All posts in Irons

New Arrivals – Cleveland HB3 & CG1 Tour Irons

by Annie Latham on April 23, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Cleveland, Irons with No comments

Waiting is the hardest part — both on course and off.  For those looking to hit the links with a new set of hybrid irons, the good news is that Cleveland Golf’s HB3 irons are now available.  The follow-on (and third generation) to Cleveland’s popular HiBore irons, the HB3 irons are lighter, faster and longer than any of Cleveland’s previous iron sets.

The HB3 is a full iron set that uses an advanced internal weighting and has a “forgiving sole design.”

According to a post on Cleveland Golf’s Facebook page, “The HB3 is a super game improvement iron, geared towards higher handicappers. Helps aid in getting the ball up and huge forgiveness.”

The HB3 has an “Action Ultralite” graphite shaft, which is 15 grams lighter with a lower kick point than its predecessor. As a result you get faster clubhead speeds and higher launch angles.

Weight removal on crown & sole recesses allow for internal discretionary weight placement and a 12% deeper face to CG depth than HiBORE XLi irons.

The new sole design provides recessed sections to reduce drag and improve turf interaction while maintaining wide sole characteristics for increased control and forgiveness.

Available at retailers now, the HB3 carry a MAP price of $599 (steel) and $699 (graphite).  For more information go here.


The new CG1 Tour irons are also starting to make their appearance. Inspired by Cleveland Golf’s  PGA Tour players and designed for consistent ball striking, distance control and a new level of forgiveness never seen before in a blade, these split cavity-back long irons and muscle-back mid/short irons maintain a traditional look while providing extra forgiveness with the workability and feel of a blade.

The CG1 Tour features a breakthrough surface roughness technology known as LASER MILLED.  Using the precision accuracy of a laser, each face features four perfectly calibrated texture lines milled between each groove exactly to the conforming roughness limit. This “Laser Milled face technology” optimizes ball-to-face friction and maximizes spin within the Rules of Golf.

Speaking of rules, the CG1 irons leverage a breakthrough milling technology that creates pristine edge for increasing the “ZIP” and ” and shot consistency –especially from poor lies — while conforming to the 2010 USGA groove rule.

The CG1 Tour irons have a MAP price of $799. You can learn more about them here.

Hint: Watch for demo days near you.  With so many new clubs arriving this spring, your best bet is to try a bunch out to find the ones that address the areas of your game that needs help AND feel the best.

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Wilson Staff FG Tour Irons: A Classic Look Blended With Modern Technology

by James on April 17, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Irons, Wilson Staff with 2 Comments
Wilson Staff FG Tour Irons

I have to warn you, I’m going to be on a little bit of a Wilson Staff kick over the next little while. Out of curiosity, I tweeted the good folks at Wilson Staff (@WilsonGolf), wondering what sticks Ricky Barnes was playing these days. He’s been consistently at or near the top of the leaderboards so far this year, with 9 cuts made in 10 events, 3 top 25’s and 2 top 10’s. Not too shabby… Looks like his game is headed in the right direction. Naturally, one of the things I want to know when a player is in-form, is the equipment he or she is using. Wilson Staff kindly obliged, letting me know that Ricky is playing the new FG Tour irons, and a 48 degree Tw9 wedge. I’m going to take a look at the FG Tours below.

Wilson Staff FG Tour Irons

A meld of classic looks and modern forgiveness, the FG Tours are made from a mild carbon steel. They’re precision forged and integrate a progressive offset for more accurate short irons, and easier to hit long irons. They also feature a preference of most top pros, a thin top line and square toe blade shape. A very classic look indeed.

On top of the classic silhouette is actually some modern forgiveness. A shallow cavity redistributes weight from the heel to the toe of each iron. This moves the center of gravity to the center of the face for increased stability and solid feel through the shot.

Last but not least, the grooves on the FG Tour irons ARE conforming. The face and grooves are CNC-milled to the maximum limits of the new specs enforced by the USGA and R&A.

A couple more shots of the FG Tour Irons are below. For more information, hit up Wilson Golf.

Wilson Staff FG Tour Irons

MacGregor Golf Launches New Equipment Line

by James on April 15, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Drivers, Irons, Putters with 2 Comments
MacGregor M85T Driver

For some reason I thought MacGregor golf was done. Since Greg Norman’s grind to the final group on the British Open a few years ago, I hadn’t really heard much about them… However, since Golfsmith acquired full intellectual property rights to the MacGregor Golf brand last May, it looks like things are turning around.

If you’ve never heard of MacGregor Golf before, I have one question for you, have you been living under a rock!? The brand has been around since 1897, and their equipment has been in the bag for 59 major championships. Not too shabby.

At any rate, let’s get right down to it. Here’s the new product line you can check out right now at Golfsmith:

MacGregor M85T Driver ($299.99)

MacGregor M85T Driver

The M85T uses MacGregor’s exclusive FACEFIT technology to let you choose from an open, neutral or closed face position at address. Weight distribution within the clubhead puts the center of gravity low and deep, for drives that have tons of carry. Cup Face 360* technology also maxes out ball speeds across the entire face.

MacGregor M75T Driver ($199.99)

MacGregor M75T Driver

The M75T Driver is an oversized driver featuring a HOT clubface with Cup Face 360* technology. Again, the center of gravity is placed low and deep, giving you lots of carry and forgiveness on those off-center hits.

MacGregor VIP Forged Irons ($799.99)

MacGregor VIP Forged Irons

If you’re a low-handicap golfer that demands shot shaping and feel from your irons, the new MacGregor VIP Forged Irons are worth a look. Made from 1020 carbon steel, these sticks go through a 800-tom forging process to create a tighter grain structure, which in the end, promises improved feel and consistency. While not a full-out blade, the muscle cavity design is a nice blend of forgiveness and feel… and let’s face it, these clubs look classic.

MacGregor M85i Irons ($699.99)

MacGregor M85i Irons

The MacGregor M85i Irons are more of a game improvement cavity back. Providing ultimate forgiveness via the deep undercut back cavity and a low center of gravity, most players will notice higher shots that come down soft. Inside each cavity is a multi-material medallion with vibration-damping properties to help avoid those nasty ‘stingers’ and provide clean feedback. One other thing you’ll notice in comparison to the VIP irons, is the thick top line.

MacGregor ROTA Series Milled Putters ($129.99)

MacGregor Prestwick Putter

Available in three classic shapes, the new MacGregor ROTA Series Milled Putters are beautiful to say the least. Available in a ‘Prestwick’, ‘Hoylake’ and ‘Lytham’ edition, the three models cover all the bases depending on your style of putting. The Prestwick is a take on the more modern offset putter… The Hoylake looks like your classic blade (think Wilson 8802)… and the Lytham putter is a take on the modern mallet. All are works or art, and feature ARC face milling. The process leaves a texture on the strike area of the putter face for consistent contact and roll on every putt.

Check out our image gallery for a closer look at the new equipment from MacGregor.

Also available are a wide range of fairway woods, hybrids, wedges and more… you can even get MacGregor bags, balls, towels and hats. Golfsmith is doing it right, and I’m looking forward to seeing more and more MacGregor goodness in the years to come!

For more information, hit up the MacGregor line over at Golfsmith.

[Via: THP]

Moore News: Getting off the Tiger Beat…

by Annie Latham on April 9, 2010 in News, Golf Equipment, Irons, Players with 2 Comments

How about something off the “Tiger beat”?  According to David Dusek at Golf.com, Ryan Moore had Scratch irons custom made for Augsuta National.

You may be wondering: Who is Ryan Moore and why should you care?

To start, back in August, Ryan Moore made headlines for winning the Wyndham Championship AND  being the only PGA Tour pro who didn’t have an equipment contract or clothing endorsement deal.   The most notable thing besides his play was what he was wearing on his feet — skateboarder shoes with golf cleats.  There has been lots of buzz on the Web about the shoes.

Back the Scratch story.  Apparently, Moore finally signed with an equipment manufacturer Scratch Golf, of Chattanooga, Tenn.  They custom-grind every set of irons they sell, with an output of about 10 sets of irons in a week.

Moore’s deal with Scratch golf is unique — he took an equity stake in the company instead of an endorsement fee.  You can lear about the deal here.

Scratch Golf told Dusek that Moore had a set of oversized, cavity-backed Scratch EZ-1 irons made to his specs especially for the Masters. The game-improvement clubs are not only more forgiving, but they also hit the ball higher than the SB-1 irons that he used in other tournaments.  The EZ-1 irons should allow Moore to stop the ball more quickly on Augusta’s legendary greens.

So far, Moore is +1 for the first two rounds.

Adams Golf Launches Idea Pro Black CB1 Irons

by James on April 3, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Adams, Irons with No comments

Adams Golf Idea Pro CB1 IronsIn a new arrival from the folks at Adams Golf, the Idea Pro Black CB1 Irons are now available. The irons are said to be for the lower-handicap golfer, and feature tour-styled forged carbon steel heads. Each iron features a nickel-chrome plated and black physical vapor deposition (PVD) finish. Kind of reminds me of Cleveland’s CG1 ‘Black Pearl’ irons. The Pro Black CB1’s are more of a cavity, where as the CG1’s were a full out blade, but if you know clubs, you know what I’m talking about.

The Idea Pro Black CB1’s are made from 8620 carbon steel for control, feedback and performance. Each head is precision milled, and the grooves do comply with the 2010 USGA competition requirements. As I expected when I first laid eyes on these, they feature a thin top line and a beveled trailing edge, two features that are preferred by most low-handicap golfers.

Chip Brewer, President and CEO of Adams Golf commented on the new CB1’s:

“Originally developed exclusively for our professional staff players like Tom Watson, the overwhelmingly positive comments about the feel and performance of the CB1s from the tour inevitably led us to make this set an integral part of the successful Idea family of irons…This stealth-looking set has already received high marks from golf enthusiasts plugged into the online community so we look forward to bringing the CB1s to low-handicap golfers everywhere who appreciate the control and workability of this forged set of irons.”

Pricing? You’re looking at a suggested retail of $899.99 for steel and $1,099.99 for graphite. Rifle Project X flighted steel shafts are available, or if you prefer graphite, the Mitsubishi Rayon Javln FX i95 shaft gets the nod. Shafts are available in regular, stiff or extra-stiff.

[Via: TheGolfWire]

Miura Golf Introduces CB-501 Forged Cavity-Back Irons

by Annie Latham on March 26, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Irons with 1 Comment

Japanese golf-club manufacturer Miura Golf has just introduced its CB-501 forged cavity-back irons.  Like all Miura irons, the mild-steel CB-501s are hand precision-forged and custom crafted by Katsuhiro Miura, Miura Golf Inc.’s 67-year-old founder, whose forged clubmaking skills over the past 49 years have prompted the Japanese to claim he has “the Hands of God.”

What distinguishes the CB-501 is the effort Mr. Miura’s took to create an iron that featured the ideal ball flight, enough offset to promote playability, the perfect head size and a sole grind that would accommodate a broad range of players.  One of the things he ended up doing was borrowing a design feature from the company’s past-the sweet-spot muscle-back, which was used in a very different Miura iron, the CB-1003, back in 1996.

In all, Mr. Miura spent two years integrating these design variables in different ways until he found the blend that worked best for the widest range of golfers. The result is the CB-501-a cavity-back iron featuring a small muscle-back located behind the sweet spot that delivers the trajectory of a blade iron when the ball is struck on the center of the face. This style of iron also offers cavity-back forgiveness and ball flight, as the contact point moves away from the center of the face.

The CB-501-which boasts a W nickel (satin) chrome finish-is available in a 3-iron through pitching wedge set, right-hand only.  You can find it at high-end, custom-fitting shops.  Pricing is not available.   To learn more, go to www.miuragolf.com.

Cobra Golf’s New S2 Max Irons Unveiled

by Annie Latham on March 23, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Cobra, Irons with 1 Comment

Cobra Golf has just unveiled some new high-performance sticks in a line that has been dubbed Cobra S2 Max.  Available in both iron and iron-hybrid integrated sets,  the S2 Max clubs are designed for maximum forgiveness and high launch for mid- to high-handicap players.  With the S2 Max Iron-Hybrid Set, you get ” Baffler-style hybrids” that provide proper distance gapping throughout the set for players who prefer hitting forgiving hybrids over long irons.

There are several options available:

  • Men’s Graphite set includes 3/H, 4/H and 5/H hybrids, and 6-PW irons, featuring Aldila DVS-HL shafts ($776 SRP).
  • Men’s Steel set includes 3/H and 4/H hybrids with Aldila DVS-HL graphite shafts, and 5-PW irons with FST steel shafts ($632 SRP).
  • Women’s and Seniors’/Lite sets include 4/H, 5/H and 6/H hybrids, 7-PW, and SW irons with Aldila DVS-HL graphite shafts ($776 SRP).

Note: You can find these clubs for significantly less at Golfsmith and TGW.com.

The Cobra S2 Max line has received a Gold Award in the 2010 Golf Digest Hot List. For more information about the Cobra S2 Max Irons and Cobra S2 Max Iron-Hybrid Integrated Set, go to www.cobragolf.com.

Buy a Set of Wilson Staff Di9 Irons, Walk Augusta This April

by James on March 1, 2010 in Contests, Golf Equipment, Irons with No comments
Wilson Staff Di9 Irons

Wilson Golf has started up a new contest that will intrigue anyone that has a bag full of Wilson gear. The deal? To start, you’ll need to pick up a set of Di9 irons. Once the sticks are in your bag, you can enter to win the following:

  • Roundtrip airfare for 2
  • 2 days/1 night local accommodations
  • 2 weekend golf tournament passes
  • Food and beverage
  • Exclusive Wilson Staff VIP Gifts

The contest is open to all in the US and Canada. For more details, head on over to Wilson.com.

Key specs on the Wilson Di9 Irons:

Powerful Head Design
The club head offers a low profile and wide sole that inspires confidence at address. A lower center of gravity produces higher ball flight, while the wide sole moves weight away from the face for greater stability.

Wilson Di9 IronsHot Face
A thin, ultra-hot face delivers a competitive ball speed advantage for greater distance.

Patented Wide-Tip Shaft
The latest evolution of Wilson’s patented wide-tip technology is the softest ever produced. While the wide tip controls twisting on off-center hits, the lightweight shafts from True-Temper and UST reduce overall weight for maximum clubhead speed.

Vibration Dampening
A vibration-dampening urethane medallion expands the sweet spot the entire length of the face. It also serves as a shock trap that reduces vibration that travels through the hosel and into the hands.

Note: I’ve got to say, the Wilson Di9’s are a sharp looking club. Although I prefer the look and feel of blades in my bag, the Di9 has a half-cavity look, which no doubt combines the forgiveness of a full-cavity and the shot-shaping and ‘feel’ of a full-out blade.

A few more images of the Di9’s are below for your viewing pleasure.

Wilson Di9 Iron Breakaway Look

Wilson Staff Di9 Irons

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