This review is aimed unashamedly at the single-figure player. All the irons featured here are designed to offer finesse, precision, control and feel. So if you are looking to invest ahead of the season then read on...
About the test
We conducted this test at Moor Allerton Golf Club in West Yorkshire. We invited all the leading manufacturers to submit samples of irons designed for low-handicappers. Thanks go to Mark Bentley and Gareth Johnson for their assistance.
We conducted this test at Moor Allerton Golf Club in West Yorkshire. We invited all the leading manufacturers to submit samples of irons designed for low-handicappers. Thanks go to Mark Bentley and Gareth Johnson for their assistance.
The Testers
James Whitaker, head PGA pro at Moor Allerton
Dan Murphy, handicap 3
Mark Townsend, handicap 8
James Whitaker, head PGA pro at Moor Allerton
Dan Murphy, handicap 3
Mark Townsend, handicap 8
Click on images to see full size
Titleist AP2Technology: The brand-new AP2 irons are all about feel. They feature a multi-material design and a dual cavity to increase performance and a tuned feel system in the back of the club that reduces vibrations
Left-hand option? Yes SRP: £104 per iron
www.titleist.co.uk 01480 301 114
NCG verdict WITH what our panel described as the perfect mix of forgiveness, looks and performance, the newly updated AP2s scored a unanimous victory. Each club generates superb feel and the powerful ball flight on offer is highly desirable. The heads were not the sleekest on test, but they sit beautifully and squarely and at no point do you feel the performance is compromised. In other words, you get the finesse of a blade without the intimidation factor.
Dan: Very few irons offer head shapes throughout the set that appeal to my eye, but this is definitely one of them.
Dan: Very few irons offer head shapes throughout the set that appeal to my eye, but this is definitely one of them.
Mark: They are incredibly powerful and launch on a lovely low trajectory. Pure class.
We were also bowled over by Titleist's other irons in this test - the CBs - but felt the AP2s offered almost all the benefits with higher forgiveness levels. Finally, do note that the 2010 model is an updated version of last year's AP2. The differences are relatively subtle so existing owners might well conclude there is no desperate need to rush to upgrade.
We were also bowled over by Titleist's other irons in this test - the CBs - but felt the AP2s offered almost all the benefits with higher forgiveness levels. Finally, do note that the 2010 model is an updated version of last year's AP2. The differences are relatively subtle so existing owners might well conclude there is no desperate need to rush to upgrade.
Mizuno MP-58Technology: 11g titanium insert increases thickness behind impact area for extra solid feel; thinner topline and sole ensure great looks. COG close to clubface for penetrating, workable flight
Left-hand option? No SRP: £105 per iron
www.mizuno.com 0118 936 2100
NCG verdict OUR testers seemed to prefer models like this to out-and-out blades. And with the MP-58s, we simply felt they did almost all that the MP-68s did (see later in the test) while adding a layer of forgiveness.
Like the AP2s, they feature a titanium insert, which allows for better results off mishits. Yet at address, this multi-material design is hidden away from view so you look down on what looks like a classic Mizuno forged iron. It performs like one, too, albeit with a slightly higher flight.
Dan: Unless you are looking for a very low flight, I can see few reasons why you wouldn't choose this iron over the MP-62 or MP-68.
Mark: This would definitely be the Mizuno iron for me. I loved it.
Dan: Unless you are looking for a very low flight, I can see few reasons why you wouldn't choose this iron over the MP-62 or MP-68.
Mark: This would definitely be the Mizuno iron for me. I loved it.
MacGregor Pro-CTechnology: Forged from soft carbon steel and designed to offer blade-like feel and workability, with an added degree of forgiveness. It features slight offset for a higher flight
Left-hand option? No SRP: £599 (3-PW)
www.macgregorgolfeurope.co.uk 01480 308 800
NCG verdict WE think MacGregor have found the ideal balance of forgiveness and workability in the Pro-C iron. It offers the looks, the workable
ball flight and the thin top line that you would expect from an out-and-out blade, but also an element of forgiveness more commonly associated with a cavity back. Overall, they are hard to fault. The older of us who fondly remember the MacGregor brand in its heyday will rejoice in this latest offering and take little convincing to put these in the bag. Welcome back, MacGregor.
Mark: They feature all the desirable attributes that their stablemate the Pro-M has without the intimidating looks and low levels of forgiveness. I would definitely put these in my bag.
Mark: They feature all the desirable attributes that their stablemate the Pro-M has without the intimidating looks and low levels of forgiveness. I would definitely put these in my bag.
Nike
Victory Red Split Cavity
Technology: Forged from soft steel and machined for feel and accuracy. Cambered sole allows for improved contact from all lies
Left-hand option? Yes SRP: £630 (3-PW)
www.nikegolf.eu 0800 056 1640
Victory Red Split Cavity
Technology: Forged from soft steel and machined for feel and accuracy. Cambered sole allows for improved contact from all lies
Left-hand option? Yes SRP: £630 (3-PW)
www.nikegolf.eu 0800 056 1640
NCG verdict IRONS of this type, which seek to combine forgiving long irons with compact short irons often fall down on the transition between the two £ you end up with chunky short irons or a set that just doesn't blend. But not here. The short irons look fantastic while the longer irons give you a significant margin for error. They performed on a par with the sleekest blades on test but were also some of the most forgiving and were very unlucky to miss out on a medal.
Dan: They look like blades at address but have added forgiveness.
Dan: They look like blades at address but have added forgiveness.
Titleist
CB
www.titleist.co.uk 01480 301 114
CB
Technology: Optimised muscle behind impact area on forged cavity backs provides solid yet soft feel
Left-hand option? Yes SRP: £104 per ironwww.titleist.co.uk 01480 301 114
NCG verdict THE sleek yet powerful looks of the CBs really won our hearts, and so did the performance. We would recommend them to anyone who finds the AP2s a tiny bit too chunky. That said, these are not out-and-out blades and therefore offered more forgiveness than expected.
A class act £ but we just felt the AP2 had slightly wider-ranging appeal.
James: The definitive modern forged iron. Sleek but by no means impossible to use.
Dan: Bridges the gap brilliantly between AP2s and the no-margin-for-error MBs.
James: The definitive modern forged iron. Sleek but by no means impossible to use.
Dan: Bridges the gap brilliantly between AP2s and the no-margin-for-error MBs.
Ping
i15
Technology: Larger long irons offer more forgiveness; compact mid and short clubs give high levels of workability and control
Left-hand option? Yes SRP: £85 per club
www.pinggolf.com 01427 615 405
i15
Technology: Larger long irons offer more forgiveness; compact mid and short clubs give high levels of workability and control
Left-hand option? Yes SRP: £85 per club
www.pinggolf.com 01427 615 405
NCG verdict PING irons have traditionally been stronger in the game-improvement category but the i15s went down a storm. Our testers were pleasantly surprised by the feel and noted the high, long and forgiving flight. The only negative comments were related to the ferrule-less hosel, which can be off-putting to some.
Mark: At first I found it hard to get past the look of the hosel but I couldnt argue with the performance, especially the long irons.
James: Once you get past the looks you quickly realise that the i15s are great irons.
Mark: At first I found it hard to get past the look of the hosel but I couldnt argue with the performance, especially the long irons.
James: Once you get past the looks you quickly realise that the i15s are great irons.
Adams
Idea Pro Gold
Technology: Better player's combo set that features two tour-grade hybrids and six forged irons
Left-hand? No SRP: £649 (3&4h, 5-PW)
www.adamsgolf.co.uk 08000 139 139
Idea Pro Gold
Technology: Better player's combo set that features two tour-grade hybrids and six forged irons
Left-hand? No SRP: £649 (3&4h, 5-PW)
www.adamsgolf.co.uk 08000 139 139
NCG verdict WITHOUT doubt the surprise package in our test. Adams are well-established in the US, and with clubs like these you can see why. We loved the extremely solid feel, and the longer clubs were really easy to hit while the shorter irons offered the workability of a blade.
Bearing in mind you get six irons and two fantastic hybrids, the value is pretty good.
James: The feel off the face was very sweet and the sound is reassuringly solid.
Dan: The hybrids are brilliant - especially if you fight a hook as they don't want to go left.
Bearing in mind you get six irons and two fantastic hybrids, the value is pretty good.
James: The feel off the face was very sweet and the sound is reassuringly solid.
Dan: The hybrids are brilliant - especially if you fight a hook as they don't want to go left.
Mizuno MP-68
Technology: A scalloped muscle back, short
hosel, and a central centre of gravity position allow for a penetrating, workable ball flight, while Mizuno’s trademark grain-flow
forging offers exceptional feel
hosel, and a central centre of gravity position allow for a penetrating, workable ball flight, while Mizuno’s trademark grain-flow
forging offers exceptional feel
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £95 per iron
www.mizuno.com 0118 936 2100
SRP: £95 per iron
www.mizuno.com 0118 936 2100
With no offset and a sharp leading edge they sit beautifully behind the ball and, thanks to a classy mirror finish, look stunning. The feel off the middle of the blade is to die for Impossible to fault in any other aspect except that the long irons are only designed for the best ball strikers and might intimidate some
Nike Victory Red Forged TW
Technology: A muscleback design that features the same centre of gravity position that Tiger Woods demands in his irons. They are forged from carbon steel and milled for a consistent performance
Left-hand option? No
SRP: £630 (3-PW)
www.nikegolf.eu 0800 056 1640
SRP: £630 (3-PW)
www.nikegolf.eu 0800 056 1640
None of our testers fell in love with the X-Forged, but the general consensus was that this was one of the better all-round performing clubs in the pocket-cavity category Opinion was split on the looks, which were described as nondescript by some but simple and clean by others but the feel impressed everyone
Callaway X-Forged
Technology: Designed with more bounce, camber and a tighter sole radius to offer better turf interaction as well as a special ‘flighted’ centre of gravity that promotes a strong and powerful trajectory with all clubs
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £799 (3-PW)
www.callawaygolf.com 0208 391 0100
SRP: £799 (3-PW)
www.callawaygolf.com 0208 391 0100
None of our testers fell in love with the X-Forged, but the general consensus was that this was one of the better all-round performing clubs in the pocket-cavity category Opinion was split on the looks, which were described as nondescript by some but simple and clean by others but the feel impressed everyone
Ping S57
Technology: A tungsten toe weight, long hosel and small cavity offer a high resistance
to twisting and therefore an increased
level of forgiveness, while an optimised centre of gravity allows for easy playability and a solid feel
Technology: A tungsten toe weight, long hosel and small cavity offer a high resistance
to twisting and therefore an increased
level of forgiveness, while an optimised centre of gravity allows for easy playability and a solid feel
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £95 per club
www.pinggolf.com 01427 615 405
SRP: £95 per club
www.pinggolf.com 01427 615 405
This is the best-looking iron that Ping have ever created and it keeps the ball on a desirable low trajectory. It performed impeccably throughout the set Strangely, it didn’t seem to have as much feel as its mid-cavity brother – the i15 – and therefore raised a few eyebrows within our panel
TaylorMade R9 TP
Technology: A new velocity
control chamber (VCC) offers high levels of forgiveness and plenty of
distance in the longer irons, but keeps both control and workability to
the maximum in the shorter clubs
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £729 (3-PW)
www.taylormadegolf.eu 00800 8624 4653
SRP: £729 (3-PW)
www.taylormadegolf.eu 00800 8624 4653
The R9 TPs were contenders for the easiest to hit on test thanks to the forgiving face and large clubhead. Very user-friendly Our panel thought the looks were a little plain and that their relatively large heads and forgiving nature were a surprise given they are part of the TP (Tour Preferred) range aimed at the best players
Snake Eyes 675C
Technology: Features a classic and clean mid-cavity design that features a high moment of inertia (MOI) for more accuracy. A tour sole grind and thin topline combine to offer good turf interaction and unobtrusive looks at address
Technology: Features a classic and clean mid-cavity design that features a high moment of inertia (MOI) for more accuracy. A tour sole grind and thin topline combine to offer good turf interaction and unobtrusive looks at address
Left-hand option? No
SRP: £599 (3-PW)
www.snakeeyescustom.com 01480 308 800
SRP: £599 (3-PW)
www.snakeeyescustom.com 01480 308 800
The NCG test team were unanimous with praise for the feel of the face – this
is clearly a very high class of steel The head shapes were
not quite as stylish as some of the other blades and, overall, these irons
do not look quite as classy as they might
Callaway X-Prototype
Technology: Features plenty of input from the brand’s tour staff, including styling, which consists of a very thin topline and a compact head, and the centre of gravity position, which promotes a powerful, low flight
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £849 (3-PW)
www.callawaygolf.com 0208 391 0100
SRP: £849 (3-PW)
www.callawaygolf.com 0208 391 0100
The ultimate in better player irons – these are seriously sleek and built to the highest quality. Catch one out of the middle and they really fly The most intimidating long irons in our test to look down on. Anyone above a scratch handicap should think carefully about investing. Also, the (reduced) price is still on the expensive side
MacGregor Pro-M
Technology: A compact profile and flat sole with no offset allows for maximum shot shaping ability, while a CNC-milled, triangular weight behind the impact zone offers a strong trajectory
Technology: A compact profile and flat sole with no offset allows for maximum shot shaping ability, while a CNC-milled, triangular weight behind the impact zone offers a strong trajectory
Left-hand option? No
SRP: £599 (3-PW)
01480 308 800
www.macgregorgolfeurope.co.uk
SRP: £599 (3-PW)
01480 308 800
www.macgregorgolfeurope.co.uk
The NCG test team were unanimous with praise for the feel of the face – this
is clearly a very high class of steel The head shapes were
not quite as stylish as some of the other blades and, overall, these irons
do not look quite as classy as they might
Wilson Staff FG Tour
Technology: A mild steel
construction offers high levels of feel and a progressive offset through
the set allows the longer clubs to be forgiving and the shorter ones to
be full of control. A tour-inspired sole improves turf interaction
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £549 (3-PW)
www.wilsonstaff.com 01276 404 970
SRP: £549 (3-PW)
www.wilsonstaff.com 01276 404 970
They look very square at address and the larger heads offer a high, long flight. Also, they generate substantial amounts of feel and distance The looks, with their blend of modern and classic, are not quite convincing. The heads are a little bulkier than you would expect from a skilled player’s iron
Cobra
S2 Forged
Technology: Extreme perimeter weighting provides high levels of forgiveness, distance, and control, while CNC-milled grooves promote a consistent ball flight and spin rates. A tour-inspired head shape completes the package
Technology: Extreme perimeter weighting provides high levels of forgiveness, distance, and control, while CNC-milled grooves promote a consistent ball flight and spin rates. A tour-inspired head shape completes the package
Left-hand option? No
SRP: £749 (3-PW)
www.cobragolf.co.uk 01480 301 114
SRP: £749 (3-PW)
www.cobragolf.co.uk 01480 301 114
The forgiveness on offer was more than anyone would expect from a players’ iron, yet there is very little compromise on feel The long irons are a touch closed at address and the topline is on the thick side. Ideal for six-handicappers and upwards, we reckon
Snake Eyes 675B
Technology: A clean muscle back design that features a thin topline and a tour sole grind that allows for optimum turf interaction. They also offer a high moment of inertia (MOI) for extra forgiveness
Left-hand option? No
SRP: £599 (3-PW)
www.snakeeyescustom.com 01480 308 800
SRP: £599 (3-PW)
www.snakeeyescustom.com 01480 308 800
We found the 675B to have a very soft and refined feel like you would expect from a club of this quality, as well as a high level of control The looks, head shapes and overall wow factor do not quite compete with some of the better clubs on test – especially in this price bracket
Cleveland CG7 Tour Black Pearl
Technology: Progressively sized micro-cavities give each club a different centre of gravity location to increase distance in the longer clubs while keeping the shorter clubs full of control. Toe muscle weighting prevents twisting, too.
Left-hand option? No
SRP: £7575 (3-PW)
www.clevelandgolf.com 01420 541 709
SRP: £7575 (3-PW)
www.clevelandgolf.com 01420 541 709
The high flight and ease of use in the longer irons were a big positive for all our testers, as was the solid feel throughout the whole setThe black pearl finish was not to everyone’s taste, nor were the 'stockiness' of the clubhead or thicker-than average topline