I play Titleist forged irons and wanted a similar soft feel for around the greens. I have tried a number of different wedges (Ping, Vokeys, and other Clevelands) and I have found that the 797 Beni has an almost unreal soft feel. It almost takes a little getting used to something that plays more buttery than my 690.cb irons. I feel that it gives me more confidence to finish the shot and with that I am much better at hole proximity. This club is definately one reason that my handicap has been on the way down. I almost can't believe some of the prices I've seen these sold at here, I would call it a solid bargain for a great feeling consistant shot making club. I would recommend this club to any player that prefers forged to cast, and a great way for higher hdcp players to get the feel for a jump to forged irons. Great club if you've been frustrated like me. Good Luck and Great Golf!Read full review
The Cleveland line of early wedges were identified by the order of their design and then the year. For example, the 588 line of classic wedges was Roger Cleveland's fifth design and debuted in 1988. Correspondingly, the seventh design was introduced in 1997 as the model 797. These wedges are copies of the vesatile 588 line but created in dense beryllium nickel. Because the density creates a deeper sound, people associate this with a softer feel. The clubs were crafted in only three lofts: a 52-deg 8-deg bounce D (dual) wedge with a moderate sole, a 56-deg loft with 14-deg bounce S wedge with a narrow sole, and a 60-deg L wedge with 4-deg of bounce and a moderate sole. They are wedges for the better golfer, but have characteristics that spill over to help the duffer. The sole grind is called "triple", but I have never ascertained anything special about it. They are just multi-functional wedges to play a variety of shots from a variety of conditions. I personally love the D wedge for its versatility, and wish the S wedge had a little more width in the sole for bunker shots. It is a pro's sand wedge, and takes a more deft touch than a 10-handicapper usually has. I do not play the L wedge much, but it hefts well and is visually appealing. Beryllium nickel is soft, so bag clatter will mark these clubs. I own a number of designs and rate these wedges high. The fact that I have squirreled away 3 D's, 4 S's, and 2 L models should indicate I value this U-groove model for the future. The Cleveland CG14 with the pre-2011 box grooves, the Ping Eye2 tight U-grooves from two decades ago, the Bobby Jones (Ortiz and Pelz)original box groove models, the 588's, and some of the original U-groove Vokey wedges are comparable. Avoid the new toned-down grooves; the old better spin clubs are legal through 2024. Avoid the newer wedges with a short hosel - Roger Cleveland himself told me the axis of rotation on them is inferior to the long hosel wedges first invented by Gene Sarazen with Wilson in 1932. I have five of them, too. You can manipulate a properly-designed wedge. Some of the newer designs cannot be fanned open or hooded shut without ruining the balance.Read full review
Given Cleveland's reputation for making great wedges, it's hard to believe these could possibly be underrated, but they are. I have owned or played just about every wedge Cleveland has ever made and the BeNi 797 is superior in every conceivable area. I can't say enough good things about these wedges. I know they're not as popular as the 900 series or the 588s, but if performance means anything to you, the 797 is the way to go. And best of all, you can usually get them for under $20!!
This is a wonderful wedge. I have an existing wedge which is getting worn with wear. This club has very little wear. The original grip is still in excellent shape.
I bought my first beni sandwedge back in 1999 and was looking for a backup. I was in luck when I found a new one on ebay. These wedges provide great feedback and excellent feel around the greens.