Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Irons Buyer's Guide 2007
Today's irons run the gamut from forged blades and multi-material game-improvement designs to entire sets of hollow-body hybrids
| Mizuno MP-67 mizunousa.com (800) 966-1211 | $849   Look for the new MP-67 to make a big impact this season.Features: The next generation of irons with Cut Muscle technology, the MP-67 irons use a more slender Cut Muscle design, which is slightly adjusted for each club to optimize that club’s CG. Nice. Advantages: A slender cavity means more trajectory control, enhanced feel and better ball control. The rolled leading edge and trailing edge, as well as the cambered sole, make hitting a variety of shots from different lies an easier task. Benefits: Low-handicappers and professionals will reap the rewards of Mizuno’s sexiest iron. What We Like: The slenderized MX-67 looks so good, golfers might be afraid to actually use them. Lineup: MX-17, 19, 23, 25, 900; MP-30, 32, 60, 67 Clubhead: Carbon steel Clubface: Same Design: Forged muscle-back Size: Standard Clubs: 2-PW Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold steel (X, S, R); Exsar IS2 Tour Spec graphite (X, S, R) | MacGregor NVG2 Mid macgregorgolf.com (800) 841-4358 | $699  MacGregor’s newest iron is ready to win.Features: Where to begin on this one! Cup Face 360 design, Hollow-Body Structure and a variable face thickness are just a few of the advantages in the NVG2 Mid. This is MacGregor's most forgiving and playable iron ever. Advantages: The Hollow-Body Structure moves the CG away from the face and the Cup Face 360 design creates a bigger and hotter hitting area across the clubface. The Triple Action shaft adds significant yardage. Benefits: All golfers who want ultimate forgiveness. What We Like: It looks powerful and is among the easiest to hit and longest irons we’ve tried this year. Lineup: NVG2, NVG2 Mid, M685, M675 Clubhead: Stainless steel Clubface: Maraging steel Design: Cast cavity-back Size: Oversized Clubs: 3-GW Shafts: Micro-Step steel (S, R); Fujikura Triple Action graphite (S, R, A) |
| Mizuno MX-25 mizunousa.com (800) 966-1211 | $749  The MX-25 is poised to do what the MX-23 did for the game-improvement category: become the best-selling Mizuno iron.Features: The wide and deep CNC-milled cavity of each MX-25 iron affords what Mizuno calls H.E.M.I. (High Energy Mass Impact) COG, otherwise known as an iron with a very low CG and ample perimeter weighting. Advantages: By the way, this forgiving iron is Grain Flow Forged, resulting in one of the best-feeling irons ever made by Mizuno—cavity-back or not. Benefits: Even though these babies are designed for mid- to high-handicappers, don’t be surprised to see the MX-25 irons in a Tour pro’s bag. What We Like: The cambered sole and rolled edges are shaped to perfection. Lineup: MX-17, 19, 23, 25, 900; MP-30, 32, 60, 67 Clubhead: Carbon steel Clubface: Same Design: Forged cavity-back Size: Midsized Clubs: 3-PW (available LH) Shafts: True Temper Dynalite Gold Superlite steel (S, R); Exsar IS2 graphite (S, R, A, L) | Nickent 3DX Hybrid nickentgolf.com (888) NICKENT | $599  Are these the longest irons ever? Give them a whack and see.Features: The most innovative iron ever from Nickent, the 3DX Hybrid irons combine a hollow-clubhead construction, a composite cap and two heavy steel plugs at the rear heel and toe regions for an iron that yields awesome power. Advantages: The hollow body shares COR and flight characteristics with fairway woods, and there are no traditional irons in the set. Benefits: Virtually all abilities who want significantly more distance from the fairway with not just long irons, but mid- and short irons as well. What We Like: The 3DX irons look great at address, and they’re easily the most forgiving irons from Nickent. Lineup: 3DX Hybrid, 3DX, 3DX Pro, GENEX ARC Blades Clubhead: Stainless steel, carbon composite Clubface: Stainless steel Design: Cast hollow-body Size: Oversized Clubs: 3-4 Hybrid, 5-GW (available LH) Shafts: Nippon 850 steel (Uniflex); UST Speedrated 2 (S, R, A) |
| Nike CCi nikegolf.com (888) 799-6453| $700  These irons sound and feel awesome.Features: The CCi irons feature a composite insert in the cavity, a Tungsten plug in the sole and two polymer-filled ports, resulting in an iron that yields a soft feel. Advantages: The CNC-milled face ensures consistency and the polymer-filled ports do wonders for vibration dampening. Benefits: We think virtually all players can benefit from the CCi, even though Nike considers them to be clubs for the low- to mid-handicapper. What We Like: It’s nice to see such classic looks and shapes in a high-tech iron. Lineup: Slingshot OSS and Tour, NDS, Ignite, Pro Combo OS and Tour, Forged Clubhead: Stainless steel Clubface: Same (milled) Design: Cast cavity-back Size: Standard Clubs: 2-SW (available LH) Shafts: True Temper Dynalite Gold steel (X, S, R); CCi Constant Weight Graphite by Mitsubishi Rayon (X, S, R, A) | PING G5 pinggolf.com (800) 4-PING-FIT | $749  The G5 irons feature a deeper, parallel cavity that widens the sole and increases the perimeter weighting to make PING’s most forgiving iron yet.Features: A deep cavity, wide sole and a large, thin Custom Tuning Port (CTP). Plenty of fitting options are available. Advantages: The inherent shape and design of the G5 irons promote higher-launching, straighter shots from a variety of lies, while the feel of the G5 is improved through the use of the CTP. Benefits: PING has always been about game improvement, yet has always attracted the gamut of skill levels. Same goes for the G5. What We Like: The lead-edge radius of the G5 is specifically designed to provide improved ground impact for even greater playability. Lineup: S58, S59, i5, G5, G2, Rapture Clubhead: Stainless steel Clubface: Same Design: Cast cavity-back Size: Oversized Clubs: 2-PW, GW, SW, LW (available LH) Shaft(s): PING CS Lite (S, R); PING TFC100i graphite (S, R, A) |
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