For golfers looking to upgrade their short game, BombTech and Kirkland offer two quality wedge options at an affordable price point.
But with different construction methods, grinds, lofts and feels, choosing the right wedge comes down to understanding your needs on and around the green.
In this article, we’ll dive into the key similarities and differences between BombTech and Kirkland wedges to help you decide which is the better fit for your golf bag.
A Brief Comparison Table
Feature | BombTech | Kirkland |
Construction | Forged Carbon Steel | Cast 8620 Carbon Steel |
Grinds | Tour and Standard | Standard Only |
Lofts | 50° to 64° | 52° to 60° |
Bounce | 8° to 12° by loft | 10° to 12° |
Finish | Raw | Chrome Plated |
Stock Shaft | True Temper Dynamic Gold | Lightweight Steel |
Custom Options | Yes | No |
Feel | Soft, Solid | Firmer, Harsher |
Spin | High Spin | Moderate Spin |
Durability | Moderate | High |
Price | $109-$139 | $89-$99 |
BombTech Wedge Overview
Founded in 2013, BombTech Golf initially made its name through direct-to-consumer golf clubs with a focus on woods and hybrids. But in recent years, they’ve expanded their lineup to include value-priced forgings with their wedges and irons.
Here are some quick facts on BombTech’s wedge offerings:
- Forged Carbon Steel: The wedge heads are forged from 1025 carbon steel for a soft, solid feel.
- Tour Grinds: They offer both traditional and tour grinds to accommodate different swing types and course conditions.
- Progressive Lofts: Lofts range from 50° to 60° in 2° increments, plus a 64° option.
- Raw Finish: The heads have a raw, unplated finish that develops rust over time.
- True Temper Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold steel wedge shafts come stock.
- Custom Options: Custom stamping, shafts and grips are available for an upcharge.
For the price, BombTech wedges provide a lot of versatility and performance similar to premium wedge brands.
The broad selection of grinds and lofts make it easy to gap your wedges properly.
Kirkland Wedge Overview
Kirkland Signature wedges are the house brand for Costco, known for good quality at discount prices. While not as feature-packed as some wedges, they offer solid performance for the wallet-friendly price.
Here’s an overview of Kirkland’s wedge specs:
- Cast 8620 Carbon Steel: The wedge heads are made from cast 8620 carbon steel rather than forged.
- Standard Bounce: The standard bounce is 10°-12° based on loft. No low or high bounce options.
- Limited Lofts: Lofts only range from 52° to 60° in 4° increments. No lower or higher lofted wedges offered.
- Chrome Finish: The chrome plated finish gives the wedges a shiny, polished look.
- Stock Steel Shaft: Lightweight steel shafts come standard. No upgrade shaft options.
- Minimal Customization: Standard grip and no custom stamping available.
While the Kirkland wedges don’t provide the same versatility or feel as the BombTech, they deliver solid distance control for most mid-to-high handicappers. The lower price point makes them enticing for golfers on a budget.
Key Differences Between BombTech And Kirkland Wedges
- Wedge Lofts
One of the biggest differences between BombTech and Kirkland is the loft options available.
BombTech offers more loft choices, starting at 50° and increasing by 2° up to 64°. This allows you to precisely gap your wedges for full shots from 50 yards and in.
Kirkland skips the lower lofts and starts at 52°, then goes up by 4° increments to 60°. You’ll have a harder time filling yardage gaps between your pitching wedge and 52° wedge.
Here’s a breakdown of the lofts offered by each wedge brand:
BombTech Lofts: 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°, 64°
Kirkland Lofts: 52°, 56°, 60°
The additional lofts allow you to fine tune wedge yardages and trajectories for different swing speeds. Kirkland forces you into larger gaps that require more creativity and skill around the greens.
- Grind and Bounce
In addition to loft, the grind and bounce of a wedge impact how it performs from different lies and turf conditions.
BombTech provides both traditional and tour grinds to accommodate different swing types.
The tour grinds feature more heel and toe relief for skilled players who make steep angles of attack into the ball.
Conversely, Kirkland uses a one-size-fits-all standard bounce and grind.
There are no options for low or high bounce.
For bounce, BombTech varies it from 8° to 12° depending on the loft. Kirkland simply sticks to 10°-12° of bounce for all lofts. Too much bounce can cause digging, while too little leads to blading.
When selecting bounce, consider your typical swing and the firmness of your course’s greens and conditions. BombTech gives you more versatility to find the right bounce for your game.
- Feel and Forgiveness
An often underrated aspect of wedges is the feel and feedback you get at impact. A soft, solid feel inspires confidence on finesse shots around the green.
In this area, BombTech has an advantage with its forged carbon steel heads. Forged wedges offer a softer feel than cast club heads. You’ll get more sensation and feedback when you strike your BombTech wedge flush.
The cast 8620 carbon steel construction of Kirkland wedges produces a firmer, harsher feeling at impact. While not unpleasant, it doesn’t replicate the buttery feel of a forged wedge.
In terms of forgiveness, both wedges perform well on mishits thanks to the perimeter weighting in their cavity back designs. For their respective price points, they minimize distance and accuracy loss on off-center strikes about as well as any wedge.
- Spin and Control
Spin is what allows you to stop the ball quickly on pitch and chip shots. It’s also vital for executing specialty shots with check and run or backwards spin.
With their tour grinded versions and multitude of loft and bounce options, BombTech wedges generate relatively high spin rates. This makes them well suited for attacking pins and going after tucked hole locations.
The standard grind and bounce of Kirkland wedges reduce spin potential compared to BombTech. You’ll notice lower spin and less stopping power around the greens, making precision less consistent.
Advanced golfers and better ball strikers will see the biggest advantages from BombTech’s spin, as they maximize groove engagement on crisp iron shots. But for novice players, Kirkland provides adequate spin.
- Durability and Wear
As wedges are one of the most frequently used clubs, you want them to hold up over hundreds of shots around the greens.
Here Kirkland gains an advantage thanks to its chrome plated heads. The plating protects against wear and prevents rusting over time. Kirkland wedges will maintain their shiny new look for longer.
Meanwhile, BombTech utilizes a raw finish that develops rust and wears over time from repeated impact and digging. They’ll show sign of use quicker than the Kirklands. But some golfers enjoy the worn-in, aged look of raw wedge heads.
For preventing long term structural damage, BombTech’s forged construction gives it the edge in durability over the cast Kirklands. But for maintaining cosmetics and reducing rust, Kirkland is the more durable choice.
Also Read: Differences Between Ogio And Sun Mountain Golf Bags.
- Shaft and Grip
The grip and shaft play key roles in the feel and performance of any golf club. BombTech provides an upgrade here with its True Temper Dynamic Gold wedge shafts.
This premium steel shaft optimizes trajectory and ball flight. The Dynamic Gold is the #1 shaft on pro golf tours.
Kirkland uses a very lightweight steel shaft. It gets the job done, but doesn’t provide the consistency and precision of the BombTech stock shaft.
Both come with standard rubber golf grips. BombTech gives you the option to upgrade to premium grips like Golf Pride for an upcharge. But Kirkland just offers the basic grip.
- Price and Value
Lastly, let’s compare the price and value proposition of BombTech vs Kirkland wedges:
BombTech Wedges: $109-$139
Kirkland Wedges: $89-$99
Given the added performance from its premium stock shaft, forged steel heads, multiple grinds, and expansive loft options, BombTech delivers outstanding value at around $120 per club.
Kirkland is certainly cheaper at under $100 per wedge. But you are sacrificing feel, spin, trajectory control and versatility.
However, the price is justified for beginners who don’t need extensive fine tuning.
Overall, BombTech gives you more performance, craftsmanship and customization for the slightly higher price.
But total beginners who play infrequently can get by with the discount Kirkland model.
Key Takeaways
To recap the main differences between BombTech and Kirkland wedges:
- BombTech uses forged carbon steel while Kirkland utilizes cast 8620 carbon steel
- BombTech provides tour and standard grinds, Kirkland has one standard grind
- BombTech offers more loft choices from 50° to 64° vs Kirkland’s 52° to 60° range
- BombTech wedges produce more spin and ball control around the greens
- Kirkland wedges have a chrome finish that increases durability and reduces rust
- BombTech comes with a premium True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft
- BombTech costs around $120 per wedge, Kirkland is less than $100
Also Read: Comparison of Kirkland And LAZRUS Wedges.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
BombTech wedges are forged from 1025 carbon steel, giving them a soft, solid feel at impact.
Kirkland wedges come with standard bounce ranging from 10°-12° depending on the loft. There are no low or high bounce options.
All Kirkland wedges have a standard bounce and grind. There are no options for tour grinds or customizable bounce.
Yes, Kirkland wedges can be purchased left handed. They are available in left hand orientation in lofts between 52° and 60°.
Final Thoughts
For mid-to-high handicap players on a tight budget, Kirkland provides reliable performance for under $100 a club. But more skilled golfers will appreciate BombTech’s feel, versatility and trajectory control.
Hopefully this detailed comparison helps explain the tradeoffs and find the right wedge option for your game. Be sure to get properly fit based on your typical swing, desired trajectories and course conditions.