Cleveland · Wedge · 2024
CBX 4 ZipCore
CaddyIndex™ breakdown — what the agentic research found across each of the six performance dimensions, with cited sources.
You're a 10-25 handicapper who wants maximum wedge forgiveness, tight distance control and easy turf interaction - especially if you play cavity-back or hollow-body irons.
You're a skilled ball-striker who wants to open the face, flop and shape shots, or you prefer a compact tour-blade look - a Vokey SM10 or Cleveland RTX suits you better.
Pros
- Elite distance consistency - the carry spread shrank from 9 yards to just 4, and spin drop-off was 45.4% tighter than the test average (3rd best of 20 wedges)
- Cleveland's most forgiving CBX yet - the highest MOI in the line (+7% heel-toe, +5.8% high-low), with minimal distance loss on mishits
- Strong, weather-proof spin from HydraZip blast and UltiZip grooves
- Wide, anti-dig soles and a cavity-back that blends with cavity or hollow-body irons - transformational for the 10-25 handicap
Cons
- A cavity-back game-improvement wedge - far less workable than a tour blade for opening the face and shaping shots
- A louder impact sound and a larger profile that won't suit a better player wanting a classic blade
By dimension
Forgiveness
Best-in-class for a wedge - the highest total MOI in any CBX wedge, up 7% heel-to-toe and 5.8% high-to-low, with a noticeable ZipCore effect on mishits and minimal distance loss. Wide, forgiving cavity-back soles with leading and trailing edge relief give a larger margin for error. The most forgiving wedge type, built for the mid-to-high handicapper.
Distance
Elite distance control - the carry spread shrank from 9 yards on the CBX ZipCore to just 4 on the CBX 4, more than a 50% improvement, with a spin drop-off between the highest and lowest shots of only 949 rpm, 45.4% tighter than the test average and 3rd best across all twenty 52-degree wedges tested. Exceptionally repeatable yardages.
Workability
Limited by the game-improvement design - the wide, forgiving soles and cavity-back are built for easy turf interaction rather than shotmaking, though the C-grind in the 58-60 degree lofts still allows some open-face lob work. A forgiveness tool first, not a shot-shaper's wedge.
Feel
Soft and improved - the ZipCore and HydraZip combine for a soft yet responsive feel, a step up on the predecessor with a slightly crispier centre strike, and the ZipCore reduces vibration for a pleasant impact. Comfortable and forgiving, if not as premium as a forged tour blade.
Sound
Acceptable, on the louder side - centre strikes produce a louder, deeper click than the higher-pitched note of an RTX 6. Clear and informative, but not the quietest or most refined.
Looks at address
Clean for a cavity-back - a much cleaner look in the bag than its predecessor, still clearly a cavity-back with no visible TPU inserts and a tidy black-and-silver scheme, blending with cavity or hollow-body iron sets. Well-executed for a game-improvement wedge, but a larger, non-traditional profile.
Sources
Some of the reviews, lab tests and head-to-head comparisons the agentic research read while grading this club.
- Cleveland CBX 4 ZipCore Wedge Review - Plugged In Golf
- Cleveland CBX 4 ZipCore Wedges - MyGolfSpy
- Cleveland CBX 4 ZipCore wedges: Everything you need to know - GOLF.com
- Cleveland CBX 4 ZipCore Wedge Review - Golf Monthly
- Cleveland CBX4 ZipCore wedge Review - Today's Golfer
- Cleveland CBX4 Wedges Review - The Hackers Paradise