New RTX-3 wedges may be the best yet from Cleveland Golf

When you think of Cleveland Golf, the first thing that comes to mind is probably wedges. And with good reason. After all, since Cleveland Golf introduced its iconic 588 in 1998, Cleveland wedges have 26 major championships and have been used by 11 different players who were ranked no. 1 in the world at one time.

Now the company is introducing this fall what may its most innovative line of wedges to date: the new RTX-3 Wedges.

What separates this new product from all the others on the market is something called Feel Balancing Technology.

"Our research showed that a traditional wedge's center of gravity is too close to the heel. Feel Balancing Technology redistributes 9 grams of mass from the hosel to shift the CG location closer to the impact zone," said Jeff Brunski, director of research and development for Srixon-Cleveland Golf. "Not only does this technology improve feel, but it also has been proven to help you get closer to the hole than any other wedge we have ever made."

How the RTX-3 works and why it's better

To shift the center of gravity, Cleveland Golf first redesigned the hosel. A microcavity was inserted inside the hosel to save 2 grams, and the hosel was shortened by an average of 10 millimeters to save seven more grams. Those 9 grams of discretionary mass are then optimally redistributed in the wedge head.

In addition to enhancing feel, shifting the CG closer to the center reduces head twisting at impact for more consistent spin and distance control. Feel Balancing Technology has been proven to help produce tighter shot dispersion than any wedge Cleveland Golf has ever made for maximum control.

The wedge also has a new Rotex face. New Tour Zip grooves have a deeper, narrower "U" shape with a sharp edge radius in all lofts to enhance contact across a wide variety of conditions. The advanced, 2-pass micro milling pattern increases friction and is directionally enhanced by loft: low lofts (46 degrees-52 degrees) have a straighter pattern to accommodate full shots and high lofts (54 degrees-64 degrees) have a more angled pattern to optimize open-face shots. Laser milling precisely roughens the face surface to the conforming limit.

The wedges also feature new "V Sole" grinds, which feature more leading edge bounce to help get the club head through the turf faster at impact. This promotes crisper feel and more consistent head speed for increased spin and control. The V-LG is Cleveland Golf's narrowest low-bounce sole for maximum versatility, the V-MG has mid bounce suitable for a wide range of players and turf conditions, and the V-FG is a forgiving full sole design with trailing edge relief.

Cleveland Golf's RTX-3: Test results

The extensive testing for RTX-3 compared to both the previous-generation 588 RTX 2.0 and select leading competitors showed that it is more accurate than any wedge Cleveland Golf has ever tested.

Cleveland Golf studied the historic center of gravity locations on its wedges and the impact patterns of thousands of different types of wedge shots from players of varying skill levels. The studies revealed two key findings: On mis-hit wedge shots, most golfers miss toward the toe. And in a traditional wedge head design, the center of gravity is positioned toward the heel.

Extensive robot testing using an adjustable weight wedge also showed how significantly ball speed can be impacted on center, heel, and toe hits depending on where the weight is positioned. As the data shows, even a few millimeters can make a large difference in a player's ability to generate consistent ball speed, spin and distance control.

Different models

Aside from three different grinds and bounce options, the Cleveland RTX-3 wedge is also offered in three different models: the Blade, Cavity Back and Women's Cavity Back.

The Blade is ideal for all-around applications for all levels of player, while the Cavity Back is a slightly larger shape that promotes confidence and increases forgiveness. The larger cavity back Women's RTX-3 has a lightweight graphite shaft to promote a high, easy launch.

Suggested retail is $129.99. For more information, visit ClevelandGolf.com.

Mike Bailey is a former Golf Advisor senior staff writer based in Houston. Focusing primarily on golf in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America with an occasional trip to Europe and beyond, he contributes course reviews, travel stories and features as well as the occasional equipment review. An award-winning writer and past president of Texas Golf Writers Association, he has more than 25 years in the golf industry. He has also been on staff at PGA Magazine, The Golfweek Group and AvidGolfer Magazine. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeBaileyGA and Instagram at @MikeStefanBailey.
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New RTX-3 wedges may be the best yet from Cleveland Golf