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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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
View this post on Instagram
According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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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.