Updated September 22, 2021. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
The Rundown:
Best Wedge for Mid Handicappers: Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge
“Packed with impressive features (cavity-back, patented sole grind, and tour zip grooves), the new CBX 2 delivers outrageous spin and unreal height that helps with accuracy – best for golfers needing help with their short game.”
Best Alternate Option: Wilson Harmonized Wedge
“The Wilson Harmonized Wedge has a thin sole grind and modified bounce angle that helps promote accelerated spin. Its classic blade shape gives the feel of a professional wedge at an affordable price perfect for beginning golfers!”
Should you buy the CBX 2? Is it worth buying?
In this Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge review, we’ll provide you with an in-depth guide and help you decide if it is right for you.
Table of Contents
Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge Review
The new Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge is one of the best clubs that a mid-to-high handicapper can put in their bag because the CBX 2 wedge line has been designed to assist the golfer’s short game forgiveness in a variety of helpful ways. Featuring multi-piece construction that helps dampen vibration while creating incredible spin, the Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge provides exceptional control that golfers will fawn over. The hollow cavity design of the Cleveland CBX 2 wedges allows weight to be evenly distributed across the face of the club for forgiveness rarely found in a short game club.
Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge
Best Wedge for Mid Handicappers
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PROS
- Perimeter-weighted for one of the best balanced wedges on the market today
- Sharp machine-crafted grooves produce exceptional spin for unbelievable control
- Three different sole grind options give golfers plenty of choices for finding the perfect CBX 2 wedge for their game
- Eight different loft options allow golfers to create a dependable stable of CBX 2 wedges for their bag
CONS
- Cavity back wedge design may turn away more experienced golfers looking for forged-style wedges
- For golfers looking for simple wedges, the Cleveland CBX 2 Wedg may be too cluttered for their short game intentions
With some of the sharpest grooves on a wedge, the Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge delivers outrageous spin that can create stopping power on the greens and unreal height on shots from the fairway for soft landings that help with accuracy.
A well-designed wedge that can help golfers across the board, the Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge is a marvel of equipment design and one of the finest CBX 2 wedges we’ve ever tested.
Features
Patented Sole Grind
One of the biggest complaints about the original CBX wedges was that there was only one sole grind available to customers. So, the company went back to the drawing board and reimagined the CBX wedge to offer golfers more options in the sole grind department.
Now the Cleveland CBX 2 wedge has three different types of sole grinds according to the loft of the wedge allowing the golfer to craft their own complement of CBX 2 wedges in their preferred style. Optimized by loft, Cleveland has created sole grinds that accent each level of wedge, from pitching or A-wedges, to sand wedge, to finally, the lob wedge. Each design helps the golfer in whatever environment they might find themselves using the club, such as deep rough or soft sand.
Sharpest Tour Grooves on Club Face
The company boasts its Rotex Face technology on all CBX 2 wedges. The new milling process helps the CBX 2 wedges impart more friction onto the golf ball for increased spin and shot-stopping ability from anywhere on the course.
Not only does the wedge face get machine milled for more ridges, but the company also puts the wedge through a laser milling process that roughens the face even more to create more grip and control with each shot.
Feel Balancing Technology
The Feel Balancing Technology on the CBX 2 Wedges is the endgame to months of redesigning the original CBX Wedge. The club designers moved the center of gravity away from the hosel of the initial CBX Wedge and replaced it toward the toe to improve forgiveness on off-center strikes.
Another reason they wanted a more balanced wedge with this version is because to become a true game improvement equipment, they needed better balance and more perimeter weighting to ground the club through the impact zone. By adjusting the center of gravity outward, they reduced the penalty of hitting the golf ball off the toe, an error that most inexperienced golfers know far too well.
With high handicappers and beginning golfers more adept to hitting the ball toward the toe and not in the center of the club face, Cleveland made the adjustment to assist those golfers on those shots from the fairway where clean contact is an absolute must.
Multi-Piece Construction for More Versatility
In addition to the Feel Balancing Technology feature, Cleveland has constructed these CBX 2 wedges using multi-piece technology. There are five components of the Cleveland CBX 2 wedge worth noting. They are a hosel cutout, a gelback insert, a wider toe, hollow cavity design and a tapered flange on the club head.
Hosel Cutout
The hosel cutout allows Cleveland to reduce weight in the clubhead and shift the center of gravity more toward the toe of the CBX 2 wedge. By shifting the weight more towards the toe, the CBX 2 wedge can increase forgiveness throughout the sweet spot of the club face.
Gelback Technologies
A gelback insert has been placed inside the toe of the CBX 2 wedge to help the club promote distance and launch angle into the bottom half of the golf ball. By flying higher, shots off these Cleveland CBX 2 wedges have gained a reputation as one of the softest wedge shots for mid handicappers.
Hollow Cavity Design
The hollow cavity design and wider toe feature of the CBX 2 wedge both help the club with balance and forgiveness. The hollow cavity back redistributes weight along the club face, while the wider toe promotes more stability and less twisting through impact with the turf.
Tapered Flange
Finally, the tapered flange assists the Cleveland CBX 2 wedge in creating more forgiveness and versatility with each shot, regardless of the loft or style of the sole grind.
Alternatives to Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge
Wilson Harmonized Wedge
Best Wedge for Budget Seeking Beginners
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PROS
- Classic blade shape gives the feel of a professional wedge for less than the cost of green fee
- Thin sole grind for crisper contact on harder turf
- Can be played with square stance which is preferable for beginning golfers
- Modified bounce angle helps promote accelerated spin for shot-stopping power around the green
CONS
- Lacks the advanced milling on the club face that sharpens grooves and creates spin
- Although sharp to look at, the Wilson Harmonized wedge plays heavy, costing distance on full swings
The Wilson Harmonized Wedge series is the company’s attempt at making a professional looking wedge at an affordable price. Styled similarly to a forged iron, the Harmonized wedge features thin sole grinds that helps the club on harder surfaces and turf. Although it plays a bit heavier than your more advanced wedges, the Wilson model is incredibly affordable and a real alternative for beginning golfers who want a sharp looking wedge without the elevated price tag.
C3i Wedge
Best Wedge for High Handicappers
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PROS
- Funky looking wedge can flat out perform with wide sole that slices through sand and deep rough with ease
- Great for beginners and high handicappers that need a club they can trust off the green
- Meant to be played with a square stance, the C3i Wedge is great for straight forward short game play
- Even though it may look unique, the wedge is sanctioned for tournament play and legal by USGA regulations
CONS
- For golfers looking for wedge they can shape shots with, the C3i isn’t multi-faceted
- Straight forward wedge that is tailored for beginners and high handicappers, leaving mid-to-low handicappers looking elsewhere for the wedge choice
One of the most distinct looking wedges you’ll ever see, the C3i Wedge is a great club for beginning and inexperienced golfers who need a club that can handle sand and deep rough shots with relative ease.
Our testers absolutely loved hitting high and soft fade shots with the C3i Wedge. Primarily taken with its simplicity, the group we used to test this wedge really enjoyed playing around and putting the club to the test on the range from a variety of distances and lies.
Conclusion
The Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge is a well constructed short game tool that is solidly balanced while delivering high performance from anywhere around the green. Available in eight different loft options, the Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge is perimeter weighted for maximum forgiveness, allowing you to easily control shots with increased spin.
Cleveland’s rote-face technology provides golfers with a wedge featuring some of the sharpest grooves available on the market for maximum spin and effortless control on even the toughest shots from the deep rough. And with three different sole grinds, golfers will be able to fine tune the short game that works best for their game.
The Cleveland CBX 2’s cavity-back design should bring in golfers of all skill levels, especially those who are afraid of spending the money to upgrade their wedge game. Not only are the Cleveland CBX 2 Wedges very affordable, but they are certain to add a dependable tool to your bag when you need help the most on the links.