If you are a mid or high handicapper, you should play a cavity back wedge for its forgiveness and consistency. Like cavity back irons, these golf wedges mitigate off-center strikes to keep you on target and in contention.

In this post, I break down the intricacies of a cavity back wedge and explain why you, as an average golfer, would perform better with one.

In addition, I’ll reveal my 3 favorite cavity back wedges which ensure optimal spin, crisp turf interaction, and an aggressive bite.

What is a Cavity Back Wedge?

A cavity back wedge is constructed using a cast, which enables engineers to create wided`r soles, perimeter weighting, and sharp grooves. This production technique is more affordable than the forging process used to craft blades.

You’ll notice that the wider sole prompts crisp turf interaction from any lie to prevent high handicappers from chunking short game shots. In addition, the perimeter weighting expands the sweet spot and halts spin drop-off for consistent results.

Furthermore, a cavity back wedge sports an advanced moment of inertia (MOI) to promote a square clubface through impact for straighter shots.

Pros of a Cavity Back Wedge

Prevents Spin Drop Off

The perimeter weighting on a cavity back lob, sand, or gap wedge expands the sweet spot to prevent spin drop-off across the face. As a result, you produce consistent revolutions per minute on all shots for consistent, accurate results.

When you play with blades, the sweet spot is set in the center of the clubface, and any off-center hits lead to a loss of spin and accuracy.

Straighter Shots

In addition to preventing spin drop-off, the perimeter weighting and broader clubhead sole combine to stabilize the clubface at contact, ensuring straighter strikes. You’ll find the increased MOI in the club prevents the face from twisting during your swing to keep it square into impact.

Crisp Turf Interaction

You’ll see that a cavity back wedge often contains a broader clubhead sole built to produce clean turf interaction. The wider sole glides over the grass with limited engagement to prevent amateurs from digging the clubhead into the turf and chunking your ship or pitch shot.

Eradicate Vibrations

The cavity back design on wedges allows engineers the space to employ vibration-dampening technology to protect your palms on the heel and toe mishits. Instead of nasty shocks running up your club shaft, the technology drowns them and ensures your hands enjoy a soft feel on every shot.

Suits A Wide Range Of Golfers

Finally, the forgiving, consistent performance of cavity-back wedges makes them an ideal club for a wide range of golfers. I feel middle to high-handicappers can benefit from its leniency to nail more up and downs.

Cons of a Cavity Back Wedge

Chunky Profile

The biggest drawback of a cavity back wedge is the chunky profile you look over at the address. These golf clubs are not the prettiest compared to a compact blade profile, but it was the only option to employ perimeter weighting to prevent spin drop-off.

Reduced Feel

In my experience, a cavity design gap, sand, or lob wedge produces limited feedback and feel at impact. I find this makes it difficult to judge the power of your strike to get the ball close to the cup.

Limited Workability

The final con of a cavity back wedge revolves around workability. Most wedges with this construction possess advanced MOI, which helps you square the face at impact for greater accuracy.

However, you’ll notice this restricts you from shaping your shots when you need to induce a draw or fade. This may not impact your shot plan as a high handicapper, but as you improve your game, you’ll want the freedom to work the ball around the golf course.

Who Should Use Cavity Back Wedges?

Mid and high-handicapper golfers should use cavity back wedges for their forgiveness, high MOI, consistent spin, and optimal turf interaction. You’ll appreciate the leniency of cavity back wedges when your rhythm and tempo is off and strike the ball in the heel or the toe.

A forgiving wedge with enhanced MOI combats the effects of off-center strikes to produce straight shots for superior accuracy. Although I feel most golfers can benefit from cavity back wedges, high handicappers stand to extract the most value.

Top 3 Cavity Back Wedge Recommendations

1. Cleveland CBX 2

Pros

• Produces consistent spin
• Enhanced MOI
• Forgiving
• Combats slices thanks to a toe bias profile
• Eradicates vibrations on off-center strikes

Cons

• The toe bias CG restricts workability
• It provides limited feedback

The Cleveland CBX 2 is among the best wedges with a cavity design that provides exceptional leniency and aggressive spin. In addition, my hands were protected by the Gelback technology, which eradicated vibrations from the heel and toe mishits.

Due to the hollow cavity design, Cleveland’s engineers distributed weight around the clubface’s perimeter for an expanded sweet spot. As a result, you’ll experience a limited spin drop-off and enhanced MOI for straighter shots.

Moreover, I appreciated the performance of the Enhanced Feel Balancing Technology, which prompted a toe bias to fight right misses. Finally, you’ll produce rampant spin off the 4th Generation Rotex Face technology due to its Tour zip grooves.

2. Callaway Mack Daddy CB

Pros

• Generates rampant spin
• Enhances traction
• Makes it easier for high handicappers to hit flop shots
• Smooth turf interaction
• Increased MOI

Cons

• Minimal bounce options
• Offers limited workability on full shots

The Callaway Mack Daddy CB wedge is a high-spinning cavity back wedge that ensures advanced forgiveness, a satin chrome finish, and clean turf interaction. I find the average golfer can produce consistent chip and pitch shots for more ups and downs.

You’ll see the Groove-in-Groove technology is the star of this wedge. The Callaway machine worked 4 micro positive ridges on the flat surfaces between the grooves, creating 84 contact points on the clubface. In my experience, this enhances friction on shots with an open face producing a high-flop chip shot that sits rapidly.

Moreover, the undercut cavity design enabled the engineers to position mass around the clubface’s perimeter to elevate MOI and forgiveness. Lastly, the satin chrome finish provides the wedge with an attractive satin chrome finish.

3. Tour Edge Launch Hot Launch E522

Pros 

• Incredibly affordable
• Limits turf friction by 35%
• It promotes straighter shots, thanks to a high MOI
• Increased spin
• Optimal forgiveness

Cons

• The oversized clubface may deter some players
• I experienced issues with a glare at address

The Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 wedge produces the best turf interaction for cavity back wedges, thanks to its exceptionally wide Houdini sole. Tour Edge suggests it limits turf friction by 35%, and although I cannot confirm that figure, I did notice a clean glide over the grass.

You’ll find that the clean turf interaction provided by the Houdini sole prevents you from digging your clubhead into the turf and chunking your shot. Instead, it promotes clean contact from any lie.

In addition, the super deep undercut cavity construction on the E522 wedge promotes a high launch on the flop and full shots for a soft, rapid landing. You’ll see this wedge features a gigantic clubface which boosts MOI for improved accuracy.

Finally, I admired the work of the full-face maximized grooves, which I felt provided maximum spin on all shots. Plus, it prevented spin drop-off on off-center strikes to ensure a consistent short-game performance.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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