2012 Players Irons

In the past you had to play an all out blade to gain many of the benefits of a forged players club, these included the soft feel and feedback that a forged blade would give you.  Thankfully this has changed and on offering in 2012 are some fantastic players clubs that provide the feel and control of a blade, but with the forgiveness of cavity back and muscle back technology.

Below is an unbiased overview from Golfshake of some of the Players irons available in today’s market.  Although not all these irons are forged they are all designed to allow a player to work the ball and gain feel and feedback from his/her shots.

Titleist CB Forged

Titleist’s latest forged iron set features a small cavity with an additional inner cavity muscle. This creates solid, controlled strikes at impact.

The sole on the CB has a blunted leading edge as well as a wider sole, this helps create an optimal ball/turf impact for players with aggressive actions through the impact zone.

The new CB has a brushed Satin finish which is preferred by today’s tour pros. A True Temper Dynamic Golf shaft comes as standard and is paired with a Golf Pride grip, a combination that is still a recognised as one of the most popular amongst better players.
 

Ping S56

Although not forged, Ping’s latest player’s irons offer shot control through advances in club head technology. A tungsten weight in the toe is adjusted in the longer irons to produce a higher launch and long ball flight where as the tungsten weight in the short irons creates a lower, more controlled ball flight.

Inside the S56’s cavity is stabilizing bar behind each impact area to create faster ball speeds off the club face. The head is more classical in shape than most of Pings irons and is small and compact. As with many players irons on the market the S56 is fitted with a True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft as standard.

TaylorMade Golf Tour Preferred MC irons

Taylormade's latest forged offering, the Tour Preferred MC irons,  manages to combine modern looks with a classic player’s club head shape. Although there is a small cavity these clubs look like a blade from the top. Forged from 1025 carbon steel the Tour Preferred irons allow for great workability of the ball and a soft feel off the clubface.

The TM Tour Preferred may look classic in shape, but it features a distinctive weighting port on the back of the club giving them a modern feel. The weight port provides consistent swing weighting throughout the set. True temper Dynamic Gold shafts are fitted as standard and help create a low powerful ball flight.

Callaway RAZR X Forged

Callaway have always been known for their high quality game improvement irons, but in recent years they have made a big impact in the forged iron market with many better players choosing the classic head shape of their forged cavity and muscle backed irons.

The RAZR X features a medium sized cavity helping improve miss hits and give stability to the club through the striking zone. A new 40% increase in grooves on the clubface is an innovation that is only available on Callaway’s forged product and has been used by its tour players since 2010.

The head is forged from soft 1020 carbon steel to allow for maximum feel and shot making.

Project X flighted shafts come as standard with the RAZR X, the low kickpoint in the longer irons give the ball a longer, higher ball flight where as the shorter irons have a higher kickpoint for a lower more controlled ball flight.

Cleveland 588

The 588 series of wedges have been a continued success for Cleveland and these irons are the matching set.

Forged from 1025 carbon steel the Cleveland 588 irons provide great feel and feedback as well workability to help create shot shape. They feature a large cavity for increased control and forgiveness. Within the cavity is an extra muscle back set low down to help create a long, high ball flight and reward for on centre strikes.

Cleveland’s laser milling technology and zip grooves provide maximum spin control and conform to all new USGA and R&A groove regulations. To help control trajectory Cleveland have fitted the 588 irons with stiff tipped Tour Concept shaft.

Mizuno MP-59 Irons

Mizuno have long been known as somewhat of a specialist in the forged iron market. Their latest, MP-59 forged muscle back offers a compromise between an all out blade and a cavity back. Forged from a single block of 1025E mild carbon for ultimate feel and responsiveness.  The head is perimeter weighted for stability, but also has a titanium weight behind the centre of the head to help ensure that centre strikes are well rewarded.

The standard shaft is a True Temper Dynamic Gold which is an ever favourite of better players and tour pros alike.  Grooves on the MP-59 also conform to the new R&A and USGA groove regulations.

Nike VR Pro Combo

The Nike VR Pro Combo irons set progresses cavity in the longer irons to a blade in the shorter irons and aims to give you the best of worlds, providing control and stability in the cavity backed irons and a feel in the bladed irons. Specifically the 4&5 irons have a full cavity, the 6&7 irons have a muscle back and the 8, 9&PW are a full blade.

X3X high precision grooves add the control and consistency that the combo set makeup provides. True Temper Dynamic Gold Shafts come as standard, manufactured with a high kick point shaft, they help to keep the ball flight low and controlled.

Wilson FG Tour V2 irons

These cavity back irons are forged from a single block of 8620 mild carbon steel. They have an extra weight behind the impact zone meaning you receive full reward for on-centre strikes. Stability is optimised by a cavity back and weight distribution around the head, although these modern features do not impact on the classic bladed head shape.

The Wilson FG Tour V2s are complemented by a tour favourite KBS Shaft. The KBS shaft has a high kick point which leads to lower, more penetrating ball flight that is favoured by better players. The set is completed by a lamkin crossline grip.