Cleveland Golf Clubs
Cleveland RTZ vs RTX 6 ZipCore: Which Tour Wedge
Two tour wedges in the same range, and how to decide between them.
The situation
RTZ is the current flagship. RTX 6 ZipCore is the previous one, still in the range and still well regarded.
This is not a good-versus-better comparison. It is a current-versus-previous comparison, and those are decided on different grounds.
What RTZ brings
Z-Alloy construction and the current grind set, including the full-face ADAPT option. The newest face and groove work, and the widest current grind selection.
If you want the most recent version of Cleveland’s tour wedge thinking, this is it.
What RTX 6 ZipCore brings
ZipCore construction, which repositions internal mass to raise MOI and improve off-centre performance. A well-proven head that was the flagship for a full generation.
And — importantly — a lower price, because it is no longer the newest thing.
How much difference is there really?
Less than the generational gap implies. Wedge technology moves slowly, and the meaningful variables in a wedge are loft, bounce and grind rather than the alloy behind the face.
A correctly specified RTX 6 will out-perform an incorrectly specified RTZ every time, and it is not close.
How to decide
Take RTZ if the grind you need is only offered in the current range, if you want the ADAPT full-face option, or if you replace wedges frequently enough that being a generation behind will annoy you.
Take RTX 6 ZipCore if the grind and bounce you need are available in it, and you would rather put the saving toward a third wedge or a fitting.
For a lot of golfers the second option is the better buy, and there is nothing second-rate about it.
The saving is worth something specific
Wedges wear out. Grooves degrade with use, and your most-played wedge will need replacing in two or three seasons regardless of which generation you bought.
That argues for spending less per wedge and replacing more often, rather than buying the newest and holding on to it too long. A sharp previous-generation wedge outperforms a worn current-generation one every single time.
Where RTX Full-Face 2 fits
A third option in the tour range, with UltiZip grooves across the entire face.
Worth considering if you play a lot from rough or open the face frequently. The extra grooves are not a gimmick — toe strikes are common and they come off dead without them.
The thing that actually matters
Whichever you choose, get the loft, bounce and grind right. Those three decisions determine how the wedge performs. The model name determines how much you pay.
Buying tip: If your grind is available in RTX 6 ZipCore, buy it and put the saving toward a third wedge. Three correctly gapped wedges beat two newer ones.
Model names current as of September 2026.