The new generation against the proven one: the first forged Milled Grind with wet-weather Spin Tread, or the CNC-milled MG4 that still spins with the best and now sells for less.
Quick verdict
The MG5 is the better wedge— it carries a 9.2 consensus, wins five of seven categories, and brings two things the MG4 can't: the first forged Milled Grind feel and class-leading wet-weather spin from its Spin Tread RAW face (~13% more retained spin in the wet). It also offers six grinds and eight lofts for the widest fitting in the line.
The MG4 is the value play— at $179 (and discounted as the prior generation) it still posts elite spin and wins forgiveness and value outright. If you play mostly dry golf and your grooves are sharp, the on-course gap is incremental. Buy the MG5 for the forged feel and wet-weather spin; keep the MG4 to save money.
TaylorMade
First fully forged Milled Grind, aggressive saw-milled grooves, Spin Tread RAW face, six tour-inspired grinds. The most complete player's wedge in the line — and the best in the wet.
TaylorMade
Fully CNC-milled 8620 carbon steel, raw face with ZTP-17 grooves, four sole grinds. Elite, machine-precise spin that holds up — now at a discounted, previous-generation price.
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MG5 wins 5 of 7 · MG4 wins 2 of 7 · 0 tied
MG5
MG4
All-new aggressive saw-milled grooves (steeper walls, sharper radii) plus Spin Tread on a RAW face that channels moisture like tire treads — TaylorMade claims ~13% more retained spin than the MG4 once moisture is introduced. The clear wet-weather leader.
ZTP-17 grooves on a raw face that oxidizes for more grab over time. MyGolfSpy robot testing ranked it among the highest-spinning wedges in the category — elite, just a notch below the MG5's wet-weather spin.
MG5
MG4
The first fully forged Milled Grind — machined from ultrasoft carbon steel for a softer, more connected sensation that won Today's Golfer's “Best for Feedback” award. A step up from the MG4, though a few testers felt the impact frequency still ran a touch high.
Fully CNC-milled from 8620 carbon steel — crisp, consistent, machine-precise feedback with no head-to-head variance. Very good, but the cast-feel milled head can't match the forged MG5's softness.
MG5
MG4
Six tour-inspired grinds by Greg Cesario — including the Tiger-tuned TW — across eight lofts give the widest TaylorMade shotmaking matrix yet. Reviewers singled out the TW grind as the most creative option around the greens.
Four sole grinds (SB, LB, HB, W) cover the core scenarios and the raw face holds spin on open-face shots, but the narrower grind spread limits how far you can manipulate flight versus the MG5.
MG5
MG4
Eight lofts (46°–60°), six grinds, three bounce tiers, two stock finishes plus MyMG5 custom (Tour RAW, Aged Copper) — the most configurable fitting TaylorMade has ever offered in a wedge.
Four grinds and bounces from 6°–14° still build a sound set, but there are fewer combinations to dial in to your exact delivery and turf conditions.
MG5
MG4
A bladed player's wedge with little bailout. Golf Digest flagged that the stronger lofts can feel short on power for slower, inconsistent strikers, and the stock launch runs a touch high.
Slightly more accommodating — reviewers noted it doesn't punish slightly heavy contact as harshly, and the wider W and standard SB grinds stay playable for higher handicaps.
MG5
MG4
Tight spin dispersion across eight lofts makes carry repeatable — Golf Monthly measured consistently high spin with very tight dispersion from 10 to 120 yards, which keeps yardages predictable.
ZTP-17 spin consistency delivers predictable gapping too, backed by MyGolfSpy's robot data showing steady RPM across repeated strikes — just a hair behind the MG5's spread.
MG5
MG4
At $199.99 per club ($219.99 for the TW grind), a three-wedge set runs roughly $600 — top of the market alongside the Vokey SM11. Exceptional, but you pay for the forged feel and Spin Tread.
At $179 and now discounted as the previous generation, the MG4 delivers most of the spin performance for less. For dry-conditions players, it's the smarter value buy.
Buy the MG5 if you...
Buy the MG4 if you...
These are two strong player's wedges from the same family, and the spin floor is high for both — the MG4 was already among the highest-spinning wedges MyGolfSpy tested, and the MG5 only narrows that margin. So this isn't a case of new-equals-better across the board. It's about which two upgrades the MG5 actually brings, and whether you'll feel them.
The MG5 wins where it counts for most buyers: the first forged Milled Grind feel (a 9.0, enough to win Today's Golfer's “Best for Feedback”), the genuinely class-leading wet-weather spin from its Spin Tread RAW face (~13% more retained spin once moisture is introduced), and a wider fitting matrix — six grinds and eight lofts versus the MG4's four grinds. That combination is why it carries a 9.2 consensus and wins five of seven categories.
The MG4 holds two categories the MG5 can't take: forgiveness (8.0 vs 7.4 — it doesn't punish slightly heavy contact as harshly) and value (8.2 vs 7.8 — at $179, now discounted, against $199.99). If you play mostly dry golf and your grooves are still sharp, the on-course delta is incremental and the savings are real. But if you're buying fresh, play in any moisture, or want the softer forged feel, the MG5 is the better wedge and the one to get fit for.
“The switch to forged is something you can feel immediately. It's super soft around the greens, but it comes with really solid spin control at the same time.”
Today's Golfer·On the MG5's forged feelFavors MG5
“The Spin Tread face channels moisture like tire treads, and the spin retained from wet lies is the real headline of this release.”
MyGolfSpy·On the MG5's wet-weather spinFavors MG5
“Among the highest-spinning wedges we tested on full shots, with impressively tight spin dispersion from strike to strike.”
MyGolfSpy·Most Wanted testing, MG4Favors MG4
“It's a very good wedge at a very standard price — nothing wrong with that, but there's no compelling reason to switch from what you already play.”
National Club Golfer·On the MG4's valueFavors MG4
MG5 — our take
The winner and the more complete wedge. The first forged Milled Grind feel, class-leading wet-weather spin from Spin Tread, and the widest grind-and-loft matrix in the line. The 9.2 consensus and five category wins make it the buy for anyone purchasing fresh — especially in any moisture.
✦ Best for: better players buying fresh, and anyone who plays wet
MG4 — our take
The value play. Still elite spin and machine-precise CNC consistency, with a touch more forgiveness, at $179 and now discounted as the prior generation. If you play dry golf and your grooves are sharp, the on-course gap to the MG5 is small — the savings aren't.
✦ Best for: value-focused, dry-conditions players (0–16+)
For most golfers, yes — the MG5 carries a higher 9.2 consensus score (vs the MG4's 8.6) across 16 sources and wins five of seven categories, including spin control, feel, workability, and versatility. But it isn't better on everything: the MG4 wins forgiveness (8.0 vs 7.4) and value (8.2 vs 7.8 at $179), so dry-conditions and value-focused players still have a strong case for the MG4.
It depends on how you play. The MG5's two real upgrades are the first forged Milled Grind feel and the wet-weather Spin Tread RAW face, which retains roughly 13% more spin than the MG4 once moisture is introduced. If you play in rain, dew, or soft turf, or you're buying fresh wedges, the MG5 is worth it. If you play mostly dry golf and your MG4 grooves are still sharp, the on-course difference is incremental and there's no urgency.
The MG5 is the first fully forged Milled Grind (ultrasoft carbon steel for a softer feel), with all-new aggressive saw-milled grooves, a Spin Tread RAW face for wet-weather spin, six tour-inspired grinds, and eight lofts, at $199.99. The MG4 is fully CNC-milled from 8620 carbon steel with a raw ZTP-17 face, four sole grinds, and sits at $179 as the previous generation. Both spin near the top of the category; the MG5 adds forged feel and moisture management.
The MG4 is slightly more forgiving, scoring 8.0 versus the MG5's 7.4. Both are bladed player's wedges that reward a repeatable strike, but reviewers noted the MG4 doesn't punish slightly heavy contact as harshly, and its wider W and standard SB grinds stay playable for higher handicaps. The MG5's stronger lofts can feel short on power for slower, inconsistent strikers.
Compare these head-to-head, or see how they rank across the field.