Irons are important for scoring, so if you’d like to score some new sticks this year that are touted to improve your game, here are few options to consider:
BRIDGESTONE JGR
Tech talk: The unsupported face, which wraps around the sole of the club, is 1.5 millimeters at the bottom edge to enhance ball speed, and the broad, finlike sole on the carbon steel backing provides forgiveness on all strikes.
Company line: The forging that combines a carbon-steel body and an alloy face has the lowest and deepest center of gravity of any forged iron on the market.
Bottom line: $700, steel; $750 graphite
CALLAWAY APEX CF
Tech talk: In the 3- through 7-irons, stainless steel inserts appear as a cup face to produce more ball speed than previous Apex models. The 8-iron through pitching wedge has a high strength steel face for better feel and more control.
Company line: The combination of forged carbon steel heads with a stainless steel face are designed for and should appeal to 5- to 15-handicappers.
Bottom line: $1,200, steel; $1,400, graphite
CALLAWAY XR OS
Tech talk: Redesigning the width of the sole led to a change in the architecture of the head, which led to a 2 mph increase in ball speed over last year’s model. Loft also was added to the 3- through 7-irons to help higher handicappers.
Company line: The wraparound cup face design increases ball speed, and Callaway’s Internal Standing Wave weighting system leads to higher shots.
Bottom line: $800, steel; $900, graphite
COBRA KING F6
Tech talk: Milled grooves enhance spin rates across the three designs; an aluminum insert in the cavities of the long and middle irons shifts mass lower for higher launches; and face flex through perimeter channels increase forgiveness.
Company line: Design enhancements throughout the set give the long irons more distance, the middle irons more control and the short irons added versatility.
Bottom line: $800, steel; $900, graphite
COBRA MAX
Tech talk: The 4-8 irons have a half hollow build, with an enclosed chamber in the bottom portion of the wide-soled design. The change drops the center of gravity lower. The 9-iron and wedges have an undercut cavity to boost forgiveness.
Company line: This combo set is for players who have struggled hitting irons in the past, with weaker lofts from previous models giving you a lift.
Bottom line: $600, steel; $650, graphite
MIZUNO JPX-EZ
Tech talk: A dual pocket cavity that leads to a thinner and livelier face is designed to produce faster ball speeds and increased COR in the middle irons. The sweet spot is lower than in the EZ model, which produces higher shots and softer landings.
Company line: The design team has built the company’s longest iron for 10 to 25 handicappers without sacrificing forgiveness or resorting to overly strong lofts.
Bottom line: $800, steel; $900, graphite
MIZUNO MP-25
Tech talk: A progressive channel back thickens the head behind the hitting area and toward the toe so players will get more forgiveness on mis-hits without losing the feel, feedback and playability that comes with a precision iron’s design.
Company line: This new blade combines the ease of a shallow cavity back with a traditional and workable muscleback design for overall improved iron play.
Bottom line: $1,000, steel
NIKE VAPOR FLY
Tech talk: The hollow-bodied long irons and cavity back short irons have a carbon fiber material behind the face that saves weight and shifts the center of gravity lower, deeper and closer to the center of the head for better launch and carry.
Company line: If your handicap is 12 or higher, these irons can help because of a design that improves stability and feel while creating energy transfer at impact.
Bottom line: $800, steel; $900, graphite
PING GMAX
Tech talk: These G irons are a slimmed-down version of last year’s G30 model thanks to a process that hardened the 17-4 stainless steel face by 40 percent, which boosts ball speeds, a more stable hitting area and higher launches.
Company line: Ping’s mission of providing clubs with maximum forgiveness for all rings true with this updated design that accommodates high handicappers.
Bottom line: $800, steel; $900, graphite
SRIXON Z 355
Tech talk: A process using heavier heads and high-balance-point shafts was used in this line. The longer irons have a cavity back design with a maraging steel face for power, while the shorter irons are made from a softer stainless steel for more feel.
Company line: A widened Tour V.T. sole provides relief for high handicappers on off-center hits while maintaining a good overall hitting area for all skill levels.
Bottom line: $800, steel; $900, graphite
TAYLORMADE M2
Tech talk: A variable thickness face, combined with a Speed Pocket channel and a thin-walled sole, provides players with additional ball speed, even on off-center strikes. A compact Tour model gives better players added workability.
Company line: A deep undercut behind the face and a fluted hosel freed up mass to go lower and farther back in the head to boost forgiveness and ball flight.
Bottom line: $800, steel; $900, graphite
TAYLORMADE PSI
Tech talk: A dampening material called Hybrar fills the updated Speed Pocket that now cuts through the sole into an undercut cavity. Paired with a shock-absorbing blade, the Hybrar eases tremor at contact without compromising ball speed.
Company line: These new irons have distance numbers similar to the RSi2 they replace, but with a smaller setup and a smoother feel for all players.
Bottom line: $1,100, steel; $1,300, graphite
WILSON FG TOUR F5
Tech talk: Thinning out the area where the bottom of the face meets the sole increases flex and distance on off-center contact, and a stabilizing bar in the cavity improves consistency across the hitting area without hurting ball speed.
Company line: Because they’re forged from carbon steel, these irons are for skilled players who want more distance without sacrificing any feel.
Bottom line: $900, steel; $1,000 graphite
