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MacGregor MacTec NVG2
www.macgregorgolf.com
(800) 841-4358 | $699 ($799 graphite)
 A technological marvel impressive in its modern looks, design and performance.
Features: Several noteworthy design elements make the NVG2 a
game-improvement wonder. The Cup Face 360˚ design creates a
high-rebound strike surface for extra distance. Hollow-body
construction creates the desired low and deep CG while tungsten weights
fine-tune the CG in each iron for optimum forgiveness and trajectory.
Advantages: These irons are very easy to hit (and we do mean easy).
Benefits: Mid- to high-handicappers will certainly save strokes with the NVG2.
What We Like: The face—maraging steel, no welds, extra pop and an extra-wide COR area.
Lineup: N675 Forged Blades, MacTec Forged M685, MacTec NVG2
Clubhead: Stainless steel
Clubface: Maraging steel
Design: Cast cavity-back
Size: Oversize
Clubs: 3-PW (no LH)
Shaft(s): Micro-Step steel
(S, R, A, L); Triple Action graphite (S, R, A, L)
| Mizuno MP-60
www.mizunousa.com
(800) 966-1211 | $849
 Mizuno debuted its Cut Muscle design in ’05 with the MP-32 and now ups the
ante with game-improvement features in the larger MP-60.
Features: Cut Muscle technology produces the ideal CG and great
forgiveness and stability. Grain Flow Forged carbon steel is used for
incredible sound and feel.
Advantages: The MP-60 is 4% bigger than the MP-32 and has a 10% larger sweet spot.
Benefits: While still a players’ iron, the MP-60 is easy to hit and the
feel is superb. Nonetheless, high-handicappers need not apply.
What We Like: Mizuno still makes the best lead and trail edges in the business—contact is always extra-crisp.
Lineup: MP-33, MP-37, MP-32, MP-30, MP-60, MX-22, MX-17, MX-900
Clubhead: Carbon steel
Clubface: Same
Design: Forged muscleback
Size: Midsize
Clubs: 2-PW (available LH)
Shaft(s): True Temper Dynamic Gold (S, R)
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Nickent 3DX
www.nickentgolf.com
(888) NICKENT | $499 ($599 graphite)
 Veteran iron designer John Hoeflich makes game-improvement magic in his first design for Nickent.
Features: An oversized, wide-cavity design with tungsten polymer inserts.
Advantages: The design and insert structure makes for everything a
game-improvement iron needs—forgiveness, stability, a low CG and a
higher launch angle.
Benefits: More traditional golfers and better players may shy away from
the modern looks, but mid- to high-handicap players will praise the
3DX’s heightened performance.
What We Like: The thin, high-COR face—expect some distance gains with each iron in the set.
Lineup: Genex ARC, Genex 3DX, 3DX
Clubhead: Stainless steel
Clubface: Same
Design: Cast cavity-back
Size: Oversize
Clubs: 3-PW, GW, SW (available LH)
Shaft(s): True Temper ST-90 steel (uniflex);
UST Speedrated 2 graphite (X, S, R, L)
| Nike Slingshot OSS
www.nikegolf.com
$799 ($899 graphite)
 The second-generation Slingshot irons are easier to hit than the originals.
Features: The CG has been moved even farther beyond the face by
deepening the Slingback design, widening the sole and utilizing a light
steel face.
Advantages: Ultimate forgiveness.
Benefits: This is the club for high-handicappers. Better players will find favor with the Slingshot Tour.
What We Like: The 3-D Flow Weighting. The long irons have weight
concentrated low and rearward and, as the irons get shorter, the
Slingback design shifts weight higher and toward the toe to help better
control trajectory and spin.
Lineup: Forged, Pro Combo Tour, Pro Combo OS, Slingshot Tour, NDS, Slingshot, Slingshot OSS
Clubhead: Stainless steel
Clubface: Carpenter steel
Design: Cast cavity-back
Size: Oversized
Clubs: 2-PW, GW, SW (available LH) Shaft(s): Nike Speed Step Lite
steel (X, S, R, A); Nike iDiamana CW-Light graphite (X, S, R, A) |
| | Tech Talk
The Big Deal About CG
By Don Wood
For Golfers Only!
GT Equipment Panel
Illustration By Phil Franké
While sometimes mistakenly referred to as the sweet spot, the CG, or
center of gravity, location of an iron is crucial to its performance.
Not only does CG location have a great deal to do with the type and
amount of spin an iron creates, it also directly affects ballfight,
forgiveness and overall performance.
 A lower CG helps to get the ball airborne by promoting a more vertical
(higher) launch angle by placing the club’s center of gravity below the
equator of the golf ball. Similarly, a CG location that’s back along
the target line (away from the clubface) will impart reduced spin with
a high launch angle. This combination tends to produce high,
low-spinning shots that travel a maximum distance with minimal
sidespin. Most recreational golfers are recommended to use so-called
game-improvement irons that feature low and deep CGs for this exact
reason. Long-iron alternatives (hybrids) also work very well because
their CG is much lower and deeper into the head than that of comparable
irons, thus producing much higher trajectories.
Another key benefit of a low and deep CG location is significantly
enhanced forgiveness. Although most golfers associate perimeter
weighting with forgiveness, a low and deep CG also has a great deal to
do with a club’s forgiveness simply by making it much easier to get the
ball airborne, regardless of where on the face contact is made. Any
golfer whose ballstriking and swing speed isn’t strong enough to
produce adequate shot trajectories should immediately consider
switching to an iron model with a low and deep CG.
Conversely, players who desire increased spin rates because they like
to intentionally shape their iron shots should use irons with higher CG
locations, such as those found in high-performance blade-style irons.
However, be aware that these models will be significantly more
difficult to hit solidly.
Another important note on CG is that many game-improvement irons, even
ones with substantially oversized heads, feature a CG location that’s
toward the heel. This CG location tends to help produce hook spin by
making it easier for the average golfer to rotate the clubface closed
through impact. Obviously, this feature also reduces the likelihood of
slicing. |
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