SUPER GAME IMPROVEMENT IRONS
PING G700 £149 (S) £159 (G) PER CLUB
www.ping.com
TECH: Ping’s longest, highest flying iron ever. A new, machined C300 steel face generates twice the face flex as the usual 431 stainless steel. Low and extreme heel-toe weighting boosts resistance to twisting (forgiveness), protecting ball speed and distance.
WHY IT’S WON: Whereas most hollow-body irons have attempted to blur the lines between better player and game improvement iron categories, the G700 blurs the lines between game improvement and SGI iron models. Or as our pro put it… it’s an average player’s blade. For our test pro G700 was his longest carrying SGI iron (180 yards. The big head, large amount of offset, chunky sole and lack of a cavity badge are all typically Ping, but we applaud them for coming at hollow head tech from a very different angle to its rivals. Everything about the G700 is slightly larger than the hugely popular G400, including the price. At £39 per club more (£273 extra for a seven-piece set) it’s the price which may well be a deciding factor between G400 or G700. Whichever you choose both are a great option, and don’t forget you can buy them individually and mix both models to suit you.
TAYLORMADE M CGB £849 (S) £1099 (G) FOR 7 CLUBS
www.taylormadegolf.com
TECH: With the same amount of face flex in every iron as a driver, the M CGBS are fast, fun and forgiving. An ultra-low CG placement flights shots higher with optimised spin rates to maximise carry. Speed pocket and face slot tech is combined with tungsten weighting to create a super forgiving, high MOI design.
WHY IT’S WON: By posting ball speeds and carry distances within the top three fastest and longest SGI irons for each tester, it must be said the CGBS have the ability to perform. The heads have plenty of offset, a wide sole and chunky top edge, but thanks to a lightweight shaft overall feel is surprisingly lively and friendly. It’s worth remembering the CGBS have the same amount of face flex as a driver throughout the whole set, which means you’re highly likely to gain a bit of distance with the 8, 9 and PW as these are the clubs usually left without fast face tech. This is a decent looking super game improvement iron which can do a job for a wide range of golfers. It’s ideally suited to those who really want as much distance as they can get their hands on, but don’t quite have the club speed to launch the long and mid irons of a strong lofted set (like the Callaway Rogue X and Taylormade M4).
CLEVELAND LAUNCHER HB £570 (S) £648 (G) www.clevelandgolf.com
TECH: Hybrid forgiveness for a whole set of irons. A hollow-body takes stability to higher levels than cavityback irons, which Cleveland says means toe and heel hits fly higher, straighter and longer. A Hibore crown positions mass low and deep, a high-speed face insert flexes at impact to maximise ball speed.
WHY IT’S WON: Flat-out the most forgiving iron on sale this year. The stretched head (from toe to heel) and low and deep weighting contribute to an ultimate forgiveness and consistency recipe. Would the majority of club golfers use a set? No. Even though we know they’re ultra forgiving, many won’t be able to see past the head shape and wide sole. Anyone buying a set would do well to get an experienced fitter to cast their eye over how the HBS flights shots for them; our amateur tester saw a gain of 800rpm in backspin (over his test average) which lost up to 10 yards of carry. Experience tells us though small numbers of golfers will actually put a set in play, even though our test pro reckoned lots of 15-plus handicappers would hit the Launcher more consistently than a traditional cavityback iron. Food for thought...