The Thrill for the Average Player and A Special Iron Test
It is more than obvious that the average bogey player (me) sees no possibility of all of a sudden becoming great, great requires great dedication, great athleticism. Those are simply not attributes I have claimed for myself. Yet four times in the last 40 years I have hit the perfect golf shot – a hole in one – and this last “PGA Superstore World Handicap Championship” which was beautifully conducted at Myrtle Beach South Carolina the last week of last month. The thrill of having 4,000 participants (or it felt like they all did) clap me on the back with a congratulatory “Atta boy” as well as a bottle of champagne provided by the staff of the Sheraton Hotel. Though the other three were exciting, this was the first one I actually saw go in the cup. It was 145 yard shot with a Cleveland 5 Hybrid soaring high, with two bounces then rolling directly to the hole. As you can see I am just as proud of my golfing achievement as any winner of either the US or British opens.
Well, until you get your Fourth (yes I have had four), hit 'em straight and true while I remain.
Charlie Mandel
CEO Rankmark
AKA the Bogey Man
Special Iron Test
With the help of PGA professional David Budney, we have devised a new way of trying to figure out which Iron set or sets are best for players to check out first, or in fact buy when looking for a new set of clubs. First we selected 30 different sets, some well known for their high quality while others we thought were qualified yet not nearly as well known.
Total Points - Per Test Per Player
First - 5 points
Second - 4 points
Third - 3 points
Fourth - 2 points
Fifth - 1 points
After 30 clubs tested The top 12 were: Big Bertha, Nike OSS, Cleveland Hybrid, Titleist 775CB, King Cobra, Bob Burns, Wedgewood, XXL1W Hippo, Callaway Fusion, Nicklaus High CT, Nickent Hybrid, Grip O.W.T. Them the top 8 eliminating 4 were: Big Bertha, Nike OSS, Cleveland Hybrid, Titleist 775CB, King Cobra 3100I/H, Nicklaus High CT, Grip O.W.T., Wedgewood IR Silver. Summary
Big Bertha scored 89 with only 5 #1 votes but high because of its steady performance and lots of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th votes. Everyone liked it but not as first choice.
The Cleveland Hybrid had 13 first placed votes and scored strongest in the 10-20 handicap group but day in and out it was the strongest club. Smooth, easy, longest hitter and most accurate.
The Wedgewood had 8 first votes and was easily #3 because it was steady, easy to hit and forgiving.
The Grip O.T.W. was a strong performer with 4 #1 votes and 7 #2 votes.
Additional testing with the top 8 and one additional 7 iron - Ping G-10 was completed with test result of 10 players hitting the final 10 clubs.
30 Clubs x 30 Players
Totals by Handicap
7-Iron Club Testing
Manufacturer
0-10 Hdcp.
11-20 Hdcp.
21+ Hdcp.
Total Points
Callaway
Fusion Wide Sole
X-20
Big Bertha
1233
2114411
4
3
3242544
2
3
41
21
6
53
Mizuno
MX-23
MX-25
MP-30
4
41
24
22
3
2
4
5
11
16
Nike
OSS
Ignite
3422
42
44122
13
3
1
33
19
Cleveland
Hybrid
CG-4
2
332
1122221
231
23
24
42
28
Titleist
775CB
22
3421
323
32
Taylormade
RAC
2
24
10
Ping
Rapture
3
53
1
12
Adams Golf
Idea A2
0
0
0
0
King Cobra
3100 I/H
2
34
2441
22
Nicklaus
High CT
14
2344
18
Tommy Armour
Sliverscot
4
2
Innovex
4
2
6
Nickent
3DX Hybrid
3
3
233
16
Sensation
II Feel
5
1
6
Alpha
RX-1
3
3
Type S
0
0
0
0
Mactec
NVG
1
5
Cyberstar
Nanospeed
4
2
Grip
O.W.T.
3
21
21
21
XXL 1W
44
4312
3
21
Master Pro
Bob Burns
453
533
24
19
Magique
MP
5
1
6
Backfire
5
1
6
Wedgewood
IR Silver
223
12
31
28
Master List Top 12
7-Iron Club Testing
Manufacturer
0-10 Hdcp.
11-20 Hdcp.
21+ Hdcp.
Top 12
Top 8
Total Points
Callaway
Big Bertha
2223
2
32422
14
22
36
Nike
OSS
3414
31
2
9
15
24
Cleveland
Hybrid
1211
1
131133
22
26
48
Titleist
775CB
143151
4
5
18
6
24
King Cobra
3100 I/H
2323
4
7
9
16
Nicklaus
High CT
12
34
8
6
14
Grip
O.W.T.
23123444
251
2434
24
22
46
Wedgewood
IR Silver
3514235
123
121531
33
21
54
Mizuno
MP-30
22
8
8
Nickent
3DX Hybrid
0
0
0
0
0
0
XXL 1W
4
2
2
Master Pro
Bob Burns
0
0
0
0
0
0
Master List Top 8
7-Iron Club Testing
Manufacturer
0-10 Hdcp.
11-20 Hdcp.
21+ Hdcp.
Top 12
Top 8
Total Points
Callaway
Big Bertha
2223
2
32422
14
22
36
Nike
OSS
3414
31
2
9
15
24
Cleveland
Hybrid
1211
1
131133
22
26
48
Titleist
775CB
143151
4
5
18
6
24
King Cobra
3100 I/H
2323
4
7
9
16
Nicklaus
High CT
12
34
8
6
14
Grip
O.W.T.
23123444
251
2434
24
22
46
Wedgewood
IR Silver
3514235
123
121531
33
21
54
Master List
Final Point Totals
10 Players - 9 Clubs
7-Iron Club Testing to Include Ping G-10
Manufacturer
0-10 Hdcp.
11-20 Hdcp.
21+ Hdcp.
Total Points
Callaway
Big Bertha
134
3333
33
28
Nike
OSS
0
4
4
4
Cleveland
Hybrid
12211
1
12
37
Titleist
775CB
242
2
2
18
King Cobra
3100 I/H
4
2
Nicklaus
High CT
413
2
14
Grip
O.W.T.
3432
22
20
Wedgewood
IR Silver
44
34
9
Ping
G-10
222131
211
39
Rankmark’s "Best of the Best"Award
The test results were as follows and each club listed received: Rankmark’s "Best of the Best" Award
For additional information, click on the manufacturer's logo to access their website.
Ping G-10
The 17-4 stainless steel G10 irons are engineered with extreme low toe weighting to increase the moment-of-inertia for added forgiveness and consistency. The large, perimeter-weighted head features a new cavity shape and wider sole.
The center of gravity is positioned away from the face and low in the club head to promote higher launching, lower spinning shots. By creating a new shape for the Custom Tuning Port (CTP), PING engineers stabilized the hitting area to produce consistent ball velocity across the entire club face. An elastomer CTP insert helps control vibration for a solid feel.
G-10
Cleveland - Hybrid
This club benefits and performs well for players of all ability levels.
The HiBORE Hybrids incorporate Thin Crown Technology which lowers the Center of Gravity. This produces a higher trajectory for greater distance than traditional long irons. HiBORE Hybrids will give you the confidence to attack those long par 4's and land the ball softly on the green.
Hybrid
Callaway - Big Bertha
• Deeper 360-degree undercut channel
• Extreme notch weighting
• Royal precision micro taper steel shaft
• Constant-width sole
Big Bertha
Grip - O.W.T Advantages of G.R.I.P.’s OWT design:
• The wide sole prevents the club from digging into the turf, which ensures solid contact even on fat and thin shots.
• The oversized design allows for a bigger effective hitting area, with a large, confidence-inspiring sweet spot.
• The undercut cavity back channel and low center of gravity repositions the weight low and back for an optimal ball launch angle, making it easier to get the ball airborne and increasing MOI (Moment of Inertia). High MOI prevents twisting on off-center shots, resulting in increased forgiveness and penetrating ball flight.
• The thick top line makes it simple to frame the ball and aim shots. We also used a sandblasted finish on the top line to decrease glare at set-up and give the clubs an esthetically pleasing finish.
• The G.R.I.P. irons have a moderate offset progression, ranging from some offset in the long irons to minimal offset in the wedges. The offset increases the forgiveness and helps produce proper trajectory.
O.W.T.
Titleist - 775CB
Forged 775.CB™ irons feature a blended set design with oversize, multi-material channel back long irons that seamlessly transition to mid-size short irons to maximize playability with shot control. The oversize long irons feature enhanced offset for a higher, straighter flight, while the traditional short irons are designed for shot control and greater playability into and around the greens.
775CB
Nickclaus - High CT Greater Distance Higher Ball Velocity through greater face Enhanced Trajectory through lower, deeper/weight distribution flexibility
High CT
Wedgewood - IR Silver Before the Wedgewood hybrid design, golfers who struggled with their irons had to make do with fairway woods. Unfortunately, fairway woods leave a lot to be desired in terms of accuracy and stopping power. That's where the Wedgewood comes in. The Wedgewood combines the most sought after characteristics of traditional irons and woods into a single hybrid design.
IR Silver
King Cobra - 3100 I/H The undercut design of the Cobra 3100 I/H pushes weight low and back for a deep center of gravity and high moment of inertia. The result, a super-sized Sweet Zone and high launch for incredible distance and forgiveness.
3100 I/H
Nike - OSS Originally designed for the professional, the beginner and everyone in-between. The second generation of the revolutionary. Slingshot irons take forgiveness to a new level. The deeper CG position, wider sole and lighter, hotter face make high, long and accurate iron play, easier than ever. Slingshot OSS was recently named Golf Digest's Editor's Choice for Super Game Improvement Irons.
