No Bad Days Call Recap – My conversation with Casey Schultz of Srixon Cleveland Golf

This week I had the chance to sit down with Casey Schultz, Senior Product Manager at Srixon Cleveland Golf, for our No Bad Days community call. It was one of those conversations where the time just flew by. We covered everything from wedge materials and golf ball design to putters and brand philosophies, and Casey shared some great personal stories along the way.

Getting To Know Casey

I started by pointing out what a strong season it has been for Srixon and Cleveland on tour. Casey explained that his role is to guide a product from the first spark of an idea through to the day golfers can finally buy it. That means working closely with engineers, tour reps, marketing, and even legal. The part he enjoys most is listening to golfers and making sure that feedback actually shapes the products.

Tour Wins And Trust

We also talked about the impressive results on tour this past year, including multiple major wins and Ryder Cup appearances. Casey said it comes down to trust. When players believe in their equipment and the company is running a strong product cycle, those two things work together to deliver big results.

Digging Into Wedges: Z-Alloy

One of my favorite parts of the call was learning about Z-Alloy, Cleveland’s new wedge material. For years wedges have been built from 8620 carbon steel. Z-Alloy builds on that but takes it further. It is denser, softer, more durable, and it resists rust even on raw finishes. It also gives engineers more freedom to move weight around, which means extra forgiveness while still keeping that soft, responsive feel golfers want.

Casey told us that in the CBZ line, Z-Alloy has been a breakthrough. Compared to older 431 steel, it feels 25 percent softer. That gives golfers the sensation of a tour blade while still benefiting from the forgiveness of a cavity-back.

Grinds And Versatility

We dug into wedge grinds as well. Casey explained how each one is designed for a specific purpose. Gap and pitching wedges have a versatile sole for full swings. Sand wedges use an S-shaped sole that really shines in bunkers. Lob wedges are built with a C-shaped sole to give golfers more creativity around the greens.

For those who enjoy experimenting, the CBZ Full-Face line takes it a step further. In the higher lofts it offers lower bounce and full-face grooves for even more variety.

Casey’s Setup And Tour Trends

When I asked about his own setup, Casey shared that he uses a 50-degree CBZ gap wedge because it offers forgiveness on toe strikes. For his sand and lob shots he often mixes between RTX blades and CBZ models depending on whether he wants more variety or more consistency. On tour, he said most players are blending iron sets, usually combining the Srixon 5-series and 7-series to find the right mix of distance and forgiveness.

Balancing Srixon And Cleveland

I have always been curious how the two brands work alongside each other. Casey explained that they both have clear identities. Srixon irons are often designed with a tour-first mindset, while Cleveland wedges are built through constant feedback from tour players. Products like the CBZ wedges show how they also design specifically for amateur golfers by adapting tour technology into a more playable package.

The Rise Of XXIO

We also talked about XXIO, a brand that is already well known in Japan and Europe. Casey said it is now growing quickly in the United States, especially among golfers who have lost some swing speed. Everything about the clubs is designed to be lighter, from the grip to the head, to help players regain distance. Regional preferences do play a role. In Korea, golfers often want lower launch, while in the United States higher launch and more stopping power are the priority.

Sleeper Clubs And Golf Balls

When I asked about underrated products, Casey highlighted their drivers and fairway woods. They perform extremely well but sometimes get overshadowed by the irons.

The golf ball lineup was another big talking point. The Z-STAR family has something for every player. The standard Z-STAR is soft and spins the most. The Z-STAR XV focuses on maximum distance. The Z-STAR Diamond adds spin on long irons, which came directly from tour feedback. The Q-STAR Tour offers control and spin, while Ulti-Speed is built to deliver pure distance.

We also spent time on the Divide ball. Cleveland Srixon can produce a dual-cover ball without paint, which makes it more durable and gives it that striking two-tone look. It is not just for show. The split design makes spin easy to see and helps with alignment.

Putters And Shafts

Putters came up too, and Casey spoke about the Cleveland HB Soft 2 Black line. These now feature the UST Mamiya All-In shaft, which delivers more stability without adding weight. At under 200 dollars, they bring real value. The lineup even includes broomstick and counterbalanced options so golfers can try different setups without making a huge investment.

On the subject of zero-torque putters, Casey gave a very honest take. The concept has been around for a long time, and while it works for some players, it is not a universal fix. At the end of the day, the right putter always comes down to your stroke and what feels natural.

Looking Ahead

We wrapped up the call with a thank you to Casey for taking the time to share his insights with our community. What stood out to me was how open he was about the process and how much thought goes into every product. It is clear that so much of it starts with listening to golfers like us.

Our next call will feature Rapsodo, and if it is anything like this one, you will not want to miss it.