Robot data confirms these 5 irons are best for golfers who routinely miss it off the toe
If you've ever missed the center of the clubface—and let’s be honest, who hasn’t—you know the sensation of a mishit at impact. More specifically, the toe-side miss with an iron that sends unwanted vibrations to your hands and results in another missed green in regulation.
Based on robotic testing with the Golf Laboratories swing robot, a toe miss with a 7-iron results in roughly 12 yards of carry distance loss when compared to a geometric center strike. One club less on an approach could mean finding the front bunker instead of the putting surface.
While it's easy to assume all irons produce similar carry loss numbers on a toe miss, recent testing confirmed some irons are starting to buck the distance loss trend. And none of them would be considered a true game-improvement model.
The rest are geared for players seeking forgiveness without going up in size. Several irons in the test showed an ability to maintain upwards of 90 percent ball speed on extreme toe strikes, with minimal drop-offs in launch or spin. That’s game-changing stuff for players who live out on the toe.
It’s a quiet revolution, but a meaningful one.
Technology is now compensating for your most common flaws, and doing it in a way that still looks clean behind the ball. For anyone chasing consistency without the ego hit of wielding a beefier game-improvement model, this new wave of iron design might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
Standouts
1. PXG 0311P Gen6 (-5.2 yards of carry distance lost compared to a geometric center strike)
Increasing launch and decreasing spin is a recipe for distance in irons as well as metal woods. The internal groove built into the back surface of the high-strength HT1770 steel face insert helps in that regard. The groove, about ten-thousandths of an inch deep, runs up both sides and across the top of the perimeter to create more give in the face. It also helps promote a gear effect to increase launch and decrease spin. A large weight in the back is more than ornamentation: It allows fitters to dial in the desired swingweight.
2. Callaway Apex Ai200 (-6.6 yards)
3. Cobra 3DP Tour (-7.1 yards)
4. PXG 0317T (-7.7 yards)
5. Cobra King Tec X (-8.7 yards)
