The average 15 handicap golfer only hits four greens in regulation in a round of golf. Additionally, they only get up and down successfully one third of the time. So, short game is a huge area where club golfers can improve upon to lower their scores and handicaps.
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To do that players need the appropriate equipment. Cleveland have released the new RTZ wedges and we took them out to see how they performed. Find out how it went in our review…
Cleveland RTZ Wedge Review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
Cleveland have produced some fantastic wedges over the years and this is another of them. It feels great to use and offers some top level performance with a soft feeling and bags of spin.
The face technology allows it to be utilised from a variety of lies and its all-round versatility enables a variety of golfers to take advantage of the performance. This is a great option to help lower your scores and heightened your short game.
PROS
- Feels really soft
- Clean connection from a variety of different lies
- Nice bunker performance
CONS
- Shape – a bit square on the toe.
First Impressions
Cleveland have equipped their latest wedge offering with a traditional shaping. The lower grind has a C-shaped sole with more forgiveness and relief on the heel, toe, and trailing edge. Throughout the different grinds, the wedges develop from an iron-like appearance to a more rounded shape.
The mid grind transitions into a v-shaped sole, which is ideal for golfers looking for all-round performance. It reverts to the traditional styling for the full grind option.
We tested the full-face option of the lob wedge which was a slight change at address from what I was used to. The club was very user friendly at address with its confidence inspiring look.
Cleveland RTZ wedge review: NCG Review
This was a really impressive wedge that I enjoyed using. Cleveland have crafted their latest short game offering from a whole new material, the details of which the brand have kept under wraps.
Cleveland have been very secretive about the material as they believe it is better than ever. It is 10% softer than the previous release which is an interesting development as they look to create a niche offering in the wedge category.
Most Srixon or Cleveland players on tour have put these new RTZ wedges in the bag due to their high level performance.
In terms of tech, the wedge features a Hydrazine face which is a unique amount of face sand blasting and laser-milled face grooves. This is designed to help the player spin the ball more in wet and damp conditions. Perfect for the playing conditions here in the United Kingdom where it seemingly rains none stop.
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These wedges have also been equipped with Ultizip grooves. Cleveland have designed the new grooves to be sharper and wider to help with turf interaction for consistent spin from a variety of lies.
I love how soft the club feels and how the ball comes off the face at impact. It feels as though the ball is stuck to the face when I made contact, giving the sensation that I could feel the spin being produced.
I tested the full faced version of the Cleveland RTZ lob wedge. Previously, I had never used a full faced wedge before so I had no previous experience to compare to but I am now a fan.
Something I found out about my game during testing is that I use a lot of the toe area of a wedge. I found having grooves across the entirety of the face delivered more control in my short game.
These wedges are available in a variety of grinds in the sand/lob wedge department. I tested the 8° bounce adapt grind which is a great option for golfers who are looking for versatility from their wedge. There is a lower and higher bounce option depending on what type of golf course you play.
The performance out of the bunkers was also impressive. Plenty of spin and control was available when hitting out of the sand and onto the green. It was nice to see the ball fly relatively high and land soft.
Overall, the Cleveland RTZ is a really high quality wedge and the brand has knocked it out the park. A good short game is all about feel and it is invaluable to have that from your wedge as well. That was certainly the case here with a fantastic feeling off the face, not to mention plenty of spin on offer.
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Cleveland has made some top level wedges for a number of years now and this one has reached new heights from the previous iteration.
Cleveland RTZ Wedge Review: The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £159 / $169.99
More information: Cleveland website
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