Equipment
Greatest forged combo iron sets of all time
So, you’re a golfer who loves the idea of small workable irons. But on the other hand, you appreciate the extra forgiveness and green holding-power of something a little easier to hit in the longer clubs. It sounds like you could be the ideal candidate for a combo set.
Combo iron sets have been around for as long as golfers have tried to maximize the performance of their irons by mixing and matching clubs to fit distance and trajectory goals, even with different brands and models.
In the mid-2000s, things changed when OEMs saw an opportunity to engineer their own combo sets from scratch to help golfers build a coherent set from top to bottom and also have them blend seamlessly from club to club. Thanks to improved custom fitting and most golf equipment manufacturers designing series of irons intended to be mixed and matched through the fitting process, “off the rack” combo sets are almost extinct beyond sets offered with easier-to-hit hybrids.
With the top-to-bottom sets now almost extinct, there is no better time than now to look back on some of the greats.
Nike VR (Victory Red) Pro Combo
Nike was one of the very first manufacturers to introduce a mainstream-marketed combo set with the original Nike Pro Combo irons. They were so successful, they eventually launched a second-generation version as well as a larger more forgiving Pro Combo OS (Oversized) set for golfers that wanted a bit more help.
Nike Pro Combo OS
But the title of best Nike combo set has to go to the VR Pro series, which offered a blade, split cavity, and fully undercut forged iron all in one set. Nike even allowed golfers to mix and match throughout the set via custom order. The VR Pro blades are still one of the most loved Nike irons of all time but the Pro Combos gave everyone the opportunity to hit towering mid and long irons into greens, even if you happen to mis-hit one just a little bit.
Bridgestone J33
The entire J33 series from Bridgestone is perennially on my Mount Rushmore of underappreciated irons. The irons were as pure of a blade you will ever find with an old-school long hosel and high muscle. The CB’s were equally appealing with classic lines, but the standout was the Combo set that transitioned perfectly from club to club and offered multi-material technology in the longer irons—with a tungsten insert.
Finding a serviceable set of J33 combos these days is difficult since not many sets made it to North America (heck, even finding pictures was tough), and for those golfers who did have them, they used them until there were no grooves left. But if you do happen to find some, they are well worth the price of admission.
Titleist 735•CM
The Titleist 735•CM irons were Titleist’s very first designated combo set, available to right-handed golfers* (the 731PM irons were introduced 3 years before the 735•CM but were only ever made left-handed). On a secondary note, the 735’s were available in both right and left-handed.
They offered a compact shape that was classic “Titleist,” and what also made them very cool is they were offered in both chrome-plated forged carbon steel and forged stainless steel, to deliver a satin look. These came to be after the introduction of the 690• irons, and Titleist saw a noticeable amount of custom ordered mixed sets of the 690• MB and CB and decided that engineering a combo set from scratch could offer the best of both worlds for golfers.
As far as value goes in used combo sets, these are still very high on the list and can be found at very reasonable prices.
TaylorMade RAC Coin forged
In the early days of the TaylorMade Tour Preferred line, the Coin Forged RAC combo set was one of the most desirable sets of irons on the market. They often get confused with the limited edition forged full CB set released around the same time because the long irons looked remarkably similar but that where the similarities ended. (We talked about those irons here: Greatest TaylorMade Irons of all time)
The Coin Forged combos were a pure split set with 2-6 iron being cavity backs and the 7-9 irons being the same as the original RAC MB’s. The outlier club in the set was the 48-degree RAC pitching wedge that transitioned perfectly to the TaylorMade RAC chrome wedges if you decided to use those through the rest of the set too.
As far as combo sets go, this is probably one of the smallest looking sets from address you will ever find, but if you were looking for workability—this set was for you.
Adams Idea Pro
The original Idea Pro set from Adams revolutionized the entire category of combo sets for the better player when it launched in 2007. The Idea Pro hybrid was already the number one hybrid on the PGA Tour, and this was Adams’ first big step into targeting better players since before this they were still mostly known for being popular clubs on the Champions Tour and with the about 50-plus crowd.
The irons were forged and had a compact squared-off shape. What made them so unique is the set had the option of going all the way down into a lob wedge—something you almost never see from a club targeting better players. Although they never sold through very well, the wedges stood well on their own for both performance and look. On the high end of the set, the stock configuration came with 3 and 4-hybrids (5 and 2 hybrids available separately) with the very hot at the time Aldila VS Proto 80g hybrid shaft which also contributed to the appeal.
If it weren’t for Adams and the original Idea Pro set, who knows how much longer it would have taken for combo sets with hybrids to take off with golfers in the single-digit handicap category, but by taking that risk, it changed the game for a lot of golfers.
Are there any famed combo sets you’d add to the list? Let us know in the comments.
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Driver: Callaway XR 16 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 60 X
Length: 45.5 inches
3-wood: Callaway XR 16 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 70X
5-wood: Callaway XR 16 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 80X
Irons: Callaway Apex UT (2, 4), Callaway Apex Pro (5-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Superlite
Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (47-11 S-Grind) Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (54-11, 58-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Superlite
Putter: Odyssey Versa #1 Wide (WBW)
Lie angle: 71 degrees
Ball: Callaway Speed Regime SR-3
Check out more photos of Willett’s equipment from 2016 here.
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Originally, Project X was known for low-spin steel iron shafts. However, the company might now be known for wood shafts. Denali is the newest line of graphite shafts from Project X. With the Denali line, the company focuses on feel as well as performance.
There are two profiles in the Denali line, Blue and Black, to fit different launch windows. Denali Blue is the mid-launch and mid-spin profile for players who are looking for a little added launch and Denali Black is designed for low-launch and low-spin. Both models are going to offer you a smooth feel and accuracy.
For a full in-depth review check out the Club Junkie podcast on all podcast streaming platforms and on YouTube.
Project X Denali Blue
I typically fit better into mid-launch shafts, as I don’t hit a very high ball so the Denali Blue was the model I was more excited to try. Out of the box, the shaft looks great and from a distance, it is almost hard to tell the dark blue from the Denali Black. With a logo down install of the shaft, you don’t have anything to distract your eyes, just a clean look with the transition from the white and silver handle section to the dark navy mid and tip.
Out on the course, the Blue offers a very smooth feel that gives you a good kick at impact. The shaft loads easily and you can feel the slightly softer handle section compared to the HZRDUS lineup. This gives the shaft a really good feel of it loading on the transition to the downswing, and as your hands get to impact, the Denali Blue keeps going for a nice, strong kick.
Denali Blue is easy to square up at impact and even turn over to hit it straight or just little draws and most of the flex of the shaft feels like it happens right around where the paint changes from silver to blue. The Blue launches easily and produces what I consider a true mid-flight with the driver. While it is listed as mid-spin, I never noticed any type of rise in my drives. Drives that I didn’t hit perfectly were met with good stability and a ball that stayed online well.
Project X Denali Black
When you hold the Denali Black in your hands you can tell it is a more stout shaft compared to its Blue sibling by just trying to bend it. While the handle feels close to the Blue in terms of stiffness, you can tell the tip is much stiffer when you swing it.
Denali Black definitely takes a little more power to load it but the shaft is still smooth and doesn’t give you any harsh vibrations. Where the Blue kicks hard at impact, the Black holds on a little and feels like keeps you in control even on swings that you try and put a little extra effort into. The stiff tip section also makes it a little harder to square up at impact and for some players could take away a little of the draw from their shot.
Launch is lower and more penetrating compared to the Blue and produces a boring, flat trajectory. Shots into the wind don’t rise or spin up, proving that the spin stays down. Like its mid-launch sibling, the Black is very stable and mishits and keeps the ball on a straighter line. Shots low off the face don’t get very high up in the air, but the low spin properties get the ball out there farther than you would expect. For being such a stout shaft, the feel is very good, and the Denali Black does keep harsh vibrations from your hands.
Overall the Project X Denali Blue and Black are great additions to the line of popular wood shafts. If you are looking for good feel and solid performance the Denali line is worth trying out with your swing. Choose Blue for mid-launch and mid-spin or Black for lower launch and low spin.
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Bryson DeChambeau fired an opening-round 7-under 65 at Augusta National, hitting an impressive 15 of 18 greens in regulation in the process. Golf’s mad scientist’s play grabbed headlines and so too did his equipment. In place of the Ping i230 irons he had in the bag last week for LIV Golf’s Miami event, DeChambeau is gaming a prototype 5-PW set of irons from little-known direct-to-consumer manufacturer Avoda.
What is Avoda Golf?
Founded by Tom Bailey, also a Mike Schy student like Bryson DeChambeau, Avoda Golf is a direct-to-consumer golf equipment company that currently manufactures both single and variable-length irons in one model that are available for pre-order.
What irons is Bryson DeChambeau playing?
Per multiple reports, DeChambeau is playing a custom-designed set of single-length irons that incorporate bulge and roll into the face design. The two-piece 3D-printed irons were reportedly only approved for play by the USGA this week, according to Golfweek’s Adam Schupak.
Regarding the irons, DeChambeau told Golf Channel the irons’ performance on mishits was the determining factor in putting them in play this week. “When I mishit on the toe or the heel,” DeChambeau said. “It seems to fly a lot straighter for me and that’s what has allowed me to be more comfortable over the ball.”
What can we tell about the design of the clubs?
These days, it is a little hard to speculate on what is under the hood with so many hollow body irons. DeChambeau’s irons look to be hollow on the lower section as they do flare back a decent amount. That “muscle” on the back also looks to be fairly low on the iron head, but we can assume that is progressive through the set, moving up higher in the short irons.
A screw out on the toe is probably used to seal up the hollow cavity and used as a weight to dial in the swing weight of the club. From pictures, it is hard to tell but the sole looks to have a little curve from heel to toe while also having some sharper angles on them. A more boxy and sharper toe section looks to be the design that suits Bryson’s eye based on the irons he has gravitated toward recently.
What are bulge and roll, again?
Two types of curvature in a club face, traditionally incorporated only in wood design. Bulge is heel-toe curvature. Roll is crown-sole curvature. Both design elements are designed to mitigate gear effect on off-center strikes and produce shots that finish closer to the intended target line. (GolfTec has an excellent overview of bulge and roll with some handy GIFs for the visual learner)
What else is in DeChambeau’s bag?
Accompanying his traditional Sik putter, Bryson builds his set with a Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, a Krank Formula Fire driver and 5-wood, and a TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver, all with LA Golf graphite shafts.
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joro
Aug 7, 2020 at 10:46 am
I have a set of Burners in Left Handed hanging out in the Garage. They were the same set described. O/S 3,4,5,6 Std 7,8,9 and forged 48,52,56,60. They are great clubs and used them with Aldilla Gold Stiff shafts. Virtually the same set that Rich Been won the PGA with and hard to find in Leftie. I don’t play anymore so I am going to have get rid of them.
Allen Rawlins
Jul 24, 2020 at 8:56 pm
How about the Ram FX Pro Set? Had them for three years!!! Simply awesome!!!
Ben coffman
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:34 pm
735CMs! Scored my best rounds ever with those irons. Still use them when hitting into the net at home. Wish my current gamers (APREX 19 Pros) were as durable, 1 season in and they look worse than the 735s after hundreds of rounds.
A.Y.
Jul 18, 2020 at 11:07 am
No love for Maxfli A10s?
Foxy
Sep 26, 2020 at 3:28 pm
Still play Maxfli 10 Tour Limited, great set
Matthew Gavin
Jul 16, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Currently play MP54 MP4 S18 combo.
Hogan PTX Pro , Icon combo would be next in the radar.
Steve W
Jul 13, 2020 at 12:47 pm
you left out the Nike Vapor Pro combo irons. I agree that the VR Pro combo irons were great but in my opinion, the Vapor Pro Combo set is the best set of irons Nike produced. They tick all the boxes and are still one of if not the best crossover sets suited to both mid and low handicappers. The forged feel, along with forgiveness especially in the longer irons are incredible. Combine that with the fact that they are one of the best looking irons available even today and I have to say you dropped the ball leaving the. Off the list.
JP
Jul 8, 2020 at 9:01 am
Yes the Wilson Staff Progressives were sweet
chip75
Jul 6, 2020 at 11:11 am
The TaylorMade RAC combos technically weren’t a forged set, or rather not completely forged set. The wedge was a bog-standard off the rack RAC. The full blade set had a forged wedge. You sometimes see some clown on eBay listing them (the cast 48°) as rare, when they made tens of thousands of the things.
Jason Geraci
Jul 6, 2020 at 11:07 am
Apparently, we need a history lesson. The reason that the Nike VR Pro Combo is on this list IS BECAUSE of the Ben Hogan Apex/Apex Plus/Apex Edge, that came before them. Tom Stites got the idea for the Pro Combo from his short stint at Ben Hogan. He applied for the head of R&D at Ben Hogan, which he didn’t get and then parlayed that into his job at Nike. This isn’t just an oversight, it’s ignoring that Tom Stites’ was just copying Ben Hogan. To be fair to Stites, he copied BH because he didn’t know how to properly design golf clubs, which is what happens when you hire someone to design golf clubs that has an agricultural engineering degree. Plus, the original Nike Pro Combo from the early 2000s (which was
Stites’ first attempt to copy the Ben Hogan Apex line) feels and performs better than the VR Pro Combo.
It’s getting more difficult to read articles about “all-time greats” written by someone who wasn’t even born before Ronald Reagan was President.
Ryan Barath
Jul 7, 2020 at 9:46 pm
Hi Jason,
Thanks for checking out the list. The Hogan FTX was a great set and were originally on my list, along with a number of clubs mentioned by others here in the comments including the Cobra S3 Combos, Wilson Fi5 ( very similar to the Progressives mentioned by a few ) and MacGregor 1025, but cuts had to be made. Although Stites had his name on them the man behind the masters at Hogan and then Nike was Mike Taylor – hence the similar shaping, especially the pronounced higher heel (crotch transition from the hosel).
I appreciate the mentioning of my age but it has nothing to do with my knowledge of equipment, and if you were to listen to my Podcast this week – “OnSpec” found on GolfWRX Radio and here on the site I actually went down a pretty fun rabbit hole about the FTX and remembering Carlos Franco won his last PGA Tour event using them.
Cheers
Imafitter
Jul 6, 2020 at 10:24 am
I am so sick of these “Best of” lists! If it works best for you, then it is the best for you.
Distance Compression Dude
Jul 5, 2020 at 6:05 pm
This list is laughable.
Bill
Jul 6, 2020 at 10:27 am
Seriously. Did you know they didn’t forge irons nor did players play combo sets at all prior to 1995? This list proves it.
Tim Murphy
Jul 5, 2020 at 10:03 am
Hogan FTX
Gary Penzil
Jul 6, 2020 at 10:48 am
FTX, they feel awesome and didn’t get much fanfare. Some of the nicest blades 8-PW ever made.
Richard J Johnson
Jul 7, 2020 at 12:10 pm
+1. Just picked up a set for $10 on c/l. Apex 4 shafts, pure Hogan feel.
Kevinkeilen
Jul 5, 2020 at 8:37 am
Ram FX combo from the 80s or 90s. I’m still playing FX forged blades to this day. Can’t find another set like them.
Delbert
Jul 5, 2020 at 7:27 am
First generation Nike VR Pro CBs. Ram Laser FX Forged. Adams CB1 (8420) which has a great gap wedge. Adams was great! Too bad they are not around.
Johan
Jul 5, 2020 at 5:38 am
My favorite combo set is Wishon 575mmc. Great blend from cb to mb and I then go to Wishon hm wedges and Wishon DIH 2iron to complete the irons…
K
Jul 4, 2020 at 11:21 pm
Picked up a set of the Nike TW Pro blades 3-PW in AMAZING shape for a STEAL from my local Edwan Watts. LOVE those clubs!! And wouldnt you know a few months later they had a lone Nike VR Pro pocket cavity 2 iron that was literally brand new sitting there for $20. All in all a great set 2-PW for less than $300.
John Michael Fawley
Jul 4, 2020 at 8:46 pm
Say what you will about Nike clubs, but those Pro Combos were good clubs.
Stephen DelGiudice
Jul 4, 2020 at 5:40 pm
Ben Hogan edge set from the 80’s. Best club I ever used.
stephen hall
Jul 5, 2020 at 1:15 am
I had the Hogan Edge GS irons GREAT GREAT…
kim
Jul 6, 2020 at 2:07 pm
Totally agree!
The Truth
Jul 4, 2020 at 5:16 pm
Cleveland 588 CB MB combo.
Wayne
Jul 16, 2020 at 10:47 pm
You are correct love my 588 combos still playing them!
Tony Rich
Jul 4, 2020 at 3:51 pm
Titleist ZB Blended Set, forged by Endo. Super soft and players club.
My buddy got them new back in the day, I knew I was in trouble.
Don
Jul 5, 2020 at 1:48 am
Those were so underrated and unappreciated.
Ron
Jul 4, 2020 at 2:42 pm
Mizuno Grad MP
V
Jul 4, 2020 at 2:28 pm
I really like combination sets as their setups have helped my game. Seems like I get a bit higher flight on the 6 – up, which I can use. I also like the iron profiles. Currently, I have MacGregor MT Pro CMs gunmetals and Titleist 735 CMs.
Good call on the Wilson Progressives as that was a unique set when it came out. The Ram Fx Pro Set should also make the list. Nice blending through the set. Back then, you could also create a set with the Cleveland 588 series. Never hit the recent Cobra gunmetal set (similar profile to the MacGregors) but thought they would have stuck around longer than they did.
Gregory Turley
Jul 4, 2020 at 2:23 pm
Had a set of Nike Pro Combo and liked them a lot. The long iron sadly is becoming a thing of the past
Scott Underhill
Jul 4, 2020 at 1:07 pm
Wilson Staff Progressive, circa 1993. 3-7 CB,8-SW MB
Brian Marchi
Jul 4, 2020 at 6:42 pm
Still have mine. Very workable forged iron and just a beautiful feeling when hit pure.
Scott Gress
Jul 5, 2020 at 4:04 am
Exactly – Wilson Staff Progressive – loved em and used them for years – ahead of their time – shot my all time low round with those
Kasper Frank
Jul 4, 2020 at 12:58 pm
McGregor 1025 CM
Osnola Kinnard
Jul 22, 2020 at 9:27 am
I cam here to post this. I have a set of them with Rifle 6.0 shafts and they are pure golf nirvana.