It was 90 years ago when Gene Sarazen designed the first modern sand wedge and won the 1932 U.S. and British Opens with it. To say the venerable high-lofted club has come a long way since then would be an understatement. Certainly, Sarazen could have never imagined how craftsmen would reimagine it.
We can thank Cleveland Golf for much of that. As a company known for “firsts” when it comes to wedge innovation and design — from loft options to dial in every distance, bounces to fit all swings, and multiple finishes to accommodate all tastes — they’ve continued to be the benchmark for redefining the set-within-a-set that wedges have become.
With their new CBX ZipCore — a technology first introduced in their RTX tour wedge — they’ve once again delivered on meeting the needs of the ‘gap generation’, players who carry three or four wedges in their bag and want to be in a comfort zone from every distance inside 120 yards. But it’s specifically for those players who want some forgiveness as well. When Cleveland introduced the first-generation CBX, it was targeted to players with cavity-back irons who also longed for a wedge with a larger sweet spot, yet still maintained the classic Cleveland look.
And that hasn’t changed. Like the earlier generation CBX and CBX 2, the CBX ZipCore is a great fit for the everyday player who wants a great looking wedge that offers spin, control and forgiveness. Like the CBX 2, it features many of the design elements that the game’s best players demand from a go-to club. These technologies have been seamlessly worked into the ZipCore, making for a wedge that not only looks good at address, but makes the short game easier for the average player.
So, what makes the CBX ZipCore a good fit for the average player?
For starters, sit it down and that vintage Cleveland look is obvious. Not quite a blade-like appearance, yet one that instills the confidence to make a clean strike.
Then, of course, there’s the CBX ZipCore technology. This lightweight, low-density core sits at the heart of the club, reducing vibrations, perfecting the center of gravity, and boosting MOI for improved forgiveness. A hollow chamber near the heel makes for a more balanced head, which in turn minimizes the impact of off-centre hits. Added weight in the toe pushes the centre of gravity and sweet spot to an area on the face where the average player tends to make contact.
The ‘zip’ in ZipCore comes from Cleveland’s proprietary Rotex face milling and UltiZip grooves. The grooves are sharper, deeper and closer together than those on previous CBX models. Two extra grooves add more room to promote solid contact and spin, which is augmented by the stock Spinner shaft. Contact is softened by Gelback, a vibration-dampening insert that helps to take the sting out of mishits.
The ZipCore has plenty of sole, so to speak, with three sole shapes — V, C and S — with different grinds for different situations. The V-shaped sole on the 44- through 52-degree wedges is designed to accommodate full swings; the S-shaped sole on the 54- and 56-degree wedges works well with bunker and open-face shots; and the C-shaped sole is best when laying the face open flat. Keeping the choices simple benefits, the average player who doesn’t need too many grind and bounce options.
Wait. Did we just mention a 44-degree wedge? Indeed, for anyone who wants to take advantage of a pitching wedge with the ZipCore technology, Cleveland offers the CBX ZipCore in a 44-degree model. It’s a great way to ensure wedge in the bag is part of the same family.
The CBX ZipCore is ideal for golfers who play game-improvement irons and could benefit from the same cavity-back benefits in a wedge. Whether it’s a full wedge, a bunker shot or a tight lie around the green, the ZipCore with its many features is designed to produce higher shots, cleaner strikes and more spin.
Men’s CBX ZipCore is available in nine lofts (44°, 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58° and 60°) in steel and graphite shafts. A women’s version is available in steel and graphite in the same lofts except 44°.
For more information go to www.cleveland.ca.
