GOLD
GOLD
GOLD
GOLD
OVERALL RATING ★★★★ ½ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★
OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★ ½ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★★
OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★ ½ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★★
OVERALL RATING ★★★★ ½ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ ½ INNOVATION ★★★★ ½ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★
‘Cushioned feel at impact with a mid- to-high trajectory that’s workable. Skilled players will enjoy these as much as beginners.’ – 7-HANDICAP
‘The offset allows me to hit nice five-metre draws on repeat. High, powerful ball flight that stays on line.’ – 13-HANDICAP
‘Despite the larger size, it feels compact and focused through impact. Produces a high-trajectory.’ – 13-HANDICAP
‘Offset suggests extra forgiveness. High, straight flight: I hit it further than any in the category.’ – 7-HANDICAP
TAYLORMADE
XXIO 13 R25 000
MIZUNO JPX923 HOT METAL HL R21 000
CLEVELAND HALO XL FULL FACE R18 000 Graphite
Qi HL R24 000
WHY WE LIKE IT Cleveland believes helping players achieve more distance, forgiveness and launch starts with the face, specifically making it lighter and more flexible to produce maximum distance. The face here underwent a proprietary face blast and laser-mill-line process to enhance surface roughness to optimise spin. The grooves that stretch all the way across the face are purposeful, too: They increase consistency and reduce the chance of flyers.
WHY WE LIKE IT In the chase for ball speed many companies have opted to strengthen lofts – not so here. In fact, Mizuno’s research shows that golfers with average to slow swing speeds have a tough time getting a 5-iron up in the air. Mizuno then focuses on increasing launch by staying true to traditional lofts (some 2 to 3 degrees weaker than many in the category) and using a wider sole, which helps drive the centre of gravity down. The face is made from a cast nickel chro- moly steel that produces plenty of punch.
WHY WE LIKE IT The look is so elegant that you might expect to find this one in the bag of The Golden Bachelor (who does play golf), but substance is plentiful, too. The hard-to-hit long irons have a backbar that lowers the centre of gravity and combines with a new slot design to promote higher launch. The short irons, however, have a backbar with extreme heel-toe weighting to boost forgiveness and a different slot to maximise ball speed.
WHY WE LIKE IT The XXIO brand continues to gain traction as a viable alternative for the swing-speed challenged. The X iron produces gains in swing and ball speed through two sources: a lightweight, high-balance-point graphite shaft and titanium face. The weight savings from the titanium face allowed the XXIO team to use 31 grams of tungsten (up to the 7-iron) to get mass low and back to help get the ball airborne. Also, because the average hand size of western golfers is 10 percent larger than in Japan, larger grips are used. • Heel and toe grooves allow the face to flex more at impact. • L-groove low on the face assists strikes hit in that area. • Graphite shaft is lightest ever for a XXIO iron at 47 grams. • 7-iron: 28 degrees; PW: 42 degrees
• The white paint fill on the bottom grooves aids alignment. • Different sole designs for long, middle and short irons. • Light material in hosel (8-iron through SW) creates stability. • 7-iron: 29 degrees; PW: 43 degrees
• The set runs from 5-iron through sand wedge. • The “hybrar” compression damper reduces unwanted face vibration. • 7-iron: 30 degrees; PW: 44.5 degrees
• The lightweight steel shaft promotes a slightly faster swing. • The face is eight percent thinner than previous Mizuno irons. • The blade length is the same as the standard Hot Metal. • 7-iron: 31 degrees; PW: 45 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 BEST SOUND/FEEL, SUPER-GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, HIGH-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 BEST LOOKING, SUPER-GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, HIGH-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 HIGHEST FLYING, SUPER-GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, HIGH-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 BEST SOUND/FEEL, SUPER-GAME-IMPROVEMENT IRONS, HIGH-HANDICAPS
87 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 88
HOTLIST 2024
HOTLIST 2024
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