By Scott Kramer
Golfers don’t typically think of autumn as the best time of year to buy new golf clubs. After all, golf season is already starting to wrap up in certain parts. Yet several companies have just unveiled new iron models. And these particular clubs are loaded with the latest and greatest technology, materials, and weighting schemes. That collectively enhances your ability to launch the ball higher, while getting maximum distance and forgiveness. The shafts on these are also fresh, high-end models that essentially improve launch conditions and feel. So if your irons are more than a few years old, you may want to consider heading to your local golf shop to at least give these a test on the driving range. Who knows? One of them may rev up your game this fall and keep you optimistic all winter.
Callaway this week announced a new version of its popular large-headed Steelhead X-14 iron, which will be available Sept. 2. The Steelhead XR has the familiar shaping of its predecessor, as well as a 360 face cup — an ultra-thin clubface wrapping slightly around the body that allows it edges to freely flex in and then release at impact with efficiency to gain you more ball speed and distance on shots struck across the entire face. Even mishits. Each iron head has a hollow bore-thru, saving weight that the club designers then reposition in strategic areas. That results in forgiveness and an easier launch. A steel-infused polyurethane layer positioned behind the face’s lower portion enhances both sound and feel. The head has a slightly long blade length plus a rounded toe, which helps your visual confidence as you stand over the ball. The irons sell for $1,000/set with graphite shafts and $800 with steel.
PING’s new, compact iBlade iron has a relatively small audience, in that it’s designed for better players who prefer a thin top rail, minimal offset, straight lead edge and sharp high toe. On the market now, its body is precision cast from soft, strong steel. The result is what the company says is its softest and purest feel ever. Club designers incorporated tour pro feedback in creating this iron — leading to a simple clubhead shape, clean cavity design and solid feel at impact. The sole is shaped to be workable from all conditions, and the milled grooves and machined fly-cut face help keep impact crisp and consistent. Tungsten weights are pressed into the toe, to increase the moment of inertia (MOI) for more forgiveness — something even better players need. PING officials claim this is already the brand’s most-played iron on tour. A set of eight irons will run $1,420 with graphite shafts and $1,300 with steel.
Tour Edge clubs have long been a bargain, providing competitive technology and performance at a fraction of the price. Such is the case with the company’s new Hot Launch 2 iron, coming Sept. 10. It’s made of a soft 431 stainless steel and sports the brand’s deepest undercut cavity ever that allows weight to be moved away from the clubface and into the sole, for a high MOI, lofty launch angle and enhanced forgiveness. Each clubhead is a touch on the large side, which helps elongate the sweet spot for mis-hit forgiveness. You can order them to your exact specs for loft, lie angle, length, shaft flex and grip size — at no extra cost. A set of these can be yours for $500 with graphite shafts and $400 with steel.
Scott Kramer is veteran, Southern California-based writer primarily versed in golf and personal technology. Studying Computer Sciences in college, and then working as a programmer/software engineer for about a decade, triggered my passion for today’s high-end, high-tech gadgets. I can’t help myself whenever I see any kind of cool new personal technology. I feel compelled to further check it out and see what it’s all about. And even if I have no use for it personally, I’m always thinking who it might best suit. There are exciting new innovations emerging daily that are shaping the future and simplifying life. And I hope to be your eyes to that world, through the words of this column.