Golf Brand Opinion: Cleveland Golf Clubs

[GolfSpy_APH]

We just saw Cleveland release their new RTZ wedges (just noticing those are in line on the keyboard which makes that really nice). And they look stellar. 

https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/seen-on-tour-cleveland-2025-wedge-prototypes/

   

Cleveland as a brand has a long history and has made some fantastic clubs over the years. The older 588 wedges were my go-to wedges for a long time. However as time has passed I feel they have also fallen into the Tour Edge like category in some respects. Whether that is deserved or not I am not sure. The clubs are still great, but the recognition of them seems to be split in many respects with almost a duo-identity. 

So what do you think of Cleveland golf clubs? What clubs did you love and what ones not so much? Where do you think they stand in terms of performance?

[Shankster]

Cleveland is solid name in wedges.  They used to be “the wedge” to have.  My dad games 588’s still.  This new wedge is going to be a game changer for those that choose to ditch their old brand.  I’m going to give them a serious look and I honestly hope they go in the bag.  They need to make a classic set of Cleveland irons to go along with these beauties.

[Mac attack]

I have been playing Cleveland Wedges exclusively for a number of years. I love the shape and feel, along with them giving me the best spin of all the wedges I have owned. I just put a new set of custom wedges in my bag last week.

[Josh Parker]

Loved the 588 and even the 900.  Once they started changing the look I didn't like the performance as much. These new ones look amazing and something I would probably try out.  The launcher was a great driver back in the day.

I agree that they kind of fell off the wagon though and the equipment felt very cheap the last handful of years. 

[Redhawk]

Grew up using Cleveland wedges for many years. They are a thing of beauty! I use different wedges now but Cleveland wedges are on par with all other company's!

[IndyBonzo]

Big Cleveland fan here.  The RTX6 Zipcore wedges have been super performers for me.  As is the Frontline Elite No. 1 putter. Only 28 putts last Saturday and sank a 30 footer with it Sunday.  The RTX6 are going strong two whole seasons in.  But already drooling over the new RTZ.

Edited October 17 by IndyBonzo

[deaboy]

Decades Used the Cleveland wedges for yrs believing best out there.  Could do pretty much anything with them. I too had 588 wedges. But they changed after around the less spin era. Used many others after that, known brands or no. Still looking for wedges like the old Cleveland's in feel & performance 

[LWD]

Cleveland is known for wedges, but to me, the brand is no longer a top tier brand.  Cleveland is solid choice and in many ways the "middle class" of wedges.  You can't go wrong with a RTZ wedge, but you might do better with another brand.  Cleveland's reasonably priced putters are a terrific value, and along with their wedges, they do wonders for the brand.  I'd certainly shop both of these products against some of the bigger brands.  

For me, the irons and woods are not on my radar, or at least, not at this moment.  

[Driver3]

I had a set of TA-5 irons I got from Rock Bottom Golf for like 250 bucks. They had the TT sensicore shafts. I ended up putting UST-Mamiya shafts in the and played them for years. They were fine clubs.

I have the RTX wedges 50-54-58 and like them a lot.

Lately they just don't seem to garner much attention these days.

Srixon is the premium brand in that stable I believe and it seems they are slowly gaining traction as a brand besides in balls.

[carlblencke]

I have the RTX 58 degree and it is great.  I don't know how they could improve but I guess they have.

[hriehl1]

I am a 16 handicap who very happily plays Cleveland Halo XL irons from 4i to Gap wedge. And as a ranger/marshall on an upscale courses, I see a lotta other players. Many of them should also check out Halos or similar Super Game Improvement sets as they're currently playing more-demanding designs beyond their modest skills. It is not that I make great shots with them, it is that my mis-hits are less terrible. Gotta get over the "they're ugly" stigma.

Also play 3w, Hy-wood and 7w; all are fine.

 

[BlackjackMWV]

On occasion and for a couple of years I use Clevelands RTZ 52 wedge and I loved it.  I have since replaced my wedges with the Maltby TSW forged raw 54/58 and put in a seven wood as I've aged.  However, I do go back to my blades at times and bring out my RTZ and it still works great.

[Old Justice]

I remember in the 80’s when specialist wedges first came on the scene and Cleveland were very much premium. I fondly recall endeavouring to spin(shred) balatas like Greg Norman when practicing as a kid!

My preferred wedge then was the RAM Tom Watson Berylium model which was just such a game changer and eye catcher. I had a couple of Cleveland wedges during that time, but never really got on with the rounded shape, although they felt and performed fantastic. However, after a 30ish year break, I find myself gaming a RTX 2 full face 58 degree lob wedge that still has the quality Cleveland feel and performance I remember, with a very aesthetically pleasing size and shape.

Whilst never being one of the biggest brands, Cleveland has always maintained a high standard of quality craftsmanship and materials. I think that they haven’t enjoyed as much success with their non-wedge clubs but for reasons I’m not sure (maybe the success of their wedges has made them look a bit niche?). I also think that their biggest asset (legendary Roger Cleveland himself) working with other brands has maybe diluted the USP of Cleveland. However, I have never heard complaints about them, and I hope they continue to innovate and provide quality alternatives to the more generic brand offerings.

[Rob Person]

I really like the look of these and how i've seen the previous versions perform.I've never hit one so I can't speak to their performance. I do agree that most of there, irons and drivers seem to be more budget friendly for the most part.

[injectedcutty]

Growing up in the 90's and playing junior and high school golf, Cleveland was always a solid brand. They never seemed to be the best or worst, their stuff just worked. In high school, if you had a cleveland wedge then you were the stuff!

I was fortunate enough to have forged Cleveland wedges and those things really did perform well. I only recently pulled my 588 56° out of the bag while doing testing with the Opus wedges. That 56° had been a workhorse for the past decade, and it's still in decent enough shape to spin the ball good. However, the Opus line took the spot in the bag for now, that wedge has bumped my up/down saves by 14% in the past 6 weeks. I'm sure the new RTZ line will perform well, and Cleveland seems to have that cult-like crew of players who game them, especially anyone on staff with Srixon.

As stated, Cleveland always gets a nod in my book, they just keep making good stuff.

[stevemac]

I am looking forward to the new models.  I would love to see them come out with a line of irons or woods similar to the old 485 and Tour Action.  They also made some better players woods at one time.  It seems that other than the wedges, Cleveland has been regulated to mid and high handicaps.  The new XL was closer to a players distance design.  Lastly, they made some excellent persimmon woods years ago too.  Have a great day!

[CFreddie]

Never gamed a Cleveland, but I’ve had many friends / family that swear by their wedges. Plus a buddy games on of their milled CS putters and I’d put it up against a Scotty in terms of feel. 
 

Btw, those new RTZs are GORGEOUS - I see a big year for the Dunlop brands. 

[TJ Hall]

Another brand I have never played.  My dad used some Cleveland wedges years ago but he never got along with them (maybe that has pushed me away).

Their irons/woods make me think of game improvement, easier to hit/launch.

[Norman K]

I have the Cleveland RBX high toe wedges; 60°, 56° & 50°. I hit these wedges with confidence! I wish Cleveland would make a 46° high toe approach wedge!

[drewsdad08]

All of my wedges are Cleveland.  Great performance, confidence and consistency.  

[drb1956]

I have played only Cleveland wedges since around 2003, when I purchased a used set of 900's. Great feel, and I learned to chip using these wedges. I also had a used TA2 2-iron that I would use to drive with, as I did not hit woods very well back then. Now, I have a set of CBX2's in 50*, 54*, and 58*, along with a 46* CBX Zipcore, which replaced a set wedge. The CBX2's make pitching, and chipping really pretty easy, with good checking into the green. I also have a first gen Huntington Beach SOFT 11c putter. The center shaft really helps with my putting. 

[James Davidson]

I bought 2 Cleveland CBX wedges 52 & 58 deg. and am very pleased with the quality of the shots that I get with them.The 52deg. gives great bite on full shots and the 58deg. has given me better confidence on more delicate shots from 50 yards into greens. 

 

 

[Cmra1]

I picked up 2 RTX wedges last season when on clearance at Academy. Very pleased with performance 

[dhosford11]

For someone a little newer to golf, Cleveland is a classic name but doesn’t hold the same weight with the clubs that put marketing out everywhere. All I’ve known is Ping, Titleist and TaylorMade for the most part(obviously I know many but those are the big names). Cleveland might need to follow what a lot of other brands are doing and do a collab with another brand. 

[tdc1]

The only truly "safe" club in my bag is an 18° Cleveland 3+ Hy-Wood -- off the tee or in the rough or from the fairway it just performs.  When I made the change to graphite shafted irons I went with their Launcher XL model (6-GW).  I've never played Cleveland wedges but will definitely give them a serious look when it is time to change out of my Pings.  The only Cleveland club I haven't been able to get along with is the driver -- just can't get a repeatable result with one.

[BigMood]

I have two Cleveland hybrids in my bag and the five hybrid is very much a go to club, very consistent. I have used cleveland wedges too in the past and might be tempted again as i need new wedges.

[Parshooter36]

I have played some form of the CBX wedges for several years now. This year I added the Zipcore irons to the bag and could not be happier. Unfortunately, it seems to me that the Cleveland brand has taken a back seat to Srixon at this point and have been relegated to the game improvemnt brand for the company.

[Patrick Dawes]

Great Wedges, Best Affordable milled putters, and the older Hi-bore drivers still hold up for forgiveness.  I feel like they really lean into the first decent set of clubs for a beginning golfer market hard and have good equipment at reasonable prices

[Hoyoymac]

In June of 2022 I went on a golf trip to Ireland & Scotland.  My clubs never arrived.  Had to use rentals.  In Scotland I was provided with a brand new set of XXIO clubs to use.  Although the clubs weren’t the best fit for me with much lighter shafts, stronger lofts, more offset and larger in profile than my irons.

The putter though was a variation of the Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft fang style mallet.  I putted so well with it that the guys I played with thought I should bring it home with me.

[TheNorfolkGolfer]

I love Cleveland. I have CBX4 50° and 58° wedges which I absolutely adore, the 50 in particular is absolutely brilliant. I have a 54° RTX ZipCore full face which is a very good club for bunkers and awkward chipping lies. 

And then my irons are Cleveland ZipCore XL 4-PW. I love how they look, love how they sit behind the ball, they feel great and the performance with them for me has been absolutely outstanding. 

I have tried the putters in the last in the Huntington Beach 1 and 2 ranges, both a blade (4) and mallet (11) and wasn't quite as enamoured by them as I am the wedges and irons but they were decent for the money.