The science ofthe short game

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What level of player do your wedges suit?For different models we’ll target certain features ata certain player type. What sets us apart is that wedesign products for every type of player. We havethe CG12 for the good player who likes traditionallooks, the CG12 DSG for the good player wholikes to open up the face, the CG14 for everybody,but primarily mid-handicappers, and then we’vejust developed the Niblick for the guy that reallyneeds some help and forgiveness.

How much input do the tour pros have inthe design of a wedge?They have a lot of input. We always work incollaboration between our R&D design engineersand the tour. They are always talking aboutconcepts, shapes and prototypes and thoroughlytest things to make sure they feel right before itgoes into the market place.

Do you also test with a variety of handicapplayers before a wedge goes out?We focus local testing on handicap playersbetween about 5 and 15. We bring in hundreds ofthem and get feedback on the feel of the wedges,the sole design and different balances so that wecan then refine the designs.

What are the most important things toconsider when choosing a wedge?For the average player, balancing the number ofwedges and lofts so that they evenly space yourfull-shot yardages, but also give you the tools tohit all the short-game shots around the green.

You need to have a wedge that you cancomfortably get out of the bunker, and wedgeswhere you can comfortably hit a lot of low pitchesand chips. I’d probably place more emphasis onthe shots around the green because that’ssomewhere that can help to save you more shots.

What is the best-performing wedge loft?With all our testing the 56˚ wedge was the bestperformer consistently out of the bunker for mostplayers. It’s designed specifically for bunkers,which gives you a little more forgiveness, it hasthe right loft to get the ball high so you can getout of the bunker in almost every circumstanceand a couple more degrees of bounce.

How important is it for people to get theirwedges fitted?Wedges make up more than a quarter of theshots in an average player’s round so you canreally shave a stroke or two off your game by fine-tuning your wedges to suit your descentangle, your course conditions and optimise yourfull-shot gaps.It will help you get into more comfortablepositions on your scoring shots, consequently hitthem closer to the pin and eventually make moreputts. So it’s kind of a trickledown effect.

New groove restrictions cominginto force soon. How is thatgoing to affect you?It’s going to affect every equipmentcompany that manufacture wedgesand irons. We have a dedicatedteam who are constantly testingnew groove configurations, so we’llbe able to optimise these within the rules andrestraints that should make it an almost seamlesstransition for the average player.

The way that the USGA has proposed thetransition plan is very gradual so it’s really going tobe a minimal impact on the average guy.

The PGA Tour pros have to switch starting nextyear, so there’ll probably be some talk and someadjustment to a couple of the grooveconfigurations, but we think we’ve got the leg upon some future designs that are going to make itprobably a minimal issue many players.

Cleveland’s success began with the classic588 wedge (pictured). Have all your designprinciples evolved from that one club?They all tie back somewhat to the 588 shape.That’s the one that resonated with golfersaround the world and is just a traditionalshape that people love, so we always usethat wedge as a bit of a base.

Why do you think that wedge hasbeen so universally popular?My theory is that it had so much attentionto detail paid to it, especially from the hosel tothe leading edge, the curvature and the soledesign, that it’s just become the industry standardof what a traditional wedge should look like.

Even on our future models we have to spend alot of time on the shape features to get them tolook as good as the 588. We’ve sold 2.6 millionover 20 years.

Are groove restrictions are a good idea?It’s definitely an interesting idea to increase thedifficulty for players. I wouldn’t be surprised ifinnovation in product design negates all of theUSGA’s intentions. Equipment is always evolvingand getting better and so are the players. But itwill be interesting to see if it works out and if itdoes increase the difficulty out of the rough.

If it does make a difference I think some of theplayers could combat some of the spin effectswith a change of ball and maybe switch to a ballthat spins more and sacrifice a bit of distancebecause to get optimal spin you want a well-madewedge and a well-made groove system incombination with a ball that spins well. So youcould see some experimentation out there withballs and grooves to find a mix they like.

• Turn the page to find out which Clevelandwedge is likely to work best for you

www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Many of the world’s topplayers put their faith inCleveland wedges. WillSpence put the questionsto Scott Carlyle,Cleveland’s business unitleader for wedges

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www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Which ClevelandWEDGE SUITS YOU?

Scott Carlyle explains how wedge specialists Cleveland have a wedge out there that will suit all of us

CG12The CG12 is for the good player who likestraditional looks

CG12 DSGThis is for the good player who likes toopen up the face a lot

CG14The CG14 is for everybody, but primarilymid-handicappers, although lots of our tourplayers have now put these in their bags

NIBLICKTHE design philosophy was ‘ClassicConcept, Modern Design’. That’s the phrasewe use because The Niblick is not a newconcept, it was around more than 100years ago and was a very common, get-out-of-trouble 9-iron lofted club.

We wanted to do a chipper, butsomething that nobody had ever donebefore. So we came up with the idea tocombine the best features of a putter, awedge, a hybrid and an iron to createthe ultimate scoring club that you canuse on full shots and around thegreens.

It’s a really interesting club, easy toset up, very forgiving on chipping andeasy to control. It has Zip Grooves so it

spins and comes in two loft options thathave the equivalent full-shot distance as a9-iron, with the 37˚ option, and a pitchingwedge, with the 42˚.

There are some people who justabsolutely love the idea of the Niblick andhave both options in their bag, but mostuse the one club and typically they’ll getthe 42˚ because it’s the most versatile.

You can hit high pitches with it, you canpunch it out of the trees, out of bad lies,it’s kind of a recovery club and achipping club. It’s also reallyforgiving on heel or toe hits,they go a lot straighter than aniron or a wedge.

There was a little concern

about the initial reaction because we areknown as a traditional wedge companywith classic looks. We wanted to do ittastefully and it has been extremely wellreceived because there are so many playerswho realise the benefits of its design.

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