The 2025 flagship against the wedge it replaced. Both earn a 9.2 — so this isn't about which is good, it's about whether the newer model's softer feel and cleaner look are worth paying for over the spin-king predecessor.
Quick verdict
The RTX 6 ZipCore is the value play— both wedges land on the same 9.2 consensus, but the older RTX 6 actually posts higher numbers for spin (9.8), forgiveness (8.8), distance gapping (9.5), and value (9.5). At $169 as the prior generation, it's the best performance-per-dollar of the two and the smarter buy for most golfers.
The RTZ is the upgrade— Cleveland's newest flagship wins where the development money went: feel (the new Z-Alloy steel is ~10% softer) and a cleaner premium look, plus the new full-face Adapt grind for greenside finesse. If you want the current model and value soft feel and shelf appeal, it earns the step up.
Cleveland
New Z-Alloy steel (~10% softer), HydraZip face system, the new full-face Adapt grind, 46–64° lofts. The current player-preferred flagship, built for feel and looks.
Cleveland
Cast 8620 carbon with the low-density ZipCore insert, heat-treated HydraZip face, UltiZip grooves, six grinds. The spin king and value champion it replaced.
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RTZ wins 2 of 7 · RTX 6 wins 4 of 7 · 1 tied
RTZ
RTX 6 ZipCore
Stacks UltiZip grooves, Rotex milling, and the new HydraZip system of laser-milled lines and face blasts — configured by loft grouping specifically to hold spin when the face is wet. Genuinely class-leading; it just doesn't quite top the RTX 6's raw number.
MyGolfSpy's robot testing measured it the highest-spinning wedge across every loft and shot type tested — and it wasn't close. The ZipCore insert plus the heat-treated HydraZip face grip the ball harder than any competitor measured.
RTZ
RTX 6 ZipCore
The headline upgrade. The new low-density Z-Alloy steel is roughly 10% softer than the RTX 6's 8620 carbon; Golf Monthly called it one of the softest-feeling wedges on the market. Still a cast head, and Golfalot found it firmer than the softest forged rivals — but it's the softer of these two.
Cast 8620 carbon with the ZipCore insert gives clear, informative feedback that's slightly firm — Plugged In Golf's “firm but informative.” Forged-steel purists notice the gap, which is exactly what the RTZ's Z-Alloy set out to close.
RTZ
RTX 6 ZipCore
A compact, player-preferred head with the new full-face Adapt grind and a 46–64° loft range gives real shot-making range, and reviewers praised the greenside creativity. Edges it by a hair.
Six grinds across 17 loft-bounce combinations plus tour-level control make it highly workable too — it sits a fraction behind the RTZ here, not a meaningful gap.
RTZ
RTX 6 ZipCore
Four grinds (Full, Mid, Low, and the new full-face Adapt for open-faced flops and sand) across a 46–64° loft range. Versatile, though the matrix is narrower than Vokey's.
Six grinds (Low, Mid, Mid-Full, Full, Full-V, X-Low) across 17 loft-bounce-grind combinations — the wider grind library of the two, with the Mid grind suiting roughly 80% of golfers. Dead even.
RTZ
RTX 6 ZipCore
ZipCore raises MOI a touch, but it's still a compact, player-shaped head with modest forgiveness — chronic mishitters get more help from Cleveland's own CBZ cavity-back.
The ZipCore insert moves mass to the perimeter for forgiveness “you don't expect from a wedge,” and it's measurably the more forgiving of the two on slight mishits.
RTZ
RTX 6 ZipCore
Consistent, predictable yardage steps across the 46–64° range — solid and dependable, just a touch behind the RTX 6's tested numbers.
TXG's launch-monitor data showed remarkably tight gaps from 46 through 62°; the ZipCore's consistent CG across lofts means you can trust the carry numbers whether you're holding a gap wedge or a lob wedge.
RTZ
RTX 6 ZipCore
At ~$169.99 street ($179.99 MSRP) it undercuts the Vokey SM11 and Jaws while delivering comparable performance — strong value for a current flagship.
At $169 and now the prior generation, it's the value champion — class-leading spin for $20 less than the premium benchmarks, repeatedly called the best performance-per-dollar wedge on the market.
Buy the RTZ if you...
Buy the RTX 6 ZipCore if you...
This is a “do you need the newest model?” matchup. Both wedges earn the identical 9.2 consensus, so neither is a mistake — the decision comes down to which set of strengths matches what you want from a wedge, and how you feel about paying current-model money for them.
On the data, the older RTX 6 ZipCore is the more complete performer. It was the highest-spinning wedge in MyGolfSpy's robot testing (9.8 spin to the RTZ's 9.5), the ZipCore insert moves mass to the perimeter for forgiveness you don't usually get in a wedge (8.8 vs 8.0), TXG's launch-monitor data showed tighter distance gapping (9.5 vs 9.0), and at $169 as the prior generation it's the clearer value (9.5 vs 9.2). Win four of seven categories at a lower price, with the same headline score, and you have the smarter buy for most golfers.
The RTZ wins exactly where Cleveland aimed its 2025 redesign: feel and looks. The new low-density Z-Alloy steel is roughly 10% softer than the RTX 6's 8620 carbon — Golf Monthly called it one of the softest-feeling wedges on the market — and reviewers repeatedly singled out the cleaner, more premium profile and the new full-face Adapt grind for open-faced finesse. If a softer feel, a better look at address, and the assurance of the current model matter to you, the RTZ is worth the step up. If you buy on spin and value, the RTX 6 still does the job for less.
“The highest-spinning wedge we tested across every loft and shot type — and it wasn't particularly close.”
MyGolfSpy·Most Wanted testing, on the RTX 6Favors RTX 6
“It's one of the softest feeling wedges on the market, with the ball seeming to stay on the face a fraction longer.”
Golf Monthly·On the RTZ's Z-Alloy feelFavors RTZ
“At this price point, Cleveland is essentially daring you to find a reason to pay more for a Vokey.”
Golf Monthly·On the RTX 6's valueFavors RTX 6
“This is one of the cleanest and most premium-looking wedges on the market — a complete short game package that's genuinely hard to resist.”
Plugged In Golf·On the RTZ's looksFavors RTZ
RTZ — our take
The newer flagship, and the pick if feel and looks lead your list. The Z-Alloy steel is the softer of the two, the profile is cleaner at address, and the new Adapt grind adds greenside finesse. Same 9.2 score as the RTX 6 — you're paying current-model money for the upgrades that matter to feel-first buyers.
✦ Best for: feel-and-looks upgraders who want the current model
RTX 6 ZipCore — our take
The value and performance pick for most golfers. It matches the RTZ's 9.2 while posting higher spin, forgiveness, distance-gapping, and value scores — and at $169 as the prior generation it's the best performance-per-dollar wedge of the two. Unless you specifically want the RTZ's softer feel and look, this is the smarter buy.
✦ Best for: spin- and value-first buyers (and anyone happy with last year's model)
They earn the same 9.2 consensus score, so neither is clearly better — it depends on what you want. The RTZ is the newer flagship and wins on feel (its Z-Alloy steel is roughly 10% softer, 9.0 vs 8.5) and workability, while the RTX 6 ZipCore posts higher numbers for spin (9.8 vs 9.5), forgiveness (8.8 vs 8.0), distance gapping (9.5 vs 9.0), and value (9.5 vs 9.2). For most buyers the RTX 6 is the smarter value; upgrade to the RTZ if you want the softer feel, cleaner look, and the new Adapt grind.
The RTZ is the 2025 successor to the RTX 6 ZipCore. Its headline change is the head material — a new low-density Z-Alloy steel Cleveland says is about 10% softer than the RTX 6's cast 8620 carbon — plus a refreshed HydraZip face system, a cleaner premium look, and the new full-face Adapt grind for open-faced finesse. The RTX 6 keeps the ZipCore perimeter-weighting insert and a wider six-grind matrix, and as the prior generation it's now the cheaper option at $169.
On the data, the RTX 6 ZipCore edges it: MyGolfSpy's robot testing measured it the highest-spinning wedge across every loft and shot type tested, giving it a 9.8 spin score versus the RTZ's 9.5. Both are class-leading — the RTZ's HydraZip grooves are tuned especially to hold spin in wet conditions — but the RTX 6 holds the raw-number crown.
Only if you specifically want what's new: the softer Z-Alloy feel, the cleaner premium look, the full-face Adapt grind, and the assurance of the current model. On pure performance per dollar the RTX 6 ZipCore at $169 is hard to beat — it matches the RTZ's 9.2 consensus and actually scores higher on spin, forgiveness, distance gapping, and value. Feel-first buyers will appreciate the RTZ; spin- and value-first buyers can save with the RTX 6.
Compare these head-to-head, or see how they rank across the field.