Review by L. Bolt
Pros:
Great Shape at Address, a Couple finish options to choose from, great Stock Shaft
Have a varying amount of bounce angles for each wedge to fit a wide variety of players and amazing Feel
Cons:
Graphics are very busy on the 588 wedges, stock Grip
Black Pearl Finish will wear over time
Overall:
Cleveland hit a home run with the new 588 wedge line. They have a great look that can be customized by each golfer through My Custom Wedge on Cleveland’s website. More important than just the looks these wedges have outstanding feel with plenty of bounce option to fit each golfer and they’re varying needs.
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Backstory:
I like many of us here am a club ho. I take this to an extreme with wedges as I am always searching for the perfect wedge in all conditions. For the past few seasons I have been playing Scratch 1018’s. I however was not 100% satisfied with them depending on the course and the conditions that I was playing in. So testing began. I tested wedges from Miura, TaylorMade, Titleist and of course Scratch. I was still searching for the perfect wedge. Then GolfWRX contacted me and offered me a great opportunity to test the New Cleveland 588 Wedges. Of course I jumped at the opportunity and would like to thank Cleveland Golf and GolfWRX for the great opportunity.
Look:
I went with the Black pearl finish on my wedges and it is fantastic. It has a bit of shine to it but has a muted face due to the milling on the face. After three weeks of play it does show some wear on the face and sole however the finish has stood up very well. The wedge head itself has a very round profile which suits my eye perfectly. The only negative I have found with these wedges is in the looks department however. The graphics on these wedges are just to busy for my tastes. Cleveland should have gone simple instead of putting so many logos and writing on the wedge. I do not need to see Laser milled outlining the faces of my wedges. I prefer a nice clean look and this somewhat takes away form an otherwise great looking wedge. This however can be customized through the Cleveland My Custom Wedge program as well.
Performance/Playability:
Amazing is the easiest way to sum it up. Cleveland offers a wide variety of bounce options to help with our varying needs. I play a wide variety of shots with my wedges and every shot I attempted these wedges executed to perfection. Out of the sand especially fairway bunkers that are 50+ yards and out these are fantastic. I have found that the spin off of these wedges is up there with anything on the market today. I did change the grip that comes with the wedges as I am not a fan of
Feel:
Feel off these is a bit different than the Scratch wedges I came from. This is a good thing in my case though. I found the Scratch wedges to feel a bit softer however I get much better feedback with the Cleveland wedges. The area the Cleveland 588 really shines is the Tour Concept Shaft. They feel fantastic and really help keep the ball flight down a touch but they increase spin at the same time. It is a great alternative to the Dynamic Gold Spinner.
Bottom Line:
Cleveland hit a home run with the new 588 wedge line. If you are looking for a wedge that you can hit almost any shot with and has an outstanding look then the Cleveland 588 should be on the top of your list. Cleveland has done a fantastic job bringing custom options to the average consumer. It is a trend the wedge industry is starting and it is something that will be a huge help in finding the “perfect” wedge.
You can build your own custom wedges and check out all the options at http://www.cleveland…/mycustomwedge/
Cleveland Golf, the winners of more than 335 PGA Tour championships, including 26 majors, is extremely pleased to introduce the new 588® Forged wedge. The 588® Forged wedge, which maintains the popular, tour-proven shape of Cleveland® Golf’s original 588® wedge, offers a series of technological breakthroughs to provide added performance benefits for players of all abilities.
Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums
Made from 1025 carbon steel, the 588® Forged wedge offers golfers an incredibly soft yet solid feel and less unwanted vibration. The advanced Precision Forging process ensures the highest level of part-to-part manufacturing consistency for supreme confidence and trust over every shot. The 588® Forged wedge’s Tour Zip Grooves™ and Laser Milled™ technology help to maximize spin in accordance with USGA regulations. Also, exclusive to the 588® Forged wedge is the Tour Concept steel shaft, co-developed and engineered by Cleveland® Golf and industry leader True Temper. With a unique stiffness profile that features a less active tip, this shaft promotes a more penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control along with superior feel.
“The confidence-inspiring shape of the original 588 wedge remains the standard by which all competitors’ wedges have been judged for more than 23 years, and attempting to build upon that benchmark is not a task we take lightly at Cleveland Golf,” said Todd Harman, President of Cleveland® Golf/Srixon® – U.S.A. “Our 588 wedge is the most popular wedge in the history of the game, and with sales in excess of 3 million units worldwide, it’s arguably the single most successful golf club ever brought to market. Our new 588® Forged wedge not only lives up to the 588® legacy, it takes Cleveland wedges to a whole new level.”
Available in Chrome and Satin finishes, Cleveland® Golf’s 588® Forged wedges will begin shipping in November 2011 with a listed minimum advertised price (MAP) of $139.99. Available in a variety of loft and bounce options, the 588® Forged wedge can also be personalized at MyCustomWedge.com with an array of color, logo, shaft and grind options.
Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums
The 588 Forged wedge maintains the popular, tour-proven shape of its predecessor with a series of technological breakthroughs to provide even more performance. Every wedge is Precision Forged from 1025 carbon steel for incredibly soft, solid feel and the highest level of manufacturing consistency for supreme confidence and trust over every shot. Tour Zip Grooves™ and Laser Milled™ technology maximize spin in accordance with USGA regulations. Exclusive to the 588 Forged wedge is the Tour Concept Wedge steel shaft, co-developed and engineered by Cleveland Golf and industry leader True Temper. With a unique stiffness profile that features a less active tip, this shaft promotes a more penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control along with superior feel. Choose from two different finishes – Satin and Chrome – as well as low, standard and high bounce options.
Cleveland 588 Forged Wedges Feel the Difference of Precision Forged! Its hard to find a top player who doesnt fondly recall playing a Cleveland Wedge at some point. One of the most successful and preferred wedge shapes ever is now remade in forged 1025 Carbon Steel. The new 588 provides the incredibly soft, yet solid feel experienced players seek. Its a new spin on feel.
Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums