Equipment

Breaking down Cleveland’s CBX ZipCore, RTX ZipCore wedge lines

Published

2 years ago

Jun 14, 2022

When it comes to wedge design and choosing the right wedge for your game, there have never been more options.

More choices and more new technology, however, mean that its important to make sure you have the right information when you set out to purchase a new high-lofter.

Fortunately, Cleveland Golf’s Product Manager Casey Shultz was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about the company’s duo of wedge lines.

GolfWRX: Before we dig into the technology, who is the CBX ZipCore for? Who is the RTX ZipCore for?

Casey Shultz: CBX ZipCore is designed for your average golfer who can really benefit from added forgiveness in a wedge that looks at address like those they have played their whole life. RTX ZipCore is designed for the better player with a well-developed short game that can take advantage of the added versatility the line brings to improve their shot-making capabilities around the greens, while still experiencing added forgiveness and consistency over what can typically be found in a blade wedge.

GolfWRX: From a technology standpoint, what’s the story behind the CBX ZipCore?

CS: CBX ZipCore is filled with forgiveness technologies to help you out on every shot. It is designed with a hollow cavity and ZipCore material to shift weight for ideal CG and MOI properties. This along with the wide Dynamic Sole Grinds offered on each loft ensure consistent performance no matter how you strike the ball. All this forgiveness comes along with the newest Rotex face featuring the sharper, deeper, and closer UltiZip grooves for maximum spin performance.

GolfWRX: OK. Same question for you on RTX ZipCore…

CS: RTX ZipCore is the first product we introduced with our ZipCore technology, a low-density material within the hosel that helps to shift the CG and raise MOI, adding spin, enhancing control, and boosting consistency all within a traditional blade style shape. This wedge also has the newest Rotex face design with the sharper, deeper, and closer UltiZip grooves for maximum spin performance. On top of this, a new heat treatment process has been added to ensure these grooves stay sharp and this spin continues round after round.

GolfWRX: Some golfers seem to feel “a wedge is a wedge is a wedge” or “wedge technology hasn’t evolved since Gene Sarazen.” Do you hear this a lot? What do you say to this?

CS: I would say this couldn’t be further from the truth! I do, however, think this commentary is somewhat complimentary to our designers and engineers as they have managed to pack all this technology into products with the aesthetic appeal that a somewhat traditional wedge shaping brings, especially in our RTX line. The improvements in forgiveness, spin, and uniquely designed grinds for certain shots and conditions have been incredible over the last few generations of designs. I think this perception is mainly since, intentionally, these performance and technological development are hidden within the confines of a good looking, confidence inducing shape more than other clubs in the bag where technology is often more visible.

GolfWRX: How does tour pro testing and feedback influence Cleveland wedge designs?

CS: Tour testing and feedback has a big influence on the design of our wedges, especially when it comes to grind offerings and appearance at address. We constantly are making modifications to the grinds for tour players and take notes of what works and what doesn’t and work this feedback in to future designs as well as custom grinding options available in our Tour Rack program. Players on tour also have a trained eye for what they like to see from a wedge at address, so we always design and validate our wedges with this perspective in mind before finalizing a product.

GolfWRX: Getting a bit more granular: Can you briefly explain the bounce offerings on the RTX ZipCore?

CS: For RTX ZipCore we offer 3 bounce offerings, LOW, MID, and FULL, designed to fit all different kinds of playstyles.

The MID bounce is our catch all, offering our V-Shaped sole design for superior turf interaction for all kinds of different attack angles and lies you may find yourself in. This is available in loft offerings ranging from 46-60, a great option for a wide range of players.

The LOW on the other hand is a more specialized grind designed for those who are looking for maximum versatility in higher lofted wedges. Available in 56-62 degree lofts, this grind is perfect for those who like to play open faced shots around the greens or have a shallower attack angle as its reduced bounce helps the wedge to slide under the ball with ease.

Finally, the FULL sole is the highest bounce offering in the lineup with a traditional, unmodified sole design. This added bounce in this grind makes it perfect for lies in the sand or rough or for players who have a steeper attack angle as it is resistant to digging. It is available in 54-60 degree lofts and is also the most similar to the performance some players are used to from more classic wedges.

For those who want a true tour experience, we also offer a Tour Rack program for grind customization. This allows players to select specific leading edge and sole grind modifications to create a grind with their preferences and wedge game specifically in mind, just like the players on our tour staff.

GolfWRX: Let’s talk about building a bag for a second. For the average golfer wondering if s/he should carry 2 or 3 wedges (or 4), what do you suggest and is there a standard gapping you advocate for?

CS: I would recommend sticking with a 4-6 degree gapping between your wedges. The first thing you need to decide when setting up a wedge mix is where you want to start in the GW area. Knowing the loft on the PW in you iron set is key. For example, those with a 44 degree PW, a gapping of 48, 54, 58 can work well or tighter wedge gaps of 48, 52, 56, 60 is possible for max precision if you have room in the bag for 4 wedges. For players who want true wedge performance in this club, replacing this iron with a 46 degree or, in our CBX ZipCore line, even a 44 degree wedge can be a great place to start. A 4-wedge set of 46, 50, 54, and 58 could make a lot of sense for these players. The closer you are able to make the gaps between your wedges the easier it is to be precise attacking the green from different yardages, so I would generally advocate for as many wedges as you can fit in your 14-club set to set up as many easy looks for birdie as possible.

If you are limited to say two wedges due to how the rest of your bag is set up, I recommend some players emphasize versatility in their sand wedge loft over a removal of a gap wedge. Choosing a grind that allows you to open the face in a sand wedge can give you similar performance around the greens to what you could find in a lob wedge and essentially fill the role of both of those clubs. It can be harder for some to find a filler for the yardage gap that will exist if you don’t include a gap wedge in your set than a replacement for the greenside performance of a lob wedge.

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Whats in the Bag

Tommy Gainey WITB 2024 (July)

Published

20 hours ago

Jul 8, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Tommy Gainey WITB accurate as of the John Deere Classic. More photos from the event here.

Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: ’24 Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S

3-wood: Callaway Rogue ST Max D (16 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 60 TX

See more in-hand photos of Tommy Gainey’s WITB here.

Hybrid: Callaway Apex (20 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue

Hybrid: Callaway Apex (23 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue

Irons: Callaway Rogue Pro (5-PW)
Shafts: Project X 6.0

See more in-hand photos of Tommy Gainey’s WITB here.

Wedges: Callaway Jaws MD5 (50-10S, 56-08C, 58-08C)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey Backstryke

Grips: Lamkin Crossline

See more in-hand photos of Tommy Gainey’s WITB here.

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Whats in the Bag

Jason Day WITB 2024 (July)

Published

21 hours ago

Jul 8, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Jason Day what’s in the bag accurate as of the John Deere Classic. More photos from the event here.

Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 63 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 80 X

Check out more in-hand photos of Jason Day’s WITB here.

7-wood: TaylorMade Stealth (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 80 X

Irons: TaylorMade P790 (2), TaylorMade P770 (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype 105 S+ (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold X Seven (4-PW)

Check out more in-hand photos of Jason Day’s WITB here.

Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack (52-10 MID, 56-10 MID), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X Seven

Putter: TaylorMade Itsy Bitsy Spider Limited

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X (with Mindset)

Check out more in-hand photos of Jason Day’s WITB here.

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News

Highlights from the Wilson Golf Product Testing and Fitting Experience at Pinehurst

Published

24 hours ago

Jul 8, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

All new from Wilson Golf this year are Staff blades and CB irons, Dynapower Forged irons, Staff Model ZM wedges, a new golf ball, the RB Utility iron that was released just a few weeks ago, and the company’s own club fitting technology called Wilson Fit AI.

Yeah, it’s been quite the first half of the year for Wilson Golf. Wilson is serious about establishing themselves as a major player in the golf industry. They’ve made new hires, bringing on Markus McCaine (by way of Cobra Puma) as the Head of Global Marketing. Willie Mack, Padraig Harrington, and Kevin Kisner (to name a few), are playing their products on Tour. As we mentioned earlier, they’ve released a ton of new products. But, with all of that being said, how do these new products really stack up?

That’s where we come in. Wilson Golf wanted to reach the hardcore golfer. The equipment junkie. The person who tries everything to find the right fit for optimal performance. They weren’t looking for someone who already had Wilson products in the bag, who would have attended this trip and predictably said great things about their newest line of products. They wanted to prove how Wilson Golf, the brand, and their new products, can truly compete with the major golf manufacturers. With four lucky GolfWRXers in tow, we headed to legendary Pinehurst to meet Wilson Golf’s team of product experts, to test (and get fit) for the full 2024 lineup of Wilson clubs — and play not-yet-open-to-the-public Pinehurst No. 10! The four WRXers — @TLUBulldogGolf, @TM golf guy, @Shilgy, @Olson12— enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience in North Carolina thanks to Wilson.

Members on Wilson Fit AI

TM golf guy: “The AI experience was super cool. 3 swings and it fit me basically exactly into what I expected.”

Shilgy: “The new Ai fitting tool is legit. First answer a few questions and then there is a fitting iron that measures everything. It’s almost scary how easy, and accurate, it is. Started me with a shaft that was too light but based on contact it changed to 115g DG. About as expected. I was fit into the CB with the Dynapower forged as the 5 and 6 iron.”

First impressions on the Staff Model and Dynapower irons

Olson12: “After warming up, Ed had me hit a handful of shots. It took maybe five or six shots, and we decided it was enough. Of the six shots, I hit four pretty well, one perfectly, and one really bad one. The app spits out recommendations based on all the data it collected and gives you both a steel and graphite option. On the graphite side, it went straight to the Steelfiber 110s, so that was the first one we tried. Ed built up a 7-iron in the Wilson Staff CB with the Steelfiber 110s, and we were off to the races.”

“I currently play a Titleist T100/T100s combo set with Nippon Modus 120x shafts. I bought this used set from a local shop after bouncing around a few different sets. (Thank God for the 90-day playability policy.) We’ve all heard the standard saying, “you want 1k spin x the number of the club.” For me, I’ve never even come close to getting 7k with my 7-iron. I’ve always hovered around 5500 and just learned to play with the rollout. My first few shots with the Staff CB were 7400, 7600, and 7100 with the Wilson Model X ball. Nice high cut, landed soft, PERFECT. Didn’t need to hit any other combos.”

TM golf guy: “I am currently playing i230s, and am generally happy with the performance. I had a feeling I would wind up with the Dynapower Forged, but I went in with an open mind to see what was suggested. After getting my numbers, Ed put together a Dynapower Forged with the UST Recoil Dart 105 F4 (stiff). It didn’t take me more than a few swings to know this was the set for me. I’ll do a formal review with side by side with my i230s later after I get them back and get more time with them, but I think these are going to be gamers. I was able to move them either direction, and they felt better than the i230 based on my limited experience so far.”

TLUBulldogGolf: “The MBs flat out perform, if you want that classic look they should be on your shortlist to try, they nailed the shape and the sole design and turf interaction were just what I expect out of a blade. The options to combo with the CB and new utility should appeal to anyone after that classic look with performance.”

Shilgy: “First swings warming up on the range and I could feel the difference, in a good way, between a properly built set and more mass produced. The balance of this set is fantastic. I’ve always been partial to heavier shafts and heads but the T150 always felt too head heavy to me. The balance on this Wilson set is perfect.”

“Suffice it to say both the CB’s and Dynapower irons were quite good today. Hit it solid and you will get the same result every time….miss it a bit and you’ll still get a very playable result.”

First impressions on the Staff Model ZM wedges

Olson12: “I currently play 50, 54, 60 Vokey SM9 wedges but decided to give the 58/6* a whirl, and I’m glad I did. I mentioned to the staff earlier that I never use my 60 for anything longer than 50 yards. I’ve never felt comfortable with a full swing lob. Going to the 58* gives me more confidence on full shots but was still able to hit all the chips and bunker shots I normally hit with my 60*.”

“Guys… These are fully forged wedges for $150. I just ordered my three Vokey wedges a few months ago for like $600. What the hell, man! If you are in the market for wedges, do yourself a favor and just give them a shot. Nice traditional shape and a super soft feel. Not too clicky but still gives audible feedback on mishits.”

TM golf guy: “The Staff ZM wedges were something I was really interested in as I loved the head shape, and the feel and performance didn’t disappoint. They have a really nice shape to them, and the sound and feel is also excellent. I’m a big fan of the 60° that I got. The grind really allows for a lot of versatility around the greens as well. My only regret here is that I didn’t get the Staff gap wedge instead of the Dynapower one.”

TLUBulldogGolf: “The wedges are really solid as well, I feel like I can flight them with ease and they spin like crazy.”

“I have the 60-06 and it’s similar to a Vokey T grind, maybe a touch less demanding. The 56-10 plays very similar to a Vokey S grind.”

First impressions on the utility irons

Olson12: “I’ve played Srixon & Ping Utilities for a while now. I recently gave up the Crossover and went back to a 3 hybrid because the offset was just not working for me. Since the club was just announced today, we had just the stock HZRDUS Black shaft in both the 3 and 4 iron. I hit the 3 and realized it’s been a really long time since I hit a long iron. It took a few swings, but I started to find my groove. Minimal offset, satin finish, and a good-looking topline. This thing is going to compete with the big boys. Hell, @TLUBulldogGolf was getting 150mph ball speed when hitting it off of a tee.”

TLUBulldogGolf: “The utility is the real deal, just seems to want to go straight. A little longer heel to toe than my T200, and it just feels easy.”

The utility surprised me, I knew it was good at my last range session but it seems to come off lower despite having more loft than my T200. I hit it over the green from 240 on a par 5 which shocked me. The stock HZRDUS 4G stays with me and seems to be a good match for my irons.”

TM golf guy: “This utility is stupid good. The first swing I made I hit rather toey, and it flew straight as an arrow. Off the tee it’s a more penetrating flight than my Srixon, but still has good height. Like @TLUBulldogGolf said, it really wants to go straight. Definitely a winner.”

GolfWRX Members on Wilson Golf:

TLUBulldog: “They want to get everything on the golf side right.”

“I came away super impressed with what Wilson is doing and the direction they are taking the brand.”

“I’m hoping this (and their overall strategy) can up their visibility because the new product is legit.”

Olson12: “I’ve been really impressed with the quality of the Wilson product. What stands out the most is the people behind the scenes. This group of people is IMPRESSIVE. They love golf, they are competitive, and they want to compete with the best of the best. I’m thankful to be part of their story, and once we get the full set and get a chance to play them out in the wild, I’ll be able to give a more thorough breakdown.”

TM golf guy: “They are a group of super passionate people who absolutely love what they do, really have a lot of great ideas, and are a really cool group of people to talk to (they also know their way around a golf course!). They were incredibly open to feedback, and were also very candid about their thoughts on things as well. The people a company chooses to represent them says a lot about the company, and Wilson has picked an incredible group. I think Wilson has an extremely bright future ahead of them, and they’ve certainly made a fan out of me.”

Shilgy: “We all definitely need to add Wilson golf to our must play equipment. You’re definitely doing yourself a disservice if you don’t at least try them out and with the new AI fitting tool every fitter out there can be a Wilson expert fitter.”

Shilgy, Lindsey Lasater, TM golf guy, Markus McCaine

One final thought

If you’re in the market for a new ball, a hidden gem emerged during this trip. Our members were impressed with the new ball from Wilson. Coming from the Chrome Tour X and TP5, Olson12 stated that the feel of the X around the greens was “pretty damn good.” While TLUBulldogGolf shared, “I’m liking the Model X. Very natural transition as a V1X player.”

We’re looking forward to diving even deeper into the trip and what Wilson has to offer over the next few weeks. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to follow along in the forum.

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