Better players like the more traditional irons, preferring forgings over cast versions, that allow them to work the ball, but do not mind a hint of forgiveness either and are more likely to follow the lead of the touring professionals.
These players can never go wrong with Titleist. The CB Forged model features a shallower cavity design and a winder sole with weaker lofts than most other sets in this category. The bounce increases in 1 degree increments from the long to short irons. Of course, the stain finish looks good. The AP2 now features a slightly squarer toe with a steeper top line and a reduced sole width in the short irons.
The MP-59 from Mizuno features better stability as more weight was moved to heel and toe with 12 grams of titanium forged into the center of the head. A trailing-edge grind on the sole aids shotmaking. The MP-53 has a “diamond muscle” design in the back cavity that adds substance behind the hitting area.
A nonadjustable weight port in the back provides a consistent swingweight through the set for TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MC.
Less hand polishing reportedly increases the consistency of the Cleveland 588 CB while the grooves are laser-milled like the company’s wedges. The Cleveland CB Black features a lighter titanium face.
The Callaway RAZR X Tour has a wider sole, thicker topline and more offset than others in this category.
The Wilson FG Tour V2 features more weight behind the impact zone while the FG62 has a slightly larger head with a wider cambered sole.
Nike made the short irons for its VR Pro Combo CB a more forging cavity back and beefed up the sole width.
Adams combined element of the top line of its CB1 and the sole design of its C2 into the Idea Proa12, adding weight pads in the heel and toe to optimize the CG.
The Mizuno JB40 Dual Pocket Cavity allows weight to be moved to perimeter and to put more mass behind the hitting zone.
Ping is the one company that goes against the grain and offers cast models for the better players is .Its i20 features a tungsten weight in the toe plus a thicker clubhead that gets progressively smaller moving toward the shorter irons. The tungsten toe weight is also featured in the Ping S56 long irons