awards – GolfWRX https://www.golfwrx.com Golf news, equipment, reviews, classifieds and discussion Mon, 10 Jul 2023 18:50:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 Best irons in golf of 2023: Best blades https://www.golfwrx.com/711376/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-best-blades/ https://www.golfwrx.com/711376/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-best-blades/#comments Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:38:37 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=711376 At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best irons, we have compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of 2023 irons is best for your game. We’re seeing new technology, more technology packed into the cavity of a club, catering toward combo sets, more consistency across the face, game improvement irons that really improve your game, and increased model segmentation against a backdrop of a few models that work well for wide sections of the fitting bell curve.

Ultimately the best way to find your personal iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you. 

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

best irons best blades

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

Before starting the process of building our best iron survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was clear—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

2023 Best irons: Best blades

This is by far the most straightforward category because it is defined by a single style of club — the blade AKA the muscle back or MB for short. Although modern variations offer a lot more playability than they did decades ago, blades are still defined by their workability, compact shaping, and lower ball flight. If you are looking for the ultimate test or just prefer something in the more traditional vein, these are for you.

Titleist 620 MB

Their story: The 620 MB offers ideal turf interaction throughout the set thanks to more camber and a tweaked leading edge. In addition to the sole tweaks, the blade length is progressive from the longest iron to the shortest and the transition is so smooth that unless you set clubs next to each other, it’s quite difficult to notice. The final design element is the face height progression which transitions from more shallow to tall in the pitching wedge to offer the greatest control over ball flight.

From the fitters:

  • “It usually comes down to the look and feel with the 620 MB, and they are tough to beat. They are very soft and responsive while offering good turf interaction.”
  • “Classic look. Keep it simple. This is an iron catered to the traditionalist.”
    “A super classic look. Probably the ultimate shot shaping iron for the golfer who wants to bend it like Beckham on the golf course.”
  • “Still our best selling blade. I’m not sure if it’s the performance or the simplicity of the look, but this is just what that blade player is looking for.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Mizuno Pro 221

Their story: The Mizuno Pro 221 is a new muscleback iron inspired by iconic Mizuno blades of the past. The Pro 221 irons have been bevelled for the appearance of a shorter face profile and narrower top line but without loss of mass in the upper blade. The 221’s are more compact in the scoring irons than their predecessors while also featuring Mizuno’s shortest CG/shaft axis, which is consistent from 3-iron to PW, in design to allow for controlled shot shaping through the set. Grain Flow Forged in Hiroshima, Japan, they feature a soft copper underlay in a bid to provide a classic, smooth Mizuno feel at impact.

From the fitters:

  • “Obviously, with Mizuno, the feel is always the big thing. If someone wants to hit a blade, this is usually the first club I pull.”
  • “One of the easiest blade sales out there if someone comes in looking for a blade. The look is safe (in a good way). Everything you’d expect out of a Mizuno blade but more forgiving than you would expect. Whatever they’re doing with center of gravity, they’re easier to hit than blades used to be. Definitely wins in the ‘feel’ category.”
  • “A true Mizuno blade. The copper underlay. The look. The feel. So Mizuno. When people think about Mizuno, you think about the MP-29, MP-33. The 221 is a good throwback to those with a modern look. A perfect blade with no gimmicks.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Miura MB-101

Their story: The muscle shape is much more organic and rounded to go along with the new sole design that greatly improves turf interaction. The other part of the iron that has gone through a tremendous change, thanks to Shinei and Yoshitaka Muira, is the transition from the hosel to the topline. This is, for the most discerning player, the telltale sign of a well-designed club: The hosel should look like it almost melts into the topline of the club, and with the new Muira MB-101 iron, you get exactly that.

From the fitters:

  • “One of the most beautiful sets of irons, for sure.”
  • “As far as pure workability goes the Miura MB-101 is king of the hill. Many tour players over the years have played Miura irons when they don’t have club contracts.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Cobra King MB

Their story: A key to the enhanced forgiveness and overall performance of Cobra’s new Tour iron are CNC undercuts in the back cavity of each iron, which allow weight to be repositioned from high center to lower center and heel and toe areas of the clubhead, in design to create improved launch conditions and more forgiveness on off center hits. These cavities progress from deeper in the long irons for enhanced stability, to shallower in the short irons for enhanced control.

From the fitters:

  • “With that satin finish, when guys are looking for a blade, this is always one we pull. Easy to combo and great feel. A good classic blade look.”
  • “As sexy as a blade can look. Rounded. Looks like a traditional blade. Would look good mounted on you wall. You can combo these with the CBs.”
  • “Incredibly easy to hit for a blade iron. Many players like to go with the MB in the “scoring” irons and the CB in the long irons for a bit more forgiveness and launch.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Apex MB

Their story: The Callaway Apex MB is forged from 1025 carbon steel with a classic shape that is similar to other blade irons from Callaway’s past, but this time with a slightly narrower sole and less offset. Another improvement is the 20V grooves ensure optimal spin control in and out of the rough. The centrally located weight screw in the back of the head allows Callaway builders to maintain the precise center of gravity locations when adding or removing weight from the irons—it’s not a new idea, but it’s one that is key to allowing the irons to be dialed into spec for each golfer.

From the fitters:

  • “A little different with the weight in the back, but still looks great, a nice thin topline. Looks good, feels good.”
  • “A modern blade with the weight port in the back, and it’s nice to be able to adjust the weight if you need to. Strike location is a little more in the center. Distinctly Callaway in look and shape. Gives the blade guy who isn’t looking for a throwback a great option for look, sound, feel, and performance.”
  • “The weight port in the back positions the center of gravity directly behind the ball to give the player precision and control over the launch and shape of shots.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Join the discussion about the best irons of 2023 in the forums!

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/711376/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-best-blades/feed/ 2 Best irons in golf of 2023: Top overall performers https://www.golfwrx.com/711213/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-top-overall-performers/ https://www.golfwrx.com/711213/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-top-overall-performers/#comments Fri, 07 Apr 2023 14:23:24 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=711213 At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best irons, we have compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of 2023 irons is best for your game. We’re seeing new technology, more technology packed into the cavity of a club, catering toward combo sets, more consistency across the face, game improvement irons that really improve your game, and increased model segmentation against a backdrop of a few models that work well for wide sections of the fitting bell curve.

Ultimately the best way to find your personal iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you. 

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

best irons in golf 2023: top overall performers

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

Before starting the process of building our best iron survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was clear—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

2023 Best irons: Top overall performers

This category is the perfect place to start if you’re not quite sure what you are looking for. Distance? Check. Forgiveness? Check. Sleek looks? Check. The top five in the “best irons overall” category are perfect for those golfers who appreciate technology and want something that is going to give them shot options.

Srixon ZX5 Mk II

Their story: MainFrame v2 was developed with an Automated Intelligence process, flex-maximizing variable thickness pattern of grooves, channels, and cavities carefully milled into the backside of Z ZX5 iron faces for high ball speeds. Not only does MainFrame boost COR, but it also repositions mass away from the face and into the toe and sole for a lower CG for easier launch, more consistency, and forgiveness.

From the fitters:

  • “From Z585 to ZX5 was a huge bump in performance, and this one picks up where ZX5 left off. It fits such a wide array of golfers — it looks good enough a mid-low single digit will play it, and the guy who is a 12-15 can play it. Awesome iron.”
  • “I’m a big believer in the V-Sole. For high-speed guys who want a little forgiveness and are steep, it just doesn’t stick in the ground. Super soft and high launching. Not a ton of offset. It’s also been a good fit for moderate to high handicappers.”
  • “We’ve fit a scary amount of these. They’ve refined the sole over previous generations so it works for a variety of attack angles. Good ball speeds. Players still aren’t look at this club as much as they should be. Great to combo with the ZX7 Mk II.”
  • “Like the old 745 in feel. I find the V-sole a little more prominent. They’ve cleaned up the shaping. The best combo iron with ZX7. Not as clickly as the previous generation. The PureFrame in the back has made a huge difference with the sound. Launches high with a ton of control.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Ping G430

Their story: Billed as Ping’s “longest iron ever”, the G430 irons combine a lower CG with stronger, custom- engineered lofts and a thinner face that delivers up to 2 more mph of ball speed, per the company. At the heart of the new addition is the PurFlex cavity badge, an innovation which features seven flex zones that allow more free bending in design to increase ball speed across the face. In combination with a lower CG, the badge aims to contribute to the solid feel and pleasing impact sound.

From the fitters:

  • “Hyper 17-5 face adding speed, along with a new badge design to help with additional speed and forgiveness, makes this iron a home run.”
  • “They continue to make this iron look and feel better. The only issue I had with G425 in comparison with other distance irons, it just went shorter. With a little bit of a bump in loft this year, distance-wise, it’s right there with anything else. And it doesn’t look like a golfer that’s built for a 20-handicap. It looks really good at setup with the way they’re able to hide offset and keep a thin topline.”
  • “It’s awesome. We told Ping you could probably repaint the G425, it was performing so well. They said the G430 would be better and they did. I think G430 is the line of the year. They’ve done everything right. Feels good, looks good. Goes a little higher and a little straighter. The iron does everything G425 did but a little bit better. They’ve nailed it.”
  • “These are hands down the most eye-appealing game improvement iron on the market. The smaller, compact shape with the added forgiveness is great for the higher handicap players.”
  • “G430 improves upon the already great G425 in every way. Higher, straighter and farther, and also better sounding and feeling.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym

Their story: Industry-leading A.I. face technology is applied to a high-strength Forged 455 Face, creating Callaway’s most powerful forged iron face ever. Each face is uniquely optimized for more speed, higher launch, and increased spin consistency.The all-new Hollow Body design features Speed Frame construction for added stiffness to the body and support for the high-strength Forged 455 Face Cup. This unique construction is the catalyst that stabilizes a thinner face in design for incredibly fast ball speeds.

From the fitters:

  •  “Every time they come out with a new iron, I think ‘this is the time performance gets flat. They aren’t going to be able to beat what they did.’ It is absolutely incredible. The best iron I’ve ever seen performance-wise. Ball speed numbers are crazy. I’ve had players picking up 30 yards with a 7-iron. Looks awesome. Feels great. Callaway continues to amaze me.”
  • “These go forever. I’ve had a lot of success — if you guy who flips at it or doesn’t lean the shaft enough to get dynamic loft. You give him Paradym, and he’s got some giddy up. They just flat out go forever. It’s an interesting iron sitting between game improvement and players iron”
  • “Super strong lofted. Super clean. Something that launches high and spin.”
  •  “Could be X too. Again the AI designed face, hollow body construction, along with a sexy look makes these irons awesome.”
  • “Lots of forgiveness in a small great looking golf club. Fantastic distance and feel.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade P790

Their story: SpeedFoam, which was the showpiece of the original (2017) P790 line gets an upgrade in the 2021 edition. Dubbed SpeedFoam Air, the ultralight urethane foam is 69 percent less dense than the 2019 iteration. As is the formula in golf club design, saving weight in one area allows engineers to relocate it to another to accomplish specific aims. In this case, it’s to aid launch. And that’s just what the folks at TM have done, moving the CG lower in the heads of P790 irons to the tune of an average of .5 millimeters.

From the fitters:

  • “This is one of our most sought-out/asked-about irons. A nice, clean look, but you’re still getting some forgiveness. I’d tell TaylorMade to keep doing what you’re doing.”
  • “High single digit, low double digit who is looking for as much help as possible, this is a great club. Ball speed. Distance. One of the best offerings year in and year out.”
  • “It fits a wide range of players…all the way up to 20-plus handicaps. Ball speed on off-center hits is tremendous. It’s not overly high or low launching. Hot face with spin rates in a happy medium. One of the easiest fits for a lot of players.”
  • “A great long iron, but great all the way through for a player who wants a little help all the way through”
  • “This series is a modern classic. Long-standing hollow-bodied performance. They’ve continued to improve this club. SpeedFoam Air is that much better. Fits a wide range of players. The perfect iron for many players. TaylorMade just needs to keep riding the wave.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Srixon ZX7 Mk II

Their story: The players iron ZX7 Mk II features PureFrame: an 80-percent thicker portion of 1020 carbon steel forged behind the sweet spot in the body of the iron for soft-yet-solid-feeling impact. Also significant to the design: A refined Tour V.T. Sole Proprietary sole widths, bounce angles, and notches in the heel and toe of the club aid clean contact from a variety of lies.

From the fitters:

  • “While it’s not the best metric, these are the most played irons among our fitters”
  • “Srixon has been the “sleeper” iron company for a number of years now, but I think the secret is out. The ZX7 Mk II fit many different player types, from tour pro to mid-handicapper. The forging is very soft and forgiving, and the iron is very workable for the player with more ability. They didn’t change the shape from ZX7 to Mk II, and I think that’s a great thing.”
  • “Slight refinement here. A little better look and feel. Players iron with distance. Gain a bit of ball speed and distance but still have enough spin to control the golf ball.”
  • “They did a really good job of not screwing up a good thing. ZX7 was fantastic. It seemed like 50 percent of the non-contract guys in pro golf played that iron. It continues to give very consistent numbers. The better player wants a consistent number. They need to know it’s going to go that distance. This club does that very well.”
  • “Most forgiving players iron. V-Sole design gives significantly better turf interaction compared to a traditional sole.”
  • “This is a great players iron that is great on its own or easily blended with the ZX5 in the long irons or the blades in the short irons for a great combo set.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/711213/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-top-overall-performers/feed/ 4 Best irons in golf 2023: Most technology packed https://www.golfwrx.com/711147/best-irons-in-golf-2023-most-technology-packed/ https://www.golfwrx.com/711147/best-irons-in-golf-2023-most-technology-packed/#comments Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:09:22 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=711147 At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best irons, we have compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of 2023 irons is best for your game. We’re seeing new technology, more technology packed into the cavity of a club, catering toward combo sets, more consistency across the face, game improvement irons that really improve your game, and increased model segmentation against a backdrop of a few models that work well for wide sections of the fitting bell curve.

Ultimately the best way to find your personal iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you. 

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

Before starting the process of building our best iron survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was clear—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

2023 Best irons: Most technology packed

This is the “give me everything you got” list. These irons are the cream of the crop for offering technology to improve feel, distance, and ball speed. The great thing about the technology category is it’s not reserved for higher handicap golfers—it’s for anyone looking to get everything they can out of their game in an iron that also suits their eye.

Ping G430

Their story: Billed as Ping’s “longest iron ever”, the G430 irons combine a lower CG with stronger, custom- engineered lofts and a thinner face that delivers up to 2 more mph of ball speed, per the company. At the heart of the new addition is the PurFlex cavity badge, an innovation which features seven flex zones that allow more free bending in design to increase ball speed across the face. In combination with a lower CG, the badge aims to contribute to the solid feel and pleasing impact sound.

From the fitters:

  • “Hyper 17-5 face adding speed, along with a new badge design to help with additional speed and forgiveness, makes this iron a home run.”
  • “They continue to make this iron look and feel better. The only issue I had with G425 in comparison with other distance irons, it just went shorter. With a little bit of a bump in loft this year, distance-wise, it’s right there with anything else. And it doesn’t look like a golfer that’s built for a 20-handicap. It looks really good at setup with the way they’re able to hide offset and keep a thin topline.”
  • “These are hands down the most eye-appealing game improvement iron on the market. The smaller, compact shape with the added forgiveness is great for the higher handicap players.”
  • “G430 improves upon the already great G425 in every way. Higher, straighter and farther, and also better sounding and feeling.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade P790

Their story: SpeedFoam, which was the showpiece of the original (2017) P790 line gets an upgrade in the 2021 edition. Dubbed SpeedFoam Air, the ultralight urethane foam is 69 percent less dense than the 2019 iteration. As is the formula in golf club design, saving weight in one area allows engineers to relocate it to another to accomplish specific aims. In this case, it’s to aid launch. And that’s just what the folks at TM have done, moving the CG lower in the heads of P790 irons to the tune of an average of .5 millimeters.

From the fitters:

  • “This is one of our most sought-out/asked-about irons. A nice, clean look, but you’re still getting some forgiveness. I’d tell TaylorMade to keep doing what you’re doing.”
  • “High single digit, low double digit who is looking for as much help as possible, this is a great club. Ball speed. Distance. One of the best offerings year in and year out.”
  • “It fights a wide range of players…all the way up to 20-plus handicaps. Ball speed on off-center hits is tremendous. It’s not overly high or low launching. Hot face with spin rates in a happy medium. One of the easiest fits for a lot of players.”
  • “This series is a modern classic. Long-standing hollow-bodied performance. They’ve continued to improve this club. SpeedFoam Air is that much better. Fits a wide range of players. The perfect iron for many players. TaylorMade just needs to keep riding the wave.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym

Their story: Industry-leading A.I. face technology is applied to a high-strength Forged 455 Face, creating Callaway’s most powerful forged iron face ever. Each face is uniquely optimized for more speed, higher launch, and increased spin consistency.The all-new Hollow Body design features Speed Frame construction for added stiffness to the body and support for the high-strength Forged 455 Face Cup. This unique construction is the catalyst that stabilizes a thinner face in design for incredibly fast ball speeds.

From the fitters:

  •  “Every time they come out with a new iron, I think ‘this is the time performance gets flat. They aren’t going to be able to beat what they did.’ It is absolutely incredible. The best iron I’ve ever seen performance-wise. Ball speed numbers are crazy. I’ve had players picking up 30 yards with a 7-iron. Looks awesome. Feels great. Callaway continues to amaze me.”
  • “Super strong lofted. Super clean. Something that launches high and spin.”
  •  “Could be X too. Again the AI designed face, hollow body construction, along with a sexy look makes these irons awesome.”
  • “Lots of forgiveness in a small great looking golf club. Fantastic distance and feel.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Great Big Bertha

Their story: By leveraging materials that are typically reserved for drivers, Callaway generated up to 96g of discretionary weight and precisely repositioned this saved weight in their new irons in design to increase launch and forgiveness.  The Great Big Bertha iron features the thinnest titanium face the brand has ever used in an iron. On top of that, it’s also the lightest. In addition, the Commercially Pure Grade 4 (CP4) Titanium body flexes more at impact than traditional steel and works together with the thinner face in a bid to transfer more energy to the ball.

From the fitters:

  • “Hotter than a lot of clubs in this category. This is the club for distance. Higher and farther than anything in this category. Tons of tungsten. The only issue with this club for players in this category is price. Everything else is exactly what this player needs. A great fit for a lot of 40-plus-year olds.”
  • “All that tungsten makes this club easy to hit for high handicaps and slow swing speeds.”
  • “Between AI design face, hollow body construction, and tons of tungsten.”
  • “Titanium/tungsten/carbon fiber. Crazy MOI.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth HD

Their story: The new addition features an ultra-low profile head shape in the long irons designed to drive CG lower to help get the ball airborne with ease while progressive head sizes (each club is uniquely shaped and gets incrementally larger from 5-iron through pitching wedge) aim to help independently optimize the performance of each iron. An increased sole radius and step down design along the bottom of the club round out the all-new shape. Per TaylorMade, testing confirmed that increasing the sole arc from heel to toe led to more shots high on the face, which translates to higher launch and further helps this golfer get the ball airborne. The step down sole is designed to boost playability by reducing the amount of surface area that contacts the turf.

From the fitters:

  • “If you have a player who struggles with launch, just give them these.”
  • “I had a guy who couldn’t hit it through a second-story window, but the first swing he took with this, it went 60 feet in the air. It really goes straight up in the air, but it has all the tech and distance TaylorMade irons are known for. As we get into the season, I think this iron is going to do really well.”
  • “Higher handicappers want higher shots and shots that draw. With the HD — high draw — TaylorMade is delivering that. It’s a different club. Similar to how hybrids looked different 20 years ago. But they do what they’re supposed to do, and I always appreciate thinking outside of the box.”
  • “The face-wrapped designed face makes this iron hot all over the face and super forgiving. Also, love the hollow body for stability and speed as well. The HD really varies the CG allowing golfers to get the forgiveness and height needed to hit high bombs.”
  • “The all-new sole design helps get through the turf easier with the added weight in the back allowing for a player who struggles with launch to get the height they need with the added forgiveness to get a ball to launch properly and stop quicker on a green.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece,

Join the discussion about best irons 2023 in the forums!

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/711147/best-irons-in-golf-2023-most-technology-packed/feed/ 1 Best irons in golf 2023: The shotmakers https://www.golfwrx.com/711048/best-irons-in-golf-2023-the-shotmakers/ https://www.golfwrx.com/711048/best-irons-in-golf-2023-the-shotmakers/#comments Wed, 05 Apr 2023 14:19:15 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=711048 At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best irons, we have compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of 2023 irons is best for your game. We’re seeing new technology, more technology packed into the cavity of a club, catering toward combo sets, more consistency across the face, game improvement irons that really improve your game, and increased model segmentation against a backdrop of a few models that work well for wide sections of the fitting bell curve.

Ultimately the best way to find your personal iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you. 

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

Before starting the process of building our best iron survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was clear—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

2023 Best irons: The Shotmakers

Each one of these irons was designed with a single purpose: to provide the ultimate shotmaking weapon. You don’t have to be a tour player to appreciate the pleasure of hitting a well-struck shot with a club engineered to offer superior feedback. This category is all about control—and that doesn’t mean it “has to be a blade.”

Srixon ZX7 Mk II

Their story: The players iron ZX7 Mk II features PureFrame: an 80-percent thicker portion of 1020 carbon steel forged behind the sweet spot in the body of the iron for soft-yet-solid-feeling impact. Also significant to the design: A refined Tour V.T. Sole Proprietary sole widths, bounce angles, and notches in the heel and toe of the club aid clean contact from a variety of lies.

From the fitters:

  • “While it’s not the best metric, these are the most played irons among our fitters”
  • “Srixon has been the “sleeper” iron company for a number of years now, but I think the secret is out. The ZX7 Mk II fit many different player types, from tour pro to mid-handicapper. The forging is very soft and forgiving, and the iron is very workable for the player with more ability. They didn’t change the shape from ZX7 to Mk II, and I think that’s a great thing.”
  • “Slight refinement here. A little better look and feel. Players iron with distance. Gain a bit of ball speed and distance but still have enough spin to control the golf ball.”
  • “They did a really good job of not screwing up a good thing. ZX7 was fantastic. It seemed like 50 percent of the non-contract guys in pro golf played that iron. It continues to give very consistent numbers. The better player wants a consistent number. They need to know it’s going to go that distance. This club does that very well.”
  • “Most forgiving players iron. V-Sole design gives significantly better turf interaction compared to a traditional sole.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Apex TCB

Their story: With internal and external MIM’d tungsten weighting, Callaway engineers precisely each irons CG within the 1025 mild carbon steel body. Tour-inspired size and shaping with a straighter leading edge, less offset, a thinner top line, and a smoother hosel transition distinguishes the TCB from the stock Apex CB.

From the fitters:

  • “Good lofts for spin, and you can flight them any way you want if you have the club speed.”
  • “Classic small compact look with the endless ability to shape shots into the window a better player is looking for. We have seen lots of wins on tour this season. Players who need spin will tend to gravitate towards this iron.”
  • “One of the best players irons Callaway has made. Great shape. Looks fantastic. Feels fantastic. You can feel that weight in the back, and obviously its done well on tour. They don’t need to change anything.”
  • “One of the best players irons out there but still has the right amount of forgiveness that player is looking for.”
  • “Excellent shape, sound, and feel from an iron with a bit of forgiveness as well. Tour response is excellent, and offering the same iron to the retail market is a very positive option for golfers looking to shape the ball.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Titleist T100

Their story: The “players iron” of the new T-Series family, the T100 iron features an all-new Tour-designed sole, which was inspired by discussions with both the tour staff and the Vokey wedge design team. It features a new variable bounce sole design, which provides less bounce in the heel and more bounce in the toe to facilitate better turf interaction and improved feel.

The new T100 face features a continuous cradle construction that aims to provide a seamless striking surface and a more uniform leading edge than its predecessor.

From the fitters

  • “A purist players club. For a better ballstriker. Not a ton of offset but still easy to launch and spin. It’s not forgiving within the category, but usually it’s not for a player looking for forgiveness. In the right window for launch. Great sound and feel.”
  • “The club that blade players transition to when they don’t want to go full muscleback…when you look down at it, it looks like a blade. You don’t see the back or the cavity. It has enough tech in it to make it forgiving on mishits. But it’s slim enough and has a thin enough topline that guys feel it has playability for shot shaping.”
  • “Still the GOAT in the high-tech players category. Titleist somehow manages to make it better looking with each update, more forgiving than they look.”
  • “Best low handicap iron head. Always performs well. Great look at address for that discerning golfer. Classic Titleist sound and feel.”
  • “Great ball speed and performance for a tour-style profile. For players looking for a classic players look combined with distance, this has to be in the mix.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece

TaylorMade P7MC

Their story: To build the TaylorMade P7MC irons, the manufacturing process incorporates a 2,000-ton pressure forging to ensure the feel and sound is dialed in. This iron is all business, and anyone comparing this to the smaller P7MB (blade) will notice its slightly longer heel-to-toe length, and just a touch more offset which makes it a great candidate for gapping. It offers a crisp feel at impact and the workability of a blade iron, but in a platform that still offers forgiveness on shots hit outside of the middle. Looks, feel, and workability—it’s all here.

From the fitters:

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Mizuno Pro 223

Their story: The Mizuno Pro 223 irons conceal a ball speed-enhancing construction within the frame of a compact players cavity. A completely new technology platform from 4-7 iron combines Mizuno’s tested Chromoly Forging and Flow Micro-Slot – An innovation designed to produce extreme ball speeds from a small tour-ready profile. The irons deliver a face thickness of just 2.4mm (vs 2.6mm JPX921 Forged), and from 8-PW, the Pro 223 irons are constructed from 1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel in a bid to offer excellent precision and control.

From the fitters:

  • “223 is tremendous. Should not be as forgiving as it is. Players clubs are getting a little too low spin, but this is still great. Definitely for the single-digit player. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to fit. It’s Mizuno, so everybody loves the feel.”
  • “When you have something in that 32-degree 7-iron range, and it feels good, looks good, sounds good and offers what the better player is looking for. Home run. For someone who isn’t a tour level-player but wants something that looks like a Mizuno with a little bit of help, this is great.”
  • “Forged Mizuno feel with great distance and control. Compact shape but enough ball speed to hang with other players distance irons.”
  • “Iron has done great for cutting spin for a high-spin player.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Join the discussion about best irons 2023 in the forums!

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/711048/best-irons-in-golf-2023-the-shotmakers/feed/ 1 Best irons in golf of 2023: Pure enjoyment https://www.golfwrx.com/710971/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-pure-enjoyment/ https://www.golfwrx.com/710971/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-pure-enjoyment/#comments Tue, 04 Apr 2023 14:00:08 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=710971 At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best irons, we have compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of 2023 irons is best for your game. We’re seeing new technology, more technology packed into the cavity of a club, catering toward combo sets, more consistency across the face, game improvement irons that really improve your game, and increased model segmentation against a backdrop of a few models that work well for wide sections of the fitting bell curve.

Ultimately the best way to find your personal iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you. 

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

Before starting the process of building our best iron survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was clear—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

  • Overall performance
  • Easiest to launch
  • Pure enjoyment
  • Shotmakers
  • Most technology-packed
  • Best blade

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

2023 Best irons: Pure enjoyment

It’s no mistake that we are seeing overlap in the way the top irons are defined by fitters in this category. The most playable irons are most likely to be higher launching, and shots that fly higher make the game more enjoyable for everyone. This reiterates the point previously made that your iron selection should not be defined by your handicap but instead what gives you the best opportunity to play your best — and most enjoyable — golf.

Srixon ZX5 Mk II

Their story: MainFrame v2 was developed with an Automated Intelligence process, flex-maximizing variable thickness pattern of grooves, channels, and cavities carefully milled into the backside of Z ZX5 iron faces for high ball speeds. Not only does MainFrame boost COR, but it also repositions mass away from the face and into the toe and sole for a lower CG for easier launch, more consistency, and forgiveness.

From the fitters:

  • “From Z585 to ZX5 was a huge bump in performance, and this one picks up where ZX5 left off. It fits such a wide array of golfers — it looks good enough a mid-low single digit will play it, and the guy who is a 12-15 can play it. Awesome iron.”
  • “I’m a big believer in the V-Sole. For high-speed guys who want a little forgiveness and are steep, it just doesn’t stick in the ground. Super soft and high launching. Not a ton of offset. It’s also been a good fit for moderate to high handicappers.”
  • “We’ve fit a scary amount of these. They’ve refined the sole over previous generations so it works for a variety of attack angles. Good ball speeds. Players still aren’t look at this club as much as they should be. Great to combo with the ZX7 Mk II.”
  • “Like the old 745 in feel. I find the V-sole a little more prominent. They’ve cleaned up the shaping. The best combo iron with ZX7. Not as clickly as the previous generation. The PureFrame in the back has made a huge difference with the sound. Launches high with a ton of control.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Ping G430

Their story: Billed as Ping’s “longest iron ever”, the G430 irons combine a lower CG with stronger, custom- engineered lofts and a thinner face that delivers up to 2 more mph of ball speed, per the company. At the heart of the new addition is the PurFlex cavity badge, an innovation which features seven flex zones that allow more free bending in design to increase ball speed across the face. In combination with a lower CG, the badge aims to contribute to the solid feel and pleasing impact sound.

From the fitters:

  • “Hyper 17-5 face adding speed, along with a new badge design to help with additional speed and forgiveness, makes this iron a home run.”
  • “They continue to make this iron look and feel better. The only issue I had with G425 in comparison with other distance irons, it just went shorter. With a little bit of a bump in loft this year, distance-wise, it’s right there with anything else. And it doesn’t look like a golfer that’s built for a 20-handicap. It looks really good at setup with the way they’re able to hide offset and keep a thin topline.”
  • “These are hands down the most eye-appealing game improvement iron on the market. The smaller, compact shape with the added forgiveness is great for the higher handicap players.”
  • “G430 improves upon the already great G425 in every way. Higher, straighter and farther, and also better sounding and feeling.”
  • “Best looking G.I. iron out there. Blends great forgiveness and distance.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym

Their story: Industry-leading A.I. face technology is applied to a high-strength Forged 455 Face, creating Callaway’s most powerful forged iron face ever. Each face is uniquely optimized for more speed, higher launch, and increased spin consistency.The all-new Hollow Body design features Speed Frame construction for added stiffness to the body and support for the high-strength Forged 455 Face Cup. This unique construction is the catalyst that stabilizes a thinner face in design for incredibly fast ball speeds.

From the fitters:

  •  “Every time they come out with a new iron, I think ‘this is the time performance gets flat. They aren’t going to be able to beat what they did.’ It is absolutely incredible. The best iron I’ve ever seen performance-wise. Ball speed numbers are crazy. I’ve had players picking up 30 yards with a 7-iron. Looks awesome. Feels great. Callaway continues to amaze me.”
  • “Super strong lofted. Super clean. Something that launches high and spin.”
  •  “Could be X too. Again the AI designed face, hollow body construction, along with a sexy look makes these irons awesome.”
  • “Lots of forgiveness in a small great looking golf club. Fantastic distance and feel.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade P790

Their story: SpeedFoam, which was the showpiece of the original (2017) P790 line gets an upgrade in the 2021 edition. Dubbed SpeedFoam Air, the ultralight urethane foam is 69 percent less dense than the 2019 iteration. As is the formula in golf club design, saving weight in one area allows engineers to relocate it to another to accomplish specific aims. In this case, it’s to aid launch. And that’s just what the folks at TM have done, moving the CG lower in the heads of P790 irons to the tune of an average of .5 millimeters.

From the fitters:

  • “This is one of our most sought-out/asked-about irons. A nice, clean look, but you’re still getting some forgiveness. I’d tell TaylorMade to keep doing what you’re doing.”
  • “High single digit, low double digit who is looking for as much help as possible, this is a great club. Ball speed. Distance. One of the best offerings year in and year out.”
  • “It fights a wide range of players…all the way up to 20-plus handicaps. Ball speed on off-center hits is tremendous. It’s not overly high or low launching. Hot face with spin rates in a happy medium. One of the easiest fits for a lot of players.”
  • “This series is a modern classic. Long-standing hollow-bodied performance. They’ve continued to improve this club. SpeedFoam Air is that much better. Fits a wide range of players. The perfect iron for many players. TaylorMade just needs to keep riding the wave.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Srixon ZX7 Mk II

Their story:The players iron ZX7 Mk II features PureFrame: an 80-percent thicker portion of 1020 carbon steel forged behind the sweet spot in the body of the iron for soft-yet-solid-feeling impact. Also significant to the design: A refined Tour V.T. Sole Proprietary sole widths, bounce angles, and notches in the heel and toe of the club aid clean contact from a variety of lies.

From the fitters:

  • “While it’s not the best metric, these are the most played irons among our fitters”
  • “Slight refinement here. A little better look and feel. Players iron with distance. Gain a bit of ball speed and distance but still have enough spin to control the golf ball.”
  • “They did a really good job of not screwing up a good thing. ZX7 was fantastic. It seemed like 50 percent of the non-contract guys in pro golf played that iron. It continues to give very consistent numbers. The better player wants a consistent number. They need to know it’s going to go that distance. This club does that very well.”
  • “Most of what we’ve done is short iron combos with the ZX5 Mk II.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Join the discussion about best irons 2023 in the forums!

 

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/710971/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-pure-enjoyment/feed/ 2 Best irons in golf of 2023: Easiest to launch https://www.golfwrx.com/710434/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-easiest-to-launch/ https://www.golfwrx.com/710434/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-easiest-to-launch/#comments Mon, 03 Apr 2023 14:34:32 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=710434 At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best irons, we have compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of 2023 irons is best for your game. We’re seeing new technology, more technology packed into the cavity of a club, catering toward combo sets, more consistency across the face, game improvement irons that really improve your game, and increased model segmentation against a backdrop of a few models that work well for wide sections of the fitting bell curve.

Ultimately the best way to find your personal iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you. 

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

Best irons of 2023: How we did it

Before starting the process of building our best iron survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was clear—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2023: The categories

  • Overall performance
  • Easiest to launch
  • Pure enjoyment
  • Shotmakers
  • Most technology-packed
  • Best blade

Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters

2023 Best irons: Easy to launch

This category of irons is aimed to help players who need height. With today’s modern golf ball, creating proper flight widows and spin can be difficult for some players—especially those at lower speeds, and this is where technology can really help. All of these irons do everything they can to create shot-stopping trajectories, regardless of clubhead speed.

Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal HL

best irons 2023 easiest to launch

Their story: With the JPX923 Hot Metal, Mizuno introduced “4355 nickel chromoly,” which is 35 percent stronger than the original Hot Metal material and allows for an eight-percent thinner clubface. Cup face construction works in tandem with a deep center of gravity for high launch with stopping power. Mizuno developed Hot Metal Pro, Hot Metal and Hot Metal HL (High Launch) from 175,000 real golf swings recorded via Mizuno’s Swing DNA system. JPX923 Hot Metal HL is a high launch speed cavity delivering a higher launching option for players with moderate swing speeds or aggressive shaft lean, it’s suitable for mid to high handicap golfers.

From the fitters:

  • “Mizuno being Mizuno making another great iron that fits a high handicap and improves their current ball flight with the weaker lofts. Ball speed is great, and feel is never an issue with Mizuno, one of my favorite clubs to use in a fitting.”
  • “Excellent ball speed from an iron designed to get the ball up in the air with Mizuno feel! Great iron for slower swing speeds needing height. Love the CG positioning; low and back from the face of the club. Increasing static loft makes these great for increasing forgiveness and launch.”
  • “Mizuno asked us what we saw in their game improvement side, and we said ‘players don’t hit it high enough. Your lofts are too strong.’ This club fits a wide range of players. We’ve had fittings where we’re going 2 degrees weak from standard.”
  • “This was a club that we begged for someone to make. Make a game improvement iron that has some loft on it. We wanted something that had all the tech, but just make it half a club weaker. This allows the player who can’t get the ball in the air to keep a 5 or 6-iron in the bag instead of going to a hybrid.”
  • “The low spin we’re seeing with so many players, the higher we can launch it, the better they’re going to hit it. This is a good fitting option for many women as well. Great for a player who needs launch more than anything. We’re pulling this a lot, and it’s performing exceedingly well.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth HD

best irons 2023 easiest to launch

Their story: The new addition features an ultra-low profile head shape in the long irons designed to drive CG lower to help get the ball airborne with ease while progressive head sizes (each club is uniquely shaped and gets incrementally larger from 5-iron through pitching wedge) aim to help independently optimize the performance of each iron. An increased sole radius and step down design along the bottom of the club round out the all-new shape. Per TaylorMade, testing confirmed that increasing the sole arc from heel to toe led to more shots high on the face, which translates to higher launch and further helps this golfer get the ball airborne. The step down sole is designed to boost playability by reducing the amount of surface area that contacts the turf.

From the fitters:

  • “If you have a player who struggles with launch, just give them these.”
    “I had a guy who couldn’t hit it through a second-story window, but the first swing he took with this, it went 60 feet in the air. It really goes straight up in the air, but it has all the tech and distance TaylorMade irons are known for. As we get into the season, I think this iron is going to do really well.”
    “Higher handicappers want higher shots and shots that draw. With the HD — high draw — TaylorMade is delivering that. It’s a different club. Similar to how hybrids looked different 20 years ago. But they do what they’re supposed to do, and I always appreciate thinking outside of the box.”
  • “The face-wrapped designed face makes this iron hot all over the face and super forgiving. Also, love the hollow body for stability and speed as well. The HD really varies the CG allowing golfers to get the forgiveness and height needed to hit high bombs.”
  • “The all-new sole design helps get through the turf easier with the added weight in the back allowing for a player who struggles with launch to get the height they need with the added forgiveness to get a ball to launch properly and stop quicker on a green.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece,

Ping G430 HL

best irons 2023 easiest to launch

Their story: Billed as Ping’s “longest iron ever”, the G430 irons combine a lower CG with stronger, custom- engineered lofts and a thinner face that delivers up to 2 more mph of ball speed, per the company. At the heart of the new addition is the PurFlex cavity badge, an innovation which features seven flex zones that allow more free bending in design to increase ball speed across the face. In combination with a lower CG, the badge aims to contribute to the solid feel and pleasing impact sound. The stronger lofts across the set resulted in the addition of a 41 degree PW to ensure proper gapping options and allowed for standard lofts in the traditional scoring wedges (45.5, 50, 54 and 58 degrees).

From the fitters:

  • “These are hands down the most eye-appealing game improvement iron on the market. With a lightweight option this club is able to fit a player who may not swing it as fast and needs extra launch help and needs speed. The smaller, compact shape with the added forgiveness is great for the higher handicap players. The added changes of Power spec and retro spec allow us fitters to help dial in loft and help a player achieve a ball flight that suits them. These might be one of the best irons ever made!”
  • “With the stock shaft option at 45 grams, you see players pick up some speed and launch, and get the ball to land softer.”
  • “It’s not that much difference from the standard G430, which is great, you just have it in a lightweight package. For the player who wants to play the G430 but needs to pick up a couple of yards, this is a great choice.”
  • “Light, fast, and easy to elevate. The Ping irons continue to be a home run with golfers in the slower swing speed categories.”
  • “Great for height, spin and forgiveness. Ping poured a lot of tech into the G430 with the Pureflex badge and helping players hit it higher by offering the HL version of an already high launch iron.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym X

Their story: Industry-leading A.I. face technology is applied to a high-strength Forged 455 Face, creating Callaway’s most powerful forged iron face ever. Each face is uniquely optimized for more speed, higher launch, and increased spin consistency.The all-new Hollow Body design features Speed Frame construction for added stiffness to the body and support for the high-strength Forged 455 Face Cup. This unique construction is the catalyst that stabilizes a thinner face in design for incredibly fast ball speeds. Paradym X irons are designed for golfers who are looking for an iron that’s long with premium forged feel.

From the fitters:

  • “It just goes. Crazy ball speeds. I’ve been shocked at times to see how fast the ball is coming off this iron. If you want distance, this is the iron to consider.”
  • “Numero uno for me for getting the ball up in the air and getting a player some distance. I’ll pull this 10 times out of 10. A cannon.”
  • “Launches high with hollow body deep CG design, super hot AI designed face that gets the ball moving up and fast, all leading to great speed and forgiveness for the slower speed players.”
  • “Launches great and goes straight.”
  • “Long, stays down the middle, great forgiveness. Incredibly easy to hit. Probably the best distance iron in the category.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

XXIO X

best irons 2023 easiest to launch

Their story: The new High-Strength Face Plate is made from specialized steel and allows for a remarkably thin, 2.1mm face, which flexes more substantially for increased ball speed and better performance on shots struck low on the face. The clubs contain a heavier clubhead and an extremely lightweight shaft which work together in a bid to increase ball speed and swing speed at the same time, while manufacturers positioned mass under the grip, behind the hands in design to help players find the ideal spot at the top of their swing to make the downswing more consistent.

From the fitters:

  • “We do a lot of XXIO, and I don’t really reshaft them. They have the right kick point. At stock, they are super hot and they go to the moon. Still with a clean profile and almost looks like an old Srixon. I’ve seen as much as 25-feet difference between this and other fittings.”
  • “Continues to be the best overall performer in the category.”
  • “Always a great iron for the slower swing speed player.”
  • “XXIO is the lightest head we sell, and we love pulling them for people with slow swing speeds. The shaft and head combination is magical many time, and I have seen some incredible improvements for people who tend to hit every iron the same distance.”
  • “This is an iron where it’s just easy to get height. If a player has trouble launching it or needs speed, you throw this in their hands and immediately you see a difference.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Join the discussion about best irons 2023 in the forums!

 

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/710434/best-irons-in-golf-of-2023-easiest-to-launch/feed/ 4 Best hybrids of 2023: Most versatile, most forgiving hybrids for your game https://www.golfwrx.com/707348/best-hybrids-of-2023-most-versatile-most-forgiving-hybrids-for-your-game/ Thu, 02 Mar 2023 13:20:09 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=707348 At GolfWRX, we believe the best hybrid for your game is going to be the one that gives you the greatest opportunity to both score and save shots during your round of golf.

In 2023, we have seen a continued expansion of hybrid options from every manufacturer with models designed to fit golfers of all skill levels and clubhead speeds to the point that some manufacturers offer models all the way down to 8-iron-replacement lofts.

These hybrids all utilize new technology and manufacturing methods to launch golf balls higher, faster, and farther, while also offering forgiveness. It’s now easier than ever to find the right one that matches your swing and fits into your set.

That being said, ultimately the best way to find the best hybrid or hybrids for you is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor and gap them accordingly. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you. We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you, and we’re offering recommendations based on exactly what you need from your hybrids.

GolfWRX best hybrid of 2023: Meet the fitters

Best hybrid of 2023: The categories

We have again broken our 2023 best hybrid list into two categories.

  1. Best hybrid for golfers seeking forgiveness 
  2. Best hybrid for golfers seeking versatility

As a reminder, we selected this format for hybrid clubs because every golfer fits into one of these two “want” categories, regardless of age, handicap, or gender. For many golfers, forgiveness is the number one factor when selecting the hybrids that will go into their bag.

Before we started building the survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the hybrid club options available to golfers. Forgiveness and versatility were the highest-ranked choices.

Most forgiving hybrids 2023

Ping G430

In all of the G430 fairway woods and hybrids, Ping developed Carbonfly Wrap in a bid to deliver more distance by positioning the CG closer to the face line in design to maximize ball speed, resulting in higher, longer carries. The lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, creating weight savings of 10 grams, which are reallocated to achieve the lower CG and increase ball speed.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR1

Titleist’s new TSR1 hybrids are built with a larger, “wood-like” size to help golfers find more speed and forgiveness. They’re also built 0.5 inches longer than standard to provide additional assistance creating speed.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym X

The Paradym X model is for golfers looking for full-sized, wood-shaped hybrid that’s long with versatility and forgiveness. By incorporating high-density tungsten, Callaway pushed the center of gravity (CG) low and forward. The result is lower spin with more ball speed. In addition, the A.I. designed Jailbreak with Batwing Technology increases stiffness in the perimeter, while allowing the face to flex in design for high ball speeds across the face.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD

In the Stealth Rescue, the new carbon crown construction allows for the relocation of 7 grams of weight which has been transferred lower in the head to better position CG in design for easier launch, optimal forgiveness, and better stability through impact. Stealth 2 HD features a larger profile, deeper CG, and draw bias.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Great Big Bertha

In their Great Big Bertha hybrids, Callaway engineers leveraged a titanium face and body, resulting in 100g of discretionary saved weight. After extensively reviewing performance characteristics, this weight was then redistributed in design to enhance ball speed, improve forgiveness, and promote an easy launch.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Most versatile hybrids 2023

Ping G430

In all of the G430 fairway woods and hybrids, Ping developed Carbonfly Wrap in a bid to deliver more distance by positioning the CG closer to the face line in design to maximize ball speed, resulting in higher, longer carries. The lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, creating weight savings of 10 grams, which are reallocated to achieve the lower CG and increase ball speed.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR2

“Forgiving speed and performance,” is the branding for the TSR2. TSR2 hybrids remain slightly longer with a classical shape. Center of gravity is lower and deeper in the TSR2 for higher launch, maximum forgiveness.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym

The Paradym model is for golfers who want a mid-sized, wood-shaped hybrid that’s long with versatility and control. By incorporating high-density tungsten, Callaway pushed the center of gravity (CG) low and forward. The result is lower spin with more ball speed. In addition, the A.I. designed Jailbreak with Batwing Technology increases stiffness in the perimeter, while allowing the face to flex in design for high ball speeds across the face.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth 2

In the Stealth Rescue, the new carbon crown construction allows for the relocation of 7 grams of weight which has been transferred lower in the head to better position CG in design for easier launch, optimal forgiveness, and better stability through impact.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR3

TSR3 is a smaller-profile hybrid and offers precision, workability, and adjustability. TSR3 hybrids are designed for a more iron-like look with a reduction in offset.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Conclusion

The fitters consulted for this piece have accumulated data from thousands of fittings with golfers just like you. From beginners to tour players, their feedback and information can’t be undervalued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]> Best fairway woods of 2023: Expert club fitters recommend the most versatile and forgiving options https://www.golfwrx.com/707341/best-fairway-woods-of-2023-expert-club-fitters-recommend-the-most-versatile-and-forgiving-options/ Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:45:46 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=707341 Having the right fairway woods is essential for golfers of all skill levels looking to get the most out of their long games — whether it be approach shots into longer par 4’s and par 3’s, going after par 5’s in two, or just trying to hit more fairways off the tee — finding the best fairway wood of 2023 to fit your needs is a must.

Looking at the best fairway wood playing field for 2023, we continue to see more fairway wood options from every manufacturer. What used to be a single model release has been expanded to three—and in some cases even four—models to fit specific player types.

These new fairway woods impress us with their ability to utilize new technology and construction methods to go faster, and further, while also offering never-before-seen levels of forgiveness. It’s now easier than ever to find the right one that matches your swing.

That being said, ultimately the best way to find the best fairway woods for you is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX — with the help of our panel of expert fitters — we have done a lot of the work for you to narrow down your short list.

Best fairway woods of 2023: Meet the fitters

2023 best fairway woods: The categories

We have broken our 2023 best fairway wood list into two categories.

  1. Best fairway wood for golfers seeking forgiveness 
  2. Best fairway wood for golfers seeking versatility

We selected this format for fairway woods because every golfer fits into one of these two “want” categories regardless of age, handicap, or sex, and for a lot of golfers, forgiveness is the number one factor when selecting a fairway wood.

Before we started building the survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the fairway wood options available to golfers. Forgiveness and versatility were the highest-ranked choices.

Most versatile fairway woods 2023

Titleist TSR2

TSR2 fairways feature the lowest CG in Titleist history for an all-steel construction designed to create speed and launch without excessive spin. New Open Hosel Construction created space for sizable improvements to key areas of performance by removing unwanted weight high and towards the heel.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym

With a primarily carbon sole, Callaway engineers designed the Paradym fairway woods in that spirit of weight savings and redistribution. A.I. Designed Jailbreak Batwing is pushed to the perimeter of the club to stiffen the body of Paradym woods, while still allowing the face to flex for high ball speeds. Paradym fits the largest segment of the fitting bell curve and promotes high launch and a neutral ball flight.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Ping G430 Max

Ping developed Carbonfly Wrap in a bid to deliver more distance by positioning the CG closer to the face to maximize ball speed, resulting in higher, longer carries. The lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, creating weight savings of 10 grams, which are reallocated to achieve the lower CG and increase ball speed. The composite also plays a role in the pleasing sound, while a tungsten backweight extends the perimeter weighting to ensure forgiveness.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus

Breakthrough movable weight technologies and versatile designs are the hallmarks of the 2023 TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway woods. Stealth 2 Plus is branded as “three fairway woods in one” owing to the unique performance characteristics afforded by the 50-gram sole weight.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR3

Titleist’s adjustability focused fairway wood is designed with a new, easy-to-adjust 5-position SureFit Adjustable CG Track System to fine tune performance. It features the same Open Hosel Construction as TSR2 fairways. The TSR3’s CG has been positioned deeper, slightly lower, and closer to face center to provide easy, high launch with plenty of forgiveness.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Most forgiving fairway woods 2023

Ping G430 Max

Ping developed Carbonfly Wrap in a bid to deliver more distance by positioning the CG closer to the face to maximize ball speed, resulting in higher, longer carries. The lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, creating weight savings of 10 grams, which are reallocated to achieve the lower CG and increase ball speed. The composite also plays a role in the pleasing sound, while a tungsten backweight extends the perimeter weighting to ensure forgiveness.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym X

With a primarily carbon sole, Callaway engineers designed the Paradym fairway woods in that spirit of weight savings and redistribution. A.I. Designed Jailbreak Batwing is pushed to the perimeter of the club to stiffen the body of Paradym woods, while still allowing the face to flex for high ball speeds. Paradym X is a draw-biased, high-launching, high-MOI fairway wood, a forged carbon toe patch shifts weight to the heel.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth 2

The 3D carbon crown is slightly lower than Stealth, which positions CG lower in the club and away from the toe. This allows engineers to move more weight rearward in the club for additional forgiveness. Engineers again employ the V Steel sole, which helps position weight low for deeper CG and improves turf interaction for versatility from different lies.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR2

TSR2 fairways feature the lowest CG in Titleist history for an all-steel construction designed to create speed and launch without excessive spin. New Open Hosel Construction created space for sizable improvements to key areas of performance by removing unwanted weight high and towards the heel.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD

Branded as an easy-to-hit addition to the Stealth family and the fairway wood for players who struggle to hit their fairway woods, Stealth 2 HD features an oversized 200cc head and ultra-high MOI construction for maximum playability. Large, low-profile sole helps launch the ball higher. Stealth 2 HD is internally weighted for a draw bias.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Again, we can’t thank the fitters enough for their time, and we hope that in your search for your best fairway wood for 2023, we can help you find it!

Join the discussion about the best fairway woods of 2023 in the forums.

]]> Best driver 2023: Expert club fitters recommend the best driver for your swing speed https://www.golfwrx.com/706547/best-driver-2023-the-best-driver-for-your-swing-speed/ https://www.golfwrx.com/706547/best-driver-2023-the-best-driver-for-your-swing-speed/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2023 16:10:07 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=706547 At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best driver, we have once again compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of the 2023 drivers is best for your game.

We continue to exist in an era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player with the driver. Discretionary weight within the driver is also at an all-time high, so engineers are able to provide the widest range of performance characteristics in the metalwood era. Best driver 2023 - 2023 best driver

Custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make, and we believe the best way to find your personal best driver is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. 

The difficult part is many golfers don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work to help you narrow down your short list of best drivers as you test out options for your best driver.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you —offering recommendations for your swing speed with feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

Best driver of 2023: Meet the fitters

Best driver of 2023: The categories

We have again broken our 2023 best drivers list into four total categories. Three are swing speed-based and the other forgiveness.

  1. Best driver for faster swing speeds 106+ mph
  2. Best driver for swing speeds 95-105 mph
  3. Best driver for slower swing speeds <94 mph
  4. Best driver most forgiving 

We select this format because every golfer fits into one of these categories regardless of age, handicap, or gender, and for a lot of golfers, forgiveness is the number one factor when selecting a driver.

When we reconfigured our Best Driver process in 2021, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless head combinations available to golfers. Time after time, swing speed and forgiveness were the highest-ranked choices, after that it comes down to adjustability to fit individual players and their trends.

This year, we have again worked internally to craft a survey that allowed the fitters to be honest—we want the truth just as much as you do, and to prevent anyone from feeling they couldn’t be, we allowed all of the results and quotes to remain anonymous unless otherwise stated.

Again, we can’t thank the fitters enough for their time, and we hope that in your search for your best driver for 2023, we can help you find it!

BEST DRIVER FOR 106 MPH AND ABOVE

Titleist TSR3

TSR is the next generation of the Titleist Speed Project that began more than six years ago with the TS series and continued with TSi models in 2020. Mid-launch, mid-spin TSR3 is the more adjustable option in a tour-preferred shape. It’s engineered for playability and precise CG positioning (thanks to a reimagined SureFit Adjustable CG Track System) and an improved sweet spot.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • It has enough spin where they’re going to be able to control it and it isn’t going to knuckle on them too much. I’m actually gaming this driver and I’m right at 105-106 mph clubhead speed, and I’ve seen a good ball speed jump. With the adjustable weight and what you can do to fine tune, it’s solid.
  • This head is so classic looking and it is so obvious when looking down at it that it is exactly that, a Titleist! The deeper face and track weight allow me to really dial in my players looking to target a specific side of the course more often. I pull this head often because I know better players will be in favor of the simplicity and non distracting features about it. The sound of the driver at impact is impeccable and gives players the responsiveness they need to know when they hit a good shot. I mean don’t we all want some confirmation when we hit a great shot?! The weight of this club head is really why I pull it for 106+ swingers. I see many lower than that have a hard time getting it airborne consistently and instead it will create a knuckleballing effect that doesn’t carry.
  • Great ball speed retention across the face, produces good launch and spin combination. Sounds great at impact.
  • Classic look. Forgiveness bumped up since TSi and neutral face, with ability to open.
  • The market has been very competitive and innovative over the last few years since the Great Covid Golf Boom of 2020, and despite all the carbon-construction, paradigm-shifting AI technology and twisting faces, the Titleist TSR3 returns for season two in a slightly lower-spinning and refined version of the TSi that preceded it. It is proof positive that titanium remains undefeated under the current rules of golf, and this is the market’s best driver for the excellent player.

Ping G430 LST

With a shallower and thinner VFT forged face design, Ping engineers sought to add speed and distance without undermining an element Ping drivers have been known for: forgiveness. Exclusive to the G430 LST, lightweight composite crown-covering Carbonfly Wrap technology is the major innovation in the series. It’s an eight-layer, one-piece composite covering the crown to save weight (four grams) and lower CG, creating a lower-spin, higher-MOI driver.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • The 9-degree head in the LST is such a spin killer. It go real low and spins like zero. For that medium trajectory player, they can increase their launch angles and keep spin the same. You’re able to play more loft and not have spin go up. From a fitter’s standpoint, it gives us a little bit more leeway. In the low-spin option, that head truly is the most forgiving. I don’t know what Ping does, but they’ve got an ability to make drivers ridiculously easy to hit straight, and its up to their engineers to try to make them efficient and fast. The LST does an awesome job of that.
  • They’ve added ball speed. With the added carbon, obviously they moved a lot more weight around to give it that little extra ball speed. Now we’re seeing the LST compete more in the ball speed category. They always had the forgiveness element down, but the added ball speed has been pretty solid so far.
  • This driver has a very handsome design. It is still appearing a little bit more offset than some other competitors in the lower spin category however, it certainly performs in the bays. The effects you get on good contact feel almost non existent as if the ball kind of melts into the club face. From a performance aspect, the design of this with the carbon inserts and the adjustable track weight system, I have found it very easy to fit aggressive swingers and faster tempo swingers into this head and it has substantially increased their control off the tee and with the track weighting I am able to manipulate their club head at times and either delay the release or vice versa accelerate it so the player can slot the club up more consistently. It is amazing what happens when you find that perfect swing weight and adapter setting. The flat setting with a toe weighting bias on the track weights is a lethal combo for a PGA Tour quality baby draw, which is just what some players need more if in their game! The cherry on top here is basically when you see that perfect land angle and combination of low spin because it may just be the longest drives that my fitting has ever seen in their lives.
  • This thing is a slow spin machine. For a player who fights a high and spinny drive this driver can be a key to success. The flight is a lower, flatter flight. From a ball flight standpoint this head is super fade bias along with being a stable head compared to some of the low spin drivers on the market.
  • The G430 is the fittest version of the G400 line to date, weighing in a little less than the prior generations that should welcome a wider audience to experience the rock-solid forgiveness of Ping. Ping is typically the most polarizing driver each year and this one maintains its role on the market nicely.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus

For the first time, carbon is the most prevalent material by volume in a TaylorMade driver, and more carbon equals better performance, says the company. Last year, TaylorMade debuted a 60X Carbon Twist Face. With TaylorMade Stealth 2, engineers are bringing carbon to more of the golf club — and unveiling a new-and-improved Carbon Twist Face in the process. Stealth 2 Plus is the lowest spinning, lowest launching, most workable driver in the family. Engineers were able to add a 15-gram sliding weight track thanks to weight savings from the usage of carbon materials.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • This driver is all about the carry distance! I did not see run out gains as much, but for a strong swinger trying to dial in shot shape and max out their carry, this is the driver to pull. The feedback is solid in comparison to its predecessor, which was a little bit dead at impact. Stealth 2 Plus is a great spin killer and any power swinger’s dream come true!
  • In the fittings we have done, the Stealth 2 line has had the fastest ball speeds, especially for the higher club head speed players, even more so than the original Stealth. The forgiveness level is great too. Spin killer, too.
  • Stealth 2 Plus is extremely flat and right-biased, which fast players who don’t like the ball moving left will love. Being able to substitute carbon for titanium on the clubface should greatly improve forgiveness by allowing engineers to redistribute weight more rearward and to the perimeter, but the benefits still aren’t quite realized on Stealth Plus 2. It is another great driver in a long line of great drivers from TaylorMade.
  • No surprise Taylormade is up at the top. They have always had the recipe for great ball speed. Now they have improved on forgiveness. From the past model I see slight gains but similar ball speeds little higher dispersion and sound is great being as much carbon as they have.
  • The Stealth 2 Plus is very very fast off the center of the club, like its predecessor. However heel misses have a tendency to be very slow and spinny. TaylorMade has made an improvement with widening out the sweet spot but heel misses continue to be an issue with Twist Face technology. On the flip side, high toe misses are very good with the Stealth2 and I gravitate toward TaylorMade product when fitting a person who misses on the toe of the club often.

Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond

An almost completely carbon fiber body is the “paradigm shift” of Callaway’s Paradym driver (360° Carbon Chassis). Eliminating titanium from the body of the club allowed engineers to distribute weight in a manner that “breaks the tradeoff between incredible distance and exceptional forgiveness,” according to the company. Paradym Triple Diamond is a compact, fade-biased driver that is the lowest-spinning and lowest-launching in the lineup.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • Even with that super heavy weight in the back, it still doesn’t spin a ton. You can give that high-speed guy that wants a smaller, cleaner kind-of pear-shaped golf club who understands generally he has to give up some forgiveness, with that heavy weight in the back, in the category, it’s a pretty darn forgiving driver. The guy doesn’t have to flush it every time to get stability in the ball flight. He can toe it or thin it or heel it and still get a pretty solid golf shot. In the past, the super low spin head has been dramatically unforgiving for that golfer.
  • You’re seeing added forgiveness versus Rogue ST. To take a driver that was one of the best last year, add some forgiveness to that, have a moveable weight and be able to move that weight forward and back to really dial it in — if you can give that player [high swing speed] a little extra forgiveness when they hit it off the heel, off the toe, whatever, I think that’s a huge bonus. They took something that was really good from a distance standpoint and improved the stability. That’s a win for everybody. Super strong driver so far.
  • First and foremost, very neutral and clean looking at address pertaining to offset. I look down at it and feel confident I can throw a dart out there with it and I think most of my customers would agree that have fitted into them. When you put the 360 Carbon tech at every portion possible with the center of gravity position shifted just perfect in that sweet spot low and forward it produces a monstrous effect. The trajectory is so much more piercing and the spin killing effect allows the ball to descend on a much more optimal land angle. The outcome of this of course is the best damn run out most golfers have seen! Due to the CG in this driver it definitely is not something I typically fit my slower/moderate swing speeds in quite as often. With that said, there are occasional times where it can work for who you least expect it to, so I would say try it out in every single fitting!
  • The best TD driver Callaway has ever made. This is a great blend of low spin and forgiveness. With the weight in the back it is a fairly forgiving driver for its size. With the weight forward it is a spin killer for that player that needs it. 8-degree option this year is a nice addition.
  • This thing is a ball speed machine. The look is great, with a muted sound. From previous generations in the Triple Diamond line, this thing is more forgiving and can fit more golfers who tend to struggle with a high launch and who spin a driver a lot. The Triple Diamond model is a spin killer and has a lower penetrating trajectory. From a ball flight standpoint, this head is super fade biased. This thing has started the year off great with serval wins on the PGA Tour.

Cobra AeroJet LS

An elevated, internal bridge structure (PWR-Bridge Weighting) in the sole of the club is the centerpiece technology of the LTDx LS, which places CG low and forward. AeroJet LS is a low-launch, low-spin driver that produces a neutral to fade-biased ball flight. Featuring a smaller profile at address, LTDx LS has two weight ports in the sole (with 12g and 3g weights) are positioned forward in the heel and toe

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • This is probably the biggest spin killer that we have. What I really love about it is, after the success we had with LTDx where the ball speeds were crazy good, that just carried over. They made a driver that looks, sounds, and feels even better. Really, really good option for a lot of players. Sound and feel are great.
  • Great sound at impact! Definitely faster clubhead speeds preferred as the milled face does create a firmer feedback and response. Slower swing speeds do not produce enough COR with it, power swingers though, forget about it! The sound on good contact is impeccable and the ball speed numbers are some of the best I have ever seen!
  • AeroJet LS is probably the fastest driver out there. It took the LTDx LS and refined it in terms of shape. The shape is really good, and it has a fuller sound. Previous years it sounded like a tin can on mishits, but the sound this year is very, very pleasurable. It’s probably top 2 or 3 fastest drivers right now.
  • Ball speed machine! Biggest surprise of the year so far in our testing. The AeroJet LS is consistently a top performer regarding ball speed, and in many cases is beating other top brands by 2-3 MPH when it is the best fit for a specific player.
  • Getting back to where Cobra had success. The F9 is what comes to mind. I think they hit a home run with the look. Probably one of the softest-feeling drivers. We’re seeing some great numbers.

BEST DRIVERS FOR 95-105 MPH

Titleist TSR2

TSR is the next generation of the Titleist Speed Project that began more than six years ago with the TS series and continued with TSi models in 2020. There are three models in the TSR line, which began tour seeding in June. TSR2 is a high-launch, low-spin “max” driver, balancing speed and stability that is designed for the player who makes contact across the face.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • It fits a huge, huge variety of players. Huge upgrade over TSi, in my opinion. The 2 was slow and it didn’t go as fast as the 3. It was a great driver, but it was a step down. This thing has all the power the TSR3 has. It looks awesome. But they didn’t sacrifice forgiveness. It’s great for that traditionalist who likes a clean, classic look but needs forgiveness out of it. And their adjustable cog allows us to fit a wide variety of players. I love this driver.
  • This thing has been a staple on tour for a while now. The stability and forgiveness on off-center hits with this is great to not have a huge kick up in spin but still maintain good ball speed. Guys are seeing they can miss this driver on the toe or heal and the spin isn’t going to drastically go up or down compared to previous models
  • TSR2 got the biggest upgrade in the TSR family over the previous model. Nice change in looks, but the increase in speed was much needed. This is equally as long as TSR3, just with more forgiveness.
  • Hands down a favorite pull for the swing speed range. That classic black look is just clean and confidence boosting. The material in the face makes it crazy hot, but on top of that you always know where you strike on the face! I’m seeing people gain a MPH or 2 of club head speed with this head!
  • Best in show ball speed, launch and spin conditions, and I’m very partial to the looks. TSR2 is much more neutral looking than TS2 and TSi2, which really makes the 2 more appealing than ever. The best bet for the 230 yard player to find a couple at 250…Just be sure to hit the center of the face for best results.

Callaway Paradym

An almost completely carbon fiber body is the “paradigm shift” of Callaway’s Paradym driver (360° Carbon Chassis). Eliminating titanium from the body of the club allowed engineers to distribute weight in a manner that “breaks the tradeoff between incredible distance and exceptional forgiveness,” according to the company. With high MOI and adjustable perimeter weighting, Paradym fits the largest segment of the fitting bell curve. It’s high launch, low spin, neutral ball flight driver.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • A pretty decent low-spin option for the average golfer. As clubs get more forgiving, spin tends to go up, but for that max MOI driver, we don’t really see that with Paradym. And it gives that better player a slightly higher-spinning option. It sets up square. It gives you all the adjustability you want. It gives that better player everything they want, but it gives a 20-handicapper a plenty stable driver that’s going to be great.
  • Consistent spin rates across the face. Not as low spin as some other heads in this category, but it looks and sounds great and versatile.
  • This is a very neutral setup. The reduction in spin makes it great for a wide variety of players both when it comes to speed and ability. It is a great driver for someone looking to pick up some forgiveness as well as some speed.
  • Forgiving, fast, but most importantly, accurate! I am seeing the gains in fits with these drivers left and right! The tech in this driver has made mishits almost as good as the good shots are! Never had better misses that went further.
  • Launches high and offers a little more left bias than other competitive heads. This club may actually help your slice as well as any draw-biased driver on the market, especially with the right shaft paired up with it.

Ping G430 Max

With a shallower and thinner VFT forged face design, Ping engineers sought to add speed and distance without undermining an element Ping drivers have been known for: forgiveness. For slower-swing-speed golfers, G430 Max can be custom built with lighter head weights. G430 Max is suitable for the widest segment of the fitting bell curve and features a 25-gram, high-density tungsten moveable back weight (±8 yards of shot shaping).

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • The Max head from Ping has always been one of, if not the best driver on the market. The G430 version is no different. Forgiveness that nobody else can touch along with great ball speed and surprisingly lowish spin.
  • Great for a moderate to faster swinger who wants to launch the ball better and tighten dispersion.
  • Just as easy to hit as it gets. Speed is good, not great, but for this player, it’s good and straight.
  • The Ping 430 Max is the ultimate driver for the most forgiveness on those off-center hits. The stability on this head is crazy good. For someone who wants forgiveness and needs some added height to their drives this is a go to driver. This head will fit a wide range of handicaps.
  • Who doesn’t like forgiveness? Ping has been the king of MOI for the past few years and the 430 takes it to another level. If finding more fairways is the goal, then the Ping G430 Max should be on your shortlist of options to evaluate.

TaylorMade Stealth 2

With TaylorMade Stealth 2, engineers are bringing carbon to more of the golf club — and unveiling a new-and-improved Carbon Twist Face in the process. Stealth 2 is a mid-launch, mid-spin driver that is tailored for the widest segment of the fitting bell curve. It features a 25-gram tungsten TaylorMade Swingweight System weight on the Inertia Generator to dial in launch and spin.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • Ball speed is awesome with the new Stealth. By that, I mean more consistent ball speed on impact across the face — and across varying skill levels.
  • Adding the speed ring back in and using carbon for saving weight, you’re seeing enhanced stability versus the Stealth. It’s TaylorMade, so they’re always good on ball speed. But with the enhanced stability, it’s a step up.
  • This thing is a cannon! The people fitting into it are gaining 15-20 yards from their gamer numbers! I love the level of adjustability on it and it makes a massive difference in launch and carry numbers.
  • Probably the driver that will sell the most of this year. TaylorMade always has amazing marketing and continues to own the 15 handicap space. Get it and enjoy, but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t fix your slice.
  • All-around great performer. Shape of the Stealth 2 is much cleaner, and most people notice an increase in confidence at address almost immediately compared to the original Stealth. Increased forgiveness vs Stealth 2 Plus without seeing a huge jump in spin. For those that need a bit help on mishits but need to keep an eye on launch conditions, Stealth 2 is arguably the best all-around performer on the market.

Cobra AeroJet

An elevated, internal bridge structure (PWR-Bridge Weighting) in the sole of the club is the centerpiece technology of the line, which places CG low and forward. AeroJet features a 12-gram fixed back weight for higher launch, and higher MOI. Standard AeroJet is higher launching than the LS while still being low spinning and produces a neutral shot shape.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • Cobra made a pretty cool looking driver this year. the white and carbon give off a few TaylorMade M Series vibes which may sway some players their way. Cobra has been focused on producing the least amount of spin on a proper strike, and with their LS model they accomplish that. The AeroJet offers premier performance with a slightly lower price-point to boot.
  • The AeroJet has been a good improvement from the previous generation in the Cobra line. We were seeing faster ball speeds as well as better dispersion between shots. The color scheme makes it look sharp at address.
  • Another really low-spinning driver from Cobra. This is probably the lowest spinning driver in this category.
  • Great design and produces consistent low-ish spin and high ball speeds.
  • Super easy to hit. Launches high. Very little gearing on off center hits.

BEST DRIVERS FOR 94 MPH AND BELOW

Titleist TSR1

According to Titleist, the new 460cc TSR1 driver weighs a total of 40 grams lighter than the TSR2 thanks to a lighter headweight, 40-gram stock shaft, and a lighter stock grip. Like the other TSR drivers, the TSR1 has Multi-Plateau Variable Face Thickness to boost speed on off-center hits, and the CG (center of gravity) is placed rearward in the heads to increase launch and height.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • Easy to hit, easy to launch. Good ball speed without spinning too much. Looks and feels great for a niche market.
  • Fantastic option for those looking for a little help with creating speed through lighter equipment. Many of the lighter options on the market have a pre-built in draw bias. Many players out there who want to test lighter equipment but don’t fight a slice. This is the best option on the market for that scenario.
  • The TSR1 is light, easy to hit, nice looking, and is draw-biased for tight draws. At this speed, spin rates can get too low and the TSR1 does a good job of helping retain spin rate for low speed players. Some players in this category might think Titleist is for good players with speed and not think they are good enough to play Titleist.
  • Titleist does light weight the right way: Keeping the balance the same, but making a club easier to swing for the slower speed player. Traditional Titleist shape makes this a very appealing option.
  • The TSR1 offers a little less headweight which can help dramatically reduce the weight of the club and ease the user experience. While a lighter club doesn’t always offer more speed, it can dramatically improve a player’s balance through the swing and help them hit the ball better. Titleist remains on top.

Ping G430 Max

With a shallower and thinner VFT forged face design, Ping engineers sought to add speed and distance without undermining an element Ping drivers have been known for: forgiveness. For slower-swing-speed golfers, G430 Max can be custom built with lighter head weights. G430 Max is suitable for the widest segment of the fitting bell curve and features a 25-gram, high-density tungsten moveable back weight (±8 yards of shot shaping).

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • The biggest difference from the 425 is the sound. They enhanced the sound of this driver. And it’s a super forgiving, easy-to-hit club.
  • Reliable, consistent driver head for many players. Higher spin than most, but forgiveness is excellent.
  • Still easy fit for wide range of players. Speed is top notch and super forgiving. Flat settings are fairly handy.
  • Both adapter and weighting help straighten curves, which helps in this speed range. Forgiveness is at the highest level.
  • Stable head maximizes clubhead speed-to-ball speed ratio.

Titleist TSR2

TSR is the next generation of the Titleist Speed Project that began more than six years ago with the TS series and continued with TSi models in 2020. There are three models in the TSR line, which began tour seeding in June. TSR2 is a high-launch, low-spin “max” driver, balancing speed and stability that is designed for the player who makes contact across the face.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • It fits a huge, huge variety of players. Huge upgrade over TSi, in my opinion. The 2 was slow and it didn’t go as fast as the 3. It was a great driver, but it was a step down. This thing has all the power the TSR3 has. It looks awesome. But they didn’t sacrifice forgiveness. It’s great for that traditionalist who likes a clean, classic look but needs forgiveness out of it. And their adjustable cog allows us to fit a wide variety of players. I love this driver.
  • Forgiving solid driver for a wide spectrum of players who need a combo of an easy driver without too high spin.
  • That ball speed…all I remember is Titleist not being that ball speed monster, now sometimes they lead the pack in ball speed, and spin/launch are controlled, too…extremely forgiving and easy to hit.
  • Sound/feel are best, speed is awesome, just not as good on heel shots or slicers.
  • From what I have seen, the fastest ball speeds of the “core models.” Lower spinning than others in its class which makes it a top pick for me.

Callaway Paradym X

An almost completely carbon fiber body is the “paradigm shift” of Callaway’s Paradym driver (360° Carbon Chassis). Eliminating titanium from the body of the club allowed engineers to distribute weight in a manner that “breaks the tradeoff between incredible distance and exceptional forgiveness,” according to the company. Paradym X is a draw-biased, high-launching, high-MOI driver. It features a larger profile and is the most forgiving driver in the lineup.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • It has draw bias to it, but it doesn’t look hooded or closed or anything. It’s a very easy to square up golf club. That’s a better way to describe it, for me. It spins a little more and is a little more forgiving [than Paradym]. If you put them on the ground, you can barely tell the difference between X and Paradym, but Paradym X is easier to square up. Callaway absolutely crushed it with this one.
  • For that guy who has the mid swing. The forgiveness aspect is huge. Spin windows for Callaway this year are small. It’s not overly draw-biased. Super forgiving. Easy to launch.
  • This is the most draw biased of the Paradym lineup, but also the most forgiving driver in the line. Players are seeing an increase in launch and spin with this driver. The downrange dispersion is one thing that Callaway has been talking about and it’s evident in the bays players are seeing their shots tighten up overall.
  • Need a draw and struggle to create speed? Paradym X needs to be at the top of your list then. Very surprising how little you give up when focusing on the draw bias version of the Paradym. Many draw-biased heads in the past have had an issue with creating too much spin. Not the Paradym X. Similar results to Paradym, just that much better for those who need a little help with their fade.
  • Draw biased and lowish spin are great attributes. Some players have commented on the shape being a little funny. I’ve seen the Paradym X straighten out players while giving them more distance by dropping spin rate.

TaylorMade Stealth 2

With TaylorMade Stealth 2, engineers are bringing carbon to more of the golf club — and unveiling a new-and-improved Carbon Twist Face in the process. Stealth 2 is a mid-launch, mid-spin driver that is tailored for the widest segment of the fitting bell curve. It features a 25-gram tungsten TaylorMade Swingweight System weight on the Inertia Generator to dial in launch and spin.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • New carbon face design increases ball speed retention at lower speeds.
  • Good smooth swings really work well with this head. A lot of forgiveness and great sound at impact.
  • It actually spins and it’s more playable. Last year it was very hit or miss, it didn’t work great for mid to high handicappers. It’s long but it’s playable. It’s more consistent this year across the face. They enhanced the variable face thickness and it’s been a big help.
  • This is a great option for a player who wants to add some height and spin to their shots.
  • A unique looking driver on the market to be sure. Spin rate is low and speeds are hot.

Conclusion

The fitters consulted for this piece have accumulated data from thousands of fittings with golfers just like you. From beginners to tour players, their feedback and information can’t be undervalued, and we are deeply grateful for their time and participation!

Now it’s your turn: Everybody swings the club differently, and everybody has their own experience with a driver in hand. We want to hear from you. Let us know in the discussion thread linked below: What driver are you using? What did you switch from? What performance gains did you find in your own game?

RELATED: Best driver 2023: Most forgiving driver

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/706547/best-driver-2023-the-best-driver-for-your-swing-speed/feed/ 25 Best driver 2023: Most forgiving driver https://www.golfwrx.com/706964/best-driver-2023-most-forgiving-driver/ Wed, 22 Feb 2023 14:39:05 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=706964 At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best driver, we have once again compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of the 2023 drivers is best for your game.

We continue to exist in an era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player with the driver. Discretionary weight within the driver is also at an all-time high, so engineers are able to provide the widest range of performance characteristics in the metalwood era.

Custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make, and we believe the best way to find your personal best driver is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor.

The difficult part is many golfers don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX, in addition to breaking down the best options across three swing speed ranges, we’re also presenting the most forgiving drivers for the player who preferences forgiveness above all else (meet our fitters here).

Most forgiving driver of 2023

Ping G430 Max

With a shallower and thinner VFT forged face design, Ping engineers sought to add speed and distance without undermining an element Ping drivers have been known for: forgiveness. For slower-swing-speed golfers, G430 Max can be custom built with lighter head weights. G430 Max is suitable for the widest segment of the fitting bell curve and features a 25-gram, high-density tungsten moveable back weight (±8 yards of shot shaping).

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • If you want a forgiving driver with a back CG, this thing is great for mishits.
  • Very stable head that just hits it straight.
  • It’s Ping. For a fitter, we know what that means: It goes straight!
  • The leader in forgiveness, plus it has adjustability to help with bias.
  • Hands down the most forgiving driver on the market. Off-center hits aren’t moving offline quite as much. The handicaps that this driver can fit is so wide.
  • Ping continues to lead from the front when discussing forgiveness and dispersion. First option pulled in a fitting whenever finding the fairway is an issue.
  • Just like the G425 Max, the G430 Max goes very, very straight. The adjustable weights move CG a lot so that can make a big impact on curvature. The sweet spot has been slightly increased over the g425 max which I didn’t think was possible.
  • It’s Ping; they make one of the most forgiving driver on the market.

Callaway Paradym

An almost completely carbon fiber body is the “paradigm shift” of Callaway’s Paradym driver (360° Carbon Chassis). Eliminating titanium from the body of the club allowed engineers to distribute weight in a manner that “breaks the tradeoff between incredible distance and exceptional forgiveness,” according to the company. With high MOI and adjustable perimeter weighting, Paradym fits the largest segment of the fitting bell curve. It’s high launch, low spin, neutral ball flight driver.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • Forgiving, fast, but most importantly, accurate! I am seeing the gains in fits with these drivers left and right! The tech in this driver has made mishits almost as good as the good shots are! Never had better misses that went further.
  • We’re seeing that the adjustable weight can definitely help to reduce ball curvature.
  • Incredibly, incredibly forgiving on mishits.
  • Down range dispersion is something Callaway has been chatting about for a while with this driver. Long and straight won’t get you into trouble. Players who don’t strike the center are seeing more ball speed being created on mishits.
  • Mishits are still in play and not costing us penalty strokes. Callaway really has a winner this year with their entire Paradym lineup. Much more consistent to target than previous generations.
  • The Paradym is the straightest driver Callaway has ever made. I see mishits fly straight almost every time it’s tested. Not a lot of D-plane curvature so right shots don’t continue curving right and left shots don’t continue curving left. Dispersion has been cut 10-20% in a lot of fittings I’ve conducted.

Titleist TSR2

TSR is the next generation of the Titleist Speed Project that began more than six years ago with the TS series and continued with TSi models in 2020. There are three models in the TSR line, which began tour seeding in June. TSR2 is a high-launch, low-spin “max” driver, balancing speed and stability that is designed for the player who makes contact across the face.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • Forgiving solid driver for a wide spectrum of players who need a combo of an easy driver without too high spin.
  • A really forgiving driver with plenty of adjustability to help the player.
  • Supreme adjustability both ways and very forgiving.
  • The combination of ball speed with a mid-high trajectory and long distance down the middle of the fairway. For a player who tends to hit it all over the face, this driver doesn’t- have as much curve on the shot shape as other models do.
  • The driver just flat-out performs in every aspect. Extremely straight, but not going to be the best option for faders or slicers of the ball. If you fight an over draw or big pulls and want to hit is straighter, TSR2 is definitely going to have a chance of making it in your bag.
  • This is the straightest driver in Titleist’s lineup.

TaylorMade Stealth 2

With TaylorMade Stealth 2, engineers are bringing carbon to more of the golf club — and unveiling a new-and-improved Carbon Twist Face in the process. Stealth 2 is a mid-launch, mid-spin driver that is tailored for the widest segment of the fitting bell curve. It features a 25-gram tungsten TaylorMade Swingweight System weight on the Inertia Generator to dial in launch and spin.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • Twist Face reduces the penalty on off-center strikes.
  • Twist Face really helps the average player end up closer to the target on mishits.
  • Twist Face really seems to work. I’ve seen a lot of heel shots be pretty killer. Stealth 2 may not as good on the toe shots as some other drivers, but my average player misses more heel than toe.
  • All-around great performer. Shape of the Stealth 2 is much cleaner, and most people notice an increase in confidence at address almost immediately compared to the original Stealth. Increased forgiveness vs Stealth 2 Plus without seeing a huge jump in spin. For those that need a bit help on mishits but need to keep an eye on launch conditions, Stealth 2 is arguably the best all-around performer on the market.

Callaway Paradym X

An almost completely carbon fiber body is the “paradigm shift” of Callaway’s Paradym driver (360° Carbon Chassis). Eliminating titanium from the body of the club allowed engineers to distribute weight in a manner that “breaks the tradeoff between incredible distance and exceptional forgiveness,” according to the company. Paradym X is a draw-biased, high-launching, high-MOI driver. It features a larger profile and is the most forgiving driver in the lineup.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our launch piece.

Fitter notes

  • It has draw bias to it, but it doesn’t look hooded or closed or anything. It’s a very easy to square up golf club. That’s a better way to describe it, for me. It spins a little more and is a little more forgiving [than Paradym]. If you put them on the ground, you can barely tell the difference between X and Paradym, but Paradym X is easier to square up. Callaway absolutely crushed it with this one.
  • CG that far back in the club produces a forgiving driver for shots across the face.
  • Callaway’s most forgiving driver. With a very slight draw bias to it, the player will get great forgiveness with all the distance that Callaway is known for.
  • Super high MOI help’s keep they face squarer on off-center hits.
  • Great club for slower-speed players looking to keep the ball in play.

Now it’s your turn: Everybody swings the club differently, and everybody has their own experience with a driver in hand. We want to hear from you. Let us know in the discussion thread linked below: What driver are you using? What did you switch from? What performance gains did you find in your own game?

RELATED: Best driver 2023

]]> 2022 Members Choice: Best iron shaft https://www.golfwrx.com/687565/2022-members-choice-best-iron-shaft/ https://www.golfwrx.com/687565/2022-members-choice-best-iron-shaft/#respond Tue, 19 Jul 2022 15:56:15 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=687565 What is the best iron shaft in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to GolfWRXers’ views on the best iron shaft of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

Check out the full results and see what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

Graphite iron shaft

1. Mitsubishi MMT

What Mitsubishi says: “Born from more than 30-years of innovation and composite shaft mastery, the new MMT Iron utilizes a breakthrough Metal Mesh Technology to redefine the possibilities for performance in a composite iron shaft.”

2. Aerotech SteelFiber

What Aerotech says: “With more professional tour wins than any other graphite iron shaft in history, SteelFiber iron shafts are the preferred option by the world’s best. SteelFiber shafts come in many weights and are the only graphite iron shafts to feature Aerotech’s unique SteelFiber technology–combing the power of graphite with the stability of steel.”

3. UST Mamiya Recoil

What UST says: “Recoil Technology…Efficient Energy Transfer (67% more efficient than steel). Optimal spring effect in the walls of the shaft for efficient energy transfer to the ball for increased velocity and greater distance…Improves consistency (i.e. shot dispersion), distance and trajectory control.”

4. Fujikura Pro

What Fujikura says: “The PRO Iron Series features industry-leading High Density Composite Core (HDCC), which produces dialed-in swingweights at steel length. It is ideal for all swing types, available in 2-iron length “one length blanks”, giving fitters the option to soft or hard step to reach in-between flexes.”

5. Aerotech SteelFiber FC

What Aerotech says: “The SteelFiber FC “Flight Control” graphite iron shafts combine the advanced composite technology of SteelFiber with variable tip stiffness–delivering a higher ball flight in the mid and long irons while maintaining the classic SteelFiber launch in the scoring irons.”

Steel iron shaft

1. Nippon Modus3 Tour 120

What Nippon says: “The N.S. PRO Modus³ series shafts are popular with touring pros because they offer optimal performance in the three key areas: 1) High tip rigidity strengthens trajectory. The high-rigidity design of the tip steadies impact to help minimize unwanted spin and realize a stronger trajectory. 2) Low mid-section rigidity controls shaft flex. Low rigidity in the mid section improves shaft control so players with any swing tempo can more easily control their shots. 3) Low butt rigidity enhances comfort. Low butt rigidity improves swing tempo and contributes to a comfortable, smoother feeling upon impact.”

2. Nippon Modus3 Tour 105

What Nippon says: “The all new N.S. PRO MODUS³ Tour 105: lighter weight to increase club head speed for longer distances, straighter shots, stronger trajectory, more consistent performance!”

3. True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue

What True Temper says: “Dynamic Gold Tour Issue is the Gold Standard by which all other iron shafts are measured. It is the most successful shaft in the history of golf and continues to dominate on professional tours each and every year. Dynamic Gold Tour Issue is a tour-weighted shaft that is designed for players seeking a low, penetrating ball flight for optimum control and accuracy. Our Tour Issue shafts hold the industry’s tightest weight tolerance for the exacting performance demanded by the best players.”

4. KBS $-Taper

What KBS says: “KBS Tour $-Taper provides superior feel while maintaining shot workability and tight dispersion for players seeking the ultimate tour shaft with Mid trajectory and Low Spin performance.”

5. Project X

What Project X says: “Project X iron shafts are trusted by the best players in the world and are a staple in golf shaft design. Maintaining a stout profile throughout the entire shaft, Project X is a preferred choice by stronger swingers looking for a flat, penetrating ball flight and unmatched stability.”

See full results and what GolfWRXers are saying here.

 

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/687565/2022-members-choice-best-iron-shaft/feed/ 0 Members Choice 2022: Best launch monitor https://www.golfwrx.com/687136/members-choice-2022-best-launch-monitor/ https://www.golfwrx.com/687136/members-choice-2022-best-launch-monitor/#respond Mon, 18 Jul 2022 12:41:55 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=687136 What is the best launch monitor in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best launch monitor of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

Check out all the voting and what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

Best launch monitor >$10K

1. Foresight GC Quad

What Foresight says: “As the only launch monitor in the industry to utilize Quadrascopic imaging, the GCQuad delivers the most accurate detailed picture of ball and club head performance analysis.”

2. Trackman 4

What Trackman says: “TrackMan 4 captures every detail with astounding precision. That’s club and ball data including impact location. It’s full ball-flight numbers. Normalization for all conditions. With video analysis and data tailored to you. And with no markers required, it’s convenient, quick and seamless. That’s clever.”

Best launch monitor $1K-$10K

1. Foresight GC3

What Foresight says: “Three precision cameras for both ball and club data. Four ways to connect. A touch screen display that’s easy to read indoors and out. Add it all up and you’ve got the ultimate personal launch monitor.”

2. Flightscope Mevo+

What Flightscope says: “The FlightScope Mevo+ is a launch monitor and simulator that uses patented FlightScope Fusion Tracking technology to provide golfers with accurate golf performance data. Fusion Tracking technology is an innovative combination of 3D Doppler tracking radar technology and synchronized high speed image processing that helps provide users with the most accurate and consistent data for every shot – indoors and outdoors.”

Best launch monitor <$1K

1. Flightscope Mevo

What Flightscope says: “Enhance your game with this portable and affordable launch monitor that uses 3D Doppler Radar technology to provide users with accurate performance data indoors and outdoors.”

2. Garmin Approach R10

What Garmin says: “Track key metrics when paired with a compatible smartphone with the Garmin Golf app to help better your shot consistency, including club head speed, ball speed, swing tempo, ball spin, launch angle and more.”

Check out all the voting and what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums. 

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/687136/members-choice-2022-best-launch-monitor/feed/ 0 GolfWRX Members Choice: Best golf ball of 2022 (best tour ball) https://www.golfwrx.com/686477/golfwrx-members-choice-best-golf-ball-of-2022-best-tour-ball/ https://www.golfwrx.com/686477/golfwrx-members-choice-best-golf-ball-of-2022-best-tour-ball/#respond Wed, 13 Jul 2022 20:03:25 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=686477 What is the best golf ball in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best golf ball of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

You can see the full results for the best golf ball of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best golf ball of 2022

Best “tour” golf ball

1.Titleist ProV1

What Titleist says: “Titleist Pro V1 offers total performance and features long distance, very low long game spin, penetrating flight, Drop-and-Stop™ greenside control and very soft feel.”

From our launch piece: “It’s important to note that this is the first totally new dimple redesign of the Titleist Pro V1 golf balls since 2011, and since that time the Titleist R&D team has gone through the painstaking process of designing, manufacturing, and tested more than 1,900 aerodynamic patterns—including no less than 60 different iterations of the new 2021 Pro V1’s 388 dimple layout and more than 30 versions of Pro V1x’s 348 dimple design as per Titleist.”

You can read what other golfers are saying  in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. Titleist ProV1x

What Titleist says: “Titleist Pro V1x offers total performance and features long distance, high trajectory, low long game spin, Drop-and-Stop™ greenside control and soft feel.”

From our launch piece: “The casing layer between the core and the cover adds speed and lowers spin on long game shots. This casing layer is comprised of a highly-resilient, high-speed (another way of saying firm) ionomer which was originally developed for the Pro V1x Left Dash — and like with any piece of golf technology has trickled its way into other products in the line where it can be used to increase performance variables.”

You can read what other golfers are saying  in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. Bridgestone Tour B X

What Bridgestone says: “The new Tour B with Reactiv iQ is the smarter tour ball. Proprietary new Reactiv iQ is a smart cover technology that reacts to the force of impact. Reactiv iQ rebounds quickly on tee shots, delivering explosive velocity and increased distance. Reactiv iQ stays on the face longer on approach shots, providing more spin and soft feel around the green.”

From our launch piece: “The new Bridgestone Tour B series continues the company’s focus on the moment of impact across all 14 clubs in the bag. Designed to cater to the unique needs of each club, the new Reactive IQ cover utilizes unique impact modifiers to rebound quickly on tee shots. Around the green, the new Tour B stays on the clubface longer — or to use a Tiger Woods term: gets more “face time” — for more spin.”

You can read what other golfers are saying  in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

4. Titleist ProV1x Left Dash

What Titleist says: “Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash golf balls are designed for players seeking a high flight similar to Pro V1x with dramatically lower full swing spin and firmer feel.”

From our launch piece:

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

5. TaylorMade TP5x

What TaylorMade says: “The new Tour Flight Dimple Pattern unlocks the next level of aerodynamics while promoting maximum carry distances and a steep angle of descent for extra stopping power, especially on long irons.”

From our launch piece: “TaylorMade is looking to optimize aerodynamics once more with what it is calling “Tour Flight Dimple Pattern” to improve both ball-flight stability and carry distance throughout the bag. The new dimple design alters the relationship between dimple volume and depth, which leads to reduced drag and optimized lift that keeps the golf ball in the air longer through its descent leading. TLDR; more potential distance.”

You can read what other golfers are saying  in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

You can see the full results for the best golf ball of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/686477/golfwrx-members-choice-best-golf-ball-of-2022-best-tour-ball/feed/ 0 GolfWRX Members Choice: Best putter of 2022 https://www.golfwrx.com/686262/golfwrx-members-choice-best-putter-of-2022/ https://www.golfwrx.com/686262/golfwrx-members-choice-best-putter-of-2022/#comments Tue, 12 Jul 2022 16:29:09 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=686262 What is the best putter in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best putter of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

Best putter of 2022 over $300: Top 5

1. Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5

What Scotty Cameron says: “Born on Tour and crafted for players who favor a mallet with the topline aesthetics of a traditional putter, the updated 2022 Phantom X 5 provides the performance and alignment benefits of a mallet with the feel of a blade. Continuously refined with expert feedback and new ultra-premium styling including a revamped Pistolero Plus grip that adds a decorative and non-slip texture to its design for 2022, Scotty pushed the concept of artistry through milling to the limit with a purpose-designed sole plate that provides perfect balance in the center of the “X” when the putter is soled.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. Ping PLD Anser

What Ping says: “The timeless Anser features a striking matte-black finish, rounded corners and softer ballast surfaces. For slight-arc stroke types, the Anser makes squaring the face to the target line easy and natural.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. Scotty Cameron Special Select Newport 2

What Scotty Cameron says: “Arguably the most famous putter head shape in the world, with scores of professional titles won, Scotty’s flagship model—the Special Select Newport 2—is the closest-to-Tour setup ever offered. With refinements made to every aspect, this timeless design returns to the roots of sound and feel with its insert-free, solid stainless steel putter head precision milled in the USA.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

4. L.A.B. Mezz.1

What L.A.B. says: “MEZZ.1 is our new mid-mallet putter that’s fully CNC machined from a billet of 6061 aircraft aluminum (body) and 303 stainless steel (midsection) to create our best-feeling — and we think best looking — putter to date. It includes 10 weights (eight on the bottom, two on the sides) that allow us to individually build each putter to a golfer’s exact specifications.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

5. Scotty Cameron Special Select Newport

What Scotty Cameron says: “Evolving the curvy, compact setup of this classic blade design, the Special Select Newport is crafted from solid milled 303 stainless steel without an insert and performance balanced tungsten sole weighting for a larger sweet spot and increased stability. The revamped plumbing neck allows for better alignment and setup with freer visual access to the flatter, narrower topline, while a cascading concave second tier knocks down reflection and provides a “melt-into-the-ground” appearance at address.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

You can see the full results for the best putter of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best putter of 2022 under $300: Top 5

1. Odyssey White Hot OG #7  

What Odyssey says: “The White Hot OG #7 is a double bend face-balanced mallet, best suited for strokes with minimal arc and face rotation. It’s our latest take on this iconic head shape, featuring our legendary White Hot insert, available in both stepped steel and our new red Stroke Lab shaft, each fitted with our gray DRX grip.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. TaylorMade Spider Tour Black

What TaylorMade says: “Spider Tour Black delivers Tour-proven performance to every golfer. With perimeter weighting for added stability, this classic model delivers a stroke of confidence to help golfers drain more putts when they matter most.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. Odyssey White Hot OG Double Wide

What Odyssey says: “The White Hot OG Double Wide is a wide blade double bend face-balanced putter best suited for strokes with minimal arc and face rotation. This putter features our legendary White Hot insert, available in both stepless steel and our new red Stroke Lab shaft, each fitted with our new midsize pistol grip.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

T4. Cleveland Huntington Beach SOFT Premier 11, Cobra King Nova, TaylorMade Spider GT Notchback, TaylorMade Spider GT Rollback, Ping Sigma 2 Anser

You can see the full results for the best putter of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/686262/golfwrx-members-choice-best-putter-of-2022/feed/ 2 GolfWRX Members Choice: Best wedge of 2022 https://www.golfwrx.com/686191/golfwrx-members-choice-best-wedge-of-2022/ https://www.golfwrx.com/686191/golfwrx-members-choice-best-wedge-of-2022/#comments Mon, 11 Jul 2022 13:03:41 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=686191 What is the best wedge in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best wedge of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

You can see the full results for the best wedge of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best wedge of 2022: The top 5

1. Vokey SM9

What Titleist says: “Anyone can manufacture a wedge, but it takes a master to turn a piece of high-performance technology into an instrument of creative control. Bob Vokey’s six tour-proven grinds are designed to offer maximum creativity, versatility and consistency, all meticulously developed through years of working with the best players in the world.”

From our launch piece: “A new Spin Milled cutting process in the SM9 models – which includes tightening the allowable tolerances – produces sharper grooves wedge after wedge in design to provide higher, more consistent spin. Each groove on every head is 100% inspected for conformity to the rules of golf.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the SM9 wedge in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. Cleveland RTX ZipCore

What Cleveland says: “So we tore our flagship RTX wedge down to its core and rebuilt it from the inside out. Introducing RTX ZipCore. The ZipCore is a low-density material at the heart of RTX. It’s an inside-to-out solution that’s elegant in form and function, with unprecedented results.”

From our launch piece: “The low-density ZipCore in the hosel of the wedge head shifts the center of gravity higher and towards the toe to boost what Cleveland is calling High-Low MOI. What this means is you get less spin rate variance ( aka better spin robustness ) on shots hit both higher and lower on the face. This also creates greater control over launch which leads to better distance control.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the RTX ZipCore wedge in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. Mizuno T22

What Mizuno says: “More than fifty years of refining our Grain Flow Forging process in Hiroshima, Japan – ensure that Mizuno wedges are unrivaled for touch and feel around the green. Played by one of the greatest short-game players of any generation – Luke Donald. Now with an additional soft feel copper underlay and the option of 4 levels of sole grind.”

From our launch piece:  “The new 2021 Mizuno T22 wedges are one-piece grain flow forged using HD boron and feature a microlayer of copper beneath the nickel chrome in a bid to deliver an extra split-second of control at impact.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

T4. Ping Glide 4.0

What Ping says: “A precision-machined face and grooves and new textured face blast increase spin and consistency, a larger activated elastomer insert helps soften the feel, and four distinct grind options maximize versatility on full and finesse shots. The compact, refined profile provides a confident and captured look at address.”

From our launch piece: “In developing the Glide 4.0 wedges, Ping’s engineers focused on expanding the grind and loft options to make custom fitting easier and more precise.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

T4. Cleveland CBX ZipCore

What Cleveland says: “All you wanna do is chunk a little less. Skull a little less. Duff a little less. CBX ZipCore helps you hit better shots around the green by striking it true and clean more often.”

From our launch piece: “The foundation of the latest CBX ZipCore is a low-density core that sits at the heart of the wedge. ZipCore shifts the center of gravity while also boosting High-Low MOI in design for more stability high and low on the wedge face for maximum forgiveness. Per Cleveland, the result is a 26% improvement in High-Low MOI compared against the previous generation and a 10% improvement in Heel-Toe MOI.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

You can see the full results for the best wedge of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

 

 

 

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/686191/golfwrx-members-choice-best-wedge-of-2022/feed/ 3 GolfWRX Members Choice: Best irons of 2022 https://www.golfwrx.com/685712/golfwrx-members-choice-best-irons-of-2022/ https://www.golfwrx.com/685712/golfwrx-members-choice-best-irons-of-2022/#comments Fri, 08 Jul 2022 15:18:07 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=685712 What are the best irons in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best irons of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

You can see the full results for the best irons of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best irons of 2022: The top 5

1. Srixon ZX7

What Srixon says: “A compact blade shape, narrow topline, single-piece forging, and narrow sole give ZX7 the workability, feel, and aesthetics of a world-class players iron.”

From our launch piece: “This iron is the “meat and potatoes” of the new ZX series and will appeal to any golfer who puts a premium on shotmaking. The ZX7’s provide a compact squared-off blade profile with a thin topline to frame the ball and inspire confidence for those who prefer workability over maximum forgiveness. But don’t think the ZX7’s haven’t been designed with some forgiveness in mind—they have what Srixon calls “tour cavity” construction to place mass where it’s needed for feel and acoustics while removing it from other places around the cavity to increase stability in the small forged cavity back.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about ZX7 irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. Mizuno Pro 223

What Mizuno says: “Everything tour players need to compete on extended, more demanding layouts – but never thought to ask for. The Mizuno Pro 223 conceals a ball speed-enhancing construction within the frame of a compact players cavity. A completely new technology platform from 4-7 iron combining Mizuno’s tested Chromoly Forging and Flow Micro-Slot Grain Flow Forged in Hiroshima Japan with a soft copper underlay and uniquely satisfying Mizuno sensation at impact.”

From our launch piece: “The Mizuno Pro 223 irons conceal a ball speed-enhancing construction within the frame of a compact players cavity. A completely new technology platform from 4-7 iron combines Mizuno’s tested Chromoly Forging and Flow Micro-Slot – An innovation designed to produce extreme ball speeds from a small tour-ready profile.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about Mizuno 223 irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. Titleist T100

What Titleist says: “The refinements found in the T100 irons are the product of thousands of hours in the hands of Titleist Tour Pros. The #1 irons model on Tour for a reason – now with even more reasons to stay on top.”

From our launch piece: “The “player’s iron” of the new family, the T100 iron features an all-new Tour-designed sole, which was inspired by discussions with both the tour staff and the Vokey wedge design team. It features a new variable bounce sole design, which provides less bounce in the heel and more bounce in the toe to facilitate better turf interaction and improved feel. The new T100 face features a continuous cradle construction that aims to provide a seamless striking surface and a more uniform leading edge than its predecessor.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about T100 irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

4. Mizuno Pro 225

What Mizuno says: “More compact than the original with a revised CORTECH multi-thickness face for even quicker ball speeds. Equally effective as a long / mid-iron alternative for elite players or a complete set for low to mid handicaps. Grain Flow Forged in Hiroshima, Japan, with a soft copper underlay for a uniquely satisfying Mizuno sensation at impact.”

From our launch piece: “The Hot Metal Blade design features Grain Flow Forged 4135 Chromoly in the face and neck in the 2-8 iron – consistently 0.2mm thinner across the face. This combines with a COR Forged Hollow Body and 28.5g Tungsten weight in the 2-7 iron in a bid to produce a higher, more stable flight and enhanced ball speed.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about Mizuno Pro 225 irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

5. Titleist T100S

What Titleist says: “The T100•S iron now boasts an even closer connection to the true player’s performance and feel of T100. It’s the modern Tour iron with the dialed-up distance you need to perform at your highest level.”

From our launch piece: “Aimed at players who want the feel of a tour iron but who want added distance, the new T100S head dimensions exactly match the specs of the T100, except for being engineered – not bent – two degrees stronger. The iron also features the same fully forged face, backed by an innovative Muscle Channel designed to add both speed and launch.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about Titleist T100S irons in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

You can see the full results for the best irons of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/685712/golfwrx-members-choice-best-irons-of-2022/feed/ 3 GolfWRX Members Choice: Best driver shaft of 2022 https://www.golfwrx.com/685299/golfwrx-members-choice-best-driver-shaft-of-2022/ https://www.golfwrx.com/685299/golfwrx-members-choice-best-driver-shaft-of-2022/#comments Thu, 07 Jul 2022 15:40:14 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=685299 What is the best driver shaft in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to GolfWRXers’ views on the best driver shaft of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

Check out the full results and see what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums. 

Best driver shaft of 2022: The top 5

1. Fujikura Ventus Blue

What Fujikura says: “A multi-material bias core construction that delivers ultimate stability through transition and impact (maximizing clubhead MOI) – increasing velocity and smash factor. The multi-material core is crafted with full-length, ultra-high modulus Pitch 70 Ton Carbon Fiber — 150% stronger and more stable than T1100g — for ultimate stability, and 40 Ton bias layers ensure incredible feel.”

From our launch piece: As a refresher: Ventus relies on Fujikura’s proprietary VeloCore Technology to tighten shot dispersion and enhance performance on off-center shots. “As swing speeds increase on Tour over the last few years, the Tour player is seeking tighter dispersion to hit more fairways,” said John Hovis, Tour Operations & Technical Services Manager at Fujikura. “We challenged our engineers to develop a stable, low spinning, stiff tip shaft to improve control and ball speeds and the result was Ventus.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. Fujikura Ventus Black

What Fujikura says: “A low launch/low spin profile with an ultra-stiff handle and tip section for players with a quick transition that prefer minimal flex during the swing.”

From our launch piece: “The Ventus Black is an extremely stout profile designed for more aggressive players with a stiffer profile in the butt section and especially in the tip section compared to the original Ventus Blue profile.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. Fujikura Ventus TR Blue

What Fujikura says: “Fujikura’s Product Marketing Manager, Spencer Reynolds: “Essentially, there’s a standard carbon weave and then there’s a Spread Tow carbon weave. What a Spread Tow does is it takes all these individual strands of carbon and irons them flat into a tape, and then weaves those over-under, over-under almost like a checkerboard pattern. So there’s very little space for resin to accumulate, you get super low resin content, and then you also get a lot of strength in varying directions. It can take pull and load in multiple directions. Another benefit is that it’s super lightweight. You’re getting an incredible amount of strength, in an ultra-lightweight package.”

From our paunch piece: “Fujikura has developed a new Ventus TR Blue shaft. Like the original Ventus Blue, the TR version is a mid-launch shaft, except it’s stiffer in the mid/handle section to improve stability and consistency of strike While VeloCore is still used throughout the Ventus TR shaft, the new construction features “Spread Tow” fabric in the butt-end section to increase torsional stiffness. Spread Tow, essentially, is a checkerboard-like design that weaves fibers together to increase strength and reduce weight. According to Fujikura, the torque is 10 percent stiffer in the section that uses this design.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

4. Graphite Design Tour AD DI

What Graphite Design says: “The Tour AD DI also utilizes premium, aerospace quality 50t carbon-fiber materials to provide the best performing shaft available. The softer mid-section bend profile of the Tour AD D allows the player to load the shaft properly, yet it maintains a firm enough tip section through impact promoting a high launch and low spin ball flight condition.”

From our launch piece: “The Tour AD DI “DEEP IMPACT” is designed to provide golfers with more power and stability in a golf shaft. It is the brand’s first shaft design that was integrated with Toray Company’s original NANOALLOY material technology in the tip section of the shaft. This material technology is known as “DI Technology” and aims to offer players additional shaft stability without the loss of feel.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

5. Fujikura Ventus Red

What Fujikura says: “A mid-high launch/mid spin profile with a softer tip section for players seeking increased launch and spin without sacrificing stability.”

From our launch piece: “The Ventus Red is designed to achieve slightly higher launch and spin than the current profile of Ventus Blue — which can be both helpful in the driver and fairway woods.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

Check out the full results and see what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/685299/golfwrx-members-choice-best-driver-shaft-of-2022/feed/ 2 GolfWRX Members Choice: Best hybrid of 2022 https://www.golfwrx.com/684763/golfwrx-members-choice-best-hybrid-of-2022/ https://www.golfwrx.com/684763/golfwrx-members-choice-best-hybrid-of-2022/#respond Wed, 06 Jul 2022 17:38:03 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=684763 What is the best hybrid in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to GolfWRXers’ views on the best hybrid of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

You can see the full results for the best hybrid of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best hybrid of 2022: The top 5

1. Ping G425

What Ping says: “…innovations Facewrap and Spinsistency combine to deliver greater distance and spin predictability so your approach shots reach greens and hold greens. A tungsten back weight on the extreme perimeter helps increase MOI for more stability and forgiveness.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @agood3putt: “Just got my G425 w Tour 85S. Lovely club, had the G410, and I think the G425 sounds and looks better IMO.”
  • @BDowning: “The G425 is the best hybrid I have hit. Gained an additional 15 yards from my previous G hybrid.”
  • @JMB3: “Love the look, feel, performance, and adjustability of the G425 hybrids. Without turbulators, they are perfect.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the G425 hybrid in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. Titleist TSi2

What Titleist says: “For players with a sweeping delivery seeking a forgiving long iron replacement. Features headweight adjustability and a SureFit hosel for dialed-in shots that launch high and land soft.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @getitdaily: “Tsi2 hybrid is freaking solid.”
  • @kwaino: “TSi2 is really big to my eye, bigger than the G425 hybrid even, super forgiving though.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the TSi2 hybrid in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. TaylorMade Stealth

What TaylorMade says: “Built from carbon DNA, the Stealth™ Rescue combines Tour-validated designs with a new carbon crown construction to elevate performance for golfers of all skills. Powered by a redesigned V Steel™ sole with precision weighting, this Rescue is engineered for high launch and forgiveness.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @tiptx1122: “I have finally decided on the Stealth over the Plus. I need a more forgiving club as I did test both models as the Plus was harder for me to launch it as my swing speed is only 92 as I supposed that is decent for being 66 years old but forgiveness wins out over distance for me as the carry was 8 yards farther with the Stealth. I did get a nice roll out was no where as consistent. I really wanted to favor the Plus but Father Time is catching up with me.”
  • @lakecowboy: “Stealth Rescue is ?. Went straight in the bag this weekend, and I’ve hated hybrids in the past. Fitting and on course performance were awesome.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the Stealth hybrid in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

4. TaylorMade Stealth Plus

What TaylorMade says: “The Stealth Plus+ Rescue is a shot makers dream. A high-toe profile and compact overall footprint make it easier to control trajectory and shot shape, while maintaining added forgiveness compared to long irons. The ultra-strong C300 Steel face delivers powerful ball speed and is paired with Twist Face®, the corrective face curvature designed to give everyone straighter shots on mis-hits.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the Stealth Plus hybrid in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

5. Titleist TSi3

What Titleist says: “For players seeking an iron-like hybrid that provides precise control of trajectory and shot shape. Features Surefit CG track technology and SureFit hosel adjustability for player-tuned accuracy.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @tagermo: “Fitted yesterday with a TSi3 4 hybrid set at +2 degrees with weight in toe. I tried each of the hybrids at Titleist fitting and was shocked at how easy the TSi3 was to launch.”
  • @BostonWRX: “I got fit into the TSI3. I tend to hit it a little bit towards the heel. We moved the weight to the heel, and I picked up some ball speed.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the TSi3 hybrid in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

You can see the full results for the best hybrid of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Check out GolfWRXers’ selections for best driver and best fairway wood. 

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/684763/golfwrx-members-choice-best-hybrid-of-2022/feed/ 0 GolfWRX Members Choice: Best fairway wood of 2022 https://www.golfwrx.com/684056/golfwrx-members-choice-best-fairway-wood-of-2022/ https://www.golfwrx.com/684056/golfwrx-members-choice-best-fairway-wood-of-2022/#respond Tue, 05 Jul 2022 15:42:39 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=684056 What is the best fairway wood in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their GolfWRXers views on the best fairway wood of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

See the full results for the best fairway wood of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Check out Members Choice: Best driver of 2022.

Best fairway wood of 2022: The top 5

1. Titleist TSi2

What Titleist says: “For players seeking incredible speed and accuracy across the entire face. A deeper, lower CG pairs with the new Active Recoil Channel 4.0 to produce a consistently higher, faster launch.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @MPAndreassi: “I have a TSi2 7-wood on the way. The launch and flight of them is unbelievable for me.”
  • @XanderSingh: “I’m gaming the TSi2 4-wood and 7-wood. still messing around with shafts for both, but they are great performers and very easy to hit off the tee and the ground.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the TSi2 fairway wood in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. Ping G425 Max

What Ping says: “In the G425 fairways and hybrids, two shared PING innovations known as Facewrap and Spinsistency combine to deliver more distance and spin predictability for carrying trouble and hitting greens. A tungsten sole weight increases the MOI in the stainless steel heads for added forgiveness. ”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @monkeyboy: “Added Ping G425 Max 3 and 5-woods with stock shafts about 4 months ago. After many range sessions and rounds, I can accurately say that these are the best fairways woods I have owned. I think the main difference for me is how flat they sit at address; it just works well for me.”
  • @quizzylish: “It’s a very nice fairway wood, and it took me a little bit to get used to the very shallow face and head shape; the sound is very different too. It is very straight and maybe even draw-biased; I had a hard time trying to hit fades unless I feel like I make a ridiculous swing, like holding off my release. “
  • @uglande: “And don’t sleep on the 7-wood. It’s so handy and does not balloon like I thought it might. Really nice high but powerful trajectory.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the G425 Max fairway wood in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. TaylorMade Stealth Plus

What TaylorMade says: “Built from carbon DNA, the Stealth Plus fairway delivers precision playability and fast ball speeds using advanced multi-material construction. With a refined 175cc profile and reengineered V Steel™ sole, this fairway delivers the ideal blend of playability, shot making and distance.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @My2Dogs: “The Stealth Plus is a game changer IMO. Longest fw I’ve ever hit and one of the most forgiving. That’s a deadly combo. Also super easy to hit off the deck and that was where I used to love the Callaway line up as they were so nice and flat on the deck. The Stealth Plus has that heavy sole that glides off the turf for off the deck shots. Off the tee- forget about it. Super, super long.”
  • @BallerNate: “The TM SIM2 Ti was the best fairway wood I’ve ever hit, so luckily TaylorMade didn’t try and re-invent the wheel here. They just made the Stealth Plus Fairways slightly better in every way, which will make my Plus 3W very tough to knock out of the bag!”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the Stealth Plus fairway wood in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

4. TaylorMade Stealth

What TaylorMade says: “Built from carbon DNA, the Stealth fairway creates high MOI performance and precision playability using advanced multi-material construction. The all-new 3D carbon crown allowed engineers to shift weight lower and deeper in the clubhead. With a larger profile compared to Stealth Plus (190cc vs. 175cc) and a refined V Steel sole, this fairway is the ultimate mash up of distance and forgiveness.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @ScottHutch2: “Picked up a stealth 3HL with kai’li 70x shaft. Took it out for a round with no range time and it was a straight up weapon. Legitimately hit it further than my TSi2 3W even with the additional loft.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the TaylorMade Stealth fairway wood in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

5. Titleist TSi3

What Titleist says: “TSi3 fairways feature a new SureFit CG track technology, offering three unique positions to adjust club head CG to fine-tune ball flight with neutral, fade or draw flight.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @porynop: “TSi3 – picked it up off a WRXer because I was having issues with my gamer and it was instantly bagged.”
  • @MH2: “I have found the TSi3 fairway very forgiving and easy to launch off the deck and an absolute beast from the tee.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the TSi3 fairway wood in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

See the full results for the best fairway wood of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Check out Members Choice: Best driver of 2022.

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/684056/golfwrx-members-choice-best-fairway-wood-of-2022/feed/ 0 GolfWRX Members Choice: Best driver of 2022 https://www.golfwrx.com/684032/golfwrx-members-choice-best-driver-of-2022/ https://www.golfwrx.com/684032/golfwrx-members-choice-best-driver-of-2022/#comments Sun, 03 Jul 2022 15:27:32 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=684032 What is the best driver in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to their views on the best driver of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

You can see the full results for the best driver of 2022, as well as additional comments, in the forums.

Best driver of 2022: The top 5

1. Titleist TSi3

Titleist Tsi3 sole

What Titleist says: “For players who create more consistent contact and require more precise control over CG placement. With a new Adjustable CG Track Design for advanced speed-tuned performance.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @Audi A-Fore: “TSi3 – a modern ode to the classic 905R. It’s a blend of classic look and feel Titleist with the modern speed and adjustability to fit a wider range of players. Find the right shaft and let it rip, you won’t find a better club even amongst the latest and the greatest.“
  • @sandshark: “Titleist TSi3 for me. Titleist topping tour bag counts says a ton, but the TSi3 defies the normal “2 for average joe, 3 for high speed guys” logic and performs for a wider range than any other Titleist driver I can recall. Fast, great adjustability, GREAT sound, has that classic pear 975 look.”
  • @azgolfer64: “Titleist TSi3 hands down is the best driver I have ever hit. Great sound, Great shape, Best distance and low spin.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the TSi3 driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. TaylorMade Stealth Plus

TaylorMade Stealth Plus sole

What TaylorMade says: “For the last 20 years, Titanium was all the rage. But we have always known that every material has a limit. So, we started pushing the boundaries and now we’re leaving the old race behind to begin a completely new one. A race that drives beyond the here and now to raise the bar for what’s possible.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @johnnylongballz72: “Stealth Plus is the GOAT.”
  • @IL2AZ: “The Stealth Plus ability to seperate launch and spin coupled with its consistency across the face and high ball speeds is the winner for me. First TM driver that I have seen tangible improvement over the 16 M2.”
  • @OrangeHog: “I switched from my OG SIM driver and have gained 10-15 yards with a remarkable improvement in forgiveness that I didn’t expect. More importantly, though, is the optimized spin rates I’m seeing. Previously with the SIM I would get the occasional low spin dipper. With the Stealth, however, I’ve seen much more consistent spin rates that keep me in play. I love the matte black finish too. I thought the red face would be a deal breaker but it is barely noticeable.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the Stealth Plus driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. Ping G425 Max

Ping G425 Max sole

What Ping says: “G425 MAX elevates the moment of inertia to PING’s highest level in history. Forgiveness comes mainly from a 26-gram tungsten movable weight, made possible by weight savings from advancements in the driver’s dragonfly crown technology. The CG-shifting weight can be set in neutral, draw or fade. A T9S+ forged face increases flexing for adding distance.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @EatDrinkRunLSU: “I was fitted for a PING G425 Max in late January and finally got it in late February. I’ve played 81 holes with it in the last 3 weeks. I’ve hit some of the longest drives I’ve ever hit in 25 years of playing golf over the past 3 weeks.”
  • @poryanop: “G425 Max – great balance in terms of distance and forgiveness”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the G425 Max driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

4. Callaway Rogue ST Max LS

Callaway Rogue ST Max LS sole

What Callaway says: “Rogue ST Max LS is a high MOI head built for lower spin along with a stronger trajectory. Players can expect to see a more neutral ball flight, more workability, and lower spin characteristics compared to the Rogue ST Max. It’s a great option for many mid-to-low handicap players.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @Haber: “I voted Rogue Max LS. Had it in the bag a week after release and it’s been solid. Even poor swings tend to not get too far offline.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the Rogue ST Max LS driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

5. Callaway Rogue ST Max

Callaway Rogue ST Max

What Callaway says: “Rogue ST Max is our highest MOI head with a slight draw bias that’s built for all levels of golfers. This is the best combination of distance and forgiveness in a Callaway driver.”

Here’s what GolfWRX members are saying

  • @BallerNate: “The Cally Rogue ST Max is the best Driver I’ve ever hit…period. Went through a process of getting it dialed in and figuring out the right settings for my swing, but now that I have it dialed this Driver is an absolute weapon! My last round at one of the toughest courses in my area, I hit 11/14 Fairways, and the 3 that didn’t were still in play with decent approach shots from the rough. Feels so good to have so much confidence in my Driver, and feel like it gives me a chance to beat my buddies whenever I roll up to the course!! ????”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the Rogue ST Max driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

Join the discussion about the best driver of 2022 in the forums.

 

 

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/684032/golfwrx-members-choice-best-driver-of-2022/feed/ 2 2022 GolfWRX Members Choice voting is open! https://www.golfwrx.com/678568/2022-golfwrx-members-choice-voting-is-open/ https://www.golfwrx.com/678568/2022-golfwrx-members-choice-voting-is-open/#comments Sat, 18 Jun 2022 18:07:40 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=678568 The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, or is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

We just launched our 2022 GolfWRX Members Choice awards; the polls are now open with more categories to come!

Each category is stacked with models from every single OEM and we want to hear from you, not just with a vote but with your comments too. In categories where we weren’t confident we could assemble every possible choice, we have left the category open for write-in votes — so we need you to do the writing in!

Please vote in the Members Choice categories below!

2022 GolfWRX Members Choice categories

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/678568/2022-golfwrx-members-choice-voting-is-open/feed/ 1 Best hybrids in golf 2022: Most versatile, most forgiving hybrids for you! https://www.golfwrx.com/674858/best-hybrids-in-golf-2022-most-versatile-most-forgiving-hybrids-for-you/ Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:49:12 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=674858 The best hybrid for your game is going to be the one that gives you the greatest opportunity to both score and save shots during your round of golf.

In 2022, we have seen a continued expansion of hybrid options from every manufacturer with models designed to fit golfers of all skill levels and clubhead speeds to the point that some manufacturers offer models all the way down to 8-iron-replacement lofts. These hybrids all utilize new technology and manufacturing methods to launch golf balls higher, faster, and farther, while also offering forgiveness. It’s now easier than ever to find the right one that matches your swing and fits into your set.

You have to think of your set of clubs like a toolbox with a 14-tool capacity. It’s extremely important to make sure each and every tool has a defined role to make navigating around the course as stress-free as possible. Hybrids play an important part in that selection process.

That being said, ultimately the best way to find the best hybrid or hybrids for you is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor and gap them accordingly. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you.

The methodology is simple: We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you, and we’re offering recommendations based on exactly what you need from your hybrids.

GolfWRX best hybrid of 2022: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder,Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Eric Johnson: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Sue O’Connor: Fitter, Cool Clubs 
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Eric Hensler: Manager & Fitter, Miles of Golf
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Nick Waterworth: Fitter,Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop
Scott Anderson: VP of Sales, Fitter, True Spec Golf
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Shawn Zawodni: Fitter, Miles of Golf
Ben Giunta: Owner,The Tour Van
Matt Decker: Head Fitter and Builder, The Fitting Lab – Baltimore
Jason Bodey: Head Fitter and Builder, The Fitting Lab Pittsburgh
Bradley Harrelson: Fitter, 2nd Swing Golf
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Matt Mora: Director of Club Fitting, Urban Golf Performance
Jordan Patrick: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf

Best hybrid of 2022: The categories

We have broken our 2022 best hybrid list into two categories.

  1. Best hybrid for golfers seeking forgiveness 
  2. Best hybrid for golfers seeking versatility

We selected this format for hybrid clubs because every golfer fits into one of these two “want” categories, regardless of age, handicap, or gender. For many golfers, forgiveness is the number one factor when selecting the hybrids that will go into their bag.

Before we started building the survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the hybrid club options available to golfers. Forgiveness and versatility were the highest-ranked choices.

We can’t thank the fitters enough for their time, and we hope that in your search for your best fairway wood for 2022, we can help you find it.

Most forgiving hybrids 2022

Ping G425

The best way to describe the Ping G425 hybrids is as mini iron-replacing fairway woods. The hybrids share all of the same Facewrap and Spinsistency technologies as the G425 fairways but are intended to launch higher and stop faster to create playable trajectories for golfers who need stopping power—all the way down to a 7-iron-replacing 34 degree.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our Ping G425 launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “Super forgiving but doesn’t look like that. It sits square, not closed, and great adjustability. Love that I can get it flatter and make it more anti-left for some of the higher speed players. The utility wrench of the hybrids, it is unbelievable the range of players it can fit.”
  • “This should be a go-to hybrid for anyone buying off the shelf because of its extremely stable performance and the ability to adjust the hosel to reduce dispersion.”

TaylorMade Stealth

The Stealth Plus Rescue contains an iron-like high-toe profile and overall compact footprint in a bid to provide controlled trajectory and shot shape while maintaining added forgiveness.

A redesigned V Steel sole positions weight low in the club to encourage optimal launch properties and enhance turf interaction, while the Stealth Plus also features an adjustable loft sleeve that provides +/-1.5 degrees loft so players can optimize trajectory.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our TaylorMade Stealth hybrid launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “It has been testing longer than SIM2 Max for us, almost 2-3 yards longer. The Speed Pocket on the sole really ads some speed to shots, especially ones low on the face.”
  • “The face is super hot and fits a lot of golfers. So easy to hit with tons of forgiveness, we have seen a lot of players gain more distance and tighten up their dispersion.”

Titleist TSi1

Titleist has never put a large focus of its R&D into hybrids designed for moderate speed players. Instead, most of the work has been used to focus on hybrids designed for higher speed golfers—that is until now. Like the rest of the TSi1 metal woods, the hybrids are about greater MOI and launch, and the new TSi1’s are the highest MOI hybrid Titleist has ever built. They are on average 20 grams lighter than a standard hybrid and feature a larger profile “wood-style” design to generate more green holding spin.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our Titleist TSi1 hybrid launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The Titleist TSi1 is one of the lighter weight hybrids on the market. This club is designed for players who need high launch, and need a club that’s light weight. The lofts on this club are weaker to help increase launch for players who don’t create a ton of club head speed.”
  • “You can almost think of the TSi1 hybrid like a mini fairway wood—it just wants to go high and straight. If you find yourself hitting shots on the front portions of greens and they are rolling all the way through the green then you need more spin and a steeper descent angle and you will get that with these hybrids.”

Callaway Rogue ST Max OS

The new A.I.-designed Jailbreak system has been redesigned and will create increased speed and more stability. The two Jailbreak frames are pushed to the perimeter, providing stiffness. This will allow for higher ball speeds, according to the company.

A.I. Face optimized for speed, launch, and spin: From Callaway’s high strength 455 Face Cup, there is new A.I. face optimization that is set to improve speed, launch, and spin. The face pattern is customized for each model and loft.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our Callaway Rogue ST Max hybrid launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The Callaway Max OS hybrid is very forgiving. The lofts on this model of hybrids are weaker than some of the others on the market. This hybrid is large in terms of its size compared to others on the market. These hybrids are more draw bias. Players who tend to struggle with launching a hybrid, or are slow swingers these hybrids are great to help get the ball air born.”
  • “The Jailbreak technology gives it a very hot face and it has a much more refined design. The MOI seems a little higher and the center of gravity a little lower, making it easier to hit hit. It also is nice to have the OS and OS Lite, just helping to fit a wider range of players.”

Cobra LTDx

The LTDx hybrids are Cobra’s first to feature PwrShell Technology, which utilizes an L-cup face design that is forged from a thin and strong stainless steel to generate up to 17% more flex in design for faster ball speed and higher launch across the face.

The hybrids contain the brand’s PWR-COR and H.O.T. Face technologies while also featuring Hollow Split Rails that aim to improve turf interaction and allow the club to glide out of the fairway, tight lies, thick rough and even bunkers.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our Cobra LTDx hybrid launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “Just like the rest of the woods, the LTDx hybrid packs a ton of technology into a rather compact head. Great ballspeed no matter where you hit it on the face and the modified rails on the sole make it easy to hit from the fairway or rough.”
  • “The LTDx is just a solid hybrid that is an improvement over last year’s model. The face seems hotter and shots low on the face still go and get up in the air easily. It is another hybrid this year that can fit a wide range of players and I have seen it go into scratch players bags as well as high handicaps.”

Most versatile hybrids 2022

 

Ping G425

The best way to describe the Ping G425 hybrids is as mini iron-replacing fairway woods. The hybrids share all of the same Facewrap and Spinsistency technologies as the G425 fairways but are intended to launch higher and stop faster to create playable trajectories for golfers that need stopping power—all the way down to a 7-iron-replacing 34 degree.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our Ping G425 hybrid launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The Ping 425 hybrid is very versatile. This hybrid is great for players of all skill levels. This hybrid has a great feature of being able to flatten the lie angle. This is helpful for those players who don’t want to see the ball hook. The 425 hybrid is our easiest hybrid to hit.”
  • “Not all, but a lot of hybrids have a tendency to want to be draw-biased, but you don’t get that with the Ping G425. Its flight is neutral, and you can seriously increase the fade bias with the flat setting on the hosel.”

Titleist TSi2

The TSi2 (and TSi3) hybrids feature a forged carpenter 455 steel face, which, much like the previous generation, has allowed the designers to save mass and reposition it around the head to maximize the playing characteristics for each model, which is particularly important considering how much design separation has been created.

The TSi2 is a hybrid designed with the perfect balance between optimizing forgiveness while also offering playability for golfers with a more shallow delivery into the ball. Compared to the TSi3, which is one of the smallest hybrids Titleist has ever produced, and the TSi1 which is the largest, the TSi2 fits comfortably in the middle in terms of size and has low and deeper CG to create higher launch conditions for those who need it.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our 2021 Titleist TSi2 hybrid launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The Titleist TSI2 hybrid is a a little bit bigger hybrid in terms of head size compared to the TSI3 hybrid. The Titleist hybrids have always been some of the best on the market. The TSI2 hybrid gives a player the ability to hit shots low, high and shape shots. The TSI2 hybrids offer players the ability to hit different shots out of different lies.”

TaylorMade Stealth

The Stealth Plus Rescue contains an iron-like high-toe profile and overall compact footprint in a bid to provide controlled trajectory and shot shape while maintaining added forgiveness.

A redesigned V Steel sole positions weight low in the club to encourage optimal launch properties and enhance turf interaction, while the Stealth Plus also features an adjustable loft sleeve that provides +/-1.5 degrees loft so players can optimize trajectory.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our TaylorMade Stealth hybrid launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “It has been testing longer than SIM2 Max for us, almost 2-3 yards longer. The Speed Pocket on the sole really ads some speed to shots, especially ones low on the face.”
    “The face is super hot and fits a lot of golfers. So easy to hit with tons of forgiveness, we have seen a lot of players gain more distance and tighten up their dispersion.”

Titleist TSi3

The TSi3 hybrid is the most technology-packed and adjustable hybrid Titleist has ever produced. Like the rest of Titleist’s metal woods line, the hybrid features the familiar SureFit hosel system as previous generations but also includes the newly optimized SureFit adjustable CG (center of gravity) track to help fitters and golfers alike dial-in preferred shot shape and reduce dispersion. The TSi3 hybrid uses the same weight as the TSi3 fairway wood to achieve this adjustability.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our Titleist TSi3 hybrid launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The Tsi3 hybrid is designed for players who have speed, and like to really work the ball. The TSI3 is a lower launching lower spinning hybrid that has characteristics of a driving iron/fairway wood in a small compacted shape of a hybrid. The TSI3 hybrid is a smaller compact shape, that has the weight port to allow for more shot shaping ability. Players who have played driving irons in the past have gravitated towards the TSI3 hybrid. Players who play hybrids off the tee tend to gravitate towards this.This is a lower launching, low spinning ball speed monster.”

Callaway Rogue ST Pro

The Rogue ST Pro is most definitely geared to the low handicapper. It features a fairway wood/compact shaping, shallow face, and neutral CG for the most workability in the Rogue ST line.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our Callaway Rogue ST hybrid launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The Callaway Rogue ST Pro is designed to sit a little open at address. The Rogue ST Pro is a fade bias hybrid. Players who tend to gravitate towards this club are players with speed. This hybrid is a lower launching, lower spinning hybrid. This club is great for those who use a hybrid off of the tee.”
  • “There is definitely a good mix of old and new in the Pro. The shaping reminds me a little of the old Adams “peanut” while the Jailbreak and other technology make it long and easy to launch. The Pro sits well with better players because of it’s low spin and straight ball flight.”

Conclusion

The fitters consulted for this piece have accumulated data from thousands of fittings with golfers just like you. From beginners to tour players, their feedback and information can’t be undervalued.

Now it’s your turn: Everybody swings the club differently and everybody has their own experience. We want to hear from you. What driver are you using? What did you switch from? What performance gains did you find in your own game? Share your experience to help others.

 

 

 

 

]]> Best fairway woods of 2022: By expert club fitters for you! https://www.golfwrx.com/673384/best-fairway-woods-of-2022-by-expert-club-fitters-for-you/ https://www.golfwrx.com/673384/best-fairway-woods-of-2022-by-expert-club-fitters-for-you/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2022 12:22:54 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=673384 Having the right fairway woods is essential for golfers of all skill levels looking to get the most out of their long games — whether it be approach shots into longer par 4’s and par 3’s, going after par 5’s in two, or just trying to hit more fairways off the tee — finding the best fairway wood of 2022 to fit your needs is a must.

Looking at the best fairway wood playing field for 2022, we continue to see more fairway wood options from every manufacturer. What used to be a single model release has been expanded to three—and in some cases even four—models to fit specific player types. These new fairway woods impress us with their ability to utilize new technology and construction methods to go faster, and further, while also offering never-before-seen levels of forgiveness. It’s now easier than ever to find the right one that matches your swing.

That being said, ultimately the best way to find the best fairway woods for you is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX — with the help of our panel of expert fitters — we have done a lot of the work for you to narrow down your shortlist.

Best fairway woods of 2022: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder,Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Eric Johnson: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Sue O’Connor: Fitter, Cool Clubs 
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Eric Hensler: Manager & Fitter, Miles of Golf
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Nick Waterworth: Fitter,Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop
Scott Anderson: VP of Sales, Fitter, True Spec Golf
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Shawn Zawodni: Fitter, Miles of Golf
Ben Giunta: Owner,The Tour Van
Matt Decker: Head Fitter and Builder, The Fitting Lab – Baltimore
Jason Bodey: Head Fitter and Builder, The Fitting Lab Pittsburgh
Bradley Harrelson: Fitter, 2nd Swing Golf
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Matt Mora: Director of Club Fitting, Urban Golf Performance
Jordan Patrick: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf

Best fairway woods of 2022: The categories

We have broken our 2022 best fairway wood list into two categories.

  1. Best fairway wood for golfers seeking forgiveness 
  2. Best fairway wood for golfers seeking versatility

We selected this format for fairway woods because every golfer fits into one of these two “want” categories regardless of age, handicap, or gender, and for a lot of golfers, forgiveness is the number one factor when selecting a fairway wood.

Before we started building the survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the fairway wood options available to golfers. Forgiveness and versatility were the highest-ranked choices.

We can’t thank the fitters enough for their time, and we hope that in your search for your best fairway wood for 2022, we can help you find it!

Most forgiving fairway woods 2022

Callaway Rogue ST Max

Billed by Callaway as the brand’s ‘fastest ever fairway wood’, the Rogue ST Max boasts an all-new Tungsten Speed Cartridge, new Jailbreak ST, and an A.I.-designed Flash Face, which are all engineered to provide maximum speed and forgiveness.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our 2022 Callaway Rogue ST Max fairway wood launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The Callaway Rogue ST Max fairway wood offers forgiveness, as well as a higher launch by design. A lot of players tend to struggle getting the ball in the air with a 3-wood if they don’t create a lot of speed.”
  • “The Rogue ST Max has options! From a 3+ to an 11-wood, there are so many options to fit a player into.”

Ping G425 Max

The Ping G425 Max fairway wood retains its place on the list for 2022, with the fairway wood featuring a neutrally biased head with the highest MOI for a combination offering maximum forgiveness.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our Ping G425 Max fairway wood launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The Ping 425 Max is easily the easiest fairway wood on the market to hit. This fairway wood is a high launching club, with a big sweet spot for those off-center hits. This fairway wood fits a wide range of players regardless of your handicap.”
  • “Incredibly easy to launch out of any condition. Being able to flatten out the club with the shaft sleeve allows it to even fit better players who want to reduce the draw. Ping offers the Max in a lot of lofts so there is something for any player’s yardage.”

TaylorMade Stealth

The Stealth fairway features a larger profile compared to Stealth Plus (190cc vs 175cc) while also containing an all-new 3D carbon crown that allowed engineers to shift weight lower and deeper in the clubhead.

The Stealth features an advanced laser alignment aid that stretches across the top of the face. The laser-etched pattern was designed using optical engineering and player testing to deliver visual cues that influence alignment at address and how the club is delivered at impact.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our 2022 TaylorMade Stealth fairway wood launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The TaylorMade Stealth is a very popular fairway wood. The glued hosel allows for this club to have minimal customization in terms of tuning in the lofts and face angle. Players have always gravitated towards TaylorMade fairway woods due to the distance gains they have seen.”

Titleist TSi2

The Titleist TSi2 fairway wood keeps its spot as one of the most forgiving fairway woods on the market for 2022.

The fairway wood features a deeper and lower CG than its predecessors giving the player even better launch conditions and flatter spin rates for increased distance overall. The face is supported by a lighter Active Recoil Channel (fourth edition) that strengthens the face for added ball speed and playability, especially on the lower face strikes.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our 2022 Titleist TSi2 fairway wood launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The TS2 fairway wood is a higher launching fairway wood, which is helpful for those who struggle with launch. This fairway wood has helped golfers increase speed as well as distance. The TSi2 fairway wood is much more forgiving than TSi3.”
  • “The TSi2 has good, classic shape. It flies well off the tee and is easy to get off the deck. The launch and spin are consistent from wood to wood and the adjustability lets me dial it in for a wide range of players.”
  • “Much easier to launch for most players than the TSi3 and more forgiving. The multiple lofts and great SureFit adapter allow it to fit players of all skill levels. The adjustable cog being able to change both lie and loft makes this fairway very versatile.”

Cobra LTDx Max

The Cobra LTDx is billed as the company’s “most forgiving fairway” . An adjustable weight system features 12g and 3g weights that can be positioned in the back or the heel to fine-tune the amount of draw bias, while WR-COR and H.O.T. Face Technology again bids to deliver the fastest ball speed possible using low and forward weighting and an optimized variable thickness face design.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our 2022 Cobra LTDx Max fairway wood launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “A great mix of distance and forgiveness. The updated rails on the bottom help you get it out of just about any lie.”
  • “Much more forgiving than I expected and most players see a big improvement in dispersion. The sound and feel are really good as well. The LTDx has to be one of the best fairways Cobra has ever made.”

Most versatile fairway woods 2022

Titleist TSi2

The Titleist TSi2 also takes its place on the most versatile fairway woods of 2022, with the club featuring a rounded front leading edge that makes getting under the ball from any lie possible, and you can also fine-tune the back weight to match your preferred feel and the hosel to adjust ball flight.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our 2022 Titleist TSi2 fairway wood launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “Great fairway wood and easily the best Titleist has ever had. It allows us to dial in the shots in a more profound way with all the lofts and adjustability offered in the TSi2”
  • “The TSi2 is our best seller and the amount of adjustability it offers lets me dial it in for any shot shape. For having such a traditional shape, the forgiveness is really high.”

Ping G425 Max

The Max model is the one that is going to fit the widest amount of golfers on the launch conditions bell curve.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our Ping G425 Max fairway wood launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “Continuing on with the forgiveness of the drivers the fairways also have great MOI and forgiveness to them as well.”
  • “The G425 Max is just easy to hit. In my book, it is the most forgiving fairway we have in the store. From a fitting standpoint, you can really dial it in with the adjustability.”

Callaway Rogue ST Max

The new addition this year is a mid-launch offering with slight draw bias and features models from a 3W through 11W.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our 2022 Callaway Rogue ST Max fairway wood launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The addition of the speed cartridge and the AI face makes this one of the most forgiving fairways of the year.”
  • “Very forgiving, but still offers a ton of ball speed and distance in a fairway wood. The shallow face makes this easy to launch and land soft.”

TaylorMade Stealth Plus

The new Stealth Plus fairway is constructed of Zatech titanium, which is made in small batches using a process that allows engineers to improve the strength of the face while still maintaining a high level of ductility. The ultra-thin construction is designed to promote fast ball speeds while allowing for greater face flexibility.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our 2022 TaylorMade Stealth Plus fairway wood launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The Stealth is one of the best for getting the ball up and adding height to players who need it. The face is also hot and offers a ton of distance.”
  • “Another fairway with a great combination of distance and forgiveness. The Stealth allows players of all talents to get the ball in the air and help with the mishits.”

Callaway Apex UW

The Apex UW utility wood features a design aiming to combine the best features of higher-lofted fairway woods, hybrids, and a more neutral ball flight. The new utility wood contains the brand’s Jailbreak A.I. Velocity Blades, which are designed to increase vertical stiffness near the club’s sole in a bid to create more speed low on the face where players often mishit their hybrids.

For the full technology breakdown, check out our 2022 Callaway Apex UW launch piece.

Fitter Notes

  • “The Callaway Apex UW is designed for players who struggle hitting fairway woods, but like the look of hybrids and need some extra distance. The utility wood allows players to hit shots out of the rough easier compared to a fairway wood. The utility wood offers players the chance to hit shots out of some buried lies that you wouldn’t be able to hit with a fairway wood. The utility wood sits a little open at address, which players like over the look of hybrids which tend to sit closed.”
  • “Kind of in-between a fairway and a hybrid, it gives you the best of both. Definitely long and the sole design lets you hit good shots from any lie.”
  • “While it might not be the most forgiving option, the better players love the look and versatility the UW provides. The launch is a little lower and it tends to be low spin, but for the players who need that it has been a big success.”

 

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/673384/best-fairway-woods-of-2022-by-expert-club-fitters-for-you/feed/ 1 Best irons in golf of 2022: Top overall performers https://www.golfwrx.com/674080/best-irons-in-golf-of-2022-top-overall-performers/ https://www.golfwrx.com/674080/best-irons-in-golf-of-2022-top-overall-performers/#comments Sat, 09 Apr 2022 12:00:10 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=674080 A new set of irons is the single biggest investment you can make into your set of golf clubs. At GolfWRX, to determine the 2022 best irons, we have compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of 2022 irons is best for your game.

OEMs have again continued to push the engineering envelope of iron design by utilizing new technology and manufacturing methods to create clubs that offer forgiveness, along with faster, more consistent club faces and launch windows. We are also seeing more segmentation of models to help you determine your best set and/or set combination.

Ultimately the best way to find your personal iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you.

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player—this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

Join the discussion about best irons 2022 in the forums!

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

Best irons of 2022: How we did it

Before starting the process of building our best iron survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was clear—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2022: The categories

Best irons of 2022: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Eric Johnson: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Sue O’Connor: Fitter, Cool Clubs 
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Eric Hensler: Manager & Fitter, Miles of Golf
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Nick Waterworth: Fitter,Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop
Scott Anderson: VP of Sales, Fitter, True Spec Golf
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Shawn Zawodni: Fitter, Miles of Golf
Ben Giunta: Owner,The Tour Van
Matt Decker: Head Fitter and Builder, The Fitting Lab – Baltimore
Jason Bodey: Head Fitter and Builder, The Fitting Lab Pittsburgh
Bradley Harrelson: Fitter, 2nd Swing Golf
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Matt Mora: Director of Club Fitting, Urban Golf Performance
Jordan Patrick: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf

2022 Best irons: Top overall performers

This category is the perfect place to start if you’re not quite sure what you are looking for. Distance? Check. Forgiveness? Check. Sleek looks? Check. The top five in the “best irons overall” category are perfect for those golfers who appreciate technology and want something that is going to give them shot options.

Srixon ZX7

Their story: The Srixon ZX7 provides a compact squared-off blade profile with a thin topline to frame the ball and inspire confidence for those who prefer workability over maximum forgiveness. The “tour cavity” construction places mass where it’s needed for feel and acoustics while removing it from other places around the cavity to increase stability in the small forged cavity back.

The other piece of technology, which Srixon is using to maximize performance, is tungsten in the toe of the mid and long irons to condense more mass towards the toe for extra stability without having to extend the blade length. Using tungsten isn’t new, but when the goal is to minimize size while maximizing stability, it’s a complete necessity at this point, and Srixon does a great job utilizing it in the irons.

From the fitters:

  • “Srixon across the board, but really the ZX7, are very underrated. For an iron to look that good, feel that good, and perform so well is not that common. The ZX7 creates great ball speed and is one of the longer heads for the type of iron it is. Not every player is looking for that but if you can get a few extra yards, why not.”
  • “For the guy looking for a pure forged iron that’s still exceptionally forgiving, it’s a great, great iron.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade P790

Their story: Of course, we also know the real story of the P700 line in general, P790 in particular, is under the hood, so let’s take a look.

SpeedFoam, which was the showpiece of the original (2017) P790 line gets an upgrade in the 2021 edition. Dubbed SpeedFoam Air, the ultralight urethane foam is 69 percent less dense than the 2019 iteration.

As is the formula in golf club design, saving weight in one area allows engineers to relocate it to another to accomplish specific aims. In this case, it’s to aid launch. And that’s just what the folks at TM have done, moving the CG lower in the heads of P790 irons to the tune of an average of .5 millimeters.

From the fitters

  • “Just a ton of technology packed into a great looking iron. The ball speeds has been crazy good and I am impressed with how TaylorMade keeps improving them. Even for better players who just want a little more distance, they love the look.”
  • “It’s still very highly in demand. Very forgiving. Very long. In those hollow foam irons, if not the best, probably the leader in that category.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

Callaway Apex 21

Their story: Callaway Apex Forged irons were created with one goal in mind: optimization, not only through the set but into each specific iron. For the first time, Callaway used A.I. to design its patented Flash Face Cup, which in previous applications created a face that was not only fast but extremely forgiving.

In this newest iteration of the Apex iron, the focus was on control and “spin robustness,” which is another way to say spin optimization. Callaway was able to not only increase ball speeds and forgiveness across the face but with a new weighting configuration, also able to control and optimize spin. Each iron face is tuned to complement the loft (i.e. long irons equal high launch/low spin, mid irons equal mid launch/mid spin, short irons equal lower launch/higher spin).

From the fitters:

  • “They have had Apex for so many years and each year they add improvement. It fits a wide range of golfers from 4 to 15 handicaps. Some distance irons see some hot spots on the face and the Apex just offers really consistent ball speed, spin, and distance.”
  • “Apex has always been one of our bread-and-butters. Actually, if anything the 790 tilts toward the better player, and the Apex tilts a little bit towards the player that wants some help. It’s not as clean looking, but it has that forged feel, good looking, forgiving, ball speed, yeah, it’s…those two irons are our top dogs for sure.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Srixon ZX5

Their story: The Srixon ZX5 iron uses what the company calls Mainframe Face to optimize each club through the set based on tested strike patterns and was refined using machine learning. The face is composed of varying thickness patterns, which are all individually milled into the rear to expand the COR. The irons combine this Mainframe face made of strong and elastic SUP10 steel to the iron’s forged 1020 body to provide feel and elasticity, resulting in ball speed in an iron that appeals to a large group of golfers.

The ZX5 irons offer an extremely clean look from address and the topline profile matches closely to the popular ZX7—square and sharp! Not only that but the blade lengths and sole widths have all been finely tuned so golfers that do plan to build combo sets will see a smooth transition from one iron to the next and even into the utility.

From the fitters

  • This iron is a chameleon because it has the look of a smaller compact club yet offers the forgiveness associated with a larger one. It can fit a wide range of golfers, regardless of skill, even though it looks more like a club geared toward lower handicap golfers.

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

Cobra LTDx

Their story: The irons have been re-engineered from the inside out using a PWR-COR Weighting design that strategically positions the CG and adds face and body flexion in design to deliver maximum ball speed.

Combined with a thinner and larger PwrShell Face, the LTDx irons seek to provide players with an iron that blends forgiveness, high launch, excellent feel, and longest total distance.

The PWR-COR Weighting system features a multi-material design utilizing a floating steel core bar that is suspended in a lightweight and soft polymer. The steel core bar positions the CG low and right behind the impact zone.

From the fitters

  • “So good, man. After the last 2-3 generations, they’ve imporved little things from each line. The look, the sole width, I think this generation is the best. The CG being so low and back it launches the ball so high. The guys that come over the top, deliver a lot of loft…the LTDx is crazy. It gets the ball in the air, but you get the benefits of a strong lofted iron. It’s so good. Probably the second longest 7 iron I’ve ever hit behind the Wilson D9.”
  • “Cobra, in general, from an aesthetics standpoint, does the best job across all the vendors. They make beautiful cosmetics across their lines. It’s elegant, refined, and exceptionally easy to hit.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Join the discussion about best irons 2022 in the forums!

 

 

 

]]> https://www.golfwrx.com/674080/best-irons-in-golf-of-2022-top-overall-performers/feed/ 6 Best irons in golf of 2022: Best blades https://www.golfwrx.com/674082/best-irons-in-golf-of-2022-best-blades/ https://www.golfwrx.com/674082/best-irons-in-golf-of-2022-best-blades/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2022 13:00:36 +0000 https://www.golfwrx.com/?p=674082 A new set of irons is the single biggest investment you can make into your set of golf clubs. At GolfWRX, to determine the 2022 best irons, we have compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of 2022 irons is best for your game.

OEMs have again continued to push the engineering envelope of iron design by utilizing new technology and manufacturing methods to create clubs that offer forgiveness, along with faster, more consistent club faces and launch windows. We are also seeing more segmentation of models to help you determine your best set and/or set combination.

Ultimately the best way to find your personal iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you.

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player—this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

Join the discussion about best irons 2022 in the forums!

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

Best irons of 2022: How we did it

Before starting the process of building our best iron survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was clear—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2022: The categories

Best irons of 2022: Meet the fitters

Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
Eric Johnson: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
Sue O’Connor: Fitter, Cool Clubs 
Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Eric Hensler: Manager & Fitter, Miles of Golf
Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
Nick Waterworth: Fitter,Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop
Scott Anderson: VP of Sales, Fitter, True Spec Golf
Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
Shawn Zawodni: Fitter, Miles of Golf
Ben Giunta: Owner,The Tour Van
Matt Decker: Head Fitter and Builder, The Fitting Lab – Baltimore
Jason Bodey: Head Fitter and Builder, The Fitting Lab Pittsburgh
Bradley Harrelson: Fitter, 2nd Swing Golf
Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Matt Mora: Director of Club Fitting, Urban Golf Performance
Jordan Patrick: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf

2022 Best irons: Best blades

This is by far the most straightforward category because it is defined by a single style of club — the blade AKA the muscleback or MB for short. Although modern variations offer a lot more playability than they did decades ago, blades are still defined by their workability, compact shaping, and lower ball flight. If you are looking for the ultimate test or just prefer something in the more traditional vein, these are for you.

Callaway Apex MB

Their story: The Callaway Apex MB is forged from 1025 carbon steel with a classic shape that is similar to other blade irons from Callaway’s past, but this time with a slightly narrower sole and less offset. Another improvement is the 20V grooves ensure optimal spin control in and out of the rough.

The centrally located weight screw in the back of the head allows Callaway builders to maintain the precise center of gravity locations when adding or removing weight from the irons—it’s not a new idea, but it’s one that is key to allowing the irons to be dialed into spec for each golfer.

From the fitters

  • “The biggest thing when you are looking at traditional irons is the more traditional lofts that you can still see some shots float too much and lose distance. The Callaway has offered really consistent ball flight and consistent distance than most blades.”
  • “The central weight screw for adjusting swing weight has been great this year for quality control and to fine-tune during fittings. Although not everyone is sensitive to swing weight, this feature allows us, and secondly the builders, to get things just right.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

Mizuno MP-20

Their story: Mizuno calls the MP-20 “the ultimate tour blade” thanks to its melding of modern manufacturing techniques with classic styling. The MP20s provide flow throughout the set from top to bottom leading to greater control over ball flight. This flow also increases forgiveness (please remember it’s still a blade) and launch in the longer irons, with an increased ability to flight the ball in the scoring clubs.

To help create the classic Mizuno feel, the irons are also complemented with a copper underlay beneath the final chrome plating.

From the fitters:

  • “One of things that goes under the radar is the grain flow forging that they do. To me, that’s why there’s not much better feeling or softer feeling product. Knowing that the grain of the metal
    is angled to provide maximum feel up into your hands, there’s something romanticized about the engineering, and I do think it’s a separator for them.”
  • “Not only is the iron great on its own, but Mizuno has a fantastic fitting cart full of shaft options.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

Ping Blueprint

Their story: Born from the idea of creating a club for the most exacting of golfers, Ping meticulously prototyped and tested in house with their tour staff and other highly skilled players on everything from preferred shots, grind, to blade size and shape. When it comes to shape, the Blueprints are one of the smallest blades on the market, but there’s some reasoning behind this: highly skilled players prefer a more compact head.

It makes a lot of sense when you consider the fact that the more you concentrate mass, the more that mass will transfer energy when you get close to it right? It was that final design that we saw out on tour around nine months ago that has ended up becoming what we will see at retail. Tried tested and ready for fittings and finding their way into golf bags.

From the fitters

  • “We do very few traditional blade fittings and recommendations. The nice thing is that it looks like a blade iron, but the inside of the iron is anything but. It’s forged from the 8620 carbon
    steel, but it has a perimeter weighting story and a material story inside the head that turbos it up a little bit. You get that great classic look and thin topline, but you get some level of forgiveness that you wouldn’t find in the old blades of yesteryear.”
  • “It is out of the box for Ping, to make such a compact club. They might look a little intimidating in the long irons but I am seeing players really like the feel and sound from them.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

Titleist 620 MB

Their story: The 620 MB offers ideal turf interaction throughout the set thanks to more camber and a tweaked leading edge.  In addition to the sole tweaks, the blade length is progressive from the longest iron to the shortest and the transition is so smooth that unless you set clubs next to each other, it’s quite difficult to notice. The final design element is the face height progression which transitions from more shallow to tall in the pitching wedge to offer the greatest control over ball flight.

From the fitters:

  • “As long as the player has the skill set to play a blade, the 620 MB is consistent and the misses are not too bad.”
  • “It usually comes down to the look and feel with the 620MB and they are tough to beat. They are very soft and responsive while offering good tuft interaction.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

Join the discussion about best irons 2021 in the forums!

TaylorMade P7TW

Their story: TaylorMade (in collaboration with Mike Taylor, and Tiger) have done a lot to ensure every single aspect or each iron is designed to Woods’ exacting specs and the end consumer is going to experience the same club heads that the Big Cat himself uses.

The technologies include a “hidden” tungsten weight to help concentrate mass behind the sweet spot for “a unique blend of feel, flight and control.” It has been long speculated that Tiger’s personal irons had this feature, and thanks to the full disclosure of the tech specs for the P7TWs from TaylorMade, we the consumers now know what was really behind the chrome this whole time.

From the fitters

  • “From a playability standpoint, it’s probably the most forgiving blade out there. It’s not as intimidating as it looks. The P7MB is much less forgviving. The TW is a little longer heel to toe and it feels really good. The tungsten weighting in the middle makes a difference, for
    sure.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

Join the discussion about best irons 2022 in the forums!

 

 

 

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