Gear: Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore wedges
Price: $169.99 each with True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner shaft and Lamkin Crossline 360 grip.
Specs: Cast stainless steel. Available in four sole grinds and even lofts from 46 to 60 degrees.
Available: Jan. 20
Who It’s For: Golfers who want to maximize spin around the green from a variety of lies.
The Skinny: With different surface-roughening treatments and groove configurations based on each wedge’s loft, Cleveland’s RTX 6 ZipCore wedges aim to increase spin in wet and dry conditions.
The Deep Dive: Developing a solid short game is challenging because there are so many different shots and situations around greens. Most golfers are comfortable with the basics, but what about chips from tight lies, bunker shots from wet sand or flop shots from thick rough, to name just a few awkward shots?
With the release of the RTX 6 ZipCore wedges, Cleveland is trying to offer a family of wedges that can handle a more comprehensive range of shots and deliver more spin and consistency in both wet and dry conditions.
From the back and in the address position, the RTX 6 ZipCore wedges look like the classic Cleveland “588-inspired” clubs golfers have loved for decades. The most significant difference between the new RTX 6 ZipCore wedges and previous Cleveland wedges is in the hitting area, thanks to a technology the company calls HydraZip.
For several generations of wedges, Cleveland has added surface-roughening treatments in the form of laser-etched microgrooves. Now designers are combining a face-blasting treatment and different laser-etching patterns based on each club’s loft to help create more friction. Between the main grooves in the 46- and 48-degree wedges is an open pattern of lines because these clubs are usually hit from the fairway on full-swing approach shots.
In the 54-, 56-, 58- and 60-degree wedges, the design is tighter to maximize the effect because sand wedges and lob wedges are golfers’ go-to clubs when they need extra spin around the greens.
The gap wedge lofts, with lofts of 50 and 52 degrees, have surface-roughening patterns that are moderately packed for versatility.
Cleveland also updated the main grooves, which it calls UltiZip grooves. There are numerically more grooves on each wedge to get more edges on the ball for increased bite and spin.
Cleveland said the combination of the new HydraZip treatment and UltiZip grooves produces slightly more spin on dry shots, while in wet conditions the new RTX 6 ZipCore wedges can create up to 43 percent more spin for added control.
Control is also enhanced by an update to the ZipCore technology that debuted in 2021 in the RTX5 wedges. Instead of making each wedge using the same stainless steel, Cleveland uses a lightweight material that soaks up excessive vibrations. That enhances the feel and shifts more weight to the perimeter for extra stability. The weight saved using the alternative material is redistributed to the heel area in the form of a piece that extends through the hosel and into the lower portion of the head. The bar helps offset the weight in the toe area and allows designers to shift the center of gravity to the center of the hitting zone.
Finally, the Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore wedges are made in four sole configurations, with three different grinds available, to help golfers deal with various turf conditions.
The Mid grind is available in lofts from 46 to 60 degrees and has 10 degrees of bounce. With moderate relief in the heel and toe areas, it was designed to be a good option in a wide variety of conditions.
The Full grind is available in lofts from 54 to 60 degrees and has 12 degrees of bounce. It has a wider design and excels in softer conditions, and should be a good choice for golfers with a steep attack angle.
The Low grind is only available as a 58- and 60-degree option and has 6 degrees of bounce. It has significant heel and toe relief, allowing it to be opened while allowing golfers to get the leading edge under the ball. It is intended for golfers with a shallow attack angle and those who play in firm, hard conditions. The Low+, which is the fourth configuration, is a new offering for the 54- and 56-degree clubs with the same general shape as the Low but with 8 degrees of bounce.