Irons: golfdigest.com

PLAYERS IRONS

Today's irons hit it higher, farther and sweeter. You won't even notice that their rolled-back grooves spin some shots a little less

By E. Michael Johnson

Photos by Jim Herity

February 2010

MIZUNO MP-58

STREET PRICE: $1,000 (set of eight, steel)
WEBSITE: mizunousa.com

LOFTS: 6-iron: 31 degrees, PW: 47 degrees

TECH TALK: The technological highlight of this iron is the titanium forged into the back to improve feel and provide mass behind the impact area, allowing weight to be moved to the edges of the club for maximum forgiveness. The company's Shaft Optimizer fitting system narrows shaft choices.

PLAYER COMMENTS:
(M) "The epitome of this category: great feel, great trajectory and more than enough distance."
(L) "The iron's turf interaction was scalpel-like in its precision."

HOT: Forget the nice use of titanium and yummy Mizuno feel. The company's Shaft Optimizer is the coolest innovation since the Hot List began in 2004. The device measures several characteristics before offering a shaft recommendation after just three swings. Does it work? Well, we've heard from retailers that they're using it to fit and sell non-Mizuno irons, too.
NOT: The MP-58 requires a little more work to hit the ball high than some other irons.

TAYLORMADE R9 TP

STREET PRICE: $900
WEBSITE: taylormadegolf.com
LOFTS: 6-iron: 31, PW: 47

TECH TALK: Like the R9 irons, these feature a foam-filled chamber behind the clubface in the long irons (2-iron through 5-iron). This allowed designers to construct a face that's just two millimeters thick for optimum springlike effect. The KBS Tour Series shaft (used by the PGA Tour's Kenny Perry and Dustin Johnson during victories in 2009) are the stock offering.

PLAYER COMMENTS:
(L) "The best-looking cavity-back since the '05 TPs. I can control the trajectory, and it feels soft."
(L) "Very comfortable to the eye and no vibration -- even on toe hits."
(M) "A lot of heft behind the ball, but I can still turn it right or left."

HOT: Six-time major champion Nick Faldo played a role in the design, including how the hosel blends with the face and leading edge to ensure the club is pleasing to the eye. Good suggestions by Sir Nick.
NOT: Offering a 2-iron as an option even for good players is only encouraging bad behavior. Consider that at last year's Tour Championship, 11 of the 30 players started their iron set at the 4-iron or higher.

TITLEIST AP2

STREET PRICE: $1,000
WEBSITE: titleist.com
LOFTS: 6-iron: 31, PW: 47

TECH TALK: The latest AP2 features a few enhancements. Designers covered the entire cavity area with an elastomer-and-aluminum bar to help eliminate the lower sound frequencies often associated with poor feel. Also, they reduced the bounce by 1 degree in the 7-iron through wedges to help the club glide through the turf better.

PLAYER COMMENTS:
(M) "It's more than an iron, it's a piece of jewelry."
(M) "Picture-perfect. From the look to the forged feel to the lines to the cavity. I'd definitely put these in play. I'm converted."
(L) "It's not often you find the right combination of topline, blade length and sole width. This is it."

HOT: These clubs are the Swiss Army knife of irons: versatile with the highest craftsmanship. Reducing the bounce in the short irons by 1 degree might not seem like much, but the improvement in turf interaction is significant compared with the previous model.
NOT: True Temper's Dynamic Gold is a fine shaft, but we wish Titleist had stayed with the Project-X.