Predict the outcome ... New Irons Shootout - 245, i230, Blueprint S, P790, T150, ZX7

[longoffthetees]

Will be having an irons shootout this coming week.  Going to hit 3 irons from each set on 5 consecutive days on the range.  I'm excited.  

 

Let me know what your thoughts are on these sets and any experiences you've had with them.  I think these are some of the better offerings for what I'm looking for in irons from recent releases.  

 

I'm a 3.8 hdcp with a quick transition.  Shafts aren't identical, but very similar in profiles and weights.  

[AbSWFPGA]

245s are tough to beat. They are super compact for what their purpose is. I’ve hit everything you’ve listed and would say the 245 are on the smaller side at address. They also flat out perform. 

[hook_or_slice]

46 minutes ago, longoffthetees said:

 

....

Let me know what your thoughts are on these sets and any experiences you've had with them.....

 

I have no experience with any of those clubs, and don't know your game at all but that won't stop me from making a completely random guess.

 

I'm picking the i230 with the T150 in second.

[philly2kuk]

The p790 are great, I have them, but with the other irons you are looking at I’d have said the p770 were a better match.

[eric61]

I’ve hit all of those and love my i230s. But what are you coming from playing, and what are you looking for? More/less spin, height, distance, larger or smaller? Are you steep or shallow?

[Sir Stymie]

I just picked up a set of ZX7ii Blacks and beat out the t150, T200, P770, blueprint S, apex tours. P790 were super easy to hit and consistent, but I wanted a solid forged head. Enjoy the testing!

[Golfinfloridaafter40]

I read that article on the front page that says 50% on non sponsored tour player are gaming ZX7's.  After playing several rounds with them, I completely understand why now. 

 

If you value distance than T-150, 245, and 0317T are hard to beat.  If accuracy and consistency are your goal, ZX7 all the way

 

TM P series is clicky, not even a contender

[bvanlieu]

As mentioned, 770 is the better 'test' in this category but 790 is in the family with stronger lofts.

 

I'd say if you are a solid striker, the i230 could be a big winner: so consistent with F/B dispersion it is. 🙂

 

 

[Bunkersarebigcups]

In my fitting (end of '22), i230 beat T100, T110s, 243s and P770 comfortably.

While that might mean nothing for you and your swing, my money is on the i230.

 

That being sad, PING irons are usually love or hate in terms of looks. The others look more compact, BUT I love the shape of PING irons (less round in the toe)

[dmeeksDC]

That’s an odd mix of irons. I don’t care for the wide v-soles soles on the ZX7, and the long irons are much harder to hit than the 770, for example, and the 770 has a better sole IMO. The 2023 770 feels quite nice to me. In terms of performance, it hangs with any iron made. 
 

The 790s look big, same for the 245. It was no contest in much preferring the 243 over the 245 when I hit both. 
 

Of those listed I’d likely choose the 230 or T150, though I do not love the shape of the 230. So T150 probably my choice of these.
 

But I’d try the 770 over the 790. I just think it’s got more to offer overall. I have not hit the Blueprints. 

[driveandputtmachine]

I know nothing about your swing, what you are trying to achieve or things you like.

 

So completely arbitrary I would say the ZX7 or the Blueprint S.  Mainly because those are two I own.  My Cobra Tour's are going into the backup bag. ZX7's are just being kept because they were so good.

 

[RHenderson]

Blue Print S by a mile, to be a 3.8 hdcp you have to be a good ball striker and these irons are money and like butter for a good ball striker. Best of luck and let us know how it goes and which ones you settle on.

 

 

[ArcticSound]

I’m a little surprised the Cobra King Tours aren’t on the list to try, as many consider them among the very best (or the best) in their class right now. The robot testing from CoolClubs is also pretty outstanding and shows they have a clear dispersion/forgiveness advantage.

 

With the options listed, though, I’m guessing you go i230.

[Seidinho]

Would probably be helpful if you added a bit more detail. Like, what are you looking for? What is your ballflight like? What do you struggle with?

 

I'd call this an eclectic set of irons to test. The P790 and MP245 are really different from the rest. 

[SCOTT4099]

Zx7 

 

nothing better all around, in my opinion of course.

 

 

[lambo428]

I recently ordered a set of P790's - liked the feel and the distance which I need at this point

 

I've hit the 225 which I liked but for me Mizuno heads seem heavier and less controlable

 

i230 is alright I guess but the Blueprint S has better feel and performance also better than the T150 or ZX7. I also thought that ZX5 ii (also considering) performed better than the ZX7 ii

 

 

[PNW]

If you just want us to predict the outcome... there here is my guess. 

 

You're currently playing ZX7 so like a players size head with some extra bounce and don't mind lower spin with a little forgiveness. 

 

You'll try the P790s but they don't feel close enough to your Srixons and they are a lot longer. Relearning yardages will be a chore.

 

You like the idea of the 245s. Players size with stronger lofts and great Mizuno feel, but you find them maybe not as forgiving as the ZX7s. 

 

T150s perform for you and there aren't any major complaints. But you're a Ping guy. Already have Ping driver, fairway, hybrid, and wedges. And Ping guys and Titleist guys don't tend to mix.

 

So it comes down to Blueprint S and i230. Blueprint S look and feel great. But you find you're not really gaining anything with them over your ZX7s. Very similar in all regards (and that's a good thing). So you decide, do I stick with my ZX7s? Or do I go with another tour proven option with a little more forgiveness in a similar size and feel nearly as good? 

 

You're a Ping guy who appreciates having extra forgiveness in the bag just in case so you go i230 

[AbSWFPGA]

3 hours ago, PNW said:

If you just want us to predict the outcome... there here is my guess. 

 

You're currently playing ZX7 so like a players size head with some extra bounce and don't mind lower spin with a little forgiveness. 

 

You'll try the P790s but they don't feel close enough to your Srixons and they are a lot longer. Relearning yardages will be a chore.

 

You like the idea of the 245s. Players size with stronger lofts and great Mizuno feel, but you find them maybe not as forgiving as the ZX7s. 

 

T150s perform for you and there aren't any major complaints. But you're a Ping guy. Already have Ping driver, fairway, hybrid, and wedges. And Ping guys and Titleist guys don't tend to mix.

 

So it comes down to Blueprint S and i230. Blueprint S look and feel great. But you find you're not really gaining anything with them over your ZX7s. Very similar in all regards (and that's a good thing). So you decide, do I stick with my ZX7s? Or do I go with another tour proven option with a little more forgiveness in a similar size and feel nearly as good? 

 

You're a Ping guy who appreciates having extra forgiveness in the bag just in case so you go i230 

Longtime srixon user , played the 745s for years. Some of the best irons ever imo. Have the zx7s and have hit the mizuno 245s. There is no scenario that the mizuno 245s are less forgiving than the zx7s. You can have a 25 handicap close their eyes and find the sweet spot on the 245s. 

[PNW]

Just now, AbSWFPGA said:

Longtime srixon user , played the 745s for years. Some of the best irons ever imo. Have the zx7s and have hit the mizuno 245s. There is no scenario that the mizuno 245s are less forgiving than the zx7s. You can have a 25 handicap close their eyes and find the sweet spot on the 245s. 

Interesting, I'm surprised to hear that. Admittedly I have not hit the 245s yet but have hit the 243s. I didn't notice any difference in forgiveness between my ZX7s and the 243s. Malby MOI scores are also lower for both 245 and 243 than ZX7. 

[AbSWFPGA]

21 minutes ago, PNW said:

Interesting, I'm surprised to hear that. Admittedly I have not hit the 245s yet but have hit the 243s. I didn't notice any difference in forgiveness between my ZX7s and the 243s. Malby MOI scores are also lower for both 245 and 243 than ZX7. 

I have never been able to take the maltby scores serious. The 245s might be some of the easiest irons to hit. These guys tested both and one of the guys doesn’t play long irons cause he can’t hit them. Watch how he responds to the 245 4 iron. Obviously everyone is different but to me those irons are cheating. 

 

[PNW]

2 minutes ago, AbSWFPGA said:

I have never been able to take the maltby scores serious. The 245s might be some of the easiest irons to hit. These guys tested both and one of the guys doesn’t play long irons cause he can’t hit them. Watch how he responds to the 245 4 iron. Obviously everyone is different but to me those irons are cheating. 

 

Yeah I ignore the MPF 'scores' but still look at the actual values. The MOI values aren't particularly high for them but Mizuno doesn't really market them that way, they're more about extra ball speed. 

 

I watch the TXG guys but take them with a grain of salt especially the last year since being acquired. They used to be more willing to be critical in the past. It feels like a lot of their 'reviews' are sponsored posts for these days. Regardless, I've heard 245s are great and should give them a try. 

 

 

[puttingmatt]

The ZX7'S do everything I want in a set of irons. Great performers. My third set of Srixons, and have no complaints.

Keep us informed on your club tests,

Interested in what you find  with your search

[AbSWFPGA]

28 minutes ago, PNW said:

Yeah I ignore the MPF 'scores' but still look at the actual values. The MOI values aren't particularly high for them but Mizuno doesn't really market them that way, they're more about extra ball speed. 

 

I watch the TXG guys but take them with a grain of salt especially the last year since being acquired. They used to be more willing to be critical in the past. It feels like a lot of their 'reviews' are sponsored posts for these days. Regardless, I've heard 245s are great and should give them a try. 

 

 

I’ve never seen those guys in my life, don’t watch much golf review videos. But a friend sent me that and I thought it was impressive the feedback on the long irons from a guy who claims he doesn’t play long irons. I was very impressed by them and recommend trying them. I was thinking of grabbing some heads and building a set for a backup set.   

[longoffthetees]

I should have added a bit more info. I tend to be a bit steep with my irons and have a quick transition at the top. Love to take moderate to large divots with my irons. Tend to be a higher spin player because of that.  Normal swing is a bit of a trap with my scoring irons. 
 

I’ve played and owned i230, 245 & ZX7 before so I’m not really venturing into the wild too much. Really looking forward to trying Blueprint S and 2023 version of P790. I’ve owned the 2 previous versions and just got too many fliers with them. Haven’t had Titleist Irons since my Ap2’s. 
 

I hit a lot of knockdown irons by choice and love to flight the ball down from my normal mid trajectory. Not really chasing anything in particular… I’m just a club ho with time on my hands. 
 

Wedges will be up next as I’m not in love with my Glide 4’s.  Testing an Ai TD this week to compare to my G400 Max (even though it’s been money for so long).. I’m chasing 10 more yards. 

[T Creer]

Words of advice: Don't test off matts. All the irons will feel great, but they play completely different off grass. 

Without more data, I predict Ping Blueprint S (assuming the correct shaft in the demo head). 

[longoffthetees]

19 hours ago, T Creer said:

Words of advice: Don't test off matts. All the irons will feel great, but they play completely different off grass. 

Without more data, I predict Ping Blueprint S (assuming the correct shaft in the demo head). 

I’ll be all natural off grass when testing. 
 

Hate hitting off mats. 

Edited April 17 by longoffthetees

[jj3putt]

Predictions....

 

You lead with the P790 because the allure of extra forgiveness in a not-so-bad-I-can't-stand-to-look-at-it package is strong. I beckons you like a siren song. You strike the first few shots with such vigorous anticipation, but it fades quickly because the feel off the blade is barely a notch higher than repulsive...

 

Which leads us to the 245. No salve for you offended sensibilities like the sweet buttery goodness of a Mizuno. It starts off great. These could be the one. So you start to hit some different shots. The knockdowns are more like...well, normal trajectory, but who hits knockdowns anyway? Then it happens. You get a little steep on one and it's all over in an instant. You realize it's like dating a stripper...awesome, but just ain't gonna work out well long-term.

 

So you say you need some more stability in your life after your stripper experience? Lucky for you, Ping was made for this situation. Literally. You hit the i230 and quickly realize that this is no stripper, this is a girl you bring home to meet your family. Solid. Dependable. Predictable. Yet so...sigh...unsatisfying.

 

Let the search begin for something more exciting than the girl in the khaki pants, but classier than... Wait, that's it. Classy. Titleist. It's got the looks. It's got the forgiveness. It's got the script logo. It's forged....kinda. Isn't forged supposed to feel great? I tell you what it feels like - false advertising. I'm supposed to get the feel of Mizuno and the forgiveness of Ping. Instead I got the feel of the Ping and the turf interaction of the Mizuno. Dammit.

 

If only Ping would do all of their engineering voodoo stuff but make it feel awesome and look classy. That would be the blueprint for the perfect iron. Oh, that's right, I forgot I already put those on the shootout list. Do they feel as good as my ZX7? No, not really. Are they as forgiving? No, not really. What about turf interaction? It's pretty stinking good, but something about that v-sole and my steep swing is like peas and carrots.

 

After much deliberation and consternation you decide that your existing ZX7 is the best choice for your game. But, you buy the Blueprint S anyway because WRX.

 

That's how it plays out in my mind at least 😎

[longoffthetees]

Blueprint S are the early leaders in the clubhouse. Best combination of everything I’m looking for. 
 

I’ll add a more detailed post later tonight or tomorrow. 

[bombs]

1 hour ago, longoffthetees said:

Blueprint S are the early leaders in the clubhouse. Best combination of everything I’m looking for. 
 

I’ll add a more detailed post later tonight or tomorrow. 

 

I'm a 3 handicap and playing a 4 and maybe 5 iron in the Blueprint S in the middle of winter is a no go. I'm sure the short irons are lovely. There's no logical combo in the Ping range so I would look elsewhere.

 

Solid forged short irons. Faster longer irons. Only setups I'll even look at now.

Edited April 19 by bombs

[longoffthetees]

Quick thoughts on all the sets:

 

P790 2023 Version - Great distance.  Very forgiving.  Not in love with the feel.  Very hard feeling for a "forged" iron.  Spin rates are low but not so much that you couldn't hold a green with a 6 iron.  I like the shape of the recent version a lot more than the previous ones.  These will be a hit with many golfers IMO.  

 

i230 - Great irons.  Shortest of all the irons I tested by about half a club to a full club sometimes.  Very consistent and just a solid overall club.  A bit spinny and that's probably what's hurting the distance.  Just an overall solid set of clubs that are built to last.  Nice shape and the long irons are easy to handle too.  

 

Pro 245 - Really, really wanted these to be the ones for me.  Probably in the middle of the pack for performance and toward the top for feel.  Very solid feeling clubs.  Feels like a hammer hitting the ball at times.  Distances are good for the size of the club.  Very attractive package and that's one of the reasons I wanted to like them so bad.  They are solid, no doubt, but just not the total package I'm looking for.  Good spin rates that are a little higher than the P790's.  Distance is solid too.  Forgiveness is very high for the size of the club IMO.  

 

ZX7 MKii - These are like an old friend to me.  I usually love the v-sole of Srixons.  These are good clubs.  A great blend of feel, forgiveness and distance.  Probably my 2nd place club or 3rd place at worst.  Very surprising feel that can be described as solid yet responsive.  The ball seems to jump off the face.  Easy to hit long irons.  Spin is solid.  Best long irons of any of the sets IMO.  Super easy to hit especially if you blend in the ZX5's

 

T150 - I just wanted more here.  The distance is nice.  Forgiveness is there as well.  Feel is... well.... harsh for a "forged" iron.  Nothing soft about these.  Been a long time since I gamed Titleist irons (716 AP2) and these are making me want to take another break from them as well.  Spin is lower than I thought it would be (still higher than P790).  Probably my least favorite of all the candidates.  

 

Now onto the clubhouse leaders.....

Blueprint S - Man, do these clubs feel great and just provide consistency in a beautiful package and the forgiveness is better than expected as well.  My miss is typically in the heel, and these don't lose much if anything at all here.  Easy to move both ways and again... the feel is the best of the bunch I tested.  Distance is solid as well and spin is good (almost seems perfect for my swing).  

 

The trials will continue for another week.  I'm going to play at least 9 holes with each set and hit irons at every possible chance (hit more irons off tees than normal and lay up to longer shots than normal as well).  

 

As things stand now:

1) Blueprint S (going to take some special to knock them out)

2) ZX7 Mkii (would be tough to beat in most cases) 

2A) i230 (just solid clubs)

3) Pro 245 (still has a chance) 

4) P790 (just not for me)

5) T150 (so disappointed in the feel here)