New Level Appreciation Thread

[Sam217]

TC 480s are 95 bucks a club right now. Ping and Callaway players irons are 215 plus per club...

[mws82]

On 11/11/2024 at 6:17 PM, Sam217 said:

TC 480s are 95 bucks a club right now. Ping and Callaway players irons are 215 plus per club...

Makes it an easy decision doesn’t it. 

[Sam217]

31 minutes ago, mws82 said:

Makes it an easy decision doesn’t it. 

Makes you wonder like what the heck are we paying for in these brand name clubs.

[mws82]

3 hours ago, Sam217 said:

Makes you wonder like what the heck are we paying for in these brand name clubs.

Marketing and professional tour players contracts 

[mws82]

If Steven Alker trusts New Level clubs and has made 9 million since switching to them. That makes a lot of people who want to dog DTC or NL look foolish imo. 

[dmeeksDC]

23 minutes ago, mws82 said:

If Steven Alker trusts New Level clubs and has made 9 million since switching to them. That makes a lot of people who want to dog DTC or NL look foolish imo. 

No doubt. The irons perform really well and they also feel great and are high quality. Alker has shown the world what they can do. 
 

Anyone know if Ryan Moore still had those New Level prototypes in the bag in Bermuda over the weekend? I believe they are stamped 702 Forged. I saw he had a top 25 finish. 

[this_is_golf]

Those 480 DBs are gorgeous. Is that considered their “players distance” iron?

[artica]

13 hours ago, this_is_golf said:

Those 480 DBs are gorgeous. Is that considered their “players distance” iron?

No, they are not a distance iron. It’s a good question though, they resemble a P770 but without the tec and hollow body. 
 

On a separate note, anyone have a NLU-01 21° they want to sell cheap? 🙂

[GHINandDiet]

3 hours ago, artica said:

No, they are not a distance iron. It’s a good question though, they resemble a P770 but without the tec and hollow body. 
 

On a separate note, anyone have a NLU-01 21° they want to sell cheap? 🙂

 

How cheap are you looking for? A brand new NLU is only $110 on their website right now, lol

[artica]

$1? 

Yeah really good price

[GDB67]

Great sales on their website 

[Ca3l]

Can anyone compare the NL SPN wedge options (SS, VS, FF) against some better known options as far as grinds go? Like is SS = Vokey F grind, VS closer to an M grind, and FF like an A grind?

 

edit: also curious about 480TC comparisons if anyone has those. Most recent experience is with apex cb 24 and ping blueprint s/t

Edited November 21, 2024 by Ca3l

[pjc]

On 11/18/2024 at 6:57 PM, dmeeksDC said:

No doubt. The irons perform really well and they also feel great and are high quality. Alker has shown the world what they can do. 
 

Anyone know if Ryan Moore still had those New Level prototypes in the bag in Bermuda over the weekend? I believe they are stamped 702 Forged. I saw he had a top 25 finish. 

The answer is yes he did.  In fact I went through all of the pics and there were a couple that showed that thin undercut and the tungsten plug on the toe just like the previous or first pics that showed up.

Sorry, the pics are here toward the bottom at the RSM current tournament, so I assume they were with him last week as well.

 

Edited November 21, 2024 by pjc

[Sam217]

2 hours ago, Ca3l said:

Can anyone compare the NL SPN wedge options (SS, VS, FF) against some better known options as far as grinds go? Like is SS = Vokey F grind, VS closer to an M grind, and FF like an A grind?

 

edit: also curious about 480TC comparisons if anyone has those. Most recent experience is with apex cb 24 and ping blueprint s/t

The SS is less real estate front to back as in a bit more narrow the the vokey F and it also has leading edge relief. It's more similar to their irons than any vokey imo.

[aceofclubs]

Anyone else think the 480 DB short irons are nearing “shovel” territory?

 

The 5, 6 & 7 irons look about perfect, then the 8, 9 & PW look like disproportionately larger. 

[dmeeksDC]

14 hours ago, aceofclubs said:

Anyone else think the 480 DB short irons are nearing “shovel” territory?

 

The 5, 6 & 7 irons look about perfect, then the 8, 9 & PW look like disproportionately larger. 

The DB has a longer blade length for forgiveness and that may not suit everyone’s eye in the scoring clubs. Others won’t notice at all or may see it really helps them. 
 

Combos are easy with this lineup. I played the 480 TC in long irons and 480 MC in the scoring irons. The TC is 10 percent smaller than the DB and the MC is noticeably smaller than the TC. You could go with one of them in a wedge and see how you like it and use your DB as a practice club. 
 

There are a lot of irons that can look biggish in the scoring irons. To me the ZX7 looks that way (it looks big all around to me). It is just a preference and not all see them that way. But I did like the 480 MC 9 and PW. They are true muscle cavities. I did not think I could handle them in the long irons!

[Sam217]

DmeeksDC, I see you have the blueprint S. How do those compare to the 480 TCs for you? Had my eye on BPS for a while and have the TCs.

[dmeeksDC]

20 hours ago, Sam217 said:

DmeeksDC, I see you have the blueprint S. How do those compare to the 480 TCs for you? Had my eye on BPS for a while and have the TCs.

Great question. I think if you can play one you can play the other. They are comparable in how they play. New Level costs a whole lot less. 

 

Here is my summary:

1 TC is slightly larger profile, has less bounce but a slightly wider sole, so probably that increases “effective bounce” a little. 
 

2. Blueprint S is a little sleeker overall and will look smaller from address. Has more bounce but is not a high bounce iron. Sole is a little narrower. Blueprint sits between the 480TC and 480MC (another great head.)
 

3. Forgiveness on mishits is pretty even to me. I don’t notice any big difference there. If your misses are toe-heel the TC gives a little more room that way. I do find the Blueprint 5 iron a little easier to hit with the pocket forging in those long irons. Makes a difference.

 

In New Level long irons I actually like their old MODB-1 (half hollow, discontinued). That felt better than any hollow or filled head I have hit and IMO New Level needs an iron like this back in its lineup. Look at the 2024 Haywood PD.1, which I really like, and to me New Level needs one like that. I have to think one is in the works. 
 

4. NL is a little softer feeling off the face. 1020 steel vs 8620 in the Blueprints. They both feel really good. 
 

5. Blueprint has lower CG and will launch higher. TC will be more penetrating so don’t be put off by weaker lofts. It will launch lower and carry the same at standard loft compared to irons lofted a few degrees stronger. It has a flight window made for pros. 
 

Both are Tour-level irons that better player amateurs can easily handle. Very clean looks and they feel great. Both have multiple wins in pro events. 
 

My favorite 5 CBs right now in no particular order are Blueprint S, New Level 480-TC, Bridgestone 221-CB (a Japan release but Golf Partner has used sets, it is essentially the beloved J15CB with shorter blade lengths and better looking short irons), Cobra King Tours and the TaylorMade P7CB. Could play any of those 5 and be happy. 
 

Of those the best deals will be brand new New Levels or used Cobras or Bridgestones. With New Level’s end-of-season sale the 480 lineup is $95 per club and you can get 10 percent off that if you join their email list! So I don’t think there is a better buy for custom built pure forged irons with a lot of shaft options. 
 

 

Edited November 23, 2024 by dmeeksDC

[aceofclubs]

23 hours ago, dmeeksDC said:

The DB has a longer blade length for forgiveness and that may not suit everyone’s eye in the scoring clubs. Others won’t notice at all or may see it really helps them. 
 

Combos are easy with this lineup. I played the 480 TC in long irons and 480 MC in the scoring irons. The TC is 10 percent smaller than the DB and the MC is noticeably smaller than the TC. You could go with one of them in a wedge and see how you like it and use your DB as a practice club. 
 

There are a lot of irons that can look biggish in the scoring irons. To me the ZX7 looks that way (it looks big all around to me). It is just a preference and not all see them that way. But I did like the 480 MC 9 and PW. They are true muscle cavities. I did not think I could handle them in the long irons!

Yeah in hindsight i should have went

5-7 in the DB and 8-PW in the TC, just hard to do that without seeing them first i guess. 
If they took returns i would definitely swap the DB short irons. 

[CozBMB]

I'm happy with my irons, but getting the urge to pick up a combo DB/TC set.   They look awesome and have a shaft I really line in the X100 AMT Whites.  For anyone who's played these, where did you cutoff the TC and start the DB's.  I was thinking 5-6 DB and 7-PW TC, but am open to opinions.  For under $600 with the BBFCO ferrules it's easy to justify just to try them for fun.  Heck, that's less than a driver in 2024!  The Alker WITB pushed me to check these out.  I recently put a 24 degree 9 wood in the bag, so i'm thinking a 27 degree DB 5 iron will be a reasonable gap.

[Jutmoore]

2 hours ago, CozBMB said:

I'm happy with my irons, but getting the urge to pick up a combo DB/TC set.   They look awesome and have a shaft I really line in the X100 AMT Whites.  For anyone who's played these, where did you cutoff the TC and start the DB's.  I was thinking 5-6 DB and 7-PW TC, but am open to opinions.  For under $600 with the BBFCO ferrules it's easy to justify just to try them for fun.  Heck, that's less than a driver in 2024!  The Alker WITB pushed me to check these out.  I recently put a 24 degree 9 wood in the bag, so i'm thinking a 27 degree DB 5 iron will be a reasonable gap.

 

Subjective, but I started with 4-5 DB 6-PW TC, and ended up just going to a full set of TCs. There wasn't really a performance differences, gapping, yardage was fine, I didn't notice a tangible difference in forgiveness. It was the visual transition that messed me up. To my eye, the DB is noticeably longer heel to toe than the TC. Maybe for that reason, the offset seems more pronounced in the DBs even though it's pretty identical to the TC. 

 

If the look is fine to you, switching at the 7 should work perfectly. 

[dmeeksDC]

3 hours ago, CozBMB said:

I'm happy with my irons, but getting the urge to pick up a combo DB/TC set.   They look awesome and have a shaft I really line in the X100 AMT Whites.  For anyone who's played these, where did you cutoff the TC and start the DB's.  I was thinking 5-6 DB and 7-PW TC, but am open to opinions.  For under $600 with the BBFCO ferrules it's easy to justify just to try them for fun.  Heck, that's less than a driver in 2024!  The Alker WITB pushed me to check these out.  I recently put a 24 degree 9 wood in the bag, so i'm thinking a 27 degree DB 5 iron will be a reasonable gap.

What are you playing now? 

[CozBMB]

7 minutes ago, dmeeksDC said:

What are you playing now? 

MP32’s right now

[CozBMB]

48 minutes ago, Jutmoore said:

 

Subjective, but I started with 4-5 DB 6-PW TC, and ended up just going to a full set of TCs. There wasn't really a performance differences, gapping, yardage was fine, I didn't notice a tangible difference in forgiveness. It was the visual transition that messed me up. To my eye, the DB is noticeably longer heel to toe than the TC. Maybe for that reason, the offset seems more pronounced in the DBs even though it's pretty identical to the TC. 

 

If the look is fine to you, switching at the 7 should work perfectly. 

Thanks!  That’s exactly what I was wondering was the transition.  Some had said the DB short irons looked like shovels.  Good to know you went all TC’s.  If there’s no difference in the 5/6 iron performance I could get away with all TC’s as well.  

[dmeeksDC]

6 minutes ago, CozBMB said:

MP32’s right now

MP32 = 480MC. 
 

If you want to try a slightly larger and more forgiving profile, go with 480TC. 
 

The 480DB is a much longer blade length than you are used to looking at. Some find comfort, some find it distracting. It’s a nice iron if it fits you. 
 

If you want something in between, it’s 480TC for sure or an TC/MC combo. 
 

The irons are great. You’ll enjoy the pure feel. 

[artica]

I was considering a combo set, very happy I went full TC. Gapping is fine and the size difference, mentally, creates a perception that leads to laziness in the swing/concentration - for me. 

[CozBMB]

27 minutes ago, dmeeksDC said:

MP32 = 480MC. 
 

If you want to try a slightly larger and more forgiving profile, go with 480TC. 
 

The 480DB is a much longer blade length than you are used to looking at. Some find comfort, some find it distracting. It’s a nice iron if it fits you. 
 

If you want something in between, it’s 480TC for sure or an TC/MC combo. 
 

The irons are great. You’ll enjoy the pure feel. 

Really appreciate that info.  I do want a thin top line that I’m used to but wouldn’t mind trying something with more forgiveness too. I really like the design of the TC and DB. Looking forward to trying these, I think the TC is the logical answer based on what you guys are saying.  Maybe a DB type head when I’m older!

[NixLix26]

On 11/21/2024 at 12:52 PM, pjc said:

The answer is yes he did.  In fact I went through all of the pics and there were a couple that showed that thin undercut and the tungsten plug on the toe just like the previous or first pics that showed up.

Sorry, the pics are here toward the bottom at the RSM current tournament, so I assume they were with him last week as well.

 

Those look sick!!!!.   I recently took a quick golf trip and brought my 902 forged irons 4-PW in a Sunday bag .     Such a great feeling club.   My lofts and lies need to be a little tweaked.   But all in all great clubs.   I had the 623MBs but the leading edge was a little to sharp for me.     I want those Irons Moore has in his bag.   Keep them clean like that and take my $$$$.

[HeftyLeftyfromTX]

Looking for some more pics of the 480 TCs at address. Anyone have them they can compare with some ZX7s or T100s or any other popular players CB out there? Thanks!

[Ajgaguy83]

4 hours ago, HeftyLeftyfromTX said:

Looking for some more pics of the 480 TCs at address. Anyone have them they can compare with some ZX7s or T100s or any other popular players CB out there? Thanks!

 

 

Agreed, I'd love to see more pictures of all of their irons at address. Is it me, or is their website not the best in showing iron images/comparisons?