If you’re looking to step up your short game in 2025, the Cleveland RTZ Wedge could be just what you need. After testing them on the course, we think they could be one of the best-performing and best value options on the market.
Cleveland are best known for their high-quality wedges, with the RTZ used by the likes of Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry.
The wedges are designed with an all-new material, offering a combination of feel, forgiveness and greenside control.
Who Are They Aimed At?
Anybody who is looking for a premium wedge! The clean, uncluttered design should be really popular with lots of golfers, but there are still three finishes to choose from.
They offer a great blend of control and workability, and having four different sole grinds is a big bonus. The fact that the lofts go all the way from 46 to 64 degrees could be really useful for golfers who want extra specialist wedges in their bag, or want to make sure they’ve got the right gapping.
Whilst the performance was fantastic, they did feel a little firmer than some other competitors, but obviously that is down to personal preference.
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The Tech
The standout new feature of the RTZ Wedges is the new Z-Alloy steel. This has a lower density than traditional materials, making it more flexible when it comes to shape and design.
This has resulted in a material that is 10% softer than the previous RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges. It’s said to provide better feel, forgiveness and consistency, with six grams of weight saved moved to optimal parts of the head. This allowed engineers to move the CG towards the middle of the head, improving performance.
Another benefit of Z-Alloy is that it doesn’t rust. This means it retains it’s appearance and spin for longer, especially in the Raw finish.
The wedges is offered with four different sole grind options, including a new Adapt grind. This has it’s own face shape, and is ideal for sand and lob wedges thanks to full-face grooves and extra leading edge bounce.
Also included are a few of Cleveland pre-existing wedge technologies.
HydraZip face blasts and laser lines help to maximise spin even in wet conditions. The configuration changes depending on the loft, optimising performance across the range.
ZipCore technology sees weight savings made in the heel and hosel area, moving the CG closer to where the ball is struck to raise MOI.
Finally, the UltiZip grooves are sharper than traditional ones. This allows them to cut through grass and debris more easily. They are also deeper, allowing debris to clear out of the way when striking the ball. The result of all of this is more spin, and more consistent spin, from a variety of different lies.
The RTZ wedges are offered in three different finishes – Tour Satin, Black Satin and Tour Rack (Raw) – from 46 all the way up to 64 degrees.
Cleveland RTZ Wedge Review
Looks and Feel
These are fantastic looking wedges. I tested the standard Tour Sating finish and loved the look of the chrome Z-Alloy. Simple, clean and premium.
At address, the head shape is quite rounded. As someone who has used Callaway wedges for a number of years, this didn’t bother me too much as it felt quite similar. I prefer the traditional groove pattern, rather than the full-face, as I feel it’s easier to align.
There’s a slightly rounded leading edge, particularly in the lob wedge. This actually provides a bit more confidence that there’s some forgiveness there.
Off the face the feel is perhaps not the softest out there. They do feel spinny off the face though, even on shorter chips around the green. You get the sense that the ball is really gripping onto the face before it leaves it.
Performance
I tested the RTZ Wedges in 52 and 58 degrees in the Mid grind. This was a really versatile option that will be suitable for most golfers. It felt like there was enough flexibility to open it up when needed, whilst still being easy to use for full shots.
I enjoyed using the 58 degree as I felt like it was just a great all-rounder. I hit some nice pitches from around 70 yards into the greens.
It also helped me to get up and down from some tricky spots by opening up the face, including out of the bunker. The ball seemed to pop up really easily and I was able to commit to the shot without fearing hitting it heavy.
It’s always nice to test new wedges as you get the benefits of new grooves. The RTZ Wedges definitely had some zip to them, especially when playing off tighter lies around the greens.
On longer shots with the gap wedge, there was a really nice level of ‘drop and stop’ which is great for distance control. The ball flight seemed consistent, and it didn’t fly too high which is something I like with wedges. I feel like a flatter flight is easier to control, and doesn’t suffer as much in the wind.
Cleveland RTZ Wedge Verdict
This is an another excellent option from a brand doing what they do best – make great wedges.
With an RRP of £159 they are cheaper than the Callaway Opus, Titleist Vokey SM10 and Ping s159 Wedges. Despite this they are still more than able to compete in performance.
The new Z-Alloy looks fantastic, and if it does help with durability and keeping up spin rates for a little longer, then that’s a big bonus too.
If you’re buying new wedges because you want more spin, the RTZ Wedges have this in abundance. There’s also a huge range of loft offerings, and a number of different grinds, making these a fantastic option for any golfer looking to upgrade their short game.
Would I Use Them?
I would, because I really enjoyed using them and they performed great. The feel is a little firmer than I’d ideally want, but maybe that’s something I can get used to!
