TaylorMade MG3 Milled Grind Wedge Review

TaylorMade MG3 Milled Grind wedges combine raised micro-ribs and a rusty face to maximise spin with a thick-thin design to optimize center of gravity position for each individual loft. 

When adidas owned TaylorMade, wedges were never a pillar of the company, and the category didn’t get the love (or investment) required to rank among the best golf wedges. But since the adidas sell-off in 2017, wedges, balls and putters have become just as important to the brand as drivers and irons. And that renewed product focus is paying dividends.

TaylorMade wedges are currently riding a significant wave of success. The tour player developed Hi-Toe has really taken off and they’re just as popular now in non-contract bags as they are in the hands of TaylorMade’s own tour staff. And thanks to developing a process which allows wedge faces to rust, the company have also commercialized rusty wedges, a previously untapped market, and an idea that’s great at preserving spin in wet conditions.

With the Milled Grind 2 wedges fast approaching their 2nd birthday, TaylorMade’s designers have brought together everything they’ve learned about wedges over the last few years in a brand new MG3 model.

Where Hi-Toe pushes what’s acceptable in terms of wedge shape and full face grooves, the Milled Grind wedge family has always been about classic and traditional wedge shapes, and this version – thanks to raised micro ribs on the face and an optimised thick-thin design – pushes backspin and the accuracy of centre of gravity placement for each individual loft to the absolute limit.

Here’s everything you need to know about the TaylorMade MG3 wedges…

What you need to know about TaylorMade Milled Grind MG3 wedges

New Raised Micro-Ribs

Maximising spin when you’re not taking a full swing is a very serious business when it comes to developing new wedges. The MG3’s have tiny raised Micro-Ribs (they’re just 0.02mm tall and 0.25mm wide) which sit in between each groove and protrude from the face.

The raised-ribs create a more textured abrasive surface which improves interaction between the clubface and ball, and they’re especially useful when you’re swinging at less than full tilt.

Thick-Thin head design

When it comes to the short game, golfers want very different results from their lower- and higher-lofted wedges. Where a 52° wedge might be expected to flight shots lower and check the ball up after one hop, the demands on a 60° are often very different. With shots needing to be flopped over a bunker, the higher trajectory is often used in conjunction with a steeper landing angle to bring shots to a halt.

With this in mind, TaylorMade have taken a very progressive approach to the new MG3 wedges. A variable Thick-Thin head design optimizes the CG location and ball flight characteristics of each individual loft.

It means the higher lofts have longer hosels (there’s 10mm difference) and a thicker topline, plus there’s progressive toe heights, hosel offset and blade length, all to better enable you to hit the correct shot you’re after more often.  

Rusty Raw Face

Rusty un-plated wedges are nothing new in golf, in fact tons of tour pro’s have sworn by them for years. But asking golfers to stump up hard earned cash to buy a rusty wedge that looks like it’s years old has always been a massive challenge. But, by developing a process which allows just the face to rust (while the rest of the head looks new) TaylorMade have brought raw rusty wedges right to the centre stage.       

TaylorMade say the MD3’s Raw Face (which allows the face to rust over time) is particularly good in the wet, and when you understand that damp conditions can cause wedge spin to drop by half (from 10,000 RPM to 5,000 RPM in our tests) you soon realise any help is a very worthwhile investment.

By having no plating over the face, no groove edges are rounded over, so golfers benefit from extra geometry consistency and some say better feel, too. TaylorMade also reckon the MG3 have sharper, deeper and narrower grooves to further enhance greenside spin and wet weather performance.

RELATED: Which TaylorMade iron suits you?

Milled sole geometry

To have someone standing in a factory grinding wedge soles all day long and get every single one exactly the same is a really big ask. Inevitably there’s always going to be some ‘hand-finished’ inconsistencies. TaylorMade’s answer is to CNC Mill every MG3 sole to ensure each one has the right sole grind shape and perfect levels of bounce.

Now into their 3^rd generation, the Milled Grind idea has obviously hit the spot with consumers and tour players alike.       

New loft

On tour it’s very common for players to use a pitching wedge that matches their iron set, not their wedges. But when you stop and think about it, pitching wedges need to be really versatile, and used from all sorts of situations, so why not have them matched to your wedges instead?

As a result, TaylorMade are introducing a brand new 46° loft in the MG3. We reckon it makes a brilliant pitching wedge replacement.   

RELATED: How good are the TaylorMade 2021 P790 irons?

Which TaylorMade MG3 sole grind suits you?

The TaylorMade MG3 wedges come in a choice of bounces. We break down the difference to help you decide which suits your game the best…

Low Bounce (LB)

The new LB sole geometry promotes a smoother entry and exit of the club through the turf. The leading edge sits closer to the ground and has less tendency to catch upon entry, while a slight increase in camber helps the club glide through the turf with less resistance. Added trailing edge relief delivers versatility when opening the face up to hit finesse shots around the green.

Standard Bounce (SB)

The standard bounce has a slightly wider sole than on the TaylorMade MG2, and the sole geometry is geared towards increased playability and forgiveness on various shots. Added trail edge relief delivers versatility when opening the face to hit finesse shots around the green.

High Bounce (HB)

The HB sole geometry is designed to help players with a steep attack angle or those who play in softer conditions. Like the SB, the sole is slightly wider than MG2 with an increased camber for smoother turf interaction. Added trail edge relief delivers versatility when opening the face to hit finesse shots around the green.

RELATED: Everything you need to know about the TaylorMade Spider EX putter

TW Grind (Tiger Woods)

Offered in custom order offerings only, with 56° and 60° lofts available, each sole on the MG3 TW was inspired by Tiger’s grind.

The 56° wedge is a dual sole with heavy heel relief, while the 60° has an extremely high bounce on the leading edge with a shaved heel. This makes it possible to open the face for flop shots, while still providing relief on the leading edge for better performance on tight lies.

Designed to be supremely versatile, these unique grinds allow Tiger to take on any shot, on any course, anywhere in the world. If you want them, though, you’ll have to wait, as the TW Grind isn’t available until January 2022.

RELATED: How good are the Cleveland CBX ZipCore cavity back wedges?

Bill Price, Product Creation, Putter and Wedge at TaylorMade on the MG3 Milled Grind wedges

“Wedges have to be versatile and exacting, whether it’s a full swing from 100 yards, a touchy 15-yard pitch that needs to stop quickly, or any distance in between.”

“With Milled Grind 3, we’ve designed a wedge that’s capable of delivering optimal spin on every shot from every distance.”

WATCH: Best 2022 Wedge video

Verdict: TaylorMade MG3 Milled Grind wedges:

Thanks to making two cracking wedge families (the Hi-Toe Raw and MG3) TaylorMade presented our Top Gear test team with a really tough choice this year. Don’t get us wrong there’s some definite spin benefits to using Hi-Toe wedges, but you will need to love their shape, and be happy using full face grooves, which as we know isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

If you’re the type of golfer who just wants a brilliant traditional shape wedge with a familiar groove pattern, and you want a ton of loft, sole grind and finish options then the MG3’s will be completely up your street.

The MG3 was amongst our five highest spinning wedge models of 2022. The model also gave our test pro his 2^nd lowest carry distance drop off (8 yds / 8.2% – which improves consistency) and we love the super simple look and straight leading edge at address.

If you’re absolutely adamant your short game is best served by elite tour level bladed wedges then the MG3 is an absolute beauty, a model this good will stand the test of time for years to come

TaylorMade MG3 Milled Grind wedge specs:

Got a question about TaylorMade MG3 Milled Grind wedges? Ask us on Twitter.

READ NEXT: Best Wedge 2021

Review written by: Simon Daddow   

Job title: Today’s Golfer – Equipment Editor

TaylorMade MG3 Milled Grind Wedges

RRP: £149 | VIEW US OFFER | VIEW UK OFFER

Loft and Bounce options:

Standard Bounce: 46° - 60° in 2° increments

Low Bounce: 56°, 58°, 60°

High Bounce: 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°

Tiger Grind: 56°, 60°

Stock shaft: True Temper Tour Issue S200

Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360

Finishes: Satin Raw Chrome, Satin Raw Black

Visit the TaylorMade website here