Cleveland RTX 4 Wedge
Golfible Rating: 9.5 /10
What We Like
The Cleveland RTX 4 comes in many different grind and head options including full, mid-low, and XLow sole grinds. This gives golfers many options when purchasing so they can own the right club for their style and the type of course they play.
Cleveland gives the option to purchase the club in 10 different lofts from 46 to 64 degrees. Having this many options enables players to buy a set of them and gap them between degrees accordingly. It also allows golfers to practice at the store and see which loft they’re most comfortable with.
The RTX 4’s laser-milled grooves permit it to tightly grip the ball at impact resulting in high spin, leading to shorter tap-ins as well as saving and scoring opportunities.
What We Don’t Like
The blade-style RTX 4 doesn’t have a cavity so can be difficult to hit for beginners and high-handicappers. Especially the higher lofted wedges.
The face of the RTX 4 is smaller than its previous model the RTX 3. This makes the club slightly less forgiving on mishits.
Key Summary
With its low weighted center of gravity behind the face, three types of milling, and multiple sole grind options, the Cleveland RTX 4 is a great tour-level wedge for both mid and low-handicappers to enjoy on the course.
Summary
This article will delve into the specifications, performance, and details regarding the Cleveland RTX 4 wedge.
After reading, you will have a pretty good idea of whether or not the wedge might be a good fit for your game.
What Sets The Cleveland RTX 4 Wedge Apart From Competitors
The Cleveland RTX 4 is a step ahead of many competitors thanks to its all-around performance and renowned brand name.
The club was featured in Golf Digest’s 2019 Hot List which is an award given to the best wedges on the golf market. The club is on par with other top-branded wedges that also made the list ranging from Titleist, TaylorMade, Ping to Callaway.
Many of the top tour pros play Cleveland and have used the RTX 4 including 2021 Master’s champion Hideki Matsuyama.
2019 Open Championship winner Shane Lowry ran away with the Open by six strokes at Royal Portrush using Cleveland RTX 4 wedges but has now switched to the newer ZipCore Model.
Below is a chart of professional golfers who have Cleveland wedges in their bags.
| Player | Model |
|---|---|
| Brooks Koepka | Cleveland RTX ZipCore Tour Rack Raw |
| Hideki Matsuyama | Cleveland RTX 4 Forged Prototype |
| Shane Lowry | Cleveland RTX ZipCore |
| Martin Laird | Cleveland RTX 4 Raw/Cleveland RTX 3 Raw |
| Ryan Palmer | Cleveland RTX Zipcore |
| Graeme McDowell | Cleveland RTX 2.0 Prototype |
| Matt Kuchar | Cleveland RTX ZipCore Raw |
| Keegan Bradley | Cleveland RTX Zip Core Tour Rack |
Key Decision-Making Factors To Consider and Cleveland RTX 4 Wedge Performance In Each Area
Appearance (9.2/10)
Cleveland made the RTX 4 wedges in three color schemes: Tour Satin, Black Satin, and Tour Raw.
The Tour Satin has a light silver chrome stainless look to it, while the Black Satin resembles a charcoal-black metallic appearance. The Tour Raw has a dark goldish make.
The Cleveland logo is stamped in black lettering and the degrees and RTX 4 model name are in white.
The tour satin finish showed more damage markings and scuffs after a few days of use compared to many other wedges on the market and Cleveland’s other two colors. The performance wasn’t affected but it does seem a lot easier to ding up.
Sound/Feel (9.3/10)
The feel-balancing technology designed by Cleveland helps players become more in control of their golf ball.
The muscle shaping on the back of each wedge, unique to the loft, allows golfers to hit high in the air or low when knocking it down.
The sound at contact on the sweet spot is quiet and similar to previous Cleveland models as well as other high-quality wedges in the golf world.
Performance Consistency/Accuracy (9.5/10)
Turf interaction on the RTX wedges was smooth with the club not digging into the ground too much. This inspires confidence in golfers to strike the ball clean.
Former professional golfer and YouTuber Rick Shiels put the RTX 4 wedges to the test—chipping near the green, on approach shots and using a launch monitor.
Check out the video below.
The Bolton, United Kingdom native noted that there was extremely high spin on approach shots from 50-100 yards out.
Shiels tried out the wedge on a launch monitor and was achieving a little over 10,000 RPMs for the spin from 100 yards, which is certainly over the average spin rate.
From 50 yards, the RTX 4 was consistently reading about 5,500 RPMs of spin which is extremely high.
This is key for wedges because when you’re 50-100 yards out you want to be able to land the ball near your target and not have it release too much.
Golfers should be able to control their golf balls appropriately and be confident in their yardages.
Loft/Bounce/Shaft Options (10/10)
There are 18 total combinations for the RTX 4 between loft and bounce options. This gives golfers the opportunity to have an arsenal of different types of shots.
There are four sole grinds to choose from:
- Full: The standard grind for mid-bounces which is great for solid chip shots and for full swings.
- Mid: This sole is shaped like the letter “V” and cuts nicely through the ground. The trailing edge maintains the leading edge low when opening the face for flops or bunker shots.
- Low: A C-shape aids in giving the toe and heel relief so it can be hit from any lie whether it be tight, long grass, spongey or dry.
- XLow: Designed specifically for tight lies and using it while drastically opening the clubface.
There are five different bounce options: 3 degrees, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
The three degrees is the lowest bounce available on the golf market. It’s ideal for vastly tight lies.
📢 Need To Know: True Temper provides the stock shaft for the RTX 4 with its stiff flex S400 shaft which is used by many players on the PGA Tour.
What Sets the Cleveland RTX 4 Wedge Apart From Competitors
Thanks to its loft, bounce, grind options, three-grooved system, and center of gravity; it performs better than many different wedges on the market. This club can be hit from any approach distance or chipping scenario to get out of trouble or score.
Comparison With Previous Models
Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 CB Wedge (September 19, 2014)
The Cleveland RTX 4 has a smaller face compared to its 588 RTX 2.0 CB wedge from five years earlier. Having a smaller face makes it easier to make contact on the sweet spot of the club.
The RTX 4 also contains a straighter leading edge and the heel height was lowered making it more of a similar transition from short irons to wedges. This makes it easier to hit and to get accustomed to quicker.
There is also more spin in the RTX 4 thanks to its grooves and milling additions which we will look into in the next comparison of the RTX 3 vs. 4.
Cleveland RTX 3 (September 16, 2016)
The RTX 4 differs from the RTX 3 because of its three different types of milling and grooves including on the toe of the clubface.
The fourth generation Rotex Face Technology is new and upgraded and brings the following features described below by Cleveland.com.
- Sharper Tour Zip Grooves
The deep and sharp grooves cut through the grass and sand helping add consistent spin to each shot.
- Durable Laser Milling
The laser milling makes the club last a long time and is just before the conforming limit so there is more spin and friction when struck.
- Centered Rotex Face Milling
The milling helps put more backspin on full swings, pitches, and chips.
📢 Need To Know: Cleveland also shortened the hosel on the RTX 4 and moved the weight behind the center of the clubface.
Best Alternative Products
Titleist Vokey SM7 Wedges
The Titleist Vokey SM7 wedges are a great alternative product to the RTX 4 wedges. They were also awarded gold on the 2019 Golf Digest Hot List.
The SM7’s have sharp edges that are matched to each loft. This was an upgrade from the previous model.
The internal weighting and center of gravity differentiate between lofts to help with consistency in distances and trajectory control.
The CG was raised two millimeters on higher-lofted wedges to create more spin and assist with solid contact since it can be more difficult to hit lob wedges clean on the sweet spot all the time.
Bob Vokey, the legendary clubmaker, found that the clubs when hit accurately, disperse four feet tighter than older models.
Vokey wedges come in 48-64 degrees for loft and have six different sole grinds resulting in 23 total options.
The stock shaft for the SM7 is the True Temper Dynamic Gold S200.
The colorways available are Tour Chrome, Brushed Steel, Jet Black, and Raw.
Callaway Mack Daddy 5
Another gold medalist on the Golf Digest 2019 Hot List, the Mack Daddy 5 wedges, were designed to make golfers spin control wizards.
Callaway created the club with milled ridges that have “80 contact points” to grip the cover of the ball and its dimples resulting in significant spin whether it be greenside, from the fairway, or rescue.
The wedges are available in lofts from 46-64 degrees and have four sole grind selections.
The clubs are equipped with Project X Catalyst 80 shafts and can be bought in Platinum Chrome and Matte Black colors.
📢 Need To Know: The Mack Daddies have two types of milled grooves which are used with certain lofts. There is also an additional surface roughness between grooves to help with gripping the ball to increase backspin.
Conclusion
The RTX 5’s combination of spin, accuracy, and feel make it an excellent option for mid to high-handicappers to place in their bags and knock it close with.
The price point is slightly lower than fellow top wedges on the market also makes it an attractive purchase.
Make sure to mention if you’ve played with Cleveland wedges and share your thoughts in the comments section.
FAQs
Are Cleveland RTX 4 Wedges Forged?
Yes, some of the Cleveland RTX 4 wedges are forged. Cleveland offers both a forged and a cavity back option for the RTX 4 line of wedges. The forged version is made from 8620 carbon steel and is designed to offer a softer feel and greater precision.
What is the difference between RTX 4 and RTX Zipcore?
The difference between the Cleveland RTX 4 and Cleveland RTX Zipcore lies in their design and technology. The RTX Zipcore has a new core design that generates more spin and consistency, while the RTX 4 has a more conventional blade shape and groove pattern. Ultimately, choosing between the two depends on individual preferences and playing style.
