10 Best Gold Irons (Review) in 2010
By Avik, Gaea News NetworkWednesday, August 11, 2010
A Golf set essentially comprises Woods, Irons, Putter and Wedges. The latter is more of iron whether or not they are separated. Irons are the clubs most likely to be used from the fairway, although they are often hit from the tee, too (especially on par-3 holes). Irons feature thin, grooved faces of varying lofts. The most common array of irons carried in a set of golf clubs is 3-iron through pitching wedge (3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-irons and PW).
Before gazing at the hottest iron’s of the season you should check out the golf iron buying guide for amateurs, which is sure to make a better judge out of you.
1. MIZUNO MP-58
Features
The technological highlight of this iron is the titanium forged into the back to improve feel and provide mass behind the impact area, allowing weight to be moved to the edges of the club for maximum forgiveness. The company’s Shaft Optimizer fitting system narrows shaft choices.
- LOFTS: 6-iron: 31 degrees, PW: 47 degrees
Pros and Cons
Forget the nice use of titanium and yummy Mizuno feel. The company’s Shaft Optimizer is the coolest innovation since the Hot List began in 2004. The device measures several characteristics before offering a shaft recommendation after just three swings. Does it work? Well, we’ve heard from retailers that they’re using it to fit and sell non-Mizuno irons, too.
The MP-58 requires a little more work to hit the ball high than some other irons.
Price: $1,000 (set of eight, steel)
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2. ADAMS IDEA A7
Features
The set starts with a pair of hybrids in the 3- and 4-iron slots, followed by a hollow, flat-faced 5-iron and cavity-back middle and short irons. Designers increased the sole camber on the hybrids from front to back and heel to toe to enhance playability from various lies.
- LOFTS: 6-iron: 29 degrees, PW: 45 degrees
Pros and Cons
When it comes to the integrated iron set, few companies do it better than Adams. The sole camber on the hybrids shows that the designers understand hybrids were meant to be easy-to-hit iron replacements. And a movement away from the box shape demonstrates that they “get” what resonates with golfers.
The company has been around since 1987 yet hasn’t implemented a serious fitting program.
Price: $500 (set of eight, steel)
3. TAYLORMADE R9 TP
Features
These are idolized by the R9 irons. They feature a foam-filled chamber behind the clubface in the long irons (2-iron through 5-iron). This allowed designers to construct a face that’s just two millimeters thick for optimum springlike effect. The KBS Tour Series shaft (used by the PGA Tour’s Kenny Perry and Dustin Johnson during victories in 2009) are the stock offering.
- LOFTS: 6-iron: 31, PW: 47
Pros and Cons
Six-time major champion Nick Faldo played a role in the design, including how the hosel blends with the face and leading edge to ensure the club is pleasing to the eye. Good suggestions by Sir Nick.
Offering a 2-iron as an option even for good players is only encouraging bad behavior. Consider that at last year’s Tour Championship, 11 of the 30 players started their iron set at the 4-iron or higher.
Price: $900
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4. TITLEIST AP2
Features
The latest AP2 features a few enhancements. Designers covered the entire cavity area with an elastomer-and-aluminum bar to help eliminate the lower sound frequencies often associated with poor feel. Also, they reduced the bounce by 1 degree in the 7-iron through wedges to help the club glide through the turf better.
- LOFTS: 6-iron: 31, PW: 47
Pros and Cons
These clubs are the Swiss Army knife of irons: versatile with the highest craftsmanship. Reducing the bounce in the short irons by 1 degree might not seem like much, but the improvement in turf interaction is significant compared with the previous model.
True Temper’s Dynamic Gold is a fine shaft, but we wish Titleist had stayed with the Project-X.
Price: $1,000
5. CALLAWAY DIABLO FORGED
Features
A center of gravity (CG) that is 40 percent lower and 46 percent deeper than Callaway’s X-Forged model produces a penetrating trajectory in the Diablo Forged. A lightweight face allows 23 grams of weight to be moved to the perimeter of the club to help mis-hits.
- LOFTS: 6-iron: 28, PW: 45
Pros and Cons
Callaway took a gamble with a forged club that features off-set, an undercut cavity and a thin topline. And it worked. The forged clubface provides a cushy feel despite being made from a springy Carpenter 455 steel, and the Nippon NS Pro 1100 steel shaft is a dramatic improvement over Callaway’s UniFlex steel shaft. Players who aren’t quite “play-ahs” will gravitate to this club.
An upgrade to the stock graphite-shaft offering is long overdue.
Price: $1,000
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6. PING G15
Features
A thinner face and a wider sole on the G15 are two noteworthy upgrades from its G10 predecessor. Another one is the reshaped and repositioned custom tuning port that saved seven grams of weight, which designers moved to the perimeter to boost stability.
- LOFTS: 6-iron: 29, PW: 45
Pros and Cons
Having a wider sole than most clubs in this category comes with an autopilot effect that mitigates operator error. The stronger lofts (as much as 2 degrees less than the G10) add distance, but not at the expense of shots that need full flaps to stop on the putting surface.
The sole width on the long irons might give pause to those who don’t want the look of a chopper club anywhere near their bag.
Price: $700
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7. Nike Victory Red Forged Split Cavity Iron
Features
The Nike Victory Red Forged Split Cavity Irons have a slightly wider sole and topline than the usual. The clubhead is made of 1025 Forged Carbon Steel to increase the feel and accuracy the clubs deliver and the milled face ensures ball flight and distance control are consistent. The Victory Red Forged Split Cavity Irons incorporate more offset that the Victory Red TW blades to increase forgiveness further.
- CLUB: 3 Iron 4 Iron 5 Iron 6 Iron 7 Iron 8 Iron 9 Iron PW
- LOFT: 21 24 27 31 35 39 43 47Lie 59 60 61 62 62.5 63 63.5 64
- BOUNCE: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- Length: 39″ 38.5″ 38″ 37.5″ 37″ 36.5″ 36″ 35.75″
Pros and Cons
The Nike Victory Red irons are full cavity irons with more offset than the other models. The head is made from 431 stainless steel, which is 25% softer than 17-4 stainless steel. The centre of gravity is back in the head and a thicker face at the bottom helps create high-launching shots. The undercut cavity and perimeter weighting should increase the moment of inertia (MOI) for forgiveness on mis-hits.
It is a quality product from the house of Nike and you can give it a try, till far no issues have been faced.
Price: 560.00
8. Wilson Staff Di9 Men’s Iron Set (5-PW, AW, SW)
Features
The Wilson Staff Di9 Men’s Iron Set is a wonderful set of clubs that are designed in mind for the average player. With advance technological features this is an iron set you need to check out to appreciate its full effect. The new Ci7 Iron draws it’s inspiration from the award winning Ci6, ans improves upon it. It combines a Tour Driven Mid- Size shape with a greater level of forgiveness for maximum playability. A great Iron for players who are keen on slightly more forgiveness.
Pros and Cons
- A lower profile and wider sole lowers the CG promoting a higher and straighter ball flight for greater distance.
- Because 85 % of all shots are hit from the center to the toe
- Di9 has the highest MOI when compared to key competitors.
- Covering the entire length of the cavity is a low durometer
- The aggressive design on the fully functional grips have blister free zones under the thumbs
Price: $219.99 - $699.99
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9. Ping i15 Iron
Features
The design of the i15 iron, PING engineers is focused on the needs of the better player who benefits from an iron set that offers the control to play a variety of shots.
Pros and Cons
Created as a progressive set, the longer irons are larger for more forgiveness, while the mid- and short-irons transition slightly smaller to ensure more workability and control on approach shots. The stainless steel iron features a tungsten toe insert to add forgiveness to the mid-size design. A stabilizing bar and floating Custom Tuning Port (CTP) provide the feel and sound attributes preferred by better players.
CLUB #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 PW UW
LOFT 21 24 27 30 33 37 41.5 46 50
LIE ANGLE 59.25, 60, 60.75, 61.5, 63, 63.75, 64, 64
Price: $697.00
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10. Taylor Made Golf- Burner Plus Irons 4-AW Steel
Features
The TaylorMade Burner Plus steel irons are designed with light and long shafts and light grips to help promote a faster swing speed and increased distance. Each large clubface utilizes Inverted Cone technology for increased COR, while advanced perimeter weighting provides an extremely high MOI for extra forgiveness on off-center hits.
Pros and Cons
- Large clubface with Inverted Cone technology increases COR over a larger portion of the face, resulting in Burner ball speed and distance.
- Advanced perimeter weighting moves the MOI extremely high providing unsurpassed forgiveness on off-center hits.
- Multi-Functional sole is wide and beveled, provides a low-deep CG of a wide sole and the playability of a thin sole.
- SuperFast technology promotes a faster swing speed for increased distance by using light and long shafts.
Price $299-$699
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