The Shift Back to Offset
Top players on the PGA Tour are quietly changing their wedge setups, and the trend points toward a return of offset designs. For years, the modern game chased straight hosels to lower the center of gravity. Now, that strategy is flipping. According to Golf.com, this move isn’t just a fluke; it’s a calculated adjustment by some of the best players in the world. The data suggests that even elite ball-strikers are finding that a bit of offset helps them square the face better in the rough.
Rickie Fowler, a player known for his flashy equipment choices, is leading this charge. He recently swapped his Cleveland RTZ lob wedge for a Cobra Snake Bite lob wedge. This new club features the offset design that Fowler has historically favored. Golf.com reported that this specific change highlights a broader movement among tour pros who are re-evaluating how much help they need with their short game.
Double-Bend Hosels Take Center Stage
It’s not just about offset, though. The hosel shape itself is changing. Cameron Young has introduced a new double-bent Vokey K* wedge into his bag. This design pushes the face back slightly, which can help players who tend to hit the ball thin or leave it short. Similarly, Collin Morikawa has adopted a double-bend TaylorMade MG5 wedge. These technical tweaks are subtle, but for a player winning majors, every degree of loft and every millimeter of lie matters.
Golf.com noted that these specific equipment changes by Young and Morikawa suggest a resurgence in these designs. The double-bend hosel allows for more face rotation, which can be crucial when a player is trying to manipulate the ball around the greens. It’s a technical shift that goes against the grain of the last decade, where minimal offset was the gold standard. Now, the pros are proving that sometimes, a little help makes a big difference.
When the pros switch, it usually means the gear is working for them. If Fowler, Young, and Morikawa are all moving toward offset and double-bend hosels, it tells us that the straight hosel might not be the magic bullet everyone thought it was. These designs offer more forgiveness on off-center strikes. They also help players who struggle with the face opening up too much at impact. For the average golfer, this is a huge signal. It means you don’t need to fight your natural swing to get good results. You can use equipment that complements your game, not one that fights against it.
The shift also highlights how dynamic the game of golf really is. Trends come and go, but the goal remains the same: hit the ball closer to the hole. If offset wedges are the answer right now, then that’s what the best players will use. It’s a reminder that there is no single “perfect” club for everyone, and what works for a major champion might actually be the key to unlocking your own potential on the course.
