Equipment

Irons: Hot New Picks for 2014

Published

10 years ago

Jan 14, 2014

What new irons are getting the most buzz early in 2014, and which ones are testing the best at fitters around the world?

You don’t have to poke around too long in our forums to find out what irons golfers are excited about, and which ones are getting cricket treatment. It’s still too early to tell what will be the winners of our 2014 Editors Choice awards, because some manufacturers still haven’t stocked retailers with heads or full shaft offerings.

That being said, there are some early reports about this year’s performers. Here is a short list of what is hot, and some early recommendations if you’re on the lookout for a new set of irons for 2014.

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Ping S55 Irons

Ping found a way to squeeze a little extra forgiveness and distance out of the new S55 irons. They look almost identical to the S56 irons — we think that’s a good thing — that have over 30 professional victories since fall of 2011. They’re still cast, but many golfers will tell you that these irons feel much better than previous models. Expect the S55 to be a top choice for many, and a contender for Editors’ Choice Iron of the Year.

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ping s55

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Titleist 714 AP1 and AP2 Irons

Titleist engineers had a very difficult task: improve what many golfers believed to be the leaders in their respective segments. The AP1’s build on their strengths with the game-improvement crowd, giving golfers a set of irons with more distance, forgiveness and a cleaner look. And the changes to new AP2’s set the bar even higher for what just might be the best forged cavity-back irons in golf.

[button color=”red” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/144023/titleist-714-ap1-and-ap2-irons-editor-review/”]Read More[/button]

titleist 714 ap2 review

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Callaway Apex Pro Irons

The Apex Pro irons are forged from the same 1020 carbon steel as Callaway’s 2013 X Forged irons, but their multi-material construction and new 37WV grooves bring modernity to the former one-piece design. In the long irons, Callaway engineers added high-density tungsten to the soles, which lowers the center of gravity (CG). That accentuates the irons’ CG height progression, a weighting scheme that gives the long irons a lower CG that launches the ball higher, and the short irons a higher CG that launches the ball lower.

[button color=”red” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/147878/tech-talk-callaway-apex-pro-irons/”]Read More[/button]

callaway apex pro

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Ping i25 Irons

According to Marty Jertson, director of product development for Ping, the biggest challenge most golfers face is hitting their long irons high enough. That’s why Ping’s new i25 long irons are designed more like to the company’s G-Series irons: they have longer blade lengths, wider soles and more offset, which helps golfers hit them higher, farther and closer to the target line on mishits. The irons also have thinner, more narrowly spaced stability bars in their cavities that make their faces livelier than their predecessors.

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ping i25 iron

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TaylorMade SpeedBlade Irons

At address, SpeedBlades are an absolute confidence booster with a thin(ish) top line. They have a great trampoline-like feel when flushed, and mishits won’t punish your joints. The ball flight with the long irons can look down right majestic. These irons are currently testing through the roof for distance and accuracy.

[button color=”red” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/143879/taylormade-speedblade-irons-editor-review/”]Read More[/button]

jetspeed iron review

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36 Comments

dwntnbrown

May 18, 2015 at 12:59 pm

if you want the best feeling irons order a set of raven forged iron with aeortech shafts and you will have the best feeling golf club you ever hit

Reply Report comment
joro

Jun 9, 2014 at 11:21 am

Funny how it is always the same old ones.

Reply Report comment
Matthew

Feb 25, 2014 at 1:18 pm

what about the Minzuno jpxz forged blade its awesome!!!

Reply Report comment
Jeff

Feb 17, 2014 at 9:56 am

Best new club is Miura mb-001’s. Buttery and oh so long.

Reply Report comment
- Jon
  
  Mar 20, 2014 at 11:29 am
  
  This article is about cavity backs not blades.
  
  Reply Report comment
killerbgolfer

Feb 11, 2014 at 11:18 am

anyone got any comparisons between the Titleist AP2s and the PING s55?

Which is more forgiving?

Longer?

Other thoughts?

thanks

Reply Report comment
- James
  
  Mar 29, 2014 at 10:53 pm
  
  Today I hit both the AP2 714 and the S55 today. They were both similar in terms of forgiveness. However, the key factor I noticed was that the S55 although not forged but felt really soft like forged irons. The AP2’s felt soft but not as much as the S55, I was quite surprised? I currently play the. I currently play the Mizuno MP33 and the feel between the S55 and my MP33 were similar. If you want a combination of soft feel and forgiveness, try the Callaway Apex Pro. I was blown away by the performance. I will be replacing my Mizunos with the Apex Pro’s. Hope this helps.
  
  Reply Report comment
SBoss

Jan 29, 2014 at 12:21 pm

I’ve hit just about every iron (2013/2014) and it came down to two finalists: Callaway Apex Pro and Ping S55. I hit the MP-4, MP-54, all the TaylorMade’s, AP2/AP1, i20/i25, S56, MP-64…
This is very personal and one guy’s favorite might be very different than mine. I chose the S55 in the end and I’m happy that I did, because it’s the best iron I’ve ever hit. It’s a lot longer than I thought it was (longer than S56) and it was amazingly forgiving…while at the same time keeping the smaller profile that I like.
I’m blown away by the S55’s ability to be a club that you can move any direction…while somehow providing enough forgiveness and length.
I didn’t care for the MP-54 (it was chunky and not as forgiving) but somebody else might love it. I spoke to a Mini-Tour player who loves Mizuno (plays MP-64) and he said he’d never consider the MP-4 because it makes no sense to play a club with a sweet spot that small when other clubs were available that were just as easy to move and more forgiving. That’s why he plays MP-64. His view was that the MP-4 was an ego club but the person playing it would be better served with another stick. Again, one player’s opinion.
In the end, it’s best to hit every club and keep an open mind. Personally, I’d play any club manufacturer if I believed it was the best for me. I’m not loyal to anyone, I just want the sticks that I can play the best golf…for me.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Jan 28, 2014 at 5:10 pm

Read the first and second paragraph’s guy’s.

Reply Report comment
Suwitcha

Jan 23, 2014 at 1:45 am

I’m not agree on SpeedBlade. I use Ping i20 and then switch to RocketBladez and then speedBlade. Now I go back to Ping i20. SpeedBlade is not much different from previous model. Just new color.

Reply Report comment
Always a Fan!!

Jan 16, 2014 at 10:48 pm

Mizuno deserves credit… MP4’s are the 2014 offering no matter what date they were released… Good god… Blatant commercialism.

Reply Report comment
yo!

Jan 15, 2014 at 10:01 pm

Got the big 4 covered
titleist, Callaway, ping, tm

Reply Report comment
- livestrong
  
  Jan 15, 2014 at 11:47 pm
  
  They peg it. I work at a top 5 fitter in the USA and we are seeing the same thing plus the new Cobra Pros. All in the LM numbers.
  
  Reply Report comment
nik dallos

Jan 15, 2014 at 7:17 pm

Lets face it. Golfwrx is paid off by the big names to push their products. Everything is made in china and is assembled in the states. Show me something thats forged in pittsburg by a guy named joe and then i might buy your product. Till then, ill stick to my VIPs!

Reply Report comment
- livestrong
  
  Jan 15, 2014 at 11:44 pm
  
  That is rubbish. Their sponsors are also Tour Edge, KZG, Fourteen Golf and Scratch golf. I dont see them mentioned. GolfWRX uses top fitters as their source if you did any reading or asked around. Read how they vote in the footer and go talk to them.
  
  Reply Report comment
Januany

Jan 15, 2014 at 11:23 am

You have the SpeedBlade but not the CB or MC? And what about the other Apex? X2Hot and X2Hot Pro? And the Adams XTD irons? This list is ridiculous.

Reply Report comment
RAT

Jan 15, 2014 at 11:13 am

Why isn’t the FG M3 Wilson Staff shown?

Reply Report comment
RAT

Jan 15, 2014 at 11:07 am

Good comment Rich!
I notice that ping has been getting more exposure when they appear to be going to a walmart looking club.The colors are cheap & weak looking.
TM is still searching because they keep changing colors .Can anyone tell me what TM’s primary color is? And TT you are right on the ball, prices fall tech doesn’t really change just appearences so wait and buy later.

Reply Report comment
- Mike
  
  Feb 24, 2014 at 2:47 am
  
  Does it really matter what colour? It won’t make the ball or you perform any better!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Aaron Bieber
  
  Mar 4, 2014 at 12:11 pm
  
  If you’ve seen the PING S55s in hand, there is no way you could classify them as a Walmart club. They are the best looking clubs I’ve seen, the finish is amazing. I love Titleist and Mizuno, but when I saw the S55s I just said ‘wow’. And they play amazingly, too.
  
  Reply Report comment
trmarsh

Jan 15, 2014 at 8:54 am

Even though the MP 4’s and MP 54’s were released in 2013, I truly would like to see them on this list. They have a great combination of looks and feel.

Reply Report comment
- Lee
  
  Jan 15, 2014 at 2:41 pm
  
  Best blade and forged cavity on the market IMO of course.
  
  Reply Report comment
TonyK

Jan 14, 2014 at 9:31 pm

I scrolled up and down twice. Where is MP4?

Reply Report comment
- Billy
  
  Jan 14, 2014 at 10:06 pm
  
  and VR pro combo.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Lar
  
  Jan 15, 2014 at 12:02 am
  
  MP-4 has been out for a while now, so it’s considered 2013 and a half? I thought the MP-54 would be on here too but it isn’t. And what about the Wilsons?
  
  Reply Report comment
Craig

Jan 14, 2014 at 9:18 pm

I have the new Titleist AP1. And i love them. They are about the only company left that doesn’t release new clubs every 2 months. I think it is stupid for companys to come out with new clubs every 4 months. I have a Taylormade R1 white driver and they have already came out with 3 new drivers.

Reply Report comment
- TT
  
  Jan 14, 2014 at 9:33 pm
  
  Since when are more product choices for consumers a bad thing? Also, if I am in the market for new clubs and eyeing a particular club (or set of clubs), I know if I am willing to wait a few more months I can likely get them at a lower price?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - LiveWire
    
    Jan 14, 2014 at 11:48 pm
    
    TT, good point
    
    Six months is wonderful timing for price changes. I usually purchase last years models when they drop a lot in price. Even though the look of a cub line might change a little I think R&D rotates on a 2 to 3 year cycle on irons.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Rich
    
    Jan 15, 2014 at 6:41 am
    
    Since it makes a joke of the club industry. TMAG don’t give 2 hoots about what’s good for the game. They only care about what’s good for the bottom line and the shareholders hip pockets. Maybe I should buy some TMAG shares and get in on the rort……….
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Andrew Park
    
    May 26, 2014 at 1:46 am
    
    It’s called Capitalism. If you want limited choices and companies that can only release certain products at certain predicated times, move to a communist nation. What do you think is the driving force behind innovation? It is competition, plain and simple. What essentially is competition in a Capitalist system? It is multiple companies vying for marketshare. How do they accomplish this? They constantly develop new technologies, no matter how small the change may be, so that at any given time, a company’s product might be considered more advanced and of better quality than a competitor’s.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Rich
  
  Jan 15, 2014 at 6:40 am
  
  Sorry man, it’s actually 4. R1 Black, SLDR 460, SLDR 430 and Jetspeed. TMAG are ridiculous………
  
  Reply Report comment
  - zacjokier
    
    Mar 5, 2014 at 3:10 pm
    
    Actually R1 black is an extension of the r1 so it’s not “new.” And the sldr and the sldr 430 are the same technology in a smaller package. So taylormade has actually only come out with 2 new clubs. Sldr and jetspeed.
    
    Reply Report comment
- TJ
  
  Jan 15, 2014 at 12:07 pm
  
  hmmm Titleist the only manufacture that does releases every 2 years? when was the last ping i series released? I’m also pretty sure that Mizuno has a 2 year cycle as well?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - ND Hickman
    
    Jan 15, 2014 at 4:15 pm
    
    Ping i20’s were out two years ago, and yes you are right. Mizuno do employ a two year cycle for their clubs.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Lee
      
      Jan 16, 2014 at 5:29 am
      
      Yeah that’s right the I20 irons were released 2 years ago however Ping had the I25’s ready 6 months ago but were told by their distribution network to hold their horses. It’s good to see that they listened to the guys on the street as from first impressions the 25’s aren’t a radical upgrade which 6 months ago may well have been viewed as a cosmetic blow over, given the extra time they will now attract genuine interest even from I20 owners.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - paul
        
        Feb 19, 2014 at 2:35 pm
        
        As an I 20 owner, I have tried the new stuff, and don’t care. I20 looks better to.
        
        Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

11 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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