The Best Players/Forged Irons of 2018

As the upcoming golf season approaches, we have taken a look at the new releases that have emerged onto the market, bringing together the Best Players/Forged Irons of 2018.

Callaway Apex MB

The Callaway Apex MB iron is a true muscle-back blade with a classic, compact shaping and style, a traditional, slightly thinner top line and a beautiful, bright chrome finish. It is no wonder it quickly became Callaway’s most popular iron on Tour.

By paying attention to CG positioning, the Apex MB offers a flight preferred by Tour players, while retaining more traditional lofts and consistent distance gapping. Each iron is forged from a single piece of 1025 Carbon Steel for a remarkably soft feel, with exact craftsmanship and precision that can only be achieved through Callaway’s premium Triple Net forging process. This allows for a more aggressive and precise ‘V’ shaped groove pattern, to deliver consistent control and shot shaping, for pin-point accuracy.

Golfshake View

Specification

Loft:       Available 2 – AW

Shaft:    KBS Tour-V (R, S and XS flex)

Price:    £120.00 per iron

Find out more at Golfshake.com or visit the Callaway website here.

Callaway X Forged

The Callaway X Forged iron has a clean and classic look at address and has been engineered for high performance and exceptional feel from a precise Triple Net Forging process. The single piece, cavity back iron features Tour configured soles, CG progression for precision shot-making and accuracy, with just the right amount of forgiveness and a classic finish.

The X Forged also has a similar precise and aggressive ‘20V’ shaped grove pattern as the Apex MB, and promotes high levels of control and spin out of any playing conditions.

Specification

Loft:       Available 3 – PW

Shaft: Project X

Price:    £1,049.00

Find out more at Golfshake.com here or visit the Callaway website here.

Mizuno MP-18 Series

Mizuno’s MP-18 series features three distinct irons that will stand out to the lower handicap golfer, in the MP-18, MP-18 SC and MP-18 MMC. The standard MP-18 is the “Craftsmen’s Muscle Back” and features a shorter blade length, cambered top line and steep progression into sharp, compact wedges. The iron is Grain Flow Forged from a single billet of 1025 E Pure Select mild carbon steel and has an even softer feel thanks to an evolved Grain Flow Forged High Density process that concentrates the grain in those billets more tightly for incredible, precise feedback.

The SC (Split Cavity) model is a compact cavity back. It has a slightly wider, cambered sole that brings a greater degree of playability than the muscle-back, although thin, tapered top lines, short head lengths and smaller wedges mean this is still a tour ready iron.

The final member, the MMC (Multi-Material Construction), is a highly stable, forgiving multi-metal construction iron, which also satisfied the craftsmen’s aesthetic desires and demands at address. The design uses lightweight titanium (8g) and heavier tungsten (20g) to deliver surprising off-centre performance, with the same High Density feel as the other two models.

Golfshake View

https://www.golfshake.com/news/view/11501/Mizuno_MP18_Iron_Family_Review.html

Specification

Loft:       MP-18 Available 3 – PW

                MMC Available 4 – PW

                SC Available 3 – PW

Shaft:    Numerous custom fit options

Price:    £945.00

Find out more at Golfshake or visit the Mizuno website.

PING iBlade

PING’s IBlade is the company’s most workable blade-style iron to date, with a focus being made on providing a buttery feel with maximum forgiveness. Its combination of a thin top rail, minimal offset, a straight leading edge and a sharp high toe, the iBlade’s simple head shape and fresh aesthetics provide a compact, appealing and confidence inspiring look at address.

Engineered from soft, 431 stainless steel, a higher strength-to-weight ration provides increased forgiveness, while an eye-catching, hydropearl chrome finish repels water for more control.

Other innovations include an improved elastomer insert for improved feel and sound at impact, and a thin, high-speed face for increased ball speeds and higher trajectories. Finally, better players will benefit from refined bounce angles that provide a more workable sole, as well as a precision-milled face with tour-proven groove specifications.

Golfshake View

Specification

Loft:       Available 3 – PW

Shaft:    Dynamic Gold (S300 and X100)

AWT 2.0 (R, S and XS flex)

                Project X (5.0, 6.0)

                XP95 (R and S flex)

                N.S. PRO MODUS 105 (S and XS flex)

Price:    £1,040.00

Find out more at Golfshake or visit the PING website.

Srixon Z Series

Both the Srixon Z 965 and Z 765 irons are perfect for the better players looking for exceptional performance. Both irons feature a Tour V.T. Sole that has been modified to move even more efficiently through the turf, reducing impact resistance and tightening shot dispersion for maximum consistency and control. Feel is also unsurpassed, combining ultra-soft S20C head material with a new special heat treatment for the smoothest and most consistent feel.

Finally, all iron faces feature 5% larger grooves compared to the previous generation and Double Laser Milling, which improves contact, especially in wet conditions, delivering increased friction and enhanced spin control. The 965 model is a compact muscle back ideal for the most advanced, demanding players. The 765 model is a muscle cavity preferred by skilled players for its traditional profile and exceptional control.

Golfshake View

https://www.golfshake.com/news/view/11501/Mizuno_MP18_Iron_Family_Review.html

Specification

Loft:       Available 3 – SW

Shaft:    True Temper Dynamic Gold (R300 or S300)

                Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 120 (S and XS flex)

Price:    ??

Learn more at Golfshake.com or visit the Srixon website.

Titleist 718 MB/CB Combo

The Titleist 718 MB/CB combo set is perfect for those looking to combine a classic one-piece, muscle back in the short irons and a sleek, muscle back in the longer irons.

The MB iron is forged from a single billet of carbon steel for the purist look, sound and feel possible. Its strategically designed CG locations deliver superior shot-making and responsive feedback, allowing you to hit any shot possible.

The CB is a classically-styled cavity back that plays exactly how you expect. Offering playable shot control when you want it and forgiving performance when you need it, it is no wonder this club is played by so many on tour. The redefined leading edge creates more efficient turf interaction, enhancing the CB’s solid forged feel and creates smooth contact and launch with every swing.

Golfshake View

Specification

Loft:       Available 4 – PW

Shaft:    Project X

Price:     £150.00 per club (Steel)

                £175.00 per club (Graphite custom fit)

Find out more on Golfshake, or visit the Titleist site.

Titleist 718 AP2

For golfers demanding the ultimate in playability with consistent distance and forgiveness, the 718 AP2 is for you. Both MOI and speed have been maximised to provide total control and distance in this Tour-proven iron.

Greater forgiveness and stability have been achieved through precise perimeter tungsten weighting and a unique co-forged construction. This allows you to attack pins with confidence. Tour-preferred look, sound and pure forged feel is all wrapped up in one iron and the refined leading edge offers more efficient turf interaction and pure feel through impact.

Golfshake View

Specification

Loft:       Available 4 – PW

Shaft:    True Temper AMT Tour White (R, S and XS flex)

Price:    Price:     £150.00 per club (Steel)

                £175.00 per club (Graphite custom fit)

Find out more on Golfshake, or visit the Titleist site here.

TaylorMade P700 Series

The TaylorMade P700 series offers three models in the players iron range in the P730, P750 and P770, designed specifically for Tour players.

The P730 has been developed by taking direct feedback from the best players in the world, and no features Tour-inspired shaping feature improvements over previous models. The iron has a smaller blade profile, redefined leading edge and crisp lines. The iron has a forged 1025 carbon steel head, with the face grooves precision-milled to produce soft feel, clean turf interaction and exceptional shot-shaping ability.

The P750 Proto has a shallower cavity and is reserved for the best ball-strikers. The head is created using a new, multi-step forging process that culminates with high tonnage strike – three times more forceful than a standard forged press, with a soft feel. The grooves are CNC milled for high precision and the extra step of milling the cavity ensures that the face thickness, CG position, and weight distributing are maintained to the highest standard.

Finally, the P770 delivers a true Tour iron for highly skilled players while simultaneously providing playability improvements that create a great playing experience. The iron features a uniquely forged 1025 carbon steel face/hosel and precision-milled faces and grooves along with 70-gram tungsten back-back weighting in the mid and long irons (3-7) and a one-piece forged cavity back construction in the short irons (8-AW) for added feel and control. This iron also has a higher MOI for ball speed consistency and has a lower centre of gravity, which creates a higher launch angle than its predecessors.

Golfshake View

Specification

Loft:       P730 available 3 – PW

                P750 available 3 – PW

                P770 available 3 – AW

Shaft:    True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 (P730 and P750)

                KBS Tour FLT (S and X flex) (P770)

Price:    £1,049.00 for seven irons

Find out more on the Golfshake or visit the TaylorMade site to learn more here.

Wilson Staff FG Tour V6

The Wilson Staff FG Tour V6 combines ultimate playability with game-changing tungsten sole technology to control those miss hits and make every shot count. 20 grams of tungsten, split heel and toe in the long irons and centred on the mid irons, lowers centre of gravity and provides optimal forgiveness across the set.

The iron maintains a solid, muscle back-like feel and workability, but with a cavity back design for more feedback and forgiveness. Finally, the 8620 carbon steel is forged for the ultimate in feel, feedback and response.

Specification

Loft:       Available 4 – GW

Shaft:    True Temper Dynamic AMT

Price:    £699.00

Find out more on the Wilson Staff website.