Two years ago, Cleveland gave us the CBX wedge, designed for the golfer who plays game improvement irons, which is to say, most of us. Cleveland said at the time 84% of us play game improvement irons, so logic dictates we should play wedges that fit the same profile: a larger, forgiving head with a cavity back, but with far more wedgieness than set-matching gap, sand and lob wedges provide.
Two years later, the old clock on the wall says it’s time for a CBX upgrade. While the first-generation CBX wedge outsold projections (Cleveland says “by a little bit”), it was in some ways a category buster – a non-traditional, non-blade style wedge in a traditional, blade-style world. The new CBX 2 is still a non-traditional, non-blade style wedge – and for some that will be a non-starter – but if you’re a mid-to-high handicapper, there are enough upgrades to make you want to read on.
Cleveland designed the original CBX wedge to be a Wedge-Festivus for the Rest of Us. Were they successful? Well, yes.
The new CBX 2 features three separate grinds, categorized by loft. For example, how do you use your 46 to 52-degree wedges? Full, square-faced shots, most likely, so the new CBX 2 features Cleveland’s traditional V-Sole in those lofts. The 54 and 56-degree wedges feature an S-grind for bunker and open-faced finesse shots. It’s wider on the toe for more forgiveness and narrower at the heel so you can still open it up – not as much as a blade-style wedge, but enough for most golfers in the target audience. The 58 and 60-degree wedges have a C-shaped sole, so you can open up for lob shots but still keep the leading-edge low.
The CBX 2, like its predecessor, features the same groove technology as Cleveland’s RTX-4 wedge line, which is basically grooves on top of grooves on top of grooves. It starts with Cleveland’s Rotex Milling, that swirly, moisture channeling pattern carved into the face. Next, are Tour Zip Grooves – 17 of them – milled into the face with what Cleveland calls “proprietary edge radii specifications.” Pretty much every OEM does a variation of this, with narrower and deeper grooves on the stronger lofts for full shots, and wider, shallower grooves on the weaker lofts for more bite on partial shots.
The final step is laser milling: 96 etched lines between the grooves to even more face roughness. Schielke says the goal is to optimize spin whether in any condition – wet or dry – and from any lie.
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