2023 MID-HANDICAP IRONS
COBRA AEROJET
£729 (s), £949 (g)
Stock shaft: KBS Tour Lite (s), KBS PGI (g)
7-iron loft: 26.5°
Forgiveness rating: 3.5/5
“Golfers want speed and distance, we give it to them.” So say Cobra, in defence of the Aerojet’s super strong lofts. A very high-tech head has 42g-69g of suspended Pwrbridge weighting behind the face, plus a Pwrshell hot face with 15 different zones. It has a slimmer, more players’ style profile than the previous LTDX.
COBRA KING FORGED TEC X
From £849
Stock shaft: KBS Tour Lite (s), KBS TGI (g)
7-iron loft: 27°
Forgiveness rating: 3.5/5
The X brings the look and feel of a players’ iron to the game improver arena. A massive 65g of tungsten weight inside lowers the centre of gravity to deliver higher launching shots even though the lofts are very strong. Mid-high handicap irons have never looked so good.
CALLAWAY PARADYM X
£1,199 (s), £1,299 (g)
Stock shaft: True Temper Elevate (s), Aldila Ascent or HZRDUS Silver (g)
7-iron loft: 27.5°
Forgiveness rating: 3/5
A great distance-focused, hollow body iron for mid handicappers. The strong lofts mean you need good speed to launch it well. Callaway say the model offers 26 percent tighter dispersion, 2.5mph more ball speed, and five yards of 7-iron carry distance against the previous Apex 21.
TAYLORMADE STEALTH
£849 (s), £949 (g)
Stock shaft: KBS Max MT (s), Fujikura Ventus Red (g)
7-iron loft: 28°
Forgiveness rating: 3.5/5
The Stealth is staying in the TM line-up for one more season, and it’s a very strong option in this category. If you don’t quite have the speed to launch the strong lofts, weaken them off by 2° through a custom fit order. It’s a great set-up for lots of average club golfers.
SRIXON ZX4 MK II
£167 (s), £184 (g) per club
Stock shaft: KBS Tour Lite (s), Mitsubishi Diamana ZX (g)
7-iron loft: 28.5°
Forgiveness rating: 3/5
Srixon feel the ZX4 didn’t quite fulfil the brand’s philosophy of satisfying players, so the new hollow body MK II is sleeker, slimmer and more desirable. If you didn’t like the look of the previous model but enjoyed its performance, the MK II will be right up your street.
PXG 0211 XCOR2
From £139 per club
Stock shaft: Seven premium options
7-iron loft: 28°
Forgiveness rating: 3.5/5
With none of PXG’S revered weight tech, the 0211 offer 10 percent less forgiveness than the brand’s premium iron models. But this ‘affordable’ hollow body iron still offers 10 percent more MOI forgiveness than most PXG cavity back models. Check their website as the model has been on sale for as little as £85 a club.
MIZUNO JPX923 HOT M E TA L
£135 per club
Stock shaft: 20 premium options
7-iron loft: 28.5°
Forgiveness rating: 3.5/5
A brilliant option for golfers who put a premium on how irons look, even though they need the help of a serious game-improving model. The Hot Metal is cast not forged, and we’d seriously consider them for the excellent choice of shafts (20 options) at zero up-charge.
PXG 0311 XP GEN5
From £249 per club
Stock shaft: Seven premium options
7-iron loft: 27°
Forgiveness rating: 3.5/5 Good-looking irons rarely used to make an appearance within the game improver market, but PXG are one of a few brands bucking that trend. The 0311 XP is a cracking looking, sounding and feeling iron; just make sure you have enough speed to launch the strong lofts successfully.