Best Golf Iron Reviews

Taylormade Rocketballz Irons Review

MikeP — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:41:05 +0000

Taylormade is a name that any serious golfer will recognize; possibly even the not so serious golfer. You’ve no doubt seen all the TV commercials for the new Rocketballz Irons, and I think they are quite good.

Taylormade has made it possible to realize more distance with the use of every club. From the lob wedge to the 3 iron, these new Rocketballz Irons live up to their name sake and model name.

Faces that are fast-flexing and metal-wood construction engineering allow you to attack the ball from almost any angle and still achieve pinpoint accuracy and maximum ball speed.

Let’s take a deeper look at these irons to see if they can help you achieve the distance and manageability you always wanted.

Here Are The Specs!
• RBZ steel shafts
• RBZ graphite 65
• Exceptional sound and feel through Toe-Bar Technology innovation
• Faces are fast flex
• Dual Construction of metal-wood
• Extreme distance engineering

How Do They Look, Feel and Sound?

It’s kind of interesting. I’d call it a “mixed set” with the 3, 4 and 5 irons almost like hybrids (see image to your left). And the 6 thru AW (gap wedge) are more standard looking.

Sound and feel are exceptionally promoted on these thin-faced irons which have been specially designed for sound control and new vibration control.

Improved feeling and sound when using these clubs is possible, thanks to the constrained layering and the polymer acoustics. High MOI and CG are promoted on the 3, 4, and 5 irons due to the construction that is metal-wood, two-piece inspired.

Will They Give You Some Distance Increases?

The metal-wood, two-piece construction of these clubs is partially responsible for the distance you can achieve when using them. Spin-rate, ball speed and launch angle all combine in perfect harmony on each club, thanks to the fact that Taylormade has engineered each club individually. And a consistent high draw is made possible through the re-engineered club face.

Forgiveness Factor

Improved accuracy is now possible due to the direct straight shots with controlled face flexion at the area of the upper-toe; this is Taylormade’s Toe-Bar structure whose face has been re-engineered.

And the inverted cone technology means that off-center hits can still result in the promotion of distance and ball speed because the COR zone has been expanded.

Will They Empty Your Wallet?

An online sale price of $437.45 was seen with an MSRP at $525. Ladies MSRP set of irons was nearly $1800 while a set of Rocketzballs Irons Max had a $1600 MSRP.

Taylormade’s Reputation

Users suggested that they received a pleasant surprise from the feel and sound of these irons. The 9-AW had the sweetest setup; while the 4-5 felt very much like driving iron/hybrids; the 6-AW performed well but the wow factor was smaller than anticipated by most users.

Another user thought that all of the irons but 4-5 felt great; the top line was acceptable though some thought it thick; and on the same lines as that, a reviewer also said that there was a rather large offset on the long irons.

Let’s Wrap This Up!

These Taylormade clubs make it easy to use the faces hitting area to frame the ball. At address, they look compact and cool with their dark finish and smart design. If you enjoy playing with forged irons (or even for those of you who usually don’t), giving these Taylormade irons a try is a must- do this year.

Once again, Taylormade has seen to it that the irons are not all about the heads and not completely reliant on the shafts either. They are well combined for the perfect blend (even if an exceptionally high tech design did go into the heads).

Some might say that these irons are geared toward high and mid handicappers that struggle with direction or distance. But any serious golfer, or anyone wanting to become one, would be well served by giving these a try.

Nike VR S Irons Review

MikeP — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:59:53 +0000

The VR S Irons by Nike falls under the category of forged irons which are now taking the golf world by storm. With a larger profile than traditional irons with a cavity back, these irons still manage to be aesthetically pleasing while being real game improvers.

When playing in Australia, Tiger Woods used Nike VR S Irons during practice shots. Just a few other names that have been associated with this product are as follows: Pablo Martin, Richard Finch, Simon Dyson and Paul Casey.

And these Nike irons also appeared on the 2012 Hot List in Golf Digest. which is another good resource if you’re researching irons for your next purchase.

Here Are The Specs!

SAE 8655 face material (a blend of molybdenum/chromium/nickel)
X3X face groves
2.55 mm face thickness
Behind face undercut cavity resulting in a landing whose trajectory that is more vertical and a higher hit ball
Ultra thin, high-strength stainless steel NexCOR face
Technology by Power Bow
Steel Dynalite shafts-90 g

How Do They Look?

The behind the face undercut cavity isn’t just there because technology says that it performs better. It helps the iron achieve a distinguished, classy and unique appearance. The combination of silver and black with red highlights can help make even the least experienced golfer look good, if not play well.

Will They Give You Some Distance Increases?

Hits result in shot to shot consistency and the ultimate in flight control to the max with the aid of the X3X face groves. The triple in-line face material allows for what its creators call ‘spring like steel’.

Increased height and increased carry was noted in early testing stages for these irons over other forged irons that are top sellers. Long straight shots will be a welcome result thanks to technology by Power Bow. And the ultra thin, high-strength stainless steel NexCOR face was created specifically for increased distances.

Forgiveness Factor

These Nike irons do offer amazing feel, great launch conditions and are of an extremely forgiving nature. On quick greens, you will be able to stop the ball much faster using one of Nikes new forged irons. Far more speed at impact is now possible through face technology referred to as NexCOR.

A green holding steeper descent, straighter ball flight, and maximum carry from a higher, faster launch result from the Power Bow construction technology. These irons were developed to increase of two major levels: the level of your game and your level of confidence.

Will They Empty Your Wallet?

The price range for these irons differs depending upon where you buy them. They are available on a discount golf website from $89.95 for a single iron up to $699.99 for the set.

Other places to look would be Amazon because they always have an extraordinary amount of golf clubs for sale. If price is no object, feel free to visit your nearest pro shop for $999.99 for a set of eight.

Nike’s Reputation

The franchise of Nike VR irons originally seen in 2008 was only the beginning. These new irons by Nike received an impressive 4 ½ out of five stars as a rating, but customer reviews were hard to find.

These irons are due for release on February 3 of 2012. And no other club in your bag will realize the ball speed that aspired will provide, thanks to its ability to bridge an ultra hot face with an ultra thin face. Nike Golf Director Tom Stites tells us that Nike strives to make better golfers of us all.

These latest VR S irons were created to help our golfers hit straighter and longer with a higher trajectory and a greater return on energy.

Let’s Wrap This Up!

Major championships numbering three and worldwide wins numbering 50 can all be attributed to the VR irons that Nike designed so many years ago.

These irons are so new that it was hard to find a large number of customers that have been using them on a regular basis. Since some of the pros have the opportunity to test out clubs before they are actually released to the public, most of the information has come from either them or golf shops and Nike itself.

There were many sites however, upon which avid golfers stated that they had already ordered their Nike VR S Irons and couldn’t wait for their arrival.

Ping G15 Iron Review

MikeP — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:35:43 +0000

The G15 irons by Ping are recruiting fan after fan after the purchase, fitting and demo-ing of these irons. Value, quality, and extreme accuracy and forgiveness are words that appear over and over again in reviews and descriptions.

These Ping irons can be played by players of all capabilities; they compare to the I15’s in that the latter are meant for low to mid handicappers.

Surprising results can be achieved by the use of these irons through a moment of increased inertia thanks to the iron’s expanded weighting perimeter; and that is a result of the featured floating CTP (custom tuning port) and design of the irons stainless steel cavity.

Specifications standards for lie and loft of these irons varies per iron: PW-lie 64°, loft 45°; 9 iron 63.75°and 40° respectively; 8 iron 63° and 36°; 7 iron 62.25°and 32°; 6 iron 61.5° and 29°; 5 iron 60.75°and 26°; 4 iron 60° and 23°; and finally the 3 iron at a lie of 59.25°and loft of 20°.

Here Are The Specs:
• Both left and right handed models available
• X stiff flex/stiff/or regular available in steel shafts
• X stiff flex/stiff/regular/or soft regular available in graphite shafts
• Lie angles: 1.50° upright-yellow; 0.75° flat-red; 0.75° upright-blue; standard-black
• Separately available: LW 58°; SW 54°; UW 50°
• Set includes 45° #3 iron through PW

How Do They Look?

A 4 ½ stars out of a possible 5 stars rating says that these irons/clubs are exceptional in appearance. You may notice the wider sole; this is what is responsible for the higher launch angle. They have a sleek, sweet look to them. The new groove rules dictate that these clubs utilize the V groove rather than square.

The length of the clubs/irons differ from iron to iron: PW comes in at 35 ½ inches; 9 iron 35.75 inches; 8 iron 36.25 inches; 7 iron 36.75 inches; 6 iron 37.25 inches; 5 iron 37.75 inches; 4 iron 38.25 inches; and 3 iron 38.75 inches. Those are of course standard lengths of un-customized/non custom fitted clubs.

Will They Give You Some Distance Increases?

After considering the distance they got from these irons, reviewers rated distance at 4 ½ stars out of a possible 5 stars. Some users saw an increased distance of 7 yards; others saw an increase of up to 15 yards. Length and accuracy were repeating factors in almost every review of these G15s.

Forgiveness Factor

Consistent iron play, maximum forgiveness and a higher launch are all attributes of these irons. These irons are accurate, forgiving, easy to hit and reliable—best in class; even on mishits. Repositioned to the toe is a thinner face for weight saving… just in case you didn’t notice.

Will They Empty Your Wallet?

The price value rated 4 stars out of a possible 5 star rating. A reasonable online price for the Ping G15 irons was found to be around $799 for the graphite set and $599 for steel.

Suggested retail price is for individual irons ranges from $107 for the least expensive iron and $1080 for a set. Regardless, reviewers of these clubs have called them a sensational buy for the money.

Ping’s Reputation

Ping has been putting out great equipment for decades and they are showing no decline in quality or precision.

Overall rating – playability of the ping irons rated 4 ½ out of a possible 5 stars; durability, great value, easy to use and high quality all go into these irons and have been described as a beginners dream by some reviewers
Specs – these clubs were specially designed for mid to high handicappers with an ID8 grip by Ping; steel or graphite shafts; cast iron construction; stainless steel iron face; cavity iron back; and come in irons #9 down through #3 and PW
Technology – Ping G15 Irons offer reliable consistency to most any golfer with maximum forgiveness provided by the technology of a higher launching system
Balance – playability and performance are the two main factors in the Ping G15 irons
Feel – these irons rated 4 ½ out of 5 stars; these irons cut through the air like a hot knife through butter; one reviewer described in the feeling of his swing now as ‘smooth as silk’; it feels like the ball is literally exploding off of the face of the iron.

Let’s Wrap This Up!

Ladies and elderly golfers especially will greatly appreciate the higher and straighter ball flight, as well as increased control with the graphite Callaway set of G15 irons, even at regular flex. It takes very little effort to send the ball out at a higher ball trajectory.

Right from the very first shot, you can experience crisper and more consistently accurate swings. 160 yards with a 6 iron and 150 yards with a 7 iron are no longer out of reach. With maximum forgiveness these irons will send your ball out at a greater launch angle without sacrificing length and distance.

Compared to clubs made by Callaway, TaylorMade, First Hit and Mizuno; according to various reviewers, the other clubs couldn’t hold a candle to the Pings!

Cobra S3 Irons Review

MikeP — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:35:56 +0000

The Cobra S3 Irons have been on my radar for a while, so I wanted to take a deeper look. I remember having a King Cobra driver a long, long time ago, when Greg Norman was the main guy with the company.

With balance and feel that outdoes even the Adams Red Line Series (according to reviews), Cobra has created a set of irons that offer the solidity and distance you might not expect from an iron. Technology shines through in Cobra’s S3 irons; to improve feel and forgiveness.

Cobra has transitioned the sweet-spot in each club modeled after most typical impact patterns (more circular in short irons but elliptical in the longer irons).

A minimum of 2 to 4 yards can be gained in distance and at least 1 ½ miles per hour can be gained at higher ball speeds; all thanks to the flexible and 20% thinner high-strength steel face on mid and long irons, 7 to 3. Trajectory control and optimal shot making are provided by the design used on muscle back short irons; and accurate, consistently long shots with just enough forgiveness and slightly higher loft are brought to you by the cavity back and perimeter weighted design of the cavity back mid and long irons.

Here Are The Specs:

Tour proven design with Cobra/Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grips
Nipon1030 shaft
Well balanced
Standard 17-4 cradle
Polymer dampener
103 g. graphite shaft
Forged 1025 carbon steel heads with glare reducing, Cobra Tour staff’s number one choice, soft satin finish
Set includes: GW, PW and 3-9; club lengths range from 35 ½ inches on the GW and 39 ½ inches on the 2 iron; loft ranges from 50°again on the GW down to 19° on the 2 iron

How Do They Look

A dark, handsome pearloide finish gives these irons a combination of extraordinary fashion mixed with just enough high precision technology.

Will They Give You Some Distance Increases

Hits are not only long but easy and slightly workable. Reviewers judged the distance on the Cobra irons to be between 4 and 5 stars out of a possible 5 star rating. In distance, it compares to a Di 9 in that a 7 iron from Cobra can outdistance a Di 9’s 6 iron.

The only other clubs that have given the Di 9’s competition before these Cobra S3 irons are the Adams Red Line Series.

Forgiveness Factor

Cobra is known for creating clubs that are jam packed with forgiveness but capable of increased distances. In comparison to the Wilson Staff Di 9, these irons are far less shovel like and not overly clunky. Also compare to the Adams steel shaft ultra light 85g, missing are the periods of vagueness during the swing.

What Is The Damage To Your Wallet

Suggested manufacturers retail price is right around $699 for graphite and approximately $599 for steel.

Cobra’s Reputation

These irons by Cobra received an amazing five out of five stars as a rating. Overall, comments discussed by reviewers were as follows: great build quality; great feel; well balanced; good looking; easy-to-hit; straight and long.

Cons were relatively nonexistent. These clubs will stand up against any iron on the market including but not limited to the Diablo Forged.

One reviewer was meticulous in both his testing and reviewing of these Cobra irons. He rated them on a system that is beyond compare in featuring exactly what it is that these irons have to offer.

Overall rating -4 ½ to 5 stars: these irons are at the top of the list as far as game improving sets are concerned. A handsome iron with a safe hitting zone that is large and feels exceptional upon impact. The hits are easy, slightly workable and most definitely long. An excellent iron.
Specs – 4 ½ of 5 stars: in order to gain distance some club’s lofts are ‘overly juiced’… Not these Cobras. These irons are long and supply the perfect loft.
Technology – 4 out of 5 stars: good old fashioned tried and true techniques were used in the creation of these Cobras. The club feels sweet thanks to the polymer insert hidden inside; over all torque of 3.5 with a mid kick point. The Nippon 1030 model creates an exceptional graphite shaft. At 103 g. these irons are light but not feathery like some of the 85 g. irons out there. 17-4 stainless on all the irons and a standard 17-4 cradle and polymer dampener on the thin, hot faced 3 to 7 irons.
Balance – 4 ½ of 5 stars: no clunkiness is evident because the head is well mated with the Nipon1030 shaft. With the Cobra’s Nippon shaft this iron offers a far more pleasing experience during the backswing and at the moment of impact. A very well balanced club.
Feel – 5 of 5 stars: should you happen to mishit with these irons it will be perfectly apparent where you made your mistake, rather than being hung out to dry and in limbo when it comes to a solution.
You will know exactly how and where you mishit the ball so that you can fix it in the future. The safe hitting zone is extra large (or as the company puts it, the sweet spot) and in the longer irons, elliptical; by the time you reach the pitching wedge however, it has shrunk to a sweet spot of standard circular size.

Let’s Wrap This UP

After comments from users like “the best iron I’ve ever hit; can’t believe the high performance; as good as if not better than all the top brands”, it’s no wonder that these irons are some of the highest-rated in terms of forgiveness and accuracy.

Some have gone so far as to describe these irons as the hottest clubs on the market. Purer, better shots with a smooth feel are the result of the kind of technology and style that produces beautiful ball flight from a ball that comes red hot off the face.

The club heads handle well in the rough yet offer straight shots with high consistency. Looking powerful at address with its compact muscular head providing a handsome contrast to the top line frame ball wells silver face, this iron not only looks like the club of a pro but can make you feel like one (and even help you perform like one)!

Adams Idea Black CB2 Irons Review

MikeP — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:34:29 +0000

I know there are a ton of new irons coming out, but the Adams Idea Black CB2 Irons is worth taking a look. Adams has a loyal following of golfers, and when it comes to hybrids, Adams is the name to trust. They have now done it again with a new set which they have entitled Idea Black.

Don’t let the name confuse you, this is not the same thing we saw last October; those were the Idea Pro Black hybrids. Adams Golf is releasing the Idea Black Super Hybrid and the Idea Black CB 2. Let’s explore the ideas behind their performance.

Key features of the Idea Black CB 2 Iron

A dynamic club head: The club head of the Idea Black CB2 is, in a word… black. It does however have a nicely soft 8620 carbon steel forging beneath the menacing black nickel chromium plated top. This forging was specially made for the aspiring player. This club garners interest with its cavity back design as well as giving enhanced feel, soaking up vibration and rewarding a well hit ball with that wonderful, echoing sound.
Low center of gravity: What helps the CB2 derive its forgiving nature is something that the engineers at Adams derived by their years of expertise and experience. By using tool perimeter weighting, they brought the center of gravity deep and low.
Progressive offsets: The entire set has progressive offsets that will help a player to make the most of the flight of the ball for each particular iron; giving every shot the desired trajectory. This iron is a product which is not only world class but will become a favorite of many different types of players.
Aesthetically pleasing: Adams applied their expertise and innovative designs to make this iron not only the leader in golf club technology but easy on the eyes. By just looking at the CB2, you can tell that it is a force to be reckoned with. The appearance and playability is absolutely unrivaled.
A thin sole: Another feature of this iron is a 4-way cambered thin sole whose only purpose in life is to glide through the grass with minimal interference, thereby allowing the player consistent shot making and balls striking. Grooves are employed in the face which conform to the latest conditions of competition and no matter where the lie, fully optimizing spin.

What other golfers are saying…

Some of the specifics that golfers were impressed with are that Adams offers the CB2 Idea Black with two different types of stock shafts. Some prefer the lightweight KBS Tour 90 a steel option shaft while other golfers insist upon using the Matrix Studio 84 as the alternative graphite option. Golfers also appreciate the availability of both clubs in extra stiff, stiff and regular flex profiles; and left handed players like Phil Mickelson, Russ Cochran and Steve Flesch are not to be left out due to the fact that either right or left handers can take advantage of the standards set 4I-GW.

In a nutshell

While the graphite versions will more likely than not run you up to approximately $1100, the steel shaft is only around $900 or less. Customizations will more likely than not be offered by Adams.

Adams jokingly (sort of) refers to this new long iron as the Idea Black Super Hybrid souped up on steroids. The logic behind this is the CB2’s more powerful and larger head… more muscular looking, one might say.

Callaway X-24 Hot Irons Review

MikeP — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:46:34 +0000

Callaway is undoubtedly one of the greatest names in the golfing world. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that every golfing iron, driver or wedge they produce has been rigorously tested by passionate golfers to ensure it meets their high mark of quality.

If you want to put more spirit into your game than you can do no better than the Callaway Golf- X-24 Hot Irons. It is true they are a little on the expensive side but you get what you pay for and when you are looking at superior equipment, you would expect the engineering technological advances to be reflected in the price tag.

The engineers at Callaway took a serious look at their clubs and modified the Callaway Golf- X-24 Hot Irons into the precision tools they are today. By increasing the length of the shaft by just an extra ¼ inch per club and redistributing the weight in the clubhead, the results are truly outstanding clubs.

There is a special synergy between the golfer and their precision clubs and the better the interaction, the more the play flows. The Callaway Golf- X-24 Hot Irons are truly synergistic in their design, allowing the energy to flow directly between golfer and ball with no resistance.

The combination of skill together with the club’s unique technology to translate that into precision shots is truly mesmerizing. The responsive nature of the iron moves to every nuance you make and with very little change in technique you will find yourself achieving shots and distance that you could only dream about previously.

Key Features

Callaway are innovators in the golfing field and their golfing irons come with excellence as standard including:

360 degree undercut channel
VFT Face Technology with larger sweet-spot
Precision Weight in clubhead
Stealth PVD finish
Forged composite head

What Can Be Improved

There are only really minor gripes with this but worth mentioning. These are:

The club interface with the golf ball could be more grippy
Not ideal for fast swinging professionals
A little expensive but worth the price tag

Conclusion

The engineering and technology that is used in creating such fine instruments of power is nothing short of amazing. The Callaway Golf- X-24 Hot Irons are so evenly balanced that every shot you play will be more accurate and straight and will flow effortlessly.

The graphite shafts are smooth and make you feel as though the control is totally within your grip. The head has a wider area or sweet spot for contact with the ball which minimizes miss-shots and gives greater adherence resulting in faster, longer and more accurate shots.

The greater sweet-shot on the Callaway Golf- X-24 Hot Irons clearly aims at the improver’s area in golf rather than the more professional clientele and as such, it is perfect.

The weight at the toe and heel of the club help to keep the shot even, thus making it straighter when hit. These robust and durable, top of the range superior clubs meet all expectations.

If you are looking to improve your overall game of golf and are looking for excellent clubs then Callaway’s extensive range offer everything you could need. A manufacturer that moves with the times using the latest innovative procedures, Callaway is at the forefront of golfing excellence.

With the Callaway Golf- X-24 Hot Irons, your trajectory and aim will be much improved, as will the length of your shot. The design of the iron is very striking and the Callaway Golf- X-24 Hot Irons make your shot straighter, faster and surer. The Callaway Golf- X-24 Hot Irons will certainly take your golfing expertise to the next level!

Titleist CB Irons Review

MikeP — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:59:53 +0000

Titleist is known for catering pretty heavily to those that are more skilled golfers. These golfers can be very demanding as to what they want and with the Titleist CB Irons. Titleist has delivered the feel, the performance, and the looks that many of these lower handicap golfers crave.

These irons are made from forged 1025 carbon steel and have chrome plating. They have longer blades and a softer visual topline as well. These Titleist irons also feature an optimized cavity muscle giving the club more mass being the impact area to create a softer and more solid feeling iron.

The Benefits for the Highly Skilled Golfer

Most of Titleist top notch products do favor the better golfer and the Titleist CB Irons are no different. These irons are made to help the golfer produce a very consistent launch angle and create backspin on the ball. They also have added technologies to help add ball speed, which will translate into distance for the right golfer. Since this iron set also has a full cavity it will give the golfer an increased MOI and more forgiveness, this is especially true when compared to the MB model from Titleist.

The Key Features of the Titleist CB Irons:

Forged from 1025 Carbon Steel with chrome plating
Longer blades featuring a softer topline
Compact head shape for a more classic look
“V” Grooves conform to the 2010 USGA/R&A rule change
Made with the True Temper Dynamic Golf Steel Shaft

The Price is High

As expected with a top of the line golf club from Titleist these are not the most affordable irons on the market. They are also not designed for the “Weekend Warrior” that is not planning to play 4 or 5 times a week.

The Titleist CB Irons are around $135 per club for the steel shafted and about $160 per club for graphite. There are a few different shaft choices that can affect the price as well, but you are looking to pay around $1,000 or more for a set of 8 clubs. This is to be expected considering that these are made by Titleist and are made with a serious golfer in mind.

The Testing of the Titleist CB Irons

When we test products that are made for a serious golfer we still take a few of the “Weekend Warriors” along to see how they like them and how the product performs for different golfers. As expected, these irons were very popular with all of our single digit handicap testers.

However, there were a few higher handicap golfers that did like the way they felt. The golfers that struggle with the slice did not like these irons as all and had quite a bit of trouble controlling them. The good news is the better players all loved the performance of these irons and said they make it easy to move the ball both ways. They also said they could feel them much better at impact than most of the other irons we compared them to.

These irons are for Higher Skill Levels of Golfers

The Titleist CB Irons are not necessarily for just the scratch or single digit handicap golfer, but they are for those that have a good iron game. You could be a mid-handicap golfer that struggles in other areas and play these irons quite well.

However, if you are a high handicap golfer or you already struggle with your iron play, then there is a better choice on the market for you. If you are a serious golfer that plays under 80 most of the time, then you are going to love having these in your bag.

Taylormade R9 Irons Review

MikeP — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:57:01 +0000

Taylormade is one of the leaders in the golf industry and many of their golf clubs are played on the PGA tour and many other tours as well. The Taylormade R9 Irons are made to be more forgiving, create a better feel, allows the golfer to work the ball better, and add distance.

This is quite a bit to ask of any golf club and when a company makes claims like this they better back it up with new technologies and improved performance. Taylormade has done quite a good job of doing so and provides many new and innovative technologies in this new iron set.

The Benefits of these Irons

The ultra-thin wraparound face creates more ball speed off the face of the club, which translates into more distance for the golfer. These clubs are also designed with inverted cone technology, which give the golfer more consistent distance when they miss the sweet spot of the face.

The longer irons are designed with a velocity control chamber to help golfer gain consistency and control. This also helps with power and ball speed. This chamber is also filled with silicone and soft foam to help give the iron less vibration, a better sound, and more feel for the player.

The Key Features of the Taylormade R9 Irons:

• Ultra-thin wraparound face for extra ball speed
• Inverted cone technology to gain consistent distance on off center hits
• 3 through 6 irons are designed with a Velocity Control Chamber making them easier to control
• Shock absorption system to create less vibration and more feel
• Made with the KBS 90 Steel Shaft

The Cost of these Irons

When you decide to go with a set of Taylormade R9 Irons you will pay anywhere from $799 to $999 depending on whether you choose to get the standard steel shafts, and upgraded steel shaft, or the graphite options.

These irons are worth it if you are the right type of golfer to fit into this type of design. They are made with quality materials and are made by a company that continues to deliver some of the best and most playable golf clubs in the world.

The Testing and how it went

When we tested the Taylormade R9 Irons we found that these irons were much longer than many others we tested. It did not even matter if the golfers hit the center of the club face or not, these irons were longer. The ball seems to really jump off the club face and there is a soft feeling at impact.

The one negative was for players that like to work the ball both ways. They found it difficult to do so, but other than that these irons stood up to all the tests we put them through and proved to provide more distance with greater control than most others in their class.

The Taylormade R9 Irons are made for better player or are they?

Some other reviews have stated that the Taylormade R9 Irons are made for the better golfers, but that is simply not true. These irons are designed with the mid handicap golfer between about a 10 and 18 in mind.

They are not going to be a good choice for a beginner or a high handicap golfer because they are not the most forgiving and easiest to hit iron on the market.

They are also not all that great for the single digit handicap player that likes to work the ball both ways. These are perfect for the middle of the road handicap player that wants a little more distance without sacrificing control.

Mizuno MP-53 Irons Review

MikeP — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:50:33 +0000

The Mizuno MP-53 Irons are one of the choices that has made it on the Golf Digest 2011 hot list and received the gold award in their category. This is a huge honor for any set of irons and usually this means they will deliver everything they are advertised to.

They feature a diamond muscle design and a “V” slot milled pocket cavity. Those that are very demanding shot makers will be very happy with the head size and the playing profile of these irons. Mizuno has spent many years developing and testing this iron and they are very pleased with the results that have come from all the hard work they have put in.

The Benefits of playing the MP-53 irons

These irons have been designed with 14 grams less weight in the cavity that has been repositioned around the cavity instead. This helps to give the club a larger sweet spot making it an easier to hit iron. They also feature harmonic impact technology, which delivers the desired sound for the golfer and also delivers more feel at impact.

They have also added a 360 degree grind on the back cavity to help the club become easier to hit without digging into the turf as much. This iron is built for top of the line feel, performance, and playability.

The Key Features of the Mizuno MP-53 Irons:

• “V” slot Milled Pocket Cavity for larger MOI
• Harmonic Impact Technology for better sound and feel
• Grain Flow Forged mild carbon steel for softer and more solid shots
• Diamond Muscle design to enhance ball control
• Modified U-grooves that conform to the condition of competition for 2010
• Available with the Project X 5.5 steel shaft or the True Temper Dynamic Gold R300 or S300
• Other shafts available for customization

What will these Award Winning Irons Cost?

When an iron is made in such a way that it is given an award by Golf Digest you better expect to pay a pretty penny for them. These irons retail for $899.99 with steel shafts and are more expensive with graphite. The graphite price all depends on the shaft you choose and you decide to go with a custom steel shaft the price will vary as well.

You have to expect to pay over the mid-range price for irons that are made with such care and feature the newest in technology. Plus when Golf Digest is willing to give out an award you know they must be worth the price tag.

Do the Mizuno MP-53 Irons stand up to the tests?

When we tested this iron set we used the True Temper Dynamic Golf S300 and R300 for testing. This is one of our favorite steel shafts and it delivers with most every club we test with it. These irons proved to be exactly what Mizuno said they would be and players that have a lower handicap and tested them saw gains in distance and control.

However, those with a handicap over 18 struggled with these irons a little bit. We did notice that these irons have a great crisp sound and the better players all commented on how good the feedback is at impact.

Who are these irons made for?

The Mizuno MP-53 Irons are advertised right on the Mizuno website as being made for golfers with a scratch to 14 handicap. This is pretty accurate and they are made for those that are better golfers.

If you have a high handicap you may find that you will struggle with this type of design. If you are floating right around the 14 handicap area you may struggle a little as well. These irons are designed to fit the better golfers and are made for scratch golfers and single digit handicap players.

Titleist AP1 Irons Review

MikeP — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:58:17 +0000

When the Titleist AP1 Irons hit the market they created quite a buzz since they are the second generation of the AP irons from Titleist. It is always hard to predict how good the first generation of any golf club is going to perform, but once the company is able to get feedback from all levels of golfer they can go through a redesign phase and launch the next generation of the club.

The second generation almost always is preferred by the golfer over the first generation because it gives the company a change to tweak any areas that might not have performed the way they thought they would.

The Benefits of the Titleist AP1 Irons

These irons are designed with multiple materials and dual cavities. They are considered “advanced performance” irons that are built for feel. These irons are built to deliver the great feel that golfer need to improve and move their game to the next level.

They feature the new tuned feel system that allows the golfer to get a better feel while reducing the vibration of the club at impact. The face is thinner and the weighting is deeper, which provides more stability and more forgiveness. Titleist also moved the tungsten nickel material to the sole to help with forgiveness.

The Top Features of the Titleist AP1 Irons:

Tuned Feel System is a co-molded medallion of elastomer and aluminum
Enhanced sound and feel from the original AP irons
Stainless steel body
Heavy tungsten-nickel weight on the sole
Built for increased forgiveness and more feedback
Choice of many different shafts

Are these worth the Price that Titleist has put on them?

Usually when you hear the name Titleist you associate it with something in golf that is super expensive compared to the rest. However, these irons are quite affordable compared to the rest of the choices on the market. They retail for right around $699 with steel shafts and $899 with graphite.

This all depends on the shaft that you choose to have these clubs made with and you do have a choice of a few different types of shafts. This means that not only are you able to get a full set of irons for an affordable price, but you actually get to choose the shaft you want your clubs built with.

Titleist Tests with the Better Golfers

When we tested the Titleist AP1 Irons we did so with the Titleist NS Pro 105T steel shafts in them. Even though these irons are typically built for the lower handicap golfer we tested them as we would any other club and used a variety of golfers.

The ball flight is higher than most expected and these clubs are deadly accurate. There is very little side spin off the club face and many testers gained about a full club length with these irons.

They found these irons to be softer and have a much better feel than most others. The only negative that was mentioned was that it would take time for some golfers to adjust to the higher ball flight that they were getting from these.

Who are these irons made for?

Simply put, the Titleist AP1 Irons are built for the better golfer. Titleist typically caters to the lower handicap golfer and they design clubs that are made to help them improve their game with more feel. When a skilled golfer can feel the shot they can get better feedback on how they are actually hitting the ball.

This is a heightened sense that they have developed that many higher handicap golfers do not have yet. These are not for the mid to high handicap golfer, but more for the low-mid to low handicap golfer.

Sidenote: I just purchased these irons from our local PGA Superstore and absolutely love them!