When the Kirkland Signature GEN 3 forged wedge won our 2026 Test Wedge Most Wantedthe result caught many golfers off guard.
I understand. Kirkland it is soldthree wedges for $199.99. A single Titleist Vokey SM11 it costs about the same amount. Vokey has been one of the benchmarks in the wedge category for years while Kirkland is still, for many golfers, the wedge you pick up at Costco.
So, rather than say that Kirkland won, I wanted to look more closely at what happened when we put him head-to-head with the Vokey SM11.
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Kirkland vs. Vokey SM11: The results in general
Our 2026 wedge test included 15 models, 240 hours of testing and 11,400 shots. Each wedge tested was 56 degrees and golfers had full swing, 50-yard shots in dry conditions and 50-yard shots with added moisture.
Here’s how the two wedges ended up.
| Kirkland GEN 3 | Vokey SM11 | |
|---|---|---|
| In general | 9.1 | 8.9 |
| Accuracy | 9.1 | 8.9 |
| Consistency | 9.0 | 8.4 |
| Spin | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| price | $199.99 for 3 | $199.99 each |
Kirkland finished first overall. Vokey finished third. Kirkland was second in each of our three scoring categories while Vokey’s strongest performance came in spin.
Our wedge point is driven mainly by accuracy with it accounting for 50 percent of the point. Spin counts for 30 percent and consistency for 20 percent.
The spin numbers were closer than you might expect
This is probably the part of the comparison that surprised me the most. At full speed, the Kirkland it generated 9,429 rpm of spin compared to 9,062 for the Vokey. On a 50-yard dry shot, Kirkland averaged 6.891 rpm and Vokey 6.857.
Put those numbers next to each other and there isn’t much separation a $67 Kirkland wedge from a $200 Vokey.
Kirkland it dropped to 6,668 rpm in wet wedge testing while Vokey produced 6,860 rpm. That’s part of the reason SM11 earned our top spot for spin performance. Our spin category looks at full-swing spin, 50-yard spin dry, 50-yard spin wet and how much spin a wedge retains when moisture is introduced.
Kirkland was more consistent but the gap is small
Kirkland earned a 9.0 consistency score compared to 8.4 for Vokey. The difference wasn’t really about distance control. The transport numbers between the two were very close.
Kirkland’s advantage came more from dispersion. Through testing, he produced a tighter overall shooting pattern that helped push his scoring consistency forward. That doesn’t do it Vokey SM11 inconsistent That, once again, makes me say that Kirkland did a great job with this crib.
Where the Vokey comparison changes
Here is where I think the biggest difference between these two wedges appears and has little to do with our performance data.
U Kirkland set it gives you a wedge of 52, 56 and 60 degrees. Don’t choose different loft gaps, bounce options or sole grinds when you buy.
Vokey SM11 it gives you 27 different loft, bounce and grind settings in six standard grinds. Only at 56 degrees, you can choose an eight degree M Grind, 10 degree S Grind, 12 degree D Grind or 14 degree F Grind.
A golfer with a steep angle of attack who plays in milder conditions may need something completely different from a shallow player who likes to open the face on firm turf. Vokey gives you the ability to build the wedge around those needs; Kirkland it is not.
There is also the problem of loft. Maybe your iron set ends with a 48 degree gap wedge and you want to switch to 54 and 60. With Vokey, you can build around your iron. U standard line SM11 run from 44 to 60 degrees.
Who will buy me?
This is where the of Kirkland The $199.99 price tag becomes hard to ignore. You can buy three Kirkland wedges for the same price as one Vokey SM11.
The wedges are the clubs that you will inevitably have to replace. Groove wear and golfers who practice and play often can go through wedges considerably faster than something like a putter or driver.
If the Kirkland lofts and unique design work for your game, our test gives you very little reason to dismiss them just because of the name printed on the club. Also, if your grooves are worn and the price prevents you from replacing them, Kirkland just solved this problem for you.
If you need a particular loft, more or less bounce or a grind that works best with your delivery and the shots you play around the green, I prefer to have it properly fitted. Vokey.
That’s probably the biggest takeaway from this comparison.
U Kirkland GEN 3 proved that you don’t have to spend $200 on a wedge to get a performance at the level of $200. You just need to know what the priorities are for your game.
The place Kirkland vs. Vokey SM11: How does the $67 wedge really compare? appeared first MyGolfSpy.
