If you need a little extra forgiveness in your life, this selection of helpful combo sets where longer irons are replaced by hybrids could be the answer
About the test
WE conducted this test at Moor Allerton Golf Club in West Yorkshire. Our intention was to identify the super game-improvement irons most suitable for 20-handicappers and upwards looking for ultimate forgiveness and distance. Each of the sets we tested featured hybrid alternatives to hard-to-hit long irons. Forgiveness, looks, price and feel were the key criteria. Special thanks go to Moor Allerton’s head pro, James Whitaker, for his expertise and guidance.
WE conducted this test at Moor Allerton Golf Club in West Yorkshire. Our intention was to identify the super game-improvement irons most suitable for 20-handicappers and upwards looking for ultimate forgiveness and distance. Each of the sets we tested featured hybrid alternatives to hard-to-hit long irons. Forgiveness, looks, price and feel were the key criteria. Special thanks go to Moor Allerton’s head pro, James Whitaker, for his expertise and guidance.
The Testers
Joe Whitley, handicap 19
Andy Kenworthy, handicap 28
Daniel Cooper, handicap 28
Joe Whitley, handicap 19
Andy Kenworthy, handicap 28
Daniel Cooper, handicap 28
Tour Edge Bazooka Geomax 2Technology: Available with either two or three hybrids with six or five irons. Offers high levels of forgiveness and a high launch thanks to thick soles, large sweet spots and clever weight distribution
Number of hybrids in set: 2 or 3 (3, 4, 5)
Number of irons: 5 or 6 (4, 5, 6-PW)
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £449 www.touredge.com 01753 218 913
NCG verdict ALL things considered, our panel could not find a set better than this
Tour Edge offering. It features irons with huge soles that have been designed to look
like hybrids, thus making the transition through the set smoother, and great-looking
hybrids that launch the ball on a soaring yet controllable trajectory time after time.
The Bazookas have one of the most powerful faces of any club in the test and really live up to their name in the distance stakes, with a high average carry for all of our panel. They may not be the most recognisable or trusted name in the game, but, believe us, anyone above a 20 handicap will struggle not to play well with these.
Joe: These are seriously long and forgiving – even on mis-hits – and disguise the huge cavity really well.
Andy: It was really easy to get the ball in the air with these clubs and they look great.
Tour Edge offering. It features irons with huge soles that have been designed to look
like hybrids, thus making the transition through the set smoother, and great-looking
hybrids that launch the ball on a soaring yet controllable trajectory time after time.
The Bazookas have one of the most powerful faces of any club in the test and really live up to their name in the distance stakes, with a high average carry for all of our panel. They may not be the most recognisable or trusted name in the game, but, believe us, anyone above a 20 handicap will struggle not to play well with these.
Joe: These are seriously long and forgiving – even on mis-hits – and disguise the huge cavity really well.
Andy: It was really easy to get the ball in the air with these clubs and they look great.
Cobra S2 MaxTechnology: Combines expanded sweet spots with wide soles for a high launch and maximum forgiveness
Number of hybrids in set: Up to 3 (4, 5, 6)
Number of irons: Up to 7 (5-SW)
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £589 (iron set from £379)
cobragolf.co.uk 01480 301 114
NCG verdict COBRA are experts at creating sets aimed at the beginner, and their
latest model is no exception. With what was unanimously voted as the best-looking all-round
package, and serious forgiveness throughout the bag, they were a huge hit. What impressed us most was the attractive iron heads and surprisingly soft feel from the middle, which was not replicated by any other club on test. What is also clever is the number of options available to the buyer – you can purchase a set with either hybrids in the 4 to 6-iron slots or with just 5-SW. This means those looking for ultimate forgiveness can hit long-iron hybrids with confidence but others can stick with their long irons if they prefer. A great idea.
Joe: A fantastic set of clubs that really launch the ball.
Daniel: These are really good-looking and were very easy to hit throughout the bag.
latest model is no exception. With what was unanimously voted as the best-looking all-round
package, and serious forgiveness throughout the bag, they were a huge hit. What impressed us most was the attractive iron heads and surprisingly soft feel from the middle, which was not replicated by any other club on test. What is also clever is the number of options available to the buyer – you can purchase a set with either hybrids in the 4 to 6-iron slots or with just 5-SW. This means those looking for ultimate forgiveness can hit long-iron hybrids with confidence but others can stick with their long irons if they prefer. A great idea.
Joe: A fantastic set of clubs that really launch the ball.
Daniel: These are really good-looking and were very easy to hit throughout the bag.
Adams Idea A7OS MAXTechnology: Ultra-thin crowns and faces are coupled with sole weighting to promote a high, long flight and serious distance
Number of hybrids in set: 8 (3-PW)
Number of irons: 0 Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £699
www.adamsgolf.co.uk 08000 139 139
NCG verdict WE had high hopes for the brand who won our hybrid test, and Adams did not disappoint with their fantastic A7OS MAX set.
With what we thought were the best hybrids on test, and irons that were genuinely effortless to hit, Adams have produced a serious set usable by anyone above a 12 handicap. The longer clubs look slightly odd initially, but are really powerful and forgiving on mis-hits, while the shorter hybrids look like normal irons at address – even though they have a great chunk on the back. Another fine showing from Adams.
Andy: I hit this set’s 6-iron 170 yards, which is further than any other club on test (including the 3-iron hybrids). It went straight, too!
Daniel: The longer clubs are fantastic and were really straight and long.
Andy: I hit this set’s 6-iron 170 yards, which is further than any other club on test (including the 3-iron hybrids). It went straight, too!
Daniel: The longer clubs are fantastic and were really straight and long.
Benross Innovator XXX irons & VX Proto hybrid
Technology: Designed with a low and deep centre of gravity to produce a high flight and extreme MOI throughout the set
Number of hybrids in set: 1 (3)
Number of irons: 8 (4-SW)
Left-hand option? No
SRP: £249 (steel); £299 (graphite) £59.99
hybrid comes free with set
www.benrossgolf.com 01932 821 200
Number of irons: 8 (4-SW)
Left-hand option? No
SRP: £249 (steel); £299 (graphite) £59.99
hybrid comes free with set
www.benrossgolf.com 01932 821 200
NCG verdict THESE were the surprise package of our test. Starting from the top, the hybrid, which features a generous amount of offset and a nicely rounded head, provided great forgiveness and distance across the board, while the irons looked really appealing and were also very long and easy to hit. The only thing we thought the irons lacked was a bit of feel. Still, an absolute steal at less than £300.
Cleveland HB3
Technology: SuperFast technology reduces weight to increase clubhead speed and offer ultimate
distance. Triangular head shape is aerodynamically optimised to travel through the air quicker
Number of hybrids in set: 7 (4-PW)
Number of irons: 0 Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £499 (steel); £599 (graphite)
www.clevelandgolf.com 01420 541 709
Number of irons: 0 Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £499 (steel); £599 (graphite)
www.clevelandgolf.com 01420 541 709
NCG verdict CLEVELAND’S latest super game-improvement set features hybrids throughout the bag, all of which are designed to offer forgiveness across the face yet still look sleek at address. When you give them a go, it is clear that the brand succeeded in their attempt. The performance these clubs produced was also extremely impressive. However, there is a really distinct and loud bell-like sound at impact, which may be off-putting to some. This was the only reason they did not finish in the medals.
Yonex Nanospeed 3i
Technology: A modern combination set that features wide-soled, forgiving long irons, sleek cavity-back mid irons, and compact short clubs
Number of hybrids in set: 0
Number of irons: 8 (4-SW)
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £799 (graphite only)
www.yonex.co.uk 02087 429 777
Number of irons: 8 (4-SW)
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £799 (graphite only)
www.yonex.co.uk 02087 429 777
NCG verdict WITH long irons that require no effort to launch the ball high and far, and short irons that allow you to have lots of control, the Nanospeed 3i irons were serious contenders in our test. They might not have been the best-looking set, but produced one of the nicest feels at impact and sent the ball on a really high trajectory. They are not out-and-out super-game improvers, so lacked a little on forgiveness with bad strikes, and are a little on the expensive side.
Wilson Staff D-FY Combo set
Technology: Every club features Wilson Staff’s impressive half-and-half shafts, which are part-steel and part-graphite to offer the best of both worlds
Number of hybrids in set: 2 (3, 4)
Number of irons: 6 (5-PW)
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £549 www.wilsonstaff.com 01276 404 970
Number of irons: 6 (5-PW)
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £549 www.wilsonstaff.com 01276 404 970
The shaft and grip combination is superb and the feel from the irons was one of the best on test. Every club looks great, too
Disappointingly, the hybrids lacked in the performance stakes when compared to others and let the rest of the set down a little
Nike Slingshot Mixed
Technology: Weight is placed deep and low in each club to maximise the sweet spot and lower the CG to send the ball high and long. Two hybrids in the long irons offer forgiveness where it is needed
Number of hybrids in set: 2 (3, 4)
Number of irons: 6 (5-PW)
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £360 www.nikegolf.eu 08000 561 640
Number of irons: 6 (5-PW)
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £360 www.nikegolf.eu 08000 561 640
The Slingshot set has great-looking irons and offers forgiveness throughout the bag. It blends really well from hybrids to irons, too The hybrids, at address, look a little odd and the irons, although forgiving in comparison to most clubs, do not offer as much help on mis-hits
Forgan Series 3 hybrid set
Technology: A perimeter weighting system increases accuracy thanks to more forgiveness and also bolsters distance
Number of hybrids in set: 9 (3-SW)
Number of irons: 0
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £159.99
www.forgan.co.uk 01527 598 388
Number of irons: 0
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £159.99
www.forgan.co.uk 01527 598 388
Seriously easy to hit throughout the bag, brilliant value and they spin the ball in the short irons more than most clubs we tested A full set of hybrids might be a bit extreme to some – especially in the shorter irons and wedges
MD Golf Superstrong Combo
Technology: Hard-to-hit long irons are replaced with Superstrong hybrids, which feature perimeter weighting to increase forgiveness and distance on off-centre hits
Number of hybrids in set: 2 (4, 5)
Number of irons: 5 (6-PW)
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £299 (steel); £349 (graphite)
www.mdgolf.co.uk 02894 460 333
Number of irons: 5 (6-PW)
Left-hand option? Yes
SRP: £299 (steel); £349 (graphite)
www.mdgolf.co.uk 02894 460 333
One of the best-looking sets on test – the hybrids sit beautifully behind the ball and the irons look really sharp The performance did not quite back up the aesthetics for our testers