Utility iron

[Moonlightgrm]

I am not a fan of hybrids. I am looking for opinions on utility irons. I am 64-years old, carry an index of 4.4, and can still get enough club head speed to hit long irons. Currently, I am playing Titleist t200 irons (2020 edition), with AMT Black stiff shafts. My 4-iron has 22* of loft. My fairway wood has 16* of loft, so I am looking for ~19* of loft to fill the gap. I can read the advertisements, but I’d like to know what works for the folks on WRX. 

[eric61]

The PXG Gen 5 driving iron has been terrific for me. It's hot -- it carries the same distance as my 5 wood (despite being 2 inches shorter) and rolls out farther. It also looks great -- relatively slim topline, not a ton of offset. It definitely launches lower than other driving irons I've tried. 

 

Matt at Plugged In Golf had a review on it, link here. His observations pretty much mirror mine. I only carry mine on windy days, but I'm thinking about replacing my 3W/5W/4H set-up with a 4W/7W to open up a spot in the bag to carry it all the time.

[LUXOR54]

Been using a new level NLU-01 18°, been loving it so far

[Ivyguy]

Don’t discount the Wilson Staff Utility. It comes in 18 (21 and 24 too) and a KBS shaft. 
 

only catch is; it’s not adjustable. But I found it to be easy to hit and control and as good feeling as you could expect from a hollow club. 
 

I did also hit the Ping Crossovers and like them too, but they were an additional cost for a shaft that I wanted, so opted for the Wilson. 

[tilasan]

I mean you are already using the t200s. Look for the 2 or 3 utility build. If you want cheaper look for the u500.

[Lip1337]

Gaming the 18* x forged 2018

very nice feeling and looking Golf Club 

 

theres a new Version too 

 

mizuno pro flihi should be pretty good too 

[gripandrip]

Not playing a 19 (mine is a 20), but have an older Srixon ZU45 20 deg utility iron. I reshafted to match my 3 iron shaft and swing weight, as I really like my 3 iron. Plays great for me...off a T or fairway. Not my favorite club out of the rough, but overall pretty happy with it. Can usually be had pretty reasonable in the used market.

 

For reference. 62 yr old, 2-3 handicap.

 

Edited August 31, 2022 by gripandrip

[Cellis]

Currently playing a Mizuno Hi Fli Pro 2 Iron. Not the longest utility iron but easily the best combination of length and forgiveness. I highly recommend it!

[Millhill88]

2 hours ago, LUXOR54 said:

Been using a new level NLU-01 18°, been loving it so far

This!!!   Also had great control and accuracy with the TEE CBX Ironwood.  

[Pepperturbo]

I am a bit older, 3-5 index, and still love long irons.  Currently, Titleist 620 MB 3-PW with a very forgiving 718 T-MB 2 iron.  I bought it a year after the set was discontinued, grr...  It is a fairway finder on short Par 4's, under 375yd and long Par 3s.  Last weekend short Par 4, elevated tee, I smacked a sweet 2 iron down the left side, 215yds, while others in my group hit driver, left and hard right.  LOL

 

They made a 3 iron too, which you still may find. Don't know what I am going to do if something happens to all my clubs, this baby isn't replaceable.

[Dpavs]

4 hours ago, Moonlightgrm said:

I am not a fan of hybrids. I am looking for opinions on utility irons. I am 64-years old, carry an index of 4.4, and can still get enough club head speed to hit long irons. Currently, I am playing Titleist t200 irons (2020 edition), with AMT Black stiff shafts. My 4-iron has 22* of loft. My fairway wood has 16* of loft, so I am looking for ~19* of loft to fill the gap. I can read the advertisements, but I’d like to know what works for the folks on WRX. 

 

With a slower swing speed your misses with a utility iron are going to be much more severely punished than your misses with a hybrid or a fw. If you are not a fan of either of those... have you tried either or both with a shorter shaft option?  I have found for myself that choking down helps me hit both much better as it is the longer shafts that I don't get along with off the turf.

[Springsteennut]

I have a Sub 70 699U. I find it very easy to hit even though I probably don’t have what some may say is the ideal swing speed for one. 

[leftyscore80]

Haywood golf has a really nice driving iron. Love mine.

 

[launcher]

You just can't beat Srixon in this category. I've had the U65, U85, and now currently the ZX utility. They're all extremely good, and you can get them pretty cheap compared to Titleist's. I could have really stuck with the U65 and been quite content, but the ZX is just so good as well. 

[kess13]

All very subjective, but I’m a fan of the latest cobra offering. 

[dmeeksDC]

On 8/31/2022 at 3:22 PM, Pepperturbo said:

I am a bit older, 3-5 index, and still love long irons.  Currently, Titleist 620 MB 3-PW with a very forgiving 718 T-MB 2 iron.  I bought it a year after the set was discontinued, grr...  It is a fairway finder on short Par 4's, under 375yd and long Par 3s.  Last weekend short Par 4, elevated tee, I smacked a sweet 2 iron down the left side, 215yds, while others in my group hit driver, left and hard right.  LOL

 

They made a 3 iron too, which you still may find. Don't know what I am going to do if something happens to all my clubs, this baby isn't replaceable.

+1. I don’t care much for driving irons. For me they are too clunky looking and harder to hit off the deck than a forgiving long iron from a GI or even super GI set. It has to work off tee and turf. 
 

So my contenders would be a 4 iron from a set: Titleist TMB, Maltby KE4 MAX or TS2, New Level MODB-1 (discontinued), Proto Concept C-07 (most compact and Lydia Ko’s choice), Callaway Apex DCB (often overlooked), Mizuno 921 Hot Metal Pro or 921 Forged, TaylorMade Stealth, Honma TW-X, etc. All are more versatile than a driving iron for me. Right now I have KE4 MAX in the bag and it has been very reliable. 

 

Of the driving irons the New Level and Haywood offerings look really good. 

Edited September 6, 2022 by dmeeksDC

[rsballer10]

On 8/31/2022 at 3:22 PM, Pepperturbo said:

I am a bit older, 3-5 index, and still love long irons.  Currently, Titleist 620 MB 3-PW with a very forgiving 718 T-MB 2 iron.  I bought it a year after the set was discontinued, grr...  It is a fairway finder on short Par 4's, under 375yd and long Par 3s.  Last weekend short Par 4, elevated tee, I smacked a sweet 2 iron down the left side, 215yds, while others in my group hit driver, left and hard right.  LOL

 

They made a 3 iron too, which you still may find. Don't know what I am going to do if something happens to all my clubs, this baby isn't replaceable.

 

I have a U500 I bought in mint condition. Never used the T-Mb but the profile looks very similar.

[Jfisch822]

Big fan of the driving/utility iron and really glad I finally got one in the bag this year because I never got along with hybrids or high lofted woods either. 
 

I play an X Forged UT 21° 3 iron between my 4i (22°) and my 4W at 16.5°.  Believe it or not I get pretty perfect gapping since most utility irons are pretty hot face. 
 

I like this loft because it allows me to easily play the ball up in the air off the ground for long 2nd shots into a par 5 and still hold the green. But I can also still deloft and flight it down for a low runner fairway finder off a tee. 
 

Plenty of driving irons will get you huge yardage and 30 or more yards of roll but keep in mind ability to hold a green if you plan to use it that way, like as a hybrid replacement. 
 

Also I preferred a more compact head and less offset so it blends with my irons. X Forged UT and U500 were the best in this department for me. 

[Pepperturbo]

On 9/6/2022 at 7:44 AM, rsballer10 said:

 

I have a U500 I bought in mint condition. Never used the T-Mb but the profile looks very similar.

Back in 2019, when u500 was introduced I tested it against my T-MB 2i, concluded T-MB was likey behind the u500 design.  T-MB has a more slender body, more blade profile and thin top line. 

 

IMO 2019 u500 never seemed to catch on the way it's more forgiving bother u510 did.  Me guesses, it was behind creating the current u505.  One man's opinion.  LOL

[rsballer10]

1 hour ago, Pepperturbo said:

Back in 2019, when u500 was introduced I tested it against my T-MB 2i, concluded T-MB was likey behind the u500 design.  T-MB has a more slender body, more blade profile and thin top line. 

 

IMO 2019 u500 never seemed to catch on the way it's more forgiving bother u510 did.  Me guesses, it was behind creating the current u505.  One man's opinion.  LOL

 

I don't think the U500 blends with the MB line, looks more T100 sized to me. Not sure what the appeal is with the U510 and U505 - too chunky to perform like a utility iron.

[Pepperturbo]

8 minutes ago, rsballer10 said:

 

I don't think the U500 blends with the MB line, looks more T100 sized to me. Not sure what the appeal is with the U510 and U505 - too chunky to perform like a utility iron.

You're welcome to your opinion. 

 

When I tested 2019 U500 Titleist https://tinyurl.com/2hy9l7pu, it was hollow, like 718 T-MB, Titleist https://tinyurl.com/2mzwu6gz similar is size, only slightly wider top-line and different cosmetics, same lofts, even heel to toe length, while U510 has a longer head length.   I still believe 2017, 718 T-MB line was inspiration for 2019 U500.

 

T100 has a perimeter weighed back cavity at the top with a blade style bar crossing the lower back.  The cosmetics of the new u500 Golf Utility Iron https://tinyurl.com/2ep7jj9h resemble the T100 line.

[rsballer10]

14 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

You're welcome to your opinion. 

 

When I tested 2019 U500 Titleist https://tinyurl.com/2hy9l7pu, it was hollow, like 718 T-MB, Titleist https://tinyurl.com/2mzwu6gz similar is size, only slightly wider top-line and different cosmetics, same lofts, even heel to toe length, while U510 has a longer head length.   I still believe 2017, 718 T-MB line was inspiration for 2019 U500.

 

T100 has a perimeter weighed back cavity at the top with a blade style bar crossing the lower back.  The cosmetics of the new u500 Golf Utility Iron https://tinyurl.com/2ep7jj9h resemble the T100 line.

OK I see what you mean 👍

[phizzy30]

On 8/31/2022 at 9:06 AM, LUXOR54 said:

Been using a new level NLU-01 18°, been loving it so far

Second this.  I have one in my bag since it's inception and it's been a godsend.  The traditional 3 iron has been replaced by this and it's much easier to hit and elevate.  

[Leftyjoe89]

The srixon Zx utility was very easy to hit for me mine is the 3 iron but have no complaints 

[MagicMan79]

I can't say enough good things about the Srixon ZX utilities, and I have owned most of them at some point.  I have the 2i in 18* and planning to buy the 3 or 4.

The 3 utility @ 20* would be a nice fit for you

[Jfisch822]

On 9/7/2022 at 2:32 PM, rsballer10 said:

 

I don't think the U500 blends with the MB line, looks more T100 sized to me. Not sure what the appeal is with the U510 and U505 - too chunky to perform like a utility iron.

 

Agree that I don’t see the appeal of the super chunky utility irons. When I look down at the u505 it basically just looks like a hybrid. 

[Davethegolfer]

I just added a 21 degree Wilson and will soon be adding the 18 and 24. Just phenomenal performance 

[NRJyzr]

I kind of like the idea of a Mizuno MP-20 HMB 3 rin, or possibly a 225 3 iron, in that slot.  It's something I've done (albeit with an mp20 hmb 2i) with some success this season.  Not in bag at moment, needs a reshaft (i95 stiff no longer a great fit), but I've found it rather lovely overall.

 

I also find the Srixon utilities intriguing, but I've not pulled the trigger.

 

[Lord Helmet]

On 8/31/2022 at 11:15 AM, Moonlightgrm said:

I am not a fan of hybrids. I am looking for opinions on utility irons. I am 64-years old, carry an index of 4.4, and can still get enough club head speed to hit long irons. Currently, I am playing Titleist t200 irons (2020 edition), with AMT Black stiff shafts. My 4-iron has 22* of loft. My fairway wood has 16* of loft, so I am looking for ~19* of loft to fill the gap. I can read the advertisements, but I’d like to know what works for the folks on WRX. 

 

Since you are a t200 player might I suggest a t300 4i at 19*.  I have one with a graphite UST shaft.  Thing is super easy to swing, uber forgiving, and precise as a proper long iron.  

[capifico22]

the New Level is really nice and feels pretty good.  So far the hottest for me is the Stealth UDI