Verdict Typically, hollow-construction irons address speed, forgiveness or feel. In the P790, TaylorMade got greedy and addressed all three in a shape that appeals to better players. The result is an ultra-thin face with a polyurethane-foam filling. To enhance distance, the face insert wraps around the sole, leading into a cut-through slot similar to those on the company’s fairway woods. The key, though, is the foam filling, a lightweight material that allows the thin face to flex without adding significant weight. The material helps maintain an acceptable sound, too.
Comments (L) A muscle-back look, but the topline is enough to warrant confidence at address. (M) The sound is crisp, and the ball feels like it stays on the clubface an extra second before flying off.
Titleist
718 AP3
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★★
Look/sound/feel ★★★★★
Demand ★★★★★
Verdict For years some golfers have had difficulty deciding between the AP1 or AP2. Titleist addresses this with its AP3 – a ‘tweener’ appealing to better players in looks and others in performance. The iron has three constructions within the same set: a hollow, tungsten-bolstered construction is used in the 3 through 7-iron with a high-strength steel L-shape face insert that wraps into the sole of the club to provide flex lower on the face; the 8 and 9-iron have a 17-4 steel face insert; and the wedges are cast from 17-4 stainless steel.
Comments (L) Nothing but good vibrations coming through your arms. It’s like you have Bose harsh-cancelling gloves on. (M) An awesomely crushing sound and feel. Strong off the face.
Titleist
718 T-MB
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★½
Look/sound/feel★★★★½
Demand ★★★½
Verdict The previous version of the T-MB was available only as a full set through custom order, but the new 718 T-MB is designed as a full set. Titleist focused on the lower part of the face, using a high-strength steel in an L-face construction where it wraps around the lower part of the club in the long and middle irons. In the long irons, an average of 91 grams of tungsten are used in the heel and toe to maximise stability and help get shots airborne. The short irons have a 17-4 steel face insert and use tungsten only in the 8 and 9-iron.
Comments (L) Feels like you’re hitting 20-year-old blades using today’s technology. The gateway drug to players irons. (M) It looks clean at address and has a style that gives you confidence.
Mizuno
JPX 900 Forged
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★
Look/sound/feel ★★★★
Demand ★★★★
Verdict This is the company’s next instalment of a one-piece forged cavity-back using boron-infused carbon steel. The use of boron creates a stronger metal that can be forged thinner. The thinner construction yields a higher overall spring-like effect through a multiple-thickness face. The saved weight is moved to the perimeter, providing forgiveness and playability. The 8-iron through gap wedge are slimmed down compared to its previous JPX 850 Forged model.
Comments (L) You feel like you can manipulate the ball. Compact at address with plenty of power. It has exceptional balance. (M) I was able to maintain a consistent trajectory on all shots.
PXG
0311
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★½
Look/sound/feel ★★★★
Demand ★★★½
Verdict It’s not inexpensive, but considering what goes into the company’s original flagship iron, the price becomes more understandable. To get the feel of a forged iron with the distance of a game-improvement club, PXG built a hollow-construction iron with a thermoplastic-elastomer filling to maintain appropriate sound and feel without allowing the high-strength, maraging-steel face insert to feel tinny and harsh. On the back, tungsten weights are positioned around the perimeter to foster forgiveness.
Comments (L) It cuts through the ground easily and drives the ball forward. Its strength is in hitting it straight. (M) It has a really nice pop at impact – like something good is happening.
Srixon
Z565
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★
Look/sound/feel ★★★★
Demand ★★★
Verdict The Z565 uses a high-strength steel face surrounded by a forged, carbon-steel body and hosel. The result is a flexible face with just the right amount of feel. Designers for Srixon also removed material from the trailing edge and rounded off the heel and toe section to reduce turf resistance. A tungsten chip in the toe improves stability on off-centre strikes. Finally, larger grooves are intended to improve control.
Comments (L) The ball holds its line very well, and I was able to work the ball in both directions. (M) I hit a variety of shots, and they all had the same cushy feel through the hands, with no harshness or vibration on off-centre hits.
Wilson
C300 Forged
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★
Look/sound/feel ★★★★
Demand ★★½
Verdict Two years ago, Wilson introduced the concept of “power holes” (essentially mini slots). This year, Wilson expanded on the idea with two rows of cut-outs in the sole. The less material that contacts and supports the face, the more the face can flex at impact. The holes are filled with urethane so the metal can give while enhancing feel. To help make the club more palatable to better players, there are no holes in the topline of any club, and none at all in the 9-iron through gap wedge.
Comments (L) You get the advantage of the slots without seeing them at address. (M) Easy to frame with a nice power boost. The shape of the head makes it easy to manipulate from all lies.
Trust The Process
The grind of a hot list tester
The 21 men and women who made up our player panel for the 2018 Hot List evaluations included teaching pros, a lawyer, a police officer, a product manager and a dentist, retirees and millennials, and handicaps ranging from scratch to the 20s. In short, they represented you.
Their task was simple: be open and be honest. They met it full on.
Each tandem of two players was paired with a single editor as they made their way through each club category. Our editors compiled each player’s individual ratings and a top-five list for each category. With each club, the editor conducted a brief interview for further details. Players used GCQuad launch monitors at each station of the range to assess performance differences.
Our goal with their input was simple: find the clubs that most panellists wanted to play right now.
– M.S.
