Iron Reviews
Review: Wilson FG Tour V4 Irons
Pros: Forged cavity back irons with a compact shape that use tungsten weights to boost launch and forgiveness.
Cons: They don’t feel as soft as other forged cavity back irons in their class. Slightly weaker lofts (47 degree pitching wedge) cause them to fly shorter than leading models.
Who they’re for: Better players looking for a set of modern, forged cavity back irons that are barely bigger than blades. They offer excellent workability and trajectory control.
The Review
If you’re a user of forged cavity back irons, you may have noticed that the amount of new models in the category have decreased. Modern iron design has trended toward larger, hot-faced irons in recent years, which have their perks — but they’re not for everyone. There’s a group of golfers who aren’t looking to hit their irons any farther. They’re satisfied with their current distance and accuracy, so they’re more concerned with looks, feel and trajectory control. If that’s you, read on.
Wilson currently offers three models of forged irons, the most intriguing of which is the FG Tour V4. They strike a sweet spot between the company’s larger FG Tour M3 irons, which trend on the larger side of players irons, and the company’s FG Tour 100 blade irons, which are best left to the most accomplished ball strikers — particularly those with shallow angles of attack.
I first hit the FG Tour V4 irons at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show, and was quite impressed. I had a set built to my specifications, and spent the late winter and early sping testing them against similar models. My thoughts are broken up into the categories below.
Feel
Isn’t this every better player’s first question about a set of forged irons? The FG Tour V4 irons are forged from 8620 carbon steel, which is unusual. Most forged irons are made from softer metals like 1020 or 1025 carbon steel, and for that reason, the V4’s feel slightly firmer than leading models. The feel is consistent across the set, however, even in the 3-7 irons, which use 18-gram sole weights to lower their center of gravity (CG) for a higher launch and more forgiveness.
The slightly firmer feel didn’t bother me, and it’s definitely not a deal breaker if you’re interested in these irons. Users will still be able to tell when they slightly mishit a shot, which is exactly the feedback they’ll want.
Looks
The FG Tour V4 irons are one of the most compact forged cavity back irons on the market. Their most unique aesthetic features are their thicker-than-normal top lines, which gave me the feeling that these irons were more forgiving than their size indicated. More on that later.
It’s the absence of anything eye catching that makes the FG Tour V4 irons one of the most stunning new forged cavity back irons on the market. There’s minimal offset — almost none, actually — and the hosels of the irons blend beautifully with the top lines of the irons at address. The toe shape of the irons is neither boxy nor round, and the milled grooves sit centrally in the iron heads.
The aesthetics of the cavity — the part you don’t see at address — are quite bold. Manufacturers have trended toward silvers and grays with brighter accent colors in recent years, so the heavy black/gold look was more polarizing with my range buddies and playing partners than I anticipated.
Distance
The best indicator of the distance of a set of forged cavity back irons will fly is their lofts, and the FG Tour V4 irons are on the weak side. With stock lofts, the 3 iron is 21 degrees, the 6 iron is 31 degrees and the pitching wedge is 47 degrees. For that reason, golfers will likely hit the FG Tour V4 irons a little shorter than more popular models in their class such as Callaway’s Apex Pro (29-degree 6 iron) and Titleist’s 714 AP2 (30-degree 6 iron), which have similar blade lengths and also use tungsten in their designs to boost forgiveness.
Spec Chart
The good news is that the FG Tour V4 irons seem to fly a little longer than their stock lofts indicate, particularly the mid irons and short irons. I was able to hit those clubs just as far as my Nike VR Forged Pro Combo irons, which are 1-degree stronger in each club. But I struggled to get the same distance from the FG Tour V4’s 4 and 5 irons. The easy fix is to bend those irons — or even the whole set — 1-2 degrees stronger if you’re looking for more distance. Since the FG Tour V4 irons have very little offset, such a small change won’t be uncomfortable at address. I actually prefer a little offset in my irons, but again, that’s something personal to me.
Forgiveness
Golfers who play compact, forged cavity back irons know that when they mishit a shot, they will suffer a penalty. The FG Tour V4’s are no exception, but they do an admirable job of making slight mishits fly more like perfect shots. They certainly play “bigger,” or more forgiving than their size indicates — particularly in the 3-7 irons, which use 18-gram tungsten weights to lower the CG of the irons for a higher launch. Eighteen grams is a lot of tungsten, a material that currently carries a high price tag and usually results in a set of irons that cost more than $1,000. It’s impressive that Wilson has priced a stock set of the FG Tour V4 irons (4-PW, GW) at $899 with True Temper’s DG Pro shafts.
Wilson’s FG Tour V4 Utility
Many modern iron sets have a progressive design, which means that the 3 iron is the largest iron head in the set, and the clubs get noticeably smaller as the clubs get shorter. The size of the FG Tour V4 irons is very constant, which means that if you choose to play a 3 or 4 iron from the FG Tour V4 set, you will be hitting a very small club. For that reason, I suggest golfers consider Wilson’s FG Tour V4 Utility iron as the longest iron in their set, because it is a stunning performer. And regardless of what irons you play, you should consider the FG Tour V4 Utility if you’re into driving irons.
I tested a FG Tour V4 Utility — 3 iron (21 degrees) — and found that it gave me all the distance I could want from a club of that loft. It didn’t seem to matter if I slightly heeled or toed the club. It flew about 235 yards every time, which was the exact distance I needed it to go based on my set makeup. Like the rest of the FG Tour V4 irons, it was also quite workable, and easy to hit high and low, or draw or fade.
The FG Tour Utility iron is a little chunky at address when compared to slimmer models such as Callaway’s Apex UT, TaylorMade’s UDI and Titleist’s 712U, but it feels quite soft for a hollow-cavity iron and offers plenty of feedback to the player. It’s also a great option off the tee and the ground, thanks to its smart sole design.
Odds and Ends
Better golfers sometimes prefer specialty wedges over the pitching and gap wedges that come with irons sets, because the head sizes of specialty wedges are generally more compact. Their sole grinds are also usually more versatile on partial shots, and on pitch shots around the greens. The small size of the FG Tour V4 wedges, as well as their excellent sole designs, however, does not necessitate a switch.
I found the tour-inspired grind of the FG Tour V4 pitching wedge to be all I needed from a 47-degree club. Like all the FG Tour V4 irons, it resisted digging on full and half shots. It also resisted “sticking in the turf” on pitch shots. That performance can be attributed to the sole of the irons, which is heavily cambered, or rounded, and it offered great performance from both the fairway and rough.
With both the longer and shorter irons in the FG Tour V4 set set, it was easy to vary the trajectory. And because of their solid construction, I found no “hot spots” in them, and the wedges were no exception.
The FG Tour V4’s gap wedge comes stock at 51 degrees, the point at which most golfers start to look at specialty clubs. If that’s more of a full-shot club for you than a chipping club, I’d recommend using the set gap wedge. If you’re more interested in using a gap wedge for less-than-full shots, go with Wilson’s FG Tour TC wedges, or another specialty wedge of your choice.
The Takeaway
The FG Tour V4’s are an elite set of forged cavity back irons, and will impress golfers who may have not otherwise considered an offering from Wilson. While they don’t feel quite soft as leading models, and don’t fly quite as far, they’re one of the most forgiving irons we’ve tested in their compact size.
Trajectory control is a breeze with them, and turf interaction is also fantastic. That’s what you’d expect from a set of irons that were designed with the assistance of Wilson’s Tour Staff. But thanks to the addition of tungsten to the soles of the long and mid irons, you don’t necessarily have to be a touring pro, or even a scratch golfer to play them.
[wrx_retail_links productid=”28″]
- LIKE286
- LEGIT36
- WOW29
- LOL9
- IDHT7
- FLOP4
- OB5
- SHANK27
Club Junkie
Club Junkie Review: Cobra’s new King Tour irons
The Cobra King Tour irons have been proven on the PGA Tour already and will be in bags of better amateur players this year. The previous King Tour MIM irons were very underrated and offered great precision with a solid shape that many players liked. Cobra went away from the Metal Injection Molded construction and went with a five-step forging process for soft and solid feel.
Make sure to check out the full podcast review at the links below and search GolfWRX Radio on every podcast platform.
I was a big fan of the previous Tour MIM irons and played them in rotation throughout the last two years. Out of the box, I was impressed with the more simple and clean look of the badging on the new King Tour. Badging is mostly silver with just small black accents that should appeal to even the pickiest golfers. I didn’t notice the shorter blade length in the new irons but did notice that the leading edge is just slightly more rounded. Topline is thin, but not razor thin, but still has enough there to give you the confidence that you don’t have to hit it on the dead center every shot.
Feel is solid and soft with just a slight click to the thud on well struck shots while mishits are met with a little more sound and vibration to the hands.
These King Tour irons are built to be cannons and place more emphasis on consistent and precise shots. I also felt like the new irons launch easily and maybe a touch higher than some irons in the same category.
My launch monitor showed my 7 iron with an average launch angle of 22 degrees and spin right around 5,800 with a Project X LZ 6.0 stock shaft. Ball speed isn’t the ultimate focus of this iron but it did well with an average around 108mph and the iron was able to keep the speed up well when you didn’t strike the center. You will still see a drop off in speed and distance when you miss the center, but you don’t have to be Navy SEAL sniper accurate on the face to achieve a good shot. Dispersion was very tight, and while there are bigger irons with more forgiveness, this players cavity still allows good playability when you aren’t bringing your A-plus game to the course.
Cobra lists the King Tour as an iron for a Tour level player up to a 7 handicap and I think this iron could see the bags of more golfers than that. I am a 9.4 handicap, and I felt more than comfortable playing this iron even on less than perfect days.
- LIKE14
- LEGIT4
- WOW2
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Iron Reviews
Review: Honma TW737-Vs Forged Irons
Pros: Incredible feel all the way through the bag. These irons offer considerable forgiveness on mishits, and their slightly stronger lofts generate plenty of distance for a better-player forged iron.
Cons: Some will find the price point ($150 per club) too high to consider.
Bottom Line: The entire TW737 line boasts impressive specs and looks. The TW737-Vs, with their slightly larger shape and stronger lofts, could be perfect for the player ready to move from game-improvement irons to better players irons or for those those looking for more forgiveness in a forged set.
Overview
Many GolfWRX Members will already be familiar with Honma Golf, known for its intricately crafted clubs and as one of the most prestigious, fastest-growing golf brands in the world. For others, this review will be the first time they’ve heard of Honma, or seen their iconic “mole in a hole” cloisonné and wondered, “What’s that?”
That is about to change. Honma, a mainstay in the Japanese Domestic Market for almost 60 years, is making a major push to become a household name in the U.S. and Europe. This year marks the company’s first entry into national “Hot List” competitions, and you can now find and test some of their products, such as the TW737 irons, in big-box golf stores like the PGA Superstore.
While Honma has traditionally been associated with extremely high-end clubs — even gold-plated at times — the Tour World line is priced similarly with other forged irons from domestic manufacturers. Tour World also happens to be the line played by their tour pros like Hideto Tanihara, who has the TW737-Vs in his bag.
Related: More photos of Honma’s Tour World irons, driving irons and wedges
There are three unique models in the Tour World 737 line, each with slight variations in loft and head shape that are designed to fit the specific needs of forged-iron users. Each model includes Honma’s unified face progression and center of gravity design, which essentially allows for slight changes in sole width, face thickness, and head size based on loft, while keeping the same offset. The design is great in and of itself, and it also makes it easier to play a Tour World combo set.
The entire TW737 iron line is forged from S25C steel using Honma’s proprietary high strength W-Forging, a two-stage forging process that mixes hot and cold forging. According to the company, the process creates more density in the club face, especially high on the face. The extra strength is said to increase ball speed and forgiveness.
- The TW737-Vn is made particularly for better golfers who like the shape and workability of a blade, but want a little more forgiveness.
- The TW737-V has a small cavity-back head, but adds a little more forgiveness and distance than the Vn.
- The TW737-Vs, the model I tested, has a slightly larger head and strongest lofts, making it the longest and most forgiving of the three forged irons in the TW737 lineup.
You can find all the specs on the Honma site here. The TW737-Vs specs are below.
TW737-Vs irons are available now in 3-11 ($150 per club). A variety of stock shafts are available and include the NS Pro 950GH, Dynamic Gold AMT, Modus3 Tour, and Vizard 160. Honma has a retailer search on its site to help you find nearby golf stores where you can check out these clubs for yourself. Of course, custom shaft and grip options are available.
My set of TW737-Vs
I decided on the TW737-Vs because I wanted the extra performance and forgiveness. Honma built a 3-11 iron set, standard length, 0.5-degrees upright with Golf Pride New Decade Multi-Compound grips and two wraps of tape.
Having played cast, game-improvement irons my entire golfing life, I was anxious to see how these clubs would look at address, feel at impact and most importantly, how they would perform for my swing. In recent years, I have been using a forged Vega wedge, also an iconic Japanese brand. I love the feel, so I was excited for these.
You might be wondering, “Why test against a cast club and not compare Honma to Honma or Honma to Miura?” One reason is that like many of you, I’m precisely who Honma is looking to attract — a US-based consumer who has been playing mostly domestic clubs.
Take it one step further, I’ve also been looking to put forged clubs in the bag and make the move to the better-player iron category, but I was hesitant for a variety of reasons. I mentioned to a few other golfer that I was reviewing this set and their reaction was the same. Are they blades? Are they small? Are they hard to hit? All responses were followed by, “I don’t think I’d be ready for forged clubs.”
After testing I can tell you the irons are not too small, not too hard to hit, and stack up to anything else I’ve tested.
Performance
I like to start testing outside before getting on a launch monitor so I can focus purely on what I’m seeing and feeling. And with these clubs, my expectations were high, very high.
I started with the 11-iron because… how often do you get to hit a club stamped with an 11? I’ve always taken a significant divot with my wedges, but my first swing resulted in a solid, crisp shot with a thinner divot. Everything about the shot felt perfect. This happened to be a center strike and impact felt like almost nothing at all… in a good way. The sound was solid and strong, but the first real feeing I registered was slicing through the turf.
That feeling continued even with the long irons. Hitting a 3 or 4-iron around the middle provided plenty of feedback, but the more pure the strike, the less feeling there was. The ball flight appeared to be slightly lower than my current set, with a straight-to-draw flight and similar distances. Working the ball both ways was not a problem.
On the course, I struggled with distance control at first. This was my own fault for not dialing in the distances, especially with the stronger lofts in the 7-iron and shorter clubs. My expectation was that these clubs would not fly as far as my current clubs, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The exceptional feel continued. Truly effortless power on center strikes. The ball just jumped off the face and provided plenty of feedback and forgiveness. My divots from fairway lies were thinner than normal, which I don’t mind at all. These clubs cut through the rough nicely as well.
My favorite moment came at an island-green par-3, No. 16 at BridgeMill Athletic Club. I had 160 yards to the pin, with 150 yards covering the water and 175 yards to the water at the back of the green. With my old set, it would have been a smooth 8-iron (a full 9-iron is a reliable 145 yard carry). For me, the TW737-Vs 9-iron is essentially an 8.5-iron, so I went with 9-iron and played to the center with a little draw. I hit one of the most solid shots of the day, and it landed just a few feet away from the pin. Trusting a 9-iron would be enough… now that was fun.
Launch Monitor Data
My expectation going into launch monitor testing was that I’d see a flatter trajectory, lower peak height, similar distance and spin, and a decent amount of help on mishits. I tested the TW737-Vs on SkyTrak against my TaylorMade RSi 2’s using Bridgestone Tour B330 balls. I rotated clubs every 5 shots and went through multiple rounds with each club.
The launch monitor data backed up what I was seeing on the course. For the short and mid irons, the Honmas generated slightly more distance (not less as I expected prior to testing). The 9-iron had the biggest gap, but the TW737-Vs is also 2 degrees stronger.
Spin was lower, but I was also seeing slightly more draw bias to my shots. While the spin looks a little low, on the course I had no issues stopping the ball on approach shots. With the long irons, my flatter trajectory always forces me to play for a little roll, so that won’t change.
I’ve never been a high ball hitter. My swing produces a lower flight and I’m sticking with it. Not surprisingly, my launch angle and peak height with the TW737-Vs was slightly lower across the board.
Ball speed on heel and toe side of center dropped about 2 mph on average, but the shots were very playable. With the 3 and 4-irons, toe shots generated quite a bit more left spin, but heel shots didn’t really impact the flight.
For shots higher on the face, I was very surprised and happy to see a minimal loss of distance. All in all, these clubs are very playable and forgiving on shots that miss the dead center of the clubface.
Looks and Feel
Feel is subjective, but I love the way these clubs feel. There is a nice weight through the swing. The W-Forging process has created a strong face that fires balls off like little rockets. Some other irons have a spring-like feel at impact, but with these, center shots just seemed to melt into my hands.
I spent a lot of time using powder spray on the face to see the exact impact location. With other irons I’ve tested, it is easy to know if I hit the extreme toe or heel side. But with the TW737-Vs, I was able to feel if I was half a ball to the heel or toe side. Same with being low on the face or a few grooves high. Both better players and mid-handicap golfers looking to improve will appreciate the feedback these clubs provide.
As for looks, “These are beautifully simple” was my first thought when I saw them in person. The lines are clean and sharp in some areas and smooth and rounded in others. The head, while definitely smaller than what I’m used to, doesn’t feel or look too small. I don’t have any confidence issues looking down at the ball.
Each of the TW737 models have the same minimal amount of offset, creating a relatively straight edge from the shaft out to the toe. I find it easier to set up and align clubs with less offset, so I like this a lot. I wouldn’t call the top line thin, but it isn’t thick either. Overall, I just really like how these irons look at address.
The mass low and right in the middle of the face conveys a sense of power, and the designers left plenty of material on the toe and heel to help minimize mishits. The half-mirror finish on the face and top line cuts down the glare at address. I would rather see the half-mirror finish replace the rough finish on the back — it’s just a personal preference — but the third texture does provide another dimension to the look of the club.
Bottom Line
Honma might not be the first name most Americans think of when they think of forged irons. That is going to change… not just because Honma will be spending more money to reach golfers in North America, but because the company’s Tour World line is both beautifully crafted and packed with performance.
If you’re in the market for forged players irons, make sure the TW737 is on the list of clubs to hit.
- LIKE247
- LEGIT31
- WOW17
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP8
- OB1
- SHANK37
Equipment
GolfWRX Member Reviews: TaylorMade 2017 M1 and M2 Irons
One of the many benefits of being a GolfWRX Forum Member is exclusive access to Giveaways and Testing Threads. For Giveaways — we give away everything from golf clubs to golf balls to GPS units — all it takes is a forum name. Enter any Giveaway, and we select winners randomly. You’re then free to enjoy your prize as you wish.
For Testing Threads, the process a bit more involved. GolfWRX Forum Members sign up to test the latest and greatest products in golf, and then they provide in-depth reviews on the equipment. Being the intelligent golf-equipment users they are, GoflWRX Members are able to provide the most-informed and unbiased reviews on the Internet.
In this Testing Thread, we selected 75 members to test a TaylorMade M1 2017 7-iron and TaylorMade M2 7-iron. Each of the clubs were built with the stock lofts and shafts — M2 2017 (28.5 degrees) with a TaylorMade Reax shaft, and M1 2017 (30.5 degrees) with a True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 shaft — and the testers were instructed to post their review of the clubs here.
Below, we’ve selected what we’ve deemed the most in-depth and educated reviews out of the 75 testers. We have edited each of the posts for brevity, clarity and grammar.
Thanks to all of those involved in the testing!
- All 75 Reviews: TaylorMade M1 and M2 Testing Thread
- Tech Talk: What you need to know about TaylorMade’s M1 and M2 irons
Brock9007
To be honest, looking down on the TaylorMade M1 and M2 irons at address, there is really not much difference. I would have to pick one up to see which is which.
The first 10 balls I hit were with M1 and 6/10 felt great, while the other 4 were toe hits, which I felt and the distance reflected that. Kinda what I expected with a club design for lower-handicap players. Distance was about 1/2 longer than my Srixon iron and dispersion was close, as well. I will say they did not feel as good as the Srixon on center hits.
Next 10 (ok, 15) balls were with the M2. Wow, can you say “up, up and away? The ball really popped of the club face, but wasn’t a ballon flight. Waited for the ball to come down and WTH, with the roll out it was 5-8 yards longer than balls hit with M1, and that is with a few toe shots. I did some smooth swings and then very aggressive swings and was a little amazed at this iron. Just like the M1, it does not have the forged feeling and does have a clicky sound (which I hate).
Bottom line: M2 is the longest iron I have ever hit. I love my 545s, but I could see myself playing M2 very easily. Matter of fact, I will be taking this M2 7 iron in my bag and play it more head-to-head against my Srixon 545 on the course.
deathbymuffin
These are both beautiful clubs. What surprised me the most is how much alike the two clubs look at address. I was expecting a chunky topline and significant offset in the M2, but it’s footprint looked almost exactly the same as the M1, outside of the chrome finish on the M2 versus the frosted finish of the M1. The M2 could almost pass as a player’s iron to my eye at address. These clubs both get A’s from me in the looks department.
The M1 felt a tad thicker than most player’s irons I’m used to, but it seemed to come with a bit of added forgiveness too. Well-struck shots felt good, with a nice mid-trajectory and with the workability that I’ve come to expect from a player’s iron. But true to TaylorMade’s claims, the M1 seemed more forgiving than a traditional player’s iron. Had a nice soft feel at impact, mishits didn’t sting and left you with a more playable result. A really nice combination of the better attributes of both player’s and game improvement irons. I’ve been playing with an old set of Tommy Armour blades, but I’ve been recently wanting more forgiveness for when I’m stuck with my B or C swing. Based on the early returns, I could definitely see myself bagging these.
I’m not sure if it’s the shaft, the design of the clubhead, or a combination of both, but the M2 is definitely a different animal than the M1 at impact. This club launches the ball high, arguably ridiculously so. I was hitting Jason Day moonbombs with this bad boy. Didn’t seem to matter what kind of swing I put on it, the ball launched high, flat and dead straight. The club was super forgiving and if not for the insanely high ball flight, I would love to have a set of these for when my swing is out of sorts. I didn’t really try to flight it at all, so I’m not sure what it’s capable of at this point. One other note was that the M2 had a clicky feel at impact. It didn’t bother me since it still felt so sweet… so strange as it sounds, clicky, but smooth and sweet at the same time. I think these clubs will be big winners with the mid-to-high handicap set.
The M1 is a fine iron, but doesn’t really stand out in any way from other irons of its class.
The M2, on the other hand, is an iron on steroids. I’m really starting to love this thing. It’s super forgiving and just goes and goes. According to my laser, flush shots were going 195 yards (my usual blade 5 iron distance) and very high. I can’t help but think golf would be a whole lot easier, particularly longer courses with long par 3s, with a full set of these in my bag.
poppyhillsguy
M1 feels softer than the M2 and I felt the ball flight was more consistent and what I want in an iron. The M1 did have a harsher feeling in my hands than I typically like, but I’m going to credit a lot of that to the range balls.
M2 flies very high. It was a windy afternoon and about 100 degrees. I love the high ball flight on the range, but I have a concern what that ball flight would be like on the course. I like to hit the ball different heights for different shots and I don’t think I could do that confidently with the M2, but I could with the M1. I don’t like the sound of the M2. It sounded “clicky” to me.
Fourpar18
Initially on the range I was scared because the M1 had a regular flex in it, so I took it easy for my initial 10-15 swings with it. Ball SHOT off the face, loud crack (didn’t care for it, but not too bad) and ball just kept rising and rising but didn’t balloon. I thought, “whoa,” that’s not what I expected…did it again…another CRACK and the ball just flew. I set another down and I paid attention to how it looked behind the ball, not much offset for a game improvement and I thought…”I could actually play this club!” The 5-7 were EASY swings, aimed at a target of 170 yards away (my normal 7 iron distance) and with a EASY swing I was flying it by 20 yards or so. The next 5-10 I really went after it, same CRACK and ball just flew but to my surprise it was a nice draw, harder draw than the first but it was a nice 10-yard draw. This time the balls were landing just short of the 200 yard marker. Damn, 200 yards with a 7 iron! I know they are jacked lofts but it feels good to say “my 7 irons just few 190-200 yards!”
P.S. LOVE the Lamkin UTX grip!
Now, this was interesting, the M2 was quieter then the M1… weird! Now, there is more carbon fiber added to this one and there is a “Geocoustic” label on the back. I am sure that it has something to do with all that carbon fiber but it does have a better sound. Other than the sound, it played exactly like the M1: long and straight. The REAX shaft felt a little weaker than the True Temper shaft and it flew a little higher but nothing else I could pick up.
noahdavis_7
Finally got out to the range after getting these bad boys in on Friday. My first impression of them is that they look really sharp. The graphics and design really stand out and really give these clubs a cool, modern look.
They were both a little to big IMO, as I am currently bagging Mizuno MP-68s. The M2 isa definite “game improvement iron”, while the M1 was similar in size and shape to my previous irons, Titleist AP1s.
They both really launch it, high and far. Ridiculous for 7 irons. I don’t have access to a launch monitor, but it was about a 20-yard difference between my gamer 7 iron and these (stronger lofts, as well).
The M1 definitely was more suited for my eye, and produced more consistent ball flights. It felt much more smooth and solid as the M2 had a clicky, cheap feel.
The M2 just isn’t for me. I felt like it was launching too high and ballooning, which could be due to the shaft (the M1 had the S300, while the M2 just had a stock “Reax” shaft). The feel off the face of the M2 just turned me off, to be honest.
While I don’t think I’ll be putting either model in play, I can definitely see the appeal for mid-to-high handicaps. Both irons were super forgiving, and they should be a dream to the average weekend golfer who has trouble with ball striking consistently.
golfnut5438
Looks: As expected, I preferred the M1 with less offset, slightly smaller sole and a smoother finish. Less glare looking down on the iron. I must say the M2 did not look as bulky, or have as much offset as I thought it might have.
Feel: This was a close race, probably due to the shafts as much as the heads. The M1 was just a slight bit smoother feeling on solid shots. But the M2 was not bad at all, just not quite as smooth.
Distance and performance: Our range has a slight incline up the length of the range, so specific yardage gains or losses were difficult to measure. Both irons had a higher trajectory than my gamer 7 iron. Neither sole dug onto the turf either. The lofts for both irons are a degree or two stronger than mine, so I would think they probably flew a little further than my gamers. Neither iron flew “too” high, however. Might be a little harder to hit knock down shots, though.
Final thoughts: I had hit both the M1 and M2 irons last year during a fitting day, but did not like either. This year’s model were both better in my eyes. I asked a fellow member at our club to hit both and he felt the M1 was his preferred model, and he is a 20-index player. So coming from both a single digit, and a high double-digit, the M1 won this battle of wills. I will try and see if I can locate both a 5 iron and 9 iron to see if a full set might be a winner for me.
DblEgl
I was surprised that the M2 was the winner in this brief session. It felt better, flew higher, easier to hit and about 1/2 club longer that my gamer Apex CF16. The feel/sound was better than I thought it might be, but really not up to the CF16. I could, however, easily game the M2’s.
Bstein74
Feel: I hit the M2 first, and found it to be very solid when hit on the screws. There was almost no feel off the club face at all. When I mishit it, you knew it was, but it wasn’t harsh at all. Hit the M1 next, and same type of feel when hit solid. Much more harsh when mishit though, but I knew that was coming.
Distance and performance: This is was where I was curious to see how they would play. The M2 went out high in the air, and just kept going forever. Now granted my eyesight isn’t that great anymore, but it looked like I got about 10-15 yards more from the M2 compared to my Wilson D300. The only thing I didn’t like about the M2 was how much I was able to turn it over. Got a lot more hook compared to my D300. Don’t know if that was from the REAX shaft, but would love to find a less spinning shaft to correct that.
The M1 wasn’t a great performer for me. Same height as the M2, but much straighter off the club face. Didn’t get any great distance advantage as compared to my D300. Can’t game a player’s iron anymore, and testing this one just reaffirmed that.
Final thoughts: Was very happy with the distance I gained with the M2 compared to my current gamer. Very good-performing iron for me, and something I would definitely consider changing them out if I could reduce the spin off the face. If you’re looking for more distance, you need to try these out. The M1 just wasn’t for me, but as a player’s iron, I can see it as a great option.
Bobcat271
Like the other testers, I found the M2 to launch the ball much higher and is 10-to-15 yards longer than my Adams XTD forged 7 iron. Of the two 7 irons I prefer the M1. I like the design of the M1 and its visual appearance at address. I feel more confident in trying to work the ball with the M1. The M1 gave me more feedback as to where the club head was in relation to my swing plane. If I had my druthers I would put the M1 in the bag as it stands now. Will continue to test, what a treat to compare the two irons.
myurick2
Once I started making solid contact with a decent shoulder turn, the M2 really came alive in my hands. Towering flat height, for me, and very long. No more clacky hollow feel, just a very mild pleasant sensation… then zoom. Once I started making better swings, back to the M1, which was a very nice iron. Shorter than the M2 (though not short) and a little lower ball flight. Felt nice and substantial without being heavy. Very forgiving on slight mishits.
But the M2 was the star for me. High trajectory and very long. Club felt lively and fun. Frankly, unless a player wanted a lower trajectory, or likes to hit a lot of knock downs or feel shots, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t choose the M2. They are very attractive and a very fun iron. I think folks who say that the M2 feels and/or sounds clicky, clacky or hollow may be mishitting the iron toward the toe. I am not judging — I mishit a lot of shots at first. I agree on toe mishits the iron did not feel great. It almost felt like plastic. The ball still flew pretty well, but it wasn’t a very enjoyable experience. Not painful, just felt very dead. But when hit nearer the center, the iron felt fantastic. Light, springy and very lively.
hammergolf
They are both good-looking clubs. Not too long heel to toe and toplines were not that distracting. M1 is more what I like to see shape wise, but M2 was not bad at all. Personally, not a fan of seeing the face slots. But I could see how some people may like how they frame the ball.
Ace2000
M1
– Has a very odd sound on contact, almost sounds a tad like a fairway wood “ting. Not a fan
– Looks very good at address with the brushed finish
– Most shots I hit with it seemed to fall out of the sky (very likely a lack of spin). Ball flight was much lower than I would have expected (not super low, just not much different than my 7 iron)
– Inconsistent misses. Next to no distance gains vs RocketBladez Tour 7 iron
M2
– Doesn’t look as good at address as the M1. Chrome finish at address is not an issue in even direct sunlight for me
– Feels and sounds quite nice to my ears at impact. Not a classic sound but very good considering what type of club it is
– Ball flight is very strong (comes off hot). Ball stays high in the air for awhile. Very high and lands soft
– 10-12 yards longer on average vs my 7 iron, it even had the horsepower to hang with my 6 iron
– VERY forgiving on thin strikes. Couldn’t believe how a near-top still traveled to nearly the front edge in the air and still went as far as the M1 did on a good strike
– Shaft is too light
Even though I’m a 2-handicap and don’t fit the M2 “mold,” I could see myself playing this club from 4-6 iron (although gapping would be a major issue mixing these with almost anything else) if it had a heavier shaft in it (I can only imagine how far this 4 iron must go… yikes)
M1 = 2.5/5 stars
M2 = 4.5/5 stars
tpeterson
Visual first impressions: The M1 7-iron is visually appealing to me as far as the finish and overall look. Even though it is classified as a player’s iron, it doesn’t seem so tiny that it would be tough to hit. I am not a huge fan of the bright-yellow badging, but I probably could get over it. The iron inspires confidence with its topline and a little bit of offset. The “rubber” piece on the hosel is a little bit funky to me.
I thought the M2 7-iron would look clunkier than it really is. Besides the finish being a little bit different, the difference between the M1 and M2 is actually pretty small. The M2’s topline and sole are a touch wider, but not by much. Not a huge fan of the fluted hosel since it can be seen at address. The M1’s fluting is only on the rear of the club.
I did notice that the sole’s finish did scratch pretty easily. Overall, I thought the M1 and M2 are pretty good looking, but I would definitely give the edge to the M1. I also preferred the stock Lamkin grip on the M1 vs. the ribbed M2 grip.
On course action: They both feel solid. I tried hitting both irons in all different types of on-course situations over a two week period. Both clubs launch the ball high but I would not say they balloon. For me, the M2 was about 10 yards longer and higher than the M1. Compared to my Cleveland irons, they are 1 to 1.5 clubs longer.
M1 loft = 30.5
M2 loft = 28.5
Cleveland TA7 loft = 33.5
I know this accounts for the distance gain but the ball definitely comes off hot compared to my set. I was hoping I would hit the M1 better since I like the appearance better, but that was not the case. The M2 definitely felt better for me and I felt more confident with it in my hands.
Discussion: Read all 75 reviews and the responses in our Testing Thread
- LIKE30
- LEGIT4
- WOW1
- LOL1
- IDHT1
- FLOP3
- OB3
- SHANK20
-
19th Hole4 days ago
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
-
19th Hole1 week ago
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Scottie Scheffler had an interesting response when asked how he ‘quiets the noise’ following Players victory
-
Equipment2 weeks ago
Best driver 2024: The best driver for you, as recommend by expert club fitters
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Jon Rahm dealt fresh blow to hopes of qualifying for 2025 Ryder Cup
-
19th Hole4 days ago
Charlie Woods finds it tough going on American Junior Golf Association debut
-
19th Hole7 days ago
Why Kevin Streelman sought USGA approval to use this equipment tool as he leads Valspar after round one
Joe
Jun 25, 2015 at 8:55 am
Zach is wrong. Distance is excellent and on par with my Ap2’s after much testing… and they actually feel very soft. Surprisingly so. Feel is one of the highlights of this iron.
ronb
Apr 28, 2015 at 5:52 am
love the Wilson d-100 irons and driver
Tom Duckworth
Apr 25, 2015 at 1:29 pm
I have read or watched every review on these since last winter. In the one real video review I found the tester was hitting them farther than his Ping set, it may have been the shafts. I think the point with clubs like this is hitting the same distance time after time. If you needed distance help why would you even look at clubs like these. These seem like a big change from the V2s that I play now. I would like to try them out. The sole grind and tungsten weights make them very intriguing. As far as resale value Wilson makes great clubs and they don’t come out with a new set every six months. I read somewhere that some Adams staff came over to Wilson I don’t if that is true bit these show some Adams influences.
Medway lefty
Apr 23, 2015 at 4:57 pm
Purchased a set of the V4 after having played the V2 and the V4 are an improvement from the previous model , soft feeling great consistency ,great shaft the tungsten weights help get the longer irons airborne quicker.As for the resale value if you find a great set why sell them .?
Good job Wilson
Roosterredneck
Apr 25, 2015 at 9:46 am
great comment, I buy to play , not to trade. I want to use them for as long as I can or until the grooves are worn away.
Ben
Apr 22, 2015 at 12:07 pm
They look great at address but I find the cavity a little generic looking. Can’t wait to try them.
christian
Apr 21, 2015 at 7:39 am
So, sensible lofts are now considered a “con”? Beacuse they don’t “fly as far”? It’s a ding ding world
marten swe
Apr 22, 2015 at 4:10 am
I could not agree more. It’s bad enough on the shovel side of things, but strong lofting for “players” forged irons? Come on golfwrx.
christian
Apr 22, 2015 at 4:59 am
Yeah..At the very least do NOT mention it as a negative thing. Completely ridiculous. A short comment like “the lofts are more traditional so you might need to tweak your club choice if you have been using clubs with strengthened lofts” would be the sensible thing to do. And not give in to the “massage the egos of todays golfer by jacking lofts” mentality.
Golfraven
Apr 21, 2015 at 7:32 am
I am sure these are nice, forgiving irons but not great to look at. Replace this sicky looking brown/gold color with something else. Plus make it more mat then gloss.
joe
Apr 21, 2015 at 1:53 am
Nice irons and great review but resale value and company credibility are lacking (I know Wilson was the club back in the day, but it isn’t 1967 anymore).
Pat M
Aug 2, 2015 at 10:48 pm
I buy clubs to play with and clubs that help my game. I do not buy them to trade them or sell them a month or two later on ebay. Wilson makes very nice irons.
Ryan
Apr 20, 2015 at 7:32 pm
The V4s are fantastic! I’ve been doing some demo testing of 7 irons in our fitting bay and the V4s are right up there. I’m going to hit them again because our rep was able to drop off a C-Taper for me to try. I really didn’t think that they were that small and I didn’t see any significant loss in distance over my current set, but the lofts are pretty equivalent. Wilson is making good products and people should be willing to give them a shot!
Ryan
Apr 20, 2015 at 7:25 pm
The V4s are
Roosterredneck
Apr 20, 2015 at 6:47 pm
I have tried these and they are better than this reviewer has reported.
I do own and play the V2 Wilson Staff irons and Love them. These V4 irons look as good and play as good as my V2 irons . Wilson is on the right track and if you haven’t tried them , then find some and you too will want them after hitting them. GREAT WORK WILSON.
Rich
Apr 20, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Nice to see Wilson getting some air time. These are nice irons but as a club ho, I just worry about the resale value. Well done Wilson.
killerbgolfer
Apr 20, 2015 at 5:47 pm
I”m not in the market for these but i love the reviews you do here. Great work.
Zak Kozuchowski
Apr 20, 2015 at 6:25 pm
Thank you, killerbgolfer. We appreciate the praise.