Cleveland Golf Blog

Last month, on a chilly Thursday morning, we followed the Cleveland Golf Research and Development team to the range at Strawberry Farms Golf Club. That morning, they were in the process of testing the full line of 2013 clubs in preparation of the release date. After years of development, the team was excited about the 2013 line. They knew that they had engineered some of the best clubs that Cleveland Golf has ever produced.

With these videos, we wanted to give you, the reader, exclusive insight and information about the new products, directly from the people who designed them.

Alex Timmons on the Classic XL Driver

Jeff Brunski on the Classic Fairway Wood and Classic Hybrid

Matt Daraskavich on the 588 Altitude, MT, and TT Irons

Patrick Ripp on the 588 RTX Wedges with Rotex technology

Finding a set of irons is difficult; but finding a set of irons where each club is perfectly suited to your game, is near impossible. Cleveland Golf has changed that with the all new 588 Irons.

It features three sets – the 588 Altitude, MT, and TT – each with a unique profile: Maximum Forgiveness in the Altitude, All-Around Performance in the MT, and Workability in the TT. All three are engineered with shared specifications (loft, lie, length, swingweight, etc.) to give you the option to mix and match between the three models. The progressive designs (see designs below) allow you to easily build an iron set with the optimal blend of flight, feel, and forgiveness in each club. With so many set possibilities, it is easy to build a set of 588 Irons that is perfect for your game.

Click here to learn more about the new 588 Iron line. Maximize the potential of these irons by utilizing our Fitting System at one of over 800 Authorized Fitters.

588 Irons: What’s your mix?

2013 Product Line: In Stores Everywhere!

The time has come! Cleveland Golf has officially launched its new 2013 product line… Today in stores everywhere – and we couldn’t be more excited!

Cleveland tour staffers all over the world have already embraced these new products and are hitting the ball longer, straighter and closer to the hole than ever before.

This year, the equipment is just better – top to bottom. It’s been a pretty easy switch.
-Keegan Bradley

Here’s a quick primer on the new clubs in stores today. If you have any questions on any of these products, please comment. Or, tell us what you’re looking forward to playing!

588 RTX Wedges. Featuring our most advanced spin technology ever – the Rotex Face – in a blade design for more versatility. More spin thanks to 16% larger grooves and two advanced surface roughness technologies. Pros have been raving about Rotex and the increased control from every lie – you’ve got to try it to believe it! Explore More.

I think the new wedges have made the biggest difference. I’ve never been able to spin the ball like I have until I’ve played with Rotex. I used to watch balls just kind of release and now they’re checking up. The control that I have with these wedges now is unbelievable.
-Charlie Beljan

588 Irons. The new 588 MT (Mid Trajectory) and TT (Tour Trajectory) irons complement the 588 Altitude irons released in the fall. With three different flight, feel and forgiveness profiles, 588 irons offer the Ultimate Fit for every player. All irons feature Face Forged technology for enhanced speed and feel. The MT has quickly made its way into the bags of many Cleveland staffers. Explore More

I like the 588 MTs. I’m just trying to replace my two hybrids. They feel really good, and I’m getting the same height and distance out of them. I’ve also liked the 588 TT irons so far. I’ve always been used to playing a little bigger iron with offset, and these don’t have quite as much offset but they’ve still been really good for me.
-Troy Kelly

Classic XL Woods. The Classic XL driver offers enhanced variable face thickness technology for even more distance and forgiveness. The Classic XL Custom, Cleveland Golf’s first adjustable driver, has that same technology and a range of fitting options. The Classic XL Fairway and Classic hybrid offer more distance through a lower, deeper center of gravity and are ideal for all player types. These woods have been hot on tour – currently, three of the top 10 in PGA TOUR driving distance are swinging a Cleveland! Explore More.

I didn’t totally plan on switching until I took one swing with it at home at The Bear’s Club, and I hit it so good that it’s been in the bag ever since. It’s just a better driver for me, it feels really good. It’s definitely going further than my old driver, that’s for sure.
-Keegan Bradley

Again, let us know if you have any questions on these awesome products or what you’re looking forward to hitting!

Want to know if a Demo Day could be in your area soon?  Click here

What makes golf such an incredible game is the incredible range of emotions and achievements that come with it. Spirit. Determination. Passion. Victory. Cleveland Golf staffers experienced all of these feelings and more in 2012, making it one of the most memorable years in recent memory and living proof of How The Game Should Feel.

Following his breakthrough 2011 season, Keegan Bradley played with tremendous fire and focus in 2012. The 26-year-old validated his superstar status by winning the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and wowed millions of viewers with a dominant effort at the Ryder Cup.

Graeme McDowell returned to the winner’s circle at the World Challenge. The native of Northern Ireland truly is a gritty competitor whose future remains very bright, especially after becoming engaged to his longtime girlfriend just before winning.

Proving that dreams really can come true, two talented rookies, Ted Potter Jr. and Charlie Beljan, notched their first career PGA Tour wins in dramatic style – Potter in a playoff at The Greenbrier Classic, Beljan at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic after overcoming an on-course panic attack.

There were plenty of other highlights. George McNeill won the Puerto Rico Open. Australian Cameron Percy graduated from the Web.com Tour to the PGA Tour, while Steve LeBrun, Steven Bowditch and Tag Ridings advanced through the final stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School. And let’s not forget Aussie Rhein Gibson, whose 16-under-par round of 55 may have been the lowest score in golf. Ever.

At Cleveland Golf, our staffers’ accomplishments keep pushing us to create the best equipment on the market. We want to ensure that they, along with all golfers around the world, continue to hit amazing shots so they can continue to experience amazing feelings in golf.

It was a banner year for Cleveland Golf. The Classic Driver was a hit with tour players and amateurs alike, and 588 Forged wedges redefined the standard for feel and precision. Now that golfers have had a chance to experience the advanced performance of Rotex Technology – “The New Face of Spin” – there’s no telling how much more we can do to improve the short game and promote lower scores.

You’ll just have to see what’s next. We thank you so much for your support this year and will see you in 2013.

What was your favorite moment of 2012? What is your bold prediction for 2013?

G-Mac is back in the winner’s circle!

Congratulations to Cleveland Golf/Srixon staffer Graeme McDowell for capturing the World Challenge Presented by Northwestern Mutual over the weekend at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. McDowell locked up the title in style with birdies on two of his last three holes for a
4-under-par 68 and a 17-under total.

After coming so close so many times over the last two years, McDowell, the 33-year-old native of Portrush, Northern Ireland, notches his first victory since winning the same event in 2010.

“This event has been incredibly good to me. This one feels even more amazing,” said McDowell. “It just puts me in a nicer frame of mind going into the offseason.”

The win caps an eventful end of 2012 for McDowell, as he recently became engaged to girlfriend Kristin Stape. He popped the question last month on the helipad of the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, about 700 feet above ground.

Fellow Cleveland Golf/Srixon staffer Keegan Bradley, who was paired with McDowell in the final round, finished three strokes behind in second. The 26-year-old Bradley shot a 3-under 69, ensuring he and his playing partner were the only ones in the elite 18-player field to post all four rounds
in the 60s.

Both players trusted their Cleveland/Srixon equipment to own the top two spots — McDowell earned $1,000,000, while Bradley took home $500,000.

McDowell and Bradley have each recorded wins with their prototype Srixon Z-STAR golf balls. Bradley plays the Z-STAR, and McDowell plays the Z-STAR XV. Both also game Cleveland 588 Forged wedges and a Cleveland Classic 290 driver.

See a full list of the Cleveland/Srixon equipment below.

So, who’s going to win more in 2013: GMac or Keegan? Tell us!

In Graeme McDowell’s bag:

Driver: Cleveland Classic 290 (9.0°)

3-Wood: Cleveland Launcher FL (14.0°) with Miyazaki Dromos 83X shaft

Irons: Srixon Z-TX II, 4-9

Wedges: Cleveland 588 Forged (48°, 52° and 58°)

Ball: Srixon Z-STAR XV Prototype

In Keegan Bradley’s bag:

Driver: Cleveland Classic 290 (9.0°) with Miyazaki Kusala
Indigo 61X shaft

3-Wood: Cleveland Launcher FL (14.0°) with Miyazaki Kusala
Black 83X shaft

Hybrids: Cleveland Launcher DST (18°) and Cleveland Mashie
(20.5°) with Miyazaki C. Kua Hybrid 83X shaft

Irons: Cleveland CG7 Tour, 4-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 Forged (54° and 58°)

Ball: Srixon Z-STAR Prototype

Talk about a storybook ending.

In the place “Where Dreams Come True,” Cleveland Golf staffer Charlie Beljan pulled off an unforgettable win to cap the 2013 PGA Tour season.

Earlier this month at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Beljan, a 28-year-old rookie, needed a strong finish at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic to jump inside the top 125 on the money list and retain his card for next year. He did that and more, besting the field with a 16-under-par total to earn $846,000 and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

Beljan gained international notoriety for how he won, persevering through shortness of breath, a racing heart and a massive headache throughout the week. He particularly struggled to keep himself together during the second round, during which he gained the lead with a stellar 64.

The Mesa, Ariz., native overcame his nerves and held off the field with a power game off the tee and a deft short-game touch.

His first career PGA Tour victory also marked the first win for Cleveland Golf’s Rotex Face Technology. In Beljan’s bag were 52, 56, and 60-degree models of Cleveland’s new 588 RTX CB wedge, which features the most advanced spin technology ever created by the wedge leader. It combines three huge performance features – 16% larger grooves, enhanced laser milling and the Rotex Face Pattern – to generate more spin for more control and confidence from the widest variety of conditions.

Beljan also gamed a 9-degree Classic 290 Driver, leading the field with a driving average of 307.4 yards. For the year, he averaged 311.6 yards, second on the PGA Tour. Also in Beljan’s bag were Cleveland 588 Forged CB irons (4-PW), a Gold Medal winner in Golf Digest’s 2012 Hot List.

This win capped another memorable PGA Tour season for Cleveland Golf, in which three other staffers – Keegan Bradley, Ted Potter Jr., and George McNeill – claimed victories. Cleveland Golf tour professionals all over the world continue to trust the uncompromising performance of Cleveland products to play their best inside the ropes.

What will you remember most from 2012? Beljan? Bradley? Potter? Let us know!

Shane Lowry added a big win to his young career on Sunday, winning the European Tour’s Portugal Masters in dramatic fashion. Beginning Sunday’s final round four shots off the lead, he posted a 5-under-par 66 for a 14-under total and a one-stroke victory at Oceanico Victoria Golf Course in Vilamoura, Portugal.

The biggest turning point on Sunday came when Lowry made eagle on the par-4 11th hole, holing his 7-iron approach shot from the fairway. He followed that eagle with birdies on the 15th and 17th holes to secure the win.

Lowry, 25, burst onto the scene three years ago when he won the Irish Open as an amateur. The Portugal Masters marks the Irishman’s first win as a professional and makes him only the second golfer ever to win on the European Tour as both an amateur and a professional.

“I cannot believe this,” said Lowry, who won €375,000 ($486,000) and moved to 29th in the Race to Dubai with €727,943 (the top 60 players qualify for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship). “I can’t explain how I feel really. It’s a dream come true, I’m over the moon. I thought this could be my day, and thankfully it is. It was like playing in Ireland. It was crazy, it was great.”

In Lowry’s bag was:

Ball: Srixon Z STAR XV Pure White
Fairway: Launcher FL 3 Wood
Irons: Srixon ZTX2 3-pw
Wedges: 588 Forged

Readers,

For more than 25 years, Cleveland Golf wedges have been the standard by which all other wedges are judged. Our innovation and leadership have brought the wedge selection process from an afterthought to one of the most important decisions golfers make. It has always been our goal to provide the highest quality wedges to fit every golfer, not just tour players.

Of course, fitting every golfer is not an easy task. That’s why we were a pioneer in having multiple bounce options in wedges.

“Bounce” is the angle – in degrees – between the ground and the club’s sole plane. At impact in soft turf or sand, a higher bounce angle increases the upward force on the sole of the club to prevent digging. For firm turf and sand, a lower bounce angle improves contact by reducing this resisting force, allowing the leading edge to easily slide underneath the ball.

Generally, wedges with higher bounce can benefit players with a steeper attack angle, while those with a shallower angle of attack can benefit from lower-bounce wedges. Standard bounces accommodate the largest variety of turf, sand and swing types.

This is not a sure-fire way to fit everyone, which is why Cleveland Golf encourages every player to go through a wedge fitting and find the correct wedges for their game.

Back in 2000, Cleveland Golf introduced low-bounce options in the 900 wedge line. Then, in 2004, CG10 wedges incorporated high-bounce options and the accompanying dot labeling system: one dot for low bounce, two dots for standard bounce, and three dots for high bounce.

In addition to featuring a tour-proven shape and incredible feel, Cleveland Golf’s 588 Forged wedge line offers low, standard and high-bounce options to fit the needs of every player. This range of offerings continues to pace the wedge market.

What are the bounces on your wedges?

Readers,

Recently, we discussed how Cleveland Golf’s emphasis on multiple wedge lofts has changed the way golfers approach the short game. Another way Cleveland Golf has brought game-changing innovation and improved performance to wedges is by offering multiple finishes.

Each finish is unique and has its own advantages, from enhancing feel and reducing glare to adding style to players’ golf bags. We’re proud that we’ve brought multiple finishes to wedges for more than 25 years.

It started back in 1987 with the BeCu (Beryllium Copper) finish in 485 wedges, which provided softer feel in addition to a cool copper look. The next significant finish was Raw Tour Grind, or “RTG”, that was released to the masses in 1996 after overwhelming demand and success on tour. RTG is an unchromed, special grind version of the 588 wedge, with the head designed to rust over time. These wedges are particularly renowned for their feel, resistance to glare, and even enhanced spin.

Cleveland Golf also set a high standard for darker-finish wedges that resisted glare, starting with Gun Metal and progressing into Black Pearl. First introduced in the CG10 wedge, Black Pearl has remained a staple in Cleveland’s wedge lines thanks to its sleek style and ability to better frame the ball at address.

Other popular finishes have included Chrome, BeNi (Beryllium Nickel) and Satin Chrome.

So, what’s your favorite finish?

Readers,

What a summer it’s been on the PGA Tour! We can’t think of a better way to bring the exciting season to a close than with the Ryder Cup.

Cleveland Golf/Srixon is fortunate to have two Ryder Cup participants this year. Keegan Bradley will be representing the United States, while Graeme McDowell will be competing for Europe. Both have had great summers filled with amazing highlights, and both look to be major contributors for their teams this week at Medinah Country Club in Chicago, Illinois.

This year will mark the third Ryder Cup appearance for McDowell, a native of Northern Ireland who has a match record of 4-2-2 after competing at Valhalla in 2008 and Celtic Manor in 2010. You may remember the 33-year-old clinching the Cup for the Europeans with a dramatic singles win back in 2010. With his accurate driving, clutch putting and tenacious attitude, the fiery veteran will surely be one to watch this week.

Bradley enters the Ryder Cup as one of four rookies on the American squad. The 26-year-old native of Woodstock, Vt., is No. 14 in the Official World Golf Rankings, still riding the momentum he gained from winning the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last month. He’s already shown a knack for rising to the occasion in high-pressure situations, so this intense competition may fit his game perfectly. Although Bradley lacks professional match-play experience, two of his three PGA Tour victories have come via one-on-one playoffs.

On paper, this Ryder Cup looks as close as any we’ve ever seen.  You can follow a close look at the CG/Srixon staffers on our @CGSrixonTour twitter acount and we want to know who you’re rooting for! Visit our Facebook page and tell us who you think will bring home the Cup this week!