Tag: wedge

Cleveland Golf Introduces RTX 4 Wedges
Cleveland Golf has just introduced the new RTX 4 wedges – claiming they are the most “tour authentic” wedge Cleveland has ever made. This is the fourth generation in the Rotex line. RTX 4 wedges will be available in North America on Sept 14, 2018.

Cleveland Golf remains at the forefront of wedge design, producing short game innovations and technologies since 1979. With the RTX 4, Cleveland held nothing back during development, creating a made-for-tour wedge in its purest form. Many of the innovations originally created to help tour players score better are being put to good use in the RTX 4 wedges to help golfers of all abilities.

“With the new RTX 4, we spared no expense in trying to achieve the best possible wedge for the best players in the world, and then bring that wedge to the consumer,” said John Rae, Vice President at Cleveland Golf. “We worked tirelessly with our tour staff to refine every detail of the wedge and its shape to fit their needs.”

The foundation of RTX 4 is the 4th generation of Cleveland’s proprietary Rotex Face Technology. Following four life cycles, years of research, and millions of data points, the tolerances were tightened to help provide ultimate short game control. RTX 4 generates more spin through the sharpest Tour Zip Grooves, most aggressive face milling, and more precise laser milling.

“It feels like the ball is really spinning off the face,” said Shane Lowry. “There are extra little grooves in there, which makes it spin more and it definitely does spin more.”

Following extensive tour feedback, RTX 4 features a more compact blade shape, with less offset and a smaller overall profile to provide that classic blade design that tour players prefer. Additionally, RTX 4 offers four new sole grinds, including an all-new XLOW grind, to provide the versatility to execute the most challenging greenside shots.

“I mean it’s got that soft feel which is so nice,” said Graeme McDowell. “I really love the bounce profile here. I like the feeling of using the back bounce on the wedge so, when I look at that, it’s something that really appeals to me.”
“What I love about this wedge is the sole in the bunker,” said Keegan Bradley. “It doesn’t dig in too much, and I’m able to really clip the ball and put a lot of spin on it. We are all very excited to play this wedge.”

Key Innovations of RTX 4 Wedges

Rotex Face Technology: The 4th generation Rotex Face features Cleveland’s sharpest grooves and most aggressive face milling pattern.

Tour-Developed Sole Grinds: Four sole grinds, deliver enough versatility to execute every short game shot imaginable.

Progressive Feel Balancing Technology: Next- generation Feel Balancing Technology is optimized by loft for even more short game control.

Tour-Authentic Components: RTX 4 comes standard with the #1 wedge shaft and #1 wedge grip on the PGA Tour.

Tour Shaping: Tour-driven compact shaping uses less offset to provide more workability and confidence at address.

“Having something that you can mishit a little bit and still see the results of what you’re trying to accomplish is amazing,” said Sean Crocker. “Cleveland wedges have already been the best wedges in the game, and this just makes it even better because to improve on their wedges is something hard to do, but they’ve done it with RTX 4.”

Cleveland’s RTX 4 wedges are offered in a variety of different degrees and grinds. The FULL (three dots) Sole grind is offered in 56 through 60 degrees, the MID (two dots) Sole grind is offered in 46 through 60 degrees, the LOW (one dot) Sole grind is offered in 56 through 64 degrees, and the XLOW Sole grind is offered in 58 and 60 degree lofts. The wedges are available in three different finishes (Tour Satin, Black Satin, and Tour Raw) and left and right-handed options. Cleveland’s RTX 4 wedges are priced at $139.99 MAP (minimum advertised price).

More Photos
Left to Right: XLow, Low, Mid & Full Grinds

Tour Raw Finish w. Rotex Milling

Cleveland RTX 4 – All Finishes

RTX 4 – All Grinds
August 11, 2018
Feel Golf 73 Degree Lob Wedge

A few years ago I posted this article on our sister site which will be taken offline in a few weeks, so I decided to share it with everyone once again. Since this article was written it appears that Feel Golf has also been taken offline, so to speak. I can’t find much evidence of any online presence at least. If they are indeed shuttered, it’s a shame because they made some great clubs. If I find out more about what happened to them I’ll post an update. In the meantime, enjoy the 73 Wedge!

Feel 73 Degree Wedge

3/6/2012 – Feel Golf has been around since 2000, but they actually began making wedges for tour players back in 1985. In fact, Feel Golf can claim several major championships and many tournament victories by players using their irons and wedges. The company recently moved to Sanford, FL and I took some time to meet with Dr. Lee Miller, the company’s CEO. He showed me their entire line of clubs and we spoke at length about the small technological advantages the company has over most of the big OEMs.

Feel Golf is one of the few companies out there that has the guts to reject the USGA’s new groove rule, and I applaud them for it. They are selling irons and wedges with both conforming and non-conforming square grooves. With the vast majority of golfers not playing in high-level USGA or professional tour events, why not allow people to choose which grooves they would rather have? Feel’s square groove wedges are worth a look for anyone who wants more spin around the greens.

Eventually our discussion came to the most popular club that Feel Golf makes – the 73° wedge. And you thought 62° or 64° was a lot of loft! I’ve seen gimmicky wedges in the past with tons of loft, but they didn’t work well because the design wasn’t really thought through. With this much loft, you need time to design a sole grind that works properly. This wedge has that. Obviously when you have 73 degrees of loft, your shot-making options will be limited. This wedge was designed to help players hit a very high, soft landing shot with ease, and it does that.

I was instructed to play the ball back in my stance for most shots and simply let the loft do the work. Moving the ball up in your stance too much makes distance and trajectory control with the 73 very difficult. In my testing over the course of several rounds and at the short game practice area, I found that the best results came when I stood a bit closer to the ball. This club makes flop shots look easy. You can really get the ball in the air with this thing, but some practice is needed to get the distance control down. As with any high lofted wedge, the most important thing to know is when to use it, not how to use it.

This post was originally published on 3/6/2012 at ITGexpress.com and written by John Duval

November 20, 2015
WITB – November 2015

Back in September I posted my first “What’s In The Bag” segment that detailed the clubs I play with. WITB posts are pretty popular on other sites when they post pictures of PGA Tour players and their preferred equipment. It’s always interesting to see what the best players in the world play with, and the market for “tour van” or hard to find equipment – especially putters – is huge. Forget that most people couldn’t possibly hit the clubs that tour players use, they still want them for the exclusivity and cool factor. I’ll admit, I’m one of those people that love being unique and having things that nobody else has.

It’s for good reason that people are curious about the golf bags of PGA Tour players, but not many people care about what a lowly golf blogger plays with. It’s a shame too, because I think my fellow bloggers and golf media people are in a much better position to help others when it comes to getting the right equipment.

While the average touring pro is well paid to endorse a company’s golf clubs, golf writers and bloggers aren’t. That’s not to say we don’t get our share of sweetheart deals or eek out a tiny profit from online affiliate sales, but nobody I know that runs a golf blog is making much more than enough to keep the site going and pay for the occasional round of golf.

Golf writers and bloggers do however have access to and get to play with a ton of different clubs, and the ones that go in our golf bags as “gamers” have cut through the marketing hype and passed the test. Just like my buddy Tony from hookedongolfblog.com, in my golf bag on any given weekend sits a who’s who of golf manufacturers you may or may not have heard of. If we’re playing them, you can be pretty confident that they are a good buy.

Since the end of September all but 3 of the clubs in my bag have changed. No less than 6 different golf equipment companies are represented in my bag.

What’s in the bag?

Driver: Ping G30 LS-TEC (9° w/ Ping Tour 80x)
Fairway: Tour Edge Exotics E8 Tour (14° w/ Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana S+ 70x)
Hybrid: Srixon Z H45 (16° w/ Aerotech hls880 x-flex)
Utility Irons: Srixon Z U45 (20° & 23° w/ Aerotech Steelfiber i110cw x-flex)
Irons: Srixon Z745 5-PW (w/ Aerotech Steelfiber i110cw x-flex)
Wedges: Ben Hogan TK15 50° & 54° (w/ KBS Tour-V 120X)
Lob Wedge: Hopkins Golf CJ-1 60° (Custom channel grind w/ Dynamic Gold X-100)
Putter: Cure RX3F Putter
Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

What’s New?

The clubs that didn’t change? My Tour Edge Exotics E8 Tour three wood, which gets a fresh new grip, my trusty Hopkins Golf CJ-1 60° wedge and the ugly-duckling-but-impossible-to-mis-hit Cure RX3F putter.

The biggest changes are the replacement of my aging Cleveland CG16 Tour Concept irons with the fantastic new Srixon Z745 irons. These irons are currently in play by most of Cleveland/Srixon’s tour staff including Graeme McDowell, Keegan Bradley, Russell Knox and many others. I also replaced the 3 and 4 irons with the Srixon ZU45 utility clubs which are much easier to hit, and the old Cleveland hybrid is replaced by a new Srixon ZH45 hybrid. All the new clubs get Aerotech Steelfiber shafts. The Srixon irons and utilities are made of forged 1020 steel and look as good as they perform.

I changed drivers this month also. I switched out the Ping G30 driver for the Ping G30 LS-TEC. There’s not much difference between the two as they look identical, but the LS-TEC spins a little less according to Ping.

I also have some new wedges in the bag. Gone (but not forgotten) are the SCOR 50° and 54° wedges I was so fond of. Fortunately they’ve been upgraded to Ben Hogan TK15 wedges. For those who aren’t familiar with SCOR and Ben Hogan, they are run by the same brilliant golf mind – Terry Koehler. SCOR Golf became Ben Hogan when he resurrected the iconic Ben Hogan brand from the ashes of golf equipment history. His amazing v-sole wedges live on in the Ban Hogan brand however. The new TK15 wedges perform the same as the older SCOR wedges and look fantastic in the new Hogan design. They are also a perfect match for the Hogan Fort Worth 15 irons, which players can customize to their liking. The Ben Hogan TK15 wedges are available from 48° to 63° and every loft in between. The HoganFit fitting process is designed to customize a set of wedges that will compliment your current irons and offer consistent distance gaps to help you score better inside 125 yards, where almost 65% of shots are taken.

Finally, new in my golf bag this month is the golf bag itself! My special WAGT “Team USA” golf bag recently arrived from Burton and it looks fantastic. The amazing Last Bag travel bag I got from Club Glove is going to be protecting my clubs while traveling. I’m one of the few fortunate souls to be proudly representing the US in the World Amateur Golfers Championship in December in Antalya, Turkey.

Antalya is one of the ten most frequented tourist destinations in the world, and is in the southwestern part of Turkey in a region called the Turkish Riviera. We’ll be at the all-inclusive Gloria Golf Resort competing over 54 holes in a team format with 40 other countries. I’ll be posting photos and updates on the event when we get there!

November 17, 2015
Ping Introduces New Clubs

Ping Golf is one of those companies that takes their sweet time to launch new products, usually on a two year development cycle. Ping also benefits from one of the most loyal customer bases in the industry, and for good reason. They make quality golf clubs that perform well, and they take care of their customers. People that buy Ping golf clubs tend to stick with them for the long haul. I know a few people that still hit their Eye2 and ISI irons.

Ping has been on a roll for about a year, since introducing the G30 line of drivers, fairways and hybrids in July 2014. The G30 driver continues to be the best selling driver in golf, and their market share is impressive. In June 2015, 62% more G30 drivers were sold than the next closest driver model, and for the entire year (since January), they’ve sold 44% more drivers than any other. I’ve stated on several occasions that I think the Ping G30 driver is the best I’ve hit in over a decade.

This summer, Ping is riding the momentum of the fantastic G30 line and introducing some new irons, wedges and putters. There are two new iron sets, called GMax and the “i” irons, a new Glide ES (Eye Sole) and two new putters in the Cadence TR line.

GMax Irons

[slideshow_deploy id=’5284′]

The new GMax iron introduces COR-Eye Technology, a revolutionary design that increases flexing across the entire face for faster ball speeds that produce unprecedented distance and forgiveness. The irons are squarely aimed at mid-to-high handicap golfers that want more distance and help getting the ball airborne. These clubs will fall in the “max game improvement” category.

– Available 4-9, PW, UW, SW
– Stock steel shaft: PING CFS Distance (Soft R, R, S, X)
– Stock graphite shaft: PING CFS Graphite (65 Soft R, 70 R, 80 S)
– After-market stock shaft options (no upcharge): Dynamic Gold S300, X100; Project X 5.0, 6.0; XP 95 (R, S), N.S. Pro Modus3 105 (S, X)
– U.S. MSRP: $121.25 per club w/steel shaft; $ 136.25 per club w/graphite shaft

i Irons

[slideshow_deploy id=’5283′]

The new i iron, PING’s first model to utilize 431 stainless steel, is a softer players-style head that offers some workability and ball-flight control with forgiveness to help low-to-mid handicap golfers. The Ping i irons will be replacing the i25 irons in their lineup. Both new models are available with the stock Ping CFS Distance shaft, but you can also choose one of four popular after-market shafts with no upcharge.

– Available 3-9, PW, UW
– Stock steel shaft: PING CFS Distance (Soft R, R, S, X)
– Stock graphite shaft: PING CFS Graphite (65 Soft R, 70 R, 80 S)
– After-market stock shaft options (no upcharge): Dynamic Gold S300, X100; Project X 5.0, 6.0; XP 95 (R, S), N.S. Pro Modus3 105 (S, X)
– U.S. MSRP: $135 per club w/steel shaft; $150 per club w/graphite shaft

Glide ES Wedges

[slideshow_deploy id=’5285′]

The new wedge is the Glide ES (eye sole) that combines technology of the original Eye2 sand wedge with the new Glide wedge design to add even more options to the Glide wedge line that already offers the Glide standard sole (SS), thin sole (TS), and wide sole (WS), creating 16 loft and sole combinations to suit a player’s style and adapt to the most common turf conditions.

– Available in 56º, 58º, 60º
– Dyla-wedge grip: ¾-inch longer, grip-down markings at 1 3/8″ intervals, softer tapering profile
– Stock shafts: CFS Wedge (stiff flex, 118g); TFC 419i (Soft R, R, S)
– U.S. MSRP: $140 w/steel shaft; $160 w/graphite shaft

Cadence TR Putters

[slideshow_deploy id=’5286′]

Ping’s market share in the putter segment may have dropped over the years, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make a good putter! They are still one of the best. The popular Cadence TR putter series grows with the addition of the Craz-e-r and Ketsch Mid models. The Craz-e-r, an evolution of the highly successful Craz-E design, is a high-MOI model with a sightline that extends from the top to the back of the putter. The Ketsch Mid, a smaller version of my personal favorite and award-winning Ketsch, provides golfers a fully machined, high-MOI mallet-style head with advanced alignment features. Both models are engineered with True Roll Technology grooves and are available in two weight options.

– Traditional, 350g; Heavy, 375g
– Straight, Slight Arc and Strong Arc stroke types
– Adjustable +/- 2º from std. lie angle
– U.S. MSRP: $245; Adjustable-length upcharge: $35

August 10, 2015
Callaway Mack Daddy PM-Grind Wedge

Phil Mickelson has a lot of influence in the design and construction of his clubs, and his relationship with Callaway has greatly benefitted them both. These days, Callaway has one of the hottest (and longest named) drivers on the market in the Big Bertha Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond. It also has possibly the best new golf ball on the planet in the Callaway Chrome Soft.

Phil Mickelson’s influence has never been more apparent than in his feedback during the design of the new Mack Daddy PM-Grind wedges. According to Callaway, Phil gave his direct input to Callaway wedge maker Roger Cleveland on the design of these wedges. They have a unique shape and design that make it easier to hit aggressive shots out of deep rough, bunkers, on flops, and all the toughest shots that players face around the greens.

[slideshow_deploy id=’5248′]

The Mack Daddy PN-Grind wedges will be available in loft & bounce combinations of 56-13, 58-10, 60-10 and 64-10. Pricing starts at $129 and several custom shaft & grip options are available. The Mack Daddy PM-Grind wedges will be available starting May 15, 2015.

Click image to zoom

Check out the 3D view of the new wedge below.

May 14, 2015
Cleveland Wedge Fitting App & Fitting System

As long as I’ve been playing golf seriously I have known the importance of custom fitting. Yet to this day, the vast majority of golfers buy their clubs off the rack, especially the most important clubs in the bag – wedges. If you are playing with wedges that aren’t properly fit you are throwing away strokes. Golfers tend to hang on to wedges too long also. Drivers are flashy and sexy and people tend to buy drivers more often than any other club, which is why most of the big companies introduce new models every year or sooner. What you should be doing is buying new wedges every few seasons instead of that driver that promises 20 more yards. You can only hit a driver about fourteen times in a typical round of golf, so unless you are holing out most of your iron shots, your score will still be largely determined by your play inside 125 yards. To help people get set up with wedges that will most help their game, Cleveland Golf has come up with their new wedge fitting system and a cool wedge fitting application. Here’s the scoop:

CLEVELAND® GOLF INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY WEDGE FITTING APPLICATION AND FITTING SYSTEM

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – March 5, 2013 – Cleveland® Golf has been proud to set the standard for wedges over the last 25 years. In that time, no other manufacturer has devoted as much passion and effort to wedge design, technology and performance.

This year, Cleveland® Golf has already introduced the groundbreaking RotexTM Face. Featured on new 588® RTXTM and 588® RTXTM CB wedges, RotexTM is an unprecedented combination of three technologies that promote maximum spin and control from all lies.

Today, Cleveland® Golf is excited to announce two innovations that revolutionize wedge fitting.

First is the online Wedge Fitting Application. Part of the redesigned Cleveland® Golf website, this Application allows anyone – especially club fitters and golf shop employees – to quickly select a proper wedge set with more confidence than ever before. Once the correct models, lofts, and bounces have been determined, wedges can be customized for lie angle, shaft and grip. Ordering a full wedge set from the Application is easy and safe.

The second innovation is the Cleveland® Golf Fitting System, which features interchangeable wedges – an industry-first. Available on new Fitting Carts and Fitting Displays, these interchangeable wedge heads are available in a multitude of loft, bounce, lie angle and model options, and are accompanied by a variety of interchangeable wedge shafts.

Changing wedge heads and shafts is done in a matter of seconds. Plus, interchangeable wedges feature identical specifications to the wedges a player will use on the course.

Wedge fitting has never been more accessible and comprehensive. Any laptop, smartphone or tablet can be used to conduct a quick and accurate fit. Plus, the most sophisticated wedge fit on the market is available at authorized Cleveland® Golf Fitting System dealers.

“It’s no secret that a player’s wedge game is critical to scoring and performance,” said Todd Harman, President of Cleveland® Golf/Srixon – U.S.A. “We’ve raised the bar with wedge innovations over the years such as multiple bounce options, ZipTM Grooves, cool finishes and now RotexTM technology. With the introduction of our new Fitting System and Fitting Application, we’ve made it easier than ever for any player to use the right set of wedges and get the correct loft gapping throughout their entire set. This is a game-changer for us and the equipment industry. The way that golf professionals and retailers are now able to comprehensively fit a golfer for a wedge set is truly a breakthrough.”

To use the Cleveland® Golf Wedge Fitting Application, please visit wedgefitting.clevelandgolf.com. To locate an authorized Cleveland® Golf Fitting System dealer, please visit clevelandgolf.com.

For more information on Cleveland® Golf/Srixon® and Never Compromise® products or staff players, please visit www.clevelandgolf.com, www.srixon.com and www.nevercompromise.com.

March 6, 2013
Cleveland Golf Introduces 588 Forged Wedges

Cleveland Golf is bringing back one of the most popular and widely played wedges in the history of golf – The Cleveland 588 Wedge. The new 588 will be forged from soft 1025 carbon steel and I’m sure it will be a leader in performance and feel, surpassing even the newer CG14 and Cg15 model wedges that are widely played on the professional tours. Check out the press release and FABs below, and stay tuned for a complete review of these new wedges as soon as we can get our hands on them!

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA –August 29, 2011 – Cleveland® Golf, the winners of more than 335 PGA Tour championships, including 26 majors, is extremely pleased to introduce the new 588® Forged wedge. The 588®Forge wedge, which maintains the popular, tour-proven shape of Cleveland® Golf’s original 588® wedge, offers a series of technological breakthroughs to provide added performance benefits for players of all abilities.

Made from 1025 carbon steel, the 588® Forged wedge offers golfers an incredibly soft yet solid feel and less unwanted vibration. The advanced Precision Forging process ensures the highest level of part-to-part manufacturing consistency for supreme confidence and trust over every shot. The 588® Forged wedge’s Tour Zip Grooves™ and Laser Milled™ technology help to maximize spin in accordance with USGA regulations. Also, exclusive to the588® Forged wedge is the Tour Concept steel shaft, co-developed and engineered by Cleveland® Golf and industry leader True Temper. With a unique stiffness profile that features a less active tip, this shaft promotes a more penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control along with superior feel.

“The confidence-inspiring shape of the original 588 wedge remains the standard by which all competitors’ wedges have been judged for more than 23 years, and attempting to build upon that benchmark is not a task we take lightly at Cleveland Golf,” said Todd Harman, President of Cleveland® Golf/Srixon® - U.S.A. “Our 588 wedge is the most popular wedge in the history of the game, and with sales in excess of 3 million units worldwide, it’s arguably the single most successful golf club ever brought to market. Our new 588® Forged wedge not only lives up to the 588® legacy, it takes Cleveland wedges to a whole new level.” The No. 1 wedge of all time is back – and better than ever. Cleveland Golf’s new 588 wedge maintains the popular, tour-proven shape of its predecessor with a series of technological breakthroughs to provide even more performance benefits for experienced players. Every wedge is formed from 1025 carbon steel for incredibly soft, solid feel and the highest level of manufacturing consistency for supreme confidence and trust over every shot. Tour Zip Grooves™ and Laser Milled™ technology maximize spin in accordance with USGA regulations. Exclusive to the 588 wedge is the Tour Concept Wedge steel shaft, co-developed and engineered by Cleveland Golf and industry leader True Temper. With a unique stiffness profile that features a less active tip, this shaft promotes a more penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control along with superior feel.
Features, Advantages, Benefits: 1. F- Original, Tour-Proven 588 Wedge Shape A- Remake of the most successful and preferred wedge shape ever, revered by golfers of all skill levels for its confidence-inspiring look. This is the standard by which all competitors’ wedges have been judged. B- Timeless beauty, versatile design for all-around wedge performance no matter what shot is required. Summary: For more than 20 years, the tour-proven shape of the original 588 wedge has been the standard by which all competitors’ wedges have been judged. The new 588 wedge maintains this confidence-inspiring look, which golfers of all skill levels can appreciate for its timeless beauty and versatile design. It offers the highest level of all-around performance no matter what shot is required. 2. F- Forged 1025 Carbon Steel Construction A- Softer metal, highest level of manufacturing consistency. B- Incredibly soft, yet solid feel sought by experienced players. Supreme confidence and trust over every wedge shot from premium manufacturing. Summary: Forging means quality – the incredibly soft feel and highest level of manufacturing consistency is immediately recognized and appreciated by experienced players. That’s the same quality found in the 588 wedge, which is forged from high-grade 1025 carbon steel for solid feel and constructed with a premium process to inspire supreme confidence and trust over every shot. 3. F- Laser Milled™ Technology A- More precise and consistent surface roughness than alternative methods. B- Optimal surface roughness to maximize spin. Summary: Using the precision accuracy of a laser, four perfectly calibrated texture lines are milled between each groove of a 588 wedge exactly to the conforming roughness limit. This breakthrough surface roughness application optimizes ball-to-face friction, maximizing spin under the rules of golf. 4. F- Tour Zip Grooves™ A- Precise milling technology preserves groove edges and maintains perfect groove consistency. B- Maximizes allowable groove dimensions while conforming to USGA groove requirements. Summary: The 588 wedge features Tour Zip Grooves™, which are crafted with precise milling technology that preserves groove edges and maintains perfect groove consistency. These grooves have the maximum allowable dimensions in accordance with USGA requirements. 5. F- Tour Concept Wedge Shaft co-developed and engineered by True Temper and Cleveland Golf A- Exclusive stiffness profile with a less active tip. B- More penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control – along with superior feel. Summary: Exclusive to the 588 wedge is the Tour Concept Wedge shaft, co-developed and engineered by Cleveland Golf and industry leader True Temper. With a unique stiffness profile that features a less active tip, this shaft promotes a more penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control – along with the superior feel expected from True Temper. 6. F- Multiple Bounce and Finish Options A- Two different finishes: Satin and Chrome. Three different bounces: Low, Standard, and High. B- Allows players to select wedges best suited to aesthetic preferences and course conditions. Summary: In addition to 10 different loft options, two different finishes are available in the 588 line – Satin and Chrome. There also are low, standard and high bounce options to allow players to select wedges best suited to their aesthetic preferences and conditions of the courses they play. 7. F- Automated Polishing Process (APP) A- New process further removes shape inconsistencies often found after manual polishing. B- Precise shape consistency for a premium product. Summary: Further enhancing the consistency of the 588 wedge is the new Automated Polishing Process (APP). This finely-tuned process is more diligent than ever before with removing the shape inconsistencies often left over after manual polishing. The result of APP is precise shape consistency for a premium product. Available in Chrome and Satin finishes, Cleveland® Golf’s 588® Forged wedges will begin shipping in November 2011 with a listed minimum advertised price (MAP) of $139.99. Available in a variety of loft and bounce options, the 588® Forged wedge can also be personalized at MyCustomWedge.com with an array of color, logo, shaft and grind options. For more information on Cleveland® Golf/Srixon® and their products, please visit www.clevelandgolf.com and www.srixon.com.

Subscribe to our email updates! You'll get the latest fresh news, reviews and stories delivered right to your inbox or RSS reader, and automatically be entered in our latest contests and giveaways! We are 100% SPAM FREE! Also, don't forget to check in with our Facebook fan page for exclusive content and get involved by leaving us comments on what you think!

August 30, 2011
Miura K Grind Wedge Review

Not too long ago, I had the great pleasure of taking Miura Golf’s 1957 Special Edition small blades for a demo. I came out very impressed, but not surprised. Katsuhiro Miura is known as one of golf’s most skilled craftsmen, and his high-quality forged clubs reflect that. The feel and workability of his forged blades is second to none, so it stands to reason that Miura wedges would also perform well.

Miura Golf offers several different models and grinds in their wedges. I’ve seen just about every kind of wedge come through my office, and the basic shape and performance of the sand wedge hasn’t changed much in the 20+ years that I’ve been playing the game. When I saw the Miura K-Grind wedges, I had to give them a closer look.

Features

The sole of the new K-Grind wedges is fluted, which bears resemblance to finger-tip impressions or knuckles. These three channels are supposed to reduce the resistance against the wedge in sand, thick rough, and even the fairway. Theoretically, the sole of the wedge moves with the grass instead of against it. The channels move around the sand instead of colliding with it. This allows the wedge to accelerate through the ball with less effort in every condition to improve the odds of hitting a good shot.

The company line:
· Better results out of wet sand.
· Reduces the odds of “catching it heavy” on long bunker shots.
· Better acceleration on ½ and ¼ swings around the green.
· Digs it out of deep rough.
· Works great in normal conditions with the same feel and performance for which Miura wedges are known

The K-Grind wedges also feature True Temper’s DG Spinner shaft. The DG Spinner is a Dynamic Gold shaft specifically designed for wedges to produce more spin and a lower trajectory. This shaft was created in direct response to the USGA’s new groove rule which reduced the size and shape of “U” grooves starting in 2011. Says Greg Cavill, True Temper’s director of metals R&D and engineering: “The DG Spinner’s unique design incorporates a specially engineered recessed section along the length of the shaft that decreases launch angles by as much as three degrees and increases the ball’s spin rate by as much as 700+ rpm. The result is a more penetrating ball flight for distance control and increased spin for greater accuracy and stopping power on the green.”

For now, the K-Grind wedge comes only right-handed in a 56 degree loft. The bounce is measured at 12 degrees, which is generous and should be good in all turf conditions. Suggested retail price is $250 USD

Appearance

The chrome finish is classic and the graphics aren’t tacky or overwhelming. I prefer a simple look. If it was up to me, all that would be written on my wedges is the loft on the back. These sport the Miura Series 1957 stamp beside the company name. On the sole is the loft and a simple “K” stamp. The fluted trailing edge is unique and eye-catching, and the sandblasted groove area frames the face nicely. The shape of the Miura M-Grind wedges is the classic teardrop, with a slightly straighter leading edge. I prefer a straight leading edge for easier alignment, but some say a more curved leading edge allows the wedge to move through tall grass and sand with greater ease. I think it’s just personal preference.

Performance

So how did they actually perform? In a word – flawlessly. These wedges look great, feel great, and can hit every shot in the book in the hands of a skilled wedge player. I spent a few sessions on the range hitting all kinds of shots, and took it to the bunkers and chipping green afterwards. To start, the feel is great. You would expect a Miura forging to feel buttery soft, and these do. The only drawback to a soft forged wedge is that they are more prone to nicks and wear than harder metals, but if feel and playability is more important than durability, these wedges are at the top of the class. It was difficult to tell if the DG Spinner shaft in this 56 degree wedge really produces more spin, since my gamer is a 54 degree wedge with a regular Dynamic Gold shaft. One day we’ll get a few demo shafts on a trackman radar to test their claims. For now, I can say that this wedge produces enough spin to compare it with any other wedge out there. I had no trouble hitting the “crowd pleaser”, a low spinning chip shot that bites hard. Nor did I have any issues stopping full shots from the fairway.

The K-Grind wedge really shines around the greens, in bad lies or when chipping. The fluted trailing edge allows for the club to be opened while reducing contact with the ground. On bunker shots and other shots with an open face, the club glides through the impact area with ease. There’s no way to measure the effects of the K-Grind on various lies, but even if it didn’t help at all, you would still have a high performance wedge that looks cool and feels great.

I currently carry 46, 54, 60 and 64 degree wedges. The 64 comes and goes with the 3 iron depending on the course. I’m considering closing the gaps a bit and moving to a 46, 52, 58 and 64 setup. Either way, a 56 degree wedge doesn’t have a place in my bag or I would be gaming this new Miura wedge. Of course, Miura Golf offers five different models of wedges with differing grind, finish and loft options to meet every golfer’s needs. Lofts range from 49 to 60 degrees. If you are looking for a premium high-performance butter-soft forged wedge, you need to look at Miura Golf and their offerings. You won’t be disappointed!

Subscribe to our email updates! You’ll get the latest fresh news, reviews and stories delivered right to your inbox or RSS reader, and automatically be entered in our latest contests and giveaways! We are 100% SPAM FREE! Also, don’t forget to check in with our Facebook fan page for exclusive content and get involved by leaving us comments on what you think!

June 1, 2011
Clean With Coke – Try This At Home!

Rusty wedge, Cup, and Coke bottle

About 10 years ago I was lucky enough to get a Titleist Vokey prototype sand wedge from a friend. It was the first time I had played with a raw finished club, or “rusty” finish. That treatment is now the most popular on the professional tours and with most amateurs. Some claim that rusty clubs produce more backspin, and others just like them because of the reduced glare and the worn look. After 7 or 8 seasons in the sandy turf of Florida with my trusty rusty, I developed a wear spot on the face, and eventually I had to replace the wedge. I’ve tried to keep hitting it, but I simply can’t get the ball to stop with no grooves left.

I’m glad I kept it around, because it turned into the perfect test subject for my weekend science experiment. I got an email a few weeks ago about all the weird things you can do with Coke, like clean your toilet and dissolve a t-bone steak in 2 days. It has been going around the internet and the things in it are mostly false, but it got me thinking, would the acid in a bottle of Coke do anything to remove the rust from an old club? I set up a rig in my garage to test it out, and the results were shocking! Let’s take a look at my experiment and the findings.

Below is the before picture of my beloved wedge. It’s been sitting in a humid Florida garage all summer, rusting away. You can see the nice wear pattern from years of solid hits on the range and course. I sure wish I could hit it like that still… Anyway, moving on…

Rusty wedge, before Coke soak!

The picture below shows my test set up. I filled a cup with Coca-Cola Classic, and suspended the wedge in the cup from my swing weight scale so that half the face was in the coke, and the other half stayed out. I didn’t submerge the entire wedge so that I could see what the difference was, if any, between the soaked and un-soaked side. How did the Coke do? Scroll down to find out!

Dunking the wedge

The below picture shows just how powerful the acids in a bottle of Coke can be. I soaked the wedge in the Coke for 24 hours, removed it and rinsed it in water to remove the stickiness. I was quite shocked to see that the rust was gone and the finish had been stripped down to the raw metal!

No more rust!

If a bottle of Coke can strip metal and destroy rust and oxidation on your wedge, what the heck is it doing to our stomachs? The photo below shows another view of the difference. Obviously, soaking a raw metal club in Coke overnight can remove rust! I suppose you could do this with any acid, but most commercial acids can melt your skin, and can’t be purchased at the corner store in a 2 liter bottle for 99 cents! If you have an old club at home that you want to remove the rust from, forget about scrubbing it, just give it a Coke soak!

Raw vs Rust

Hope you liked my little science experiment. If you want to get the latest articles as they are posted or just want to keep up with the latest at intothegrain.com, be sure to use the link on the top left to “like” our facebook page and let me know how we are doing!

November 20, 2009
Club Review – Cleveland CG15 Wedges

Cleveland CG15 w/ Black Pearl Finish

Cleveland Golf has a long history of making great wedges. The almost iconic 588 wedges are still in play all over the world for pros and weekend hackers alike. Founded in 1979, Cleveland Golf was purchased in December of 2007 by SRI Sports, the parent company of Srixon Golf in Japan. Over the last few years the wedge market has become very competitive, with the tour success of Titleist’s Vokey wedges taking a slight edge in weekly wedge count on the PGA Tour. The founder of Cleveland Golf – Roger Cleveland, sold the company in 1990. Later, he hooked up with Callaway Golf and now designs clubs for them. Even Taylor Made has gotten into the act, and several smaller companies also seek to steal some market share in the wedge world. Still a market leader, Cleveland Golf has a new wedge offering for late 2010. The CG15. Last month I first wrote a preview of these wedges, and Cleveland was nice enough to loan me a few to test out in person. Let’s take a look at these beautiful new wedges and see how they perform.

Appearance
With the exception of advances in CNC machining that led to sharper and deeper grooves, technology in wedges hasn't changed much since Gene Sarazen invented the modern sand wedge back in the early thirties. Subsequently, little has changed in Cleveland's wedge offerings in the past few years. From the CG10, to the CG12 and now the new CG15, Cleveland retained the same basic look. There isn't much you can change on a classic wedge design, so most companies relocate the text or change the graphics. With the new CG15 wedges, they have moved the bounce angle number and dots from the hosel area to the sole of the club, just below the loft number. They've also moved the company name from the sole to the back of the club, replacing the logo that was there on the CG12. Cleveland has also rolled back the trailing edge of the club to make it more playable when opening the club. Cleveland's new CG15 Wedges are offered in 3 distinct finishes - Chrome, Oil Quenched and Black Pearl. The chrome finish is the classic treatment that we are all used to seeing in a wedge or forged iron. The Black Pearl finish is a dark matte finish similar to Cleveland's gunmetal finish. This dark finish has become familiar to Cleveland fans. The other finish being offered with the CG15 wedges is called Oil Quenched. This finish has a beautiful reddish brown tint to it, and like other non-chromed clubs, it will rust over time. Many players have come to prefer a rusty style wedge, one for the glare resistance, and two because many players believe a lack of polish makes the clubs softer. Either way, a choice of three finishes certainly is more than most companies can offer.
Performance
The good folks at Cleveland Golf sent me three wedges of different lofts and finishes to put through their paces. I had a 52 degree Oil Quenched, 56 degree Black Pearl and 60 degree Chrome wedge to test out. The timing of my play testing was almost perfect. I was fortunate to have a fantastic venue to test out the wedges at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala Florida. I was in town competing in the Florida State Mid-Amateur Championship and I had several friends available to hit some balls with them and give me their opinions. The short game practice facility at Golden Ocala is second to none, featuring three beautiful practice greens with bunkers and plenty of space to hit from all angles. In fact, there is enough space to hit short chips all the way out to 100 yard shots, making it a perfect place to try out new wedges. I put the CG15 wedges through their paces, hitting everything from basic chips and bunker shots to pitch shots, knockdowns and full wedges from a variety of lies. To sum things up, these wedges are very solid. They have the predictable feel common to Cleveland wedges. It's soft and muted, and vibration is kept to a minimum, even on mishits. The feel almost reminds me of a forged cavity back iron, even though these wedges are neither forged nor cavity backs. This is a common misconception among consumers. Cast and forged clubs differ only in the manufacturing process, not in feel or performance. The reason many cast clubs feel harder than forged ones is simply that harder metals are easier to cast than softer ones. Cleveland has never made a forged wedge, and neither has Bob Vokey, who's Titleist wedges combine with Cleveland to dominate the wedge market. They use soft carbon steel to cast their wedges, and they feel every bit as soft as a forged club of the same metal. Cleveland's Zip Grooves have been augmented with a new feature called Laser Etched grooves, introduced for the CG15 wedge. Using a laser, 4 texture lines are milled between each groove exactly to the conforming roughness limit. This roughness application optimizes ball-to-face friction and maximizes spin under the rules of golf. In my experience, the ability to produce spin depends less on the club or grooves, and more on the golfer's ability and the golf ball used. Having said that, these wedges can put some serious spin on the ball. From a fairway lie the spin produced is similar to most other wedges. On chip shots executed with proper technique, the ball skids and grabs hard, trickling the rest of the way to the hole. From the rough is where the modern box grooves really shine. Because of the increased groove volume and shape, more grass and dirt is trapped by the grooves and balls hit from the rough spin much more than when hit with wedges with more traditional V grooves. I had no problem stopping the ball reasonably quickly from lies in all but the thickest rough. I found that the initial finish on the face of the Black Pearl and Oil Quenched wedges wears quickly, but this is normal and unavoidable, just as with any other wedges. The face of the chrome wedges also wears just as fast, but because of the finish its not as noticeable. The grooves and even the laser etched grooves micro grooves held up well in my 4 days of testing, and I predict they will wear well for at least a season for most golfers. It remains to be seen how long the laser etched grooves last under normal use. I always recommend new wedges every year for serious golfers. These wedges are very well balanced, and in the hands of a skilled golfer they become deadly scoring weapons. I was able to hit low spinning shots and high flops alike with ease. The multiple bounce and loft options ensure that they have a wedge for everyone's needs or wants. Another option that has been in Cleveland's arsenal for a few years is the DSG wedge, which stands for "Dynamic Sole Grind". These wedges have a sole that is beveled to allow the leading edge to sit closer to the ground when the face is opened. This allows for more versatility for a variety of lies and turf conditions.

Specs and Options
With three finishes, two different grind options, lofts from 48 to 64 degrees and several bounce options, there is sure to be a CG15 for everyone. The most popular lofts have several bounce options to make the wedges more versatile for different players and turf conditions. The 56 degree loft for example is offered with 10, 14 or 16 degrees of bounce, and the DSG version has 8 degrees. There are also several custom shaft options available to upgrade the stock shaft, which is the now very popular "wedge flex" shaft that many companies are selling wedges with. This is a shame, because these shafts are garbage. I have seen wedge flex shafts flex all over the place on a shaft deflection board, and the weights are also not tightly controlled as they are on a shaft like the Dynamic Gold. I would highly suggest ordering wedges with the same shafts that are in your irons for consistent feel.
Overall Impressions
I think Cleveland has a winner with the new CG15 wedges. They feel very solid and well balanced, and Cleveland offers more loft, bounce and finish options than any other manufacturer. The Zip Grooves with Laser Etched micro grooves generate plenty of spin, and they look great in the bag. My personal favorite is the Oil Quenched finish (seen at far left below), which has a gorgeous red tint that is unlike any other club out there. I wish the stock shaft was of better quality, and I also would love to see a comprehensive wedge fitting system available to help match players with all those loft and bounce combination for best performance.
Pros: Soft, solid feel, tons of loft/bounce options, good spin potential Cons: Stock "wedge flex" steel shafts are disappointing. Laser etched grooves may wear fast. With so many loft/bounce options, Cleveland needs a comprehensive wedge fitting system. The Cleveland CG15 wedges will become available after November 13, 2009 for an MSRP of $119 each. For more pictures, see my preview article here.
Want to win free stuff? Subscribe to our email updates! You'll get the latest fresh news, reviews and stories delivered right to your inbox or RSS reader, and automatically be entered in our latest contests and giveaways! Also, don't forget to check in with our Facebook fan page for exclusive content and get involved by leaving us comments on what you think!

October 13, 2009