Price
$330
1 / 3
2 / 3
matt martian photography
3 / 3
Why We Like It
- Compact but high launching, this model uses a carbon-composite crown to free up mass for a lower center of gravity and adjustable weights to customize ball flight.
- The squared-off face provides a larger lower-face area, pushing weight low and forward while creating room for more ball speed where average golfers most often make contact.
- Compared to last year’s Black Ops, the Lightning model’s face is six percent thinner, creating more face deflection for better ball speed.
- Three movable weights in the sole increase fitting options. Two 2.5-gram weights and a 12.5-gram weight allow the user to shift weight to the rear for forgiveness, to the toe to minimize a hook, and to the heel to moderate a slice.
- With the adjustable hosel, the loft range now extends across 20 degrees and seven heads, from 15.5 to 35.5 degrees.
- 17, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel).
what our testers said
handicap
- all
- low
- mid
- high
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List panelists observed a compact, thin-profile head that inspires confidence and plays like an iron: easy to flight, highly workable, with high launch/low spin and a cushiony, powerful feel. Big sweet spot and long, deep face deliver consistent ball speed, tight dispersion, and forgiving off-center results that hold greens and fly straight—even into wind. Looks and alignment graphics are praised; turf interaction is generally good and it’s excellent off the tee. A few found distance middling, especially from tight turf.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted a compact, thin-profile head that inspires confidence and plays more like an iron than a wood. It’s easy to launch, highly workable and lands softly into greens; the long, deep face delivers strong forgiveness (off-center strikes stayed online, with some distance loss). The club feels “teed-up” on turf and lets you be aggressive through the ball. One drawback: some players found the smaller head harder to square at address, affecting consistency.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted a compact, deeper-headed hybrid with a slightly rectangular face and massive sweet spot that delivers a cushiony yet powerful feel and consistent ball speeds. It yields tight dispersion, forgiving off-center strikes, and a penetrating mid-trajectory that often rolls out for extra yardage. Launch impressions varied—some found it higher-launching than rivals, others got a lower, rolling flight—and it’s not the most forgiving on toe/heel hits.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List panelists observed an attractive, standard head with a muted, solid impact feel. Ball came off with intense speed and very low sidespin, producing high, straight flights that hold their line into the wind and often descend steeply. It launches easier than most long‑iron replacements, hangs in the air and is workable; center and slight off‑center strikes performed similarly. One tester did note mis-hits weren’t very forgiving and distance fell short of long‑iron expectations.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
Wesley
31, Handicap 4
3 years testing
Love the thin profile. I feel like I can be aggressive through the ball. Plays more like an iron than a wood. High ball flight and lands softly. Definitely good into greens.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
Love the compact head and dual-tone crown, but even with the smaller head, I struggled on occasion to glide through the turf, as if the club didn't have enough heft to power through. There is forgiveness in it, though.
BK
42, Handicap 2
10+ years testing
High launch and low spin are a nice combination. I like the compact head, too. Gives you confidence on bad lies.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I love the shape: compact, deeper face, and a toe that's a smidge square. The turf interaction is above average, and the face is firmer than most, so you feel the type of shot you're hitting.
Ricky
47, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
Easy to get in the air and good workability. I could control my shot even with the smaller head and face.
SEE ALL (28)
Wesley
31, Handicap 4
3 years testing
Love the thin profile. I feel like I can be aggressive through the ball. Plays more like an iron than a wood. High ball flight and lands softly. Definitely good into greens.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
Love the compact head and dual-tone crown, but even with the smaller head, I struggled on occasion to glide through the turf, as if the club didn't have enough heft to power through. There is forgiveness in it, though.
BK
42, Handicap 2
10+ years testing
High launch and low spin are a nice combination. I like the compact head, too. Gives you confidence on bad lies.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I love the shape: compact, deeper face, and a toe that's a smidge square. The turf interaction is above average, and the face is firmer than most, so you feel the type of shot you're hitting.
Ricky
47, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
Easy to get in the air and good workability. I could control my shot even with the smaller head and face.
Jason
49, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
When you set it down, the toe looks slightly open, and although the head is smaller, this aesthetic gave me confidence that I would hit it straight. It's forgiving and packs plenty of punch for its small size.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
Center and off-center hits performed similarly. The low driven balls got up quickly and seemed to hang a bit, but the distance wasn't what I was expecting.
Todd
62, Handicap 13
1 year testing
Attractive, standard head. You're rewarded for well-centered hits but mis-hits aren't very forgiving. Overall, solid sound, like a refrigerator door closing.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
Forgiving and easy to get the ball up higher than most. The ball holds its line, even into the wind. Great distance, and I was able to work the ball.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Not the most forgiving on toe and heel hits. That said, the pros outweigh the cons when you find the sweet spot because the ball explodes off of the face.
Alan
31, Handicap 3
2 years testing
Graphics are a bit much to my eye. This is a high-flight, high-spin hybrid. It's not ideal for something flighted or into the wind.
Jack
36, Handicap 1
3 years testing
Has a long, deep face for maximum hitting area. Off-center hits hardly strayed from where I was aiming but did lose distance. Doesn't really benefit my style of game being a low launch player and this being a mid-flight hybrid.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Ball speed is consistent across the face with little reverberation or loss in yardage. Balls that are hit center face carry well and have a good penetrating ball flight.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Very forgiving, even on mis-hits. It doesn't deviate much from your line, and it's not gonna hurt your hands or anything like that.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
Classic look with a powerful feel, but the dispersion and distance fell short of what I'd like to see in a hybrid.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
I would prefer a more energetic feeling of the ball coming off the face. Forgiving but average distance. Ball flight was low with a good bit of rollout.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Has a massive sweet spot. The face is slightly rectangular and that provides a good punch from anywhere on the face. The ball traveled where I aimed, and my errors were forgiven. The ball flight is kind of mid-trajectory.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Great feeling club—soft and cushiony—with average to medium height. I loved hitting it. Such a pleasing sensation on every swing.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
I like the alignment "X" and how it helps to center the ball at address, but the head size is too small for me. Overall, it is lightweight to swing and very quick through impact, but it doesn't have the forgiveness I want in a hybrid.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
I love the compact head, and I appreciate the graphics and low design. Looks very hittable. The feel is cushiony yet powerful. Boring trajectory and above average distance. I wasn't penalized much on mis-hits.
Megan
40, Handicap 0
2 years testing
It felt like it was teed up even when hitting off the ground. This hybrid offers a lot of assistance in a good way.
Robert
29, Handicap +2
2 years testing
As much as I liked the smaller head, I had a tough time aligning the face to the ball at address, so my ball-striking and trajectory weren't as consistent as I'd prefer.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
It has a higher launch than most, but the distance was still really good.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Even when I felt like I hit it well, the launch-monitor numbers weren't that good. I'd call this middle of the pack. I didn't have the distance I expected.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
A nice-looking club, but I wasn't achieving the high launch and distance I was hoping for in a long-iron replacement. Muted and soft at impact.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
Ball came off the face with intense speed. Sidespin was nonexistent. Shots flew straight and powerfully high and then fell almost vertically.
Jin
30, Handicap 10
2 years testing
I'd prefer a higher launching hybrid because I play a course where I hit these from the fairway, usually into a par 4 or 5. Total distance is what I'd like to see, but it rolls out to get there. Dispersion is tight.
Anand
43, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Off the tee, the club works really well. Off the turf, it was difficult to launch. Just for verification, I went back and hit one more off the tee—same yardage. Incredible. Great option for short par 4s, when you need to get the ball in the fairway.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
Love the compact head and dual-tone crown, but even with the smaller head, I struggled on occasion to glide through the turf, as if the club didn't have enough heft to power through. There is forgiveness in it, though.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
Center and off-center hits performed similarly. The low driven balls got up quickly and seemed to hang a bit, but the distance wasn't what I was expecting.
Todd
62, Handicap 13
1 year testing
Attractive, standard head. You're rewarded for well-centered hits but mis-hits aren't very forgiving. Overall, solid sound, like a refrigerator door closing.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
Forgiving and easy to get the ball up higher than most. The ball holds its line, even into the wind. Great distance, and I was able to work the ball.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
I would prefer a more energetic feeling of the ball coming off the face. Forgiving but average distance. Ball flight was low with a good bit of rollout.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
I like the alignment "X" and how it helps to center the ball at address, but the head size is too small for me. Overall, it is lightweight to swing and very quick through impact, but it doesn't have the forgiveness I want in a hybrid.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
A nice-looking club, but I wasn't achieving the high launch and distance I was hoping for in a long-iron replacement. Muted and soft at impact.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
Ball came off the face with intense speed. Sidespin was nonexistent. Shots flew straight and powerfully high and then fell almost vertically.
Jin
30, Handicap 10
2 years testing
I'd prefer a higher launching hybrid because I play a course where I hit these from the fairway, usually into a par 4 or 5. Total distance is what I'd like to see, but it rolls out to get there. Dispersion is tight.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I love the shape: compact, deeper face, and a toe that's a smidge square. The turf interaction is above average, and the face is firmer than most, so you feel the type of shot you're hitting.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Not the most forgiving on toe and heel hits. That said, the pros outweigh the cons when you find the sweet spot because the ball explodes off of the face.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Ball speed is consistent across the face with little reverberation or loss in yardage. Balls that are hit center face carry well and have a good penetrating ball flight.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Very forgiving, even on mis-hits. It doesn't deviate much from your line, and it's not gonna hurt your hands or anything like that.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
Classic look with a powerful feel, but the dispersion and distance fell short of what I'd like to see in a hybrid.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Has a massive sweet spot. The face is slightly rectangular and that provides a good punch from anywhere on the face. The ball traveled where I aimed, and my errors were forgiven. The ball flight is kind of mid-trajectory.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Great feeling club—soft and cushiony—with average to medium height. I loved hitting it. Such a pleasing sensation on every swing.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
I love the compact head, and I appreciate the graphics and low design. Looks very hittable. The feel is cushiony yet powerful. Boring trajectory and above average distance. I wasn't penalized much on mis-hits.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
It has a higher launch than most, but the distance was still really good.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Even when I felt like I hit it well, the launch-monitor numbers weren't that good. I'd call this middle of the pack. I didn't have the distance I expected.
Anand
43, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Off the tee, the club works really well. Off the turf, it was difficult to launch. Just for verification, I went back and hit one more off the tee—same yardage. Incredible. Great option for short par 4s, when you need to get the ball in the fairway.
Wesley
31, Handicap 4
3 years testing
Love the thin profile. I feel like I can be aggressive through the ball. Plays more like an iron than a wood. High ball flight and lands softly. Definitely good into greens.
BK
42, Handicap 2
10+ years testing
High launch and low spin are a nice combination. I like the compact head, too. Gives you confidence on bad lies.
Ricky
47, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
Easy to get in the air and good workability. I could control my shot even with the smaller head and face.
Jason
49, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
When you set it down, the toe looks slightly open, and although the head is smaller, this aesthetic gave me confidence that I would hit it straight. It's forgiving and packs plenty of punch for its small size.
Alan
31, Handicap 3
2 years testing
Graphics are a bit much to my eye. This is a high-flight, high-spin hybrid. It's not ideal for something flighted or into the wind.
Jack
36, Handicap 1
3 years testing
Has a long, deep face for maximum hitting area. Off-center hits hardly strayed from where I was aiming but did lose distance. Doesn't really benefit my style of game being a low launch player and this being a mid-flight hybrid.
Megan
40, Handicap 0
2 years testing
It felt like it was teed up even when hitting off the ground. This hybrid offers a lot of assistance in a good way.
Robert
29, Handicap +2
2 years testing
As much as I liked the smaller head, I had a tough time aligning the face to the ball at address, so my ball-striking and trajectory weren't as consistent as I'd prefer.
NO REVIEWS
There are no tester reviews here.
A Skeptic’s Guide To New Golf Equipment
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