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.
The importance of nice wedges in amateur golf flies under the radar a bit. Many weekend warriors complain about not getting enough spin around the greens, hopelessly watching their chip shots run 10, 20, or 30 feet beyond the hole.
To be honest, the bad result may not be your fault.
If your wedges are starting to get wear marks, or if they’re approaching 5, 6, or 7 years old, it’s time to get some new wedges in your bag.
And because they can be expensive — new releases can get close to $200 per club — we’ve searched the internet for the best deals you can find on wedges from brands like Cleveland, Callaway, TaylorMade and more.
If you’re interested in saving more money throughout your bag, check out our recently released affordable drivers list.
Add some distance and save some $$$ with our list of best affordable drivers in 2023.
When big-name brands like TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway and Ping release new drivers, the prices can be astronomical. You could be a die-hard golfer playing 2-3 times a week, and it’d still be hard to justify spending that much money on a golf club.
So we thought it’d be a good idea to scour the internet for the best deals on name-brand drivers to save the average golfer some coin on their next big stick. Be sure to look out for deals on last year’s releases at major retailers like PGA TOUR Superstore, GlobalGolf, DICK’S Sporting Goods and more.
Tour Edge’s new Exotics Wingman wedges have a high-toe design, offset and polymer inserts to soften the feel.
Gear: Tour Edge Exotics Wingman wedges Price: $139.99 each with True Temper Dynamic Gold 115 Wedge shaft. Specs: Forged stainless steel with polymer inserts and an adjustable weight. Even lofts from 50 degrees to 60 degrees in three sole grinds with five different bounce options Available: Oct. 2
Who It’s For: Golfers who want a softer feel and more forgiveness on shots around the green.
The Skinny: Tour Edge designed a high-toe wedge with weight removed from the back flange, then added thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to soften the feel.
The Deep Dive: Elite golfers rarely want to look down at their irons and see a significant amount of offset because the more offset an iron has, the more challenging it can be to curve the ball intentionally and shape shots. However, back in the day, wedges were designed with offset, and many golfers who were elite in the 1980s and ’90s still love to use wedges with offset because it can help them keep their hands in front of the leading edge and promote solid contact on chips. Bernhard Langer is among them, and he recently asked Tour Edge to make him some wedges that had extra offset. The company’s R&D team got to work and developed wedges that pleased the German Hall-of-Famer, and now those clubs, the Exotics Wingman wedges, are being released.
The Exotics Wingman wedge’s offset pushes the leading edge back so your hands stay forward at impact. (Tour Edge)
Each Exotics Wingman wedge is forged for an enhanced feel and features a new Triple-Traction face design. After Tour Edge mills the main grooves into the high-toe-shaped hitting area, microgrooves are milled between each main groove to add surface roughness and increase friction. The combination of the high-toe and multi-groove pattern on the face is designed to allow golfers to get more spin on a wide variety of shots and increase their ability to be creative around the greens.
To further enhance the feel, Tour Edge removed some of the stainless steel in the heel and toe areas of the back of the heads and replaced it with a polymer called Vibrcor. The material soaks up excessive vibrations and softens the feel of impact.
Adding TPU inserts to the back of the head and extra mass high in the toe softens feel and helps to create lower-flying approach shots. (Tour Edge)
Removing the steel on the bottom of the heads, and adding more material high in the toe area, pulls the center of gravity (CG) location up. Combined with the addition of the offset, Tour Edge feels that golfers should benefit from solid contact and a lower, more-controlled flight on approach shots and pitch shots.
Golfers will see an adjustable weight on the back of the Exotics Wingman wedges. It is not meant to be changed by players, but fitters can swap the standard 5-gram weight for other weights to adjust the club’s swing weight based on its length and golfer preferences.
The Exotics Wingman wedges are available in three sole grinds. (Tour Edge)
Finally, the Exotics Wingman wedges will be offered in three different sole grinds:
M/N Grind (Medium Turf/Neutral Path): Available in lofts from 50 to 60 degrees, this wedge grind is highly versatile and has 10 degrees of bounce.
F/S Grind (Firm Turf/Sweeping Path): Available as a sand wedge or lob wedge in lofts from 54 to 60 degrees, this low-bounce option (6-8 degrees) is designed to get the leading edge under the ball on tight lies.
S/D Grind (Soft Turf/Digging Path): Ideally suited to golfers who play in soft conditions or who have a steep angle of attack, this high-bounce option (12-14 degrees) should help players keep the club moving through impact in fluffy sand and thick rough.
The newest Tour Edge woods and irons blend materials such as carbon fiber, tungsten and titanium to deliver more distance and forgiveness.
When Tour Edge releases new equipment in its Exotics family, the brand typically does it in pairs, partnering game-improvement woods and irons with related offerings designed for more accomplished golfers. With the new Exotics 723 Series, the Chicago-based company again has dropped two sets of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons simultaneously, with the new Exotics E723 clubs (Extreme Spec) made for golfers who want more distance plus forgiveness and the Exotics C723 clubs (Competition Spec) for golfers who need lower-spinning gear that allows them to shape shots.
Below are the details on both the new E723 and the C723 woods and irons.
Whether for a first timer or a junior golf champ these kids golf clubs will be a hit for the little one in your life.
Golf is one of the fastest growing sports among children. With programs like the First Tee helping to introduce the game and tours like U.S. Kids and AJGA giving kids a taste of competitive golf, there is plenty of opportunity for your kids to fall in love with the silly game we cherish.
There’s no better way to introduce the sport than through their first set of clubs. Club sets on the youth market come in a variety of sizes based on average age and size. Make sure to measure your kiddo before buying a set to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
Whether you’re knocking it around the back yard, hitting balls on the driving range or playing competitive rounds, a proper fitted golf club is crucial for their enjoyment.
Luckily for you, Golfweek has curated a list of some of the top sets for kids from across the web. Still not finding what you’re looking for? Check out our kids gift list from this past holiday season.
It’s never too early to start their love of the game.
Is there a kid in your life that wants to pick up the game but you aren’t sure where to start? Here at Golfweek, we’ve gathered everything you need to get your little one off on the right foot.
First, remember these tips when taking your newest playing partner out on the course or practice range for the first time:
– Baby steps. There’s no need to rush onto the course. Take time to develop fundamentals and good practice habits.
– Relax. Chances are you’re not sparking the career of the next Nelly Korda or Tiger Woods. There’s no need to put all that pressure on your kiddo.
– Pick a pro. Have your child pick a couple of players to watch and follow. Bonus points if you can go see them in person!
– Have fun! That’s what golf is all about, right? Fun and enjoyment should come before anything else for all golfers, but especially for juniors.
If you’re looking to knock out the rest of your holiday shopping, check out all of our Holiday Gift Guides including men’s apparel, women’s apparel and golf shoes.
The Exotics 700 Series is for golfers who want forgiveness and increased consistency on the greens.
Gear: Tour Edge Exotics Wingman 700 Series putters Price: $199.99 with KBS CT Tour shaft and Lamkin Jumbo Sink Fit Pistol grip Specs: Mallet putters with interchangeable sole weights, carbon fiber sole plate and grooved, thermoplastic polyurethane face insert Available: August 1
Who it’s For: Golfers who prefer the look and forgiveness of a high-MOI mallet that want to improve their alignment and increase consistency on the greens.
The Skinny: The three new Wingman 700 Series putters have a softer face insert than the original Wingman for enhanced sound and feel, but still offer a lot of forgiveness thanks to extreme perimeter weighting and a multi-material design.
The Deep Dive: The first Tour Edge Exotics Wingman putter was released in 2020, and now the company is looking to expand the popularity of the mallet by offering it in three different head shapes, each coming with two hosel options. The key technologies, however, carry across all three clubs.
The Lock-On Alignment system helps players set up to the ball more consistently. (Tour Edge)
Each of the 700 Series putters has an angular shape, and the first thing most golfers will notice when they set one down and address it is the Lock-On Alignment technology. It’s a pair of black areas on the top of the club, and each has a single white alignment line in the center. The idea is that when your eyes are in the proper position over the ball, the lines will appear joined, but if you are standing with your eyes either too far to the inside or the outside, the white stripes will not appear to touch. It can be a helpful, easy way to ensure that you are set up to the ball, and in a good position, before every putt.
Each of the three 700 Series mallets is cast from stainless steel, but a large portion of the sole is covered by a carbon fiber plate that reduces the amount of stainless that would be used by 34 percent. That does two important things. First, it takes weight out of the middle of the club and creates perimeter weighting. Second, it allowed designers to take the discretionary weight saved by using the carbon fiber and repurpose it in the form of interchangeable sole weights in the back heel and toe areas. The 700 Series putters come with 3-gram weights, but 8- and 15-gram weights are available in separately-sold kits. The weights further boost the moment of inertia (MOI) to help the clubs resist twisting on off-center hits.
The carbon fiber sole plate saves weight that can be redistributed to sole weights for increased MOI. (Tour Edge)
Finally, the MicroGroove face is designed to encourage the ball to start rolling instead of skidding for better speed control, but Tour Edge opted to use a softer thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to create a softer feel.
The Exotics Wingman 701 and 702 have the same head that features a pair of extensions on the heel and toe wings that hold the sole weights. They have the highest MOI and most stability, with the 701 having 30 degrees of toe hang thanks to a short slant neck hosel. It should be ideal for players with a slightly-arched putting stroke, while the 702’s double-bend hosel makes it face balanced for golfers with a straight back, straight through stroke.
Tour Edge Exotics Wingman 704 putter (Tour Edge)
The Exotics Wingman 703 and 704 have a slightly-smaller head that lacks the extensions on the back of the heel and toe wings that the 701 and 702 have. The sole weights are also forward in the head. The 703 has a short slant neck hosel, while the 704 has a double-bend hosel.
Finally, the 705 and 706 are the most compact, with sole weights in the front. The 705 is designed for golfers with an arced putting stroke, while the 706 is face-balanced.
Your iron game need a boost? Check out these clubs for more speed, height and forgiveness.
Most golfers would love to be able to hit muscleback blades and irons designed for players with abundant clubhead speed and consistency, but the game is hard and those types of clubs are unforgiving. Catch a muscleback blade a little thin, and your 6-iron shot might get 4 feet off the ground. If you make contact far enough out near the toe, you might be lucky to get the ball to advance more than 100 yards in the air.
Thankfully, equipment makers know what most players need is a set of irons that helps generate more ball speed and height, clubs that can compensate for mis-hits. Today’s game-improvement irons pack loads of innovation into shapes that often look like a better-player’s club, which can instill confidence while also lending a helping hand.
If you are in the market for a new set of irons with qualities such as forgiveness, playability and increased distance, talk to a good custom fitter about the game-improvement clubs listed below.
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For players with a consistent swing, there are lots of classic-looking irons available that can enhance their performance.
There was a time, not too long ago, when irons designed for single-digit handicap golfers came in two varieties. If you were good enough to play them, muscleback blades were touted as being the ultimate in feel and control. If you weren’t quite good enough for those, cavity-back options offered a little forgiveness thanks to some perimeter weighting, but they were still compact in size and featured thin toplines, narrow soles and only a touch of offset.
In recent years, however, the better-player iron category has fragmented and added a new genre. While there are still muscleback options for elite players and game-enhancing cavity-backs out there, better-player distance clubs have emerged as one of the hottest areas of the market. They typically have the compact looks of traditional clubs, but use multiple materials and different design features to create more ball speed, increased forgiveness and better performance for players who have a repeatable swing.
Equipment makers typically produce new game-improvement and max game-improvement irons every season, but better-player irons often run on two- or three-year product cycles, meaning they are updated every 24 to 36 months. Why? The market for irons designed for single-digit handicap golfers is significantly smaller and players who often shoot in the 70s (or better) are usually not in the market for new technology. They prefer refinements to things they know and trust, so innovations come more slowly.
If you are someone who typically shoots below 80, who contends at your local club championship or is an aspiring tournament player, the irons listed below could give you the combination of control, feel and distance that you need to take your game to the next level.
We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Golfweek operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
