Cleveland 588 RTX
We dish out Golfmagic Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to our favourite premium wedges on the market in 2014
Brand: Cleveland
Wedge: 588 RTX
Best price: £79
Lofts: 46- to 64-degree
Lie: 64-degree
Bounce: 8- to 16-degree
Sole grind: S
Finishes: Satin Chrome and Black Pearl
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold
Summary: Cleveland Golf's new "zip" grooves are 16% larger than they were two years ago for better spin out the rough. The face features two surface textures for enhanced control. The new Rotex pattern uses milled, angled curves to improve consistency on open-face shots. Laser-etched lines between the grooves help make the surface roughness more uniform.
Looks: This bladed version of the RTX 588 is one of the best looking wedges out there right now, as expected from a brand specialising in wedge play. Nice throwback design to the original 588 of 26 years ago. The Satin Chrome finish we tested - there's also a lovely Black Pearl - just adds a sense of flair and appears to frame the ball nicely. No glare issues to speak of. It also features a wider sole towards the heel, which becomes narrower near the toe.
Feel: You can instantly feel the RTX grooves working their magic at impact. Perfect head weight, just right. Not too light, not too heavy. Not quite as soft as some of the other forged wedges we've tested in the last 12 months but decent enough. It certainly delivers a lively, rewarding hit at impact and also feels very balanced through the entire swing.
Performance: 588 RTX is a very solid bladed wedge. More for the better player, though. It generates consistent yardage and an excellent spin rate. 56 wedge appeared very easy to get up and out the sand quickly, and with plenty of spin, too. The Rotex blade face perfoms like the Zip Grooves of old more than any Cleveland offering has since its extinction, in our book. Those looking for a wedge that imparts maximum spin on all shots will surely want to give the 588 RTX a try, whether they’ve previously been fans of Cleveland’s wedges or not. Sand shots responded on the green as expected. Great turf interaction on the full wedge shots and the ball held its line in the wind.
Verdict: Quite simply, timeless beauty and versatile design for an all-around wedge performance no matter what shot is required. The innovative groove and face technology in Cleveland’s 588 RTX wedge make the club a serious consideration for mid-to-low handicappers. A little shame there's only one sole grind unlike others in this test, but nevertheless, great value for money and more than does a job. We'd recommend the slightly higher handicapper takes a look at the 588 RTX CB version.
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Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
