Cleveland RTX ZipCore Wedge

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $149.99, Raw $169.99

Cleveland’s cavity-back CBX wedges were a revelation when they first hit the market, adding a dose of forgiveness to what has traditionally been one of the least forgiving clubs in a golfer’s bag, as manufacturers chose to focus instead on feel and control. Could the same be done in a Tour-style wedge, though? Pros like 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry don’t traditionally want cavity backs, so instead Cleveland re-engineered the internal structure of the new RTX ZipCore wedge to make it both lighter and stronger, pushing weight to the perimeter of the club and moving the center of gravity closer to the center of the face. The perimeter weighting reduces twisting for more center-face strikes, while that relocated CG means those strikes will have more spin and consistency. Oh, and as for spin, Cleveland also re-engineered its RTX grooves, creating a new UltiZip groove that is deeper and sharper than its predecessor, to maximize spin, and closer together as well, allowing two more grooves to fit on the face. Add in a new heat treatment that extends the life of the grooves as well, and you have a wedge you could be scoring with for years to come.