2023 PLAYERS’ IRONS
COBRA KING TOUR
£949
Stock shaft: KBS $-Taper
7-iron loft: 32°
Forgiveness rating: 2/5 Cobra reckon the Tour are the ‘complete club’. Rickie Fowler has returned to form using a set of these multi-material forgings, so you can expect them to deliver everything decent players look for in an iron. Expect a short blade length, slight offset and the ability to combine with Cobra’s new King MB or CB in any set-up.
SRIXON ZX7 MK II
£167 per club
Stock shaft: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120
7-iron loft: 32°
Forgiveness rating: 2/5
The previous ZX7 were a big hit on tour and they played a fundamental role in four-time Major champ Brooks Koepka deciding to play Srixon. Eighty percent more mass right behind the hitting zone cuts vibration and ups feel. If Titleist T100’s or Mizuno JPX923 Tour’s are on your radar, these need to be too.
TAYLORMADE P7MC
£1,149
Stock shaft: KBS Tour
7-iron loft: 33°
Forgiveness rating: 2/5
The previous MC gave Taylormade their most iron success on tour. Following feedback from Collin Morikawa, this five-times forged Muscle Cavity has updated contouring to the hosel and topline. If you’re good enough to play a set, you’re using an iron designed by the world’s best.
MIZUNO JPX923 TOUR
From £185 per club
Stock shaft: KBS S-taper Lite
7-iron loft: 34°
Forgiveness rating: 2/5
Designed to look and feel like a muscleback blade, the new JPX923 Tour have a micro-thin copper coating which matches feel to the brand’s most iconic models. A great option for modern, straight-hitting bombers, expect slightly more compact scoring irons than the previous JPX921S.
PING i230
£190 per club
Stock shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 (s),
Ping Alta CB Black (g)
7-iron loft: 33°
Forgiveness rating: 2-2.5/5
The i230 has seen instant success with Ping’s tour staff, as players love the forgedlike feel. A new heat treatment thins the face to up ball speed. Real players will appreciate the extra Micromax grooves and Hydropearl finish, which mean there’s zero difference between wet and dry weather performance.
TAYLORMADE P770
£1,149
Stock shaft: KBS Tour
7-iron loft: 33°
Forgiveness rating: 2-2.5/5
After selling out of the original P770 within five days and never fully restocking, Taylormade say there’s a massive appetite for the new P770. The model takes a players’-sized chassis and crams it with hollow body tech (with up to 45g of tungsten weighting) and a Thru Slot Speed Pocket, which ups consistency for the category.
PXG 0311 T GEN5
From £249 per iron
Stock shafts: True Temper Elevate (s) Mitsubishi MMT (g)
7-iron loft: 32°
Forgiveness rating: 2/5
A massive selling point of PXG’S GEN5 irons is the ability to go longer, shorter, heavier or lighter without changing the CG location. It’s possible as the brand’s weight port is located right behind the sweetspot. A super attractive modern hollow body option.
WILSON STAFF MODEL CB
£849
Stock shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold
7-iron loft: 34°
Forgiveness rating: 2/5
The CB isn’t new for 2023 but if you’re looking for a set that will stand the test of time and never go out of fashion, this is a brilliant model to buy into. Face and groove CNC milling maximises accuracy and consistency, while 20g of tungsten toe weight in the long irons lowers the CG to nudge up playability.