Are you a short game wizard? The type of player which demands maximum versatility in order to command the highest level of precision into and around the greens?
The safe bet for most of us mere mortals kicking it around our local courses and muni’s is the answer to that is a pretty quick no. If you are, however, a master of all things short game then feel free to dive into any one of our thousands of other articles as this one may not be for you.
This review is about breaking down walls and preconceptions via the cavity back wedge, and no one has been committed to doing just that as much as Cleveland Golf has. So, when we got the chance to get both versions of their new CBZ wedge design which has evolved the concept inside and out, we naturally wanted to bring all the info and feedback to each and every one of you.
Quick Take
Without a doubt, the best cavity back wedge design yet from Cleveland Golf. Yes, the biggest star is the implementation of Z-Alloy into cavity driven wedge design, but that was simply the start. From a feedback perspective, both the standard and full-face high-toe versions are excellent, providing a feel which flows seamlessly into and with the companies RTZ’s. More importantly though, the emphasis on face design as well as sole grind makes them possibly most versatile cavity back wedge on the market.
Filling the Wedgucational Cavity
Sure, that title is a bit on the campy side of things, but there will be no apologies as it sums up what not only Cleveland, but every single golf manufacturer out there is facing when it comes to getting people to try a more forgiving wedge. Clearly, there is a disconnect when 87% of golfers are playing an iron which emphasizes forgiveness, but most continue to automatically put a set of bladed wedges into the bag without consideration of what one, or more, cavity driven designs could provide for them on the course.
In that battle, however, Cleveland Golf has led the charge in trying to get golfers to think of their wedges in the same way that they do their irons. Sure, it is a shot across the bow at how most of us select our wedges, most of the time just opting for what we do out of habit or fear of change more than anything else. But the goal is to break down barriers, and just as once upon a time cavity back irons were seen as blasphemous to traditionalists for fears of sacrificing versatility and workability, wedges are currently undergoing that same battle.
Although they were not the first to do a cavity back wedge design, Cleveland Golf has certainly been the most committed to not only offering them but continuing to innovate and evolve the concept. The company dipped their toes into the water way back into the CG wedge era, but it was with the CBX in 2017 that they jumped all the way into the deep end. Since then, there have been multiple iterations and evolutions with many receiving extremely positive feedback from golfers everywhere. This year, however, marked the first version of the CBZ wedge.
When Cleveland Golf announced their release of the RTZ bladed wedges driven by an all new base material that they created with Z-Alloy (you can read about that here) we here at THP couldn’t help but think about other prospective applications. Sure, many minds went right to irons, but the potential impact into their cavity back wedges was clear given what the material does in terms of not only feel and durability, but mass savings.
So, the company went to work, redesigning the concept, and creating the CBZ. With a 94% larger Gelback TPU internal insert combined with the benefits of Z-Alloy, these wedges look to bring not just better feel to the table but also increased spin consistency and efficiency as well. As if that wasn’t enough, heavy attention also went into the looks and sole grind options available.
We got each in hand for a closer look and put both the 50V (Standard) and 54C (Full Face) through their paces.
Cleveland CBZ 50V
Visually, the standard groove models of the CBZ’s are check all of the boxed. At setup, it doesn’t look like a cavity back and the overall shaping hides everything incredibly well with the topline, leading edge, as well as hosel transition looking very much like a standard Cleveland wedge. Add in the aggressive face/groove milling, and when you put it down next to a 50 degree RTZ, it was nearly impossible to differentiate.
Beyond that, the performance here was stellar. With it being a gap wedge loft, it was fun to be able to treat it as both a full swing wedge as well as still using it for pitches and chips. The V-Grind takes material from both the leading and trail edges to allow for enough bounce to bring more forgiveness but preventing any digging into and out of the soil on full swings.
The feedback through impact was shockingly good, the slightest bit more muted than the RTZ’s are for this reviewer, but the closest to their flagship wedge line that Cleveland Golf has gotten so far. You do keep a “good” feel across more of the face than the RTZ, which is what should happen.
As you can see in the data below, speed nor launch was an issue, and the overall spin on both full and 50 yard shots made for impressive precision with no issues at all holding greens. Honestly, even if you don’t want to give up the versatility of a bladed wedge in sand and lob lofts, the CBZ in a gap wedge is well worth trying, especially if you ever use that club on full swings.
Cleveland Golf CBZ 54C Full Face
While the company is declaring the Full Face as an additional offering within the core CBZ wedge lineup, it is still a different animal in a few ways. Foremost, visually, the size here is notably bigger, which is expected given the Full Face grooves, but it is the altered High Toe shaping which really shifts things.
Now, that does not mean it is bad, quite the opposite actually as like its sibling, every radius on each clubhead makes for a fantastic visual. Unsurprisingly, if you like the High Toe and Full Face look, you will love this, if you prefer the traditional shaping, then it may not be your cup of tea.
In terms of feel/sound, the Full Face feedback during testing was practically identical to that of the traditional shaping. There is the same dense nature to things across a broader margin of the face that you get in the other model, but here the added groove extension takes it up a notch for those that may visit the toe every now and again.
While the feel is excellent, it is the C-Grind here that shined the most during testing. You see, this is the most evolved and versatile grind that this reviewer has tested on any Cleveland cavity back wedge yet. The softer leading edge helps get into the turf, but that rear crescent provided a lot more greenside versatility than in the past.
While they have always been good from bunkers, it was the tight greenside lies that surprised the most, allowing a shocking amount of versatility in a wildly more forgiving design than the standard RTZ. As was with the 50, you can see in the data here that spin was not an issue, hitting right around 9,000 RPM on average for full swings. From full swings to those 75 yard shots, the ability to take dead aim at targets is certainly all there.
Head to Head – CBZ Wedge vs RTZ Wedge
Of course, we also know that it is natural to be a bit skeptical of big changes, and to some people the idea of a cavity back wedge in their bag is indeed a substantial change. Often times the reasoning for not giving a design like the CBZ wedge a chance comes back to the notion that they will launch too high, spin too little, or not offer the same level of consistency. To put that to the test, during the data collection for this review, numbers on the 50 and 54 degree CBZ’s were also recorded.
When taking a look at the averages above, no doubt that some will hyper-fixate on the spin being lower in the CBZ wedge, but in doing so miss the big picture. What exactly is that? It is that the differences are much more minor than most would ever have believed coming into this comparison. In fact, the variance is so minor it might just surprise you when stepping back to see the overall picture the data is painting. The reality is not as much is being left out there as some want to believe, especially when you then add in the increased playability on shots all across the face with the CBZ’s.
The Details – CBZ Wedge
To be clear, we aren’t sitting here saying that everyone should move to the CBZ wedge, individual fit and needs will always vary based on the golfer as well as skill level. However, it is time for the lack of willingness to try cavity back wedges based on what they used to be, to go away. These are the best iteration yet, and also the most widely playable.
Cleveland Golf offers the CBZ wedge in standard face grooves (44-60 degrees) as well as Full-Face (50-60 degrees) to ensure there is something for everyone. The standard shaft pairing is the KBS Hi Rev 2.0 shaft, though there are graphite KBS options available as well.
The new Cleveland CBZ wedges are priced at $179.99. You can order them directly from Cleveland Golf with full customization options available, and they are also available at retailers worldwide.