SHOULD I CONSIDER HOLLOW BODY IRONS?

The rise of the hollow iron has been meteoric. Most top brands now have at least one hollow iron in their range, and there’s a number of models which sit right on the fence between players’ and game improver models, which is a space notoriously difficult to fill. With Taylormade’s hollow P790s being among the most popular irons of the last two years, it’s no surprise there are now hollow models out there for everyone, from tour players to super game improvers.

How do they work: Speed

The hollow construction means there’s space behind the face which allows engineers to experiment with increasing face flex. Some models have thin faces and a supporting material inside (Speedfoam from Taylormade or COR2 from PXG), which brands say boosts ball speeds and stops the face from caving in. Others models have strong but springy faces and unfilled heads. Either way, the idea is fast faces increase flex (not just in the centre, but across the whole face). And more face flex means more speed.

How do they work: Forgiveness

Compared to similarly sized heads that aren’t hollow, hollow models can be more forgiving. Why? The shape of the body allows weight to be positioned further from the face, which naturally increases MOI and forgiveness. Taylormade and PXG also say their filling material helps protect ball speed on off-centre hits, so golfers get better shot-to-shot consistency and smaller drop-offs between shots.

The drawbacks

There’s a group of golfers who, since the inception of fast face irons, feel shot consistency (especially backspin and carry) is compromised by fast faces and hollow body tech. These voices, though, have started to quieten in the last 18 months as the technology has developed. A top R&D man recently told us hollow body irons will be in many tour player bags within 10 years, as they’re the clubs young players are growing up with today. Taylormade’s P760s have also won on the PGA Tour.

The cost

As good as hollow irons sound they inevitably cost more to produce, and that’s down to their construction (two pieces welded together). All the hollow irons here have forged faces (that’s why they’re included), but on average costs tend to be 20-30 per cent higher. Bearing in mind the price, the decision to go hollow is one you need to make for yourself. For us, six-14 handicappers who find it difficult to choose between players’ and game improver models, and who wouldn’t mind adding extra punch to their iron play, hollow irons will cover all bases.