Equipment

Spotted: Cleveland RTX 3 wedges

Published

8 years ago

Jun 7, 2016

Cleveland’s first-generation 588 RTX (Rotex), and second-generation RTX 2.0 wedges have been among the most popular wedges for golfers and Tour players since their release. Now, a new member of the family is preparing for its industry debut — the RTX 3 wedge line — and will most certainly be in the bags of PGA Tour players in the coming weeks and months.

On the range of the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind this week, we spotted Cleveland RTX 3 wedges. Based on the photos, there are at least three grinds; V-LG, V-MG and V-FG. As predicted by a member in the forum thread, this may mean “V-Sole Low Grind, V-Sole Mid Grind and V-Sole Full Grind.”

A Cleveland representative says that the new wedges have what’s called “feel-balancing technology,” which is an “under-the-hood” type of technology that “we feel could be revolutionary.”

It’s also confirmed that there will be three different blade finishes and one cavity-back finish. For more information, we’ll have to wait until July 25, which is the embargo for the new RTX 3 wedges.

Join the conversation about the wedges and see more photos here.

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20 Comments

Jack always

Jun 15, 2016 at 7:51 am

Very similar to last model very good not great

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Steve S

Jun 10, 2016 at 10:04 am

Not sure why I would spend a lot for these. Don’t appear to be that much different than the previous version. Love to see actual test data that compares various wedges. Otherwise it’s all marketing hype to me. I could care less about color and finish, until someone proves to me that it affects performance. I’d use a shovel(if it were legal) if it got me close to the pin with stopping power.

Reply Report comment
- DB
  
  Sep 21, 2016 at 5:02 pm
  
  Steve S and jack always, you don’t have to buy them if you’re happy with your current wedges, but why poo-poo on them without ever even trying it? If you bothered to read the data on these, they are in fact different from the last version, especially the sole grinds. But like I said, if you’re happy with you current setup then good for you. For those of us out here looking to upgrade or replace an old set, isn’t it OK to have new stuff to choose from? Or I guess we should all just use whatever is left on the shelves and have all the equipment mfgrs go out of business? Surely there are enough clubs in stock to keep us all playing for the next 250 years. Do you have this same opinion of car companies? You do realize they come out with a new model EVERY year, most often the same car as last year with minor “improvements” or “tweaks”? If you are not in the market for a new car, who cares? If you are, its nice to be able to get something new rather than whatever car Steve or jack are driving. I tell you what, when you are ready to get new wedges let us all know so we’ll know its OK for us to look as well.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jim

Jun 8, 2016 at 6:53 am

They better have a 4* bounce option this time and have a blacked out color finish that doesn’t fade as fast. Then I would be sold. Already game RTX 2.0s but plan to switch to SM5 or 6 because they have a lower bounce wedge in the 58* and 60* setup.

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- Tim
  
  Jun 8, 2016 at 11:33 pm
  
  You mean something more then cheap paint that wears off within weeks?
  
  Reply Report comment
Brown

Jun 8, 2016 at 3:26 am

WHat’s the obsession with brown colored clubs recently, everybody’s doing it, it’s weird

Reply Report comment
Cwolf

Jun 7, 2016 at 8:07 pm

I hope there is a raw finish

Reply Report comment
TheStylist

Jun 7, 2016 at 7:42 pm

Glad to see Cleveland still at it. Always been my favorite company for irons and wedges.

Reply Report comment
Tom Duckworth

Jun 7, 2016 at 5:19 pm

Love the clean look and color. Looking forward to a review.

Reply Report comment
Bert

Jun 7, 2016 at 5:14 pm

Going in my bag immediately – awesome.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Jun 7, 2016 at 3:20 pm

Hey screw in weights?

Reply Report comment
- jnak97
  
  Jun 7, 2016 at 5:42 pm
  
  Looks like just a movement of their current dot system for grind identification.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Peter
    
    Jun 8, 2016 at 12:20 am
    
    its their bounce dots. 1 dot lowest bounce. 2 dots mid bounce. 3 dots highest bounce.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Jun 8, 2016 at 6:52 am
  
  Looking closely those aren’t screws. They look like punch marks.
  
  Reply Report comment
Matt

Jun 7, 2016 at 2:28 pm

Dig the color.

Reply Report comment
Alex

Jun 7, 2016 at 1:11 pm

Simply beautiful

Reply Report comment
Cu

Jun 7, 2016 at 1:11 pm

This game’s getting too easy. All courses should have to have 5 inch rough on all sides as standard. And in climates that doesn’t allow for grass to grow easily, they should have to have hard-as-concrete fairways and the rough totally unkept and uncut all year.
lol

Reply Report comment
- Johny Thunder
  
  Jun 7, 2016 at 11:13 pm
  
  I agree with Jack Nicklaus – it’s far too easy now and the ball goes too far.
  
  I would suggest making the ball square. That should protect Jack’s records and precioussss par at his courses.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Mark Moser
    
    Jun 15, 2016 at 11:06 pm
    
    Protect Jacks record from who?? Never has been any threat to it.
    
    Reply Report comment
- DB
  
  Sep 21, 2016 at 5:04 pm
  
  What does this have to do with new wedges?
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

11 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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