The Pros and Cons of a Cavity Back Wedge (+ Top 3 Clubs)

A cavity back wedge is best for high or mid handicappers. It offers forgiveness and consistency. These wedges reduce off-center strikes and keep you in contention, just like cavity back irons.

I will be breaking down the intricacies behind a cavity-back wedge and explaining why average golfers would do 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 cast is used to construct a cavity back wedge. This allows engineers to create widedr soles and perimeter weighting as well as sharp grooves. This production method is cheaper than the forging process that was used to create blades.

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

A cavity back wedge also has an advanced moment inertia (MOI), which promotes a square clubface by impact for straighter shots.

 

The advantages of a Cavity Back Widge

Prevents Spin Drop Off

The perimeter weighting of a cavity backlob, gap wedge, or sand expands the sweet spot to stop spin drop-off across your face. For consistent, accurate results, you must produce consistent revolutions per hour on all shots.

Playing with blades is all about finding the sweet spot. Any off-center hits can cause spin loss and inaccurate play.

Straighter Shots

The perimeter weighting and wider sole of the clubhead combine to prevent spin drop-off. They also stabilize the clubface at contact, which results in 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 sole glides across the grass with minimal engagement to stop amateurs from digging into the turf and choking your ship or pitch shot.

Eliminate Vibrations

Engineers can use vibration-dampening technology to protect your hands on the heel and toes with the cavity back design of wedges. Instead of causing severe shocks to your club shaft, the technology drowns them. This gives your hands a soft feel and allows you to enjoy every shot.

Suits A Wide Range Of Golfers

Finally, cavity-back wedges offer a consistent and forgiving performance that is ideal for all levels of golfers. Its flexibility can allow you to hit more ups and downs for middle- to high-handicappers.

 

Cons of a Cavity-Back Wedge

Chunky Profile

A cavity back wedge has one major drawback: the large profile you see from the address. These golf clubs may not be as beautiful as a compact blade but they are the only way to use perimeter weighting to prevent spin dropping.

You will feel less

I have found that a cavity design gap, sand or lob wedge gives me limited feedback and feel at the impact. This makes it difficult for me to gauge the power of your strike to get a ball close to the cup.

Limited Workability

The last con of a cavity-back wedge is its workability. This construction allows you to square the face at impact with 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 Woundges?

Cavity back wedges should be used by high-handicapper and mid-handicapper players for their forgiveness and high MOI. They also provide 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.

Forgiving wedges with an enhanced MOI counter off-center strikes and produce straight shots for greater accuracy. Cavity back wedges are beneficial for all golfers, but high handicappers will benefit the most.

 

Top 3 Cavity Back Widge Recommendations

1. Cleveland CBX 2

Pros

• Produces a consistent spin
• Enhanced MOI
• Forgiveness
• A toe bias profile helps combat slices
• Radiate vibrations caused by off-center strikes

Cons

• The toe bias CG reduces workability
• It only provides limited feedback

The Cleveland CBX 2 is a great wedge with a cavity design that offers exceptional leniency. It also has an aggressive spin. Gelback technology protected my hands from vibrations from the heel or toe.

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.

I also appreciated the performance and toe bias of the Enhanced feel Balancing Technology. 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

• Gets you spinning at a rapid pace
• Enhances traction
• This makes it easier for high handicappers hit flop shots
• Smooth turf interaction
• MoI Increased

Cons

• Minimal bounce options
• Offers limited workability when using full shots

The Callaway Mack Daddy CB wedge has a high-spinning cavity rear wedge that provides advanced forgiveness, a polished chrome finish and good turf interaction. The average golfer can hit consistent chip and pitch shots, which will allow for more ups or downs.

You’ll see the Groove-in-Groove technology is the star of this wedge. The Callaway machine created 84 contact points on this wedge by creating 4 micro-positive ridges on flat surfaces between the grooves. This improves friction on shots that have an open face, which I find results in a chip shot with a high rate of sit-speed and good flop.

Moreover, the undercut cavity design enabled the engineers to position mass around the clubface’s perimeter to elevate MOI and forgiveness. The wedge’s satin chrome finish gives it an attractive satin chrome appearance.

 

3. Tour Edge Hot Launch E522

Pros 

• Incredible value
• Limits turf friction by 35%
• High MOI encourages straighter shots.
• Increased spin
• Optimal forgiveness

Cons

• Some players may be discouraged by the large clubface
• I had issues with the address.

The Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 wedge has the best turf interaction for cavity-back wedges due to its wide Houdini so. Tour Edge claims it reduces turf friction by 35%. I could not confirm this, but I did notice a smooth 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. It promotes contact from any lie.

The wedge’s deep undercut cavity construction promotes a high launch on flop and full shots for soft landings. You’ll see this wedge features a gigantic clubface which boosts MOI for improved accuracy.

I was also impressed by the full-face maximized grooves. They provided maximum spin on all shots. It also prevented spin drop-off from off-center strikes, ensuring a consistent short game performance.