Cleveland CBZ Wedge Review: Why most players should probably play these wedges

For myriad reasons, people tend to get quite sensitive over their short game. A duffed chip or a pitch shot thinned over the green just tends to hurt more than chunking an iron or power slicing a drive two fairways over.

As such, a lot of golfers, particularly new ones, try in vain to play the most elite wedges on the market – even when there are options out there far better suited to making life around the greens easier. And while a shiny new set of Vokeys might be just what the doctor ordered for some, plenty out there could do with swallowing their pride and opting instead for something a little more forgiving.

The main problem with this, of course, is that cavity back wedges tend not to be the most stylish things on earth. They're chunky and often less spinny than their bladed counterparts. And much like a game improvement iron, having a set in the bag is often an unofficial declaration that you'd prefer to take a Texas wedge wherever possible.

The remedy to this may just be Cleveland's CBZ: a wedge that provides tour-level looks and performance without sacrificing the forgiveness a cavity back wedge naturally imparts on your short game. Certainly, its the most stylish entry to date in the brand's long line of CB wedges. And after taking it for a few rounds out on course, it left us wondering why the majority of golfers simply don't play clubs like these more often. Here's why.

Looks and features

Up until now, it's probably been fair to say certain areas of Cleveland's cavity back wedges have taken a more secondary role in the name of forgiveness. The CBX line, which went through four iterations before the launch of this new model, provided plenty of help in the short game but with slightly ungainly looks and a compromise on feel. 

The CBZ cleans up the presentation and feel of the line significantly, reverting to a much more minimalist look in its cavity while maintaining the larger head size and profile behind the ball for maximum confidence at address. In addition to this, it introduces some welcome upgrades to give the wedges a much more premium air.

The first, and arguably most important of these, is an update to the materials. The CBZ wedges now share the same Z-alloy head as their flagship RTZ wedge model, which is not only significantly softer than the materials typically used in game improvement wedges, but 25% softer than the metal used to make the RTX.

Cleveland have upped the soft factor even further on the CBZ with a vibration dampening TPU inset in the cavity back that's almost double the size of the one found in CBX models of the past. This does double-duty, taking the sting out of off-centre hits while also improving feedback when you strike it well.

The other common cavity back complaint Cleveland have addressed with the CBZ is spin. The face of the CBZ carries over almost all the technology from the RTZ line, with UltiZip grooves for cleaner contact and consistent spin from the less ideal areas higher-handicappers might find themselves in. Face-blasting and laser-milled grooves are also worked into the face to up the spin factor progressively as the lofts get stronger, while the ZipCore weighting repositions the centre of gravity to maximise MOI on every type of shot.

Performance

While modern high-end wedges seem to have shifted towards prioritising a lower launch with plenty of check for better players, Cleveland's CBZ generally offers a slightly more balanced experience. There's certainly more spin on offer than what was found in the CBX, however players comparing the CBZ with bladed wedges like TaylorMade's MG5s or Callaway's new Opus SP will likely find these generally launch higher and land softer – something less consistent wedge players will likely appreciate.

The CBZs come in a range of face and bounce options, all of which are generally targeted towards forgiveness. Cleveland sent us a 50 degree gap wedge, equipped as standard with the brand's versatililty-oriented V-sole and 12 degrees of bounce, as well as its CBZ Full Face model a 58 degree lob wedge variant. This comes with Cleveland's C-sole, designed to provide more forgiveness on open-faced shots. 

The thing that struck me most poignantly about the CBZs straight away was how much confidence they inspire at address, sitting invitingly behind the ball thanks to their larger-profiled heads while the cavity back helps to naturally guide the face into the optimum lie angle. I'm not someone who feels particularly frightened hitting wedges, the profile of the CBZs behind the ball really put me in the mindset to make a confident swing – something particularly vital around the greens. 

As you might have imagined already, it's in the game improvement area where the CBZs really shine. They launch high and consistently on pitch shots, and provide a great platform for consistent chipping while allaying fears of digging in if you attack the ball too steeply. It's worth noting, however, that the more rounded leading edge and chunky sole makes really getting under the ball a little harder, so flop shot merchants may want to look elsewhere.

At impact, the CBZ feel soft and luxurious to hit, while the levels of check I saw on both chips and pitch shots was broadly pretty impressive. I'd wager that they won't be able to match the spin rates better players would be able to attain with a bladed wedge, but for less consistent players who typically don't generate that much spin anyway, the CBZs provide plenty of stopping power and control when you strike them well. This is particularly the face with the Full Face variant, which ensures maximum groove contact when you really want to open the face without fear of what might happen if you strike it off-centre.

Should you buy the Cleveland CBZ wedges?

If anyone playing over a 14 handicap asked me which wedges they should test out first, I'd point them in the direction of the Cleveland CBZ without hesitation. Their cleaner look helps them provide genuine appeal in the bag opposed to cavity back wedges of old, and the larger, more forgiving build does wonders in eliminating the fat and thin shots that plague more inconsistent players.

Those who feel truly confident with their wedges, or who simply want to play a wider variety of shots around the green, might find the wider soles of the CBZs a little restrictive. For most who just want a high launch and a soft landing with plenty of bite, however, these perform supremely well.

Add in the feel that Cleveland have incorporated into the CBZ for this model, and you have what I think is one of the most complete short game packages in golf.