Cleveland RTZ Wedge Review

Cleveland Golf has long been praised for its consistently innovative and well-designed wedges.

Welcome to my Cleveland RTZ Wedge Review. The newly introduced Cleveland RTZ Wedges build on this legacy, incorporating the manufacturer’s distinctive steel formula christened Z-Alloy. These wedges are engineered to provide golfers with an unrivaled combination of feel, forgiveness, and greenside control, making them Cleveland Golf’s most complete wedge to date.

To understand the advancements in the RTZ Wedges, it’s helpful to consider their predecessor, the RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges. Cleveland’s R&D team’s extensive testing indicates that the RTZ Wedges are 10% softer than the RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges, which allows for enhanced feel, forgiveness, and consistency. The new Z-Alloy allows engineers to shift the CG towards the center of the clubhead, positioning the sweet spot where it’s intended. Moreover, the RTZ wedges have a confirmed hardness of 180 HV (Vickers Hardness), while the RTX6, made from 8620 steel, has a hardness of 225 HV.

Cleveland RTZ Wedge Review: Overview

The Cleveland RTZ wedge is a complete short-game package, blending elite aesthetics, feel, and performance through new technology. Cleveland has expanded its focus to target a broad market with game improvement clubs throughout the bag, but the Cleveland name remains synonymous with short-game excellence. The RTZ wedge emphatically reinforces this brand identity, combining a brand-new material, Z Alloy, with classic shaping and precision milling to create short-game tools worthy of the name.

Look/Design

Aesthetics are paramount in golf clubs, especially in short-game clubs, where shorter swings require less technology to correct errors. This allows manufacturers to produce sleek and sophisticated designs. The RTZ wedge is designed for the better player, featuring a compact, classic look. Its leading edge has a gentle curvature that inspires confidence when manipulating the face, and the back showcases simple, elegant curves with minimal branding.

The Cleveland RTZ wedge is available in three finishes: Tour Satin, Black Satin, and Tour Rack (Raw). The Black Satin finish has a dark matte look that reduces glare from the sun without highlighting every mark. Cleveland also offers unique customization options, including engraving, stamping, and paint fills. The RTZ looks clean and inviting for greenside shots without compromising performance during full swings.

Features/Technology

The Cleveland RTZ wedge incorporates several significant innovations that enhance its performance.

Z-Alloy: The most notable feature is the new Z-Alloy steel compound, which is softer and less dense than the 8620 steel used in previous Cleveland wedges. This material is made exclusively for golf clubs. Cleveland says the RTZ wedges are 10% softer than the RTX 6 ZipCore wedges. Z-Alloy has a noticeably higher concentration of chromium and carbon than 8620, netting an impressive 6 grams of discretionary weight that was returned to the RTZ head to increase overall wedge performance.

HydraZip: This intricate system of milling lines on the face is engineered to optimize performance in wet conditions. HydraZip is a level of precision angle cutting across the face to prevent water from sitting in between the face and the golf ball. This technology helps maintain consistent spin performance, even with residual water from sprinklers, morning dew, or damp grass.

ZipCore: ZipCore, introduced in 2020 with the RTX Zipcore, is a proprietary low-density, vibration-dampening material injected into the heel and hosel area. The ZipCore material has been used in previous Cleveland wedges and possesses a significantly lower density than steel. It boosts MOI and moves the center of gravity closer to the middle of the face.

Cleveland was able to net 6 grams of discretionary mass with the introduction of Z-Alloy and another 21 grams with the use of an aluminum-silicate compound in the low heel portion of the head. For those keeping track at home, that’s a whopping 27 grams of discretionary mass in a blade wedge profile.

Sole Grinds: The RTZ wedges feature four available sole grinds:

FULL: The FULL sole has the roundest leading edge to prevent chunking for steeper swingers. It works great for full swings and bunker shots.

MID: The MID sole offers a slightly less round edge for more versatility and great turf interaction. It features a V-shaped sole that promotes versatility and great turf interaction.

LOW: The LOW grind, available in lob wedge lofts, removes material from the heel, toe, and trailing edge to make finesse shots easier. The Low grind has the sharpest leading edge, designed for swings with a shallower angle of attack.

ADAPT with Full Face: The new ADAPT grind is similar to the MID sole, prioritizing versatility and adding full-face grooves. It features added leading edge bounce chamfer to go along with heel, toe, and trailing edge relief. It’s made with open-faced shots in mind and also incorporates a high toe and full-face grooves to give you maximum surface area to produce spin from all lies. The ADAPT grind is available in 56, 58, and 60 degree lofts.

Cleveland RTZ Wedge Specs

The Cleveland RTZ wedge comes with the True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner wedge shaft as a stock offering. Cleveland’s website offers a quiz and comparison chart to help golfers select the best wedge grinds for their game, based on questions about their game and current set of wedges.

Cleveland RTZ Wedge Performance on the course

The Cleveland RTZ wedges provide impressive spin. The new Z-Alloy material enhances feel, forgiveness, and consistency. The ZipCore technology redistributes weight behind the sweet spot, improving feel and spin rates. The HydraZip face finish increases friction at impact, improving spin and carry consistency regardless of the lie or course conditions.

Distance: The RTZ wedges offer excellent distance control due to their enhanced feel and feedback.

Forgiveness: The redistribution of mass via ZipCore and the new Z-Alloy increases the MOI and moves the center of gravity closer to the face center, resulting in better feel and consistency.

Feel & Sound: The Z-Alloy provides a softer feel compared to previous Cleveland wedges. Contact off the face is smooth yet provides good feedback, allowing golfers to feel what is happening at impact during chip shots.

Playability/Trajectory: The availability of four different sole grinds (FULL, MID, LOW, and ADAPT) allows golfers to choose the optimal grind for their swing type and playing conditions, enhancing playability and trajectory control.

PROS & CONS

Pros:

• Exceptional Spin: The RTZ wedges deliver impressive spin performance in various conditions.
• Enhanced Feel: The new Z-Alloy provides a softer and more responsive feel.
• Improved Forgiveness: Weight redistribution optimizes the sweet spot and increases forgiveness.
• Versatile Sole Options: Four different sole grinds cater to various swing types and playing conditions.
• Sleek Design: The compact, classic look with multiple finish options enhances visual appeal.

Cons:

• The specifics of the Z-Alloy metal are not fully disclosed, which may concern some golfers.

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR MODELS

Compared to the RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges, the RTZ Wedges are 10% softer, offering enhanced feel and forgiveness. The RTZ also features a new Z-Alloy material and improved weight distribution for better performance. The rusted grooves on an RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Race deteriorated, on average, 87 percent faster than a raw, RTZ Z-Alloy wedge.

How does the Cleveland RTZ Wedge compare to the RTX 6 ZipCore Wedge?

The Cleveland RTZ Wedges are 10% softer than the RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges, which provides golfers with enhanced feel, forgiveness, and consistency. The new Z-Alloy material in the RTZ wedges also ensures that the grooves wear 87% slower than the rusted grooves on the RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack Wedge face. This allows golfers to maintain like-new levels of spin for a longer period of time. The RTZ Tour Rack Wedges also retain up to 15% more spin over time

Who should play this wedge?

The Cleveland RTZ wedge is designed for the better player but offers enough forgiveness to suit a range of skill levels. Golfers who prioritize feel, spin, and versatility in their short game will appreciate the RTZ wedges. Cleveland’s website also features a quiz and a comparison chart to help you select the best wedge grinds for your game.

Conclusion

The Cleveland RTZ wedges represent a significant advancement in wedge technology, combining a new Z-Alloy material with proven features like ZipCore and HydraZip to deliver exceptional performance. With enhanced feel, forgiveness, and spin, the RTZ wedges are a top choice for golfers looking to improve their short game. The availability of multiple sole grinds ensures that golfers can find the perfect wedge to match their swing style and playing conditions.