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Insight Horizon Media

Are Cleveland zip grooves legal?

Author

Daniel Johnson

Published Mar 04, 2026

Are Cleveland zip grooves legal?

Have you seen the faces on those wedges? Cleveland calls them “laser-milled” and there are grooves on the face of the club in addition to the “Zip Grooves” that are the same grooves that the CG14 has (but are banned). It goes to show you, when in doubt, go to the list, the USGA Conforming Club & Ball List.

What are Cleveland zip grooves?

Zip Grooves™ – The breakthrough, envelope-stretching geometry from Cleveland® Golf. This patented technology features consistent milling of each groove to maximum conforming dimensions. The CNC machine form cutter bit is designed to the exact shape of the groove – creating grooves and edge radii with total precision.

How good are Cleveland wedges?

Cleveland’s data says most wedge shots are between 20 and 50 yards. At those distances, you’re not compressing the ball very much, so two extra rows of sharper grooves means more groove on the ball at impact. “We’re not trying to get more spin out of your 62-degree wedge and less spin out of your 46-degree wedge.

Are Cleveland ZipCore wedges forgiving?

First, the company believes that the CBX ZipCore has a more forgiving sole and face, which makes it easier to hit when compared to more traditional wedges. The CBX ZipCore uses the company’s UltiZip grooves, which are 11% sharper, 7.3% deeper and 7.4% closer together than in previous models.

When were square grooves banned?

1990
Saying that the use of square or U grooves in golf irons ”has changed the nature of the game,” the PGA Tour Policy Board today declared clubs with square grooves illegal for use in PGA Tour events starting Jan. 1, 1990.

What wedge grooves are illegal?

Under United States Golf Association (USGA) rules implemented on January 1, square or U-grooves have been outlawed but a 20-year-old Ping wedge was deemed legal because of a lawsuit won by its manufacturer over the USGA in 1990.

Is groove sharpening legal?

Are golf groove sharpeners legal? While it is perfectly legal to use a golf groove sharpener, your modified club must still comply with the rules of the game regarding golf groove alignment, depth and spacing. There are also limitations on how sharp grooves can be on any clubs with a loft greater than 25 degrees.

Why are Cleveland wedges so good?

Cleveland’s most tour authentic wedge ever, and they can say that because they also make the cavity-back CBX. Tolerances for Cleveland’s wedge grooves are as good as they get as every groove is protected from the finishing process, which you don’t get from any other wedge brand.

Who makes Cleveland wedges?

To this day, the 588 wedge is one of the best selling golf clubs of all time….Cleveland Golf.

TypeSubsidiary
Number of employees350+
ParentSumitomo Rubber Industries
Websiteclevelandgolf.com

Are square groove wedges illegal?

Are U shaped grooves legal?

The Big Lie: “Square Grooves Are Being Outlawed.” Golf club manufacturers can continue to make clubs with grooves shaped like a “V”, a “U” or “square”. The USGA Rules have previously allowed, and will continue to allow, for a series of “straight grooves” with diverging sides and a symmetrical cross-section.

What makes a wedges illegal in golf?

The rules affect clubs with lofts of 25 degrees or more and, therefore, affect wedges of all types. The rules ban clubs with “sharp-edged U-grooves,” according to the PGA Tour, in favor of “the V-groove designs used predominantly in the past.” The groove rules took effect on the PGA and LPGA tours on Jan. 1, 2010.

What are the new grooves on the Cleveland wedges?

The wedges feature Cleveland’s new UltiZip grooves, which are 11% sharper and 7.3% deeper than previous generations, whilst also being 7.4% closer together to provide more contact between the ball and the grooves on every strike. The idea behind this is that they generate more spin, and more consistent spin, from any course conditions.

Are final spin Cleveland’s ZIP grooves any good?

Cleveland CG12 Zip Wedges Review. The wedges are all 35.5″ or 35.25″ in length with a lie angle of 64° and a swing weight ranging from D3 in the 46-48° wedges, D4 in the 50-52°, and D6 in the 54° wedges and up. Final Spin Cleveland’s Zip Grooves are an interesting move for the company, but not for the right reasons.

Are the Cleveland RTX zipcore wedges any good?

The RTX ZipCore is Cleveland’s wedge option for better players, who I think will enjoy the sound and feel that they offer. However I still think that these are more than usable for mid handicappers thanks to the forgiving sole shape and relatively friendly look at address.

What are zip grooves on the cg12s?

Cleveland’s new “Zip Grooves” are larger, allowing for more debris to be swept away and cleaner club/ball contact for more spin. In theory, anyway. The hot feature on the CG12s is the addition of the “Zip Grooves.” The grooves on these wedges are milled to the current maximum conforming dimensions using a proprietary CNC mill bit.