Cleveland Golf built its reputation by shaping wedges for the world’s best players, think Shane Lowry and JJ Spaun. With the new CBZ line, the company is trying something different by allowing golfers to look down at something that resembles a compact, tour-inspired wedge that would fit in any Major champion’s bag, while quietly incorporating a bit of forgiveness under the surface to help weekend warriors like us.
Cleveland has unveiled their new CBZ wedge line of cavity-back, game-improvement wedges. The wedge is the company’s second wedge and first game-improvement focused wedge to utilise its new Z-Alloy, a proprietary metal created by Cleveland that is less dense than other materials, resulting in softer wedges.
The Z-Alloy material was first used in the RTZ wedge line, which was in the bag of U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun. These are the first wedges the company has released since the return of founder and legendary wedge designer Roger Cleveland.
Below, we look at what the new Cleveland CBZ wedge is, who it might be for, and what I think about the new wedge.
What are Cleveland CBZ wedges?
Cavity-backed wedges have been a growing segment of the market, and Cleveland’s own research shows that 87% of golfers indicated they played a set of forgiveness-focused irons. So why play blade wedges? Cleveland has long made cavity-back wedges, and now they’re taking the latest tech from their top-of-the-line RTZ wedges and putting it into their more game-improvement wedges.
With the new Z-Alloy, Cleveland says the new CBZ wedges are 25% softer than the CBX 4 Zipcore wedges.
“When Z-Alloy was first formulated, it was designed to outperform every wedge material on the market, including 431 stainless steel, which is commonly used in cavity back wedges,” said Joe Miller, European Product Manager at Cleveland Golf “While 431 is durable, its hardness and lower density come at the cost of feel. Z-Alloy changes that. It’s significantly softer and less dense than 431, delivering tour-level feedback traditionally reserved for blade wedges. Now, golfers who prefer to play cavity back models no longer have to sacrifice feel.”
CBZ wedges feature pre-selected grinds tailored to the loft, making it easier for players to choose the right wedges. However, players will have the option of either traditional or full-face grooves.
Who are Cleveland CBZ wedges for?
CBZ wedges will pair well with any player who plays game-improvement irons and wants soft-feeling wedges. Players who want a custom-designed wedge will also be able to select from custom skin designs for their wedges, as well, in what the company calls an industry first.
Cavity-backed wedges are an ever-growing segment of the wedge market, and one of the main reasons golfers shy away from them is feel. When the RTZ wedges were released last month, they were only billed as 10% softer than the previous generation. But incorporating the Z-Alloy in the CBZ wedges has improved feel by 25%, according to Cleveland. Golfers have long needed the forgiveness of cavity-backed wedges, and now they don’t have feel as an excuse anymore. That’s going to help a lot of golfers with forgiveness around the greens and lead to lower scores.
Customisation Options
Offering players a truly one-of-a-kind look that blends personality with performance, Cleveland Golf is expanding its full range of customisation options. For the first time, players can choose custom ferrules and grips for their CBZ Wedge—an industry first among cavity-back equipment manufacturers. This exclusive option allows golfers to create wedges that showcase their unique style without compromising performance.
Pricing & Availability
CBZ & CBZ Full-Face Wedge will retail for €199 with CBZ: available in (44° – 60°) and CBZ Full-Face available in (50°- 60°). All models will be available from September 5th.
For more information on the new CBZ wedge from Cleveland visit https://eu.dunlopsports.com/cleveland-golf
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