Cleveland · Wedge · 2023
RTX 6 ZipCore
CaddyIndex™ breakdown: what our research found across each of the six performance dimensions, with cited sources.
You play off 18 or better, want one of the highest-spinning, most workable wedges, and strike it cleanly enough to flight and shape greenside shots.
You need maximum forgiveness and a wider, more stable sole - the cavity-back CBX or CBZ is the better pick.
Pros
- Among the highest-spinning wedges made - 4th for spin in MyGolfSpy 2023 Most Wanted, full-shot spin north of 10,000 rpm
- 43% more spin in the wet than the 2020 model, so bite holds up in any condition
- ZipCore lifts MOI ~20% for a more forgiving tour wedge without a game-improvement look
- Four grinds plus three finishes cover most swings and conditions
Cons
- Consistency was the relative weak point against a strong 2023 field
- A compact teardrop blade, so less forgiving than the cavity-back CBX line
- A tour-style profile rewards a repeatable strike more than a forgiving cavity-back would
By dimension
Forgiveness
Strong for a tour-style wedge - ZipCore centralises the CG and lifts MOI by up to 20%, making it noticeably more forgiving without looking like a game-improvement club, with above-average performance in every scoring category and a 5th-overall Most Wanted 2023 finish. More forgiving than a pure blade, but still a compact teardrop - below the cavity-back CBX line.
Distance
Best-in-class spin - Most Wanted 2023 ranked it 4th for spin and 5th overall at 6,186 rpm in standardised testing, with full-shot spin north of 10,000 rpm and virtually no loss in the wet. It produces 43% more wet spin than the 2020 RTX ZipCore, with 200-300 rpm gains on mid-swing shots. Among the highest-spinning wedges available for tight distance control.
Workability
Tour-grade shotmaking - the compact teardrop blade and four sole grinds (Low, Low+, Mid, Full) deliver excellent greenside creativity and open-face control, the grind range matching swing type and turf conditions. A genuine shotmaker's wedge - more workable than any cavity-back Cleveland.
Feel
Soft and refined - centre strikes are super soft through the hands with ZipCore absorbing harsh feedback even on toe misses, with a firm but solid sensation at impact. Among the better tour-wedge feels - soft on the centre, honest on the miss.
Sound
A firm, low note - a firm clap lower-pitched than average and moderate in volume, among the best wedges for sound, a lower-pitched, satisfying clap over a sharp crack. A clean, muted impact note.
Looks at address
Clean and classic - the classic teardrop shape, moderate face size and toe milling look great at address, among the best wedges for looks. A timeless tour profile, slightly more compact than the 2020 RTX ZipCore.
Sources
Some of the reviews, lab tests and head-to-head comparisons we read while grading this club.