GOLD
GOLD
GOLD
GOLD
OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★ ½
OVERALL RATING ★★★★ ½ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ ½ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★ ½
OVERALL RATING ★★★★ ½ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★
OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★ ½
‘Gets the ball in the air with a ton of distance. Workable and forgiving. Centre-
‘The ball leaves the clubface with purpose. Weighting offers control and a higher launch with no loss of distance.’ – 12-HANDICAP
‘The thinner topline resembles a players iron at address, but the sole is thicker. Good feel with plenty of energy at impact.’ – PLUS-1-HANDICAP
‘This club has some hidden power. Feels secure, stable and evenly weighted throughout the swing.’ – 10-HANDICAP
face contact is rewarded.’ – 11-HANDICAP
CALLAWAY Ai SMOKE HL R23 000
CLEVELAND
CALLAWAY
COBRA DARKSPEED R17 500
ZIPCORE XL R16 000
Ai SMOKE R23 000
WHY WE LIKE IT The game-improvement category is probably the most expansive of any and requires an iron that works for a variety of swing speeds and swing paths. To achieve this, Callaway leaned into its history of using artificial intelligence to run through thousands of possible designs. The result is a hollow-body iron featuring micro-face deflections (think tiny moguls be- hind the face ranging from 1.14mm to 3.40mm thick). The purpose is to produce faster ball speeds off the 17-4 stainless-steel cupface.
WHY WE LIKE IT The Paradym Ai Smoke is designed for players with faster swings. This model is made for players who swing a little slower and carry their 7-iron less than 120 metres. That player needs help achieving a healthy ball flight. Using real-player data, the company’s supercomputer simulated tens of thousands of impacts to arrive at a design that improves launch and spin and keeps the ball in the air longer – something that can be the difference between fixing a ball mark or fishing the ball out of the water. • A pocket of urethane microspheres behind the face produces a pleasing sound at impact. • Tungsten weighting assists off-centre strikes. • 7-iron 30 degrees; PW: 43 degrees
WHY WE LIKE IT On the surface this iron looks standard, but the real improvements are on the inside. The face in the 4- through 7-iron is similar to that of affiliated company Srixon’s irons with channels and cavities on the back of the face to save mass and increase ball speed. This iron goes a step further, borrowing the groundbreaking ZipCore technology from Cleveland’s wedge line in the 8-iron through the wedges. ZipCore takes steel out of the hosel and replaces it with a lighter material, allowing for optimal CG placement and greater forgiveness. • A proprietary face blast creates roughness for more spin. • A weight in the butt of the shaft promotes an efficient swing. • Long blade length bolsters confidence and forgiveness. • 7-iron: 29 degrees; PW: 43 degrees
WHY WE LIKE IT You’ve heard the phrase “pound for pound, the best”? That would apply to Cobra’s R&D team. Although outnumbered and out budgeted by the biggest companies, Cobra continues to innovate in meaningful ways, and this iron is the latest example. The face of the hollow-body irons, designed with the help of a supercomputer, is 1.5mm at its thinnest, providing explosive ball speed. Inside the cavity is a soft polymer (used in underbody coatings in cars) to dampen vibrations.
• Available in One Length shaft length. • An internal weight bar allows the bottom of the face to flex. • Grooves are milled into the face to ensure exact specs. • 7-iron: 27 degrees; PW: 42 degrees
• Tungsten weighting allows for optimal CG location. • Urethane microspheres assist sound and support the face. • Stock shaft is longer to promote faster clubhead speed. • 7-iron: 28 degrees; PW: 42 degrees
BALL FLIGHT
BALL FLIGHT
BALL FLIGHT
BALL FLIGHT
Lower
Higher
Lower
Higher
Lower
Higher
Lower
Higher
SENSORY
SENSORY
SENSORY
SENSORY
Softer
Firmer
Softer
Firmer
Softer
Firmer
Softer
Firmer
PLAYABILITY
PLAYABILITY
PLAYABILITY
PLAYABILITY
Workable
Forgiving
Workable
Forgiving
Workable
Forgiving
Workable
Forgiving
TOP 5 MOST FORGIVING, GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, HIGH-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 BEST LOOKING, GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, LOW-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 BEST SOUND/FEEL, GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, MIDDLE-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 HIGHEST FLYING, GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, HIGH-HANDICAPS
81 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 82
HOTLIST 2024
HOTLIST 2024
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