While Canadians are used to waiting until the spring to put a new set of irons in the bag, a number of key manufacturers have hit the golf market this year with fall offerings, giving you the opportunity to test-drive irons from Mizuno, Titleist and TaylorMade before shutting down your game for the season.
TaylorMade P790
It worked for a lot of players—from those higher handicaps who loved the look of it, with its blade-like aesthetic, to lower handicap players who loved the distance and workability of the irons. It was a game changer in a lot of ways. The new P790 takes that product, refines it, and improves upon the initial formula. That means the medium-size of the head stays relatively similar, but the blade length is compacted, and there’s less offset, making the irons more appealing to lower handicaps.
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo and Launcher UHX Irons
Easy to hit and easy to get in the air—that’s the goal of Cleveland’s latest irons. The Launcher HB Turbo offers a half-club in extra distance over previous generations, and the oversize irons launch high and capture lots of yards through a hollow body construction. The Launcher UHX Irons are a progressive set of hollow and cavity-back irons, Cleveland is calling this “a completely new way to approach” a single set of irons that merge the concepts of hybrids and irons into one set.
Titleist T100, 200 and 300 Irons
Replacing the AP line is no easy task, but Titleist thinks it has found the right offering with its T-series of irons. The three sets offer unique updates on Titleist’s approach to iron, promising more playability, more performance and more forgiveness. Titleist says the changes are nothing short of revolutionary. The three lines of irons break down based on the abilities and goals of the golfer. The T100 is a player’s iron with a fully-forged cavity construction, while the T200 merges aesthetics and feel, and the T300 line is aimed at offering higher ball speeds. Max Impact is the key technology in the T200 and T300 lines—which are aimed at low-to-mid handicap golfers. All three sets in the iron series offer progressive blade lengths, sole widths and hosel lengths. That means you’ll get a different center of gravity depending on the club, making the longer irons more forgiving and easier to hit.
Titleist 620 CB and MB irons
With the ability to mix and match the CB and MB irons, these are a player’s clubs designed specifically for low-handicappers and the best in the world. If you’ve been seeking a near-blade that offers a small package on the short irons, and some added technology with the longer irons, 620 CB/MB could be just what you’re looking for. Modern classic—that’s what these irons aspire to.
Honma XP-1
Low CG and a fast face equals greater height on shots and longer carry. That’s the goal of the XP-1 irons, which are hollow on the long irons (4 to 7), while the shorter scoring irons offer a deeper cavity for more forgiveness. The result? Long, higher shots with the long irons, and more control with the shorter irons. Once again, Honma’s VIZARD shaft, with ascending weight design, is a key to the clubs.
Mizuno MP-20
Brooks Koepka may not get paid to play Mizuno, but he’s put the spotlight on the brand since he started using them to win majors. Mizuno’s latest release is its MP-20 irons, which hit Golf Town in September. Using forged steel from Hiroshima, Japan, the company says the new irons have few peers when it comes to feel. “The impact sensation is recognized as our purest ever,” the company said when announcing the new irons. There are three versions of the Mizuno irons: the MP-20, a standard muscle back, a MP-20 Hot Metal Blade, and an MP-20 Multi Metal Construction.
