkland Signature wedges I recommend reading our guide to using a lob wedge. Our in-depth article addresses many of the anxieties associated with using a lob wedge and will help you to understand whether the risk is worth the reward.
I think the loft and bounce configuration from the Kirkland wedges will suit a lot of golfers, with many of them already using an identical setup; myself included. With that said, it’s a shame they only offer a single set of loft configurations.
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- How do they feel?
The Kirkland wedges feel okay. To be honest, they aren’t as nice as my Callaway MD wedges, but remember those are tour standard wedges. I think that most amateur, mid to high handicap golfers would have difficulty distinguishing the difference in feel between these and their current wedges. In fact, because these are new and have precision milling as well as regular grooves they might just prefer the feel of these.
For better players with more of a fine-tuned sense of how a wedge feels, they might disappoint you. Especially if you’re used to using top-of-the-range wedges such as Vokey’s. At impact the club feels a little dense; I wouldn’t say you get a bunch of feedback when it comes to striking the ball, and to me they feel a bit clicky.
In terms of swing weight these felt good, the D3/D4 combination isn’t something that’s new to me and the shafts are made by True Temper so you know they’re solid. The Kirkland grip feels just as good as any other grip I’ve used, and you could almost mistake it for a Golf Pride grip based on looks.
So, it’s safe to say these clubs don’t feel as good as premium wedges but I didn’t expect them to. They cost basically a third of the price, so sacrificing a little feel was always going to be likely. What I do like about them is the shaft and the grip. These are as good as some of the better wedges I’ve used. For players who aren’t overly obsessed with how a club feels at impact, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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- Performance
It took me a few shots to get used to these wedges. After I did, I have to say… I was really impressed with how these wedges performed!
So, how did I test them?
I decided that the most realistic way to test the performance of these wedges would be to replicate real-life situations within both the course and practice area. I used my club’s chipping area to get a good feel for them. Once I had them dialed in, I decided it would be best to test them on the course during a real round of golf.
I should mention that a few times during my round I deliberately aimed at the bunkers. This allowed me to get a feel for both the sand and lob wedges out of the bunkers during a real round.
Let’s go through my performance findings club by club starting with the gap wedge.
Gap Wedge Performance
I found that around the greens there was nothing out of the ordinary to report back. My own 100-yard club is a 52-degree wedge, and I like using it for chipping. When I tested the Kirkland gap wedge, it rolled out as much as I expected it would. For pitch shots from 30, 50, 70 yards, and full shots, the distance control was nearly identical to my gap wedge so I adapted quite easily. I liked the trajectory for my full shots and chipped impressively with this club.
Sand Wedge Performance
Next, we’ll move on to the sand wedge. From the bunkers, I was able to use the sand wedge effectively to access back pins. I noticed plenty of spin for the bunker shots and my chip shots checked nicely too. My own sand wedge is my 90-yard club and I was able to use the Kirkland sand wedge to attack the green from this range comfortably. There were no major surprises from the 56-degree wedge, it helped me out of bunkers and I hit the occasional chip shot well. I don’t really use my sand wedge that much for chipping, so it’s worth noting that when I tested this I wasn’t always super confident in my club selection.
Lob Wedge Performance
A club that I am comfortable playing shots with is my 60-degree lob wedge. Naturally, I was excited to get out there and try the Signature lob wedge from Kirkland. Starting with the bunkers, I was able to get some really nice, high, and explosive sand shots that spun a lot. I found that when it came to chipping I was able to pop the ball up nicely and it was especially effective from thicker cuts of rough. If you’re new to using a lob wedge, the key to using them from thick rough is being aggressive and committing to your follow-through.
When I moved on to pitching and full shots, it’s safe to say I was sold on these wedges.
The stopping power on offer with the Kirkland lob wedge was fantastic and I even got some backspin on a couple of my approaches which looked really cool.
Performance-wise, I found these wedges to be awesome. I was able to hit every shot I’d need from 100 yards and in with them. I think the precision milling combined with the regular grooves definitely helps to generate spin, and the check on some of my chip shots was a real plus point.
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- Should I buy new Kirkland wedges or second-hand wedges?
This is really a matter of personal preference, but for me the choice is a simple one; I’d choose new wedges over second-hand any day. This comes down to having brand new grooves that generate the spin I like to see from my wedge shots.
Most of the guys I play with regularly buy premium wedges second-hand. The grooves are worn out before they even hit them! I’ve lost count of times I hear my buddy complaining about not getting any backspin when his wedge is 7 years old and the grooves probably wore out in 2016.
The Kirkland Signature wedges will give you the spin you need to hold even the toughest greens. Why game a premium wedge that’s years old and offers barely any spin? I know I’d rather have a set of wedges from a lesser-known brand do the job they’re supposed to.
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- Comparing Kirkland wedges to my current wedges
Will the Kirkland wedges be taking pride of place in my bag over my current Callaway MD setup? The simple answer is no.
After carrying out my testing, it’s clear to see that the Kirkland wedges can provide me with the same shots that my MD wedges can. However, as a golfer with a low single figure handicap, feel is one of the most important parts of my game.
I love the wedges I use at the moment, and I have to be brutally honest in saying the Kirkland wedges don’t feel as good. With that said, If I wasn’t going to spend as much money as I have on my current setup, the Kirkland Signature wedges are clubs that I would definitely consider adding to my bag.
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Frequently Asked Questions ️
If I had to pick one word to describe the Kirkland wedges on the whole it would be “decent”. These wedges have features that you would associate with premium wedges but do lack some of the feel and feedback at impact. For the price, you really can’t complain. Kirkland wedges cost just a fraction of the price compared to top-end wedges, the grip is exceptional, and True Temper shafts are a welcome bonus.
I’m going to start with a disclaimer… if you’re someone who likes the best of the best when it comes to golf equipment, the Kirkland wedges probably aren’t for you. On the other hand, If you’re someone with an open mind and willingness to try products from less mainstream brands I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Sure, these aren’t the BEST feeling wedges on the market, but for the majority of weekend golfers... does that really matter? With the Kirkland wedges, you’re getting 3 brand new clubs with superb value for money, saving yourself a little extra for the 19th hole.
The listed manufacturer for the Costco Kirkland Signature Wedges are the Southern California Design Company. These wedges make the USGA conforming list and are a set that many golfers have been adding to their bag thanks to their solid construction quality and affordable price tag.
Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far you’ll know that the Kirkland Signature wedges have won me over! They offer everything the majority of weekend golfers would want from their wedges, and at less than $160 for 3 brand new golf clubs, you really can’t go wrong. If you’re a weekend golfer who wants to treat yourself to a nice set of wedges, these are an excellent choice with a price tag that’s hard to resist.
