
I play in an area that gets pretty wet throughout the year, which can result in big divots and heavy shots. I came across the Callaway CB wedges with a wide sole and a high degree of bounce, so I had to try them.
Having a wider sole and a higher amount of bounce will stop the club from digging into the ground. This might not be the best option if you play in firm conditions or you have a very shallow swing. From what I’ve seen, most people struggle with hitting behind the ball, especially with their wedges.
I’ve been using the CB wedges for at least 25 rounds of golf so I have a pretty good understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Continue reading to find out if they’re right for you.
In This Review
Product Details | Intro | Looks | Performance | Bottom Line | Alternatives
Callaway CB Wedge Product Details
Club | Loft | Bounce | Lie | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
PW | 48 | 10 | 64 | 35.75″ |
AW | 50 | 12 | 64 | 35.50″ |
AW | 52 | 12 | 64 | 35.50″ |
SW | 54 | 14 | 64 | 35.25″ |
SW | 56 | 14 | 64 | 35.25″ |
LW | 58 | 12 | 64 | 35.00″ |
LW | 60 | 12 | 64 | 35.00″ |
Visit Callaway Website |
The Intro

A lot of golfers use cavity back irons. A lot of these golfers also use bladed wedges. While that could work for some people, it’s generally a good idea to match irons and wedges.
What I mean by that is if you use cavity back game improvement irons, you probably want to use a cavity back wedge. The opposite is true if you use bladed irons.
It’s not a set rule that you have to follow, but it’ll give you a more consistent feel throughout your bag. I think that’ll translate to a more consistent game overall.
The one word or one thought I think of when I look at the CB wedges is forgiveness. That makes these wedges a potential choice for mid to high handicaps who make inconsistent contact.
One thing to note about these wedges is that every model comes with a high degree of bounce. This is good in certain situations but also comes with its downsides, as we’ll get into next.
The Looks

What you’ll notice right away is that these clubs are chunky, especially if you’re used to a traditional wedge. It gives you the feel of a game improvement iron but in a wedge.
Even compared to other cavity back wedges I’ve used, the CBs are bigger. The sole is wider, the top line is thicker, and the back is chunkier.
On the 48-52 degree wedges, you’ll have a traditional face with normal grooves. On the 54-60 degree wedges, you’ll have full-face grooves.

The idea here is that the average player doesn’t always hit the center of the club. Since the grooves cover the entire face, you’ll still get some decent spin if you miss towards the toe.
The full-face design does take a while to get used to and I’m still not 100% sure if I like them or not.
The Performance

You might not like the way these wedges look. You might not want to pull a game improvement wedge out of your bag in front of your buddies. But if it works, does any of that really matter?
The main thing we need to figure out is whether or not these wedges can improve your game. For me, they improved certain areas and impacted others.
Areas that I really liked the CB wedges were:
- They were awesome for full shots (with all clubs)
- My bump and run shots improved (with the AW)
I have a pretty steep swing with my wedges and would hit behind the ball at times. With the wider sole, I almost never do it anymore and I find the wedges to be super forgiving for full-length shots.
The wide sole (and bounce) also helped me with bump and run shots around the green. You don’t need to pull the 60 degree out every time you’re around the green to hit a flop shot. Simple still works.
Areas where the CB wedges struggled were:
- Chipping around the green (with SW and LW)
- Hitting out of firm sand
The main downside I experienced was that they weren’t the best for delicate chips around the green. The wide sole (and bounce) made it tough to get under the ball and have it pop up. I ended up topping a lot of shots.

The same problem happened when hitting out of firmer sand. The club wouldn’t dig in as much as I’d like, which again, made it tough to get the ball up and out of bunkers.
The Bottom Line

After using the CB wedges for a good amount of time, I have some mixed feelings. There were areas I really liked and others where I struggled.
What I ended up doing was using my CB wedges (AW & SW) for full shots and bump and runs. I’d then use a traditional wedge (LW) for chips around the green.
That combo worked well.
My wedge game has been improving and I’m going to be switching to traditional wedges throughout the bag. I like the idea of having a consistent feel across my wedges.
But if you’re just getting started, you hit a lot of heavy shots, or you want max forgiveness, the CB wedges could be worth checking out.
If you have any questions or want to share your experience with the CB wedges, be sure to leave a comment below.
Where To Buy
Buy new from Golf Galaxy or used from Global Golf
The Alternatives
Even though the CB wedges could be right for some people, it doesn’t mean they’re the best choice for everyone. If you want to know what some of our favorites are, be sure to check out one of these:
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