Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore wedges

Gear: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore wedges. Price: $169.99 each. Includes True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner shaft, Lamkin Crossline 360 grip.

Specifications: Cast stainless steel. You can choose from four sole grinds or lofts ranging from 46 to 60 degrees.

Available: Jan. 20

Who it’s for: Golfers looking to maximize their spin around the green using a variety lies.

The Skinny Cleveland’s RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges are designed to increase spin in both wet and dry conditions.

The Deep Dive: It is difficult to develop a solid short game because of the many shots and situations that surround greens. While most golfers are familiar with the basics of the game, what about chipping from tight lies, bunker shots in wet sand, or flop shots in thick rough?

Cleveland has released the RTX 6 ZipCore wedges to provide a wider range of shot options and more consistency in wet and dry conditions.

The RTX 6 ZipCore wedges are reminiscent of the Cleveland-inspired “588” clubs that golfers have enjoyed for decades from the back. HydraZip technology, which the company uses to improve the hitting area of the new RTX 6 ZipCore wedges over previous Cleveland wedges, is the most striking difference.

Cleveland has been adding surface-roughening techniques to its wedges for several generations, including laser-etched microgrooves. Designers are now using a combination of a face-blasting and different laser-etching patterns depending on the loft of each club to create friction. These clubs are often hit from the fairway with full-swing approach shots and the open pattern between the main grooves of the 46-degree and 48-degree wedges creates friction.

The 54-, 56, 58, and 60-degree wedges have a tighter design to maximize the effect. Sand wedges and lob are the go-to clubs for golfers who need extra spin around greens.

Gap wedge lofts with lofts between 50 and 52 degrees have surface-roughening patterns for versatility.

Cleveland also changed the main grooves to what it calls UltiZip grooves. Each wedge has numerically more grooves to provide more spin and bite.

Cleveland stated that the combination of the new HydraZip and UltiZip grooves creates slightly more spin in dry shots. However, the new RTX 6 ZipCore wedges are capable of creating up to 43 percent more spin in wet situations.

The RTX5 wedges, which were introduced in 2021 with ZipCore technology, offer improved control. Cleveland uses a lighter material to absorb excessive vibrations, instead of using the same stainless-steel for each wedge. This improves the feel and shifts weight to the perimeter for more stability. The alternative material saves weight and is distributed to the heel by extending through the hosel into the lower part of the head. Designers can shift the center point of gravity from the centre of the hitting zone to offset the weight of the bar.

The Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore wedges can be found in four sole configurations with three different grinds to aid golfers with various types of turf.

You can choose from lofts of 46-60 degrees. The Mid grind has 10 degrees bounce. It offers moderate relief in the toe and heel areas.

The Full grind can be used in lofts from 54-60 degrees. It also has 12 degrees bounce. The Full grind is a larger design that excels in soft conditions and is a great choice for those golfers who have a high attack angle.

The Low grind is available in a 58-degree and 60-degree options and has 6 degrees bounce. It offers significant heel and toe relief which allows it to be opened while golfers can get the leading edge underneath the ball. This is for those with a low attack angle or who play in hard, firm conditions. The Low+ is the fourth configuration. It is available in 54- and 56 degree clubs. It has the same shape as the Low, but with 8 degrees more bounce.