Members Choice: The Best Game-Improvement Irons of 2017

[Jalan]

I've only tried one of them, the CF16. I wanted to try the TM2 Tour, but the demo day I was scheduled to attend for a fitting was cancelled and never rescheduled. I don't put a lot of faith into Simulators, I prefer outdoor testing.

 

When I tried the CF16, I found them to be everything I wanted in my next set. Next had to find the correct shaft, which I had already narrowed down, before the fitting. Once I had the right shaft I purchased them with confidence. I've never regretted my decision.

[HawkeyeGTO]

I played Ping S55 for three years and just got a set of i200s. I think it is reasonable for the i200s to be in this category. Look at the amount of offset in the 4 and 5 iron. I would not expect that much offset in my long irons if I was purchasing or looking for a better player's iron. I played a round recently and was not swinging well. I could feel that I mishit a shot (generally out on the toe of the club) only to watch the ball fly straight and come up only a few yards short of target. I was very impressed.

[lees]

I played Ping S55 for three years and just got a set of i200s. I think it is reasonable for the i200s to be in this category. Look at the amount of offset in the 4 and 5 iron. I would not expect that much offset in my long irons if I was purchasing or looking for a better player's iron. I played a round recently and was not swinging well. I could feel that I mishit a shot (generally out on the toe of the club) only to watch the ball fly straight and come up only a few yards short of target. I was very impressed.

 

Agreed. I played s56 then s55. I just got fit again for the i200. I tried others however every now and again you'd catch a flier that would go 20 yards further than normal. My distance control was much better with the i200. similar looks of the s55 with just a touch more help when you need it.

[gallas2]

Got t-boned by a rubber necking tourist who ran a red light --- soft tissue damage -- went from 3 to a 5 -- was using Miura 501's w KBS Tour S and playing best golf of my life. Driving the ball 180-190 I was wearing out the hybrid and 3 wood on 4 pars. My 6 iron swing speed went from 86-87 down to 73-74 so I decided to go GI with a lighter shaft and tested almost everything. It was very close as others have stated but the Apex won out slightly for me. And I could have easily gamed the z565/765 or i200

 

1) Apex -- they're like Kelly Clarkson -- a little chunky but still workin'. Confidence, ball speed and spin. KBS tour 90 (also tested xp95)

2) Z565 -- best looks, feel and dispersion (NH 980 shaft) GH? They may have a little junk in the trunk but they ain't gonna let you down when you need a 5 iron into a back pin.

3) i200 -- AWT 2.0 shaft (also tested xp95 and KBS Tour 90) Second cousin once removed to the RAC irons we all loved.

 

I can't bring myself to update my signature but I may just keep the Apex in the bag -- they're that good. GIR# is up, spin and height ( I play on really small greens --- search PGA tour courses with lowest GIR the last 10 years and we're on the list). But hey ..... who am I kidding....as soon as I'm >90% I'll be trolling for blades...........

[LHGolf4]

No Titleist AP1, Ping G, or Mizuno Hot Metal? Yet Steelhead XR Pro is included over regular Steelhead XR irons? This list was not thought out very well. I will pass on voting.

[McGolf]

Members' Choice: The Best Game-Improvement Irons of 2017

 

Attention GolfWRX Forum Members! We need your help figuring out the answer to the question "What are the best Game-Improvement Irons of 2017?”

 

Vote in the poll above by selecting exactly three models. Please vote based on your personal experience with the irons. Things to consider include distance, forgiveness, workability, trajectory control, looks and feel.

 

After you've voted, in a post below, please explain exactly what lead to your decisions. You can use any format you'd like in your response, but we've provided an example below as a reference. We want to hear about launch angle, spin rate, stability on off-center hits, sound… everything. And don’t forget to tell us about the differences you saw in your fitting between your old gamers and your new gamers.

 

-- Iron Model 1: The APEX with its slightly larger sole and medium low offset makes for a forgiving club for me, however an iron is only good as its combination of shaft and grip. I put in a Recoil TSPX and some golf pride niions on the clubs. The results were a greater distance due to the stronger lofts, and a tighter dispersion. The bigger sole bounced me out of many potential humiliating situations, not all but most. A combination for a long while. going from a steel shaft to a graphite one would think the flight would go up. But not the case. It lowered ever so slightly and with more control for shots that would actually stop on the green.

-- Iron Model 2: I only tested this model at the PGA show and found the pocket cavity and bi-level sole grind to be a soft combination, unfortunately the shaft was not for me which resulted in some sprayed shots. If married with a similar shaft I am certain this would be a game improver set up.

-- Iron Model 3: You need to keep an eye out for Wilson, The C200 with the flex face along with its wider sole and bigger face makes for a very club. This club had a kbs 105 shaft that resulted in a bit lower flight and a small pull.

I have hit models 1 and 3 on a monitor, the Srixon I did not

Thank you for participating, and the results will be posted in the coming weeks in an article on our front page!

[youraway2]

Hit the Mizuno, Srixon, and Callaway. I liked the Mizuno JP900 Forged as the Srixon 565. Not sure which I like best, both had a soft feeling off the face.

[LeftyDanny]

Apex CF is simply the most explosive, best feeling iron I've ever hit in this category. It hasn't even been close (for me).

[erock9174]

 

 

1) Apex -- they're like Kelly Clarkson -- a little chunky but still workin

 

Well played sir

[hoselrocketman]

I'm not sure how anyone could actually vote for the "best" if he is only able to actually hit a few different brands. Who among us would be forturnate enough to try ALL of the brands listed to the extent that we could give a reliable review? That being said, I just received my new custom fitted and built set of Calloway CF16 irons with 3, MD3 wedges, #3 and #4 Epic hybrids, and Epic 3 metal and Sub Zero driver; all with graphite shafts, and I only had to wait SIX WEEKS for the set to be complete!!!!!! I have had an opportunity to hit the wedges and irons and the #4 hybrid before the weather turned very stormy and now I'm chomping at the bit to hit the #3 hybrid and the spoon and driver! The wedges feel very finely tuned and solid and very "spinny". I have a 48, 52, and 56 degree to go with my 44 degree PW. I have only hit about 10 shots with each iron. I love the satin finish. The top line is definitely thicker than the top line on my previous Mizuno JPX 825 Pros but it does not bother me at all, nor does the increased offset of the irons compared to the 825s give me any grief. There seems to be a noticeable increase in distance with the CF16s and they are difficult to draw or fade but I usually hit the ball very straight anyway. The sound is a bit higher pitched than the M's; the feel is not as "soft" as I expected from forged irons but they are cavity back GI sticks so I guess that is one of the characteristics to expect and it is inconsequential to me anyway. I got the graphite shafts to take a bit of stress off of my right elbow tendonosis and I like the increase in distance although now I have to zero in on the new distances with each club. So far I am very pleased with all aspects of the new irons. I chose these over Ping I200s for the increased distances and over the Srixon irons because I just hit the CF16s better. So far, so good.....

[Tim Schoch]

Just having clubs long enough for me made all the difference. Length changes stance, ball position, ball flight, and confidence.

[Hammer4837]

Curious, I'm only likes my new set up weak. With the strong loft don't you run out of clubs in the shorter irons.

[tsecor]

1) Apex -- they're like Kelly Clarkson -- a little chunky but still workin

 

Well played sir

that should be removed. body shaming should not be allowed in these forums.....

[mrhicksta]

I voted for the CF16s, Z565s and the PXG 0311s because I gamed the CF16s for a good part of last year, currently game and LOVE the Z565s and I lust for the PXG 0311s :).

[bigeasy]

Ping i200

[crazygolfnut]

Titleist AP1 or Mizuno Hot Metal

[potuna]

Titleist Japan 716 VG3s by a mile.

[cristphoto]

Why no Titleist AP1 irons on the list?