Game Improvement Irons

CLUBS LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

: CALLAWAY FT; STREET PRICE: $1,100
WEBSITE: callawaygolf.com
LOFTS
6-iron: 30, PW: 45

TECH STORY
Visual improvements include a thinner top line, less offset and a higher toe. Inside, the high-density alloy cradle has been tweaked to move 80 percent of the clubhead's weight to the perimeter. A thermoplastic-urethane insert in the cavity is designed to decrease vibration, and a titanium face helps increase ball speed.

PLAYER COMMENTS
"It's right up there as the best one yet. More of a player's club than a game-improvement iron in my eyes. . . . You know you're going to hit the ball solid with these. This is confidence you can buy. . . . The vibration dampening was nice, but it detracted a bit from the feedback."

HOT
The original made the Golf Digest Hot List three years running. This improved version is a worthy successor. Any time you can produce a face this hot that feels this soft, you've accomplished something.

NOT
The original was one of the pricier irons in this category, and the new version has been bumped up a hundred bucks from that.

: CLEVELAND CG GOLD; STREET PRICE: $600
WEBSITE: clevelandgolf.com
LOFTS
6-iron: 30, PW: 45

TECH STORY
Microcavities in the clubhead's top line allow 10 grams to be moved low and deep for added stability. The company's "gelback" material in the cavity is designed to dampen vibration. Royal Precision's flighted technology in the shafts provides a specific kickpoint for each shaft for a higher ball flight in the long irons and a more penetrating flight in the short irons.

PLAYER COMMENTS
"Makes a bad shot feel good and a good shot feel better. . . . The cheesy-gum stuff really works. This is a shock absorber that makes a difference. . . . More distance than most."

HOT
Cleveland irons have been known as a solid value, but the company's technological prowess has been overshadowed. This club might change that. Plenty of tech has been crammed into a conventional-looking clubhead. The color-coded hosel markings to help in fitting are a nice touch.
NOT
Purists might have an issue with the blocky-looking short irons.

* Category Leader

: COBRA FP; STREET PRICE: $500
WEBSITE: cobragolf.com
LOFTS
6-iron: 29, PW: 45

TECH STORY
Use of urethane for the insert allowed engineers to move 10 to 20 grams (depending on the iron) to the heel and toe, producing a 6-percent boost in MOI versus the original FP. The sole has been narrowed and redesigned for greater versatility, and the CG has been lowered and pushed back to improve forgiveness.

PLAYER COMMENTS
"To paraphrase Goldilocks, it's not too big, not too small; it's just right. . . . Good forgiveness and feel for a simple-looking club. . . . I didn't care for the offset, but boy could you thread some needles with this club."

HOT
Already a solid iron, the new FP has a sleek look and goodies such as a full cavity-back plate and a urethane membrane that produces feel akin to a hot knife going through butter. The Nippon NS 1030H shaft (at 103 grams) is a nice choice for stock-steel offering.

NOT
The narrow sole might make things tougher for the chopper.

: MIZUNO MX-25; STREET PRICE: $750
WEBSITE: mizunousa.com
LOFTS
6-iron: 30, PW: 46

TECH STORY
A grain-flow forging process and 1025E carbon steel help produce a soft feel. A pocket in the rear cavity allows for the repositioning of 30 grams of weight in long irons and 20 grams in middle irons. The pocket is replaced by a solid bar in the short irons for better feel. Modified U-grooves are designed to control spin.

PLAYER COMMENTS
"A pretty club that sits perfectly at address and feels sweet. What else would you expect from Mizuno? . . . This has a nice, controlled ball flight that would serve the low- to mid-handicapper well. . . . I didn't want to put this one down. Everything about it made me feel like I could hit a good shot."

HOT
This is Mizuno's fastest-selling iron ever, and it's easy to see why. The X-back cavity pad is an engineering first for a forged club and reinforces the face area, allowing this iron to exude effortless power and control.

NOT
It's not the most forgiving club on our list. Slower swingers should beware.