GOLD
GOLD
SILVER
SILVER
OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★ ½
OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★★
OVERALL RATING ★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★ ½ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★
OVERALL RATING ★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★ ½ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★ ½
‘Looks thinner than a typical game-improvement iron. Consistent feel and well- balanced. I love how easy it is to work the ball.’ – 10-HANDICAP
‘Produces powerful shots that penetrate the air with a rounded descent that’s gentle yet effective.’ —15-HANDICAP
‘The slight off- set makes it easier for me to launch the ball with a penetrat- ing trajectory.’ – 6-HANDICAP
‘Nice auditory feedback. Heavier clubhead that drives through the turf and delivers a lot of power.’ – 7-HANDICAP
TAYLORMADE
TITLEIST
COBRA KING FORGED TEC-X R20 500
PING G730 R27 000
Qi R24 000
T350 R27 000
WHY WE LIKE IT TaylorMade’s P-series irons have long overshadowed its game-improvement offerings, but that’s changed over time. The Qi is the latest leap. The iron incorporates a “cap back” that replaces the steel back of the clubhead with a composite badge. The badge provides the necessary reinforcement for the thin, flexing face, along with a pleasant sound and feel. The badge also reduces mass, allowing weight to be moved to dial in the proper centre-of-gravity location. The nickel- chrome plating adds a touch of class.
WHY WE LIKE IT A shift away from an undercut-cavity design to a hollow-body platform signals a transformational upgrade from its T300 predecessor. The hollow design houses the polymer-core structure (previously on the back of the iron), moving it closer to the face for better performance and feel. Also different from the T300 are super-dense tungsten weights in the heel and toe. This feature not only triggers more stability but contributes to ball speed and helps maintain feel.
WHY WE LIKE IT The speed in these irons comes from an almost utility-iron-like design in the 4- through 7-irons. Those clubs are hollow in construction with a 65-gram slab of tungsten that drives the centre of gravity down low to assist launch. The face insert is made from a high-strength stainless steel through a multistep forging and machining process, allowing for a face that gets as thin as 1.6mm in the upper pocket area. All that results in the kind of fire off the face middle-handicaps crave.
WHY WE LIKE IT These irons were built for speed. A proprietary heat-treating process makes the variable- thickness 17-4 stainless-steel face super strong, allowing it to be thinned significantly, resulting in more face bend for greater distance and added height. The lofts are quite strong but when combined with a low centre of gravity and additional perimeter weighting bring about noticeable ball-speed gains. The 10-piece cavity badge has multiple flex zones that help generate a higher launch with steeper landing angles.
• Foam inside the head contributes to a pillowy feel. • The iron’s thicker topline and increased offset should help inspire confidence. • 7-iron: 27 degrees; PW: 42 degrees
• Mass is moved to the perimeter, increasing stability. • The face is seven percent thinner compared to G430. • 7-iron: 28 degrees; PW: 40 degrees
• A longer blade length improves stability. • The variable bounce sole is inspired by Vokey wedges. • Tungsten is brazed to the body, eliminating weld beads. • 7-iron: 29 degrees; PW: 43 degrees
• A “speed pocket” through the 8-iron enhances ball speed. • A shorter leading edge, longer blade support the face. • A dual 360 undercut harvests weight for forgiveness. • 7-iron: 28 degrees; PW: 43 degrees
BALL FLIGHT
BALL FLIGHT
BALL FLIGHT
BALL FLIGHT
Lower
Higher
Lower
Higher
Lower
Higher
Lower
Higher
SENSORY
SENSORY
SENSORY
SENSORY
Softer
Softer
Firmer
Softer
Firmer
Firmer
Softer
Firmer
PLAYABILITY
PLAYABILITY
PLAYABILITY
PLAYABILITY
Workable
Forgiving
Workable
Forgiving
Workable
Forgiving
Workable
Forgiving
TOP 5 BEST SOUND/FEEL, GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, LOW-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 BEST SOUND/FEEL, GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, MIDDLE-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 MOST FORGIVING, GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, HIGH-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 SOFTEST, GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, MIDDLE-HANDICAPS
85 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 86
HOTLIST 2024
HOTLIST 2024
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