This year, golf’s greatest brands released a winning formula that will complement any skill level. Whether you are a low-handicap or high-handicap golfer, there is an iron for you.
TaylorMade P790
When the P790 hit the market, people were skeptical of a hollow body iron. Despite that, the club was an enormous success. However, the advancement didn’t stop there. Two generations later, TaylorMade is using AI to move weight that optimizes the launch conditions across the set to create an easy to hit long iron and more precise short irons. The combination of the AI technology was paired with a larger face and better CG positioning to enhance the forgiveness.
Are these for me?
The new generation of the P790 series are more forgiving and players from a 3-15 handicap will want to add these sleek irons to their set.
TaylorMade Qi
The last thing you want when getting game improvement irons is a chunky feeling iron that doesn’t sound powerful. The Qi series squashes those problems while providing players with the ultimate performance through their integrated system design that optimizes each iron head. Consistent ball speed and launch angle have been one of the biggest successes of the Qi series, along with reducing unwanted vibrations through HYBRAR Echo Dampers.
Are these for you?
For those who tend to accentuate a slice, the Qi irons focused on addressing this issue. The Qi series also addressed those with slower swing speed, offering the HL version to add more yards.
PING i530
The redesign of the i530 is a dream for blade lovers. It sports a thin top line and shallow sole while compacting the head to save weight, increasing the forgiveness and tightening dispersion. PING also utilizes the hollow body to maximize distance and adjusting the loft to find the optimal ball flight that still gives players the stopping power for precise approach shots.
Are these for me?
While the irons are very forgiving considering they are a blade, they are still targeted towards players with a lower handicap. The workability of a blade is exactly what many high-performance golfers are in search of, but the emphasis on replicating the perfect swing every time to see consistent results is not enough forgiveness for high handicap players.
PXG Gen 6
The Gen 6 irons have two options, the 0311P and 0311XP. Both irons look as good as they sound with a selection of multiple chrome finishes for the club. Although the look and sound are surely appealing, it’s the technology that brings the irons into the spotlight. The XCOR2 technology has allowed PXG to lower the center of gravity, dramatically increasing the irons MOI. The amazing feat of engineering for PXG was finding a way to increase MOI and forgiveness while making the club face 15 per cent thinner.
Which one is for me?
Gen 6 0311XP
The 0311XP option is great for mid-handicappers who enjoy the look and feel of a blade. It’s equipped with a larger head size and more offset to provide a better outcome on miss hits.
Gen 6 0311P
The 0311P is a great option for low handicappers. The increased workability of the 0311P is a massive upside for those who demand precision on every shot and have the consistent swing to utilize the increased workability.
Callaway Apex Pro
If you’re a low handicap player but searching for a couple extra yards with your irons, the hollow Apex Pro could be the fit that ends the search. The Apex Pro comes in three different offerings, the Pro, MB and CB, all designed to improve turf interaction. The iron sets were also created to allow you to find the right mix, whether it’s Pro long irons and CB or MB short irons or vice versa. The multi-material construction of the irons consists of their patented urethane microspheres, hollow body, and progressive face and dynamic sole design—bringing player consistency while maximizing distance and penetrating ball velocity.
Are these for me?
The Apex irons offer great forgiveness and top tier shot shaping capabilities if you are a superb ball striker. So, if you are a lower handicap golfer looking for an iron that optimizes distance while bringing consistent yardage to your game, the Apex could be the perfect addition to your bag.
Mizuno Pro245
The Pro245 brings players the smooth look of a blade with all the performance of a compact muscle back iron. They have proven to be more forgiving than many of their Mizuno counterparts thanks to the higher weight of tungsten in the iron. Now, using 47-grams of tungsten with a partially hollow body, players using the Pro245 have seen more consistent strikes even if their swing wasn’t perfect.
Are these for me?
If you like the look, sound and feel of a blade, but have not reached a point in your game where the shot shaping capabilities of a blade will translate to better scores on the course, the Pro245’s are a great option.