BEST OF THE REST
Cobra King Speedzone Forgiveness rating: 3.5 7i loft: 27.5°
Verdict: There’s a defining factor with Cobra’s recent GI irons – the blade length (toe to heel) is long. It gives a unique look, but also helps boost MOI and forgiveness. And our drop-off data shows just how effective that extra size really is. The SZ was the best iron for protecting ball speed (4.4mph drop-off) and carry (6%); very impressive when some were over 9mph and 11%.
Mizuno JPX919 Hot Metal Pro Forgiveness rating: 3
7i loft: 30°
Verdict: We love how Mizuno have given both Hot Metal irons and the JPX919 Forged a very similar look at address, which means they can be combined to create a brilliant combo set. Hot Metal Pro isn’t forged, but has a lovely compact head, and our data has them picking up about three to four yards over the JPX919 Forged – worth remembering if you’re not swayed by forged feel. Srixon Z585 Forgiveness rating: 3 7i loft: 31°
Verdict: The Z585s will be two years old in 2020, so it’s likely they’ll be replaced this summer. But we still love their simple beauty. Compared to Srixon’s Z785 irons, these have 1mm thick springy faces and 1° less loft, which tailors them to golfers searching for distance and forgiveness from a single iron. The two-piece construction means a slightly different sound than onepiece forgings like a Z785 but, as we’ve said for two years, these are very impressive. Wilson D7 Forged Forgiveness rating: 3 7i loft: 30.5°
Verdict: The D7 Forged is brand new for 2020, and it could easily be argued it slides into the players’ iron category. For us, though, the head size and sole width are very similar to some of our game improver models, which means it suits a large audience. Less offset and a narrower top edge tailor the iron down to more confident ball strikers. But while the 30.5° loft doesn’t give the strongest carry performance, D7 Forged was the only GI iron to feature among all three of our drop-off categories (ball speed, backspin and carry). Callaway Mavrik Forgiveness rating: 3.5 7i loft: 27°
Verdict: Two years ago we were as surprised as the next man when Callaway introduced Rogue X, the strongest loft irons we’d ever seen. Today, there are more strong lofted irons than ever. Some engineers even say strong lofts are necessary to optimise ball flight, as weight tech is now so good at flighting irons higher. Like the Rogue X, Mavrik is big and brash, and with such strong lofts it’s no surprise this was our second longest GI iron (7iron; 185 yards) of the year. Taylormade P790 Ti Forgiveness rating: 4 7i loft: 28.5°
Verdict: Thanks to the price, many won’t give the P790 Ti a second glance. But for those willing to spend, it’s an absolute delight. Taylormade say they offer SGI iron performance in a players’ iron shape, which is only possible thanks to a lightweight titanium chassis. For golfers who need forgiveness and don’t want to struggle launching a strong lofted iron from the turf, P790 Ti delivers in spades. Shots launch high, spin lots (thanks to the high launch, high-spin shafts) and keep plenty of peak height, which is just the sort of magic most strong loft haters can’t accept!