Renegar Golf Wedges - FAQs

Does this Renegar sole design have any history of usage in professional golf?

Yes - But, legal considerations and relationships with players dictate that we answer this question with some caution.  We can, however, surely tell you this much without any trouble.  The first “win” on the PGA Tour for Renegar’s design improvement occurred in 2002.  Since then, Renegar’s improvement in its various earlier forms has accumulated many more wins (both official and unofficial) on the PGA Tour without ANY “pay for play” incentives paid.  It has also been played (and won) on the Champions Tour, LPGA, and other international and developmental tours.  The copies and outright patent infringements of Renegar’s improvement by other brands for their tour players would more than double those wins. 

What is the history of these intellectual properties?

Renegar’s design improvement was first conceived in 1993 and prototyped a couple of years later for proof of concept.  It has been protected by two separate U.S. patents – a design patent #D-411,274 issued in 1999 (later assigned to Solus Golf) and a utility patent #7,393,286 issued in 2008 (now assigned to Renegar Golf).  The design patent was widely copied by practically every OEM in golf (except one) in the 2003-2008 time frame.  Many of these OEMs tried to call their patent infringements special sole “grinds”, but they would have surely been judged patent infringements in a court room.  All of these OEM infringements were halted without legal action, but some minor boutique wedge manufacturers still continue to copy and infringe on Renegar’s intellectual property – we will get to them in time - and, of course, there are still some infringing sole "grinds" in professional golf.

What is Renegar’s actual background in golf?

Bob Renegar did not play golf until his late twenties.  He came to golf then as a passionate player and avid student of the game – later developing that great interest into a professional expertise.  He has a BS degree in Aerospace and a Masters degree in Industrial Studies.  He was a low single digit handicap player for many years.  Renegar was Director of R&D for the Arnold Palmer company (Pro-Group) in the late 1980’s, and he was Director of Golf Club R&D for the Ben Hogan company in the early 1990’s.  In the mid 1990’s he began consulting in golf and became an invited member of the Golf Digest Technical Panel for 12 years from 1997-2008.  In 2003, he founded and launched Solus Golf.  He has literally scores of golf club designs and four issued golf equipment patents to his credit.

What are the Specifications for the Renegar Wedges?

Our "Single Set Specification" Design Philosophy makes this a relatively simple question to answer, as all the clubs in our set share many of the same specifications.  Those common specifications follow: Length= 35.5 inches, Lie Angles = 63.5 degrees, Swing Weights = D-6, Total Static Weight = about 460 grams with composite shaft (slightly heavier at 462 grams with steel shafts).  Club head lofts obviously vary, and they have a progressive offset scheme that will deliver more consistent Dynamic Alignment Properties.  All of our clubs share our short game specific shafts (whether steel or composite) and Lamkin 3-Gen grip components.

What recommendations do you have for care of my wedges?

Golf clubs lead an abused life - particularly wedges.  We do our best to make them durable, but they honestly are mistreated routinely . . . even with the best of intentions.  The nitro-carburizing black finish on our composite model is very durable by golf club standards (particularly among black finishes), but it will wear away over time, and it CAN rust if neglected.  The finish on our steel-shafted models is a bead-blasted “RAW” finish.  Play on courses near the seaside (with its briny air) and the harsh chemicals used on many courses can create optimum conditions for rust.  Unless you want them to rust (and some players do), we urge you to clean them after play and store them in climate-controlled areas (which generally does not include your garage or the trunk of your car).  If you are storing them for the winter season, a light coat of any type oil or rust inhibitor will be very helpful.

What are your policies on "Returns and Refunds"?

Please see our return policy and satisfaction guarantee

Have the Renegar Wedges been ruled "Conforming" by the USGA?

Yes. Our current production clubs have been submitted and were as ruled "conforming" by the USGA.  This includes our sole design, the CNC milled facing, and our new V-43 Double Milled grooves.

How can you be so certain my scores will be lower with your wedges?

Because our design work is much more than “garage tinkering” custom grinds with Sarazen-soled wedges.  We have already done our homework in golf club testing and R&D.  It has been validated with robots, launch monitors, and in the hands of the best players in the world.  So, we already know.  We are not giving you another variation of the 1931 Sarazen sand wedge improvement with its very real playing limitations.  Our utility-patented improvement gives you greater forgiveness, improved playability in every short game situation, and increased spin and control.  And our shaft and grip designs just further enhance that improvement.  Regardless of your skill level, your short game play will improve with our clubs.

Can I re-shaft your wedges with my choice of shafts?

Of course you can, but you should know in advance that this will be a step backward to a lower threshold of performance.  We tested our wedge-specific shaft designs against all the leading irons shafts – they performed better than ANY other shaft for every short game situation and in the hands of players at every swing speed and every skill level.  Our hosel bore dimensions are correct for a standard taper tip iron shaft, so have at it – but we urge you the keep the removed Renegar shaft, as you may want to re-install it later.

Will you do a custom build for me?

No.  We will not manufacture our golf clubs in anything less than their optimum performance configuration – it would be a betrayal of our product promise to you of delivering the best made and best performing short game products in the world.  The Renegar Golf wedges are already “custom built” for optimum performance in all the shots of your short game.  Choices for shaft type, design, length, etc. are just NOT either fitting or personal preference items for wedge configuration (like they are for full swing clubs) – they are instead opportunities for real performance optimizations that we have carefully researched and developed.

Can I make adjustments to loft and lie with these wedges?

The Renegar wedges are manufactured with a special induction heating process performed on the hosel and “par” area to make possible easier adjustments of loft and lie and to enhance their vibration properties.  Reasonable adjustments are possible, but any golf club will break if pushed too far.  Ergo, we cannot warrantee these clubs against breakage.  It should also be noted that the finish in the hosel area may be permanently marred by the bending bar used to make these adjustments.  Players contemplating lie angle adjustments should avoid the simple-minded conventional wisdom of “I am one degree upright from standard”, etc.  Proper lie angles can ONLY be determined by empirically measuring results with a bounce board.  We suggest you test with a bounce board and by hitting balls before you adjust.  Shaft designs, club head lengths, swing speeds, and other variables will affect the proper lie angle determinations for any player.  And, of course, “standards” will vary from one OEM to another.  Loft adjustments are also possible, but it should be understood that any change in loft creates an equal change in the bounce angles on the sole – i.e. making your loft 2 degrees stronger reduces the effective bounce measure by 2 degrees also.  This may greatly affect the performance of our patented bounce sole contour.  Please note also that a one degree adjustment in loft or lie angles will produce approximately 2-3 yards change in distance or direction.

Can I buy a replacement grip?

Yes - Please call us to order replacement grips.

My “master club fitter” says I need a particular shaft, lie angle, and length to match my irons - why do you think otherwise?

Will the swings, swing speed (centrifugal force generated), ball positions, and address positions for your wedge play match your irons play?  Or will they in fact be constantly changing in wedge play?  Requiring different distances, trajectory, and spin outcomes?  The little and partial shots in the short game are indeed very different from full swing play.  So, your wedges need to be matched to the actual performance demands of the short game shots you must play (which are in fact the same shots for all players) – and not matched to the characteristics of any individual’s full swing.  Your wedges need to deliver entirely different performance and results from that of your full swing irons.  Wedges need to deliver a maximum of situational design versatility and control of distance, trajectory, and spin.  Wedge play is simply very different from irons play.  Your irons and woods are (and should be) fitted for swing speed, shaft design, length, and lie angles that match your full swing speed, but you just do not use your full swing speed for short game shots.