The Callaway Opus wedges represent a significant advancement in wedge design, blending artistry with cutting-edge technology to enhance short-game performance.
Key features:
Spin Gen Face Technology: This innovative feature combines more closely spaced grooves, an offset groove-in-groove design and a new face blast treatment to deliver exceptional spin and versatility. Tour-Validated Design: Developed with direct feedback from professional golfers, the Opus wedges showcase a teardrop shape with a higher toe peak, a rounded leading edge and smoother hosel transitions, offering a visually appealing and performance-driven design. Multiple Grind Options: To cater to various playing styles and course conditions, the Opus wedges are available in four distinct sole grinds: T, C, S, and W. This variety allows golfers to select the grind that best matches their swing and typical turf interaction.
Models and availability:
The Opus wedge lineup includes the standard Opus and the Opus Platinum versions. The Opus Platinum features advanced materials and finishes, offering a premium option for golfers seeking enhanced aesthetics and performance. These wedges are available in lofts ranging from 48 to 60 degrees with finishes such as Brushed Chrome, Black Shadow, Platinum Chrome and Platinum Blue depending on which version is selected.
The Callaway Opus wedges are designed to provide golfers with exceptional spin control, versatile shot-making capabilities and a refined feel.
With Callaway boasting highlights and key features like that it only made sense to get the Opus and Opus Platinum wedges into our Forum members’ hands for testing.
Key highlights:
The Look: The Opus and Opus Platinum wedges wowed our testers with crisp, clean and classic lines along with their premium finish options. The Feel: These wedges were praised for having solid feel across both models boosting tester’s confidence in short-game shots. The Numbers: Most testers found spin to be impressive in normal and dry conditions. One tester found wet-wedge spin to be lower than he was hoping but not bad overall.
First impressions:
GolfSpy_SHARK – Testing the Opus Platinum wedges, he had this to say for his out-of-the-box impressions: “These wedges are beautiful. I love my wedges a different color than my other irons and this blue sticks out perfectly.”
Chux13 – “There is just something special about how the Opus Platinum Blue wedges greet the eye. Not only did the deep blue grab my attention, but the matte gunmetal True Temper wedge steel just completes the overall look in a way I have never seen before.”
Chas c – “The first thing I noticed comparing these was the differences in the face texturing between the two clubs. A new feature that Callaway is using on these clubs is the Spin Gen Face Technology, which is a combo of more groves, a blasted face texturing, and and “offset groove-in-groove” on the 54-60° wedges which is a smaller secondary grooving cut at a 45° angle; all of these features combine to help generate more spin to keep the ball where it lands.”
Injectedcutty – “Callaway did a great job on improving from the majorly successful Jaws lineup. These Opus units are crisp looking. Nice, sharp edges, the groove in groove tech is already showing its advantage as I was able to get out back for a few and hit some shots and the ball stops fast!”
Aesthetic appeal:
These Opus and Opus Platinum wedges were praised by our testers for their clean, compact shape and crisp lines:
Chux13 – “Color scheme aside, the compact, “tour favored shape” of the Opus Platinum line sits well for someone who does not enjoy such large club heads. The slightly higher toe and steel colored “Spin-Gen” face stand out in stark contrast from the deep blue finish to provide an easy understanding of where the hitting zone is and where the face is aiming. The feel is phenomenal and the impact sound is powerful when struck clean and still pretty solid with any mishits on the face with the same “smack” you would expect from a solid wedge.”
Chas c – “Callaway claims these are the “most Tour-tested, Tour-validated shapes in Callaway history”, and after seeing them I can believe it. The shape of these wedges appears extremely forgiving, with nice rounded edges around the toe and heel, plenty of camber and a nicely rounded hosel transition to help you out when things don’t go as planned, and with my current skill level, they often don’t, so I am hoping for fewer mishits when things don’t go my way.”
Injectedcutty – “As someone with a long background in art/design and custom hotrod work, I personally like really clean designs, crisp lines but subtle transitions at the same time. Callaway did a phenomenal job from the design department on this new line of wedges.”
Feel, dispersion and performance:
A good mix of on-course, at-range and even in-home practice with the Callaway Opus and Opus Platinum wedges led to favorable marks for feel and performance from our testers:
GolfSpy_SHARK – “The Callaway Opus Platinum wedges deliver impressive performance in several key areas, particularly spin and distance control. The “Spin Gen Face Technology” lives up to its claims, consistently producing spin rates exceeding 10,000 rpm as measured on my MEVO+ launch monitor.”
Chux13 – “Once I picked up an Opus Platinum and took a few casual half swings, I could tell right away there was something different with these clubs. The tungsten weighting and overall build of the club did feel heavier than I am used to but felt controlled. I did not feel a light clubhead that can go astray with the flap of a butterfly wing.” He also added, “the promise of higher spin not only showed in the data, but showed with just about any shot with either Opus Platinum wedge in the bag on the course. I struggled through the first 9 trying to get used to a ball that just slammed on the brakes once it hit the green.”
Chas c – “Accuracy and distance were the name of the game for these clubs. When I went to the Trackman Range to get some numbers, I was swinging for the fences and knocking it out of the park. The drawback was that, for me at least, I had to hit with intent on a target, or it was likely to fly offline in a way that my other wedges don’t.”
Injectedcutty – “I’ve had wedges in the past that I hit because I had to, but the Opus line gives me the confidence to swing away knowing the ball will fly where I want it without fear of the dreaded shank, or a duff. My Trackman data showed a consistency of only 0.4 yds across 10 yards I recorded, that’s less than 1.5 feet of difference which is wild! My old wedge had never been that consistent. Whatever magic metal juju Callaway injected into the heads of these is working wonders.”
What they liked:
If you haven’t figured it out yet, our testers were impressed by the Callaway Opus and Opus Platinum wedges. They had a lot to say when it came to positive aspects of the wedges:
GolfSpy_SHARK – “Where the Opus Platinum stood out for me was the around the green touch shots… I became accustomed to sculling the ball with my previous gamer and had 0 confidence. This 60* has absolutely changed that for me. Not only from the grind’s [performance] but short side shots have become a stronger part of my game.”
Chux13 – “As with most clubs that have a colored finish, there is bound to be some color loss. This was my fear with the Opus Platinum Blue offering after a few rounds in the hardpan, desert-riddled eastern Arizona landscape. I am happy to report the finish is still mostly intact and not as visible with the darker metal composition underneath. I feel this is thanks to the “metal injection molding” process the Opus line is formed over forging solid steel.”
Chas c – “I absolutely adore how these clubs feel when you hit a solid shot. And just swinging in general, it feels right. The weight is good, the look at address is good, it’s just a nice club overall. Another big plus looks to be the durability of the face.”
Injectedcutty – “The Callaway Opus wedges are a force to be reckoned with on the course! They can hold their own against any other brands out, and rightfully so since their previous Jaws lineup and prior have been successful.”
What they didn’t like:
Issues and downsides were few and far between for our testers. Most can be summed up by two common findings in wedge review – grind availability and finish durability.
GolfSpy_SHARK noted, “the offerings when it comes to grinds is minimal in the Platinum line. While this did help me in the quick decision making of what grinds to go with, it does lower the ability to really dial in specifics for the purpose of different wedges.”
Injectedcutty found “the only downside I’ve noticed so far is the wear on the face. Granted, I’ve struck at least 500 balls of various hardness with each wedge over the testing period, they’ve held up well and will continue to execute shots for me for years to come! I know pros are changing out wedges constantly, us regular golfers typically don’t have that luxury, so as long as the club stays clean and dirt free they should last a couple years of normal use before a degradation of performance starts being noticed.”
Conclusion:
GolfSpy_SHARK – “Overall Callaway has provided a true top tier wedge in the market. The Opus Platinum is a higher price point than most but if money is not a major deterrent, I would highly recommend throwing the Opus line into the mix when looking at upgrading your current gamers.”
Chux13 – “The Opus Platinum wedge aims to be a masterpiece in both design and performance, delivering exceptional spin, versatility, and feel. Its deep blue finish and tour-favored shape are striking and functional, earning top marks for aesthetics. On the course, it excels in spin and control, though it took time to adjust to the increased stopping power.”
Chas c – “These wedges are great and I have no true complaints, just some minor nitpicks. They have some minor weaknesses, but they have some huge strengths, and overall, I would be happy with these if they were the only wedges I had.”
Injectedcutty – “The Callaway line of Opus wedges are the real deal! Anybody looking to get new wedges, or just try them shouldn’t hesitate for one second. They look sleek, perform well under pressure, and give a level of confidence that’s hard to surpass. I’ve never been more confident over approach shots than I am now, and the data I’ve provided above backs that up.”