In a plethora of exceptional product offerings, selecting a favorite can be quite challenging. However, GOLF’s Fully Equipped team took on the task of spotlighting the standout models from the robotic iron testing session. The discussion encompassed crucial data points on the latest 3-woods and irons, culminating in the team’s selection of notable irons for various reasons.
Below are the highlighted models, and for a comprehensive understanding of the technological aspects of each option, visit the 2024 ClubTest hub. Additionally, if you haven’t already, subscribe to the Fully Equipped YouTube page to stay informed about the latest developments in the equipment industry.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke and Cobra Darkspeed
Gene Parente (Golf Laboratories founder) shared, “I’d have to give the nod to the Cobra Darkspeed and Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke. They were both rock-solid. I’m looking at this through the prism of an average golfer, not an elite golfer. More something I’d like to personally game. It’s ultimately up to the listener to mine this and see what their characteristics are and what clubs could potentially benefit them.”
Kris McCormack (True Spec’s VP of Tour and Education) expressed, “I really like the Darkspeed, if I had to narrow it down to one. It’s a sleeper in the drawer that does really well. This year, there’s such a good variety of products out there that can work for so many players. But if you’re putting my feet to the fire, I’ll say Darkspeed because it works for a bunch of player types.”
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Custom Irons
$142.86
Ai SMOKE IRONS
The Paradym Ai Smoke irons signify a complete revolution in iron performance. The Ai Smoke iron series features the most advanced iron face in Callaway’s history: the Ai Smart Face.
Industry-Leading Ai Smart Face™
The innovative Ai Smart Face optimizes iron performance by leveraging swing data from a multitude of real golfers. The outcome is a face that enhances distance significantly with precise dispersion onto the green.
Enhanced Turf Interaction
The all-new Dynamic Sole Design incorporates a pre-worn leading edge with variable bounce, enabling efficient turf interaction. This dynamic design facilitates clean contact on all shots and is crafted to deliver exceptional forgiveness.
Cobra DarkSpeed Custom Irons
$142.71
Unleash your distance potential with a brand-new hollow construction that produces our longest and most robust iron design to date.
ENHANCED BALL SPEED AND DISTANCE
A larger PWRSHELL insert combined with a refined PWR-BRIDGE weight generates an unsupported face for exceptional flexibility and speed.
OPTIMIZED ACOUSTICS AND FEEL
The hollow cavity is filled with soft foam microspheres to provide exceptional sound and feel.
PRECISE ACCURACY
An A.I. designed H.O.T. Face enhances speed and spin efficiency, creating a larger sweet spot for more birdie opportunities.
Cleveland ZipCore XL
Ryan Barath (GOLF.com senior equipment editor) emphasized, “They do not get enough credit for their iron designs, but Cleveland ZipCore XL irons deserve a nod. From a price-point perspective, it’s one of the most cost-effective irons on this list, which is important to note. I’ve hit them and they feel really good, and look really good. It’s an oversized XL, but when you consider the price it’s at and the performance it delivers, it is one of the best values out there. You can go to any of the ones we’ve mentioned, but the Cleveland stacks up to the rest of the pack. It’s a standard cavity-back iron with a lot going on. For a mid-handicap who’s looking for a hollow-bodied iron, it’s a good option. From the data and performance I’ve seen, they are great. If you’re looking for something to try, don’t walk past the ZipCore XL without giving it a shot.”
Cleveland ZipCore XL Custom Irons
$128.57
Go big and get it close? Yes, please. With all-new ZipCore XL Irons, you get both. AI-designed MainFrame faces and weighting, along with our legendary ZipCore technology, combine to deliver all of the power, control, and confidence you need to hit it far and stick it close without fail.
MAINFRAME
Crafted with the assistance of AI, MainFrame incorporates a variable network of grooves, channels, and cavities milled into the backside of the club face on ZipCore XL’s 4i–7i. This pattern maximizes flex at impact for improved COR.
ZIPCORE
In 8i–SW lofts, ZipCore replaces heavy steel in the hosel and heel with an extremely lightweight yet strong, vibration-dampening material. This repositions the Center of Gravity right where you strike the ball, ensuring more consistent launch, spin, and distance.
XL HEAD DESIGN
Cleveland’s XL Head Design showcases a large, cavity-back profile with enhanced shaping and weighting throughout the entire lineup.
Ping G730
Jonathan Wall (GOLF’s managing equipment editor) stated, “It’s Ping G730 for me. It was inside the top 5 in ball speed, had one of the tightest heel-toe carry deltas and was one of only three irons with a single-digit carry delta on heel and toe misses. It’s a really good iron. No surprise Ping is coming out with a great game-improvement iron. It also has a clean profile with limited offset, even though it’s game improvement. It checks a lot of boxes for the golfer who’s a higher handicap but doesn’t want to play a shovel.”
PING G730 Custom Irons
$170
The primary goal in PING’s longest and most forgiving iron to date was maximizing distance, resulting in typical distance gains of approximately five yards from the flexing, hyper 17-4 stainless steel face.
Enhanced Face Flexibility
By utilizing hyper 17-4 stainless steel through heat treatment, the face was thinned and its overall structure optimized to increase flexing and lower the CG, delivering higher-launching shots with improved ball speed and an additional five yards of distance.
Dynamic Sound
Supplemented with the proven PurFlex cavity badge, the cavity-back design enhances feel and produces a more powerful sound.
Exceptional Forgiveness
The larger head, increased offset, and wider sole in the investment-cast design elevate the MOI in both axes, enhancing forgiveness for improved stability and accuracy in this premium game-improvement design.
Want to revamp your golf bag for 2024? Discover a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
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Jonathan Wall
Golf.com Editor
Jonathan Wall serves as GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment. With 6 years of experience covering equipment for the PGA Tour, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the industry. For inquiries, reach out to [email protected].
