Foreward Golf Irons

[TheFrozenChef]

merged with next post. 

Edited May 19 by TheFrozenChef

[TheFrozenChef]

Here's a recap of my fitting. 8 handicap. I've been gaming the APEX TCB 21 with a nippon 120s. Standard length, -2 lie, 1 degree strong lofts. 

I tested the irons over three different sessions across 4 days. Day 1 and 2 were done at home with the uneekor eye mini with a divot action mat that was level. Day 3 was done with trackman  on a forceplace that was 1/3 inch above the hitting surface. This likely accounts for the lower strike location on Day 3.

 

Overall it was a great experience. It was very interesting to see how the strike location moved based on variables. Although I'm not a good enough ballstriker to be consistent over each hitting session, the trend (Heel, Middle, Toe) across each session was remarkably consistent. Generally kept to three swings unless I totally mishit the ball. I was glad I did it over three different sessions. Carry/Ballspeed data is likely different due to camera v. radar. I don't think I recieved the kit with the TPT iron shafts, I think that has to be specified before but it was unlikely I was going to spend 290 per iron shaft so I think its fine :/. 

 

These links have data across all three days including strike locations for all three days.

 

Link to strike location.
Link to Data. 

 

Day 1 I was hitting it awesome, ended up going to play afterwards and matched my lowest round (78 on Par 70). Day 2 was a below average ballstriking day and when I went out I was 5 strokes above the day before.  Day 3 was an above average ball striking day and I shot an 81.

I would ignore Day 1 smash and clubspeed data. Day 1 and 2, I realized my unit was not aligned correctly which likely influenced side distance and other variables. I would trust Day 3 clubpath and speed data the most. Day 1-2 I tested with Maxfli Tour X 2024. Day 3Trackman used RCT Pro V1 which likely accounts for the lower spin and launch.

 

Overall I would highly recommend the kit to anyone with a fairly repeatable swing and club path. I consider myself a decent ballstriker. Not sure it would be helpful for a high handicapper who has a clubpath or swingplane that changes drastically each swing. I would also not get fit if you're in the middle of a swing change. In a perfect world, I would've done all three sessions with a GCquad or equivalent to keep the data consistent, but really glad my coach let me use his trackman setup. I would love to know which color corresponds with which variable to understand what affects my swing the most. Also bonus going to a professional setup with a trackman dialed in on ball position is that my home setup is not aligned correctly. If you do have a camera unit, the footspray messes with club data, especially speed. I fixed that the second day by wiping more on the face so the club sticker was more prominent. 

 

As for the look of the irons, it was a tad more offset than my gamers which I didn't love. The irons look good at address with a thin top line and a slightly longer blade length which I didn't mind. The feel is good, not great when I middle it. I prefer the TCB's but only just. It feels similar to T150's. I also realized I need to lower the swingweight on my irons so I'll be rebuilding the TCBs and probably playing them as backups. 

Edited May 19 by TheFrozenChef
Updating links

[geauxWRX]

On 5/14/2025 at 11:08 AM, RichieHunt said:

I'm curious about with the remote fitting how they determine what shaft make and model you would need?  

I can't imagine they have many different make and model shafts, if any at all.  So I'm curious how they determine the shaft make and model unless you had the actual shafts to try out.



RH

In the fitting kit there are shafts with different kick points and weights. When you go through the fitting process as instructed, Foreward will provide a shaft recommendation based on the data. They match up EI curves to the shaft you hit well in the blind fitting. I was given the option of 3 shafts, one which I was very familiar with since it was a current gamer. I had forward build me a test club of the final recommendation and tested it for a week to get all the numbers one final time, then placed my order.

 

I just received my foreward set 2 weeks ago.

[Minarets]

1 hour ago, geauxWRX said:

In the fitting kit there are shafts with different kick points and weights. When you go through the fitting process as instructed, Foreward will provide a shaft recommendation based on the data. They match up EI curves to the shaft you hit well in the blind fitting. I was given the option of 3 shafts, one which I was very familiar with since it was a current gamer. I had forward build me a test club of the final recommendation and tested it for a week to get all the numbers one final time, then placed my order.

 

I just received my foreward set 2 weeks ago.

How do you like em?

[geauxWRX]

I am enjoying them. I only have one full round with them. I was playing i230, I can defiantly notice and feel the mass lower in the club head with the foreward irons. I am getting very good launch and spin numbers with them. A little less spin compared to the i230

[TheFrozenChef]

Final Perscription:

 

High Bounce (hit the low bounce second best, but this was a surprise). Rec's Ping i230/Blueprint S, Ai200, foreward high bounce. 

Flat Lie: almost 4 degrees flat (58.5)

Shaft: Axiom 105s, Project X Io 5.5- this was probably the biggest surprise. I game the modus 120s and they recommended a shaft with a medium flex or stiff soft stepped with a firm butt section. Literally opposite of the Modus 120s lol in terms of profile. 

Grip Size: Jumbo+ this makes sense to me. I'm in the middle of testing jumbomax grips and I was ready to pull the trigger once the zenlites come back in stock.

Swingweight: D0-3. Was playing higher swingweights in the irons (d5) so I rebuilt my gamer set to get progressively from D2-D0 and they feel good off the mat. I'll see what it does on the course. 

 

 

[Minarets]

7 hours ago, TheFrozenChef said:

Final Perscription:

 

High Bounce (hit the low bounce second best, but this was a surprise). Rec's Ping i230/Blueprint S, Ai200, foreward high bounce. 

Flat Lie: almost 4 degrees flat (58.5)

Shaft: Axiom 105s, Project X Io 5.5- this was probably the biggest surprise. I game the modus 120s and they recommended a shaft with a medium flex or stiff soft stepped with a firm butt section. Literally opposite of the Modus 120s lol in terms of profile. 

Grip Size: Jumbo+ this makes sense to me. I'm in the middle of testing jumbomax grips and I was ready to pull the trigger once the zenlites come back in stock.

Swingweight: D0-3. Was playing higher swingweights in the irons (d5) so I rebuilt my gamer set to get progressively from D2-D0 and they feel good off the mat. I'll see what it does on the course. 

 

 

What are you going to order?

[TheFrozenChef]

2 hours ago, Minarets said:

What are you going to order?

Undecided.

 

I’m leaning towards going yolo and grabbing the 3dp tour and increasing the loft to what I play. Should get me to right around 7-8 bounce. Sensible option is probably blueprint s. I didn’t like the Foreward irons all that much tbh. Likely going with the axioms in either setup. 

[Minarets]

The cobras are sweet.  What did you not like about the forwards?

[TmagBryce]

Well i have built several sets of these for customers after they got their script. Many choose the exotic finishes which to be honest look great in the box, but is a thin PVD and wears so damn fast. Look like crap after a month. 
 

Took a set and stripped the finish and media blast them clean. Like it better than any of the ones i’ve seen. 😈

 

Going to be doing more for sure. 

 

 

 

Edited May 30 by TmagBryce

[Minarets]

Love that 

[TheFrozenChef]

Ended up going with a used set of Cobra Limit3d's in great shape. Bent them 2 degrees weak and it hit a perfect window between my bounce perscription, spin, and height. The foregivness is unreal. Currently shafted with the Project X IO 5.5 (will be moved into my backup TCBs once the axioms come in). Ended up being about the same price all in since I'll be building them myself - including grips, custom ferrules, etc... 

 

I didn't love the look of the foreward irons, I had them for about a week during testing and could never get used to them. Hit a few outside on the grass and turf interaction was a plus, but still couldn't get used to the offset/thin top line that seemed to exaggerate it. 

 

Feel wise, it was pretty soft and toe misses were surprisingly forgiving. That said, its nowhere close to the 3DP so given the same price point it was a no brainer. Also there was a pretty high upcharge for the RAW irons. 

 

I think there's more customization options if you go in person rather than through the remote fitting with offset, cutting off the hosel to move the cg, etc... 

[TmagBryce]

3 hours ago, TheFrozenChef said:

Ended up going with a used set of Cobra Limit3d's in great shape. Bent them 2 degrees weak and it hit a perfect window between my bounce perscription, spin, and height. The foregivness is unreal. Currently shafted with the Project X IO 5.5 (will be moved into my backup TCBs once the axioms come in). Ended up being about the same price all in since I'll be building them myself - including grips, custom ferrules, etc... 

 

I didn't love the look of the foreward irons, I had them for about a week during testing and could never get used to them. Hit a few outside on the grass and turf interaction was a plus, but still couldn't get used to the offset/thin top line that seemed to exaggerate it. 

 

Feel wise, it was pretty soft and toe misses were surprisingly forgiving. That said, its nowhere close to the 3DP so given the same price point it was a no brainer. Also there was a pretty high upcharge for the RAW irons. 

 

I think there's more customization options if you go in person rather than through the remote fitting with offset, cutting off the hosel to move the cg, etc... 

 

 

Have a set of raw heads with weights 4-PW if ever interested. 😉

 

[Minarets]

Those look great 

[TheFrozenChef]

Really not getting along with their shaft recommendation. Coming from the Modus 120s, I hate the project X io 5.5's. Getting some axioms into test so we'll see how that goes but the io's feel terrible and I can't get them to work for my swing. 

[TmagBryce]

5 hours ago, TheFrozenChef said:

Really not getting along with their shaft recommendation. Coming from the Modus 120s, I hate the project X io 5.5's. Getting some axioms into test so we'll see how that goes but the io's feel terrible and I can't get them to work for my swing. 

The I/O were the worst shafts they ever made. I’m not sure I know anybody that liked them lol  

[blueteez]

@TmagBryce Appreciate all your posts and knowledge sharing in this thread.  I'm sorry that I missed out on those raw iron heads you had for sale but have scheduled a fitting session on Friday in Naples! 

 

[noahshreve]

On 6/4/2025 at 2:46 PM, TmagBryce said:

 

 

Have a set of raw heads with weights 4-PW if ever interested. 😉

 

@TmagBryce You still have these?

[TmagBryce]

2 hours ago, noahshreve said:

@TmagBryce You still have these?

I built them already for a member.

 

I am always running into sets. Can send me a message and let me know what looking for, will keep an eye out

[AJsArmy]

I went to forward golf this week for a fitting. Was really cool. Their fitting system basically isolates 6 or 7 various variables in the swing - bounce/weight/kick point/swing weight/grip size/lie angle

 

to measure each one they give you 3 clubs with different variables. For example to measure club bounce they give you 3 clubs - low bounce medium bounce high bounce holding all other variables the same. You hit three to four balls with each club and using track man determine which bounce is right for you. You then move on to the next variable and repeat the same process. Once they determine all the variables based on your swing they give you recommendations for best club heads shafts and grips for you to use.  They will build the clubs for you if you choose as well as purchase their club heads. 
 

I am a numbers guy and I thought the fitting was very interesting and thought the fitter I was working with (Seth Gregory) was extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommend doing it in person if you are ever in LA.