For years, game improvement irons were noted for their large form, often dominated by significant offset. That’s changed in recent years, as the form factor has gotten smaller, the technology has expanded, and the offset is limited. The result can be found, typically, in the “Max” category of the current iron lines, where clubmakers have created irons that help golfers get the ball in the air and limit slices.
TaylorMade Qi Max and Qi Max HL
TaylorMade designers were keenly aware of the challenges the game improvement category has and factored this into designing both the Qi Max and Max HL irons. The goal was a “complete” game improvement iron with new internal structures. One of the key findings during R&D for the irons was the notion that most game improvement irons flex more at the toe at impact than elsewhere on the clubface, leading to more cut spin. Typical mid-handicap players struggle more with a slice or cut than they do with drawing the ball, leading TaylorMade engineers to look at design concepts that would allow the face to flex in unison. The result is a great looking game improvement iron that gets the ball in the air easily and offers lots of distance.
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PING G740
Offering a set of game improvement irons that fits in with PING wedges and will appeal to a broad range of players, that’s the goal of the G740. The line has a longer blade length, greater perimeter weighting and a wider dual-camber sole, making it easy for golfers to launch shots high. Traditionally super-game improvement sets feature a large clubhead and significant offset. In the G740 line, PING is trying to find the balance between more traditional aesthetics, while still offering all the punch you’d get from game improvement irons.
Callaway Quantum Max
Hot, that’s the goal of the Quantum Max line, where Callaway made each iron in the set feel powerful with the notion of producing maximum distance. Forgiveness is also another key here. Players drawn to game improvement irons won’t catch the centre of the clubface with great frequency, but in the Quantum Max, forgiveness is real, and you can feel it in the club. Distance and forgiveness are keys in the line, but they still offer feedback and don’t feel flat, as is the case with other clubs in this category. These irons are unmistakably game improvement, you get a long blade here, strong lofts and some offset.
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Cobra KING Max
The Cobra KING Max is aimed at players with slower swing speeds, while golfers with more moderate swing speed will gravitate to its cousin, the KING model. The result of either version is higher and longer shots with more stopping power. There’s also sets aimed specifically at women, unique in the category, with an Earl Grey colourway and lightweight shaft. Cobra used 3D printing for the MAX irons to optimize weight positioning in the head. That allowed Cobra engineers to lower the center of gravity by 2 mm to increase performance, including a higher launch angle and steeper descent for more stopping power.
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PXG GEN8 XP
A new weighting process—that’s the key to PXG’s GEN8 irons. The result is a noticeable face-to-path change at impact, tighter dispersion, better directional control and turf interaction. In other words, a smooth strike where the ball flies at the target. PXG’s GEN8 XP offers great distance and superior forgiveness, while the design offers a wider sole and increased offset.
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Titleist T350
You’ll find Titleist’s T350 look sharper than previous versions, and at address, they sit cleaner for most golfers. Regardless, at impact, where it really matters, the feel is unmistakably Titleist, soft with great sound at impact, a factor that extends right through the line. Beyond the cosmetics, there’s an impressive amount of performance packed into each head. New materials, refined shaping, and a host of innovations, such as an improved forged L-Face, upgraded Max Impact technology, and progressive dual-cavity construction, have been integrated in ways both subtle and significant. Don’t let the clean looks fool you, this is the most forgiving iron in the lineup. Designed to make your misses playable and your centre-strikes fly, the T350 is ideal for players who want help without handing over all the control.
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Srixon ZXIR HL
High launch and plenty of forgiveness, that’s the key with Srixon’s ZXIR, a super game improvement iron designed for those with slower swing speeds. You want the feel you expect from Srixon, but with tons of forgiveness, and that’s exactly what ZXIR offers. With higher lofts to help you get the ball in the air, the HL model is Srixon’s first even super game improvement iron.