Irons Best Driving Iron of All Time

[uglande]

I nominate my current deuce -- Mizuno MP-20 HMB @16 degrees w/ Ventus Blue 9x HB shaft. Average 2-iron distance but with great consistency and feel. 

[Drivingrangehero]

1 hour ago, Pepperturbo said:

The 718 model is 39.5" and seems a bit easier to smack well compared to its 716 predecessor with PX 6.0 which I forgot to list.   Though T-MB clubs were pricey compared to others, Titleist 718 T-MB is overall a better, more workable club.   It's my opinion, 718 T-MB was the brain child that led to U500 & U510.

I have a 716 T-MB 17* 2 iron that I put a PX Catalyst 80 6.0 gram shaft in it. It’s a very good combo for sure, but the U500 is something special. Titleist  knocked that out of the park. The 718 T-MB has a lower VCOG than the 716, and the leading edge is different. Hard for me to compare because when I hit the 718 T-MB it had a PXI shaft in it, and at the time my 716 T-MB had a DG X100 in it, so it wasn’t apples to apples by any means.?
 

I hit the U500 3 iron next to the P790 2 iron and got the same ball speed, which was the same as my T-MB 2 iron after I reshafted it. The U500 is the best Titleist has made IMHO. 
 

To me, a 2 iron is a bit of a one trick pony. I will only put it in the bag if I’m playing a links style course out here (which I hardly ever play) or I guess if it’s super windy. I feel like I can flight my hybrids down enough that the 2 iron has become a fun club to hit at the driving range and practice shots I’ll most likely never attempt to hit while playing .... low hooking stingers 

 

[b.helts]

Bridgestone AirMuscle. Awesome club, waaaaay ahead of its time. 
 

Hard to find nowadays. 

[naj959]

8 hours ago, WasatchBogey said:

Prolly not on your radar, but I built up a Dynacraft 19 deg driving iron with OEM Tensei CK Blue hybrid shaft & it’s pretty sweet. Was just experimenting around a bit, got all of $55 in it & it looks & works great. Got mine at Monark Golf, but you can get them at Hireko also.

I see you too are a man of refined taste! Thinking about doing a write up on this club because I was that impressed with it. Good feel, forgiving and great off the tee and deck. At $16 bucks a head it was a cheap experiment that worked out very well.

[Valtiel]

On 4/21/2021 at 9:28 AM, golfwb said:

 I still have mine with a 85 gram graphite shaft. Great for tight old school courses

On 4/21/2021 at 9:33 AM, Kyengtae3 said:

I heard a lot of good things about that one. Also the RSI UDI. Cant find these anywhere tho

22 hours ago, boggyman said:

Still have mine in a 1 iron....

This would get my vote as the all-timer for sure. Not too big, not too small, super hot, hotmeltable, and very nice to look at. 

Small note - the "Tour Preferred" and "RSI" models are the same, just different badging. 

 

On 4/21/2021 at 10:34 AM, mogc60 said:

Tigers Titleist/Nike 2 iron....the proof is in the record book. 😂 Nothing outperformed it

 

Edited April 22, 2021 by Valtiel

[AP76]

I had a Ping eye2 beryllium copper 1 iron back in the day, what a club that was!💪🏼

[AP76]

12 hours ago, uglande said:

I nominate my current deuce -- Mizuno MP-20 HMB @16 degrees w/ Ventus Blue 9x HB shaft. Average 2-iron distance but with great consistency and feel. 

Nice!👌🏼

[BTP]

No love for Titleist 712U? 21* gamed this for years launches high even off the deck can basically do anything with it

[Qegurezi]

The Ping Rapture DI is a heck of a club. Little wonder they are hard to get and go for solid prices. 

[CDU]

Callaway Big Bertha 1 iron from '96.  Came across a brand new one in uniflex from the previous head of Callaway Aus who unloaded heaps of rare Callaway gear to a mate.  I reshafted the 1 iron with a Prolaunch, but will upgrade to a Ventus Velocore as that Prolaunch feels like the old UST V2 XX. 

 

There were Diablo's that had no logo and were blank soled. They looked like Henrik's 3 wood in a proto version. 

[bnperrone]

I had the MP-5 1-iron "Hitogami" and as much as I liked it, the market got crazy high and I sold it. It was a reliable laser but I always felt it should've gone farther. Then my brother sent me a P790 UDI and at the same loft it's absolutely longer, just as straight and reliable, and if anything a bit easier for me to hit off the turf since it doesn't have the crazy wide sole. I may not carry it 100% of the time, but I've also got a hybrid that is an exact match to my set 4-iron so if I feel like I really need a hybrid in the bag to go along with the DI then I can play it instead of the 4-iron. If I learn to hit fairway wood stingers then the DI may become irrelevant, but FW and long hybrids are love/hate for me. 

 

There's a ton of P790 UDIs floating around so I think it would be worth having on the list. Personally I'd check out the U-series from Titleist, Srixons, Callaway's UT, and the MP20 HMB if I were in the market, but I'm happy with what I have now.

[asroma19]

I have had a lot as I like to tinker. These are currently in the testing rotation (ha!):

 

U510 2-iron w/ Mitsubishi Tensei white hybrid 95TX

Callaway X-Forged UT (21º) w/ Ventus Black 9X

[texcellence86]

I would definitely say the U510 series (ugly but worth it). Launches like a hybrid but won't hook left, never had an issue with hitting it low when needed either.

[PixlPutterman]

Ive tried pretty much everything a lefty can get a hold of, I always go back to these

 

 

[CactusGolf]

There are a few that I really liked going back, but never bought.

 

I LOVED the Titliest 503H and the Cobra Baffler MultiMetal!

 

[Circaflex]

TM Tour Preferred UDI... the OG

[Kyengtae3]

5 hours ago, BTP said:

No love for Titleist 712U? 21* gamed this for years launches high even off the deck can basically do anything with it

Yea I have that right now, but with my gapping I want a 2 or even a 1 iron with 16-18 degree loft

[CampagnoloBob]

I am currently gaming a PXG 0311-X Gen 2 driving iron (21* bent to 20*) which I swap out with a 21* hybrid depending on the conditions on a given day. It is a very good utility iron that you can buy new from PXG for $129 or easily find on eBay used. That said, I still have my Bridgestone J33 Airmuscle Utility Irons (both #2 and #3) that I use when the PXG decides to act up. They are about 12 years old, but still perform exceptionally well off the tee and on the fairway. What I particularly like beyond their performance is that they are forged with great feel and sound. They are conforming for another 3 years, and if you can find one it is well worth buying it.

 

[Drivingrangehero]

1 hour ago, CactusGolf said:

There are a few that I really liked going back, but never bought.

 

I LOVED the Titliest 503H and the Cobra Baffler MultiMetal!

 

My playing partner had one of them, with some DCI’s black triangle 

 

Brings me back to a past favorite of mine circa 2004 

 

Mizuno T-Zoid Fli Hi

 

I don’t know why I ever got rid of that, or my Sonertec 3 wood ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2021 by Drivingrangehero
.add

[2Down]

if you want a driving iron you want the John Daily "0" iron.   just slightly harder to hit than a 1966 Wilson Staff One iron.  

 

but man when your game is on fire, this will put it out.  

[Lacey Underall]

I've tried so many of these and been very disappointed.  Almost ready to give up....but every time I hit the Titleist u510 in a simulator - its like a dream come true.  I may have to give it a spin on the course.  

 

 

[halliedog]

On 4/21/2021 at 12:28 PM, golfwb said:

 I still have mine with a 85 gram graphite shaft. Great for tight old school courses

 

23 hours ago, boggyman said:

Still have mine in a 1 iron....

I still have mine in a 1 and a 3 with C-Taper Lite.  Did have the 2, but a few years back they were going for outrageous prices on the Bay and I couldn't pass up.  I think I got over $300 dollars for that thing and had bought it a few years earlier from Global Golf new in plastic for like $95.  The 1 and 3 never went for that much so I held onto them, 2 had some kind of weird cult following I guess?  I switch the 1 and 3 out depending on what course and tees I'm playing that day. 

 

I'm currently testing a New Level NLU-01 with a KBS Tour Proto 85 Graphite, and so far this thing is a rocket launcher off the tee.  Off the tee at 18* it blows the doors off of the 16* UDI.  Haven't really tried it too much off the deck, which the UDI excels at, but time will tell!

 

 

[Yieeman]

I’m currently hitting an original P790 3 iron with a Recoil Prototype Driving Iron shaft and loving it. Still throw in the Cobra Baffler Multi Metal 18° from time to time - so solid!

 

Also, just ordered the 12.5° Lynx Stinger - could not resist. 

[the_Danimal]

The new driving irons are so much better... Personally, it's p790 hands down.      But that mizuno HMB is just as good. 

[CP Ballenger]

Hidden gem with low spin rate are the fourteen 858. Ultra rare now. Been using one for 20 years I got from Stephen Ames. Can’t find anything that like it to replace it. 

[dicko999]

On 4/21/2021 at 3:24 PM, phizzy30 said:

I recently picked up a 21* UDI from New Level Golf.  Check out the NLU-01.  Lot of options for shafts as well.  Kicker is that it's cheaper than any of the major OEMs out there and perform just as well. FYI, I've tested the latest and greatest offerings from Titleist, TM, etc. 

I back you 100% on this one.  I bought the 18* on a whim and it outperforms the other low lofted irons I’ve owned.  Absolute piss missiles with this thing.

[Dan Drake]

13 hours ago, CDU said:

Callaway Big Bertha 1 iron from '96.  Came across a brand new one in uniflex from the previous head of Callaway Aus who unloaded heaps of rare Callaway gear to a mate.  I reshafted the 1 iron with a Prolaunch, but will upgrade to a Ventus Velocore as that Prolaunch feels like the old UST V2 XX. 

 

There were Diablo's that had no logo and were blank soled. They looked like Henrik's 3 wood in a proto version. 

How do you feel the upgrade to graphite went?  Did it breathe new life into the old beast?

[TiScape]

On 4/21/2021 at 3:32 PM, uglande said:

I nominate my current deuce -- Mizuno MP-20 HMB @16 degrees w/ Ventus Blue 9x HB shaft. Average 2-iron distance but with great consistency and feel. 

I was gonna say MP-20 HMB as well. Not saying it’s “the best” but it feels great, is forgiving and hits bombs! 

[Hairpie]

I had a prgr back in the day that was money. I still look for one on ebay frequently bit have had no luck. 

[jamcanplay]

P790 2 UDI with graphite shaft. 
 

rockets/lasers/bombs and the list goes on