Are Zipcore Wedges Really Forged?

[Mookieb10]

I don’t know if I have a mental block, but I swore the Zipcores were a cast product, then I came across this Q&A with a senior product manager from Cleveland and his quote was:

 

”These wedges are forged from 8620 carbon steel then we blast it with heat of more than 1,000°C to remove the impurities in the metal.”

What gives?

 

https://www.tgw.com/golf-guide/cleveland-rtx-zipcore-wedge-interview/

[tobiasjd]

I've seen them described as cast, but I mean it's 8620.  So it will feel like 8620.  It doesn't really matter.

[spring70]

I think TGW is confusing forged with their "new" heat treat process.

[MattC555]

I'm guessing they are cast then stamp forged.  8620 is an alloyed steel that is harder than 1020 forged clubs.  Technically forged I guess, but not what comes to mind when someone says forged clubs. 

[mogc60]

Forged enough. 😂 I mean honestly most forged clubs nowadays are stamp forged in some form. Very few true forging anymore. 8620 has been a very popular wedge steel for a long time. I actually prefer it to 1020/1025 in wedges. 

[hammergolf]

6 hours ago, Mookieb10 said:

I don’t know if I have a mental block, but I swore the Zipcores were a cast product, then I came across this Q&A with a senior product manager from Cleveland and his quote was:

 

”These wedges are forged from 8620 carbon steel then we blast it with heat of more than 1,000°C to remove the impurities in the metal.”

What gives?

 

https://www.tgw.com/golf-guide/cleveland-rtx-zipcore-wedge-interview/

Forged has become such a loose interpretation now. Technically anything that is "pressed" in a forge is now considered a forged club. It used to be defined as a solid piece of a softer metal that is pressed into a club head. Today if any part of the club is "forged" it is marketed that way. In fact almost ALL of the clubs on the market today that are called "forged" are not one piece heads. The Zipcore wedges are not forged, but neither are Vokey's. I still to this day can't feel the difference in feel between 8620 wedges and "forged" (Mizuno, Miura, ) wedges. From what I understand in talking to club designers as well as metallurgists is that through different heat treating processes, you can actually make cast 8620 softer than 1025.