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Wunder: The longest irons I’ve hit this year

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I’ve hit a ton of stuff the past 12 months, and with the amount of “what’s the longest iron” questions I get on my Friday Instagram Q&A, I thought I’d just break it down. Not by category or anything like that, just the straight-up “holy s$$t that went a long way” list. Take the info in. Use it. Discard it. It’s just my opinion on what I’ve experienced over the past year.

There was a consideration to use data. However, I hit all the irons on different launch monitors under different conditions, so I’ll base the performance on my baseline 5-iron.

Gamer 5-iron specs

(25 degrees) w/ Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (soft stepped) 38 inches, 62 lie @ D3

Baseline numbers per Foresight (TXG Toronto)

  • Swing Speed: 92 MPH
  • Ball Speed: 131 MPH
  • Spin: 4300 RPM
  • Carry: 199 yds

Make sense?

All irons tested were with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue shafts

#4 Srixon Z585

Long. Long. Long. Especially on the thin shots. I found these irons to not only feel solid but they flew like my gamers—but just flat out went further at the same loft. If I could change anything about them is the sound, they do sound a little hollow to me, but you can’t have everything perfect.

  • Loft (25)
  • Data Gathered (Foresight Indoors) 
  • Swing Speed: 94 MPH
  • Ball Speed: 132 MPH
  • Spin: 4,500 RPM
  • Carry: 205 yds

#3 Cobra Forged Tec

The Forged Tec from Cobra is an iron set that I believe will become a cult classic. They are just something you have to play around with a little, but once you get comfortable, the distance and forgiveness are not only compelling but also very playable. Sound and feel don’t necessarily match up to P790 or PXG P. However, of that class, they are the most forgiving in my opinion.

Truth be told, in regards to distance, I could swap 2 and 3 on this list quite easily as I experienced very similar results. The Forged Tec spun a little bit more and went a little bit higher. These irons are a fantastic long-to-mid-iron replacer, if you like to combo.

  • Loft (23)
  • Data Gathered (TrackMan Indoors) 
  • Swing Speed: 92MPH
  • Ball Speed: 133 MPH
  • Spin: 4500 RPM
  • Carry: 207 yds

#2 PXG 0311 P GEN3

I tested these in early October 2019 at Scottsdale National and out of the middle of the face, I hit them even further than PXG’s distance iron the XP. I’m not sure how or why, but these things go a mile with very little spin. For a hollow body construction, they do sound solid and the turf interaction is quite good. As a set, the PXG 0311 P GEN3 is the most playable without any combo swaps. I understand why guys like Pat Perez are comfortable using it 3-PW.

  • Loft (23.5)
  • Data Gathered (TrackMan outdoors) 
  • Swing Speed: 94 MPH
  • Ball Speed: 134 MPH
  • Spin: 4100 RPM
  • Carry: 209 yds

#1 TaylorMade P790 TI

Quite frankly, I’ve never seen anything like it. Let’s get this part out of the way. Yes, it’s built for distance (i.e. structure, materials, lofts, etc). So point there is, TaylorMade set out to do something, and they did it. Build an AMG Mercedes in an iron.

For me, they went wayyyy too far. It was the same reaction I got from Pro V1, RocketBallz, or Callaways Epic w/Jail Break, my jaw hit the floor. In an age where 10 yards is a marketer’s dream, these irons were a club longer on the mishits!

  • Loft (22)
  • Data Gathered (TrackMan outdoors) 
  • Swing Speed: 94 MPH
  • Ball Speed: 136 MPH
  • Spin: 4100 RPM
  • Carry: 219 yds

There you have it. Critique. Debate. Do what you must. Just one man’s opinion on my gear nerd travels. I’m sure there are some super game improvement sticks that could have found their way in but honestly, I didn’t try many of them in earnest, and these were the ones I was able to spend a significant amount of time with.

Let me know what you think and what you’ve found in your testing this year.

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55 Comments

55 Comments

  1. James

    Aug 16, 2020 at 11:30 pm

    Yea, I hit my PW 180? Nevermind that it’s 30 degrees.

    Unless lofts and shafts are equalized, this is a fool’s exercise.

  2. Dave

    Aug 10, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    I was lucky enough to get fitted by Mike T at Asrtisan. I rolled in with my Gen2 PXG 0311T’s. Conversation went like this:

    Mike – how far do you hit your 7-iron?
    Me – 205
    Mike – why?

  3. Gery Katona

    Aug 7, 2020 at 10:57 pm

    “distance” should be measured in part by per degree of loft.

  4. Je

    Aug 4, 2020 at 2:06 pm

    Nice read. I thought loft and length are the only two things that determine distance. Now I feel like I should try new irons after staying with the same set for a decade. Thanks!!

  5. Matthew

    Jul 29, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    I don’t understand what the manufacturers are accomplishing. There is no point in making a five iron have the loft of a three iron and pretending it goes super far. Irons are about controlling distance, it’s not a tee shot. When you hit an iron you’re trying to keep it pin high. Irons should spin more and hit controlled shots. All this does is force you to have several gap wedges because those are the distances you’re more likely to score birdies from and rather than have a club for those yardages you have an enormous gap there instead. Yikes, oem’s continue to appeal to ego, and ego driven golfers continue to make the game more difficult for themselves on the actual course.

  6. Bas

    Jul 29, 2020 at 4:29 am

    I would argue the Srixon Z585 is the most impressive of this list, since the loft is 25 degrees. The others are 23, 23.5 and 22 respectively. And the Srixon holds its own among the jacked up lofts. Now that’s impressive.

  7. roy

    Jul 28, 2020 at 11:45 am

    Good info – if you take it with the “warnings” he gives.

    thanks for posting

    Would love to see a iron test where instead of comparing 5 irons, you compared clubs of samle loft even if you had to bend then to get them all to say 25 degrees….

  8. FlGlfrG

    Jul 28, 2020 at 3:39 am

    I can see your point that this is NOT a test. I also believe you awakened the sleeping (or not so sleeping)loft debate. Yes I am one of those people who believes we should standardize lofts for all clubs. I am not a fan of taking a 4 iron and calling it a 6 just because you can. IMHO, it is and has been time to hold the mfgr’s feet to the fire with de-lofting. That said, as long as you have people who want to hit a 7 iron 200 yards, the de-lofting issue is going to rear its ugly head and discussions such as this will continue.
    And we didn’t even get into shafts!

  9. jgpl001

    Jul 27, 2020 at 7:27 pm

    It’s hard to see the point of any of this, and in reality its quite boring

  10. Steve O

    Jul 27, 2020 at 12:05 am

    “The longest irons I’ve hit this year?” What’s the point Or comparing if the lofts aren’t the same? I’ll bet you hit tour 4 iron farther than your 5 iron. Wouldn’t that then be longer?

    • John Wunder

      Jul 27, 2020 at 8:06 am

      Read the article. I was very clear about not only the variables that were constant but also the difference in launch monitors/indoor/outdoor and I even put up the lofts of each. I wrote this to share my experience that’s it.

      • A. Commoner

        Jul 28, 2020 at 2:40 pm

        Your article is well written, coherent, and ‘read worthy.’ It is indeed sad some people can not gin up the comprehension skills or to set aside their inherent nastiness to appreciate the plain concepts you put forth.

        • Benny

          Aug 2, 2020 at 7:10 pm

          Well said. Great read JW. It’s fun and when websites are trying to uncover everything you have to invent.
          But for arguments sake aren’t all of these irons made to play “skinny” shafts?
          They are supposed to go high and spin a LOT. Otherwise they just get ridiculous with low launch/low spin shafts.
          This is why TT made their X100 105/120’s all to keep weight but add much more spin. So that these new “hollow forged/face flexing” long irons don’t go too far.
          Thoughts?

      • DL

        Aug 11, 2020 at 8:04 pm

        Then why write it?

  11. Seve44

    Jul 26, 2020 at 11:56 am

    The test would be serious if all were tested on the launch monitor, and under the same conditions.

  12. Brad Lawrence

    Jul 25, 2020 at 9:39 am

    Great Article John!

    Still can’t get over that people don’t understand more loft doesn’t equal more distance ???????

  13. Christian

    Jul 24, 2020 at 10:11 pm

    In a comparison like this lofts MUST be identical (and checked pre-test) and shafts MUST be the same model and length.

    • John Wunder

      Jul 26, 2020 at 9:42 am

      Agreed if it was a pure test. This was just experiences from my travels. Gave the numbers of my gamer so you could compare from a fixed point.

  14. benseattle

    Jul 24, 2020 at 4:47 pm

    Interesting, isn’t it, how a guy hosting something called “The Gear Dive” could be so clueless, so wildly off base when it comes to branding a club The Longest Iron…blithely ignoring the varying lofts in his so-called “test.” Wasn’t it just a few years ago that Ben Hogan irons stamped their clubs with the actual loft number instead of a ‘club number?’ That didn’t go over well with the public but the company had a valid point. Sure, new technology will result in distance gains but if all you care about is winning this battle, first and foremost just label your 5-iron a 4-iron. “Clubtests?” Sheesh… a joke no matter the source.

    • David

      Jul 24, 2020 at 8:20 pm

      You mean label your 4-iron a 5-iron.

    • John Wunder

      Jul 26, 2020 at 9:45 am

      Thanks for the comment. Read the article, im very clear that low lofts and tech will make the ball go further. At no point in the article do I refer to any of it as a test. I fully explained, ive hit some stuff, and these were the longest i hit. Thats it.

    • Roddy

      Jul 30, 2020 at 2:47 am

      Would it be a 4 iron if it’s the same length as a traditional 5 iron? There’s more to club design than loft. This is why there’s no “standardisation” of loft. Different iron models are designed for different purposes. CG location in a head will dictate the loft.

  15. Todd

    Jul 24, 2020 at 4:35 pm

    How about the New Callaway Epic irons? Not hit those yet? We don’t believe what we see.

    • John Wunder

      Jul 26, 2020 at 9:46 am

      Hit em but didnt hit em as far as the others. Could be me who knows. I know players that LOVE them and hit em a mile.

  16. James Awad

    Jul 24, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    Bunch of whiners.
    Does the ball get up in the air enough to land soft enough to stick – or come in like a screamer. I’m a 60 yr old Class A award winning pro & Master fitter & builder. I was pretty ‘broken from the miitary; healed up enough to go from a JSOC Medic to civilian FD Paramedic. I broke 2 vertebrae & herniated 3 discs in 1989. After going back to school & much PT, I relearned a better swing and turned pro in ’95.

    “When I WAS playing the B & C league winter tours – and cashing just enough checks to cover entry fees & bar tabs, my NET driving avg was 296 25 years ago – with a 7° GBB and AJ Tech shaft. My T-Zoid irons were bumped only one degree hot. I used a GBB 3 iron 7.0 Rifle, and GBB 1 Iron (also w/ AJ Tech). My 9 went 150. Twenty years before all that coolness, still using the first ‘Real Set’ of Irons my Dad got me – ordered from our Pro – Maxfli
    ‘Tour’ Blades (everything was a blade then) and I would hit that std 1974 PW to the middle of our 150ish 2nd hole unless it was windy. Big Deal.

    I tried DIAWA Pro-Comp irons in 1997 w/straight factory S graphite – they looked like spatulas! But THEY were the first to use Titanium in irons the RIGHT WAY – Holy crap! The COG was so low, the face was a thin Ti insert into a soft stainless shell (early version of FUSION irons – without the elastomer insert, and I picked up 20+ yards on a 6 iron that would ‘drop n stop’ with EV Extra Spin – or my just discontinued ???? Spalding Tour Edition balls. The 6 iron was literally 30 yds longer than the new Ping (yeah, not known for distance) I-3’s my Asst Pro just got… scary.

    Anyway; it’s all BS JACK could’ve hit 200yd 7irons 50 years ago. The ball the clubhead,the grooves & the shafts just never would’ve produced a ‘tour trajectory’ or drop n stop ball flight.

    7 orthoaedic surgeries – after falling off ‘The WTC Pile after 9/11 – yeah, I’d “retired from that shit” – but NO WAY I wasn’t ‘goin’ – 14 broken bones now & 36 screws & 2015 Shoulder repairs; I’m looking at a 7ir Callaway Apex for 155.

    If YOU ARE LOOKING For new clubs, you like the look & feel AND the trio of shaft kick, COG & loft – mated to YOUR predominant impact position by a great fitter yields 20 more yards? ONLY an idiot would say no

    • Benny

      Aug 4, 2020 at 7:14 am

      Thanks for sharing James. You are a hero and appreciate the story and background.

  17. Paulo

    Jul 24, 2020 at 3:47 pm

    What’s happened here? It used to be a great place but now it just feels like a load of radically different sponsored adverts

    • John Wunder

      Jul 26, 2020 at 9:47 am

      How so? Someone giving their experience on what was hit and informing you on what I found is in now way an advert, read the article. Not all articles with multiple clubs referenced are “tests”. I hit stuff, I journal and I try to share what I found with you all.

  18. David Langley

    Jul 24, 2020 at 3:16 pm

    Lofts and swing speeds aren’t the same it’s pretty obvious why they went further

  19. JP

    Jul 24, 2020 at 1:44 pm

    I recently tested automobiles in the same way. All identical.
    4 wheels
    Glass windows
    Used the EXACT SAME fuel
    All had headlights
    And ALL cars were painted red
    Can we agree I tested basically the same vehicles?
    .
    In order of beat acceleration:
    Bugatti
    Chevy Corvette
    Ford Fusion
    Nissan Altima

  20. Broton

    Jul 24, 2020 at 12:45 pm

    Great article thanks for the info. “Jacked lofts” ha. It’s like saying well in my day no one had unleaded gas or a smartphone. It is what it is. Can’t wait to see those PXGs land on eBay in a year or two and get 50% off retail. Meanwhile I’ll be here with my Maxfli Revolutions having just as much fun.

  21. Donn Rutkoff

    Jul 24, 2020 at 11:14 am

    What was a 5 iron loft in the long forgotten eras of say, Nicklaus, Snead, Hogan, and even Johnny Miller? And for that matter, how many yards long was Augusta Nat and Colonial in 1950? What was the loft on Corey Pavin’s famous 4 wood that won him the US Open in 1995, and what shaft? I’m just wondering.

    • Pelling

      Jul 25, 2020 at 7:23 pm

      Corey Pavin played the Cleveland VAS 792 iron at Shinnecock, possibly the ugliest iron in history.

  22. Carl

    Jul 23, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    Only in golf is a comparison with half a dozen variables considered legitimate.

    • John Wunder

      Jul 26, 2020 at 9:54 am

      Not a formal test by any stretch. The article clearly states that im just sharing my experience with you. If you think MY experience isnt legitimate than im not sure how to help there.

      • Carl

        Jul 28, 2020 at 7:18 pm

        Then what’s the point? I’m sure nobody cares which pair of my underwear I find most comfortable.

  23. Dave Mackay

    Jul 23, 2020 at 5:31 pm

    I’m not as long as you gentlemen are. On a good day my 5 iron carry is 185ish. I agree with one of the earlier comments regarding the gap between the 43 degree PW and your gap wedge. That is an issue.
    And II’m not shelling out close to 4K (with sales tax) for a set of irons.

  24. Cristián Mardones

    Jul 23, 2020 at 10:05 am

    The problem with all long hitting irons, regardless if they are strong lofted or not, is the huge gap they create between pitching wedge and your next longest wedge going up in loft. You will found myself trying to cover up to a 30 or 40 yards gap. For me, consistent progression throughout the whole set is way more important than hitting a 5 iron 220 yards for show.

    • Brandon

      Jul 23, 2020 at 11:56 pm

      Exactly. Most of these distance sets would require carrying a second gap wedge that is the loft of a normal pitching wedge. What is the point? Is it an ego thing to hit a 5 iron at 22 degrees 220 yards instead of a 22 degree 4 iron? If you are hitting a 42 degree pitching wedge 160 you are really just hitting a 9 iron 160. And the 46 degree gap wedge that replaces your pitching wedge to hit the 140 shot is just a pitching wedge. I don’t get the benefits of lying to yourself about your distance when the only difference is the number on the club, not the loft.

    • Mike

      Jul 24, 2020 at 1:39 pm

      So the lofts are so strong, I’ll need a second gap wedge. Tell me how that scenario helps my game, I’m still carrying the same number of irons. Oh, I guess it’s just down to ego.

    • leftienige

      Jul 25, 2020 at 4:27 am

      Just.pick.the.one.that’s.a.bit.long,,and.go.1″down.the.shaft.

  25. Juan

    Jul 23, 2020 at 1:03 am

    Buenos días:Mi nombre es Juan.
    Que precio tienen los palos de TaylorMade P790 TI. 4-P..
    Mi velocidad es de 89

  26. BeastBoy

    Jul 23, 2020 at 12:25 am

    I’m surprised the Cobra irons were more forgiving than the PXG P’s…..sorry I know it wasn’t that kind of test, but that was the pearl that I got from it.

  27. Bill

    Jul 22, 2020 at 8:44 pm

    I’ve heard the SUB70 699 pro is a far iron. Have you tried those yet?

    • John Wunder

      Jul 22, 2020 at 10:18 pm

      I heard that as well!! Have yet to try them but will check in when I do;)

  28. Gianni Sucks

    Jul 22, 2020 at 4:48 pm

    22 degree 5i? And we’re shocked it flew 220? its 22 degrees.

    • John Wunder

      Jul 22, 2020 at 5:48 pm

      Point is its long. Not as simple as loft = ball go far.

      • Gianni Sucks

        Jul 23, 2020 at 12:22 am

        You’re right, its not like a 8 degree club hits the ball further than a 60 degree club.

      • Your mom

        Jul 23, 2020 at 10:13 am

        Nope.. it’s literally that simple. My 5 iron is 27°, I hit it 200yds. My 4 iron is 24°, I hit it 220.

  29. Dave

    Jul 22, 2020 at 4:03 pm

    We saw you get fitted… No way you hit it that far.

    • John Wunder

      Jul 22, 2020 at 5:49 pm

      You must know my game more than I do. Dad is that you?!

      • joro

        Jul 24, 2020 at 11:20 am

        Brilliant, so you hit a jacked up 5 iron far. That 5 is yesterdays 3, so what. Clubs today should not have numbers, they should have lofts. Your kidding yourself if you think you can hit a real 5 iron that far.

        • John Wunder

          Jul 26, 2020 at 9:50 am

          Im not kidding myself. I’m well aware of how far I hit it, and also well aware of modern technology. So when referencing a club that says 5 iron I need to put an asterik to signify *old 3 iron? I rely on the masses to do the math on that.

      • dave

        Jul 29, 2020 at 5:10 pm

        It ain’t Dad..it’s the guy that watched you get fitted at PXG…you were kinda short … not much game really.

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Whats in the Bag

Russell Henley WITB 2024 (March)

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  • Russell Henley WITB accurate as of the Cognizant Classic.

Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX

3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
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Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 (21 degrees)
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Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron T5 Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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Putter: Ping

Ball: Renegade Mbu

Check out more photos of Vince Carter’s WITB here.

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From the Forums: I need more forgiveness in my irons – Looking for recommendations

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In our forums, our members have been discussing the most forgiving irons currently on the market. WRXer ‘TheShark1’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons, saying:

“Currently gaming the Mizuno Pro 225’s but think I need more forgiveness in my irons. My well struck shots are real nice, but my mishits are not performing as good as I had hoped anymore. I really like hollow body irons so if I could find something more forgiving in a hollow body iron that would be great.

Open to any and all recommendations other than Ping. Can’t hit Ping irons at all.”

And our members have been sharing their best suggestions in our forum.

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