The wedge test is a finicky thing. A great job can be done in a suitable bay, no doubt. But you can’t put a metric on how important it is to get a bunch of wedges on a course just for fun. You’ve seen a lot of clubs tested in the technical mode, but what about the “feel” mode?
Well… Jake and I grabbed a pair of the new Cleveland RTZ2 wedges, kicked off our shoes and walked nine holes at the Cradle at Pinehurst. Sand-dusted turf, short targets, Sunday bags – an honest place to see what a full-back really does under pressure. Here’s what we learned.
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The old faithful: RTZ2 588 Grind
This was the boss I wanted to see more of. Roger Cleveland and I have worked together and talked about wedge design for almost 10 years, and you can see his hands all over this form. It has that clean and familiar look from address, but the sole has a subtle relief tucked into the heel and toe. That tiny drop-off matters. On an uphill lie with the face open, I want to feel the heel jump through the turf rather than dig in and stop dead. Square it up, cut it clean and the grass will barely move. It sits right in that sweet spot: accurate enough for low handicaps, but forgiving enough in a bunker to keep a 12 handicap out of trouble.
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The scalpel: Low Grind (the T-Grind)
I pulled the 58 Low every time the lie got hard and tight. The sole is narrow, the toe edge is shaved, and the toe edge lies dead to the ground. If you set a high-bounce club next to it, the difference is obvious – the tip on the larger sole stops, while this one hugs the ground. Out of firm territory, that low profile makes it easy to slip the face under the ball and catch grooves two through four for true control. You won’t have the bounce to save if you lose your hands and hit fat, but if you fight cleanly, the control is exceptional.
The safety net: Full Grind
Not everyone gets the ball clean, and many courses don’t play like baked sandhills. For anyone hitting the ball steeply, taking a big divot, or playing off the soft, lush fairway grass, the full grind is pure peace of mind. The wide, uninterrupted sole keeps the head forward at impact even if it enters the turf an inch behind the ball. If your biggest greenside fear is chunking a chip three feet in front of you, this is the only one to put in the bag.
Jake’s Curveball: Adapt Grind
Jake went into this convinced he would never look twice at a full-face, high-toe shape, but the Adapt changed his tune pretty quickly. The sole has noticeable camber and roll. On an awkward side lie where his feet were four inches below the ball, the club slid without snagging on the high side. Even better, on aggressive open-faced flop shots, the impact naturally wanders upward. Instead of hitting the smooth chrome, the ball took the extended grooves and checked immediately.
Jake’s Three Shot Tuna: Mid Grind
Jake had his eye on the Mid from hole 1, and put it through three completely different shots from the same spot: a toe-down bump, a standard pitch, and a high, soft flop. Square to the ball, the tip sits low and clean as the low grind. Once he opens the face, he brings just enough bounce into play to float across the grass without jumping into the equator of the ball. It is checked hard on every swing. It is the safe and reliable baseline that will suit the vast majority of players.
Walking The Cradle Barefoot drove home the real point: buying loft wedges alone is a mistake. If the grind doesn’t match how your club hits the turf—and the type of ground you’re playing—it’s fighting your gear before you even start your swing. Cleveland scored in the forms; you just have to match the bottom of the club to your swing.
Want to dial in your wedges for the turf you’re actually playing on? Find a suitable location near you at True Spec Golfor build your exact custom Cleveland setup online with aftermarket shafts and grips at Fairway Jockey.
