TAYLORMADE R11 Iron Set 3-PW with Steel Shafts

The new TaylorMade R11 irons pack a lot of technology, with “precision center-of-gravity (CG) placements, ultra-thin faces, a Tour sole design, and Inverted Cone Technology.”

One interesting note about this set is that TaylorMade claims to have created weights to ensure a constant swingweight while positioning the center of gravity between toe and heel. This is said to solve the clubmakers’ problem of adding weight to a port in the hosel, which evens out swingweight, but shifts the COG.

The Inverted Cone Technology, which TaylorMade has been using for the better part of a decade now, is designed to create faster ball speed on off center hits. The thin face promotes higher ball speeds.

These now are running $100 off at most major retailers.

Callaway RAZR X 5-PW Iron Set with Steel Shafts

GolfSmith is running a deal currently where you can save up to $100 on a set of Callaway’s well-regarded Razr X Irons.

TaylorMade Burner 2.0 HP 4-PW, AW Iron Set with Steel Shafts

Now’s a good time to get that set of TaylorMade Burner 2.0 Irons you had your eye on last year. They’re $300 off the original price at GolfSmith.

Cleveland 588 Forged Muscle Back 5-PW Iron Set with Steel Shafts

The Cleveland 588 Forged Muscle back is a throwback club—a old school muscleback design, with a v sole, thin topline and minimal offset. The compact shape and traditional design let you work the club and control trajectory like pro golfers of yore (or like Bubba Watson). Forged from 1025 carbon steel, they feature Tour Zip Grooves with Laser Milled Technology.

Callaway Men’s RAZR X Black Irons - (Steel) 4-AW

I have a weakness for the looks of black irons. These are sharp!

Looks aside, they’re not bad on the specs side, either. Billed as an “advanced game improvement” club, the set is supposed to have improved distance progression, ensuring consistency from club to club.

Here’s what Callaway says is in these things:

RAZR Technology
Shifts the CG (Center of Gravity) lower than any other Callaway stainless steel iron
More shot-making from more places by providing the payability of a wide sole iron while retaining the workability of a thin sole iron

VFT® Power System
Fully integrated clubface/undercut cavity system that enables engineers to precisely position the CG and engineer the face of each individual iron to maximize ball speed
Longer hosel provides a more conventional look that inspires confidence at address
Black PVD Finish
Physical Vapor Deposition Finish comes from a high-tech process that produces a distinctive stealth look for reduced glare and strong appeal in the bag

Multi-Material Medallion
Constructed of aluminum and thermoplastic polyurethane, it fine-tunes sound and enhances feel off the clubface

Wilson Men’s Ci11 Irons - (Steel) 4-AW

Longtime readers know how much I like the look of blackclubs. To me they say “I’m all about business.” Visually, my favorite set ever was one I built from components about ten years ago. Couldn’t hit them, though.

That’s less likely to be an issue with these Wilson Ci11 irons. Although blessed with classic looks, they’re aimed at what Wilson calls “aspirational golfers.” I pretty sure that’s guys like me: decent players with aspirations of being good players. 

The Ci stands for the Control that comes from exoskeleton weighting around the rear cavity. This optimizes the moment of inertia and pulls weight down and low. A thinner, harder face generates stronger ball flight and greater distance. Finally, Wilson has put an insert in the 431 stainless steel helps dampen vibration and create a crisp feel.

I first noticed them on those “wingman” ads that are everywhere on the Golf Channel right now:

Cleveland Mashie Combo Iron Set 4H-5H with Graphite Shafts, 6-PW with Steel Shafts

In the early days of golf, clubs didn’t have numbers—they had names. These varied but for the most part,aA cleek was a two iron, a niblick was the equivalent of a nine iron, and a mashie could be likened to a five iron.

The Cleveland Mashie bears no resemblance to the hand hewn clubs of old. These are super game improvement irons based on hybrid designs. The big idea on these clubs is Cleveland’s “Gliderail Technology,” which is supposed to produce less turf drag and greater lift and speed off any lie. For high handicappers, that could be just the thing. I’ve seen a lot of high handicappers who have trouble convincing themselves to strike down at the ball because they always seem to hit it fat. This should help alleviate the fear and perhaps encourage a downward strike.