Price
$143 per iron
1 / 3
2 / 3
3 / 3
Why We Like It
- The L-face insert (in which part of the face wraps around the sole) is used on the 4- through 7-irons to boost ball speed. The face has a new leading-edge channel that extends around the face from the sole into the toe area to help with impacts there.
- For the first time in a Cobra iron, the interior leading-edge channel has been added to the 8-iron through sand wedge.
- Cobra engineers used simulated golf-ball impacts to adjust the face pattern and interior leading edge and toe area thicknesses to deliver faster ball speeds.
- Steel weighting is concentrated low and back to lower the center of gravity and to maximize the face’s ability to flex.
- The medallion insert and a foam filler improve the feel by damping vibrations.
- By using a softer 431 stainless steel for the hosel, custom orders can be bent by plus or minus 4 degrees of loft and plus or minus 1 degree of lie angle.
- Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps.
- SPECS: 7-iron: 27 degrees; PW: 42 degrees
what our testers said
handicap
- all
- low
- mid
- high
John
55, Handicap 11
1 year testing
In terms of design, there's lot going on with the back of the clubs. It's distracting. In terms of distance control, the are very consistent but produce a little lower flight than I would like. They also are pretty forgiving. I was playing my natural fade and it kept it under control, even on mis-hits.
Megan
39, Handicap 0
1 year testing
The weighting is not too light, which allows me to feel the clubhead throughout the swing. It was easy to hit and I was consistently getting the medium launch I wanted. Not an intimidating to look at, either. I don't love how you can see the back of the clubhead at address. It protrudes a bit. That said, even when I hit a bad shot, the flight was decent and forgiving.
Jamie
51, Handicap 5
2 years testing
The proportion of the head and the width of the sole go well together. I could find a wide sweet spot from heel to toe but high or low strikes on the face got punished. Anything above the bottom of the face felt nice, though. There was a nice medium, penetrating trajectory and it went straight as an arrow. I wish it was more forgiving on low strikes.
Scott
37, Handicap 14
9 years testing
The impact sound was crisp and powerful. Its forgiveness seemed on the lighter side—a lot more sidespin. You could feel the best shots sizzle off the face. Trajectory was just a touch on the higher side. These are pleasant and effective to hit.
Ryan
46, Handicap 14
2 years testing
It has a long, shallow face but a solid look overall. I got a medium ball flight and the 7-iron was hot! I struggled getting the 5-iron in the air and the distance gap was noticeable.
SEE ALL (32)
John
55, Handicap 11
1 year testing
In terms of design, there's lot going on with the back of the clubs. It's distracting. In terms of distance control, the are very consistent but produce a little lower flight than I would like. They also are pretty forgiving. I was playing my natural fade and it kept it under control, even on mis-hits.
Megan
39, Handicap 0
1 year testing
The weighting is not too light, which allows me to feel the clubhead throughout the swing. It was easy to hit and I was consistently getting the medium launch I wanted. Not an intimidating to look at, either. I don't love how you can see the back of the clubhead at address. It protrudes a bit. That said, even when I hit a bad shot, the flight was decent and forgiving.
Jamie
51, Handicap 5
2 years testing
The proportion of the head and the width of the sole go well together. I could find a wide sweet spot from heel to toe but high or low strikes on the face got punished. Anything above the bottom of the face felt nice, though. There was a nice medium, penetrating trajectory and it went straight as an arrow. I wish it was more forgiving on low strikes.
Scott
37, Handicap 14
9 years testing
The impact sound was crisp and powerful. Its forgiveness seemed on the lighter side—a lot more sidespin. You could feel the best shots sizzle off the face. Trajectory was just a touch on the higher side. These are pleasant and effective to hit.
Ryan
46, Handicap 14
2 years testing
It has a long, shallow face but a solid look overall. I got a medium ball flight and the 7-iron was hot! I struggled getting the 5-iron in the air and the distance gap was noticeable.
David
66, Handicap 8
1 year testing
As big as it looks, though it plays much lighter. Every swing felt smooth and easy
Jin
30, Handicap 13
1 year testing
The ball holds its line, even in the wind. There's a loud whip sound at impact. The whole club is pretty fat. It's a bit too firm for my liking, especially in this category. Retains distance on mis-hits and there was positive feedback in my hands. I knew exactly where I missed it, though it was unpleasant to feel the vibration in my hands.
Gary
37, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
There was a lively experience at impact that was very encouraging. No loss of distance even on mis-hits left or right. The softer finish looks comfortable at address.
Sean
53, Handicap 6
8 years testing
These were easy to hit. They go a lot higher than others. You can hit it all over the place and still get good distance. You can work it a lot better than most. It's a nice club, I just don't like the look of it. Too much going on with the design in the back.
Wayne
60, Handicap 6
2 years testing
This goes straight with really fun performance. Even mis-hits give you good distance. You can tell there's a different, thicker topline, which inspires a little more confidence. It also gives you the impression that there's more weight behind the ball. From a confidence perspective, it helps me feel like I can hit the ball better. I would say that the head on this one does feel heavier than some of the other ones, which I like.
Shane
36, Handicap 15
5 years testing
I had to square it up to get the full capacity out of this club. A nice easy swing wasn't going to be enough.
Paul
63, Handicap 4
10+ years testing
It had a lot of power for such a light feeling club. Turf interaction was more than sufficient. It had workability and better-than-average distance with a low launch that climbed. The distance was the standout. Not a lot of negative feedback on mis-hits, which was nice. The design isn't all that game improvement and the feel wasn't super buttery, but the performance was unquestioned.
Matt
52, Handicap 11
3 years testing
For a guy with a slower swing speed, I generally struggle to get 5-irons in the air. With this club, I was blasting 5-irons long and straight. Very forgiving. I could put a blanket over my shots with each club. One nit: The feel in short irons is clanky and dull.
Alejandra
26, Handicap 5
4 years testing
This is a great club. It feels compact, like one piece extending from your hand. I got good interaction with the ground. It blasts through the ball and then the turf. Sounds like a pure shot every time, even when it's not. Replicates the same ball flight over and over.
Alan
30, Handicap 1
1 year testing
It says it right on the face, "Hot Face." This thing is as hot as it gets. It roasts golf balls. If you want distance, this is the club. There's a lot of weight in the toe, so if you want a hybrid-like iron, this is it.
Ryan
49, Handicap 10
7 years testing
These have a spiffy look on the back with the milling, badging and honeycomb pattern. Distracting on the is the "Hot Face" label on the toe. What I found in performance was limited in terms of how high it could climb. Direct hits gave you an incomplete sound. You weren't sure that you got it, even if you did.
Thomas
60, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
I immediately started hitting high, straight balls—very forgiving and easy to hit. I could pretty much stop it anywhere because it flew so high. That might be a detriment in windy conditions. There was a nice sweet feel to go along with it. All in all, a pretty good package.
Ricky
46, Handicap +3
10+ years testing
This thing feels like a tank, looks like a tank and performs like a tank. It's a beast. It's a little heavier, but just so fluid. You don't have to do too much. When you need it, it's there. I like the rounded look to the toe line and gunmetal finish. Not so glaring. The launch, it had a progressive flight. Pitching wedge was high, 7-iron higher and the 5 found the real apex and still took off.
Molly
37, Handicap 0
4 years testing
I like the darker shade on the clubhead. I don't like the thicker topline and bulky feel. The high irons were super high launching and forgiving, but the lower clubs had a lower launch and were less forgiving.
Wei
55, Handicap 13
9 years testing
I love the dark finish and the soft edges. There's no look of sharpness in the blade that might catch or dig. The sound and feel were in line with that. It has a very soft impact in terms of feel and sound. The turf interaction was effortless. The ball launched beautifully and stayed at its apex for impressive carry distance.
Daniel
33, Handicap 12
5 years testing
There's a sleek look to it, the checkered back is tight and modern. It looks like it's powerful at address. My shots really had a lot of carry with decent trajectory. It felt firm but lacked some explosiveness. Through the ground it was maybe a little sluggish, grabby.
Jack
35, Handicap 1
2 years testing
Kind of a nickel finish that is unique and classy. It looks like it can cut through the turf easily and keep the clubface square. It's a distance iron. It almost feels like a trampoline off the center strikes. It feels like a driver disguised as an iron
BK
41, Handicap 1
9 years testing
Not the best sounding but a great performer. A little too loud. It does let you know when you hit the sweet spot in a good way. The distance you get with it is remarkable. You lose very little on significant mis-hits. I mean that. I love the added offset in the longer clubs. You can swing hard and it's going to correct your issues.
Jason
48, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
A very soft, muted sound off the face. The ball catapults, reaching its apex quickly and staying there. I hit a couple off-center and the distance was the exact same. Looking at address, you can see a little text on the toe, which actually frames the head nicely.
RC
63, Handicap 7
2 years testing
I got good performance out of this. My swing speed was up a little bit. Overall, it was strong in performance and the face felt a little more springy. The ball came off the face really well.
Robert
28, Handicap 2
1 year testing
The acoustics and feel were loud and very firm up through the hands. It frames the ball well with a thick topline and offset. The white line on the bottom of face helps with alignment. The ball flight was a mid launch that could work well, and the distance was in the range of what I would expect to see on the golf course.
Sándor J.
36, Handicap 9
2 years testing
Not only does it feel good in your hands, there is good interaction between the ball and turf. There was good workability and forgiveness, too. The ball was going right at the flag, landing where it needed to. Consistent. You don't lose distance with this.
Anand
43, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I don't think I hit a single solid shot, yet the ball speed was insane. The distance was there, the direction was there. I feel like the entire club was a sweet spot. No matter what you do, the ball goes where you want. Most forgiving club I've hit.
Peter
57, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Looking down on it, it's easy to square the ball up. It gives you confidence you're going to make a good strike. It's pretty easy to hit straight. I just don't have a feeling of a lot of power. It has a little bit of a muted, woody sound to it.
Alex
40, Handicap 11
6 years testing
It's a forgiving club that would be easy to keep in play. The lower flight I got would be good for playing in the wind. It's long enough but nothing extra. You get a cushioned but springy feel at impact. The back of the club is blended together nicely.
Matt
27, Handicap 5
1 year testing
It's definitely more hollow and quiet. You don't get that flush, powerful boom off the face, even if you hit it well. It's not that I dislike that, but sometimes you want a pat on the back after nailing a shot.
Skylar
26, Handicap 7
2 years testing
I love the one-piece look in the back. It's a standout. The face is very sharp—it's kind of like a bronzed, brushed feel. It's pretty loud but not annoying. A reassuring, distinct sound through the ball. Good feedback, too. You can also work it really easily. The club isn't too big, so you can swing through it.
Scott
37, Handicap 14
9 years testing
The impact sound was crisp and powerful. Its forgiveness seemed on the lighter side—a lot more sidespin. You could feel the best shots sizzle off the face. Trajectory was just a touch on the higher side. These are pleasant and effective to hit.
Ryan
46, Handicap 14
2 years testing
It has a long, shallow face but a solid look overall. I got a medium ball flight and the 7-iron was hot! I struggled getting the 5-iron in the air and the distance gap was noticeable.
Jin
30, Handicap 13
1 year testing
The ball holds its line, even in the wind. There's a loud whip sound at impact. The whole club is pretty fat. It's a bit too firm for my liking, especially in this category. Retains distance on mis-hits and there was positive feedback in my hands. I knew exactly where I missed it, though it was unpleasant to feel the vibration in my hands.
Gary
37, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
There was a lively experience at impact that was very encouraging. No loss of distance even on mis-hits left or right. The softer finish looks comfortable at address.
Shane
36, Handicap 15
5 years testing
I had to square it up to get the full capacity out of this club. A nice easy swing wasn't going to be enough.
Wei
55, Handicap 13
9 years testing
I love the dark finish and the soft edges. There's no look of sharpness in the blade that might catch or dig. The sound and feel were in line with that. It has a very soft impact in terms of feel and sound. The turf interaction was effortless. The ball launched beautifully and stayed at its apex for impressive carry distance.
Daniel
33, Handicap 12
5 years testing
There's a sleek look to it, the checkered back is tight and modern. It looks like it's powerful at address. My shots really had a lot of carry with decent trajectory. It felt firm but lacked some explosiveness. Through the ground it was maybe a little sluggish, grabby.
John
55, Handicap 11
1 year testing
In terms of design, there's lot going on with the back of the clubs. It's distracting. In terms of distance control, the are very consistent but produce a little lower flight than I would like. They also are pretty forgiving. I was playing my natural fade and it kept it under control, even on mis-hits.
David
66, Handicap 8
1 year testing
As big as it looks, though it plays much lighter. Every swing felt smooth and easy
Sean
53, Handicap 6
8 years testing
These were easy to hit. They go a lot higher than others. You can hit it all over the place and still get good distance. You can work it a lot better than most. It's a nice club, I just don't like the look of it. Too much going on with the design in the back.
Wayne
60, Handicap 6
2 years testing
This goes straight with really fun performance. Even mis-hits give you good distance. You can tell there's a different, thicker topline, which inspires a little more confidence. It also gives you the impression that there's more weight behind the ball. From a confidence perspective, it helps me feel like I can hit the ball better. I would say that the head on this one does feel heavier than some of the other ones, which I like.
Matt
52, Handicap 11
3 years testing
For a guy with a slower swing speed, I generally struggle to get 5-irons in the air. With this club, I was blasting 5-irons long and straight. Very forgiving. I could put a blanket over my shots with each club. One nit: The feel in short irons is clanky and dull.
Ryan
49, Handicap 10
7 years testing
These have a spiffy look on the back with the milling, badging and honeycomb pattern. Distracting on the is the "Hot Face" label on the toe. What I found in performance was limited in terms of how high it could climb. Direct hits gave you an incomplete sound. You weren't sure that you got it, even if you did.
Thomas
60, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
I immediately started hitting high, straight balls—very forgiving and easy to hit. I could pretty much stop it anywhere because it flew so high. That might be a detriment in windy conditions. There was a nice sweet feel to go along with it. All in all, a pretty good package.
RC
63, Handicap 7
2 years testing
I got good performance out of this. My swing speed was up a little bit. Overall, it was strong in performance and the face felt a little more springy. The ball came off the face really well.
Sándor J.
36, Handicap 9
2 years testing
Not only does it feel good in your hands, there is good interaction between the ball and turf. There was good workability and forgiveness, too. The ball was going right at the flag, landing where it needed to. Consistent. You don't lose distance with this.
Anand
43, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I don't think I hit a single solid shot, yet the ball speed was insane. The distance was there, the direction was there. I feel like the entire club was a sweet spot. No matter what you do, the ball goes where you want. Most forgiving club I've hit.
Peter
57, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Looking down on it, it's easy to square the ball up. It gives you confidence you're going to make a good strike. It's pretty easy to hit straight. I just don't have a feeling of a lot of power. It has a little bit of a muted, woody sound to it.
Alex
40, Handicap 11
6 years testing
It's a forgiving club that would be easy to keep in play. The lower flight I got would be good for playing in the wind. It's long enough but nothing extra. You get a cushioned but springy feel at impact. The back of the club is blended together nicely.
Skylar
26, Handicap 7
2 years testing
I love the one-piece look in the back. It's a standout. The face is very sharp—it's kind of like a bronzed, brushed feel. It's pretty loud but not annoying. A reassuring, distinct sound through the ball. Good feedback, too. You can also work it really easily. The club isn't too big, so you can swing through it.
Megan
39, Handicap 0
1 year testing
The weighting is not too light, which allows me to feel the clubhead throughout the swing. It was easy to hit and I was consistently getting the medium launch I wanted. Not an intimidating to look at, either. I don't love how you can see the back of the clubhead at address. It protrudes a bit. That said, even when I hit a bad shot, the flight was decent and forgiving.
Jamie
51, Handicap 5
2 years testing
The proportion of the head and the width of the sole go well together. I could find a wide sweet spot from heel to toe but high or low strikes on the face got punished. Anything above the bottom of the face felt nice, though. There was a nice medium, penetrating trajectory and it went straight as an arrow. I wish it was more forgiving on low strikes.
Paul
63, Handicap 4
10+ years testing
It had a lot of power for such a light feeling club. Turf interaction was more than sufficient. It had workability and better-than-average distance with a low launch that climbed. The distance was the standout. Not a lot of negative feedback on mis-hits, which was nice. The design isn't all that game improvement and the feel wasn't super buttery, but the performance was unquestioned.
Alejandra
26, Handicap 5
4 years testing
This is a great club. It feels compact, like one piece extending from your hand. I got good interaction with the ground. It blasts through the ball and then the turf. Sounds like a pure shot every time, even when it's not. Replicates the same ball flight over and over.
Alan
30, Handicap 1
1 year testing
It says it right on the face, "Hot Face." This thing is as hot as it gets. It roasts golf balls. If you want distance, this is the club. There's a lot of weight in the toe, so if you want a hybrid-like iron, this is it.
Ricky
46, Handicap +3
10+ years testing
This thing feels like a tank, looks like a tank and performs like a tank. It's a beast. It's a little heavier, but just so fluid. You don't have to do too much. When you need it, it's there. I like the rounded look to the toe line and gunmetal finish. Not so glaring. The launch, it had a progressive flight. Pitching wedge was high, 7-iron higher and the 5 found the real apex and still took off.
Molly
37, Handicap 0
4 years testing
I like the darker shade on the clubhead. I don't like the thicker topline and bulky feel. The high irons were super high launching and forgiving, but the lower clubs had a lower launch and were less forgiving.
Jack
35, Handicap 1
2 years testing
Kind of a nickel finish that is unique and classy. It looks like it can cut through the turf easily and keep the clubface square. It's a distance iron. It almost feels like a trampoline off the center strikes. It feels like a driver disguised as an iron
BK
41, Handicap 1
9 years testing
Not the best sounding but a great performer. A little too loud. It does let you know when you hit the sweet spot in a good way. The distance you get with it is remarkable. You lose very little on significant mis-hits. I mean that. I love the added offset in the longer clubs. You can swing hard and it's going to correct your issues.
Jason
48, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
A very soft, muted sound off the face. The ball catapults, reaching its apex quickly and staying there. I hit a couple off-center and the distance was the exact same. Looking at address, you can see a little text on the toe, which actually frames the head nicely.
Robert
28, Handicap 2
1 year testing
The acoustics and feel were loud and very firm up through the hands. It frames the ball well with a thick topline and offset. The white line on the bottom of face helps with alignment. The ball flight was a mid launch that could work well, and the distance was in the range of what I would expect to see on the golf course.
Matt
27, Handicap 5
1 year testing
It's definitely more hollow and quiet. You don't get that flush, powerful boom off the face, even if you hit it well. It's not that I dislike that, but sometimes you want a pat on the back after nailing a shot.
NO REVIEWS
There are no tester reviews here.
Range Results
We tracked 27,000 shots through player testing and then had them analyzed by our team of scientists. These graphics reflect the relative performance our players saw for each club in the category.
Surviving The Hot List: Celebrity Intern
From the Manufacturer
Cobra DS-Adapt
The DS-ADAPT Irons unlock your distance potential with our largest SPEEDSHELL face insert, hollow construction, and re-engineered adaptive PWR-BRIDGE weighting that delivers our longest and most robust iron design yet.
justinkosman.com
Featured In
Related Clubs
1 / 16
Callaway
Apex Ai300
$200 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$200 per iron
The Apex Ai300 replaces the Apex DCB and targets golfers who are early in their journey or are looking to step up from the super-game-improvement category.
The forged 455-steel face was designed with the help of AI analysis of everyday player impact data in which the topology behind the face is different for each iron—thinner and thicker in areas where it needs to be to create maximum consistency.
The tungsten core has urethane with “microspheres”—tiny air bubbles encased in glass—that lowers the center of gravity to help with launch despite slightly strong lofts.
2 / 16
Callaway
Elyte
$150 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$150 per iron
The hollow-body construction features a variable-thickness cupface designed with the help of AI analysis of thousands of golfer swings.
The special high-strength stainless steel is thinner than traditional stainless steels, resulting in a fast-flexing face.
Select areas of the clubhead have been stiffened, primarily the topline, to allow the cupface to transfer energy to the ball more efficiently.
3 / 16
Callaway
Elyte HL
$143 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$143 per iron
Designed for players with moderate to average swing speeds seeking a higher launch with more carry.
As with the standard Elyte model, a high-strength stainless-steel cupface—in which the sole wraps around part of the sole and topline—provides Formula-1 speed off the face.
The irons feature the RCH S2H2 short hosel that Callaway’s late R&D chief Dick Helmstetter was famous for designing. The shorter hosel saves six grams that were used to lower the center of gravity to achieve higher launch.
4 / 16
Cobra
King Tec-X
$186 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$186 per iron
5 / 16
Mizuno
JPX925 Hot Metal
$150 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$150 per iron
The new face on the 4- through 8-irons is 30 percent thinner at its thinnest point or a slim 1.2 millimeters on the low heel and high toe for faster ball speeds.
The cupface—in which part of the face wraps around the topline and sole—enhances ball speed throughout the hitting area.
Tungsten weighting is positioned low in the 4- through 7-irons to mitigate the loss of ball speed on off-center strikes and to help golfers launch the ball higher.
6 / 16
Ping
G440
$157 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$157 per iron
The face is shallower and thinner compared to the G430 for increased ball speed and a more player-preferred look at address.
The size reduction saves four grams per iron that is placed lower and farther back in the head to drop the center of gravity and assist launch.
The shaft length of the 4-, 5-, and 6-irons were extended three-quarters of an inch to help golfers launch those irons higher.
7 / 16
PXG
0311 XP GEN7
$230 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$230 per iron
Compared to the P model, the XP targets middle- to high-handicaps who don’t mind looking at a little heftier clubhead with more aggressive offset and stronger lofts in exchange for extra distance and forgiveness.
At its thinnest, the maraging-steel face is just .05 of an inch thick, helping the face to flex. An internal channel in the back delivers even more spring and potential distance.
An internal polymer supports the face and delivers a pleasing sound and feel.
8 / 16
Srixon
ZXi4
$186 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$186 per iron
The hollow body was designed with the help of AI, a process that produces way more potential clubhead iterations than humans are capable of in a given timeframe.
Unlike the company’s ZXi5 and ZXi7 irons, the body of the ZXi4 is not forged. Instead the cast multi-piece iron uses a forged high-strength steel face insert (HT1770) supported by a cast 17-4 stainless-steel body and hosel that is heat treated to allow for bending.
The backside of each iron face is milled in a variable-thickness pattern comprising indentations to provide ball speed while saving mass.
9 / 16
TaylorMade
Qi
$143 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$143 per iron
TaylorMade prioritized reducing the chances of a slice with the Qi. A multi-material cap-back that is lighter than the steel it replaces reduces weight in the high toe, making the club easier to square at impact.
The center of gravity is lower in the long irons for easier launch and higher in the short irons for optimal control, launch and spin.
It has been a staple of TaylorMade irons for over a decade, but to ignore the heat brought by the “Speed Pocket” slot up to the 7-iron would be journalistic malpractice.
10 / 16
Titleist
T350
$200 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$200 per iron
The T350 is the company’s most aggressive approach to forgiveness and ball speed with its larger size and wider sole.
The high-strength, variable-thickness steel face features the same alloy as the T200 as well as the L-shape that overlaps into the sole for extra rebound at impact.
Healthy chunks of super-dense tungsten in the heel and toe foster sumo-wrestler stability on off-center hits.
11 / 16
Cleveland
ZipCore XL
$130 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$130 per iron
This game-improvement set uses two constructions: a hollow body for the 4- through 7-iron and a cavity-back design for the 8-iron through sand wedge.
Golf Digest’s academic panel has seen a lot of interesting technology over the years and isn’t easily impressed. An exception is Cleveland’s ZipCore tech in which a lightweight aluminum silicate compound replaces steel in the hosel to better position the center of gravity.
ZipCore saves nearly 15 grams of weight that is redistributed to reduce ball-speed loss on off-center strikes.
12 / 16
Honma
TW767 HX
$210 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$210 per iron
This hollow iron disguises itself as a large muscle-back with plenty of speed thanks to a thin maraging-steel face.
Honma positioned the 5.5-gram weight screw on the back of the clubhead to improve sound and feel.
Weight screws and 16 grams of internal tungsten mass help minimize spin and the loss of carry distance on common misses golfers make with their 5- through 9-irons.
13 / 16
PXG
Black Ops
$150 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$150 per iron
Black Ops is a hollow-body, dual-cavity design with a larger profile intended to instill confidence for the game-improvement audience.
The irons have the same thin face and power channel as the 0311 GEN7 line, but the larger face and thicker topline on the Black Ops are designed for the player seeking help getting the ball airborne as opposed to getting it close to the pin.
The hollow body features the company’s XCOR2 polymer filling and a lightweight insert on the outer cavity to save weight that is repositioned to improve forgiveness.
14 / 16
Tour Edge
Exotics E725
$115 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$115 per iron
The extreme low-rearward center of gravity provides an extremely high moment of inertia, which helps maximize speed on off-center strikes.
A one-piece, high-strength steel body with a 360-degree undercut helps lower the center of gravity for a higher launch.
Tour Edge’s diamond-face variable-thickness design features 103 “diamonds” in the face that serve as mini-trampolines to maximize ball speed.
15 / 16
Vice
VGI02
$100 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$100 per iron
The VGI02 features lighter head weights than most irons. Vice believes lighter heads are easier for everyday players to control and swing faster for more ball speed.
Vice also says that data from years of fitting reveals that a lighter club is easier to square at impact, reducing the likelihood of a slice.
The irons are two-piece with a springlike steel for the face to increase ball speed.
16 / 16
Wilson
Dynapower
$128 per iron
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$128 per iron
The most common miss by amateur players is on the toe. To combat that in the Dynapower 4- through 8-irons, Wilson uses a two-piece construction in which the face is welded on around the topline and the upper part of the toe area. This provides a larger area of the face that is unsupported, which leads to more ball speed.
The face is made from 17-4 stainless steel, like the body of the iron, but is created from a forged/stamped process. This manufacturing approach allows for a stronger and thinner face and maintains high strength and durability.
The iron also has changing thicknesses on 27 points on the face, ranging from 2 millimeters to 2.5 millimeters for zippy ball speeds.