2015 Game Improvement Iron Round-Up
At AmateurGolf.com, we know that nothing beats the
feeling of an iron shot clipped ball first, in the middle
of the clubface, which has been squared perfectly at
impact. If you're irons don't perform when you hit it
just right, than a new set might be in order. But
what about those off center hits? Even the best
players
in the world can’t hit it perfectly all of the
time. As TaylorMade has recently been saying in
their advertising, "mishits happen." In keeping with
this sentiment, the
2015 lineup of game improvement irons are
focused -- in addition to providing ease-of-launch
and increased distance -- on helping golfers where
they need it
most: on off-center hits.
Across the board, all the irons reviewed
in this category are the beneficiaries of
improvements made to enlarge the hitting
area. Some of those innovations include the
use of stronger and lighter materials,
designing longer irons with a thicker topline
while progressively reducing the sole for the
scoring clubs, adding tungsten and other steel
inserts for a maximum spring-like effect,
combined with other measures we’re more
accustomed to seeing in fairway woods and
drivers. If you can’t picture yourself throwing
a set of game improvement irons into your
bag because you can’t stand the look of them,
you better think again. Today’s GI clubs can
be called many things, but distance shovels
isn’t one of them.
Titleist AP1 Irons
As a brand, Titleist has long been
recognized as a market leader in developing
performance equipment for highly-skilled
players in the amateur and professional ranks.
Of course that type of achievement might
mistakenly cause a lot of mid-range
handicappers to take themselves out of
consideration for a set of AP1 irons.
While the AP1
irons might look like they belong in the
bags of scratch golfers everywhere, they
really have plenty of forgiveness for a wider
range of players. The AP1 irons have a high
MOI design. Tungsten weighting is placed into
a deep, undercut, dual-cavity design that
improves ball speeds across the face. On
longer irons, a lower center of gravity
maximizes the carry distance. Shorter irons
have a narrower sole and raised CG which
flattens the trajectory.
 |
Titleist AP1
irons |
Along with progressive CG placement
and blade length, the AP1s are known for their
solid feel and smooth turf interaction. Three
different shafts come standard: the True
Temper XP95 and Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Series
Low Balance 65 and 50. A wide range of
aftermarket shafts are available standard or
with an up-charge.
 |
Titleist AP1 iron
technology |
Callaway XR / XR Pro
Irons
Callaway’s Face Cup 360 technology was
first introduced in the hollow-bodied Big
Bertha Irons. Face Cups allow Callaway
engineers to control the thickness of the irons
and surround the iron hitting surface like a
spring, improving ball speed on all shots, but
especially on those struck low on the face.
While the Big Bertha irons are Callaway’s
solution for golfers on the higher-end of the
handicap spectrum, the XR series is much more
inline with what better players look for in an
iron set.
The XR irons have a very modest offset
and a super clean look at address. They have
a slightly muted sound on well struck shots
that some players will prefer and just enough
feel to let good golfers know when they’ve hit
it on the button as well as when they haven’t.
The XR irons, as you would expect, are
aggressively long. An independent weight pad
that Callaway calls an Internal Standing Wave
does several things: it lowers the center of
gravity, increases the MOI and gives those
face cups the ability to flex more and deliver
better distance.
 |
Callaway XR Pro
iron |
The XR Pro models are packed with the
same technological innovations but have a
thinner top line and narrower sole width that
better players will prefer. The XR irons ship
with the True Temper Project X SD shaft (L, R,
S) while the Pro models give you the option to
play them with either the KBS Tour V90 (R, S,
XS) or True Temper TT Speed Step 80 (R, S).
 |
Callaway XR Cup 360
technology |
Ping G30 Irons
Compared to the G25 irons, the new G30
models from Ping are longer and better
feeling due to a softer elastomer badge in the
set. In terms of length, shots hit off the 4 iron
fly about seven yards longer than the previous
generation of irons according to Ping
estimates and the 7 iron is roughly three
yards longer.
Those distance gains can be attributed
to a number of factors. Ping gave the G30
irons slightly longer shafts to help golfers get
a little bit more clubhead speed. They also
strengthened the lofts on their longer irons.
For example, the loft on a G30 6 iron is 27
degrees while the same club from the G25 set
is 29. To help golfers achieve better distance
on all shots, including those that miss the
center of the face, Ping widened the soles of
their G30 irons repositioning center of gravity
a little lower and deeper. Those changes allow
the G30 irons to launch the ball higher while
maintaining a high MOI for increased stability
at impact.
 |
Ping G30 iron
|
Several shafts come standard with the
G30 irons and are available in multiple flexes.
By default, the Ping G30 irons are outfitted
with CFS distance shafts (SR, R, S, XS). True
Temper XP 95, TFC 4191 and TFC 801 are also
available.
 |
Ping G30 custom
tuning port |
TaylorMade RSi 1
Irons
From the same company that introduced
the Speed Pocket, TaylorMade came up with
the crazy notion to carve a pair of vertical
FaceSlots directly into you guessed it - the
face of their irons. Feel free to dismiss
TaylorMade’s revolutionary design as
gimmicky. Believe me, they’ve heard all the
gripes. But consider the following tidbit: in
studies conducted by TaylorMade, the
company has shown that 76% of shots hit by
golfers are mis-hits. Frankly, the percentage
itself is debatable but end result is the same -
golfers need help on misses.
To that end TaylorMade’s FaceSlot
technology provides uniform flexion across the
face causing the ball to lose less speed
whether you hit it near the toe, heel or just
low on the face. Combine that with a deep
undercut cavity and an ultra-thin face and you
get a club that’s longer than the company’s
Speed Blade irons released a year ago. And
that’s not just my opinion; independent tests
have shown that the RSi 1
irons help golfers pick up additional
clubhead speed over their predecessors.
 |
TaylorMade RSi 1
iron |
TaylorMade’s RSi 1 irons come stock
with True Temper Reax 90 shafts (R,S) for a
mid-to-high ball-flight trajectory.
Nike Vapor Speed
Irons
Let’s see how long I can go without
mentioning Nike’s use of their vibrant green
colorway called Volt. Okay, so technically-
speaking, that was a really poor effort. But
now that I got that out of the way we can
focus on why Nike’s new Vapor Speed irons
deserve a look.
In person, these irons do not look like
traditional game improvement clubs. Nike’s
Volt branding on the back of the clubs is
surprisingly subtle, and the moderate sole
width and beveled leading edge are just the
sort of design features better players
gravitate towards. In hand, these irons are
filthy long and easy to hit. FlyBeam reinforced
hollow cavity long irons are low and deep
weighted to maximize launch while offering
plenty of forgiveness. For the scoring clubs,
Nike chose a RZN-injected cavity to improve
feel.
 |
Nike Vapor Speed
iron |
The entire set benefits from having
ultra-fast, super-thin (just 2.7 millimeters in
the center) steel faces and machine-milled
X3X grooves for enhanced spin control. The
Vapor Speed irons are
equipped with True Temper Dynalite 105
shafts (R, S). These lightweight 120-gram
shafts promote increased ball speed and a
high-trajectory flight.
 |
Nike Vapor Speed
iron
profile |
Mizuno JPX-850 Forged / MP-H5
Irons
The JPX-850 forged iron is the first of
it’s kind for Mizuno. Traditionally the company
uses 1025E carbon steel during it’s forging
process. Now we have Boron - a material
that’s 30 percent stronger than carbon steel
allowing Mizuno to forge the faces of their
irons much thinner. By doing so, Mizuno took
all that discretionary weight (5 grams from
the face and 21 grams from the pocket cavity)
and placed it into the perimeter where it
works to increase distance and forgiveness.
The JPX-
850 forged irons do feature a somewhat
busy badge (by Mizuno standards) but it’s
offset by a very classy nickel-chrome plated
finish. The irons come stock with True
Temper’s XP 115 shaft (R, S), but customers
can upgrade at no up-charge.
 |
Mizuno JPX-850
forged
iron |
By way of contrast, Mizuno’s MP-H5 irons fall much
closer in line to what accomplished players
expect from a typical Mizuno iron offering.
The MP-H5 has a more conventional blade size
(compared to the JPX-850 forged) and is
progressively designed. The long irons are
fully hollow and are coupled with a high COR
maraging steel face for better control and
longer distance. As you progress towards the
scoring irons, the pocket cavity naturally
decreases for enhanced shot-making and
superior feel.
 |
Mizuno MP-H5
iron |
Although these irons are categorized as
game improvement clubs, you’ll still need a
pretty good golf game to get the most
enjoyment out of them. The MP-H5 irons ship
with the KBS C-Taper LITE shafts (R, S, X) and
like the JPX-850 forged, additional shaft
options are available at no up-charge.
Cobra Fly-Z Irons
When designing the new Fly-Z
irons, Cobra looked to their metal woods
for inspiration. These irons feature a Speed
Channel that runs across the sole of the club
and around the perimeter of the back cavity.
It minimizes face thickness and increases flex.
The spring-like effect delivers greater distance
across the entire face.
 |
Cobra Fly-Z
iron |
Distance is further enhanced by Cobra’s
deepest undercut cavity in any iron they’ve
offered. It’s paired with a harmonic cavity
insert that dampens vibration and improves
feel. In typical Cobra style, the Fly-Z irons can
be ordered in five different colors and come
with KBS CPI-1005 shafts (R, S).
 |
Cobra Fly-Z iron
harmonic
cavity insert |
Srixon Z-545 Irons
Golfers who may have overlooked
Srixon irons in past years may be taken aback
by the classy Z-545
irons that combine old-school looks with
modern technological advancements benefiting
golfers across a wide range of playing
abilities.
Forged from soft 1020 carbon steel,
golfers can expect an exceptionally responsive
and smooth feel at impact. Srixon’s Tour V.T.
sole which increases the leading bounce while
simultaneously decreases the trailing bounce
reduces turf resistance.
 |
Srixon Z-545
iron |
The longer clubs in the set (3 to 6-iron)
feature a tungsten toe weight that deepens the
center of gravity and maximizes distance.
Double laser-milled faces throughout the set
improve distance control from every kind of
lie encountered on the course. The Z-545 irons
come stock with True Temper’s Dynamic Gold
shaft (R, S, X).
 |
Srixon Z-545
advanced
construction |