4:55 Yes, you should do a video comparing "cheap" vs. expensive and I have a model comparison for you. I finally took your advise, and last month bought a set of Sub 70 model 799 irons. This is a direct competition to the Stealth HD, Cleveland Launcher XL Halo etc. The 799's cost me US$90 per iron or $630 for seven irons (custom build, delivery included, complimentary head covers, cap, and bag of tees). I love the results. Coming from a strong lofted cavity back, my 7-iron gained 25 more feet in height, descent angle improved to 45* from 40*, shots, have more spin and actually slightly more carry. Give Sub 70 799 a comparison test with "name-brand" hybrid-irons. Sub 70 has a dozen heads to choose from (pure blade to hybrid-irons) and many shaft options.
I really appreciate the lack of ego in your reviews. You are about helping people improve their game and remove the fluff and nonsense. Best in the business and most practical.
I'm thinking of buying these, I always used to joke about hybrid iron golfers based on the chunky launcher design but THESE, actually look ok as they are mostly silver so the size of them does not seem to offensive. I also play with a rain cover on my bag, so I'm not really flashing my clubs about to people. I really want to get my game back in 2023, I'm a big believer in trying to fix things with hardware before you get involved in complex swing changes that are much harder for many golfers to adopt as we're not robots, or playing with the best fundamentals to begin with where we can just change something on a tangent.
interesting to see more irons look like the Cleveland Halo XL's and Wilson Launcher series as well. I have the Clevelands and love the flight and height that they allow me to get so much easier than what I had achieved with my standard irons I had. Lost some distance but accuracy is way up and consistency as well.
My 18 handicap wife got fitted for the HD irons and is looking forward to getting them but I agree with your assessment that maybe more of us should be playing them, after all the vast majority of us are playing for enjoyment, great honest review as always 👍
i have difficulties with launch with my irons also. i am not a fan of the stronger lofts of most new iron sets. i've never been able to hit a 5 iron since a started playing golf in the 80's, and now an 8 iron has the same loft as 5 from way back then. i'm with others that if you don't have the speed and consistence of ball compression, you have to have more loft for launch, spin, and distance. i'm planning on going in for a fitting for my first ever "NEW" irons because not only do i want irons that feel and look good, but need to know about what shafts to use. and like others stated, these irons and other Super Game Improvements irons are on the radar. thanks for all the info you give to us players that just want to have fun while out playing!!
I agree that launch/loft stuff is so critical. Regardless of the set, I need to go to Hybrids about 24-25 degrees. So if that’s a 5 iron or 4 iron that I get rid of depends on the set, but I had to check/test. My old AP2s I carried a 27 degree 5 iron and new Cleveland XLs I stop at 26 degree 6 iron. I’m a 5 hcp and in my 50s and just don’t swing as fast as I used to so I got some more help and a lighter club and while I miss the looks/feel of my AP2s, I don’t miss the 130 gram shafts and thin shots in the cold. It’s just easier and I haven’t noticed any shots I need that I can’t hit because of the club. I’m glad I made the change and put my ego in check.
I play with Cleveland CBX irons and love them except I struggle to hit the 5 and 6 irons consistently. So I bought the Stealth HD 5 and 6 irons to replace them. They are lofted and lied very similar and shaft lengths are virtually the same. What a great decision this was. The Stealth HDs are so easy to hit and get in the air. Best purchase I’ve made for my bag. I like the way they look and don’t give a monkeys what others think. Using these has knocked 5 shots off my score. Happy days. Oh forgot to add I use a Cleveland HB 4 iron which fits in nicely. That’s very easy to hit too.
The Halos are Hollow and lack a lot of feel for close to the green. That is why I got rid of them. The HD is a cavity back and has more feel for these feel shots.
Just got a set a few weeks ago and absolutely love them. They look good and my 5 iron goes 30 yards further than my previous set and admittedly I used to not hit my irons far, not anymore
Wouldn't say I wouldn't ever change them but I have them and honestly they are so good. I'm a 11HC who struggles with distance but launches the ball pretty high (Basically I add loft for the most part) they perform well and a big plus to them is that they look great. Think I have the 100g KBS Tour Lite shafts.
HD are for me - 100 % agree with you on the tech, and I am OK with the looks. If you can amortize the costs which are eye watering as a one off cost, then a set like this will last you forever, say 8 years min thats about 120 per year 10 pound a month. Trade in my callaways to golf bidder, don't buy a new driver if you don't really need one- then it makes perfect sense ( as I talk to myself 🙂) and I am in.....! You could do a video about when you should really consider changing a driver that you are actually happy with?
You are right we should use these! I don’t have the talent of pro golfer or one of you guys, they have exceptional hand eye co-ordination. I have four in my bag 2,3,4,5 Cleveland’s they are easy to hit, and give confidence! Cleveland’s Launchers are a better bargain! Thanks for the review!
I used to slice every iron shot and struggled getting the ball airborn, went to Stealth HD and I now hot pin straight moon shots. My 7 iron goes 145-150, 6 iron 155-160 and 5 iron about 180. Perfect distances when I factor in myb3 hybrid I can worknfrom 180-200, 3 wood 210-220 and driver 240ish. I game Ping G425 driver and 3 wood and a Big Bertha 3 hybrid, which is the easiest hybrid to hit.
When talking about GI clubs. Everyone talks about "who this club can help" but I'd be interested in your thoughts on who the Clevelands Launchers and the Stealth HDs etc. can hurt... would it hurt a single digit handicapper to play with these clubs? Would their scores actually increase as a result of putting these in their bag? That would be a great test. I'd love to see you play a round with two bags one MB and one HD to see which round scores better.
You've sold me on chunky clubs, I traded in for these HDs. I was surprised to be strongly recommended into something like stealth, srixon, and paradym. I'm +30 hc, lol I need all the help I can get and I bought what I hit best. Thanks for the videos!
I recently acquired a Wilson version of this club. It has quickly become my go to when I am faced with a difficult approach shot. If I grip up it is a 9 and down it hits more like a pitching wedge distance. You only need one of these in your bag but it is worth it.
I love my hybrids. Starting from 3-7i hybrid clubs Cobra F Max. I am finally ready for a proper fitting and looking at these or Halo's/T-Rails. I have no ego's just want consistency on the course.
If I was in the market I would definitely look at these. That said, one thing that's disappointing with these and many others is that it can be hard to get them in smaller sets, like 6-PW. The player that needs help probably hits hybrids and maybe longer fairway woods (I have 4 and 5 hybrids and and 5 and 7 woods) and don't need the longer irons.
Manufacturers should allow irons to be purchased individually. Many golfers are wanting to have more hybrids in their bags or to blend two different sets of irons.
As soon as I saw the soles I knew you’d love this. It’s interesting how the marketing always get in the way of TM, especially when you give the actual equipment fair and good reviews. Maybe I’m just glad they’ve stopped with the “Twist Face” marketing. LOL. Thanks Mark! Maybe I’ll whack them around if I see them in the shop.
I'm a scratch player and I love chipping around the green with a 52-degree wedge - as such, I will be ordering a custom wide-soled Cleveland Full-Faced CBX2 52, with a heavier shaft because of exactly what you pointed out in this video about having a cheat club in the bag for not fun lies around the green. So many more people should do this - like 98% more. I'm scratch & I'm doing this - every person I play with doesn't but should.
Changed to this method and got rid of a club (3 wedges now). And I’m SO much more consistent. I have 58 for flop or quicker stopping power, but my 54 or 46 are what I’m usually going for 👍🏼
@@markaochoa2017 I've gone 46/52/58 from 48/52/56/60. It's made my short game much better, especially bunker and shortsiding. Always over thought things. Now have one choice.
Just an update, I placed the order for the CBX 2 Fullface 54 (because it has the C-grind & 12-degrees - the 52 is a full grind without heel relief) and ordered it with a heavier S400 132gram shaft (the stock shaft is the lighter 115gram spinner) to be bent to 53, 1-flat, and 1/4" longer - with my favorite Align Midsized +4 grip. The heel section of the sole is almost pro-thin and the wider section is in the toe. A perfect greenside club.
Great video mark just received my stealth hd irons 7 to gw great clubs easy to hit I carry a 28 deg hybrid a nine and five woods and 12 deg driver so not the usual set keep the great content coming 👍
MC content knocking it out the park for the past few months IMO. Don’t know if it’s intentional or not but he seems more positive and higher energy. Bit less of the negative stuff and it’s really refreshing.
Absolutely please try the 'cheaper' ranges. I reckon my Wilson CB's can compete with any of the big boys, and then you can throw in the DTC boys (Sub70, Takomo etc)
i took your advice a couple of years ago because it just made sense... i'm not a golf snob but i am for anything that makes this game more enjoyable. currently playing the cobra t-rails but constantly living the range life... and looking at another set of TM Stealth 2 HD's. I can max out driver CHS around 112-114 but normally 104-108. i'm thinking about going with steel shafts "S" flex but i'm not sure because my hands would benefit from a shock dampening graphite shaft and learn to pick the ball more. but i digress....
I had a 2015 big bertha combo set for a bit. I took about a 4 year hiatus and upon returning the amount of offset got to be too much for my little brain standing over the ball. They were a great set though, went high and went far. I'm sure the HDs will help a lot of people
Surprised at some of the comments about these being ugly. Cleveland has set the standard in these types of irons in my opinion and I think these look and feel better.
This club looks like a P790 and the Cleveland HB’s had a baby. I play both and love them. I would love to see you compare this club vs the Cleveland HB’s.
I enjoy you honest incite of most peoples real needs when golfing. Possibly you could test the Takomo 101 irons to similar, game improvement and super game improvement irons to compare price and performance. Thank you
Id love a set of this. One of my favorite clubs is my Cleveland Niblick chipper, which is similar in theory and i have always said id love a full set of chipper shaped clubs. Id 1000% play a set of these
Agree 100% dropped long irons years ago. Gaming pxg 4&5 hybrids 6- gapw pxg xf irons callaway sure out sand wedge & ping chipr. Leave the ego in the clubhouse don’t make a difficult sport more difficult than it has to be
Maybe long irons, yes. I recently went to Apex Pro's and actually strike the ball better than GI as I feel I can cut through the turf and compress the ball. I stop it on the green more . But certainly a sweeping long iron shot I could see it in there around the Hybrid/7wood area
Another quality video. I met you at the Masters a few years ago coming out of the merchandise tent. Maybe see you there this year. Cheers from North Georgia, USA!
Problem why more people don’t use them is cause of ego and the looks in the bag. I’m currently a 7.3 hdcp but use to be much better years ago. College golf etc, so I’ve always leaned towards “traditional” looking irons. I’ve even had blades cause they look purrty but they sucked in the cold! I half wonder if the desire to get non-forgiving irons is because traditional golf never knew what game improvement irons is, so naturally good to great golfers will use “traditional” looking irons. Anyway, I’m 46 now and I’m strongly considering these for my 6 & 7 iron. ….but what would a person get for the 8-PW?
I asked you to review these a couple weeks ago. Very happy to see you get to them so soon. I will be checking these out along the with the Wilson, Cobra, and Cleveland super game improvement irons in a few weeks. I appreciate and value your opinion. Thank you. ⛳️
Just thought I'd mention this since Wilson is on your list. I recently bought a 6 hybrid kind of on a lark and chose the Wilson D9. I'm loving that club. It's as good as the Cobra Speedzone hybrids I already had and a 3rd the price. 72 dollars delivered with a custom KBS shaft and Golf Pride grip. It's a super hard deal to beat.
Hi Mark, have had Launchers in the bag ever since you first reviewed them. Thanks! Your review on this did not cover the draw bias much..I understand these are one of very few irons that have this built in. Did you have to fight it in your testing?
Have you tried/reviewed the Tour Edge Hot Launch line that has been in the market for awhile, and competes with these other companies. I have a set of E522 iron-woods and find them easy to hit and very reasonably priced here in the US. Thanks for the great reviews.
A comparison of high street clubs vs direct to consumer clubs would be great. Like TM, Callaway, Titleist vs Sub70 and Takomo etc. Price point is comically different and is it justified?
I bought an iron 7 health HD online but the seller didn't tell me that it need an adapter sleeve like you in the video. I am running around like crazy and nobody has one since taylormade has recently altered the demo sleeves. Are you able to help me or know where I can get one adapter? Thanks so much ❤️
If you like these irons I would suggest picking up a set of Taylormade Superlaunch Burner. Shape and idea looks to be the same and you'll save 700 dollars that you could use on a few lessons. Irons can only change so much
Yeah mark do a comparison from cheaper clubs i know it puts a lot of people off buying big brands even 2nd hand ones still stay pricey are we gaining anything by buying newer sets all the time rather than older branded????
The old blade player in me somewhat laughed at the look of the Stealth HD irons. But I was getting fitted for my Stealth2 2H and a friend of mine was with me. He has been playing for about a year and a half and is starting to look at replacing the beginner set of irons that he has been playing. He hit the Stealth HDs and loved them. I decided to hit them and, to be honest, they were pretty impressive. Yes they are funny looking. There is no doubt about it. I also hit ten straight seven iron shots withing three yards of each other. Shot shaping? Not too sure about that but you can't argue with the ability to put the ball exactly where you want to put it with those irons. I probably won't be replacing the P790s at this time but I am 55 and I think that these kinds of irons will end up going in the bag eventually. And I won't mind it.
Your AOA is in a good place Mark.. not sure wether or not you’ve tested this type of club with everyday golfers but have you found that really shallow or ‘sweepers’ struggle with fat shot with irons with massive soles like these?
I just got fitted for these clubs. I’m 53, and I said enough about ego, I’m tired of trying to muscle my shots down the fairway! I just want to have forgiveness! I’m a 13.4 handicap. These are the most forgiving cubs I’ve ever hit! I don’t care about looks. They are pure! I highly recommend them to anyone who wants forgiveness!
should all irons now come with actual lofts on the club as it seems there is no standard anything now . harder and harder to know what you have if you have multiple brands in the bag
Easy to hit. Forgiving. Versatile around the green. Can work the ball (somewhat). I still do not understand why even better players cannot get over the stigma of these clubhead designs and put them in their bag. BTW - the urethane insert concept was originally developed by Wilson(!), now popular in these other brands. It must work....
Golf clubs are expensive.... But there is one brand for sure that is trying to change that In My Opinion. PXG gives you super high end expensive clubs and then also the option of crazy affordable clubs that perform with mostly anything. Maybe some of these brands could take a page from their book. 🤔
I hit these clubs and played the Halos and they (the TMs) don't seem to do better. They aren't bad... I tend to think most golf clubs are fine, but if you look at the sole of the TM, it isn't wide like the clevelands or wilsons. About halfway back, you see how it angles up/away, so the actual wide sole (what interacts with the turf) isn't that much wider than a regular game improvement iron. The clevelands are 2-3 inches wide in the sole and have the rails so they plow through the turf and these TMs didn't even remotely feel the same. Again, I'm sure they are fine clubs but if someone is looking for that ultimate game improvement iron, having hit them (and gamed them) all, either the wilson launchpad 2 or the cleveland are better options. (in my humble opinion) To be candid, I don't understand why most golfers aren't gaming this kind of iron. If you are Tiger and shaping shots and all that, then sure... blades seem to work well, but if you aren't breaking 85, then that probably means you aren't hitting too many greens in regulation. This type of iron would only help a golfer do that more.
Actually, Maltby rated the HD at 973 and the Halos in the 800s. I think the MOI is higher on the HD and also the HD is not hollow like the Halos which have a horrible feel. imo.
I think the entire golfing community needs to recategorize iron sets and maybe only label clubs as game improvement and players clubs. Too many people automatically push away trying "super" game improvement irons when in fact they most likely need that style of clubs. IDK.
Looks - there is something not right in the proportions of the face to my eye. It is not a pretty club, not ugly in the Taylor Made MCGB level of ugliness but it is one of the worst looking irons of recent years. Ultra game improvement irons do not need to be that ugly as irons such as Cobra T Rails and similar from Cleveland and Wilson show. Against the looks, from the video, the sound is better than I expected, quite a lot better. Performance is good, price not unreasonable - especially as most people will not be buying a 7 iron set but a 6 or even a 5 iron set. Definitely worth a test
Its funny that word tradition innit. How many people have got a Superstroke grip on their putter? How many have a 460cc headed driver? How many have a hybrid? how many have a metal wood? But hang on, we should all be playing with persimmon woods, wilson blades up to a 1 iron and a bullseye putter. carrying a pencil bag with a gutta percha ball or a balata ball? Its interesting, what makes a thing acceptable? Why did woods die? well because pro's started using metal woods and manufacturers made them available to us. All things are funky till your mate in your weekly fourball who you have always outdriven with your persimmon suddenly knocks it 20 yards past you with his new Big Bertha metal.
I'm new to golf and the reason is mostly bc of what is said in the comments. What is wrong with the look? Why do people need to say something to someone that needs a club ljke this such as myself? It's a big fashion show on the course. Unless you're spending 1000ks on clubs and scottie are people not respected? It's stupid. Then people wonder why the sport is dying. I'll use whatever feels the best and not try to out do the Dr. Next to me spending every dime to say "look at me". If you have the money that's great but be respectful of the others just starting or buying what works for them. Even if a starter has an bad ass bag and clubs and just wants to play then cut them a break also.
You're the best reviewer and instructor on youtube, by a mile. I really value what you do.
4:55 Yes, you should do a video comparing "cheap" vs. expensive and I have a model comparison for you. I finally took your advise, and last month bought a set of Sub 70 model 799 irons. This is a direct competition to the Stealth HD, Cleveland Launcher XL Halo etc. The 799's cost me US$90 per iron or $630 for seven irons (custom build, delivery included, complimentary head covers, cap, and bag of tees). I love the results. Coming from a strong lofted cavity back, my 7-iron gained 25 more feet in height, descent angle improved to 45* from 40*, shots, have more spin and actually slightly more carry. Give Sub 70 799 a comparison test with "name-brand" hybrid-irons. Sub 70 has a dozen heads to choose from (pure blade to hybrid-irons) and many shaft options.
I really appreciate the lack of ego in your reviews. You are about helping people improve their game and remove the fluff and nonsense. Best in the business and most practical.
I'm thinking of buying these, I always used to joke about hybrid iron golfers based on the chunky launcher design but THESE, actually look ok as they are mostly silver so the size of them does not seem to offensive. I also play with a rain cover on my bag, so I'm not really flashing my clubs about to people.
I really want to get my game back in 2023, I'm a big believer in trying to fix things with hardware before you get involved in complex swing changes that are much harder for many golfers to adopt as we're not robots, or playing with the best fundamentals to begin with where we can just change something on a tangent.
interesting to see more irons look like the Cleveland Halo XL's and Wilson Launcher series as well. I have the Clevelands and love the flight and height that they allow me to get so much easier than what I had achieved with my standard irons I had. Lost some distance but accuracy is way up and consistency as well.
My 18 handicap wife got fitted for the HD irons and is looking forward to getting them but I agree with your assessment that maybe more of us should be playing them, after all the vast majority of us are playing for enjoyment, great honest review as always 👍
Yes, please can you do a comparison of the Cleveland vs Taylormade game improvement.
Was looking into cobra t rails, cleveland halos, and wilson launch pads. I'm sold. Great review.
i have difficulties with launch with my irons also. i am not a fan of the stronger lofts of most new iron sets. i've never been able to hit a 5 iron since a started playing golf in the 80's, and now an 8 iron has the same loft as 5 from way back then. i'm with others that if you don't have the speed and consistence of ball compression, you have to have more loft for launch, spin, and distance. i'm planning on going in for a fitting for my first ever "NEW" irons because not only do i want irons that feel and look good, but need to know about what shafts to use. and like others stated, these irons and other Super Game Improvements irons are on the radar. thanks for all the info you give to us players that just want to have fun while out playing!!
I agree that launch/loft stuff is so critical. Regardless of the set, I need to go to Hybrids about 24-25 degrees. So if that’s a 5 iron or 4 iron that I get rid of depends on the set, but I had to check/test. My old AP2s I carried a 27 degree 5 iron and new Cleveland XLs I stop at 26 degree 6 iron. I’m a 5 hcp and in my 50s and just don’t swing as fast as I used to so I got some more help and a lighter club and while I miss the looks/feel of my AP2s, I don’t miss the 130 gram shafts and thin shots in the cold. It’s just easier and I haven’t noticed any shots I need that I can’t hit because of the club. I’m glad I made the change and put my ego in check.
I play with Cleveland CBX irons and love them except I struggle to hit the 5 and 6 irons consistently. So I bought the Stealth HD 5 and 6 irons to replace them. They are lofted and lied very similar and shaft lengths are virtually the same. What a great decision this was. The Stealth HDs are so easy to hit and get in the air. Best purchase I’ve made for my bag. I like the way they look and don’t give a monkeys what others think. Using these has knocked 5 shots off my score. Happy days. Oh forgot to add I use a Cleveland HB 4 iron which fits in nicely. That’s very easy to hit too.
Would love to see the launcher XL halo vs these. Like in the next 2 weeks before I buy a set.
The Halos are Hollow and lack a lot of feel for close to the green. That is why I got rid of them. The HD is a cavity back and has more feel for these feel shots.
Just got a set a few weeks ago and absolutely love them. They look good and my 5 iron goes 30 yards further than my previous set and admittedly I used to not hit my irons far, not anymore
Great video Mark I've got the Stealth irons in a 120g kbs tour stiff shaft and I love them.
Such a cracking iron to hit.
Will never change them.
Wouldn't say I wouldn't ever change them but I have them and honestly they are so good. I'm a 11HC who struggles with distance but launches the ball pretty high (Basically I add loft for the most part) they perform well and a big plus to them is that they look great. Think I have the 100g KBS Tour Lite shafts.
HD are for me - 100 % agree with you on the tech, and I am OK with the looks. If you can amortize the costs which are eye watering as a one off cost, then a set like this will last you forever, say 8 years min thats about 120 per year 10 pound a month. Trade in my callaways to golf bidder, don't buy a new driver if you don't really need one- then it makes perfect sense ( as I talk to myself 🙂) and I am in.....! You could do a video about when you should really consider changing a driver that you are actually happy with?
You are right we should use these! I don’t have the talent of pro golfer or one of you guys, they have exceptional hand eye co-ordination. I have four in my bag 2,3,4,5 Cleveland’s they are easy to hit, and give confidence! Cleveland’s Launchers are a better bargain! Thanks for the review!
I used to slice every iron shot and struggled getting the ball airborn, went to Stealth HD and I now hot pin straight moon shots. My 7 iron goes 145-150, 6 iron 155-160 and 5 iron about 180. Perfect distances when I factor in myb3 hybrid I can worknfrom 180-200, 3 wood 210-220 and driver 240ish. I game Ping G425 driver and 3 wood and a Big Bertha 3 hybrid, which is the easiest hybrid to hit.
When talking about GI clubs. Everyone talks about "who this club can help" but I'd be interested in your thoughts on who the Clevelands Launchers and the Stealth HDs etc. can hurt... would it hurt a single digit handicapper to play with these clubs? Would their scores actually increase as a result of putting these in their bag? That would be a great test. I'd love to see you play a round with two bags one MB and one HD to see which round scores better.
You've sold me on chunky clubs, I traded in for these HDs. I was surprised to be strongly recommended into something like stealth, srixon, and paradym. I'm +30 hc, lol I need all the help I can get and I bought what I hit best. Thanks for the videos!
I recently acquired a Wilson version of this club. It has quickly become my go to when I am faced with a difficult approach shot. If I grip up it is a 9 and down it hits more like a pitching wedge distance. You only need one of these in your bag but it is worth it.
I love my hybrids. Starting from 3-7i hybrid clubs Cobra F Max. I am finally ready for a proper fitting and looking at these or Halo's/T-Rails. I have no ego's just want consistency on the course.
If I was in the market I would definitely look at these. That said, one thing that's disappointing with these and many others is that it can be hard to get them in smaller sets, like 6-PW. The player that needs help probably hits hybrids and maybe longer fairway woods (I have 4 and 5 hybrids and and 5 and 7 woods) and don't need the longer irons.
Manufacturers should allow irons to be purchased individually. Many golfers are wanting to have more hybrids in their bags or to blend two different sets of irons.
As soon as I saw the soles I knew you’d love this. It’s interesting how the marketing always get in the way of TM, especially when you give the actual equipment fair and good reviews. Maybe I’m just glad they’ve stopped with the “Twist Face” marketing. LOL. Thanks Mark! Maybe I’ll whack them around if I see them in the shop.
I'm a scratch player and I love chipping around the green with a 52-degree wedge - as such, I will be ordering a custom wide-soled Cleveland Full-Faced CBX2 52, with a heavier shaft because of exactly what you pointed out in this video about having a cheat club in the bag for not fun lies around the green. So many more people should do this - like 98% more. I'm scratch & I'm doing this - every person I play with doesn't but should.
Changed to this method and got rid of a club (3 wedges now). And I’m SO much more consistent. I have 58 for flop or quicker stopping power, but my 54 or 46 are what I’m usually going for 👍🏼
@@markaochoa2017 I've gone 46/52/58 from 48/52/56/60. It's made my short game much better, especially bunker and shortsiding. Always over thought things. Now have one choice.
Agreed. I’m a 3 handicap and I have 3 cbx 2 wedges in my bag. Yet to see any downside compared to the wedges I’m “supposed” to play
Agreed, I would want a cbx in the gap wedge.
Just an update, I placed the order for the CBX 2 Fullface 54 (because it has the C-grind & 12-degrees - the 52 is a full grind without heel relief) and ordered it with a heavier S400 132gram shaft (the stock shaft is the lighter 115gram spinner) to be bent to 53, 1-flat, and 1/4" longer - with my favorite Align Midsized +4 grip. The heel section of the sole is almost pro-thin and the wider section is in the toe. A perfect greenside club.
Great video mark just received my stealth hd irons 7 to gw great clubs easy to hit I carry a 28 deg hybrid a nine and five woods and 12 deg driver so not the usual set keep the great content coming 👍
MC content knocking it out the park for the past few months IMO. Don’t know if it’s intentional or not but he seems more positive and higher energy. Bit less of the negative stuff and it’s really refreshing.
I currently have the stealth irons and LOVE them...i have the red ventus shafts....butter...cheers from Canada
Absolutely please try the 'cheaper' ranges. I reckon my Wilson CB's can compete with any of the big boys, and then you can throw in the DTC boys (Sub70, Takomo etc)
i took your advice a couple of years ago because it just made sense... i'm not a golf snob but i am for anything that makes this game more enjoyable. currently playing the cobra t-rails but constantly living the range life... and looking at another set of TM Stealth 2 HD's. I can max out driver CHS around 112-114 but normally 104-108. i'm thinking about going with steel shafts "S" flex but i'm not sure because my hands would benefit from a shock dampening graphite shaft and learn to pick the ball more. but i digress....
Considering buying a 4i in the Stealth HD to replace my 5i (nearly same lofts) with something a bit easier to hit before I get to my woods.
I had a 2015 big bertha combo set for a bit. I took about a 4 year hiatus and upon returning the amount of offset got to be too much for my little brain standing over the ball. They were a great set though, went high and went far. I'm sure the HDs will help a lot of people
Surprised at some of the comments about these being ugly. Cleveland has set the standard in these types of irons in my opinion and I think these look and feel better.
This club looks like a P790 and the Cleveland HB’s had a baby. I play both and love them. I would love to see you compare this club vs the Cleveland HB’s.
I enjoy you honest incite of most peoples real needs when golfing. Possibly you could test the Takomo 101 irons to similar, game improvement and super game improvement irons to compare price and performance. Thank you
Id love a set of this. One of my favorite clubs is my Cleveland Niblick chipper, which is similar in theory and i have always said id love a full set of chipper shaped clubs.
Id 1000% play a set of these
Agree 100% dropped long irons years ago. Gaming pxg 4&5 hybrids 6- gapw pxg xf irons callaway sure out sand wedge & ping chipr. Leave the ego in the clubhouse don’t make a difficult sport more difficult than it has to be
Maybe long irons, yes. I recently went to Apex Pro's and actually strike the ball better than GI as I feel I can cut through the turf and compress the ball. I stop it on the green more . But certainly a sweeping long iron shot I could see it in there around the Hybrid/7wood area
I use Titliest T400 similar concept, great club good turf interaction , confidence inspiring, look quality. What’s not to like ?
Another quality video. I met you at the Masters a few years ago coming out of the merchandise tent. Maybe see you there this year. Cheers from North Georgia, USA!
Those are excellent irons but OMG so expensive.
I love my Cleveland launcher turbos. Couldn't play without them.
I purchased 5 and 6 iron and tried it today , not only its easy to hit it is looong!
Hi Mark, can you compare with JPX923 hot metal HL please👍
I use the original Wilson LaunchPads and I love them.
I would play them, I love Taylormade clubs anyway, all my woods and traditional hybrids are SIM 2s My irons are the Cleveland HB Turbos.
Thanks for the review of the HDs. How do they compare with the Halos or Launchpads?
Great review as always!
Thanks for another great video. Can you add the Tour Edge iron wood into the comparison pot? Thanks.
The arrival of the mini hybrid!! 💪
What GI clubs do you use then? I am really happy to see so many of these being produced. I will go for a super GI clubs next year when I invest
I currently game the 2022 stealth irons and love the sound, feel and playability of them,as for the HD set just by looks alone I would not use them
Problem why more people don’t use them is cause of ego and the looks in the bag. I’m currently a 7.3 hdcp but use to be much better years ago. College golf etc, so I’ve always leaned towards “traditional” looking irons. I’ve even had blades cause they look purrty but they sucked in the cold! I half wonder if the desire to get non-forgiving irons is because traditional golf never knew what game improvement irons is, so naturally good to great golfers will use “traditional” looking irons. Anyway, I’m 46 now and I’m strongly considering these for my 6 & 7 iron. ….but what would a person get for the 8-PW?
I asked you to review these a couple weeks ago. Very happy to see you get to them so soon. I will be checking these out along the with the Wilson, Cobra, and Cleveland super game improvement irons in a few weeks. I appreciate and value your opinion. Thank you. ⛳️
Just thought I'd mention this since Wilson is on your list. I recently bought a 6 hybrid kind of on a lark and chose the Wilson D9. I'm loving that club. It's as good as the Cobra Speedzone hybrids I already had and a 3rd the price. 72 dollars delivered with a custom KBS shaft and Golf Pride grip. It's a super hard deal to beat.
@@holmer9413 Thanks for the tip. I’ll check those out. I hear they are very long hitting irons.
Hi Mark, have had Launchers in the bag ever since you first reviewed them. Thanks! Your review on this did not cover the draw bias much..I understand these are one of very few irons that have this built in. Did you have to fight it in your testing?
Unless you draw naturally I didn't notice any significant draw bias.
Have you tried/reviewed the Tour Edge Hot Launch line that has been in the market for awhile, and competes with these other companies. I have a set of E522 iron-woods and find them easy to hit and very reasonably priced here in the US. Thanks for the great reviews.
Mark always love your reviews etc, would love you to compare Takomo irons to TaylorMade etc that would be interesting 🤔👍
reminds me of the Browning 440 which I love 🙂 but are fugly
I wish they would do away with the speed pockets or stop with the pw. There is a distance gap in the 7 and 8. Never been a fan of TM since the R9.
A comparison of high street clubs vs direct to consumer clubs would be great. Like TM, Callaway, Titleist vs Sub70 and Takomo etc. Price point is comically different and is it justified?
I’d definitely love to see a sensible cheap v expensive comparison. Benross Aero X v these or Wilson D9’s v these.
Would like to see you test some DTC against OEM.
Just ordered these in a custom fit went in expecting to get Callaway "Big Bertha or Apex DCB" however these were the ones for me....😅
I bought an iron 7 health HD online but the seller didn't tell me that it need an adapter sleeve like you in the video. I am running around like crazy and nobody has one since taylormade has recently altered the demo sleeves. Are you able to help me or know where I can get one adapter? Thanks so much ❤️
Is that why his 7 iron looks different than the retail version I bought?
If you like these irons I would suggest picking up a set of Taylormade Superlaunch Burner. Shape and idea looks to be the same and you'll save 700 dollars that you could use on a few lessons. Irons can only change so much
Yes we should compare expensive and budget clubs
When you test clubs do you have them adjusted for length and lie?
Yep
Yeah mark do a comparison from cheaper clubs i know it puts a lot of people off buying big brands even 2nd hand ones still stay pricey are we gaining anything by buying newer sets all the time rather than older branded????
How about comparing the Tour Edge iron-wood irons to the Taylor made?
Mark, Isn't the HD more like the Cleveland Launcher. possibly a good comparo?
Hi Mark do you think taylormade will bring a new version out on early 24
The old blade player in me somewhat laughed at the look of the Stealth HD irons.
But I was getting fitted for my Stealth2 2H and a friend of mine was with me. He has been playing for about a year and a half and is starting to look at replacing the beginner set of irons that he has been playing. He hit the Stealth HDs and loved them.
I decided to hit them and, to be honest, they were pretty impressive. Yes they are funny looking. There is no doubt about it. I also hit ten straight seven iron shots withing three yards of each other. Shot shaping? Not too sure about that but you can't argue with the ability to put the ball exactly where you want to put it with those irons. I probably won't be replacing the P790s at this time but I am 55 and I think that these kinds of irons will end up going in the bag eventually.
And I won't mind it.
8:38 “getting it up, no problem” oh me oh my 😏
Would like to see price/performance comparison test.
Your AOA is in a good place Mark.. not sure wether or not you’ve tested this type of club with everyday golfers but have you found that really shallow or ‘sweepers’ struggle with fat shot with irons with massive soles like these?
I just got fitted for these clubs. I’m 53, and I said enough about ego, I’m tired of trying to muscle my shots down the fairway! I just want to have forgiveness! I’m a 13.4 handicap. These are the most forgiving cubs I’ve ever hit! I don’t care about looks. They are pure! I highly recommend them to anyone who wants forgiveness!
I just bought a set and taking them out today.Hoping for same result
I just bought a 6 club set for 350 on ebay. Can’t wait for them to get here!
Cheap club comparison would be great!
Mark what are these like out of the rough on edge of fairways say 150 yards out grass all around it?
Fine even good
Love this. I’m always told to get bigger shoulders and hip turn so get the club so so flat. Going to give your advice a go🏌🏻👏
should all irons now come with actual lofts on the club as it seems there is no standard anything now . harder and harder to know what you have if you have multiple brands in the bag
Remind me of the ping G2 HL irons
Is there a direct to consumer brand making similar irons?
Sub 70 make the 799's.
Got that Benross Quadspeed look about them.
How do these compare to the ZX4?
Easy to hit. Forgiving. Versatile around the green. Can work the ball (somewhat). I still do not understand why even better players cannot get over the stigma of these clubhead designs and put them in their bag. BTW - the urethane insert concept was originally developed by Wilson(!), now popular in these other brands. It must work....
Sounds to me like more people need to be using the HDs, but let Ego get in the way.
Remind me of the old time lynx clubs except a bit thicker..
my left ear enjoyed this
Golf clubs are expensive.... But there is one brand for sure that is trying to change that In My Opinion. PXG gives you super high end expensive clubs and then also the option of crazy affordable clubs that perform with mostly anything. Maybe some of these brands could take a page from their book. 🤔
I hit these clubs and played the Halos and they (the TMs) don't seem to do better. They aren't bad... I tend to think most golf clubs are fine, but if you look at the sole of the TM, it isn't wide like the clevelands or wilsons. About halfway back, you see how it angles up/away, so the actual wide sole (what interacts with the turf) isn't that much wider than a regular game improvement iron.
The clevelands are 2-3 inches wide in the sole and have the rails so they plow through the turf and these TMs didn't even remotely feel the same. Again, I'm sure they are fine clubs but if someone is looking for that ultimate game improvement iron, having hit them (and gamed them) all, either the wilson launchpad 2 or the cleveland are better options. (in my humble opinion)
To be candid, I don't understand why most golfers aren't gaming this kind of iron. If you are Tiger and shaping shots and all that, then sure... blades seem to work well, but if you aren't breaking 85, then that probably means you aren't hitting too many greens in regulation. This type of iron would only help a golfer do that more.
Actually, Maltby rated the HD at 973 and the Halos in the 800s. I think the MOI is higher on the HD and also the HD is not hollow like the Halos which have a horrible feel. imo.
They failed to realise some people want these to avoid digging in the turf, not just to launch the ball higher
just bought myself some sub 70"s 799's
Could a single figure handicapper use these
I think the entire golfing community needs to recategorize iron sets and maybe only label clubs as game improvement and players clubs. Too many people automatically push away trying "super" game improvement irons when in fact they most likely need that style of clubs. IDK.
Seem similar to the PXG 0211Z irons
My only concern is the shallow faces; e.g., do high strikes reduce distance a lot?
Looks - there is something not right in the proportions of the face to my eye. It is not a pretty club, not ugly in the Taylor Made MCGB level of ugliness but it is one of the worst looking irons of recent years. Ultra game improvement irons do not need to be that ugly as irons such as Cobra T Rails and similar from Cleveland and Wilson show.
Against the looks, from the video, the sound is better than I expected, quite a lot better.
Performance is good, price not unreasonable - especially as most people will not be buying a 7 iron set but a 6 or even a 5 iron set. Definitely worth a test
“I like the way you work it (from that muddy lie) no diggedy” 😅
Like it. Haha 😂
Forgive me, did I miss something?... what does 'HD' stand for? - thanks...
Its funny that word tradition innit. How many people have got a Superstroke grip on their putter? How many have a 460cc headed driver? How many have a hybrid? how many have a metal wood? But hang on, we should all be playing with persimmon woods, wilson blades up to a 1 iron and a bullseye putter. carrying a pencil bag with a gutta percha ball or a balata ball? Its interesting, what makes a thing acceptable? Why did woods die? well because pro's started using metal woods and manufacturers made them available to us. All things are funky till your mate in your weekly fourball who you have always outdriven with your persimmon suddenly knocks it 20 yards past you with his new Big Bertha metal.
I’d save myself a few hundred bucks and game an older set of ping g irons.
I'm embarrassed about how good these are 😂😂😂
I'm new to golf and the reason is mostly bc of what is said in the comments. What is wrong with the look? Why do people need to say something to someone that needs a club ljke this such as myself? It's a big fashion show on the course. Unless you're spending 1000ks on clubs and scottie are people not respected? It's stupid. Then people wonder why the sport is dying. I'll use whatever feels the best and not try to out do the Dr. Next to me spending every dime to say "look at me". If you have the money that's great but be respectful of the others just starting or buying what works for them. Even if a starter has an bad ass bag and clubs and just wants to play then cut them a break also.