PLAYERS’ IRONS
If you’re good enough to use them, these are our favourites.
‘THE i500 IS SO IMPRESSIVE WE COULDN’T BEAR TO LEAVE IT OUT. IT’S PROBABLY THE BEST LOOKING PING IRON EVER’
TAYLORMADE P790 £1049 (s) £1299 (g) www.taylormadegolf.com
TECH: With the looks of a blade and playability of a cavity back the P790s are a potent mix. A forged face delivers great feel, while speed foam in the internal cavity (mid and long irons) supports the face and optimises sound.
WHY IT’S WON: Any reasonable golfer will tell you their ultimate set of irons would combine the looks and feel of a forged blade with the playability and forgiveness of a cavity back that delivers remarkable distance combined with excellent feel. Until recently, the concept has been a pipe dream, but thanks to the introduction of hollow-body forged iron constructions, it’s all changing – and the P790 irons are the latest to fit in to that category. One of the most talked-about irons since they launched last August, the P790s have put the proverbial cat among the pigeons for reasonable golfers looking for a new set. With the looks of a blade, but playability of a cavity-back, they are a potent cocktail. Our test pro liked the lively, slighter lighter feel, which in part is down to the Dynamic Gold 105 being 22g-25g lighter than a traditional Dynamic Gold shaft. With a ball speed average of 124mph the P790 was tied for the fastest on test (this category). We’ve heard of lots of golfers trying to decide between the P790 and Titleist AP3. Both have hollow bodies. Both are fast and long. So if you need help choosing, we recommend hitting them both. If you still can’t make up your mind, look at the set make-up; the 790s come as a set while the AP3S are sold individually.
MIZUNO MP-18 MMC £150 PER CLUB golf.mizunoeurope.com
TECH: It has taken Mizuno’s craftsmen three years to work out how to make the multi-material MMC. 20g of tungsten in the toe raises playability and forgiveness, and extra mass is removed from the cavity thanks to a titanium badge which improves forgiveness in this tour-ready profile.
WHY IT’S WON: Never did we think an iron that looked as good as the beautiful MMCS could offer similar levels of forgiveness as the deep cavity-back Ping Eye 2 iron from the 1980s. This is a feat of engineering. From a loft 1.5° weaker than the strongest on test it was able to post ball speeds just 3mph down on the fastest, and a carry distance three yards short of the second longest iron on test. The sole width is still narrow, so we reckon you need to be a decent ball striker to get the best out of them. A massive draw of any Mizuno iron is the huge choice of premium shaft and grip options, all of which are included within the RRP. And of course you have the ability to buy irons individually, so you only buy the ones you need. It’s a cracking iron that blurs the line between better player and a game improvement model. A definite rise in playability over MP-18 SC means we reckon its levels of forgiveness is along similar lines to the Taylormade P790 and Titleist AP3. A brilliant option for improving golfers up to a 10 or 12 handicap.
PING i500 £149-£159 PER CLUB www.ping.com
TECH: A players distance iron. The i500 is potent mixture of compact head size, very little offset and almost as much face flex as a modern driver. The forged face is attached to a hollow body construction, which has allowed Ping’s engineers to create a fast, forgiving and strong players’ model.
WHY IT’S WON: The i500 comes very late to the TG Awards party as it only launched in July. But it’s so impressive we couldn’t bear to leave it out of our winning line-up. We reckon it’s probably the best looking Ping iron ever, and because hollow body irons are such a fast-growing trend it really should be on your radar if you’re looking at either the awardwinning Taylormade P790 or Titleist 718 AP3. Being able to choose from eight premium steel shafts at no extra cost just adds to the appeal and like any Ping iron i500 can be custom-fit to any player. We love how because you buy them individually you only need buy the irons you actually use.