So, if you saw my other thread, my Maltby STi2 set had not yielded any great scores in 7 months of play, so I've been on the prowl for new irons. Other Maltby, Sub70, Hogans were all on my list. Took advantage of the $20 Hogan demo program, and they sent 4 clubs to test:
VKTR+ 4 hybrid, UiHi 4 long iron, PTX Pro 7 iron and Icon 7 iron all have the Recoil stiff shafts.
First off, one thing was obvious. The Icon may be the best looking iron head I have ever seen. Stunning.
I went for range session #2 today, and as luck would have it, my range stall was adjacent to the Srixon demo day stall! Woo hoo! Got to try out their ZX5, ZX7 and Z-forged irons.
Odd observances: So, the Maltby STi2 are the cheap $20 head from Maltby. Size - above avg but not enormous. The Hogans and Srixon heads are all leaning to the "Player's" side, so not large either. Shockingly, the STi2 was pretty much the same size as all the others. Most shocking, the actual hitting area on the Hogan was larger than the STi2. I'd even say significantly noticeable. The Hogans just have less non-grooved area, which makes them look smaller than they actually are.
Day 1 with the Hogans was not impressive, Day 2 was completely different. Feel was much better. But one thing is obvious, I do not get more distance with the 80 gram recoil shaft. And I have a tendency to flare to the right and short. Hogan was supposed to send me one more 7i with the KBS Tour V 110 shaft but forgot to put it in the box. If I was still a multiple time per week player, I'd be all over those Icons. But as it is today, I love the looks, but the performance was good but nothing to make me change.
The Srixons were outstanding. Modus120 stiff, which I had with a set of Homna irons that I liked, and those shafts once again felt and performed much better than I expected from steel. The ZX7 irons were stellar. Might have to look for these or some Z785s.
Rankings
Looks: Icon, Z-Forged, PTX Pro, ZX7, ZX5, STi2
Feel: Icon, Z-Forged, STi2, ZX7, ZX5, PTX Pro*
Distance: STi2, ZX7, ZX5, PTX Pro, Icon
Forgiveness: STi2, ZX7, PTX Pro, ZX5, Icon
As luck would have it, one of two "greens" at the range was exactly at 7i distance, so after warming up, I took 10 shots at the green with each.
Accuracy (green hit): STi2 9, ZX7 8, ZX5 6, Icon 6, PTX 4
Yep, the STi2 that I complained about outperformed everything except the ZX7. I had the STi2s built at 1* upright based on a couple of fittings over the years to offset the power fade. But what I am realizing is that 90% of my misses are left and straight.
So now I am looking for a used ZX7 or Z785 at my specs, or maybe even ordering a $199 set of STi2 done at 1* flat lie.
New Sub70 putter should arrive in a couple of hours. Glad all my putting problems are a thing of the past!
