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Members Choice: The Best Super Game-Improvement Irons of 2017

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More and more golfers are gravitating toward irons designed with the latest technologies to help them hit their shots higher, farther and to correct their typical misses. These “Super Game-Improvement Irons” are juiced with hot faces, wide soles, thick top lines, big offset and a low center of gravity, among other engineering feats that are often unique to each company.

For this edition of “GolfWRX Members Choice,” we asked GolfWRX Members to vote for the best Super Game-Improvement Irons based on their testing and knowledge. See the results below, along with in-depth feedback from our Members.

Editor’s Note: Responses have been minimally edited for brevity and grammar. Vote and join the discussion in the Super Game-Improvement voting thread here, which will remain open throughout 2017 as GolfWRX Members test and evaluate new equipment. 

Ping G (22.53 percent of votes)

PingGironsWRX

acemandrake: Ping G for me. Ping irons function the same today as they did with my first set in 1974 (Karsten II’s). High and straight ball flight. VERY easy to use. Why complicate things?

Shimanonut: For me the Ping G’s were amazing. I had Ping G20’s in my past and for me they were ho hum for feel and distance. I liked them but never loved them, but swinging the Ping G’s was an eye opener and a club I had on my short list for most of my trial period.

jefftomahwak: Ping “G”s for me. Stupid easy to hit. Distance and really straight flight. Wash them after using; they look as good as new.

AC in TX: I use the S55s when I’m feeling froggy and the G’s when I come crashing back down to earth (usually after a bad round with the S55s).

Radeon962: Not that I consider them SGI (Super Game-Improvement), but nothing I have hit comes close to the Ping G.

DaveMac: The Ping G takes what Ping has done for years and added in increased ball speed, improved feel and much better looks. This is a Ping club that will appeal even to Ping haters.

youraway2: I tried most all of them, and the G’s felt and preformed best for me. I’ve never played Ping irons: always Mizuno and recently since 2008, the TM Tour Burners (GI).

Further Reading: What you need to know about Ping’s G irons

Mizuno JPX-900 Hot Metal (18.95 percent)

Mizuno900HotMetalWRX

Shimanonut: I also really like the Mizuno Hot Metals, but they just kept coming up short on the distance for me. Likely my swing or something, but they did have GREAT feel.

DaveMac: Mizuno JPX-900 HM. IMO this is the perfect Goldilocks combination of super game-improvement attributes with the added benefits of good feel and great looks. Mizuno’s best attempt at a wide-handicap-range iron.

Kragster: I got fitted into Mizuno JPX-900 Hot Metal this year and love them. Can instantly tell if I hit it pure or not. Much more consistent ball flight then I was used to before. They look great, too.

Golfnut801: Distance wise, the [Mizuno JPX-900 Hot Metal] were on average 4-6 yards longer the [Mizuno JPX-850] and 7-10 yards longer compared to my [TaylorMade] RAC iron, but that’s just me. Feel wise, the JPX-900 feels much better than both the JPX-850 and RAC. Almost want to say forged-like feel on center hits. JPX-850 was somewhat clicky for me, and my RAC irons are very clicky to me. Mishits on the JPX-900 not only felt better, but were more forgiving then both the JPX-850 and RAC.

Ripken08: I took side-by-side pics vs. JPX-850, 716 AP1, G, and JPX-900 Forged. Blade length is shorter than the JPX-850, AP1, and G, and there’s less offset than those as well. Topline is a smidge larger, but the head is more compact and less offset. Definitely not bad to look at!

Further Reading: Mizuno JPX-900 Hot Metal and JPX-900 Forged irons

Callaway Steelhead XR (12.42 percent)

CallawaySteelheadXrWRX

olperfesser: When I was fitted for and started playing with my Steelhead set, me and my buddies saw an immediate improvement in my game. I guess that is the definition of game improvement.

Shimanonut: The Steelheads were great, but they felt just like my XR’s for my personal taste and I was ready for a change.

Marks23: Very long distance irons. The sound in the hitting bay was quite loud. Callaway sure is making long-hitting irons.

kenry: I just finished being fitted and was very impressed with them. I like the look and found them very forgiving and about a club longer than my other sets with great numbers and trajectory with KBS Tour 90 at no upcharge. 🙂

ttm27: Played first round with these today. Easier to hit than my XR Pro (as mentioned earlier), about half club longer. I hit an 8 iron today with ball below my feet that I was sure was short and going into the bunker and shocked when it hit the green. A bit chunkier than I’m used to, but not too bad to look at. To me they feel pretty good for a distance iron.

nosedive32: Got my set today with Tour-V [shafts] 3-PW. Hit the 7 iron indoors before I ordered. Hit the 3 on the Sim when I picked them up. Haven’t got to go out with them yet. Look and feel really good for what they are. Distance numbers are really strong.

elwhippy: Well, I went for a fitting yesterday. I had no intention of hitting these, but the rep said give them a go. Stunned. Easy to hit, but don’t balloon. Workable and about 20 yards a club longer than my AP2s. Fitted with 5.5 Rifle instead of my XPs, and spin came down an amazing 2500 rpm. 4-PW and gap will be ordered…

Further Reading: Callaway Steelhead XR irons and Hybrids

Titleist 716 AP1 (9.47 percent)

Titleist716AP1

Shimanonut: The AP1’s, I wanted to like, I really did, but they were just more of a “oh, ok, what else do you have.”

Lobber: Overall: 1 round and I love them. The difference is forgiveness and increased distance is a real plus as I get older (59 years in a month). The looks of the 716 AP1 are good enough to allow me to check my ego and “players cavity backs” at the door. I also demoed the AP2 and loved them! I could easily game them, but really had decided that I would go for forgiveness over looks.

gpleonard: I have two rounds in with my 716 AP1’s, and so far I’m very happy: long and straight with very good ball flight and good feel around the green. I could not be happier … I think these are the best looking AP1’s ever.

jjl: Demo’d the 716 AP1 against the TM PSi, both 7 irons and both stock shafts, the AP1 was the better iron for me hands down. Way more consistent contact, better feel (much better than prior AP1’s IMHO), more consistent distances. The PSi felt flimsy in comparison. I will be strongly considering the AP1 as my gamers.

pbr2121: I hit the 7 iron today with the DG AWT and was really impressed. They felt better than the G30s and went farther, too. I’ve always been a slave to Ping, and this is causing brand identity issues. I am wondering if I now have to trade in my Subaru for a BMW.

Reds: OK, so I went and got fitted today. It was between the AP1s and AP2s. I tried all the stock shafts and the winner by far was the AP1s. Everything was better with them. Distance, flight and dispersion.

Further Reading: Our review of the Titleist 716 AP1 irons

Ping G Max (6.95 percent)

PinGmaxWRX

DaveMac: The G Max probably is the ultimate SGI iron: huge head, maximum offset, ultra-high launch with high ball speed. If you want maximum help and don’t really care about looks or feel, then this is the club for the job.

dhen9: They’re perfect. I’ve had numerous Ping irons and these are the most forgiving by far. They’ll most likely be in the line of Rapture, K-Series and Karsten, but they are solid for certain. They are distance monsters and fly higher than you may be used to but are well worth it. They reward good swings, and Ping is not exaggerating when they speak of their ball speed and hotness of face, but they also perform better than any Ping I’ve had on mis-hits. The only thing my instructor has mentioned is the high ball flight, but they are easily flighted down. The addition of a ferrule has really helped appearance, and there will be plenty of G fans that say the Max are “shovels,” but I’m typically in the mid 70s and am OK admitting I need all the help I can get and the GMax delivers. Don’t worry about demand, as I assume the new G has stolen some of the GMax thunder, but if you try them you’ll like them. The only issue I can see against the new G is that the GMAX has a good amount of offset and the appearance of a thicker topline than the new G, as the G has a bezeled topline. Solid performance in GMax. Pull the trigger.

dmac4g: I have played Ping irons forever. I would have never, ever thought of playing the GMax iron. Until I had a full-line fitting with Ping, and I told them nothing was off the table. I have played the S59, S58, and S56, and then I switched to the i-series. I had the new i irons, but I just didn’t feel comfortable with them. After the fitting and seeing that the GMax goes straight, I put them into play. I have to admit; they are not a visually appealing club, but they go straight! My greens hit is through the roof over past years. It seems that if I miss a green now, it is due to a misclub. Either short or long. The left and right sides of the greens are not a concern. I really, really enjoy the performance of the irons and it makes the rounds much easier!

scottydog_uk: Got some just a couple of weeks ago after testing a 7 Iron. I was moving from Raptures, which I loved, but the setup was not right. I am finally hitting high shots: they are straighter, the hot zone is huge, and I am gaining 10 yards plus per club, which makes me sound like an advert, but it’s true. I thought the Raptures couldn’t be beaten for my golfing style, until I hit these…

Further Reading: What you need to know about Ping’s G Max irons

TaylorMade M2 2017 (6.74 percent)

TaylorMadeM22017wrx

Hotdocta: I was surprised how much I like M2. Super, super long iron that felt not bad! They are huge, but not hideous.

Shimanonut: Last one I tried was the M2’s (I think, I know I tried a couple different TaylorMade’s) and they went a long way, but felt like I was hitting the ball with a hammer. Again, with all of the golfers, I might just have a different feel than you do. Not better and not worse, just different.

rockadoo22: Okay, I’ve hit them for 2 weeks now, so I’m confident I can give an accurate review. First, I got them 5-PW with KBS stiff shafts. I am very comfortable with the 8-PW; they go a mile high and at least a club, maybe a club and a half longer than my Pings (G2’s, I know, they have even weaker lofts than today’s standard, not to mention the jacked up M2 lofts). The M2’s go so much higher and farther, especially the short irons, it’s incredible. I am hitting 155-yard 9 irons and 165-yard 8 irons. I love that, even though it took some R&D to dial that in on the course. My problem is the 5-7 irons, the ones with the slot on the sole. They sound a bit clanky, and I can’t seem to actually hit them the same distance gap as the short irons. What I’m trying to say is I hit the 8 and 9 irons almost as far as the 6, believe it or not, with a higher trajectory. That being said, anyone else not crazy about the sound of the slotted M2’s? I am hitting the 5, 6 and 7 irons on the sweet spot, as I can see the ball marks on the club, but it almost feels as though it’s a mishit or the balls are rocks.

03trdblack: The long irons feel/sound very clicky and harsh, especially when hitting range balls or something other than a tour urethane-type golf ball. I personally hate the sound, as it sounds like you mishit the shot even when hit it well. I’ve been playing pretty well with them lately, so I’m not quite ready to give up on them, but it’s definitely a gripe of mine. I wish there was a way to do something about it, but the cavity has so much stuff going on inside of it you really can’t add anything to change the sound.

URStillAway: Yes, the lower irons make a different noise. Same with the SpeedBlades and Rocketblades some of my friends play. Due to the slots. But all of the irons go long and high and straight. I have been switching between the M2s and my AP1s for about 16 rounds so far. The M2s are definitively longer. About 5-7 yards longer per club. I like the feel. Have had some great ball-striking rounds with them, hitting 14 and 15 greens the last two times out.

Further Reading: What you need to know about TaylorMade’s M2 2017 irons

Members Choice 2017

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16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. larry fox

    Jun 22, 2017 at 4:49 pm

    I wish I knew how to play golf!

  2. AceW7Iron

    Jun 22, 2017 at 3:08 pm

    Still gaming the original 2015 XR’s which are fantastic and those short irons hit so sweet I have “0” motivation to exchange them for newer stuff.

  3. Scott

    Jun 21, 2017 at 12:24 pm

    Who on GolfWRX would admit to using game improvement irons? Any set that does not have a 1 or 2 iron is out for most readers.

    • Ian

      Jun 21, 2017 at 12:48 pm

      I wouldn’t know. I’m too busy polishing my 1 iron.

  4. Ude

    Jun 21, 2017 at 12:05 pm

    Game improvement >>> Super Game Improvement >>> Super Duper Game Improvement >>> Xtra Super Duper Game Improvement >>> No Practice Game Improvement !

  5. Old Putter

    Jun 21, 2017 at 11:36 am

    Just wanna say I have ping i25, G, and GMax…
    There is no distance gained or lost with either set. All 3 are very consistent

    • Ude

      Jun 21, 2017 at 12:01 pm

      The truth conquers all the bs being shoveled here.

  6. dcorun

    Jun 21, 2017 at 10:51 am

    Wilson C200 are as good as any of the clubs mentioned. If there had been testing with a number of clubs, instead of people’s opinions IMHO the C200 would have made the list. Try them out if you think I’m crazy.

    • TR1PTIK

      Jun 21, 2017 at 11:51 am

      Doubtful since anyone without a golf specialty retailer (Golf Galaxy, etc) is unlikely to be able to get their hands on any Wilson clubs to test. None of the smaller shops carry Wilson because Wilson just doesn’t sell as well.

      • LD

        Jun 21, 2017 at 12:03 pm

        They don’t sell as well because none of the smaller shops carry Wilson.

        • TR1PTIK

          Jun 22, 2017 at 9:32 am

          You must be right. I’m sure all the green grass shops are purposefully passing up sales because they just don’t want to carry the Wilson brand in their store. LOL. If placed next to a set of Callaway, Titleist, or Taylormade, 9 times out of 10, people aren’t reaching for Wilson golf clubs. I’m not saying they aren’t good, I’m just saying that people more often buy based on what they THINK about a product or brand rather than how it actually performs.

  7. Desmond

    Jun 21, 2017 at 8:44 am

    You forgot the PXG 0311XF (Xtra Forgiving). For the first time in years, I am carrying a 5 and 6i and am tempted to get the 4i (but not yet). Blade-like look, long heel to toe, slightly more offset than 0311, wider sole. Tour Players are carrying these in the longer irons.

    • Ude

      Jun 21, 2017 at 12:02 pm

      It must feel good carrying the long irons the tour players are carrying.

      • Desmond

        Jun 22, 2017 at 2:29 pm

        I carry the 5-6i, not the long irons that tour pros can hit well.

      • Desmond

        Jun 22, 2017 at 2:30 pm

        Good to know the snarks are out. Congratulate yourself for treating others poorly. Does it help with your insecurities?

  8. Rich

    Jun 21, 2017 at 8:44 am

    I know I am out of the box here , So just picking a game improvement iron: The Wilson Staff Di9 from a few years back is the best I’v ever used.Long, feel and looks are all great.

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Club Junkie

Club Junkie Review: Cobra’s new King Tour irons

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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.

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Iron Reviews

Review: Honma TW737-Vs Forged Irons

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Equipment

GolfWRX Member Reviews: TaylorMade 2017 M1 and M2 Irons

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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.

df5745825623a9697f92315cd9d8f1d7

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!

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

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