WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Maxfli’s new forged irons, the tweener Players/Players Distance XC2 s and the equally versatile XC3s that can straddle the Players Distance and Game Improvement spectrum, provide a consistent look, weighting and feel that allow for combo set possibilities. Both are forged from 1025 carbon steel, providing exceptional feel and consistency, while adding unique uses of ceramic within the forging to save mass that can be redistributed for added forgiveness. They are the first set of forged irons from Maxfli in the U.S. since the classic muscleback Australian Blades from nearly three decades ago, but the cavity-back design and use of weight-saving materials mean these forgings are big step up in forgiveness.
PRICE: $1,000 for both XC2 and XC3 (seven clubs). They will be offered exclusively at DICK’s Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy.
Matt Hawthorne
3 Cool Things
1. Design. Both sets are designed with a radiused sole and a relieved leading edge for added forgiveness. The XC2s feature a slightly thinner topline than the XC3s, with progressive sole widths that ensure enhanced versatility and control. The XC3s use a little more bulk throughout, including a wider sole to lower the center of gravity while providiing more forgiveness going through the turf.
2. Weight. The irons are strategically weighted through the use of ceramic inserts within the forgings. They are co-forged using varying amounts of ceramic for weight savings, and tungsten to dial in vertical and horizontal centers of gravity. Under the co-forging process, the irons are forged five times, strategically leaving space within the finished form for the placement of lightweight ceramic or heavier tungsten that’s then capped in the final finishing stage.Â
The use and mix of heavier (tungsten in extreme toe) and lighter (ceramic) materials puts these two tweener sets in a unique place in terms of forgiveness. The Maxfli team evaluated the performance in terms of what’s known as the Maltby Playability Factor, a rating designed by veteran club designer Ralph Maltby that essentially provides a gauge for assessing the relative forgiveness of one iron vs. another. It incorporates specific measurements of center of gravity, blade length and moment of inertia (resistance to twisting on off-center hits). While these two irons are relatively compact shapes with traditonal cavity backs and a largely single-piece forging (essentially more of a Players Iron kind of shape), they both test out on the MPF in a way that would characterize them well into the game-improvement and super game-improvement categories.Â
The XC2 features a more traditional cavity back design, while the cavity on the XC3 pushes more mass out toward the toe and further uses tungsten weighting in that toe region to create a more stable frame and push the center of gravity more in line with the center of the face for more consistent ball speeds.Â
false Maxfli XC2 $143 per iron | Golf Galaxy 4.0 GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE Hot List Silver $143 per iron Co-forged tungsten and ceramic weighting reduces mass in areas where it is not needed and moves it to where it is needed such as the perimeter. Six-times forged from 1025 carbon steel for a pleasing sound and feel. The universal hosel design allows for .355 taper tipped and .370 parallel tip shafts to be used, providing the kind of options better players want. Radiused sole and leading-edge relief makes this iron feel like it’s on skis through the turf. Progressive sole design from long irons to short irons enable workability and control. Easily blended with the more forgiving XC3 model for a mixed set. SPECS: 7-iron: 30.5 degrees; PW: 43 degrees BUY NOW DETAILS
3. Look. Both sets feature similar offset and utilize a Diamond X Finish for a consistent appearance. They are designed to smoothly transition for those who want to use a blended set. Both models also feature a shortened hosel, which helps to keep the center of gravity low and thus create more forgiveness within their otherwise compact shape. As Maxfli’s Dave Michaels points out, “We really started with a chassis on these that’s classic forging. Then, we’re able to incorporate the ceramic and tungsten to take it to the next level. For us, it’s really like a true forged iron in a players distance or game improvement category, which you really don’t see. These are really tour-looking quality irons that are super forgiving.”
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
