7 new low-handicap irons to add distance and work the ball | ClubTest 2023
Ping's i230 iron.
Ping Golf
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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These low-handicap irons are designed to blend a compact blade-like shape with midsized to thinner soles and often times concealed technology to help shots hit away from the middle of the face. Their more compact shape also makes them easier to work the ball when necessary.
MORE CLUBTEST 2023: Drivers | Fairway Woods | Hybrids | Wedges | Putters
Cobra King Tour
Cobra Aerojet, King Tour Irons
The streamlined, low-profile, matte-finished King Tour is made for players who want the benefits that come from a 5-step forging process with the feel-good benefit of an aluminum medallion and a TPU insert. Each iron has a CNC-milled undercut cavity within the back cavity, which repositions weight from high-center to low-center as well as more towards the heel and toe. The undercut cavities are deeper in long irons for more forgiveness and become progressively shallower in the shorter clubs for better shotmaking maneuverability.
Mizuno JPX 923 Forged
Mizuno JPX 923 Forged Irons
The JPX923 Forged is comprised of two different materials throughout the set. The 4-7 irons use a forged 4120 Chromoly, which allows the expansion of the milled pocket in the cavity and a thinner club face to increase ball speeds and subtly boost MOI. On the other hand, the 8-GW are forged from the same 1025E Pure Select mild carbon steel as the JPX923 Tour irons for precision and control.
Ping i230
Ping G430 Irons
The Ping i230 delivers consistent and predictable distance control with tighter dispersion for hitting precise yardages. An activated elastomer insert creates discretionary weight to lower the CG for more distance while enhancing feel and sound in conjunction with a multi-material badge. A more rounded lead edge ensures smooth turf interaction for clean strikes and MicroMax grooves produce consistent performance from wet and dry grass.
Srixon ZX7 MKII
Srixon ZX7 MKII Irons
Workability can be found in the ZX7 MKII, making it a strong choice for better players or those who need a more compact profile in the short irons of a blended set. The solid construction head is forged from 1020 carbon steel with a slug of tungsten placed in the toe of each long and mid-iron to maintain a consistent ball speed and spin rate on mishits.
TaylorMade P7MC
TaylorMade P7MC 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-inspired P·7MC fits the eye of discerning players by offering minimal offset and perimeter weighting.
Titleist T100
Titleist T100 Irons
An updated sole geometry and dense tungsten housed inside a milled cavity provide a shocking amount of forgiveness for a club of this size. The Sup-10 stainless steel faceplate continues to enhance ball speed, but it now imparts slightly more spin as well for better shot-shaping and control. Unlike the multi-piece design found in the 3- through 7-iron, the 8-iron through pitching wedge is one-piece forged 1025 carbon steel.
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.
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