On 13 October 2026, Japanese equipment maker PRGR announced a complete redesign of its egg-branded R short-game family. The revised R35 wedge and a new R50 wedge are scheduled to go on sale in Japan on 12 November. Rather than promising more distance, this is an attempt to make two familiar shots around the green less complicated: a low-running chip and a higher shot that rolls out less.
The idea: roll first, or carry first
The 35-degree R35 continues an idea PRGR introduced in 2005. It is intended for a putting-like stroke, with the maker illustrating a 1:3 carry-to-roll pattern. The ball spends relatively little time in the air before running toward the hole. That can be useful when there is a clear apron and green ahead, but not when a bunker blocks the route. The new 50-degree R50 is designed to get the ball airborne sooner; PRGR illustrates its trajectory with a 1:1 carry-to-roll pattern. Neither ratio is a guarantee. Turf moisture, grass, green speed, slope, lie and strike quality can change where the ball lands and stops.
What actually changed in the head and grip
The company says a sliding-rail sole halves turf-contact area compared with the previous R35. A more rounded leading edge is intended to reduce digging, while a grip about 5 mm thicker than before is meant to discourage active wrists and encourage a steadier, putting-style motion. Two white alignment elements near the top line and lower scoreline are designed to make setup easier. Those are credible design choices, but the announcement contains no independent controlled trial demonstrating a specified reduction in mishits.
Verified specifications
PRGR's official product pages list 35° loft for R35 and 50° for R50, with the same 71° lie, 2 mm face progression, and 34-inch or 32-inch build options. Their stated total weights are 559 g at 34 inches and 553 g at 32 inches, for both models. The heads use precision-cast nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel followed by CNC machining; these are not described as forged heads. The 96 g grip and included headcover underline that these are specialized, relatively weighty short-game tools. Japanese suggested retail price is ¥33,000 per club including tax. PRGR states that the grooves conform to the 2010 groove specification, although golfers should still check the rules and conditions relevant to their own event.
The useful question isn't 'Does it spin more?'
For an amateur who struggles to vary a conventional wedge's face angle and swing length, choosing between a simple roll-out chip and a higher approach may remove some decisions. But each club takes a place in a 14-club bag, and the low-loft R35 is a poor tool when the ball must clear trouble. The R50 is no automatic replacement for higher-lofted wedges in deep bunkers or steeply elevated shots. A heavy head may smooth out some players' tempo while feeling awkward to others. Actual dispersion, mishit rates and carry-to-roll ratios still need independent testing on different lies and green speeds.
Editorial assessment: this is a meaningful short-game product update because PRGR has introduced a genuinely different second loft and revised sole, grip and alignment geometry. It is not yet evidence of better scores. Sources: PRGR announcement, R35 official specifications, R50 official specifications.
Image note: genuine Chiputt Golf / Unsplash photograph of a generic wedge during chip-shot practice; it does not show the PRGR R35 or R50 models.
