The Vokey SM11 WedgeWorks A+ Grind is one of the most specialized short game tools in the current Vokey lineup — a wedge born from tour player feedback, engineered for firm turf and tight lies, and now available at Fairway Golf for golfers who demand precision around the green.

Overview

The WedgeWorks program from Vokey Design exists to give serious golfers access to the same sole geometry options that tour players have been building around for years. The A+ Grind is one of six new WedgeWorks grinds released alongside the SM11 platform, and it occupies a specific and intentional place in that lineup: a mid-bounce sole that sits between the tour-player versatility of the A Grind and the fuller bounce profile of the M Grind.

The A+ originated from a practical modification. Vokey master craftsman Aaron Dill removed the grind lines — the ribbon — from an M Grind sole, the same technique used to turn the L Grind into the A. The result is a sole that carries more bounce and a wider profile than the A Grind, but moves through the turf faster than the M. That combination of characteristics is what makes the A+ a purpose-built tool for firm to neutral conditions.

The Grind: What Makes the A+ Different

Understanding the A+ Grind requires understanding where it fits relative to its neighbors in the Vokey grind family. The A Grind — available separately at Fairway Golf — was designed in collaboration with Geoff Ogilvy for the firm conditions common in Australia. It features a low-bounce sole with the grind lines smoothed out, creating minimal turf resistance and a sole that slides cleanly under the ball. The 2023 U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark uses it to this day.

The A+ takes that same philosophy and adds bounce. Where the A Grind has 4 degrees of effective bounce, the A+ carries a mid-bounce profile — enough to keep the leading edge from digging on firm lies, while still maintaining the fast-through-the-turf character that defines the A family. The sole is wider than the A, which provides more support and consistency, particularly from firm bunkers and tight fairway lies where a narrow sole can get unstable.

As Dill explained about the A+: tour players who had long been loyal M Grind users started finding that sole too bouncy for their taste. They needed something that sat with a slightly lower leading edge and moved faster through the ground — the A+ unlocked that versatility without requiring them to go all the way down to the A’s minimal bounce profile. The 2013 Masters champion is one such player, regularly gaming a 58° A+ on the PGA TOUR.

Performance Characteristics

The A+ Grind excels in conditions that expose the limitations of high-bounce wedges: firm fairways, tight lies, firm bunker sand, and courses where the turf compresses rather than cushions through impact. In these conditions, a wide-soled, high-bounce wedge tends to strike the turf too early, causing the club to deflect upward before reaching the ball — a thin or bladed shot. The A+ addresses this by keeping the leading edge engaged with the turf without bouncing off it prematurely.

For the player who likes to flight the ball lower with a forward shaft lean, open the face on short game shots, or use a consistent setup across a range of trajectories, the A+ is more forgiving than the A Grind in neutral conditions while still functioning in the firm lies where the A thrives. It is not a soft-lie wedge — golfers who play primarily on lush, wet turf will find a higher-bounce grind more appropriate. But for mixed or firm conditions, the A+ operates across a wider window than most players expect from a wedge this specialized.

SM11 Platform: What’s Behind the Head

The A+ Grind is built on the SM11 head — Vokey’s most refined wedge platform to date. The SM11 refines the progressive center of gravity placement, groove geometry, and face texture that made the SM10 a dominant wedge on tour. The result is a wedge that delivers more consistent spin from more of the face, particularly on partial swings and chip shots where full groove engagement is not guaranteed.

The WedgeWorks version of the SM11 A+ is available in a Raw finish, which ages naturally with play and is preferred by golfers who want the tactile and visual character of an uncoated head. Raw finishes develop patina over time rather than chipping or peeling — the club acquires a character that reflects how it has been played.

Specifications

The SM11 WedgeWorks A+ Grind is available in right-hand configuration only, in two loft options: 58° (08 bounce) and 60° (08 bounce). The finish is Raw. As a WedgeWorks product, it carries a price of $229 and ships within 7-10 business days for new orders due to the personalization and custom grind work involved in WedgeWorks production.

The A Grind and A+ at Fairway Golf

Fairway Golf carries both the SM11 WedgeWorks A Grind and A+ Grind as part of our full Vokey WedgeWorks lineup. If you are searching across the A Grind family, our A Grind wedge search shows every current option in that grind category, including SM10 and SM11 WedgeWorks models, custom build options, and related grinds from other manufacturers. For golfers who have already identified the SM11 A Grind as their target, the SM11 WedgeWorks A Grind product page at Fairway Golf provides full configuration details and ordering options.

The A Grind and A+ Grind are related but distinct tools. The A is the lower-bounce, faster-moving option designed for the most firm conditions and the player who wants the sole to almost disappear through impact. The A+ adds bounce and sole width to make the wedge more consistent across neutral to firm conditions — a more versatile daily-use option for the player who plays multiple course types but needs a wedge that does not struggle when the ground gets hard.

Who Should Play the Vokey SM11 WedgeWorks A+ Grind

The A+ Grind is built for a specific player profile. If you play courses with firm, fast conditions regularly — links-style layouts, summer courses, desert courses, or venues in dry climates — the A+ delivers a sole geometry that works with those conditions rather than fighting them. It is particularly well-suited to golfers who use forward shaft lean through the short game and prefer to flight the ball low with control rather than relying on high-bounce cushion through impact.

Players who have found the M Grind too bouncy for their contact style but are not ready to go all the way to the A Grind’s minimal sole will find the A+ to be the correct middle ground. The wider sole provides support on off-center strikes and from firm bunker sand, and the mid-bounce profile keeps the wedge performing consistently across the range of lies that a real round of golf produces.

Single-digit handicaps and competitive amateurs who spend time fitting their short game tools rather than just selecting a generic bounce will get the most out of this grind. WedgeWorks grinds are not off-the-shelf products — they represent a specific decision about how a sole should interact with a specific type of turf, and the A+ is the kind of choice that requires knowing your conditions and your swing tendencies.

Fitting and Availability at Fairway Golf

Fairway Golf in San Diego is an authorized Vokey Design dealer and carries the full SM11 WedgeWorks lineup. Our team can help you work through the grind selection process — A versus A+ versus M — based on the courses you play, the conditions you most commonly encounter, and your short game technique. Wedge grind fitting is one of the most impactful equipment decisions a serious golfer can make, and it is also one of the most underutilized.

Browse the full A Grind wedge collection at Fairway Golf, or go directly to the SM11 WedgeWorks A Grind product page to configure your order. For the A+ Grind specifically, visit the Vokey WedgeWorks A+ Grind product page for full loft and configuration details, then contact Fairway Golf to discuss custom options and current availability.