Cleveland 588 Forged CB vs Cleveland 588 TT
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | 588 Forged CB loft | 588 TT loft | 588 Forged CB lie | 588 TT lie | 588 Forged CB length | 588 TT length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 18 | — | 59 | — | 39.25 | — |
| 3 | 21 | 19 | 59.5 | 60 | 38.75 | 39.75 |
| 4 | 24 | 21 | 60 | 60.75 | 38.25 | 39.125 |
| 5 | 27 | 24 | 60.5 | 61.5 | 37.75 | 38.5 |
| 6 | 31 | 27 | 61 | 62.25 | 37.25 | 37.875 |
| 7 | 35 | 31 | 62 | 63 | 36.75 | 37.25 |
| 8 | 39 | 35 | 63 | 63.5 | 36.25 | 36.75 |
| 9 | 43 | 39 | 64 | 64 | 35.75 | 36.25 |
| PW | 47 | 44 | 64 | 64.5 | 35.5 | 35.75 |
| DW | — | 49 | — | 64.5 | — | 35.5 |
| SW | — | 54 | — | 64.5 | — | 35.25 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- 588 Forged CB
- 588 TT
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the 588 Forged CB is 35° and the 588 TT is 31°, a 4° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the 588 TT should carry roughly 12 to 16 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the 588 Forged CB. Across the 8 clubs both sets share, the 588 TT averages 3.4° stronger, with the largest gap at the 6-iron (31° vs 27°). The pitching wedges are 47° and 44°; the stronger one leaves a 6° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the 588 Forged CB 7-iron sits 1° flatter (62° vs 63°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander; the 588 TT 7-iron is 0.5 inches longer (36.75" vs 37.25").
The sets are built differently: the 588 Forged CB runs 2-iron to PW (9 clubs), the 588 TT 3-iron to SW (10 clubs).
The 588 Forged CB is a players iron and the 588 TT a players distance iron, so they sit one step apart on the forgiveness scale. The 588 TT is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for roughly 5 to 15 handicaps who want extra distance from a compact head. The 588 Forged CB trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits roughly scratch to 10 handicaps.
The 588 Forged CB is listed as forged progressive cavity back and the 588 TT as investment cast compact cavity back. Forging, as in the 588 Forged CB, is generally credited with a softer feel; casting, as in the 588 TT, allows more complex cavity and weighting shapes, which is why it dominates forgiving irons.
Both sets were introduced in 2013, so this is a choice between two models from the same lineup rather than an upgrade: Cleveland designed them to sit side by side for different players.
Which should you choose?
The 588 TT is the stronger-lofted set — up to 4° stronger than the 588 Forged CB on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Cleveland 588 Forged CB specs and Cleveland 588 TT specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cleveland 588 Forged CB stronger lofted than the 588 TT?
No. The 588 TT is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 31° against 35° for the Cleveland 588 Forged CB, 4° stronger and worth roughly 12 to 16 yards of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Cleveland 588 Forged CB and 588 TT?
At the 7-iron the difference is 4° (35° vs 31°). The largest gap on a shared club is 4° at the 6-iron, and all 8 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Cleveland 588 Forged CB or the 588 TT?
The 588 TT. As a players distance iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to roughly 5 to 15 handicaps who want extra distance from a compact head. The Cleveland 588 Forged CB is a players iron, better suited to roughly scratch to 10 handicaps.
Do the Cleveland 588 Forged CB and 588 TT have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Cleveland 588 Forged CB is 62° lie and 36.75 inches, the 588 TT 63° and 37.25 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
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