These New Irons May Well Improve Your Golf Game

Golfers often get impatient, when it comes to new clubs. That is, the latest models seem way more enticing than whatever’s in their own bag. And it used to be that you could get away with upgrading your irons every five-to-seven years without missing much in the way of technology and performance. But that’s no longer so. Technology, top-end materials, advanced weighting and computer design move so fast these days that you’ll see a noticeable improvement in performance, trajectory, distance and feel in new models — even if your current irons are just two years old. Seriously. That’s why it’s worth demo-ing the latest for 2020, when the chance arises. Here are a few models to check out:

Every loft in a set of Callaway’s MAVRIK has a unique, progressive clubface design that aims to add distance and forgiveness, yet perform consistently as a set. The irons also include a tungsten/urethane feature that helps optimize ball launch with pure feel and sound. And it dampens vibration without taking away from ball speed — especially for shots struck lower on the face. Says Dr. Alan Hocknell, who spearheads Callaway’s research and development and used artificial intelligence to design the entire set: “The 3-iron objective is very different from a pitching wedge’s. We had to teach the supercomputer to prioritize launch angles and ball speeds in long irons, speed and spin in mid-irons, and launch angle consistency in the short irons.” 

PING bills its G710 as its longest and most forgiving iron. I’ll go on a limb and say these are my favorite looking of any new iron. And they feel amazing. The stainless steel body, high-density tungsten toe and shaft weights all boost the MOI, producing a high launch for more distance and accuracy, especially for mid-to-high handicaps and slower swings. Smart grips come standard.

PXG’s 0311 XP GEN3 is billed to optimize distance and forgiveness, with its large sweet spot and thin face. Inside, a soft polymer stores and rebounds more energy into shots for distance — while softening impact feel. The clubhead is forged from a strong and soft carbon steel — helping durability and — according to the company — enhancing the overall appearance of the club over time.

Titleist’s T-Series T400 aims to help players with moderate swing speeds launch long, soaring shots with ease. It’s another looker, for sure. The hollow clubhead features a split sole and wide body to smooth out turf interaction, and a super-thin face for distance — fortified by high-density tungsten that boosts shot height and distance. “So many golfers can benefit from this technology,” says Josh Talge, vice president of marketing at Titleist. “It gets the absolute most out of your swing, while still providing playability along with that look, sound and feel that dedicated players demand.” 

Tour Edge’s Exotics EXS 220 is a game-improvement set. Designed to generate distance, the long irons are hollow with a forged maraging steel cup face, while the short irons have deep undercut cavities for accuracy and tight dispersion. A 19-gram tungsten weight in the toe expands the sweet spot. Also, a thermoplastic elastomer polymer in the internal cavity insert is coated with a shock-absorbing gel that enhances spring effect.