Five Things You Need To Know About The New Cleveland RTZ 2 Wedges

There’s something a little different about this newest wedge launch from Cleveland Golf.

The new Cleveland RTZ 2 wedge lineup hits the stores on Sept. 4. Its predecessor, the original RTZ wedges, launched in January 2025. That wedge’s predecessor, the RTX 6 ZipCore, was released in January 2023.

You’d think that would make the new RTZ 2 the outlier but you’d be wrong. If you turn the clock back to at least 2014, Cleveland has been launching its wedge updates right around this timeframe.

I don’t know if that means anything but it’s one of those things that, for the OCD among us, you can’t unsee.

Actually, there are several things about the new Cleveland RTZ 2 wedges that you’ll want to see and, ultimately, understand. Not the least is the return of a true classic, one that more than a few of you have been asking about since company founder Roger Cleveland returned to the fold over a year ago.

Let’s dive into the deep end and take a closer look at five things you need to know about the new Cleveland RTZ 2 wedge lineup.

#1: The iconic 588 is back!

When we wrote about Roger Cleveland’s return last March to the company he founded in 1979, the second (maybe the third) comment from you, dear reader, was “When are they going to bring back the 588?”

That’s a drumbeat that’s only gotten louder ever since.

Well, lay off the drums, people. Following a limited-edition collector’s set released this past May, the 588 is back in Cleveland’s starting lineup.

“I’ve been fortunate to design wedges that have been trusted by golfers for generations,” says Roger Cleveland in a prepared statement. “RTZ 2 wedges reflect everything we’ve learned along the way, combining classic wedge design principles with modern performance.”

The new 588 isn’t a specific wedge model per se. It’s more of a new sole grind option offered in the RTZ 2 family. It features increased bounce in the toe and reduced bounce in the heel to combine versatility with forgiveness. It’s fairly similar to Cleveland’s most popular Mid grind but is optimized for shallower swings. Overall, it’s a full sole with moderate levels of bounce and some subtle trailing-edge relief which should be helpful in bunkers.

While it excels on square-faced full shots and pitches, there is enough heel relief to let you open it up. The toe bounce helps if you like to chip with a raised handle and a toe-down strike.

It is, in essence, as close to an original 588 replica as Cleveland can get while staying within the RTZ architecture.

Cleveland is offering the new 588 grind in the RTZ 2 line in 54- to 60-degree lofts.

#2: The 588 brings the RTZ 2 grind total to five

For the longest time, Cleveland stubbornly offered only three sole grinds: Low, Mid, Full. Well, that proved to be untenable once the rest of the wedge-making world decided to offer more grind options than there are ways to chili-dip a chip shot.

By adding the 588 grind, Cleveland Golf now has five wedge grinds to choose from. Here’s a quick overview.

Full Bounce: Cleveland’s highest-bounce sole for full shot stability and extra help in bunkers and thick rough. If you’re a steep swinger, this grinds for you. It’s not overly versatile but it has the forgiveness of a puppy. Available in 54- through 60-degree lofts with 12 degrees of bounce.

Mid Bounce: For all-around performance. It features a V-shaped sole with modest trailing-edge relief to balance versatility and forgiveness without overdoing either. As you’d expect, this is the one golfers reach for when they don’t know what to reach for. Mid is available in the full line, from 46- through 60-degree lofts with 10 degrees of bounce.

Low Bounce: This is lob wedge-specific. It features heel, toe and trailing-edge relief for players who like to get a little crazy and creative around the green. Best for firm conditions and a shallow angle of attack. It’s very versatile but is the least forgiving.  Available in 58- through 62-degree lofts with six degrees of bounce.

Adapt: This one might be my favorite. It does the impossible by giving you high-toe/full-face groove performance without looking weird. It features heel, sole and trailing-edge relief with added leading-edge bounce chamfer. It’s not terribly forgiving but it is ideal for players with shallow angles of attack and who, when it comes to crazy creativity around the green, tell Low Bounce players to be quiet and learn how it’s done.

#3: Cleveland’s ZipCore Technology gets a little smarter

So much so that it has a new name: ZipCore IQ.

ZipCore is one of the more interesting wedge innovations Cleveland has developed in recent memory.  Introduced in 2020, ZipCore is a proprietary low-density material that’s literally in the core of the wedge, extending from the hosel toward the middle-heel area.

The benefit, of course, is that saving weight and mass in one area of the club allows designers to move it to another area of the club where it can do more good. In this case, Cleveland can effectively shift more mass toward the middle of the club, moving the center of gravity along with it.

ZipCore is made from a strong aluminum silicate compound with a high melting point which allows the rest of the wedge to be cast around it. The material can save up to 16 grams worth of weight. In a wedge, that’s a lot.

 The net result is a blade-style wedge with more forgiveness, spin and feel.

ZipCore IQ takes the whole idea a step further by optimizing the hosel core, shape and weight. Each ZipCore insert is fine-tuned down to the loft and sole grind level to support the kinds of shots each wedge is most likely to hit. Higher-lofted wedges, for example, will have that discretionary weight shifted to favor a higher sweet spot for more control and spin. Lower lofts are optimized for more full shots and center-adjacent strikes.

#4 Cleveland’s raw Tour Rack wedges still cost more than the plated models

On the surface, this one makes no sense at all. Cleveland is charging $219.99 for the RTZ 2 wedge in a raw finish, called Tour Rack. That’s raw, as in unfinished. Meaning there’s no finish applied to the wedge.

At all.

In what world would a wedge that doesn’t go through the plating process to have a finish added to it cost more than a wedge that does?

As it turns out, the real one.

According to Cleveland, the Tour Rack Raw wedge is not simply a Black Satin- or Tour Satin-plated wedge without a finish. Turns out the Tour Rack models require a completely separate mold. Plated wedges are actually molded to be a touch smaller than the raw wedges. After milling, they’re technically non-conforming and require plating to meet USGA standards. Raw wedges come out of the mild in their final size and, once milled, meet USGA standards. The raw Tour Rack wedges require completely separate tooling and are made in much smaller numbers than the Black Satin or Chrome Satin models.

So, it’s not purely a cash grab. The pricing structure may not make obvious sense but, as always, the devil is in the details.

Additionally, the Tour Rack Raw wedge line is perfect for Cleveland’s wedge customization and personalization program. Cleveland can add a variety of custom grinds to any raw wedge. Depending on the sole style you buy, Cleveland can custom grind extra relief on the toe and heel and on the leading and trailing edges for greater versatility and performance.

Additionally, Cleveland’s personalization program might be the best deal in golf. You can get custom stamping, ferrules, paintfill and laser-etched skins with prices ranging from $5 to $20 per customized item.

#5: The Z in RTZ remains significant

The Z in RTZ shouldn’t be forgotten. It stands for Z-Alloy, a unique material developed by Cleveland’s metallurgy team, led by metallurgical engineering PhD Boeing Smith.

Smith was tasked with finding a wedge material superior to the 8620 steel that’s been used to make wedges since Gene Sarazen was in short pants. Smith couldn’t find one so he invented one.

Z-Alloy brings three unique characteristics to the table. First, it’s a lower-density material than 8620 which frees up discretionary weight. When combined with ZipCore, that allows Cleveland to move the CG even closer to the center and increase MOI without radically altering the shape of the wedge. That, friends, makes for a more forgiving blade-style wedge.

Additionally, according to Cleveland, Z-Alloy is about 10 percent softer than 8620 which makes for a softer-feeling wedge.

Lastly, despite being softer-feeling, Z-Alloy is more durable than 8620, cutting groove wear by 87 percent. That makes for a longer-lasting wedge.

Oh, yeah, almost forgot: Z-Alloy also doesn’t rust which means raw Tour Rack wedges will last longer, too. I guess technically that’s four unique characteristics.

Cleveland RTZ 2 wedges: Final thoughts, specs and availability

It’s been a busy18 months for Cleveland Golf, starting with founder Roger Cleveland’s return last year. Just eight months ago, Cleveland announced it would be getting out of the woods and irons business to focus on wedges and putters. There was the limited edition 588 Tour Action wedge release in May, and now we have a new RTZ line complete with a new 588 grind.

Cleveland’s return to his eponymous company has been anything but ceremonial. He’s been hands-on since returning, to the point where the company is calling the new RTZ 2 soles the “Roger Cleveland Signature Grinds.”

The new Cleveland RTZ 2 wedges are available in lofts ranging from 46 to 64 degrees. The five sole options are described above. They’ll be available in three finishes: Black Satin, Tour Satin and Tour Rack Raw. The Black Satin and Tour Satin models will come stock with the 128-gram True Temper DG Spinner Tour Issue shaft.

The Tour Rack Raw is paired with the lower-launching Tour Issue Dynamic Golf S400 shaft.

All three come standard with the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grip.

The Cleveland RTZ 2 wedges in Black Satin and Tour Satin sell for $199.99. The Tour Rack Raw will run $219.99.

Pre-order starts today. To celebrate the launch, Cleveland is offering complimentary personalization now through Sept. 4, when the wedges are due to hit retail.