Best Looking and Feeling GI Iron?

[wjets]

I guess In the true definition of the term GI pp-9003 are not game improvement but they sure improved my iron game.

[dmeeksDC]

So many choices...

If you’re looking for feel, I would start with the 919 Hot Metal series, standard or pro is mostly about blade length and thinner sole in the pro.

The Bridgestone JGR H2 is under the radar because that entire brand is under the radar, but they make a lot of wonderful irons and these match up great to the Hot Metal series.

Ping g410 is solid, not the best-feeling Ping I’ve ever felt, but nice head size and shape.

New Level 902 or 1126. Both forged, 902 more compact, beautiful clubs. Guys who play them speak very highly of how they feel.

Mavrik or Mavrik Pro. The Pro may look the most ‘player’s iron’ of any of these, yet it delivers the distance. Pro looks better in hand than in web photos. Go with the standard Mavrik if you don’t like compact

TaylorMade M5 — Much maligned because they had to go and call the back stabilizing bar a “speed bridge.” That’s begging for a good mocking, but I am a fan of these irons because overall I like their smoked look and they perform. GI forgiveness and power, very forgiving of toe and thin strikes. Nice feel in a head that I’d say is the outer edge of compact, where I like it

 

[dhen9]

You wanna list? You wanna list? Here's THE List:

JPX 919 HM

0311XF Gen 2

G410

G710

Z585

T300 (currently in play)

And if you get bored with those and feel like you need the same speed and similar forgiveness but want just a bit more "Players Profile"....

P790!

[ephmen]

Epon AF 703

[Golfingfanatic]

Stenson Legacy Black

[tdelam]

If you're after something with a players profile but loads of forgiveness, have a look at the TaylorMade 790 irons. I've had PXG 0311T Gen 2 and Mizuno MP 20 SEL. I kept both sets of irons and compared all 3 sets. I ended up selling the MP 20 SEL's and PXG's for these.

[akatoast]

I recently purchased the Cobra King F9 One length irons. I can tell you honestly that it has changed everything for me. I am hitting each club with much more confidence and they just fly. Still working out the distances for these as they definitely go further than standard.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdLbqAKQq9Y

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Alll the usual suspects have been mentioned from Mizuno/PIng/Srixon/Titleist

One that hasn't that is a really good iron and has a unique top line look, but one that I kind of like.

The Cobra SpeedZone irons.

[nsxguy]

The CSZ irons are this year's update of the F9s that @akatoast mentioned a post earlier.
Actually a nice looking GI head with a fair sized sweet spot and good forgiveness off the SS. On my list if I ever decide to dump my '12 G20s,,,,,,,,,,,

[erikro]

I like my G400s

[txgolfer45]

Feel is very subjective. Best for me is the Ping G700. Great looking in that satin finish. Well struck balls feel effortless. Can tell miss hits. The black coated G710 looks great too.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Well the update comment could be made for every other iron mentioned as well JPX919 over JPX900 etc :)

And that said, Have you actually seen a SZ iron in hand? I'd say the SZ irons have changed more dramatically than other OEM's previous iteration. The top-line is a significant change.

[nsxguy]

 

Update ? Hmmmm. I guess a lot of the time that would be correct but sometimes manufacturers come out with a brand new design over the previous version. The SIM is an updated M5 but the bar across the back of the M5 made it appear quite a bit different than the M3 iron. But sure, many irons are very derivative.

I haven't actually "studied" the difference(s) between the F9 and SZ. Mostly just a casual look at 'em but I'll take a look later today. FWIW, if the top line is slightly thinner or thicker I wouldn't think of that as a particularly dramatic change though. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[clinkinfo]

These are still very popular around here:

callaway steelhead xr pro

 

but the PXG 0211 are awesome and cheap right now because they did the discount pricing for the last 2 months

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Ok. And please I'm not being "that guy" here. But trust me, the top line story is a about a lot more then thickness. You'll understand when you see it.

Now how effective it is on whst it's supposed to do is another question.

Have I piqued your curiosity yet ?

[nsxguy]

 

I looked at it today. Topline has some sort of "design"/etching, otherwise is about the same depth.

The rest of the club looks really close. The F9 appears to have tungsten weighting heel and toe that I didn't see on the SZ.

The sole looks identical and the cavity back looks very similar. But for a couple minor differences they are pretty much the same. The familial resemblance is very clear. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Carolina Golfer 2]

It’s more than just etching. The topline is carbonfiber. Now I’m not an engineer by any means. But i don’t ever recall any company having that. When i first saw it during a sales presentation by their product managers, i was facinated by the idea and design. Now cue rhe marketing speak, it allows weight and cog to be shifted lower to allow higher launch etc. i have not hit the SZ or F9 so i cant compare fhe performance. But i think its absolutely more than an updated F9 in more than one way.

 

 

[nsxguy]

Well, OK.

Perhaps the carbon fiber up top replace the tungsten weighting down below ? So one way replaces the other (to increase height) ?

And 2* even STRONGER than the F9, which had a 29.5* 7 iron. Oy vey !!! LOL

[gasman777]

I'll second this. When picking a new set of irons I hit a lot of different ones. The Mizuno JPX919 Hot Metal Pros were great looking irons and I was absolutely shocked with how the ball "shot" off the club face. I ended up buying I210s for other reasons but your question was GI iron related and for me, I would've put the Mizunos at the top of that list.

[rondre3000]

Unfortunately, as of this week Mizuno is no longer taking custom orders for the JPX line of clubs. New line must be coming in the next few months.

[JoeHatesSnow]

Of the ones mentioned here I have tried the JPX 919 Hot Metal and the Steelhead XR Pro. Ended up liking the Steelheads much better. Shafted them with PX 6.0 and prosoft inserts and find them to be excellent. Of course, I hated the not-so-durable dark finish so I buffed them all to satin.

[jeffrey r]

Nice idea on the buffing. IMHO, the Steelhead XR Pro are one of the more underappreciated sets of irons in recent memory. A "Pro" iron that can truly function as a GI iron. I think their rep suffers from being cast, and with a pretty poor dark finish, but out on the course, they perform. I still have a set.

[drumdude96]

G410 or JPX 900 or 919 Hot Metal

[Dpavs]

Look and feel wise I think the 0211's are hard to beat.

[Lamosteve]

I almost bought a set of G400s , and instead opted for the Taylormade M6 irons. They are a bit on the chunky looking side, however they are very forgiving and I have

improved my long iron game with these.

[Roejye]

Thanks for starting this post, a lot of great discussion. I just recently purchased a 6-DW set of Cleveland 588 mt's. The top line is quite chunky and I was expecting more of a cb than the hollow head. They have a forged face and feel pretty nice to me. Main issues are that I don't think they would suit your tastes, and availability. I've been looking online and they are hard to find. I got mine from second swing and they were the only ones in stock. So either A) it didn't sell too well in the first place or B) people love them so much they are going to hold onto them.

[dmeeksDC]

Would be great to see a photo of the buffed Steelheads.

[Oqvist]

Wilson D7 feels better then ping g410 and callaway rouge to me. Should be on the list.

[sfdoddsy]

The OP appears to be giving an exact description of PXG irons.

All look and feel great.

The standard models and XF are very GI.

I've owned many of the sets mentioned earlier and while some are as or more forgiving than the PXGs (G700, Steelhead) and others feel as good (Mizuno MP), none combine forgiveness and feelgoodness.

I'm not sure where BFE is, but if it is in the US then they are also quite cheap.

Last time I check, PXG were selling 0211s for $95 per club.

They also have an eBay store selling mint sets for amazingly low prices.

 

 

[dmeeksDC]

Agree. The Wilson D7 Forged are really good. Powerful and nice feel. I found the g410 feel to be lacking and the Rogue also harsh. I also didn’t like the proportions and shape of the 0211, but I do like the other PXG heads.