LA Golf FS-26 Wedge Review

LA Golf continues to expand its hardware footprint, and the new FS-26 wedges are a fascinating addition to the lineup. Constructed as a single piece forged from 1020 carbon steel, these wedges are clearly aiming for the premium end of the market, to rival some of the best golf wedges in the game.

From an 'in the bag' perspective, the FS-26 is a nice-looking wedge. The premium matte finish looks sophisticated and sits cohesively alongside the brand's new iron offerings. The back cavity design is particularly striking to my eye; it essentially looks like what would happen if a Vokey SM11 and the new Takomo wedge had a baby! It’s modern, industrial and clean.

However, things get a bit more complicated when you set the club down. Behind the ball, the FS-26 features a little too much offset for my taste, particularly in the higher lofted models.

For a wedge designed for precision, I found this pronounced hosel transition somewhat off-putting. Although I didn’t find it had any particular negative implications on the overall performance, it just didn’t look great to me.

That said, the head shaping beyond the hosel is very nicely executed, offering a soft roundness that many will enjoy.

The offset is a crying shame because the general performance was actually very good. The feel off the face is everything you want from 1020 carbon steel - soft, responsive, and dense. The flight is pleasingly low and penetrating, a trait that better players usually covet for distance control.

Spin levels were comparable to high-end wedges such as the Vokey SM11 and Callaway Opus SP, thanks to what LA Golf calls their 'aggressive saw cut grooves,' allowing the ball to stay on the clubface seemingly for an eternity.

I tested all three available grind options: S, F, and T. The F Grind is a fairly standard full sole offering, ideal for full shots and square-faced chips, the S Grind is exactly what you would find in the Vokey range, featuring just a little trail edge relief for versatility, while the T Grind was the most fun to test; it’s an aggressive grind with a lot of heel and toe relief, perfect for tight lies and manipulating the face.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about the FS-26. The performance was strong - nice soft feel, good low flight, and loaded with spin - and went some way to justifying the $200 price tag.

Sadly, I just don't think I could put them in my bag based on the visual annoyance of that heavy offset. If LA Golf were to straighten out that transition in a future iteration, I would be far from disappointed to see these staring back at me from my golf bag.