When it comes to wedges in the golf industry, few brands carry as much weight as Cleveland. They have a rich history of crafting timeless designs that are widely recognized. One aspect that sets Cleveland apart is that they design wedges for golfers of all skill levels, perhaps more than any other major golf company. They offer an extensive range suitable for everyone, from professional golfers on the PGA Tour to those who play only a few times a year. The RTX 6 and the new RTX Full Face 2 are excellent choices for the advanced player, while the mid-handicap player might gravitate toward the newly introduced CBX 4. Cleveland’s Smart Sole lineup targets the casual golfer who gets to practice or play sparingly. Today, we focus on the latter as the Smart Sole lineup receives an update, including a new model in the Smart Sole Full-Face collection.
These new Smart Sole Full-Face wedges are said to be Cleveland’s largest and most forgiving wedges ever introduced to the market. With some improved shaping and the inclusion of a full-face design, the hitting areas on these wedges are 46% larger than the Smart Sole 4 wedges. Cleveland also incorporated several top-shelf technologies into this new Smart Sole line so that Smart Sole players can see the same benefits as an RTX 6 player.
It’s undeniable that the best technology that has been introduced in Cleveland wedges in the past year is the HydraZip face technology. HydraZip is a unique combination of laser-milled lines and a dynamic face blast, proven to help retain spin regardless of whether one is playing in wet or dry conditions. With the help of UltiZip grooves, each club gains deeper, sharper, and tighter grooves for more control and consistency. During Cleveland’s testing, Smart Sole Full-Face with HydraZip produced 17% more spin during dry toe contact and 484% more spin-on-toe contact in wet conditions versus the previous generation.
Wedges are designed to offer versatility, allowing golfers to play shots with the face slightly open or shut. However, with the Smart Sole line, most shots are intended to be taken with a neutral or square face. Cleveland has added white paint fill to the bottom two grooves of each club to aid in this regard. The bottom groove is slightly wider than a golf ball, making it easier to line up with the ball centered. Meanwhile, the top groove has a more extended reach and serves as a visual cue to determine if the face is square behind the ball or altered in any direction.
Every club has been upgraded with a three-tiered sole design, offering more bounce at the leading edge. This additional bounce helps prevent the clubs from digging, making the strike more stable and increasing forgiveness. Nobody wants to fear that dreaded chunked shot around the green; with this sole design, you won’t have to.
There are four models in the Smart Sole Full-Face club series by Cleveland, each designed to suit a specific short-game shot encountered by golfers during their rounds. Below is a brief description of each model and its intended use.
Chipper
A signature club in the Smart Sole lineup, this club comes in 42° of loft and is made for those chips and longer bump and run shots. In the past, some golfers have even tackled long pitch shots with Cleveland’s chipper model.
Gap Wedge
The gap wedge was a new update in the previous generation and again found its way into the lineup. With a wide sole and 50° of loft, it’s an excellent option for full and partial swings.
Sand Wedge
Bunker shots often give players fits, but with this 58° wedge, they got a bit easier. Once again, the wide three-tiered sole sets this wedge up to play with a straighter face, helping to create sand shots that come out high and land soft.
Lob Wedge
Introducing the latest addition to the Smart Sole family, designed to tackle the challenging lob shots that golfers often encounter. The L model combines 64° of loft with full-face grooves and a wide tri-level sole, making it easier for golfers to execute this tricky shot.
Cleveland Smart Sole Full-Face wedges launch today with a price tag of $139.99. Every club in the lineup is available for both right and left-handed golfers. More information on all of Cleveland’s new wedges is available at www.us.dunlopsports.com/cleveland-golf.
