You want to be able to hit the high fade and have that shot struck on the toe clear the front bunker. The versatility and help in these players irons do just that.
GOLD
Callaway
Apex Pro (2019)
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★½
VERDICT
Callaway wanted a powerful iron with a more palatable look. The first step was adding a cupface through the 7-iron to help boost distance. The low and middle irons have internal tungsten encased in urethane with microscopic air bubbles for a lower centre of gravity and just the right sound. About 25 grams of tungsten were positioned high on the 9-iron through gap wedge to bring the centre of gravity up for a more controlled flight.
COMMENTS
(L) They killed it with the look on these: the mix of chrome and grey looks very “tour”.
(M) You can feel the ball compressing. It’s a powerful blow with soft feel.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
Callaway
X Forged
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★½
VERDICT
This version of the X Forged might strike knowledgeable golfers as similar to a Callaway forged iron from earlier this decade. Well, that’s on purpose. Born out of elite players saying they hit modern players irons too far, the X Forged focuses on subtle improvements instead of raw distance. The single-piece forging features a weight pad in the rear cavity that moves progressively through the set to optimise trajectory. It’s an old-school look with modern thinking.
COMMENTS
(L) The ball jumped off the face, but in a controlled way.
(M) I like how it cradles the ball at address. There’s a feeling of having an extra boost of metal behind the sweet spot.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
Cobra
CB/MB
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★★
Demand ★★
VERDICT
This set has forgiving cavity-backs through the 6-iron and traditional muscle-backs the rest of the way. To concentrate more weight in the centre and less on the periphery, tungsten weights are used in the toe and sole to lower the centre of gravity and improve ball speed. Other nice touches are the milled face and grooves – the same grooves Cobra uses on its wedges. At address and in the bag, the Diamonized Black Metal finish is bad-ass cool.
COMMENTS
(L) The heads are smaller than others in this category, but the distance is better than most.
(M) That mass behind the sweet spot gives you confidence that you can hit the centre of the face.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
Mizuno
JPX 919 Tour
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★★
Demand ★★★★
VERDICT
When designing an iron, deciding how to best use available weight is a critical decision. Where is weight necessary? Where is it not needed? Where can you move it around? In the JPX 919 Tour, the decision was made to selectively thin the topline and relocate that saved mass in the toe and sole to provide optimum forgiveness. More toe weight also offers a more centralised sweet spot – something better players appreciate.
COMMENTS
(L) The turf interaction is the highlight. It feels like there’s no chance the sole is going to catch or drag.
(M) The satin is a quality look. Delivers a powerful blow.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
Mizuno
MP-18 MMC
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★★★½
VERDICT
The most technologically sophisticated member of Mizuno’s MP family is the MP-18 MMC. Titanium forged (with no welding) into the carbon-steel clubhead works with tungsten weighting in the toe of the middle and long irons for extra forgiveness. The 20-gram tungsten plug fits in an internal cavity that allows it to rest deeper as lofts get lower (and soles get wider) to increase forgiveness progressively. Plus, the look will be the envy of your playing partners.
COMMENTS
(L) Smoking right out of the box. The first swing they were instantly comfortable.
(M) You can see there’s some technology with the titanium insert, but it still looks like a players iron.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
Mizuno
MP-18 sSC
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★½
VERDICT
This forged iron is sure to appeal to the traditionalist ready to graduate from muscle-back blades. The split-cavity design features a low muscle-back with an upper cavity through the set, but with a topline and head shape that easily let you mix and match with the MP-18 muscle-back blade. The trailing and leading edges of the sole – slightly wider than the MP-18 – help the club power through the turf with the ease of a bulldozer.
COMMENTS
(L) It’s a higher ball flight without having to exert much effort.
(M) The sound and feel are perfect. Very well-balanced club. The long irons get in the air and go forever.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
Ping
i210
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★½
VERDICT
The i210 is the latest in a long tradition of Ping irons designed to produce reliable results for a variety of ability levels. There’s now a larger elastomer port in the back that improves feel and increases perimeter weighting. The 431 stainless-steel head (a softer steel than traditional 17-4) features milled grooves with a different geometry for the pitching and gap wedges to better accommodate the type of shots hit with those clubs.
COMMENTS
(L) It’s the sound of power – like starting a Harley-Davidson. The sole slides through the turf with ease.
(M) They’re forgiving on all but the worst shots.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
Ping
iBlade
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★★½
VERDICT
The iBlade’s classic shape masks a host of sophisticated technology. Visible is an elastomer insert wedged into the rear cavity. The insert minimises unwanted vibration and allows the thin face to flex at impact. A high-density tungsten weight averaging 23 grams is positioned in the low toe to aid stability. Subtle adjustments include the bounce angles and additional heel relief on the soles of the 3 through 7-irons. After all, sophistication comes in many forms.
COMMENTS
(L) Better misses are what you want, and these do a better job than most in this segment.
(M) The insert in the cavity definitely cushions the strike.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
PXG
0311 T Gen2
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★
VERDICT
It’s called Gen2, but these irons are more than a sequel to the original 0311 – it’s a significant advancement. A new polymer material is used inside the clubhead to increase distance and deliver a pleasing sound and feel. The company’s hallmark weights in the back remain, but there are two fewer in the toe area than in the previous version, the result of a design change that moved more mass to the toe, allowing for the elimination of those weights.
COMMENTS
(L) These offer a significant distance advantage.
(M) I like how they glide through any turf condition. Strikingly easy to hit. So accurate, I’m sure I left bruises on the flagsticks.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
TaylorMade
P760
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★½
VERDICT
Sometimes irons in this category can push golfers beyond what they’re willing to accept in terms of game-improvement features or looks. The P760 addresses those concerns by creating a set in which nearly everything is progressive in form. Blade length, topline width, offset and even the amount of foam (to foster ball speed) injected into the 3 through 7-irons is done to varying degrees specific to each club. All of which makes this a club worth considering.
COMMENTS
(L) I love the look. Kind of innovative and classy at the same time. Very consistent and balanced.
(M) Sound and feel was soft and muted. Easiest club to hit across the set.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
Titleist
718 AP2
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★★
VERDICT
Titleist strikes a nice balance between offering help and letting the golfer do the work. The forged design – played by most tour players on the Titleist staff – focuses on forgiveness and consistency in the low and middle irons with the use of two densities of tungsten in the heel and toe (an average of 57 grams) to provide stability. Those clubs also feature a speedy face insert made from high-strength steel at only 2.1 millimetres thick.
COMMENTS
(L) It blasts through the turf. Just a couple of swings and you’re smitten.
(M) Consistent feel throughout the set. A high ball flight when you want it, but you can knock it down, too.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
SILVER
New Level
902 Forged
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★
VERDICT
One of the advantages of being a small company is that you can do some things that the larger companies can’t. Like milling the entire clubhead. This iron uses a one-piece raw forging that starts off about 20-percent larger than its final size. The company mills it close to its final state. This includes milling the grooves, face and rear extremities to produce maximum consistency from club to club because less hand grinding is required.
COMMENTS
(L) They look like a shiny new toy in your bag. A slightly wider sole, but the way the grind is, it cuts through the turf with no resistance.
(M) What a beast. Workability is great.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
Srixon
Z 785
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★★★½
VERDICT
Srixon’s Z Series irons are known for being sweet-feeling, forged irons, and nothing has changed here. The one-piece forged Z 785 uses 1020 carbon steel for optimum feel. The shaping has changed from the Z 765 to include more compact short irons and progressive sole widths. Extra mass behind the hitting area promotes the soft forged feel better players prefer. A redesigned sole changes through the set to match the attack angles of long and short irons.
COMMENTS
(L) The sole worked well with the ground and didn’t produce big divots.
(M) It was easy to hit the ball high and straight. I felt like a robot – with this club, I could be repeatable.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
Yonex
Ezone CB 501
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★
VERDICT
If the rule of real estate is location, location, location, then the edict for players irons could be feel, feel and feel. Yonex went all in on that idea. A vacuum-heat treatment makes this forging about 20-percent softer than traditional forgings. A graphite damping material in the rear cavity further reduces unwanted vibrations. Finally, a gently cambered sole design helps chunky shots feel, well, not so chunky.
COMMENTS
(L) These are more for a swinger than a hitter. Springy as long as you stay smooth.
(M) They feel square through the ball. Good turf interaction. Ball feels soft coming off the face.
Handicapper (L) Low (M) Middle (H) High
