I've had these irons since May, and had to take two months off due to a recurring right-thumb injury. Still, I've had three good months of practice and play and share my experience.

 

I play 4-SW, all with Wishon stepless steel shafts. Prior set was Mizuno JPX 850 Forged, prior to that JPX 800 Pros, prior to that MP-57s... Mizuno stuff. You get the idea.

 

A summary of my experience is this - I LOVE hitting my 4i. I used to feel a little dread being too close to hit hybrid, but too far to hit something like a 6i. Now, it just doesn't matter. Every iron is my favorite iron. I cannot imagine ever going back to variable length clubs.

 

The long version:

 

I fooled around with True-Length-Technology back when that was a thing, because the idea of having irons that "felt the same" was very appealing to me. With TLT versus simply MOI-matching a variable length set, the stance was closer with each club since the length variation was reduced. I went further and did some trigonometry to calculate what lie angle each club had to have in order to create the exact same hand-height at address - an effort to create the exact same stance with every club. This sort of worked, but it required SIGNIFICANT lie bending in some of the clubs, and builders get anxious bending an expensive iron head 5+ degrees.

 

So, when single length came back, it was a "duh" for me. Makes perfect sense. The only plausible reason not to go SL was the swing speed required to elevate the low-loft irons, and the Sterling irons solved that with their hi-COR faces in the 4-7i. It absolutely helps. You still need some power to elevate the 4/5i, but not near as much as you would without the hi-COR faces.

 

I can't overstate the value in having every iron play from an identical stance and require an identical swing. My 4i swing is my SW swing is my 6i swing is my 9i swing, etc. The different technology in the low irons takes care of everything else. The confidence this built seemed to free up my swing even more, and I'm hitting EVERY iron better, longer, more consistently than I ever have. Yardage gaps are predictable, consistent, and desirable.

 

Two highlights from this weekend -

 

on a 530yd par 5, I'm 220 out for my second shot. Water left, and yucky lies to the right of the elevated green. In the past, since I'm too far out to hit hybrid and I didn't feel very good about my ability to hit my 4i that far very accurately, I'm laying up to a safe distance and playing for birdie. Now? Nah. With a L-R crosswind and hitting from an uphill lie, I mash a 5i that is in the air for what felt like ten seconds and ends up 8 feet from the hole. Tap in birdie.

 

Later, on a 370yd par 4, there's a nice tailwind. Driver would be too much if it isn't perfect, and 270 is the edge of the fat safe spot. I could reach 270 with my hybrid in this tailwind. A free, pure 4i swing (which is, fortunately, a free pure every-iron swing) and I'm 264 yards down the pipe. Perfect.

 

The high-loft irons and wedges do go HIGH, probably due to being longer than normal, but this has not bothered me at all. I can hit low shots or knockdown shots as required, but I am happy to let the ball soar even in TX winds. In the past I would never hit a full SW from the fairway - too afraid of catching it thin. Now? You can imagine. It's my 4i swing, and I love hitting my 4i.

 

I'll touch on the feel of these clubs as well - it's fantastic. The high loft irons are soft, and the sound with a pure hit is a wonderful "thwack" sensation. The low loft irons sound more like a hybrid or even a 3W due to their hi-COR face - it's a more noticeable "tink," but it is at least as pleasing if not moreso. The contact is so soft and satisfying, and the ball is GONE. Being able to hit a ball that far with a 37" club is something else.

 

Honestly, I think every single golfer would benefit from these irons. If you don't have the swing speed to play the 4i, or the 5i (there is a hybrid 5 available) then you probably can't play your variable length 4i or 5i effectively either. You're simply introducing fewer variables to your iron game. Sure, if you practice enough you can get very good with variable length irons - but even great mathematicians will tell you that equations are easier to solve with fewer variables and golf has enough variables as is. The few "but what about this?" arguments for single length have been accounted for in the Sterling set.

 

I cannot imagine why I'd ever play another set of irons.

    Nice review. I have the Sterling 5, 6, 7 and 8 iron heads ordered. I'll order the rest when my paypal account has adequate funds. Anyway, I'm wondering what shafts to use. I'll probably go with steel with foam inserts but would like to find some heavy graphite shafts due to elbow tendonitis.

      govols You can buy the heads alone? I thought you could only get Sterling through Wishon clubfitters.

          rsvman This is probably true. However, there's a guy on ebay right now selling the heads or entire sets of heads brand new for VERY good prices, about 40 dollars per head.

          Probably breaking the Wishon conduct agreement, but it's possible the agreement changed since Wishon is now being managed by Diamond Golf (I think?) out of the UK.

            I signed up with Wishon years ago when I built clubs for a hobby. I can still buy from them. It's probably more difficult to sign up with them now...dunno. All their stuff is now shipped from the UK I think. My sterling heads are coming from the UK.

            I’ve been playing my Sterlings for a couple months now. Yes, they do hang in the air for an eternity sometimes, but even in stiff winds they never wander offline, and even misfits go farther than variable length irons. Mine just want to go straight, it’s almost like cheating. I’m putting the 4 and 5 irons back in the bag, and playing them til I force myself to LEARN to hit them again. Looking down at shorter long irons and longer short irons is kinda shocking, it takes time to adjust and trust. Now if I could only find fairway woods that were so forgiving. Maybe Wishon’s upcoming SL fairways will be that magic pill..........

              Great review. I find the Sterlings really attractive, but they are 'spensive. I think the Pinhawks are a great option if money is an issue.

              As for TLT, what do you mean you "fooled around with it when it was a thing"? Isn't it still a thing? I have read quite a bit about it and it seems to get alot of good feedback. Did you do an actual TLT fitting, or was this a homegrown effort using trigonometry? I only ask because I thought the whole rationale behind TLT was to create the same hand height at address, so I am curious to know why you had to do further calculations and bending to achieve this.

                kelco9 With single length options available I can't imagine why anyone would TLT anymore. It was an in-house effort, I did not do a fitting. Found my ideal club, built around that using TLT to establish proper heft, then used the trig to find the matching lie angles.

                It was very difficult adjusting an existing VL set that way, as it goofs with the weight of the club and everything. Would be similar (though not as extreme) to trying to retrofit a VL set to single length.

                    ZWExton Thanks for the response. I played quite a few years with SL and have played both 1Irons and Pinhawks. I like the SL concept, but I don't think it is a panacea. There are alot of people out there, myself included, who are not entirely comfortable with the SL concept, but who think that the traditional VL length differentials do not make sense. TLT, I believe, may offer a "happy medium." Dan says that he has built MOI matched sets of clubs that have about an 1" difference between longest and shortest club. That sounds interesting to me.

                        I don’t play with anyone that hits 265 yard four irons. My question would be can the guy that hits a 175 yard 4 iron use these clubs with shorter shafts and lower lofts hit them at least as far and high.

                        When I was hitting SL clubs, my 4-iron was about the same as with a VL set -- about 193-195. However, if you are only hitting your 4-iron 175, I don't think you should be carrying a 4-iron of any length. That person doesn't really have the swing speed to make it effective. That's when hybrids really shine (even though I haven't found a hybrid that has ever shone for me, so as my swing speed has been dropping with age (I'm 55), I have found myself in a increasingly difficult place and I'm afraid it is going to get worse).

                          you can undertip trim the long iron shafts to increase their tip flex and launch will be higher

                            kelco9 However, if you are only hitting your 4-iron 175, I don't think you should be carrying a 4-iron of any length. That person doesn't really have the swing speed to make it effective.

                            Not a fair evaluation. That would be like saying if a person can only hit their SW 105, they should not have one. Or a 7i 145. etc........

                            Allowing 10 yds. per club, that person's 6i would be around 155. That was the max for me wayyyyy back when. (or 8 yrs. ago) I once hit a 3i 182 and nearly pissed myself!!

                            My grandson can hit his 8i @ 200. I can hit mine (maybe) 125. I do carry hybrids. For MY specific yardages. And none of those yardages go up to 175. That would be my FW club.

                            I should quit, eh????

                            Thank You for the advice, but I'll carry any damn club I desire. And hit it as far as I possibly can.(on occasion)

                                kelco9 What do you think that 1/8th of an inch between clubs does for you? Is it a mental/confidence thing?

                                    ZWExton Feel any difference between your 6-iron and 8-iron in a tradition VL set of clubs? I assume you do. That's 1 inch. So, the difference between your long irons and your short irons in a TLT build like I am describing would be like having the difference between your long and short irons feel like the difference between your 6-iron and 8-iron. That will suit many people. I won't bother expanding on that concept here -- go read just about any thread on SL clubs and you'll get the idea. (Hint: There are numerous posts on just about every one of those threads from people who don't want to hit their long irons at 8-iron length, and the discussion almost invariably moves toward a two-length set and often evolves into a discussion of a set of clubs that just doesn't have as much difference between the long- and short-irons.)

                                    EDIT: BTW, in your original message are you talking about doing an MOI build, rather than a TLT build? I don't see how you used TLT to "establish proper heft." TLT is not related to heft, but rather guides club length progression (according to a series of TLT charts) that allows the the body to stay in a single athletic position for all clubs, rather than having to adjust to different positions, which the tradition 1/2" length progression demands.

                                      Par4QC I don't recall asking or suggesting you quit, but do as you wish. While you're at it, feel free to hit your 3-wood off the deck; I really don't give a sh-t. (BTW, your comparison to a 105 yard SW doesn't make sense at all.)

                                        I think the lack of loft in traditional length irons has as much or more to do with players inability to hit them than the added length. This whole no long iron hybrid thing started when manufacturers started making standard irons longer and flatter . If you can hit a modern five iron you are hitting a four iron the number just changed to sell to players ego.

                                          Tinker Sterling lofts are not necessarily comparable either - due to the lengths being beings same, loft gaps are stretched quite a bit more for proper gapping. The 4i is 19*! You can imagine why it is not recommended for golfers who lack significant power. Originally I don't believe there even was a 4i, just a 5i and 5h. I am fortunate to be young and strong.

                                          I actually got a 5h and 6i-SW set to transition my wife to. The 4i would be about as effective as a putter for her.

                                              19 is a one iron. All hybrids are is long irons with wide soles and a crown to cover the cavity. The lower center of gravity helps get the ball up but the wide sole and bulky head limit shot making ability.

                                                Tinker Indeed. I'd prefer that my irons have lofts on the bottom, but I guess. 4 5 6 is simpler in that I know my 4 goes a little farther and a little lower than my 5, my 6 goes a little shorter and a little higher, etc.

                                                When people ask me what club I hit on a hole I find it annoying - what difference could it make to them? My 8 probably isn't your 8, and you are not me.