Nearly every major equipment manufacturer has released their 2023 club lineup. Now the work begins. If you’re in the market for new irons, consider this guide a roadmap to tracking some potential options to complement your game.
To be clear, the goal of this guide is to highlight clubs that do certain things well. We’re of the belief that golfers deliver the club differently, thereby making it impossible to claim any one club is the “best” for someone with a tendency to slice. But with the help of our robotic and player-testing insights, we’re able to whittle down the field and provide some options to test. It’s up to you and a certified club-fitter to determine where you should go from there.
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Blade and small cavity-back irons are designed to offer the most solid and consistent feel along with compact looks intended for the most skilled golfers.
MORE CLUBTEST 2023: Drivers | Fairway Woods | Hybrids | Wedges | Putters
Cobra King CB and MB
Cobra King CB and MB irons
The sleekest and most compact irons in the KING iron family, the KING Tour CB (cavity-back) and KING Tour MB (muscle-back) irons have thin toplines, reduced offset, thin soles and shorter blade lengths for maximum shot-shaping. There’s nothing added to these to enhance how they look, feel or work — the quintuple forging process is why each CB/MB has a precisely located CG for maximum efficiency and energy transfer at impact.
Miura MC-502 irons
Miura MC-502 Irons
The newly reengineered MC-502 brings together the looks and performance of a blade with the playability of a smaller forged cavity-back iron, by removing mass from small channels in the back of the head and repositioning it lower.
Mizuno JPX 923 Tour
Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Irons
Consistently Mizuno’s most-played iron model in professional golf and still one-piece Grain Flow Forged in Hiroshima Japan, the JPX923 Tour adds a copper underlay for an even smoother sensation at impact. The JPX923 Tour also presents a narrower top line and sole in tandem with a more rounded trailing edge for cleaner turf interaction.
Srixon Z-Forged II
Srixon Z-Forged II Irons
The traditional blade in the lineup, Z-Forged II (3-PW) has “mid-height toe and heel” features on the back of the club. The compact profile and reduced offset make it easy to work the ball on command. Just don’t expect much in the way of forgiveness.
TaylorMade P7MB
TaylorMade P7MB Irons
TaylorMade’s Compact Grain Forging process uses 2,000 tons of pressure to control the soft carbon steel at a micro level and produces a tighter grain structure, creating the best possible feel. The tour designed P7MB fits the eye of discerning players by offering minimal offset and a stunningly clean look at address.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2023? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out the Fully Equipped podcast below.