Equipment

The hottest blade irons in golf right now

Published

6 years ago

Nov 21, 2017

As we’ve written before, the decision to put a new driver in the bag is usually obvious. Better numbers at testing, perceptibly longer distance, and as long as your bank account allows, you have your new gamer.

The iron switch, however, is a trickier beast. Comfort with the variety of shots one needs to hit is key. Confidence from one’s long irons through the higher lofts is critical. Thus, even the greatest enthusiasm for a new iron release isn’t always followed by a mass exodus to gaming said irons. This is doubly true at the professional level, where the tools are critical to a player’s livelihood.

That said, the combination of forum chatter, GolfWRX member enthusiasm, and what we’re spotting in our WITB photos from tour stops are a reliable indicator of the hottest irons in the game.

And judging by the response to our recent Instagram post, we’re confident that these four models are the hottest blade irons in golf right now.

Callaway Apex MB

Buzz built steadily for the Apex MB iron when we first spotted them in Tour players’ bags at the beginning of 2017. The irons are the product of direct feedback from the company’s Tour staffers, according to Luke Williams, Director of Product and Brand Management at Callaway. Forged from 1025 Carbon Steel, these irons have the shortest blade lengths, the thinnest soles and the smallest overall heads in the vast line of Callaway irons. They’re designed for maximum workability, and for tour-desired turf interaction.

Mizuno MP-18

The pioneers of Grain-Flow Forging, Mizuno went back to its roots with the MP-18 iron model. A throwback to the great muscle backs in the company’s history, Mizuno was shooting for the look of an iron that could have been forged a century ago. Shorter blade length, cambered top line, sharp, compact wedges, all combined with the most minimal badging make the MP-18 an instant classic that set the GolfWRX forums afire.

TaylorMade P730

TaylorMade’s P730, particularly in its prototype incarnations, made quite a splash on the PGA Tour. Building on the heritage of the TP-MB irons, P730 was developed in collaboration with the very best players in the world. The 1025 carbon steel irons irons feature a smaller profile and crisper lines than the MB series irons. The combination of the clean look and a deep rear groove have players drooling. Discussing working with Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose to design the P730, TM’s Senior Director of Irons, Tomo Bystedt said, “What these players need is a very low-inertia club that they can [manipulate] easily, almost like a surgeon’s scalpel.” Behold the scalpel.

Titleist 718 MB

“For the purist there is no substitute for a one-piece, muscle back iron. The 718 MB is the modern choice for those desiring a traditional forged look and feel,” says Titleist in the 718 MB marketing materials.

It’s hard to argue with that statement from the “appearance of a classic forged iron” standpoint. Purists appreciate that the 718 MB maintains Titleist’s traditional lofts (the 6-iron is 31 degrees, the pitching-wedge is 47 degrees), thin top-line, minimal offset, and limited badging. In short, if it ain’t broke…

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Ben Alberstadt

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21 Comments

Johnno

Mar 3, 2019 at 6:20 am

Fujimoto MB new best irons on the market

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Benny

Dec 28, 2017 at 8:30 am

KZG shows amd details their forging process. Forging is not hard fellas for these manufactures. But in every industry huge companies all sub contract. I sell plastic and resin but some of the largest manufactures outsource everything as its cheaper than bringing it all in house. Instead these manufactures are trying other ways to market a “better club”. Like any manufacturing it’s about speed, process and profits.

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Crazy About Golf

Dec 14, 2017 at 11:35 pm

Used to game Titleist….Hit all four of these guys over several days and made the change to Mizuno MP18. Hands down the softest, best performing and best looking new blades currently on the market.

Reply Report comment
OB

Nov 23, 2017 at 12:03 pm

Okay, Ben, now tell us how each of the clubs were forged. Hot forged? Cold coin forged? Welded hosel?
You get the metallurgical data from the OEMs, but how about asking them about their forging method so GolfWRX denizens will know exactly what they are buying?

Reply Report comment
- Mick
  
  Nov 25, 2017 at 10:43 am
  
  If Mizuno is so good, how come no one plays them. PGA Tour, NCAA, Mizuno is the least played and NCAA guys dont get paid to use clubs. Titleist, PING, Taylormade are in most golf bags.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Brian
    
    Nov 27, 2017 at 11:50 pm
    
    There was a survey a few months back in one of the major golf publications asking tour players what iron they would play if given the choice. Mizuno was atop this list by a large margin. Mizuno also has several sets on the tour in players bags without contracts- any NCAA school with a decent golf program is under a contact with major manufactures. Example PGX supplies several schools with FREE equipment. Mizuno has never spent in this fashion and thus you do not experience the propaganda you may expect.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Mike
    
    Dec 6, 2017 at 3:26 pm
    
    Actually when Nike stopped making equipment it left a number of players without a club contract for a while. Overwhelming those players put Mizuno’s in their bags for free.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Benny
    
    Dec 28, 2017 at 8:23 am
    
    Yes but schools get their clubs, gear, and clothing from sponsured OEM’s. You think the schools pay for everything for their teams? Adidas sponsored Louisville for $180mil over 6 years to play all of their gear. Mizuno doesn’t sponsur like these other brands but certainly doesn’t mean their irons aren’t ontop right now.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Hutstar
    
    Dec 28, 2017 at 12:34 pm
    
    “Titleist, PING, Taylormade are in most golf bags.” Right. You could add Callaway. Those 4 spend the most at Pro and College level by far. I still remember seeing a really good amateur player using Taylor Made a few years back and being surprised – it just hadn’t occurred to me that someone who knows what they’re doing would use Taylor Made irons by choice (and it’s possible they were holdovers from college days or something). BTW, those companies make decent stuff, but it wouldn’t be the choice of most top players and therefore they are forced to buy their way into bags.
    
    Reply Report comment
- SteveK
  
  Nov 29, 2017 at 3:07 pm
  
  Full forged or fake forged….. that’s the issue.
  
  Reply Report comment
Anthony

Nov 22, 2017 at 8:21 pm

I’ll stick with my Z965’s. Tried them all and the Srixon’s felt the best…

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Bob Jones

Nov 22, 2017 at 12:36 pm

Still doing well with my Hogan Red Lines.

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The General

Nov 22, 2017 at 12:04 pm

no Cobra KING Forged MBs? They came out late last year, but still, they are some of the best feeling/best looking irons out there and they come in 2 different colors. You guys made a mistake not adding them to this list.

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Paul Dooley

Nov 22, 2017 at 10:10 am

I’m playing the Apex MB’s currently, and love the feel. Granted I’m a Callaway loyalist, but getting the ball to do whatever I need it to comes really easy with these irons.

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Woody

Nov 21, 2017 at 6:58 pm

It would be cool to see some other companies from time to time..

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Andrew

Nov 21, 2017 at 4:57 pm

Why is Mizuno the only one that shows the public their forging process from start to finish? Because the others only cold forge? Because the others have a welded hosel? Take away the money, Mizuno is the best forged iron on the planet.

Reply Report comment
- JOEL GOODMAN
  
  Nov 22, 2017 at 7:59 pm
  
  MIZUNO FORGES THEIR OWN. MOST OF THE OTHERS ARE FORGED BY KENDO OR OTHER GENERIC FORGES
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Adam
    
    Nov 25, 2017 at 1:21 am
    
    Its called Endo, who actualyl forge their own 1 piece irons no welding of of hosel. Who are the generic forgers.
    
    Reply Report comment
- SS
  
  Nov 24, 2017 at 2:53 pm
  
  Mizuno = 100% hot forged throughout.
  Others = Cheap coin “forged” stampings = 1% surface-only forged.
  Does it matter, particularly since PING are double annealed 17-7 cast steel, to allow for lie bending?
  Perhaps that soft ‘buttery’ impact feel is only due to hosel and shaft design and the ‘feel’ attributed to the clubhead is illusory.
  
  Reply Report comment
Steve Sands

Nov 21, 2017 at 4:49 pm

The Miura’s are the best, and and the Srixons are right there too. How come we only mention the same major companies over and over again?

Reply Report comment
Michael Riechmann

Nov 21, 2017 at 4:22 pm

Srixon 965’s All Day

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Whats in the Bag

Michael Block WITB 2024 (May)

Published

13 hours ago

May 13, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Michael Block what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship.

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 “Dot” (9 degrees @7.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @14.25)
Shaft: 2024 Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X

5-wood: TaylorMade M5 (19 degrees @17)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 70 TX

Irons: TaylorMade Stealth UDI (4), TaylorMade Proto (5-9)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI Hybrid 85 X (4), Project X 6.5 (5-9)

Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 (46-09SB, 60 [unconfirmed]), TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 (52-09S, 56)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

See the rest of Michael Block’s WITB in the forums.

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Whats in the Bag

Brooks Koepka WITB 2024 (May)

Published

13 hours ago

May 13, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Brooks Koepka what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship.

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 “Dot” (10.5 degrees @9.75)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D Limited 60 TX (44.5 inches, tipped 1 inch)

3-wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Check out more in-hand photos of Brooks Koepka’s clubs here.

Irons: Nike Vapor Pro (3), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-9)
Shaft: Fujikura Pro Tour Spec 95 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore Tour Rack Raw (46-10 Mid), RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (52-10 Mid, 56-10 Mid, 60-6 Low)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (46), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (52-60)

Check out more in-hand photos of Brooks Koepka’s clubs here.

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5.5

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord (Midsize)

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Check out more in-hand photos of Brooks Koepka’s clubs here.

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/13/24): Full set of ‘Tiger Slam’ clubs

Published

19 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Gianni Magliocco

At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a full set of ‘Tiger Slam’ clubs.

From the seller: (@CaymanS): “During the year of recovery from leg surgery that never quite healed, I was bored. One thing led to another, and I ended up gradually building/acquiring the individual pieces to complete a set of “Tiger Slam” clubs. They are what Tiger played to win 4 consecutive majors, which nobody has ever done. This is not an exact replica of course, but something close that fit me to play a few times per year and experience what Tiger did. But my bad leg, 4 shoulder tears, and age prevents me from the ball-striking needed to enjoy these to their fullest. They may not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially since the driver and fairway shafts are regular flex and most players good enough to play these will need to change them, but it’s not a perfect world. I am not a historian on this stuff, but my research indicates these are the same models Tiger used, with slightly different specs to fit me.

Full set $1,600, or…

…a donation for a Pro Kids fundraiser, or…

Driver: $70

Fairway: $250

Irons: $1,100

Wedges: $100

Putter: $350″

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Full set of ‘Tiger Slam’ clubs

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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