CBX to ?

[pak]

Winter is here in New England and like many, I like to use the off season to fill holes in my bag. I've been gaming a 56 degree CBX as my sole wedge above the PW the past 2 seasons and while I had much success from the fairway and long chips, I find that my chipping just off the green leaves much to be desired. Definitely more Indian than arrow, but some equipment tweaks should help.

 

I'm considering going to a 54 degree MD5 WS grind given that the 12 degree of bounce matches the CBX, thinking the MD5 may give me more options from the fairway and around the greens. I can always add a 58 later on if I find issues getting out of bunkers. I tried the CBX2 in 50 and 56 and didn't like them as much. Thoughts on the MD5 or other options (no brand loyalty here)?

Edited December 17, 2020 by pak

[RoyalMustang]

I have used a MD5 in 54/56, RTX 4 and Zipcore in 54/56, and Mizuno T20 in 54/56.  It is really tough to say: they all are great!  I probably like the feel of the zipcore the best but I have had some great shots with all of them. The MD5 had a 130g X shaft on it that really made it feel a bit punchier: the RTX felt butterier for some reason, probably due to the stock shaft being more flexible.  The Mizuno just feels great all-around.  My gap wedge (48 degree) is an RTX and is a 130-135 yard club for me, so that is why I may stick with the RTX for the 54/58 setup.  

 

I still have all of these laying around and go back and forth from time to time and I still can't tell a performance difference. Feel, yes, but not performance. 

[dmeeksDC]

CBX and CBX2 are almost identical except for two minor tweaks so surprising you like one but not the other. I play a CBX2 58 that has been tremendous for a wide variety of shots. I think for most golfers it is one of the best wedges made. I play a thinner sole wedge — Wilson Staff Model — at 54 for certain shots. It is very nice for delicate chips. Both are great from the fairway or rough. And I’ve got a New Level Tri-Weight at 50 that is very nice and would be like a Callaway S grind. 

 

If I were going to replace the CBX2 the MD5 W grind would be my choice. If I replaced the Wilson I’d go with the S grind. I also think the zipcore full grind is a little underrated and I like it more than the mid grind that most go for.  

[winegr]

11 hours ago, pak said:

Winter is here in New England and like many, I like to use the off season to fill holes in my bag. I've been gaming a 56 degree CBX as my sole wedge above the PW the past 2 seasons and while I had much success from the fairway and long chips, I find that my chipping just off the green leaves much to be desired. Definitely more Indian than arrow, but some equipment tweaks should help.

 

I'm considering going to a 54 degree MD5 WS grind given that the 12 degree of bounce matches the CBX, thinking the MD5 may give me more options from the fairway and around the greens. I can always add a 58 later on if I find issues getting out of bunkers. I tried the CBX2 in 50 and 56 and didn't like them as much. Thoughts on the MD5 or other options (no brand loyalty here)?

Get the Kirkland Signature Wedges. They are in a different league. 

[Tommyj]

Ping Glide 2.0/3.0 if you want to stay with something that has some forgiveness.  SS grind in 54/56 has 12* of bounce and the sole is not too wide.

[Red4282]

Get fitted, sole grind and bounce are key and you want to get that right.

[Mookieb10]

Do you have room for a 3 wedge setup? Pw, 52, 58?

[pak]

1 hour ago, Red4282 said:

Get fitted, sole grind and bounce are key and you want to get that right.

I think getting fitted and going pw/52/56 or pw/52/58 is the way to go. Great choices and the biggest part of my game that I need confidence in when pulling a club to play the shot. Thanks

[ChipNRun]

On 12/16/2020 at 8:43 AM, pak said:

while I had much success from the fairway and long chips, I find that my chipping just off the green leaves much to be desired.

 

What are the specifics on "much to be desired" ?

 

The 52* may help... in my backup SLDR irons, and a Nike version I played and then sold quickly, I found the GW was a little softer on close-in chips than the PW.

 

(In my current bag, the 48* is a compromise between PW and GW). 

[bbfifas]

I played CBX 50 and 56 for a while with stock shaft 115g steel.  They feel a tad light to me but wedges flat out perform well on off center hits.  I did not mind it in the 50* spot but the 56 I did more so.  Recently picked up the Glide wedges 2.0 with modus 120 to match my irons and so far they seem like mini CBX's to me but with some added grind options.  Might be worth checking them out.  

[drb1956]

I gotta tell you, if you can't chip with  a CBX2 50* or 52* wedge, you need some serious help on that part of your game. I just recently upgraded to a 52* and a 58* CBX2 wedges, after playing Cleveland 900's at 52*, 56*, and 60* for like 12 years, and the CBX2 makes it so much easier, with great feel. Never tried Cally wedges. Always played Cleveland for wedges. Hopefully its not a between the ears part of the game, like the yips. Find a club(wedge) that you are really comfortable with, and you just gotta practice, and also find a pro (if your store where you buy clubs has one), and pick his brain. Get more than one opinion. Sorry, I am brand friendly with my wedges, but that is what they were originally known for. While you are searching, pick up another less expensive brand to try, you might be surprised. Its not always the name on the club. Just trying to help..

[pak]

My experience with the CBX2’s were not great because I tried graphite shafts to match my irons. I can always give them another shot in steel or even mix sets.

[brew4eagle]

56* is a lot of loft to be chipping with for most chip shots.  Ever try your PW or 9 iron, etc?  I have a 52, 58 set up and use the 52 and PW to chip a lot.  Only use the 58 if short sided.

[Myherobobhope]

On 12/16/2020 at 9:43 AM, pak said:

Winter is here in New England and like many, I like to use the off season to fill holes in my bag. I've been gaming a 56 degree CBX as my sole wedge above the PW the past 2 seasons and while I had much success from the fairway and long chips, I find that my chipping just off the green leaves much to be desired. Definitely more Indian than arrow, but some equipment tweaks should help.

 

I'm considering going to a 54 degree MD5 WS grind given that the 12 degree of bounce matches the CBX, thinking the MD5 may give me more options from the fairway and around the greens. I can always add a 58 later on if I find issues getting out of bunkers. I tried the CBX2 in 50 and 56 and didn't like them as much. Thoughts on the MD5 or other options (no brand loyalty here)?

Variety Of thoughts here...

 

1. I’m currently adapting to the sieckmann method of chipping from your short game solution... one of the more interesting outcomes is how much higher the ball comes out, which enables me to use lower loft wedges more often... it’s really opened up my short game.

 

2. with the wedges, I’d maybe think about a different grind and sole for a second wedge... my 58 has decent bounce and a wide sole... I bought it because I needed a 58 wedge and it was cheap... it’s turned into one of my favorite wedges. 
 

3. I’m also moving to a set gap wedge, away from the vokey... haven’t tested it yet, but I’m hoping it will help my longer shots into greens and my bump and runs around the green... it might make sense to look at a set wedge followed by a “sand” wedge / recovery wedge...

 

i think it’s important to think through what role you want each club in your bag to play and make sure it’s a good fit (and that your aren’t missing anything) and adjust as needed.

[pak]

On 12/17/2020 at 5:36 AM, Tommyj said:

Ping Glide 2.0/3.0 if you want to stay with something that has some forgiveness.  SS grind in 54/56 has 12* of bounce and the sole is not too wide.

Glide 3.0 look to bridge the gap between CBX and blade wedges and I like the 12* of bounce on the 56.

[scomac2002]

4 hours ago, drb1956 said:

I gotta tell you, if you can't chip with  a CBX2 50* or 52* wedge, you need some serious help on that part of your game.

 

Well, I guess I'm in need of serious help then.  I had a 56° CBX for the first half of the season and it was terrible!  The ball went nowhere on a full swing continually leaving me short compared to what I was used to and it was a bear to chip with.  The wide V grind sole had awful turf interaction for my swing.  I lost track of the number of times I stubbed a chip.  It was quite possibly the single worst golf club I ever attempted to play with!

[HackerDave]

I went from the 56* CBX to 52* and 58* RTX 4 and could not be happier.   They are just exceptional wedges.   Before the year with the CBX, I was a Vokey guy for 20+ years.   

[pak]

1 hour ago, HackerDave said:

I went from the 56* CBX to 52* and 58* RTX 4 and could not be happier.   They are just exceptional wedges.   Before the year with the CBX, I was a Vokey guy for 20+ years.   

Do the RTX 4’s provide forgiveness around the greens? What finish and grind do you play?

[dekez]

13 hours ago, Myherobobhope said:

Variety Of thoughts here...

 

1. I’m currently adapting to the sieckmann method of chipping from your short game solution... one of the more interesting outcomes is how much higher the ball comes out, which enables me to use lower loft wedges more often... it’s really opened up my short game.

 

2. with the wedges, I’d maybe think about a different grind and sole for a second wedge... my 58 has decent bounce and a wide sole... I bought it because I needed a 58 wedge and it was cheap... it’s turned into one of my favorite wedges. 
 

3. I’m also moving to a set gap wedge, away from the vokey... haven’t tested it yet, but I’m hoping it will help my longer shots into greens and my bump and runs around the green... it might make sense to look at a set wedge followed by a “sand” wedge / recovery wedge...

 

i think it’s important to think through what role you want each club in your bag to play and make sure it’s a good fit (and that your aren’t missing anything) and adjust as needed.

The Siekmann method turned my deplorable short game around.  His green reading tips are good to. 

[winegr]

22 hours ago, scomac2002 said:

 

Well, I guess I'm in need of serious help then.  I had a 56° CBX for the first half of the season and it was terrible!  The ball went nowhere on a full swing continually leaving me short compared to what I was used to and it was a bear to chip with.  The wide V grind sole had awful turf interaction for my swing.  I lost track of the number of times I stubbed a chip.  It was quite possibly the single worst golf club I ever attempted to play with!

I agree. I played with two for over a year mainly because I didn’t try to replace during Covid. In hindsight, I hated it so much. Clunky, bad turf interaction, not that precise on full shots. Poor spin. 

[pak]

2 hours ago, winegr said:

I agree. I played with two for over a year mainly because I didn’t try to replace during Covid. In hindsight, I hated it so much. Clunky, bad turf interaction, not that precise on full shots. Poor spin. 

My thoughts exactly with the exception of full shots.