Cleveland are well-known for their wedges, but I think there’s still an argument to say that they are the most underrated wedge brand in golf. Whilst the majority of tour players may be reaching for a Vokey, a Milled Grind or an Opus wedge, Cleveland are still popular among amateur golfers because they’re often excellent value for money and they offer traditional bladed wedges as well as their more forgiving CB range.
The RTZ range replaced the old RTX line which is their most premium, better-player offering. The first generation was launched at the start of 2025 and it came with a new Z-Alloy material, and the RTZ 2 is said to built on that first effort, which ranked very highly in our review.
Who Are They Aimed At?
As mentioned earlier, Cleveland offer wedges which are aimed at golfers who are more confident in their short game, as well as a more forgiving option for those who need more help with forgiveness and consistency rather than all-out precision.
The RTZ 2 wedges are in the former category, aimed at good golfers who are looking for high levels of spin, control and workability.
The addition of new sole grinds this time around help to give golfers even more options, whilst the price tag of £159 is around £20 cheaper than the likes of Titleist, TaylorMade and Callaway if you’re on a strict budget.
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The Tech
The big story here is that Roger Cleveland came back into the fold to help rework the range with the brand’s engineers and Tour players, and every sole grind has been revisited and refined as a result.
That includes the return of the 588 Grind, a nice throwback to the original 588 Tour Action Wedge from almost 50 years ago. It’s built for moderate to shallower swing types who want confidence on full shots as well as around the green, and it joins the existing Mid, Full, Low and Adapt Full-Face grinds for five options in total.
The RTZ 2 sees the second generation of Cleveland’s Z-Alloy steel, which is said to feel softer at impact without giving up any durability.
The new bit of tech is ZipCore iQ, which tunes the hosel core individually for each loft and grind combination rather than just using one set-up across the board. In theory that means tighter dispersion and more consistent distances.
You also get a couple of Cleveland’s existing wedge technology too. HydraZip keeps up spin rates in wet conditions, UltiZip grooves promote consistent spin off different lies, and Rotex Milling adds a bit of extra grip at impact.
The RTZ 2 is available in lofts from 46° to 64°, plus an expanded Tour Rack customisation programme covering grinds, lofts, lies, shafts and cosmetic extras like custom ferrules.
Looks
This is one of the cleanest-looking wedges you’ll see on the market. It really follows on from the original RTZ, but with the logo moved to the other side of the head.
It’s much less cluttered and much less busy than some of the other premium wedges the RTZ 2 is competing with – the likes of the Callaway Opus SP, TaylorMade MG5, or Vokey SM11.
I tested both the chrome and the black (check name) finishes, and both looked great. There’s also a Tour Rack finish, which is raw and will wear quicker over time if you like that kind of look.
I really liked the fact that the black finish still had a grey face. The contrast looks fantastic to me and helps with lining the ball up square to the face.
I love the little touch of Roger Cleveland’s signature as you peel the sticker off the face – a nice reminder that decades of expertise have gone into the creation of this wedge.
TaylorMade do a great job of this too with the raw face on their wedges, adding a bit of extra theatre, and this had a pretty similar effect.
Feel
The RTZ 2 wedges feel fantastic. There was a great combination of a soft overall feel from the head, but still enough feedback that you can almost sense the grip on the ball when it leaves the face.
I noticed this particularly on the shorter chip shots which is really impressive, and I think this goes some way to giving you more confidence on your chips as you know it’s going to spin.
The full shots provided a nice crisp strike and sound, with a little bit more feedback which is something that a lot of better players tend to prefer – if they’ve not struck it perfectly, they want to know about it.
They did feel a little bit on the weighty side, compared to my own TaylorMade MG5 Wedges, but this isn’t always a bad thing with wedges as it can encourage a lower, more stable ball flight.
Performance
You’d always expect to get good levels of spin when testing a brand new wedge, and the RTZ 2 certainly didn’t disappoint. I tested on the course in early August, with very firm and dry conditions, but was still able to stop my ball on fuller shots into the green. I also saw plenty of check on shorter shots too, with that UltiZip face working well.
I tested the 56 degree wedge in both the mid grind and the reintroduced 588 grind. The mid grind was fantastic all-rounder, with 10 degrees of bounce providing a nice level of forgiveness. It felt just as comfortable to hit both full shots, and then still gave you enough versatility to open up the face a little around the greens.
The 588 grind was perfect for the firm conditions, featuring a lower bounce, nice wide sole and a bit of extra trailing edge relief. It felt like it was really easy to clip the ball off the turf, without any fear of digging in even on some pretty tricky tight and bare lies.
Verdict
This is an excellent wedge, offering good performance and a little more affordability than the likes of the Vokey SM11, Callaway Opus SP and TaylorMade MG5.
In all honesty there was not a huge deal of difference between the original RTZ and RTZ 2 from my testing, apart from the introduction of the two new sole grinds.
This is a positive, and I think it helps Cleveland to compete even more closely with the likes of Vokey and TaylorMade MG.
With the opportunities for wedge fittings becoming more and more common these days – and it’s something we definitely recommend you try and do – offering more options to help golfers find the right fit for their swing type and course conditions becomes more and more important.
Cosmetically it’s much of the same really. Besides the movement of the RTZ logo on the back, they were almost impossible to tell apart too. However this still makes the RTZ 2 one of the cleanest and best-looking options on the market, so no complaints there!
The performance is great, the wedges feel fantastic, and they’re a little bit cheaper than some of the big brands, so if you’re looking to upgrade your wedges in 2026 then make sure these are on your shortlist.
Would I Use Them?
Definitely, these are great wedges.
Looking to buy? Shop Now at Clubhouse Golf, the largest and most trusted independent golf retailer in the UK!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do the Cleveland RTZ 2 wedges cost?
They’re priced at £159, around £20 cheaper than comparable premium wedges from Titleist, TaylorMade and Callaway.
What’s new compared to the original RTZ?
The main additions are two new sole grinds (588 and Adapt Full-Face) and ZipCore iQ, which tunes the hosel core for each loft and grind combination for tighter dispersion and more consistent distances. Cosmetically, they’re nearly identical aside from the logo moving to the other side of the head.
What sole grind options are available, and who are they suited to?
Five grinds in total: Mid, Full, Low, Adapt Full-Face, and the reintroduced 588 Grind. Overall, the range is aimed at better players confident in their short game who want high levels of spin, control and workability, rather than golfers prioritising maximum forgiveness.
What technology is packed into the RTZ 2?
Alongside ZipCore iQ, they feature second-generation Z-Alloy steel, HydraZip for spin retention in wet conditions, UltiZip grooves for consistency off different lies, and Rotex Milling for extra grip at impact.
How do they compare to rivals like the Vokey SM11, Callaway Opus SP and TaylorMade MG5?
They match up well on performance, feel and looks while undercutting all three on price, making them a strong shortlist option for golfers upgrading their wedges in 2026.
