UGI "hollow body" irons

[Lu5150]

I'm looking at these "hybrid" irons.......looking for feedback, how they perform vs regular irons, etc....

 

- Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 Irons

https://shop.touredge.com/products/copy-of-tour-edge-hot-launch-e522-iron-wood-sets?variant=39584573292653

 

- Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Irons

https://www.clevelandgolf.com/us/irons-/launcher-xl-halo-irons/MLXLHI.html

 

- Wilson Launch Pad Irons

https://www.wilson.com/en-us/product/launch-pad-2-stl-wg1p0262#hand=57446&setcomposition=57416

 

- Cobra T-Rail Irons

https://www.cobragolf.com/t-rail-irons-custom-2021

[solarbear88]

I'd probably give a thought to Cleveland UHX.  Similar principal, a lot less ugly.  More ironlike in the short irons. Can be had used at a reasonable price (under $500).  Srixon z4 is similar but more expensive.

 

Not sure about the logic of going full hybrid.  Whenever I see someone hit a hybrid on course it usually goes worse than a similarly lofted iron.  I am not sure why.  Golf pros in videos always assure me that Hybrids are easy to hit.  Why this does not translate to people I see on course or at the range, I  can not figure out.

 

I have a set of Wishon EQ1-Nx and can attest that the hollow body designs are very powerful feeling and very forgiving.  Probably, 10 years from now every cavity back will come hollow.  The LaunchPad might be my pick of the ones you listed.

 

Where I think a full set of say Halo irons are ideal is someone like my dad.  He is in his 70's.  Only plays a couple times a year.  Probably a set of the Tour Edge or Halos 5,7,9,GW + high lofted driver + 7 wood + putter is all he would need.  When he borrowed my clubs all he ever hit were 3 Wood, Hybrid, PW, putter.  On second thought, he probably doesn't need the 7 wood but he likes to be the owner of one.

Edited June 14, 2022 by solarbear88

[Billfitz]

My 2020 Halo Launcher HB irons are the most accurate I've ever owned. That includes blades, going back to 1973. The longer irons, 4 through 7, favor a sweep swing. The rest play just like any other, but are more forgiving of mis-hits. Distance is the same as blades or perimeter weighted.

[TiScape]

3 minutes ago, Billfitz said:

My 2020 Halo Launcher HB irons are the most accurate I've ever owned. That includes blades, going back to 1973. The longer irons, 4 through 7, favor a sweep swing. The rest play just like any other, but are more forgiving of mis-hits. Distance is the same as blades or perimeter weighted.

Saw your avatar and had to pop in and say “Do or do not. There is no try.” 
🤣

[Billfitz]

I'm not actually all that wise. Just old.

[High Plains Driver]

I picked up a set of Launcher HB's with DG DST 98 S-300's, as they were so cheap I couldn't pass them up. They are easily that easiest irons to hit I have ever tried.

They fly high, even on thin strikes, and spin enough that they come in steep enough to hold greens.

If you want forgiveness, and like hybrids, the HB/HB Turbo/XL Halos are a great choice.

 

Sooner or later, I'll be in a set of these full time instead of occasion fun rounds.

Edited June 14, 2022 by High Plains Driver

[TaderSalad]

Can't speak specifically to these, but I am gaming my first set of hollow UDI's and I LOVE them.  I like that I can also tinker with head weighting thru hotmelt to dial the feel down. 

 

Long irons have always been my weak link. 

[Lu5150]

2 hours ago, TaderSalad said:

Can't speak specifically to these, but I am gaming my first set of hollow UDI's and I LOVE them.  I like that I can also tinker with head weighting thru hotmelt to dial the feel down. 

 

Long irons have always been my weak link. 

 

Which brand did you get?

[Billfitz]

3 hours ago, TaderSalad said:

Long irons have always been my weak link. 

I still only go down to a 5 iron. I could have gone to a 4 iron, but already had my 22 degree hybrid in the bag.

[Milfordlefty]

This thread has user reviews on the Cleveland irons

 

https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/1831566-cleveland-halo-xl-irons-thoughts/

[PeanutsDaddy]

Overhauled my entire bag this winter. Literally replaced every club in my frontline bag. I have gone all in on the ‘max forgiveness’ category. For one full season I have committed to this experiment.  
 

The current ‘max forgiveness’ bag
 

Radspeed XB

Sim Max 2 3 HL

Callaway Mavrik Max 5 wood

Sim Max 2 4 and 5 hybrids

Cobra T-Rails PW - 6 

Cleveland CBX GW, SW, LW

 

15 or so rounds in. I am enjoying the game more than I have in years. I am hitting more fairways and greens, and my short game inside 100 yards has been more consistent (especially chipping and pitching).
 

The T-Rails fly noticeably higher and straighter than other sets I own (25+ sets of irons across all categories). Distances are in-line with my typical yardages. Yardages have been consistent. Turf interaction is impressive (especially important given how wet and sloppy it’s been in my area). Forgiveness on toe-side strikes is noticeable. My miss is thin (sometimes a clean pick of the ball) and they perform exceptionally well low on the face. 
 

Simply stated . . . Beyond impressed. 
 

Paired the bag with a Shot Scope LX-1. So I will have oodles of data to sift through and analyze. 
 

 

[Lu5150]

So I just demoed the T-rails, the Launcher XLs and the Launch Pads and I really like how the T-rails felt when I swung them and hit the ball.....I was getting an increase of 20 yards when I hit the T-rails and XLs (vs my current irons)......I was disappointed how the Launch Pads performed.....

 

I didn't buy a set because the PGASS rep told me that Cobra will be releasing a new generation soon....anybody got any news of it....

[ChipNRun]

Potential drawback on hollow-body irons: The short irons may tend to balloon a little.

 

When companies started to put enhanced launch chambers in longer irons in set, they often left short irons alone. Case in point: TM irons from circa 2014 such as Rocketbladz, SLDR and RSi***. I did a product test on SLDR irons. The 7i and longer  had speed slot technology to enhance launce, while 8i on up had traditional, one-piece cavity-back head. This combo worked well.

 

Had a set of TE CB Pro Tungsten irons - hollow heads. Had a slight distance fall off in 8i on up... so, I put lead tape on exterior of shafts, 3 inches below grip, to add back a little weight. This helped me come down and through the shot better, and alleviated the yardage bleed.

 

The new-wave hollow bodies started about 2015. Some models had the short-iron problem. Read up on the hollow-body design details to see if they mention adjusting CoG through the set. And, hit the irons, hopefully including a 9i, to see if ballooning a problem.

 

Note: In the world of wedges,  some companies claim that hollow-body, even cavity-back, heads can cause unstable ball flight in clubs lofted above 40*. Due to higher lofts, Edison Wedge ads suggest that launch assist is not needed.