Golfing News & Blog Articles

Stay up-to-date on golfing news, products, and trends from around the world.

Callaway CB Wedges

Tuesday, 27 June 2023

Callaway CB Wedge

Callaway has launched a new CB wedge lineup. These are the first Callaway wedges to feature urethane microspheres. Options have been simplified for the target golfer. At shops July 7 with an MSRP of $159.99. Callaway CB Wedge

Forgiving wedges are a thing. Don’t get us wrong. As the shafts get shorter and swing speeds get slower, it’s harder to miss-hit a wedge. The performance drop-off arguably isn’t as great as it is with longer clubs, but it is there.

In recent years, Cleveland, PING and Edison have offered cavity-back wedges to help the everyman golfer hit the ball a little closer to the pin. I’ve used PING wedges since the first-generation Glide and can attest that the extra help comes in handy.

Callaway, which has previously offered a forgiving wedge, has introduced an updated cavity-back wedge model.

CB Wedges – Mack Daddy no more

The Mack Daddy CB was launched back in 2020, and its replacement likely isn’t going to make you jump, jump anymore. With Phil Mickelson on his LIV-induced timeout from Callaway, the “Mack Daddy” name has disappeared from the company’s marketing parlance. Instead, the new offering is simply known as the Callaway CB wedges. Which is exactly what they are: cavity-back wedges from Callaway.

A Callaway First

Callaway CB Wedge review - face-on shot.

At first glance, these are simple-looking oversized wedges that offer more forgiveness than a traditional wedge. However, there is more to them than just being more forgiving. Callaway wanted the CB wedges to feel like a classic forged wedge, so they analyzed the sound frequency preferences of hundreds of players. The preferred sound in a wedge was quiet from a volume perspective and short from a duration perspective.

Callaway is using the same urethane microsphere technology found in its iron offerings to recreate a more traditional wedge feel. Having played a set of urethane microsphere-infused irons for the last four years, I’ll attest that it does provide a soft and solid sound.

The wedges feature full-face Jaws grooves in the 54-60 degree options. A new face blast helps to further increase spin. Personally, these aren’t for me, in the same way oversized putter grips aren’t. It’s a generational thing, but that’s not to say Callaway CB wedges aren’t without their audience.

While the wedge has a wide sole, it’s not flat. The Tri-Level design has a pre-worn leading edge that acts like a skid plate to avoid digging paired with higher bounce for even more forgiveness. A trailing edge grind allows for some versatility. It’s available from 48 to 60 degrees in two-degree increments. Bounce is highest in the 56-degree sand wedge before dipping again in the two lob wedges to give a little more greenside versatility.

As iron lofts have gotten stronger, it’s not uncommon for gap wedges to be 48-degrees. So, for the target audience, the Callaway CB offers a wide-enough variety of options with the right combination of forgiveness and versatility.

Again, for the target audience.

These aren’t Tour-level wedges, and they aren’t likely to be fine-tuned for better golfers looking to be precisely dialed-in with their wedges. With a one-size-fits-all design, Callaway CB wedges are intended for mid-to-high-handicap golfers.