If you have been watching the PGA Tour, you’ve heard a lot of talk about wedges lately. Because of a new U.S. Golf Association rule rolling back the depth and width of grooves, the pros’ wedges have lost some of their bite. Balls are releasing a bit more on the green, especially out of the rough.
Goodbye bomb and gouge, hello unpredictability.
The new rule has no bearing on the rest of us, however. Although equipment manufacturers won’t be able to produce clubs with the old “square” grooves after this year, amateurs will be able to use irons that have them for years to come. In fact, as far as Cleveland’s new CG15 wedge goes, the new rule has actually helped produce shots with more spin.
In order to give tour pros more bite on the conforming wedges, Cleveland devised a laser-milling technique that improves the surface area between the grooves. A laser etches four, perfectly calibrated textured lines between each groove to optimize ball-to-clubface friction and maximize spin. The bonus for amateurs is that any new CG15 wedge you buy this year will not only contain the new laser-milling technology, but will also have Cleveland’s boxy “Zip Grooves” that have more bite than a great white.
Other benefits include a slightly smaller head than other Cleveland wedge models to help reduce turf interference and a wider sole width in the heel that prevents digging on open-faced shots.
So go ahead; gouge away.
$120 (46-64 degrees; 22 bounce and loft combinations in three finishes: oil-quench, black pearl and satin chrome), clevelandgolf.com
