
The cast PXG 0211s are a great example of a set that combines compact, less offset short-irons with larger, more forgiving mid- and long-irons to appeal to golfers seeking both looks and performance within a single set. Models in this category will have either a decent-sized/depth cavity-back or a hollow head. Very often, Category 3 and Category 3.5 irons end up in the hands of improving golfers, but they subtly target different players, hence why Callaway make both an Apex 19 (forged and in Category 3) and a Mavrik (cast and in Category 3.5). Category 3 models are a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Simply put, they’re not.Īs a benchmark, the Ping G iron has always been a stalwart of the traditional game-improver category but the current G410 falls into our Category 3.5.
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When it comes to matching an iron to your ability, it’s really important not to confuse this category with full out game-improver models.
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Forgiveness Category 3: Game Improver Plus It’s no secret the engineers target 18–20 handicappers with these clubs. Toplines are often twice the width of a blade, too.įitted with slightly lighter shafts and, sometimes, a lighter swing weight, these irons help maximise swing speed. It’s not uncommon for these irons to be 10mm+ longer with sole widths some 45% wider than a Category 1 blade. The extra offset pushes the CG back to aid launch. Shafts are often lighter with softer tip sections to increase launch and spin, which helps maximise distance at lower speeds. The best of the latest models challenge that thinking, though, thanks to dense tungsten weighting that places critical mass in very specific areas of the head.Ĭategory 4 models have either a deep cavity-back or a hollow head and they’re very often the lightest in a brand’s iron range. Historically, super game-improver models have big chunky heads, thick toplines and even wider soles. It’s now possible to get your hands on an iron like the Ping G710, which is not only great looking, but also super forgiving and powerful.īetter yet, it won’t highlight you as a hacker before you’ve even hit a shot! Historically, golfers have traded looks for forgiveness in this category, but modern models have come a long way in recent years. This category is as forgiving as it gets if you insist that an iron needs to look like an iron and you’re resistant to exploring hybrid iron alternatives. RELATED: Best Golf Shot Tracking Devices Category 4: Super Game Improver Irons They’re for anybody who wants to reduce frustration and have more fun. Hybrid Irons aren’t just for players with slower swings. The extra playability means more shots carry sand and water hazards. Golf should be fun and hybrid Irons can turn a frustrating round into an enjoyable one. The centre of gravity in hybrid irons is far lower and deeper than a typical cavity-back iron. It’s exactly the type of styling that led golfers to fall in love with long iron replacement hybrids/rescues. They have big wide soles to launch shots high with increased forgiveness, while designers claim they also help prevent digging into the turf, thereby reducing fat shots. In the hands of average club golfers, hybrid irons are more forgiving than any other model. If your game or swing speed have gone south, hybrid irons are a brilliant option.

The extra playability that hybrids have brought to the long game have transformed many golfers’ games in the past decade. Not only are brands showing more interest in producing hybrid irons, golfers are more willing to use them.

There has been a growing trend in this area in recent years. Hybrid irons have been the much maligned black sheep of irons for years, but they now represent a huge opportunity to keep golfers – who typically lose 0.5 mph of clubhead speed each year once they hit 60 – in the game for longer. What our iron forgiveness ratings mean Category 5: Hybrid Irons
