Equipment
Cleveland CBX wedges, for golfers who play cavity-back irons
Next time you’re at a golf course, take a look in the bag of a fellow golfer. Chances are you’ll see a set of lightweight, cavity-back irons. These are called game-improvement irons in the industry, and according to Cleveland 84 percent of golfers use them. Then look at that same golfer’s wedges. Undoubtedly, you’ll find blade wedges that are heavy and unforgiving. Why do average golfers give up forgiveness on their wedges when they deem forgiveness necessary in their irons?
Solving this conundrum is the crux of Cleveland’s new CBX wedges, which are designed to mesh better with a set of cavity-back irons than other wedges on the market, or at least better than Cleveland wedges in the past.
To accomplish this, Cleveland’s CBX wedges have a cavity-back design that utilizes perimeter weighting. Seventy-six grams of mass was removed middle of the wedges and spread to their outer edges, according to Cleveland. For golfers, that leads to greater forgiveness on shots impacted off-center, thus reducing the effect of mishits.
Cleveland also touts “feel-balanced technology” with its CBX wedges, which pushes center of gravity (CG) toward the toe in order to balance in the club heads versus their predecessors. In order to do this, Cleveland has a wider sole and topline on the toe section of the club, as well as a redesigned hosel that removes weight from the heel. Overall, CG has shifted 3 grams more toeward — or more toward the center — than its previous wedge.
In recent years, wedge makers have emphasized the importance of sole grinds in relation to turf interaction and shotmaking alike. In the CBX wedges, there is front-to-back V-Grind, as well as a heel-to-toe V-Grind (the heel portion of the sole is thinner than toe portion of the sole). The “dual” V-Grind is said to help the club glide better through the turf and prevent digging, as well as provide more versatility. In other words, it allows golfers to adjust the face and lie angle more easily to play different shots.
As the wedges flow from gap wedge to sand wedge to lob wedge, the shapes and weights also change (see in the graphic above, provided by Cleveland). You’ll notice the lower-lofted CBX wedges have a smaller shape (they also weigh a bit less), mimicking the look and feel of short irons. The higher-lofted wedges are bigger in size and weigh slightly more, which makes them feel more like a traditional wedge. Cleveland says this progressive design will better mesh with the cavity-back or game-improvement irons that most golfers use.
As you’d expect from a Cleveland wedge, the CBX wedges also have the company’s Rotex (RTX) groove technology. That means the faces have deep, U-shaped grooves with sharp radii, “micro-milled” grooves between each bigger groove, and laser-milling. Collectively, these features help “grab” the golf ball at impact and create additional spin.
Stock shafts in the CBX wedges are designed to be lighter than traditional after-market wedge shafts like you’d see on Tour. They include True Temper’s Dynamic Gold 115 (steel), as well as a Rotex Precision graphite wedge shaft that weighs just 90 grams.
Specs and Pricing
Cleveland CBX wedges will hit stores on September 15, and they will sell for $129.99 apiece with steel shafts, and $139.99 each for graphite.
Discussion: See what GolfWRX Members are saying about Cleveland’s CBX wedges.
- LIKE154
- LEGIT15
- WOW2
- LOL3
- IDHT1
- FLOP4
- OB4
- SHANK18
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
View this post on Instagram
Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
We always get some great photos of some phenomenal putters at tour events and love to share them. Here are a few from the 2024 Zurich Classic that caught our eye and seemed interesting. (And as a reminder, you can check out all our photos from New Orleans here)
MJ Daffue’s Scotty Cameron T-11 Prototype
MJ is going with the new Scotty Cameron T-11 Prototype this week. The putter is a multi-piece mallet that puts an emphasis on stability with the wings on the back. Daffue’s putter does have a design that differs from retail with a monotone finish, which eliminates the black paint on the aluminum parts that we see at retail. He also has a half siteline milled into the top and an L-neck welded on for some additional toe hang. The face features a deeper milling that should offer a softer feel and slightly quieter sound.
Scotty Cameron T-7.5 Prototype
We spotted a few different Scotty Cameron Phantom models with modified rear flanges. It looks like the straight black flange was cut into a half circle for a little softer look at address. On this T-7.5, you can still see the raw aluminum from the back view, so this might have been a last-minute job to get them out on tour. The semi-circle also has a white line on it, maybe to frame the ball differently.
Alex Fitzpatrick’s Bettinardi SS16 DASS
Alex’s SS16 is made from Bettinardi’s famous D.A.S.S., or double-aged stainless steel, for a softer and more responsive feel. The face has a unique diamond pattern milling and features a logo that I feel like I have seen before, but can’t put a name to. The putter is a classic mid-mallet style with a simple, single white siteline on the top. The sole is clean with just the SS16, DASS, and a green triangle logo on it.
Steve Stricker’s Odyssey White Hot No. 2
This putter has made some amazing putts in its long career! Stricker’s White Hot No. 2 might be in the top 10 of most famous putters in golf. When you see all the dents and lead tape, you know the heel will be up and it will be sinking putts! The soft White Hot insert looks to be in good shape and has less wear on it than the rest of the putter. We don’t know how much lead tape is on the sole, but it has to be multiple layers compacted down over the years.
Doug Ghim’s Scotty Cameron T-7 Prototype
This T-7 should win the award for “best color finish” in this list with its deep chromatic bronze. It looks like Scotty added a cherry bomb dot to the heel of the deep-milled face and filled it with a very dark blue paint. The rest of the putter looks pretty stock with its single site line on the topline and twin site lines down the “fangs” of the putter. Twin 5-gram weights are installed in the sole and the putter is finished off with a gloss black double bend shaft with a fill shaft offset.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic
- LIKE3
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)
Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)...
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoDave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole3 days agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoTiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole3 days ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole1 week agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole1 week agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole1 week agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
OB
Sep 8, 2017 at 3:56 pm
The club designers are always attempting to design out the average golfer’s swing flaws by shifting mass all over the back of the clubhead.
Look at the Ping Zing and Zing2 clubhead design and you will see the optimal mass distribution across a clubhead and the club sole.
Bob Bissonette
Aug 21, 2017 at 6:21 am
I’ve been a proponent of this concept for years. It’s about time.
BusterG
Aug 1, 2017 at 2:31 pm
Wow I love the look of these Clev wedges front and back. They are winners
Doug A
Aug 1, 2017 at 10:51 am
Doesn’t Tour Edge already have a CBX line?
Timbleking
Aug 1, 2017 at 10:10 am
Many years ago I was one of the first to demo the Ping iWedges in my country, and I really felt a difference from the very first bunker shot. Forgiving, confidence-makers, so easy to hit from any lie for any type of shot.
Those ones look like them a lot.
Philip
Jul 31, 2017 at 10:05 pm
No issue with it, but the most forgiving wedges I have ever played are my current Vokey’s – it is all in the grind/loft/bounce combo … and the golfer swinging the club that creates forgiveness – not just the club design in isolation. But I know a lot of golfers that could use some serious help with wedges so there definitely is a market for easier wedges if indeed having a cavity design helps with those tricky touchy ones around the green. Even if it is just the V-soles and the cavity is mostly marketing – every little bit helps
tom
Jul 31, 2017 at 7:08 pm
RTX3 CB wedges are great. Best “full shot” wedge I have played.
RG
Jul 31, 2017 at 4:21 pm
I play a Ping Eye 2 l wedge and two Cleveland CG16’s in 56 and 52 which are all cavity back. The great difference is in chipping and pitching. Hitting chips and pitches is sooo much easier and sooo much more precise with a cavity back wedge. Isn’t that what it’s really all about? I make my hay getting up and down and knocking it close on par 5’s. Really want to try these wedges.
Paul
Jul 31, 2017 at 9:44 am
Cleveland making cavity back wedges isn’t new, I own 4 of them already! Cleveland 588 Rotex 2.0 CB.
Now arguably they aren’t truly ‘cavity back’. The new design look like Cleveland much more aggressive with the weight distribution.
I have to say my current wedges include a 62°, and I’d be lost without it.
Make a 62° and a 64° for this set please Cleveland!
TexasSnowman
Jul 31, 2017 at 9:18 am
Makes total sense to me; always wondered why premium wedges were not offered in a cavity back design; Especially when the Ping Eye2 wedges remained so popular even with lower handicappers.
xjohnx
Jul 31, 2017 at 8:41 am
I don’t think this is a bad idea.