Cleveland CBX2 Black Satin Wedges

Cleveland CBX2 Black Satin Wedges

Key Takeaways

• Cosmetic update for Cleveland’s popular game improvement wedge.
• Cleveland uses a proprietary Black Satin PVD finish it says will maximize durability.
• Available Dec. 18. $139.99 in steel, $149.99 in graphite.

Today’s news announcing the Cleveland CBX2 Black Satin wedges really shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s Year Two for the CBX2 line and Cleveland, like the rest of the golf world, is looking to spice up a popular offering and give second-year sales a little kick in the pants.

The cynic may call it a cash grab but the pragmatic will call it smart business. We, however, will call it what it is: the same wedge with a new finish, and there’s no upcharge.

If you’ve read this far, you probably have questions, so let’s get to them.

CBX2 Black Satin Wedges – What’s the Deal?

Cleveland first introduced the CBX wedge in 2017 with a very simple message: most of us were doing it wrong.

Cleveland said 84 percent of us play game improvement irons but also play traditional, Tour-style blade wedges. Logic would dictate we should also play game improvement wedges, hence the original CBX. The CBX2 update came out in August of 2019 and earlier this year we saw Callaway and Mizuno release their own game improvement wedges.

Apparently, the idea is catching on.

What’s also catching on is the second-year product refresh. We’ve seen Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway, Wilson and others give iron offerings a new finish in their second year – at an upcharge. Cleveland is doing the same thing, minus the upcharge.

“This is simply a cosmetic addition to the family,” Cleveland Product Manager Casey Shultz tells MyGolfSpy. “We’ve heard loud and clear from golfers for this wedge line to be offered in Black Satin.”

Black Satin isn’t new to Cleveland wedges. The new ZipCore wedges received the Black Satin treatment in October while the CBX2 Full Face wedge was released in Black Satin only back in January.

Seeing as how the CBX2 Black Satin wedge is the same as the original CBX2 in Tour Satin, we won’t belabor the technical aspects. Instead, we’ll focus on the finish.

Nights In Black Satin

Cleveland is using a PVD finish for the CBX2 Black Satin wedge. Now, before you go grabbing your torch and/or pitchfork, let’s understand what PVD really is.

PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition and is a common coating process in dozens of industries, including golf. The coating takes place in a vacuum, at temperatures in the 300- to 930-degree Fahrenheit range. The material itself transforms from a condensed phase to a vapor phase and then back to a condensed phase during the coating process.

It’s not as durable as Diamond Black Metal (DBM) but higher-grade PVD is used to coat cutting tools for metalworking.  And contrary to the common narrative, it’s not going to wear off after the first range session.

“We’ve spent a lot of time researching and prototyping to find the most durable PVD finish possible,” says Shultz. “(Our) process is proprietary and expensive.”

Shultz insists the CBX2 Black Satin wedges will maintain their finish “round after round.” In reality, you should expect some minimal wear over time. PVD, however, is very different from Black Oxide or Black Nickel coatings which tend to wear off if you give it a stern look.

Customization Options

Cleveland’s personalization program might be the best deal in golf. For $10, you can have up to five characters of text engraved on your CBX2 Black Satin wedge. For another $10, you get a custom paint fill.

The Cleveland CBX2 Black Satin wedge comes in the same three sole grinds as the original CBX2. The 46- through 52-degree models feature Cleveland’s V-Sole for full shots. The 54- and 56-degree lofts use an S-grind for bunker play and partial shot versatility, while the 58- and 60-degree models feature a C-grind to allow the golfer to open the face more for specific shots.

Specs, Price and Availability

As mentioned, the Cleveland CBX2 Black Satin wedge will be available in lofts ranging from 46 to 60 degrees in two-degree increments.

The Dynamic Gold 115 Wedge shaft is the stock steel offering while Cleveland’s proprietary Rotex Precision Graphite Wedge shaft is the stock graphite option. The Lamkin 360 is the stock grip. As always, Cleveland offers a variety of shaft and grip options through its custom department. Upcharge depends on the shaft and grip.

And lefties rejoice, the full line of the Cleveland CBX2 Black Satin wedges are available for both sides of the plate.

There’s no premium for the Black Satin finish. Pricing is the same as the standard Tour Satin version: $139.99 in steel and $149.99 in graphite.

They hit the stores on Dec. 18.

For more information, visit www.clevelandgolf.com.