Iron Reviews
Scratch Tour Department DW 1-Off Custom Muscle
By: Pure745
So it’s almost been 2 years since this I got my first set of custom DW SB1’s.
There have been a lot of really great irons that have come out, and none of them have even come close to replacing my DW SB1’s. Since then, I’ve seen some really 100% custom sets of muscle backs, flat backs, and some really unique designs that have got me thinking of IF I could design something custom, what would it be?
Well.. the Mizuno TN87 is one of my favorite heads of all time, and the Flatbacks I’ve been seeing have just looked incredible. So, basically.. a Don White ground, Flatback/TN87 1-off prototype. I started kicking around the idea with Ari.. I didn’t know how well the JDM-ish look would go with a hybrid of their Flatbacks.. I told him to talk to Don and see what Don thought about my idea. Apparently DW liked it, and he and Ari thought it would turn out really nice and unique. It got the final blessing from Patrick.. and off we went.
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
Here are the details:
- TN87/Flatback proto muscle back
- Progressive COG
- Progressive sole grinds D/S to D/D in the shorter irons
- Progressive toe grind-roundish square to square in short irons
- As long as possible from toe to heel-similar to 2-iron
- Straight top line transitions on all clubs as opposed to a rounded top line that they normally do
- New 48,54,58 wedges with new grinds
- Conforming grooves
- NS Pro Super Peening Blue
- Based of MP14 specs
My original sketch:
I know.. at this point, this thread is LONG.. so for that, I appologize But, for those that care or have been following this process and are considering ordering a set for themselves, I feel like it’s only appropriate to give my feedback of the whole process and most importantly, how do they actually perform?
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
First – The “Scratch TD Experience“
In a nutshell.. this entire thread can be summed up with two pictures..
This: What I drew with a sharpie of what I would pick if I could pick any design for a muscle shape (a blend of Mizuno TN87’s and Scratch FlatBack’s)
The results, are simply incredible. The craftsmanship is unreal, the fit and finish are perfect. The irons have a truly custom look to them, but are so sharp and perfect that they look like they could be an OTR offering, sort of. The sole grinds and the shapes of the muscles are as functional as they are good looking. The end result, I am beyond happy with and I really can’t say enough about how good Scratch and DW are.
The process.. for the most part, it was perfect. There were a few snags along the way, but it’s somewhat to be expected since Scratch is a small operation and what they were making were 100% custom handmade clubs. I think they could have done a better job with the small non-Scratch related parts, like making sure they had the grips I ordered in stock and planning ahead to have the “small” things taken care of. DW finished my irons faster than Iomic delivered the back ordered grips.. splitting hairs, I know, but this is a review and can’t be all praising and kool-aide.
The major part of the “Scratch TD” experience – fitting, grinds, designs, ideas, specs.. etc. That part was perfect. All of the small things – ordering grips, shafts, and other small details could be better. It sucks when small things slow up your order when the main/hard part is already done. Tightening up a few things could make a huge difference when it could mean delivering your set 1-2 weeks sooner.
Now to the most important part.. I will pre-apologize for the length of my review.
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
Final Burn – The Playing Review!
So I’ll start this with some pictures.. because I feel that the shaping and muscle design is has the biggest influence on the playability of these.
Notice the CG placement and how it varies from short to long iron. Also, look at the difference in the face thickness and the positioning of the muscles in the MB’s vs. the single muscle on the SB1.
Left: DW SB1’s – Right: DW Custom MB’s
Looks:
The MB’s look better. Basically the new design was improving upon what was close to perfection with my first set of DW’s. Basically I wanted flat top lines – no curve, longer toe to heel, slightly rounder but still squared toes. DW nailed it, literally look perfect to my eye.
Feel:
The MB’s feel WAY better. They even sound different. They basically feel much more solid than the SB1’s and still retain the soft feeling that I love about my SB1’s. If I could try to put it into words, the SB1’s would be soft/crisp, the MB’s would be soft/crisp/solid. There is more mass behind the sweetspot and more mass higher in the head if you catch one high on the face. Since these heads were ground to swing weight, you can really feel the weight of the head, and the added mass behind it when you’re hitting out of various lies. Basically everything I love about the SB1’s but look better and feel better.
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
Performance:
Keep in mind these are shafted with Nippon Super Peening Blue X’s and all specs were the exact same as my SB1’s, except these have conforming grooves. The thing I noticed most is how much more accurate these have been. First round out, I could work the ball both ways on command but could not figure out the distances at all. The ball seems to fly with less spin and much less sidespin and balooning. The MB’s seem to grab their line and start tracking sooner, my SB1’s seem to hoover a little more and can tail off at the end a little more than these do. The grinds are a touch different, and another thing I noticed is that not only are these longer toe to heel, but also taller than the SB1’s. So with that, they are also more forgiving. If I were to post in the “most forgiving blade thread” this would be my pick. The long irons also go higher than the SB1’s and the short irons go a touch lower. I’ve hit some really good shots with the wedges, and some really bad shots as well.. I’m still trying to figure out the conforming grooves around the green, but on 3/4-full shots, they’ve been much better for me.
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
Final Burn?
The DW MB’s look better, feel better, and are easier to hit than my DW SB1’s
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
__________________________________________________________________
Starting point: Here is a play by play storyline of the build I did with Scratch Golf Custom department.
Starting to take shape!
Before/After:
In progress pics of irons:
Straight top lines are looking really good – I was very nervous about how this idea would actually look. Wedges so far – The stamping and finish should make these look really cool when they are done.
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
Don White at work!
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
DW with the first one after being cut:
Unreal!!
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
The pics above were right after the muscles were cut, these pictures are of DW softening and doing some more shaping. More shaping, and grinding – You can see the paper printout of my order and the picture of the TN87 I emailed with their hand written notes for DW re: shaping, progressive COG and grind info. If you were ever wondering what they do with all the notes you make and send to them during your custom TD order, there it is!
Some stamped and closer to finished pictures, they still have to be tumbled and few final touches before plating and finishing.. needless to say, I’m really excited to see these!
TUMBLED & WEDGES STAMPED (ready for finishing)
Toe shapes are EXACTLY what I ordered.. shaped perfectly. The muscles and blending of the different “steps” look really nice.. next and final step is having them plated and finish applied.
Address picture of 58 degree – the straight top line, pretty unique looking.. looks better than I thought!
Toe shapes are EXACTLY what I ordered.. shaped perfectly. The muscles and blending of the different “steps” look really nice.. next and final step is having them plated and finish applied.
UPDATE: 5/16 – Irons chromed + paint.. Wedges still having finish applied.
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
UPDATE: 5/24 – Wedges are done, just waiting on paint and assembly-should have in hand next week!
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
6/13: FINALLY! IN-HAND PICS!
The day is finally here.. after back and forth with FedEx and re-routing etc.. I finally was able to pick up my finished DW sticks. My initial reactions are that these are just incredible.. and unlike anything I’ve seen in person before. The fit and finish is just as I expect from Scratch, and they have truly outdone themselves with these. The pics I just took don’t really do these justice, but here goes:
Progressive sole grinds:
Click here to see the full article, review, discussion and photos in the forums
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Club Junkie
Club Junkie Review: Cobra’s new King Tour irons
The Cobra King Tour irons have been proven on the PGA Tour already and will be in bags of better amateur players this year. The previous King Tour MIM irons were very underrated and offered great precision with a solid shape that many players liked. Cobra went away from the Metal Injection Molded construction and went with a five-step forging process for soft and solid feel.
Make sure to check out the full podcast review at the links below and search GolfWRX Radio on every podcast platform.
I was a big fan of the previous Tour MIM irons and played them in rotation throughout the last two years. Out of the box, I was impressed with the more simple and clean look of the badging on the new King Tour. Badging is mostly silver with just small black accents that should appeal to even the pickiest golfers. I didn’t notice the shorter blade length in the new irons but did notice that the leading edge is just slightly more rounded. Topline is thin, but not razor thin, but still has enough there to give you the confidence that you don’t have to hit it on the dead center every shot.
Feel is solid and soft with just a slight click to the thud on well struck shots while mishits are met with a little more sound and vibration to the hands.
These King Tour irons are built to be cannons and place more emphasis on consistent and precise shots. I also felt like the new irons launch easily and maybe a touch higher than some irons in the same category.
My launch monitor showed my 7 iron with an average launch angle of 22 degrees and spin right around 5,800 with a Project X LZ 6.0 stock shaft. Ball speed isn’t the ultimate focus of this iron but it did well with an average around 108mph and the iron was able to keep the speed up well when you didn’t strike the center. You will still see a drop off in speed and distance when you miss the center, but you don’t have to be Navy SEAL sniper accurate on the face to achieve a good shot. Dispersion was very tight, and while there are bigger irons with more forgiveness, this players cavity still allows good playability when you aren’t bringing your A-plus game to the course.
Cobra lists the King Tour as an iron for a Tour level player up to a 7 handicap and I think this iron could see the bags of more golfers than that. I am a 9.4 handicap, and I felt more than comfortable playing this iron even on less than perfect days.
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Iron Reviews
Review: Honma TW737-Vs Forged Irons
Pros: Incredible feel all the way through the bag. These irons offer considerable forgiveness on mishits, and their slightly stronger lofts generate plenty of distance for a better-player forged iron.
Cons: Some will find the price point ($150 per club) too high to consider.
Bottom Line: The entire TW737 line boasts impressive specs and looks. The TW737-Vs, with their slightly larger shape and stronger lofts, could be perfect for the player ready to move from game-improvement irons to better players irons or for those those looking for more forgiveness in a forged set.
Overview
Many GolfWRX Members will already be familiar with Honma Golf, known for its intricately crafted clubs and as one of the most prestigious, fastest-growing golf brands in the world. For others, this review will be the first time they’ve heard of Honma, or seen their iconic “mole in a hole” cloisonné and wondered, “What’s that?”
That is about to change. Honma, a mainstay in the Japanese Domestic Market for almost 60 years, is making a major push to become a household name in the U.S. and Europe. This year marks the company’s first entry into national “Hot List” competitions, and you can now find and test some of their products, such as the TW737 irons, in big-box golf stores like the PGA Superstore.
While Honma has traditionally been associated with extremely high-end clubs — even gold-plated at times — the Tour World line is priced similarly with other forged irons from domestic manufacturers. Tour World also happens to be the line played by their tour pros like Hideto Tanihara, who has the TW737-Vs in his bag.
Related: More photos of Honma’s Tour World irons, driving irons and wedges
There are three unique models in the Tour World 737 line, each with slight variations in loft and head shape that are designed to fit the specific needs of forged-iron users. Each model includes Honma’s unified face progression and center of gravity design, which essentially allows for slight changes in sole width, face thickness, and head size based on loft, while keeping the same offset. The design is great in and of itself, and it also makes it easier to play a Tour World combo set.
The entire TW737 iron line is forged from S25C steel using Honma’s proprietary high strength W-Forging, a two-stage forging process that mixes hot and cold forging. According to the company, the process creates more density in the club face, especially high on the face. The extra strength is said to increase ball speed and forgiveness.
- The TW737-Vn is made particularly for better golfers who like the shape and workability of a blade, but want a little more forgiveness.
- The TW737-V has a small cavity-back head, but adds a little more forgiveness and distance than the Vn.
- The TW737-Vs, the model I tested, has a slightly larger head and strongest lofts, making it the longest and most forgiving of the three forged irons in the TW737 lineup.
You can find all the specs on the Honma site here. The TW737-Vs specs are below.
TW737-Vs irons are available now in 3-11 ($150 per club). A variety of stock shafts are available and include the NS Pro 950GH, Dynamic Gold AMT, Modus3 Tour, and Vizard 160. Honma has a retailer search on its site to help you find nearby golf stores where you can check out these clubs for yourself. Of course, custom shaft and grip options are available.
My set of TW737-Vs
I decided on the TW737-Vs because I wanted the extra performance and forgiveness. Honma built a 3-11 iron set, standard length, 0.5-degrees upright with Golf Pride New Decade Multi-Compound grips and two wraps of tape.
Having played cast, game-improvement irons my entire golfing life, I was anxious to see how these clubs would look at address, feel at impact and most importantly, how they would perform for my swing. In recent years, I have been using a forged Vega wedge, also an iconic Japanese brand. I love the feel, so I was excited for these.
You might be wondering, “Why test against a cast club and not compare Honma to Honma or Honma to Miura?” One reason is that like many of you, I’m precisely who Honma is looking to attract — a US-based consumer who has been playing mostly domestic clubs.
Take it one step further, I’ve also been looking to put forged clubs in the bag and make the move to the better-player iron category, but I was hesitant for a variety of reasons. I mentioned to a few other golfer that I was reviewing this set and their reaction was the same. Are they blades? Are they small? Are they hard to hit? All responses were followed by, “I don’t think I’d be ready for forged clubs.”
After testing I can tell you the irons are not too small, not too hard to hit, and stack up to anything else I’ve tested.
Performance
I like to start testing outside before getting on a launch monitor so I can focus purely on what I’m seeing and feeling. And with these clubs, my expectations were high, very high.
I started with the 11-iron because… how often do you get to hit a club stamped with an 11? I’ve always taken a significant divot with my wedges, but my first swing resulted in a solid, crisp shot with a thinner divot. Everything about the shot felt perfect. This happened to be a center strike and impact felt like almost nothing at all… in a good way. The sound was solid and strong, but the first real feeing I registered was slicing through the turf.
That feeling continued even with the long irons. Hitting a 3 or 4-iron around the middle provided plenty of feedback, but the more pure the strike, the less feeling there was. The ball flight appeared to be slightly lower than my current set, with a straight-to-draw flight and similar distances. Working the ball both ways was not a problem.
On the course, I struggled with distance control at first. This was my own fault for not dialing in the distances, especially with the stronger lofts in the 7-iron and shorter clubs. My expectation was that these clubs would not fly as far as my current clubs, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The exceptional feel continued. Truly effortless power on center strikes. The ball just jumped off the face and provided plenty of feedback and forgiveness. My divots from fairway lies were thinner than normal, which I don’t mind at all. These clubs cut through the rough nicely as well.
My favorite moment came at an island-green par-3, No. 16 at BridgeMill Athletic Club. I had 160 yards to the pin, with 150 yards covering the water and 175 yards to the water at the back of the green. With my old set, it would have been a smooth 8-iron (a full 9-iron is a reliable 145 yard carry). For me, the TW737-Vs 9-iron is essentially an 8.5-iron, so I went with 9-iron and played to the center with a little draw. I hit one of the most solid shots of the day, and it landed just a few feet away from the pin. Trusting a 9-iron would be enough… now that was fun.
Launch Monitor Data
My expectation going into launch monitor testing was that I’d see a flatter trajectory, lower peak height, similar distance and spin, and a decent amount of help on mishits. I tested the TW737-Vs on SkyTrak against my TaylorMade RSi 2’s using Bridgestone Tour B330 balls. I rotated clubs every 5 shots and went through multiple rounds with each club.
The launch monitor data backed up what I was seeing on the course. For the short and mid irons, the Honmas generated slightly more distance (not less as I expected prior to testing). The 9-iron had the biggest gap, but the TW737-Vs is also 2 degrees stronger.
Spin was lower, but I was also seeing slightly more draw bias to my shots. While the spin looks a little low, on the course I had no issues stopping the ball on approach shots. With the long irons, my flatter trajectory always forces me to play for a little roll, so that won’t change.
I’ve never been a high ball hitter. My swing produces a lower flight and I’m sticking with it. Not surprisingly, my launch angle and peak height with the TW737-Vs was slightly lower across the board.
Ball speed on heel and toe side of center dropped about 2 mph on average, but the shots were very playable. With the 3 and 4-irons, toe shots generated quite a bit more left spin, but heel shots didn’t really impact the flight.
For shots higher on the face, I was very surprised and happy to see a minimal loss of distance. All in all, these clubs are very playable and forgiving on shots that miss the dead center of the clubface.
Looks and Feel
Feel is subjective, but I love the way these clubs feel. There is a nice weight through the swing. The W-Forging process has created a strong face that fires balls off like little rockets. Some other irons have a spring-like feel at impact, but with these, center shots just seemed to melt into my hands.
I spent a lot of time using powder spray on the face to see the exact impact location. With other irons I’ve tested, it is easy to know if I hit the extreme toe or heel side. But with the TW737-Vs, I was able to feel if I was half a ball to the heel or toe side. Same with being low on the face or a few grooves high. Both better players and mid-handicap golfers looking to improve will appreciate the feedback these clubs provide.
As for looks, “These are beautifully simple” was my first thought when I saw them in person. The lines are clean and sharp in some areas and smooth and rounded in others. The head, while definitely smaller than what I’m used to, doesn’t feel or look too small. I don’t have any confidence issues looking down at the ball.
Each of the TW737 models have the same minimal amount of offset, creating a relatively straight edge from the shaft out to the toe. I find it easier to set up and align clubs with less offset, so I like this a lot. I wouldn’t call the top line thin, but it isn’t thick either. Overall, I just really like how these irons look at address.
The mass low and right in the middle of the face conveys a sense of power, and the designers left plenty of material on the toe and heel to help minimize mishits. The half-mirror finish on the face and top line cuts down the glare at address. I would rather see the half-mirror finish replace the rough finish on the back — it’s just a personal preference — but the third texture does provide another dimension to the look of the club.
Bottom Line
Honma might not be the first name most Americans think of when they think of forged irons. That is going to change… not just because Honma will be spending more money to reach golfers in North America, but because the company’s Tour World line is both beautifully crafted and packed with performance.
If you’re in the market for forged players irons, make sure the TW737 is on the list of clubs to hit.
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Equipment
GolfWRX Member Reviews: TaylorMade 2017 M1 and M2 Irons
One of the many benefits of being a GolfWRX Forum Member is exclusive access to Giveaways and Testing Threads. For Giveaways — we give away everything from golf clubs to golf balls to GPS units — all it takes is a forum name. Enter any Giveaway, and we select winners randomly. You’re then free to enjoy your prize as you wish.
For Testing Threads, the process a bit more involved. GolfWRX Forum Members sign up to test the latest and greatest products in golf, and then they provide in-depth reviews on the equipment. Being the intelligent golf-equipment users they are, GoflWRX Members are able to provide the most-informed and unbiased reviews on the Internet.
In this Testing Thread, we selected 75 members to test a TaylorMade M1 2017 7-iron and TaylorMade M2 7-iron. Each of the clubs were built with the stock lofts and shafts — M2 2017 (28.5 degrees) with a TaylorMade Reax shaft, and M1 2017 (30.5 degrees) with a True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 shaft — and the testers were instructed to post their review of the clubs here.
Below, we’ve selected what we’ve deemed the most in-depth and educated reviews out of the 75 testers. We have edited each of the posts for brevity, clarity and grammar.
Thanks to all of those involved in the testing!
- All 75 Reviews: TaylorMade M1 and M2 Testing Thread
- Tech Talk: What you need to know about TaylorMade’s M1 and M2 irons
Brock9007
To be honest, looking down on the TaylorMade M1 and M2 irons at address, there is really not much difference. I would have to pick one up to see which is which.
The first 10 balls I hit were with M1 and 6/10 felt great, while the other 4 were toe hits, which I felt and the distance reflected that. Kinda what I expected with a club design for lower-handicap players. Distance was about 1/2 longer than my Srixon iron and dispersion was close, as well. I will say they did not feel as good as the Srixon on center hits.
Next 10 (ok, 15) balls were with the M2. Wow, can you say “up, up and away? The ball really popped of the club face, but wasn’t a ballon flight. Waited for the ball to come down and WTH, with the roll out it was 5-8 yards longer than balls hit with M1, and that is with a few toe shots. I did some smooth swings and then very aggressive swings and was a little amazed at this iron. Just like the M1, it does not have the forged feeling and does have a clicky sound (which I hate).
Bottom line: M2 is the longest iron I have ever hit. I love my 545s, but I could see myself playing M2 very easily. Matter of fact, I will be taking this M2 7 iron in my bag and play it more head-to-head against my Srixon 545 on the course.
deathbymuffin
These are both beautiful clubs. What surprised me the most is how much alike the two clubs look at address. I was expecting a chunky topline and significant offset in the M2, but it’s footprint looked almost exactly the same as the M1, outside of the chrome finish on the M2 versus the frosted finish of the M1. The M2 could almost pass as a player’s iron to my eye at address. These clubs both get A’s from me in the looks department.
The M1 felt a tad thicker than most player’s irons I’m used to, but it seemed to come with a bit of added forgiveness too. Well-struck shots felt good, with a nice mid-trajectory and with the workability that I’ve come to expect from a player’s iron. But true to TaylorMade’s claims, the M1 seemed more forgiving than a traditional player’s iron. Had a nice soft feel at impact, mishits didn’t sting and left you with a more playable result. A really nice combination of the better attributes of both player’s and game improvement irons. I’ve been playing with an old set of Tommy Armour blades, but I’ve been recently wanting more forgiveness for when I’m stuck with my B or C swing. Based on the early returns, I could definitely see myself bagging these.
I’m not sure if it’s the shaft, the design of the clubhead, or a combination of both, but the M2 is definitely a different animal than the M1 at impact. This club launches the ball high, arguably ridiculously so. I was hitting Jason Day moonbombs with this bad boy. Didn’t seem to matter what kind of swing I put on it, the ball launched high, flat and dead straight. The club was super forgiving and if not for the insanely high ball flight, I would love to have a set of these for when my swing is out of sorts. I didn’t really try to flight it at all, so I’m not sure what it’s capable of at this point. One other note was that the M2 had a clicky feel at impact. It didn’t bother me since it still felt so sweet… so strange as it sounds, clicky, but smooth and sweet at the same time. I think these clubs will be big winners with the mid-to-high handicap set.
The M1 is a fine iron, but doesn’t really stand out in any way from other irons of its class.
The M2, on the other hand, is an iron on steroids. I’m really starting to love this thing. It’s super forgiving and just goes and goes. According to my laser, flush shots were going 195 yards (my usual blade 5 iron distance) and very high. I can’t help but think golf would be a whole lot easier, particularly longer courses with long par 3s, with a full set of these in my bag.
poppyhillsguy
M1 feels softer than the M2 and I felt the ball flight was more consistent and what I want in an iron. The M1 did have a harsher feeling in my hands than I typically like, but I’m going to credit a lot of that to the range balls.
M2 flies very high. It was a windy afternoon and about 100 degrees. I love the high ball flight on the range, but I have a concern what that ball flight would be like on the course. I like to hit the ball different heights for different shots and I don’t think I could do that confidently with the M2, but I could with the M1. I don’t like the sound of the M2. It sounded “clicky” to me.
Fourpar18
Initially on the range I was scared because the M1 had a regular flex in it, so I took it easy for my initial 10-15 swings with it. Ball SHOT off the face, loud crack (didn’t care for it, but not too bad) and ball just kept rising and rising but didn’t balloon. I thought, “whoa,” that’s not what I expected…did it again…another CRACK and the ball just flew. I set another down and I paid attention to how it looked behind the ball, not much offset for a game improvement and I thought…”I could actually play this club!” The 5-7 were EASY swings, aimed at a target of 170 yards away (my normal 7 iron distance) and with a EASY swing I was flying it by 20 yards or so. The next 5-10 I really went after it, same CRACK and ball just flew but to my surprise it was a nice draw, harder draw than the first but it was a nice 10-yard draw. This time the balls were landing just short of the 200 yard marker. Damn, 200 yards with a 7 iron! I know they are jacked lofts but it feels good to say “my 7 irons just few 190-200 yards!”
P.S. LOVE the Lamkin UTX grip!
Now, this was interesting, the M2 was quieter then the M1… weird! Now, there is more carbon fiber added to this one and there is a “Geocoustic” label on the back. I am sure that it has something to do with all that carbon fiber but it does have a better sound. Other than the sound, it played exactly like the M1: long and straight. The REAX shaft felt a little weaker than the True Temper shaft and it flew a little higher but nothing else I could pick up.
noahdavis_7
Finally got out to the range after getting these bad boys in on Friday. My first impression of them is that they look really sharp. The graphics and design really stand out and really give these clubs a cool, modern look.
They were both a little to big IMO, as I am currently bagging Mizuno MP-68s. The M2 isa definite “game improvement iron”, while the M1 was similar in size and shape to my previous irons, Titleist AP1s.
They both really launch it, high and far. Ridiculous for 7 irons. I don’t have access to a launch monitor, but it was about a 20-yard difference between my gamer 7 iron and these (stronger lofts, as well).
The M1 definitely was more suited for my eye, and produced more consistent ball flights. It felt much more smooth and solid as the M2 had a clicky, cheap feel.
The M2 just isn’t for me. I felt like it was launching too high and ballooning, which could be due to the shaft (the M1 had the S300, while the M2 just had a stock “Reax” shaft). The feel off the face of the M2 just turned me off, to be honest.
While I don’t think I’ll be putting either model in play, I can definitely see the appeal for mid-to-high handicaps. Both irons were super forgiving, and they should be a dream to the average weekend golfer who has trouble with ball striking consistently.
golfnut5438
Looks: As expected, I preferred the M1 with less offset, slightly smaller sole and a smoother finish. Less glare looking down on the iron. I must say the M2 did not look as bulky, or have as much offset as I thought it might have.
Feel: This was a close race, probably due to the shafts as much as the heads. The M1 was just a slight bit smoother feeling on solid shots. But the M2 was not bad at all, just not quite as smooth.
Distance and performance: Our range has a slight incline up the length of the range, so specific yardage gains or losses were difficult to measure. Both irons had a higher trajectory than my gamer 7 iron. Neither sole dug onto the turf either. The lofts for both irons are a degree or two stronger than mine, so I would think they probably flew a little further than my gamers. Neither iron flew “too” high, however. Might be a little harder to hit knock down shots, though.
Final thoughts: I had hit both the M1 and M2 irons last year during a fitting day, but did not like either. This year’s model were both better in my eyes. I asked a fellow member at our club to hit both and he felt the M1 was his preferred model, and he is a 20-index player. So coming from both a single digit, and a high double-digit, the M1 won this battle of wills. I will try and see if I can locate both a 5 iron and 9 iron to see if a full set might be a winner for me.
DblEgl
I was surprised that the M2 was the winner in this brief session. It felt better, flew higher, easier to hit and about 1/2 club longer that my gamer Apex CF16. The feel/sound was better than I thought it might be, but really not up to the CF16. I could, however, easily game the M2’s.
Bstein74
Feel: I hit the M2 first, and found it to be very solid when hit on the screws. There was almost no feel off the club face at all. When I mishit it, you knew it was, but it wasn’t harsh at all. Hit the M1 next, and same type of feel when hit solid. Much more harsh when mishit though, but I knew that was coming.
Distance and performance: This is was where I was curious to see how they would play. The M2 went out high in the air, and just kept going forever. Now granted my eyesight isn’t that great anymore, but it looked like I got about 10-15 yards more from the M2 compared to my Wilson D300. The only thing I didn’t like about the M2 was how much I was able to turn it over. Got a lot more hook compared to my D300. Don’t know if that was from the REAX shaft, but would love to find a less spinning shaft to correct that.
The M1 wasn’t a great performer for me. Same height as the M2, but much straighter off the club face. Didn’t get any great distance advantage as compared to my D300. Can’t game a player’s iron anymore, and testing this one just reaffirmed that.
Final thoughts: Was very happy with the distance I gained with the M2 compared to my current gamer. Very good-performing iron for me, and something I would definitely consider changing them out if I could reduce the spin off the face. If you’re looking for more distance, you need to try these out. The M1 just wasn’t for me, but as a player’s iron, I can see it as a great option.
Bobcat271
Like the other testers, I found the M2 to launch the ball much higher and is 10-to-15 yards longer than my Adams XTD forged 7 iron. Of the two 7 irons I prefer the M1. I like the design of the M1 and its visual appearance at address. I feel more confident in trying to work the ball with the M1. The M1 gave me more feedback as to where the club head was in relation to my swing plane. If I had my druthers I would put the M1 in the bag as it stands now. Will continue to test, what a treat to compare the two irons.
myurick2
Once I started making solid contact with a decent shoulder turn, the M2 really came alive in my hands. Towering flat height, for me, and very long. No more clacky hollow feel, just a very mild pleasant sensation… then zoom. Once I started making better swings, back to the M1, which was a very nice iron. Shorter than the M2 (though not short) and a little lower ball flight. Felt nice and substantial without being heavy. Very forgiving on slight mishits.
But the M2 was the star for me. High trajectory and very long. Club felt lively and fun. Frankly, unless a player wanted a lower trajectory, or likes to hit a lot of knock downs or feel shots, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t choose the M2. They are very attractive and a very fun iron. I think folks who say that the M2 feels and/or sounds clicky, clacky or hollow may be mishitting the iron toward the toe. I am not judging — I mishit a lot of shots at first. I agree on toe mishits the iron did not feel great. It almost felt like plastic. The ball still flew pretty well, but it wasn’t a very enjoyable experience. Not painful, just felt very dead. But when hit nearer the center, the iron felt fantastic. Light, springy and very lively.
hammergolf
They are both good-looking clubs. Not too long heel to toe and toplines were not that distracting. M1 is more what I like to see shape wise, but M2 was not bad at all. Personally, not a fan of seeing the face slots. But I could see how some people may like how they frame the ball.
Ace2000
M1
– Has a very odd sound on contact, almost sounds a tad like a fairway wood “ting. Not a fan
– Looks very good at address with the brushed finish
– Most shots I hit with it seemed to fall out of the sky (very likely a lack of spin). Ball flight was much lower than I would have expected (not super low, just not much different than my 7 iron)
– Inconsistent misses. Next to no distance gains vs RocketBladez Tour 7 iron
M2
– Doesn’t look as good at address as the M1. Chrome finish at address is not an issue in even direct sunlight for me
– Feels and sounds quite nice to my ears at impact. Not a classic sound but very good considering what type of club it is
– Ball flight is very strong (comes off hot). Ball stays high in the air for awhile. Very high and lands soft
– 10-12 yards longer on average vs my 7 iron, it even had the horsepower to hang with my 6 iron
– VERY forgiving on thin strikes. Couldn’t believe how a near-top still traveled to nearly the front edge in the air and still went as far as the M1 did on a good strike
– Shaft is too light
Even though I’m a 2-handicap and don’t fit the M2 “mold,” I could see myself playing this club from 4-6 iron (although gapping would be a major issue mixing these with almost anything else) if it had a heavier shaft in it (I can only imagine how far this 4 iron must go… yikes)
M1 = 2.5/5 stars
M2 = 4.5/5 stars
tpeterson
Visual first impressions: The M1 7-iron is visually appealing to me as far as the finish and overall look. Even though it is classified as a player’s iron, it doesn’t seem so tiny that it would be tough to hit. I am not a huge fan of the bright-yellow badging, but I probably could get over it. The iron inspires confidence with its topline and a little bit of offset. The “rubber” piece on the hosel is a little bit funky to me.
I thought the M2 7-iron would look clunkier than it really is. Besides the finish being a little bit different, the difference between the M1 and M2 is actually pretty small. The M2’s topline and sole are a touch wider, but not by much. Not a huge fan of the fluted hosel since it can be seen at address. The M1’s fluting is only on the rear of the club.
I did notice that the sole’s finish did scratch pretty easily. Overall, I thought the M1 and M2 are pretty good looking, but I would definitely give the edge to the M1. I also preferred the stock Lamkin grip on the M1 vs. the ribbed M2 grip.
On course action: They both feel solid. I tried hitting both irons in all different types of on-course situations over a two week period. Both clubs launch the ball high but I would not say they balloon. For me, the M2 was about 10 yards longer and higher than the M1. Compared to my Cleveland irons, they are 1 to 1.5 clubs longer.
M1 loft = 30.5
M2 loft = 28.5
Cleveland TA7 loft = 33.5
I know this accounts for the distance gain but the ball definitely comes off hot compared to my set. I was hoping I would hit the M1 better since I like the appearance better, but that was not the case. The M2 definitely felt better for me and I felt more confident with it in my hands.
Discussion: Read all 75 reviews and the responses in our Testing Thread
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Randy Kennedy
Jun 2, 2013 at 7:51 pm
Could i please receive info on these irons and prices and were i can purchase them.
Thanks
Danny
Sep 14, 2012 at 11:43 am
id play these if i sold everything i owned to buy them lol
rex235
Sep 5, 2012 at 6:38 pm
It would be nice to know if Scratch/Don White could make a LH set like this, as I just happen to have a LH TN-87 2 iron. Had wanted a LH version of the Mac Tourney Custom 985 model.
Paul
Sep 3, 2012 at 6:31 am
If I had the cash this is what I would be doing, getting a custom set made. Wow, what great looking irons. Good work Scratch!
Jonny8
Aug 30, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Thanks for the great insight.
May I ask what the costs are?
Cheers.
Enjoy them
Bernard Davidson
Aug 27, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Where can I buy these
Michael Crabb
Aug 27, 2012 at 4:18 pm
I have the SB-1’s but when I get ready to get the “next generation” Scratch irons, I know what to do.
Great explanation and pictures. I’m geeked
Rowan
Aug 18, 2012 at 9:22 pm
they NEED lefty!! please post some pics of the clubs finished from above view with grooves and such.
Jacob
Aug 16, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Those pictures almost brought tears to my eyes. Why won’t they do lefty? 🙁
Solidstrike
Aug 16, 2012 at 11:10 am
That is by far one of the coolest things I’ve seen on this site to date. Thank you for sharing the experience and pictures!
Brian Cass
Aug 16, 2012 at 8:54 am
Some very neat stuff there and great insight into the process.