ORLANDO — Game improvement has been the mantra in the irons market for several years and 2010 is no exception.
Not for the traditionalist to worry; a standard, forged muscle-back blade is still available. But for the majority of players — those in the mid handicap range and above — cavity back designs are de rigueur.
Titleist introduced the AP1 and AP2 irons here at the PGA Merchandise Show. Both feature dual cavity, multi-material clubheads for stability and control and utilize the manufacturer’s “tuned feel system” that is designed to improve the sound of shots. The AP1 has a slightly thicker top line than the AP2, but both irons are directed at the mid-handicapper.
True to its core, though, Titleist also included its forged CB and MB irons in its 2010 product line.
Trying to bridge the gap between game improvement clubs and the classic look and feel of more traditional designs is Tour Edge with the Exotics XCG-3 irons. A slightly larger version of last year’s XCG, the 3 uses a dual-dampening system that fills the cavity with composite material. This is softer in the shorter irons for more control and harder in the longer irons for greater rebound effect, according to the manufacturer.
Adams Golf has taken its own approach to providing players with more forgiving products with its new a7 line of hybrid irons. Most companies sell the hybrid as a standalone category, but Adams has folded that into the a7 set. The 3 and the 4 hybrids in the set employ rear weighting for increased launch angle while the 5 has a hollow design and is intended to cover the gap between the hybrids and the shorter irons in the set.
Irons 6-PW have thinner top lines and reduced soles to make them more playable on shorter, scoring shots. Three additional wedges are also available.
Redesigning their Ci9 iron line for 2010, is Wilson Golf. Short for control iron, the Ci9 is midsized but designed to deliver the looks of a “player’s club” with a thinner top line. It also has a progressive offset to provide more forgiveness for the mid-handicapper.
Wilson also has ventured into the crossover category with its own hybrid-iron set. The D-FY is a fully integrated set from hybrids to short irons and also uses half-graphite and half-steel shafts.
Srixon rolled out the new Z-TX iron that combines a forged head with a cavity-back design. The Z-TX is a 1025 stainless steel clubhead with tungsten weights on the toe and heel to increase forgiveness on off-center hits.
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