Equipment
The hottest blade irons in golf right now
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.
Related: Callaway (finally) launches new Apex MB and X Forged irons
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.
Related: Mizuno brings the MP family closer together
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.
Related: Taylormade expands forged offerings with P730 and P790
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…
Related: Titleist’s 718 irons offer endless possibilities.
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- Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
6-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2011 (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X Denali Blue 105 TX (3), Project X 6.5 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F), Callaway Jaws Raw (60-08C)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Mini DB
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy PistolLock 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.
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What are the driver and shaft combinations of the best golfers in the world? For gearheads, it’s an endlessly interesting question — even if we can only ever aspire to play LS heads and 7 TX shafts.
At this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, GolfWRX got in-hand looks at the driver setups of a wealth of players.
Check out some of the most interesting combos below, then head to the GolfWRX forums for the rest, as well as the rest of our galleries from New Orleans.
Rory McIlroy
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alex Fitzpatrick
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Daniel Berger
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees @9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Rasmus Hojgaard
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alejandro Tosti
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
Grip: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
James Nicholas
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (8 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Kevin Streelman
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Sang-moon Bae
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9+ @8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Russ Cochran
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD TP 6 X
Grip: Golf pride MCC Align 
MJ Daffue
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (10.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 65 TX
Grip: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord Align
Check our more photos from the Zurich Classic here.
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- Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Prototype (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Utility: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 85 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (3), Callaway X Forged (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 130
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S, 56-10S, 60-06C)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey Ai One Milled Eight T DB
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Hojgaard in the forums.
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Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)
Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)...
Rory McIlroy WITB 2024 (April)
Rory McIlroy what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus...
Sam Burns WITB 2024 (April)
Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees...
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19th Hole2 weeks agoDave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
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19th Hole3 days agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
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19th Hole2 weeks agoTiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
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19th Hole3 days ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
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19th Hole2 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
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19th Hole1 week agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
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19th Hole1 week agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
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19th Hole1 week agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
Johnno
Mar 3, 2019 at 6:20 am
Fujimoto MB new best irons on the market
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SteveK
Nov 29, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Full forged or fake forged….. that’s the issue.
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…
Bob Jones
Nov 22, 2017 at 12:36 pm
Still doing well with my Hogan Red Lines.
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.
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.
Woody
Nov 21, 2017 at 6:58 pm
It would be cool to see some other companies from time to time..
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.
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
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.
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.
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?
Michael Riechmann
Nov 21, 2017 at 4:22 pm
Srixon 965’s All Day