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Hot List

This recent retiree needs a boost in his iron play. Here are the Hot List irons he picked

By Jared Goldstein
March 21, 2025
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You do not want to play a match against Paul Ianniello, a 63-year-old longtime golfer who lives in the golf mecca of Scottsdale. Square drivers were still a thing when he started Hot List testing, and he has been a low to mid-single-digit index the whole time. Paul won’t blow you away with distance, but his smooth tempo makes him a consistent ball-striker. Playing against him is like death by a thousand cuts as his high draws off the tee find fairway after fairway. To take advantage of those stellar tee shots, he could use some help with his shorter irons and wedges. Here are his favorites from our recent Hot List Summit, irons first because that's his focus for getting better.

PLAYERS IRONS

Cobra 3DP Tour
$357 per iron | Golf Galaxy
5.0
GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$357 per iron
“I thought it was on the lighter side and just powered through the ball. I got better-than-average distance and a mid launch. The ability to move the club and shape shots was unmatched, and I got no catastrophic penalty on mis-hits. It gave the feeling you could just go after it.”
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Paul's other favorite Hot List players irons

Callaway Apex Pro

Ping Blueprint S

Cobra King Tour

TaylorMade P·770

PLAYERS-DISTANCE IRONS

Callaway Apex Ti Fusion
$300 per iron | Golf Galaxy
5.0
GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$300 per iron
“The black look gives a sense of power. When I set it down, it looks like a low-handicap style head, but it didn't play that way. A rocket in distance. Mis-hits felt like you flushed it and the distance showed that. This club gave me great excitement and turf interaction was tops, too.”
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Paul's other favorite Hot List players-distance irons

Cobra King Tec

Callaway Apex Ai200

Honma TW767 PX

Mizuno JPX925 Forged

GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS

Cobra King Tec-X
$186 per iron | Golf Galaxy
5.0
GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$186 per iron
“I absolutely love this club. Launched right in a mid-low window. Impact was extremely soft, and it was effortless to swing. It's offset but not overly noticeable, and I felt I could work this club.”
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Paul's other favorite Hot List game-improvement irons

Titleist T350

Callaway Apex Ai300

PXG Black Ops

Vice VGI02

DRIVER

Wilson Dynapower Carbon
$550 | Golf Galaxy
4.0
GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$550
“A classic, appealing look. Light to swing and a very speedy clubhead. I got a lot of distance out of this club, and it was workable for all different shots.”
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Paul's other favorite Hot List drivers

Tour Edge Exotics E725

Cobra DS-Adapt LS

Cleveland HiBore XL Lite

FAIRWAY WOODS

Titleist GT2
$400 | Golf Galaxy
5.0
GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$400
“Perhaps the longest one I hit during testing. I was taken aback a little by the rigid feel and clicky sound. Not annoying but noticeable. Goes with the impressive distance.”
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Paul's other favorite Hot List fairway woods

TaylorMade Qi35 Tour

Cobra DS-Adapt LS

Cobra DS-Adapt X

Mizuno ST-G

HYBRIDS

Titleist GT3
$330 | Golf Galaxy
5.0
GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$330
“Slightly smaller head with wider than normal face. Consistent launch and low spin. A touch heavier feeling but still delivered big length. Every ball felt the same even though some were not solid strikes.”
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Paul's other favorite Hot List hybrids

Cobra DS-Adapt

Ping G440

Srixon ZXi

WEDGES

PXG Sugar Daddy III
$300 | Golf Galaxy
4.0
GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$300
“Very soft, powerful feeling on full shots. Above-average interaction with the turf. Consistently easy performance from the sand.”
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Paul's other favorite Hot List wedges

Titleist Vokey Design SM10

BLADE PUTTERS

Meridian Milled Series
$250 | Golf Galaxy
4.5
GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$250
“Noticeable heft for such a small blade. Makes it easy to swing the putter. Produces a simple roll with a soft, quiet feel off the face. A clear your mind and putt kind of putter.”
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Paul's other favorite Hot List blade putters

Odyssey Ai-One

Evnroll Zero

MALLET PUTTERS

Odyssey Ai-One Milled
$450 | Golf Galaxy
5.0
GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$450
“Simple but well thought out. Face is square and go. Alignment is minimal. Feels the same all the time. Allowed my hands and feel to come into play, which I prefer. It also has a nice, low profile behind the ball.”
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Paul's other favorite Hot List mallet putters

TaylorMade Spider Tour

Odyssey Ai-One Square 2 Square

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