First look
TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 first look: the big-toe wedge goes forged
TaylorMade's Hi-Toe 5 is the first forged version of its high-toe wedge, with five grinds and full-face grooves in the higher lofts, priced at $199.99 or £179.
For the first time, TaylorMade’s Hi-Toe wedge is forged from soft carbon steel. The fifth generation, on sale since 3 September, keeps the tall, rounded toe, the grooves that run right across the face and the raw copper finish designed to weather as you play it.
More face where the open-faced shots land
When you open the face for a flop, a splash from a bunker or a delicate chip off a tight lie, the ball tends to meet the club nearer the toe. Add more face up there, put grooves all the way across it, and those shots should behave more like a centre strike. Hi-Toe 5 builds on that with four headline features:
- Forged construction. TaylorMade says the soft carbon steel head gives better feedback at impact. MyGolfSpy notes this is the first forged Hi-Toe, bringing it in line with the company’s MG5 wedges.
- Full-face, saw-milled grooves. TaylorMade says the grooves have steeper walls, sharper edges and tighter tolerances, which it claims increases friction and spin. TaylorMade’s own product page shows that the heel-to-toe grooves are only on the 54° to 60° lofts. The 50° and 52° have conventional grooves.
- A raw face with “Spin Tread”. Laser-etched micro-channels are designed to push moisture away from the contact point, so spin holds up better from wet grass. MyGolfSpy compares it to tyre tread on a wet road.
- Five sole grinds. ATS, ATV, ATX, ATW and ATC, each aimed at a different swing and turf condition.
All of the performance points above are TaylorMade’s claims. The spin and moisture benefits have not been independently measured at scale.
The grinds, in plain English
TaylorMade’s US site lists the stock loft and bounce combinations:
| Grind | Lofts (bounce) | Designed for |
|---|---|---|
| ATS | 50° and 52° (9°); 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° (10°) | The all-rounder: four-way camber, slightly wide sole |
| ATW | 56° and 60° (14°) | Widest sole and most effective bounce; soft sand, steep swings |
| ATX | 58° and 60° (12°) | Mid-high bounce with three separate sole ledges |
| ATV | 58° and 60° (11°) | Concave sole: plays higher-bounce square, lower when opened |
| ATC | 58° and 60° (custom only) | Lowest bounce, for firm turf and shallow swings |
For most club golfers, the ATS is the default, and the ATW is the one to look at if you play soft parkland courses or fight fat bunker shots.
Early reviews: strong around the greens, less so on full swings
- Golf Monthly recorded over 7,600rpm on a 50-yard pitch with the 54° and liked the soft feel. Its main caveat was the looks: the large profile won’t appeal to everyone.
- Plugged In Golf tested it in early-morning dew and reported enough spin to stop the ball quickly. It found the feel pleasant but not the softest it has tried, and noted that sound and feel fade away from the centre.
- Golfalot praised the spin, turf interaction and grind options, but felt the bigger head was less confidence-inspiring on full shots, and saw only modest change from Hi-Toe 4.
That is three sessions, not a large data set.
Best as the lob wedge
We think Hi-Toe 5 makes the most sense for:
- Golfers who open the face a lot. Flops, bunker splashes and high, soft pitches are where the extra toe and full-face grooves earn their place.
- Players who want forgiveness without a chunky game-improvement wedge. The shape is larger than a traditional blade wedge, but it isn’t a cavity-backed shovel.
- Anyone building a mixed set. TaylorMade openly pitches Hi-Toe 5 alongside MG5: the compact MG5 for full shots in the gap and sand wedge, Hi-Toe 5 as the lob wedge. MyGolfSpy makes the same point, suggesting it works best as your highest-lofted wedge.
The high-toe shape offers little to a golfer who mostly hits square-faced chips and full pitches, according to MyGolfSpy.
The tall toe, and grooves that stop at 54°
- The looks. Every review mentions it. If the tall toe distracts you at address, the performance won’t matter.
- Full-face grooves stop at 54°. If you wanted a matching 50° or 52° with the same face, you won’t get it.
- A finish that changes. The raw face and Aged Copper finish are meant to weather with use. If you want a wedge that stays shiny, choose Satin Chrome.
- Limited options in some grinds. Several grinds come in only two lofts, and the ATC is custom order only.
Price and availability
Hi-Toe 5 went on sale on 3 September 2026. At the time of writing it is $199.99 per wedge on TaylorMade’s US site, in Aged Copper or Satin Chrome, with KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 steel or UST Recoil Dart graphite shafts. The personalised MyHi-Toe 5 programme, which adds finishes such as Charcoal Black and Tour Raw, is reported at $249.99.
In the UK, TaylorMade sells through retailers rather than directly. Golf Monthly, Golfshake and Golfalot all list the UK price at £179, and Golfshake gives the euro price as €229. Golf Monthly lists MyHi-Toe 5 at £209.
Sources
- TaylorMade: Hi-Toe 5 Wedge (US)
- TaylorMade: Hi-Toe 5 Wedge (UK)
- Golfshake: TaylorMade launches new Hi-Toe wedges for 2026
- Golf Digest: TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 wedges, what you need to know
- MyGolfSpy: Do the new TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 wedges deserve a spot in your bag?
- Golf Monthly: TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 wedge review
- Plugged In Golf: TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 wedge review
- Golfalot: TaylorMade Hi-Toe 5 wedges review
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