Bridgestone returns to the North American club market with three new forged irons made for low- and mid-handicap golfers.
Gear: Bridgestone 220 MB, 221 CB, 222 CB+ irons Price: $1,050 with Nippon PRO Modus3 Tour 120 steel shafts (220 MB, 221 CB); $900 (222 CB+) with Nippon PRO 950 GH steel shafts. Specs: Forged stainless steel Available: December 2024
Who it’s for: Elite ball strikers, tour players and college golfers (220 MB); low single-digit handicap golfers seeking feel and control with a touch of forgiveness (221 CB); single-digit handicap players who want more height along with classic-iron looks.
What you should know: Bridgestone is reentering the iron and wedge market with forged offerings for accomplished golfers, ranging from a classic muscleback blade to a better-player’s cavity back to a dual-cavity iron for golfers with powerful, repeatable swings.
The deep dive: In North America, Bridgestone is best known as a leading golf ball brand and the maker of the Tour B X balls played by Tiger Woods. However, the Japanese company had stopped offering clubs in this market several years ago, focusing its club sales in Asia.
Now, Bridgestone is returning to the iron and wedge category with the launch of the 220 MB, 221 CB, and 222 CB+ irons, along with the BRM2 wedges.
Bridgestone 220 MB irons. (Bridgestone)
The 220 MB is a pure muscleback iron designed for players with powerful, repeatable swings. It prioritizes control and precision over power and forgiveness. The club features traditional lofts, with a 5-iron at 26 degrees and a pitching wedge at 46 degrees. Of the three models, the 220 MB has the thinnest topline, narrowest sole and least offset.
Bridgestone 221 CB irons. (Bridgestone)
The 221 CB offers a cavity-back design and, like the 220 MB, is forged from a single piece of stainless steel. Its 4-iron and 5-iron incorporate a dual pocket-cavity design that lowers the center of gravity, helping players hit higher, softer long-iron shots. The 6-iron through pitching wedge have varying center-of-gravity locations to optimize spin and improve control on approach shots.
Bridgestone 222 CB+ irons. (Bridgestone)
The 222 CB+ is the most forgiving of the three irons, featuring a dual pocket-cavity design throughout the set, not just in the long irons. This lowers the center of gravity and increases launch angles across all clubs. Bridgestone also added a slightly thicker area in the center of the face to soften feel. The 222 CB+ has a wider sole, which helps the irons glide more easily through the turf, particularly for players with steep swings.
Gear: PXG Desert Golf Club Price: $99.99 Specs: 36.5-inch shaft, 44° loft, mid-bounce sole, made from raw hardened 17-4 stainless steel
Who It’s For: Golfers who frequent desert terrain or who often find themselves in a bit of a rugged predicament after a wayward drive.
What You Need to Know: PXG has crafted the Desert Golf Club specifically for shots where your golf ball might be a little too cozy with cacti, rocks or desert brush and you don’t want to damage or gash your clubs.
The Deep Dive: One of the great things about desert golf is after hitting a wayward shot that slices right of the fairway or goes over the green and into a nature area, finding your ball can be surprisingly easy. The bad news is you may not like what you see once you have found that ball. Rocks, rooks, cacti, sand, pebbles — it’s all out there, waiting to damage your shiny new irons and wedges.
PXG’s new Desert Golf Club doesn’t shy away from off-road adventures, it was designed for them. When wise judgment says, “Declare the ball unplayable and take a drop,” the Desert Club sits in your bag, gleaming, covered in saguaro cactus stamps, whispering, “Go ahead, I’ve got this.”
The Desert Club has 44 degrees of loft, like a pitching wedge. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The Desert Club is made using 17-4 stainless steel, a harder material than the 8620 carbon steel and 431 stainless steel PXG uses in the body of its irons and wedges, so it should be more durable. It comes standard with the length of an 8-iron (36.5 inches) and the loft of a pitching wedge (44 degrees). A combination like that should allow players to make a fast swing, get the ball over trouble and back into play.
The 8-iron length and extra loft are designed to help golfers escape trouble. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
Is the PXG Desert Golf Club something every golfer needs? No, it’s not. It is, however, a clever alternative to the old, beat-up iron that many golfers in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and the desert regions of California commonly carry for handling off-the-fairway trouble shots.
When it comes to selecting the right irons, Ping offers plenty of choices that cater to wide a range of golfers, from elite ball strikers who can benefit from the control and feel of the Blueprint T and the Blueprint S to high-handicap golfers who can take advantage of the forgiveness of the G730.
Two popular options in the middle of Ping’s iron lineup are the G430 and i530. Both clubs were designed using advanced technologies and materials, and there is some overlap in the type of players who might gravitate to these irons, but they serve different needs on the course. So, let’s break down how the G430 and i530 are similar, how they differ, and discuss which players might find the most benefit from each set.
Construction and technology
Released in 2023, the G430 irons feature cast 17-4 stainless steel heads htat have been given a unique heat treatment that strengthens the steel. That allowed designers to make the hitting area thinner and lighter. Ping also lowered the center of gravity (CG) by adding a tungsten weight in the heel and a tungsten screw to the toe. That added mass makes the G430 less likely to twist on off-center hits for increased consistency.
The G430 has a tungsten screw in the toe and a new back badge designed to allow the face to flex more efficiently. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The G430 was also created with a new back badge called PurFlex. It has seven different pieces that deliver varying levels of stiffness. Ping’s engineers learned that dividing the badge instead of uses a single large piece, it encouraged more face flex while still absorbing excessive vibrations to improve sound and feel.
Released in 2024, the i530 has a hollow-body design that is similar to the design of Ping’s metalwoods. The thin, forged C300 maraging steel face is welded to the 17-7 stainless steel body, which creates a hollow chamber inside the head. This hollow-body design allows the hitting area to flex more efficiently at the moment of impact, so golfers can generate more ball speed and distance.
The i530 has a wider sole than Ping’s Blueprint T or Blueprint S, but it should help a variety of players work in and out of the turf more easily. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
On the inner-facing side of the face, Ping added a polymer piece that soaks up vibrations without inhibiting face flex or dropping ball speed. In addition to weights in the heel and toe, an internal mass pad helps to lower the CG location.
Ping also designed the i530 with MicroMax grooves, so the hitting area is more tightly packed with grooves to help the irons generate more spin.
Both the G430 and the i530 have Ping’s Hydropearl 2.0 finish, a technology that helps to keep water off the face for more consistency.
The Ping G430 has a longer blade length than the i530, to go along with a slightly thicker topline and wider sole. Working in complement with the addd weight in the heel and toe, the added size helps to boost the moment of inertia (MOI) of the G430 and make it more stable on mis-hit shots. The larger size also helps to lower the CG location and encourage a higher ball flight.
The i530 has moderate offset and a relative-thin topline. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The i530 has a more-compact size than the G430, with a shorter blade length, thinner topline and narrower sole. The extra weight added in the heel and toe boost the MOI, but in the case of the i530, Ping wanted more stability without increasing the size.
The lofts of the G430 and i530 are identical, with the 5-irons at 22 degrees and the 9-irons at 37 degrees. However, the standard pitching wedge loft of the G430 is 41 degrees while the i530 pitching wedge comes standard at 42 degrees. Both sets are available in Ping’s Power Spec, which features stronger lofts, and Retro Spec, which has weaker lofts.
The MicroMax grooves are packed more tightly in the hitting area to normalize spin in different conditions. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
Who are the G430 and i530 for?
The best way to find the irons that are right for you is to work with a custom fitter who has a launch monitor and hit shots with lots of different head and shaft combinations.
The G430 is for mid-to-high handicappers who want help getting the ball in the air and keeping it there. The larger head size, added perimeter weighting, and forgiving face make it ideal for golfers who prioritize consistency over shaping shots. If you shoot in the high 80s and 90s and want irons that can launch the ball high, reduce mishit penalties, and boost confidence from anywhere on the course, the G430 is something to consider.
Ping G430 irons. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The i530 falls squarely into the better-player’s distance category. Its compact size, thinner topline and reduced offset will remind golfers who shoot in the high 70s and low 80s of muscleback blades and better-player irons they have used in the past, but the hollow-body design will generate more ball speed and distance than solid-body clubs made for low-handicap golfers.
The forged face and extra spin from the MicroMax grooves should also help skilled players hit draws, fades and other shots when they need to work the ball around the course.
The PXG 0311 GEN7 irons feature a new material inside the hollow portion of the head that returns energy more efficiently.
Gear: PXG 0311 GEN7 irons Price: $229.99 per club with chrome finish, $239.99 with Xtreme Dark finish Specs: Hollow-body design including forged and milled 8620 carbon steel body, HT1770 maraging steel face, internal tungsten weight, internal polymer and adjustable titanium back weight.
Who it’s For: Five- to 18-handicap golfers who want more ball speed and more forgiveness on mis-hits from a club that looks like a better-player’s iron.
The Skinny: The PXG 0311 GEN7 irons feature a new material inside the hollow portion of the head that returns energy more efficiently, while exotic materials like a tungsten weight and titanium back weight enhance performance and allow fitters to customize the clubs more easily.
The Deep Dive: The tungsten screws that ringed the perimeter of early PXG irons are gone, but many of the core concepts and technologies that the Scottsdale, Arizona-based equipment maker included in its early offerings have been refined, improved and updated through the years. Now, with the release of the seventh generation of the 0311 irons, PXG is showing it can use exotic materials and unique manufacturing techniques to produce clubs that continue to look like a better-player’s blade while delivering game-improvement levels of forgiveness and distance.
Each PXG 0311 GEN7 iron is forged five times before the back is milled to create the final shape. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The PXG 0311 GEN7 P and 0311 GEN7 XP irons both start as glowing red billets of 8620 carbon steel before they are forged five times. After each forging is completed, the still-hot metal is moved into a different tool and then forged again so the intricate shapes and contours, like the deep internal cavity, can be produced. Then, the back of each head is milled using a computer-controlled bit that passes back and forth over the clubheads, shaving off tiny ribbons of material and making the walls thinner than forging can refine.
An HT1770 maraging steel face is then attached to the chassis. The steel is exceptionally strong, allowing PXG to make it just 0.05 inches thick. According to PXG, it is the thinnest hitting area in golf, so it can flex more efficiently at the moment of impact.
The 0311 GEN7 irons have an extremely thin face and hollow chamber filled with a new polymer material. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The most significant difference between the 0311 GEN7 irons and their predecessors is the internal material PXG has injected inside the heads. The company has used different polymers and combinations of polymers in the past, but its new QuantumCOR polymer is the fastest yet. It supports the face and helps with durability but also returns more energy created at impact back to the ball, so golfers can generate more ball speed and distance.
To increase stability and forgiveness, PXG designers added a 20-gram internal tungsten weight in the toe of the 0311 GEN7 irons. The tungsten offsets the weight of the hosel and shifts the ideal hitting area into the middle of the face.
The titanium screw in the back allows fitters to change the swing weight, while also pushing more overall weight to the perimeter for increased stability. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
There is also a large titanium weight screw in the back of each head. Titanium weighs less than the 8620 carbon steel used in the rest of the head, so when combined with the internal tungsten weight, more of the GEN7 iron’s overall weight shifts to the perimeter, resulting in a higher moment of inertia (MOI) and less twisting on off-center hits.
During the fitting process, fitters can swap out and change the back weight to allow golfers to try different swing weights and overall weights to see which best matches their swing and needs.
PXG claims the GEN7 irons produce nearly the same launch angle as the GEN6 irons but with more ball speed and less spin, resulting in more distance and tighter dispersion.
The 0311 GEN7 P irons are designed for low to mid-handicap golfers who want more distance and stability, while the XP is for mid- to higher-handicap golfers who need maximum forgiveness and distance. The P has a smaller blade length, less offset and a thinner topline.
Cosmetically, the clubs look very similar, but the lofts of the XP irons are significantly stronger than the lofts of the P irons. Still, golfers can mix and match them to create a blended set by working with a custom fitter.
Gear: TaylorMade P·770, P·790 Copper Price: $1,499.00 (4-PW) with KBS C-Taper Lite Black shafts and Golf Pride TaylorMade Victory Copper grips” Specs: Hollow-bodied irons with 8620 carbon steel chassis, forged 4140 steel face, vibration-‘dampening foam.
Who It’s For: Golfers who love the look of vintage clubs but who also want to experience the benefits of modern, distance- and feel-enhancing technologies.
The Skinny: The TaylorMade P·770 and P·790 Copper are identical to the previously-released versions of the P·770 and P·790 but have been given retro styling and details that pay homage to TaylorMade’s 1980s offerings.
The Deep Dive: For the past few years, golf footwear makers have been revisiting popular shoes from “back in the day” and releasing updates and modern interpretations, adding better materials and technologies while trying to maintain what made the shoes appealing in the first place.
With the release of the Copper Collection, TaylorMade is doing the same thing. Two weeks ago, the BRNR Mini Driver Copper was released, complete with a throwback logo on the sole and a shaft that was cosmetically designed to harken back to the old Burner Bubble shaft from the 1990s. Now, the brand is releasing the P·770 Copper and P·790 Copper, two better-player distance irons that are identical in design to the previously-released P·770 and P·790. However, both clubs look like they would have been at home in the bags of players at Baltusrol Golf Club back in 1983 when Lee Janzen was battling Payne Stewart at the U.S. Open.
The TaylorMade Copper family, including the BRNR Mini Driver, P·790 and P·770 (TaylorMade)
Both irons feature a hollow-body design that allows the forged 4140 stainless steel faces to flex more efficiently at the moment of impact, resulting in more ball speed and distance. They also have a Speed Pocket slot in the sole that helps to enhance performance on thin shots and TaylorMade’s FLT CG system. It shifts mass inside the heads, so the center of gravity (CG) location in each iron is optimized. In the long irons, it’s lower to help get the ball up more easily, while in the scoring clubs, it is elevated to help keep the ball down for enhanced distance control.
The hollow chambers in both clubs are filled with SpeedFoam Air, a second-generation material that absorbs vibrations, enhances sound, and removes weight from the center of the club.
The smaller P·770 has a body made from 8620 carbon steel, while the P·790 has a thick-thin back wall construction to save weight.
But let’s be honest, all those performance features are available in the standard P·770 and P·790. If these clubs spark your interest, it’s because of the copper-toned finish and the retro style. You like the way copper-toned irons create a throwback look to your bag and how the old-school grips feel in your hands. You probably also like the use of TaylorMade’s original logo on the toe instead of its current logo.
TaylorMade says the copper finish will “mature over time,” but for golfers who love the throwback style of the P·770 and P·790 Copper, that will only enhance the vibe.
Below are some close-up looks at the P·770 Copper and P·790 Copper irons
Who It’s For: Low-handicap golfers who want a compact, classic-looking blade or a better player’s cavity back iron that emphasizes feel and control.
The Skinny: The first irons from Bettinardi are crafted with the same level of precision and attention to detail that has made the brand’s putters desirable for deep-pocketed golfers for decades. For golfers who shoot in the 60s or 70s, they deliver a high level of feel and control.
The Deep Dive: Bettinardi has been known for decades as being one of the finest putter makers in golf, specializing in milled blades and mallets that look like something that might be displayed under glass at Tiffany’s next to engagement rings and diamond bracelets. Starting a few seasons ago, the Tinley Park, Illinois-based company started offering milled wedges and multi-material putters, but now the brand is offering its first pair of irons—the CB24 and MB24—and they are precisely what you might expect from Bettinardi.
The CB24 and MB24 are both forged from 1025 carbon steel for a soft feel, but Bettinardi has co-forged the inner portions of each head with high-density tungsten and ceramic matrix composite material.
The addition of the tungsten and ceramic matrix composite material allowed Bettinardi designers to shift the center of gravity (CG) location in each club, lowering it in the long irons to make them easier to hit high and elevating it in the scoring clubs to make it easier to flight the ball down for better distance control.
The perimeter weighting and extra mass low in the head add a touch of forgiveness. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
While both clubs have a compact blade length and just a touch of offset, the CB24 is a classic better-player’s cavity-back iron. Its perimeter weighting around the outside of the head should make it more stable and give it more forgiveness than the MB24, which is a true muscleback blade. Instead of perimeter weighting, the MB24 added mass directly behind the impact area to enhance ball speed and create a more solid feel at impact. The MB24 also has a slightly thinner topline, although you would have to look at the top clubs carefully, side-by-side, to notice.
In a nod to Bettinardi styling, both clubs feature the brand’s honeycomb in the back of the face.
Below are several close-up images of the new Bettinardi CB24 and MB24 irons
Check out these 7 new golf equipment products at Golf Galaxy.
Once the calendar flipped to 2024, brands across golf began to release their newest gear. Whether it was drivers, irons sets, wedges, balls or something in between, it seemed like every equipment manufacturer had new offerings.
Well, thanks to our friends at Golf Galaxy, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite recent releases including drivers, irons and golf balls.
Some of the brands on the list below include Callaway, Cobra, Ping and more.
Most of the equipment below can be found on David Dusek’s best golf equipment lists for 2024 including best drivers, best irons, best golf balls and more.
With all the new clubs being released, there are some GREAT deals on recent models of irons including Callaway, Ping, Cobra, Srixon and more.
At the start of every year, major equipment companies release their new gear. Last week, we published a list of some of the best older-generation drivers to take advantage of great sales from sites like World Wide Golf Shops and PGA TOUR Superstore.
This time around, we’ve scoured the internet for the best deals on older-generation iron sets from brands like TaylorMade, Callaway, Cobra, Srixon, Mizuno and more.
Even though technology in golf equipment gets better every year, if the piece of gear is a year or two old, it still makes a great option for amateur golfers.
Taking advantage of technology to find the average of your carry distances rather than total yardage for each club will help you reach and hold greens more effectively.
This week, Golfweek’s fitness guru and long driver Averee Dovsek and Kent St. Charles from Lab 18 demonstrate how TrackMan is one way to gather the carry distances of all your clubs.
If you’re interested in any of Averee’s fitness content, click here.
If you’re looking for more instruction, click here.
It’s crucial to know how to flight your golf ball if you are trying to get under a tree. Or maybe you want the ball to roll out more or perhaps stop when it lands on the green.
This week, Golfweek’s fitness guru and long driver Averee Dovsek demonstrates how to get the trajectory of your shot lower or higher.
Being in control of your golf shot doesn’t have to be just for the professionals. A few simple tips and you are well on your way to the trajectory of your dreams.
If you’re interested in any of Averee’s fitness content, click here.
If you’re looking for more instruction, click here.
