The Callaway Diablo Edge Irons have been designed for a maximum distance giving a lower center of gravity and ensuring that your ball has less chance of rocketing off into the lake to the left or the trees to the right. This also means that you have better control over the ball when hitting into the green.

They have what Callaway Golf are calling the “Solid Impact Sole Design” This means that the base of the club is wider and the lower leading edge design actually moves the sweet spot so if you have a nasty habit of topping the ball and can’t be bothered to spend hours at the range with your pro to keep your head straight, you need these clubs. The sweet spot on these clubs is awesome, I even managed to hit a sensible six iron which is my “club to be avoided at all costs”!

The sales bumph that comes with these clubs (as with many of Callaway Golf’s clubs) is huge so for the first time ever I have opted to skip the sales bumph and tell you if you want to see more there are a few links at the bottom of this post that will guide you through to all the plugging stuff!

I spent two hours on the range with the Callaway Diablo Edge Irons and shot around 200 balls before taking them out on the course and I have to say it was a good job I did because the lower sweet spot was giving me a few issues to start with. As soon as I realized what the problem was I was able to strike the ball cleanly and play a wide range of shots with no problem.

The only issue I had with the clubs was a distinct issue with being able to play a punch shot. The lower sweet spot was causing the ball to pop up quicker than I was used to meaning a higher trajectory than normal. A few minor changes to the swing and I was away.

Out on the course was pretty successful as well getting a good distance and extra yardage from the clubs, I also found good control from my approach shots. Luckily I was on form with my putting and chipping as the extra distance was causing the odd overshoot and leaving me with possible 3 putt opportunities.

Overall a very nice set of clubs and very good for all ranges of golfer. The set I was using were fitted with the Callaway Diablo Edge Graphite Stiff shaft with low Torque and a mid Kickpoint. Although nice I am not completely convinced these clubs suit my game as I have a habit of a long drive and a habit of having to dig myself out of trouble with my second shot.

The regular shaft from Callaway on the Diablo Edge Irons was very good for my high handicap buddy and his improvement was around 3 shots on the round that we played! That in itself is a pretty good selling point!

Callaway Diablo Edge Irons
	$599.00
Diablo Edge Irons
	$599.95
Callaway Mens Diablo Edge Irons – RH Steel (4-AW)
	$799.99
Callaway Women’s Diablo Edge Irons – (Graphite) 4H,5H,6-SW
	$799.99
Callaway Men’s Diablo Edge Irons – (Graphite) 3,4H 5-PW

Not one to state things from the ministry of the absolutely obvious but the Callaway Big Bertha Irons 2008 version look a little different to your average set of irons. Callaway as with every other club manufacturer claim that this “Revolutionary Technology!” will see you “Hitting straighter and further than you eve have before. Hmmmm sounds familiar doesn’t it.

Starting off have a look at the sales bumph (pay special attention to the i-Brid part):

CALLAWAY Big Bertha 08 Traditional Irons 3-SW Graphite Shafts Callaway Big Bertha 08 Traditional Irons 3-SW Graphite Shafts To build the most forgiving all-stainless steel set of golf clubs they ve ever developed, Callaway Golf engineers set aside conventional thinking, utilized innovative technologies and have redefined the shape of super game-improvement. While other Big Bertha iron sets feature i-brids, clubs designed to replace hard-to-hit long irons, this traditional iron set offers traditionally shaped long irons are available as well, featuring increased offset, a larger effective hitting area and a constant width sole for maximum forgiveness.

So instead of the hybrid clubs they use a very special technology to make the club feel and handle like an iron but look like and act like a hybrid, confused yet? I was so I took the clubs to the range to see what this extension of the normal iron was going to do to my game.

They are light weight at the lower end of the range from 7iron through to the wedge but the higher clubs 3, 4 and 5 are heavier. The reason for this is that they are there to give better distance using the same theory as a hybrid club. After hitting a few rather average shots over a period of 5 minutes I decided to put the clubs down and consult with the club pro, because something wasn’t quite right and I have been playing pretty well of late.

My good friend Miguel told me that I was over compensating for the clubs and should treat them as irons and not hybrids. This made all the difference. Swinging through the ball I noticed that I was getting good flight and straight solid shots. I then decided to let my good friend RT out with them, he has a 28 handicap and a horrible hook at the moment as well.

The result was very favorable increasing his accuracy by around 10% and in his own words “I think I could get a pretty good score with a set of these you know!” I would say that was a fairly good endorsement of the clubs.

My problem at the moment is I have tried a number of Callaway and Big Bertha clubs in the past few months and in the case of the Squareway I actually purchased the clubs. Having always been a fan and done very well with King Cobra Golf Clubs in the past I am very quickly seeing that my game could improve with a change of make in my bag.

With this in mind I set out on the course for 18 holes with the Callaway 2008 Big Bertha Irons and although it took me a few holes to actually get going the overall improvement on my game was noticeable to both me and my playing partner who remarked “Your playing on your own again next week, either that or I want 4 more shots a round!”

The Uniflex shaft is very good but if you have a higher speed then you will benefit from the Stiff shaft, there is also a ladies and senior shaft.

Now I haven’t made a solid decision yet as I need to check and see what my budget will allow but is I find I have the spare cash then a set of these clubs could well end up in my bag by the end of June for the next medal outing. This is the one downside to the Callaway 2008 Big Bertha Irons the price although much less than the high end Callaway clubs that require a lotto win in order to pick them up in the shop let alone put them in your bag.

All in all a nice idea and gives a good solid improvement to the average golfers game.

Callaway 2008 Big Bertha Irons
		$329.00
Callaway Big Bertha Irons Steel, 4-SW
		$391.99
Mens/Right Callaway Big Bertha Irons 3-PW

I have been out and about in a new shopping center not far from where I live today and they have a golf shop there that is a small independently owned place. On this discovery my wife decided that she could leave me in the cresh (or the newly discovered golf shop as it is more commonly known) and go off to look for what we actually went there for. This was my first chance to get my hands on the new 2008 Taylormade R7 CBG Max Irons.

For a little outfit this shop is very well equipped, they have a golf simulator and as it was rather early and not busy the shop assistant asked me if I would like to try the clubs over a few holes on the simulator. So off I went clubs taped up so as not to mark them. Now my Mum always told me that if its heavy put it down because its probably expensive. Well yes they are expensive and yes they are a little heavier than what I am used to in my own clubs.

The sales bumph is below:

TaylorMade r7 CGB Max 2008 Irons – RH Steel The TaylorMade r7 CGB Max Irons have maximum technology for maximum speed, distance, forgiveness, and accuracy. Large, thin, high-strength steel clubface promotes high COR for faster ball speed and increased distance Extra-large clubhead with tungsten weights increases MOI for greater stability and forgiveness SuperFast Technology reduces total club weight and promotes faster swing speed for added distance Inverted Cone Technology expands the high COR zone to promote higher ball speed on off-center hits for more distance shot to shot Hollow topline allows CG to be moved back deep in the clubhead for incredibly easy launch on a towering, distance-enhancing flight

So are they any good? YES are they worth the money? Well I have a real issue with clubs that come in over $1000 and as you will see by clicking the link above they are over that mark at a massive $1099.95, I just do not see that any clubs are worth that money.

The oversized head does give a good control, using them with varied club speeds, in the simulator, it is harder to see the flight and landing of the ball obviously but the feel of the club and the straight strike was very pleasant and would have suited any golfer.

Personally I wouldn’t buy the Taylormade R7 CGB Max Irons as I still think they are overpriced and that clubs should be affordable to all levels of golfers. So Taylormade Great set of clubs but work on your prices, maybe if you take the imprint of your name off the hosel of the club it would bring the price down. Are they that good, not for that price in my view.

Taylormade r7 CGB Max Irons
		$770.78
TaylorMade r7 CGB Max Irons 3- PW, (Men’s, Right-Handed, Graphite shaft, Regular Flex)

My set of King Cobra Golf Clubs have served me well so this will be a little biased, the Cobra S9 irons are in my book the easiest club to use that I have ever had the privilege to hold! (I did say it would be bias didn’t I) Seriously lightweight and when it comes to technology then Cobra really got it right on this set.

The clubs themselves improved my game a great deal with the improvement in distance and accuracy the clubs feel as though they belong. Now even though they are graphite shaft is in itself more rigid than most other graphites available.

Sales bumph below (and even this is bias):

COBRA S9 Iron Set 4-PW, GW with Graphite Shaft Cobra S9 Irons w/ Graphite Shafts We can’t say it enough: These are the most technologically advanced, most forgiving irons Cobra has ever made. Featuring their new game-changing, multi-material iron technology, the S9 Irons have higher inertia qualities and an extremely low and back Center of Gravity (CG) for high launch, greater distance and more accuracy. The multi-material technology includes a wide sole, polymer topline and urethane insert for softer feel. To sum it up, these irons are a huge advancement in advancing your game. Wide Sole, Low Profile, Undercut Cavity – Extreme low, back CG and high MOI for high launch, greater distance and maximum forgiveness. Polymer Topline – Extreme low, back CG and vibration dampening. Back Cavity Plate, Urethane Insert – Vibration dampening, softer feel. Premium Graphite Design Ys – 5.1 or Nippon N.S. Pro Shafts – Higher launch, greater control and accuracy. Model Loft Lie Offset Length Gr/St Swing Weight RH/LH 3 20.0º 61.0º 0.287 39.00 /39.00 D1/D1 RH/LH 4 22.5º 61.5º 0.278 38.50 /38.50 D1/D1 RH/LH 5 25.5º 62.0º 0.248 38.00 /38.00 D1/D1 RH/LH 6 28.5º 62.5º 0.227 37.50 /37.50 D1/D1 RH/LH 7 32.5º 63.0º 0.188 37.00 /37.00 D1/D1 RH/LH 8 36.0º 63.5º 0.147 36.50 /36.50 D1/D1 RH/LH 9 40.0º 64.0º 0.122 36.00 /36.00 D1/D1 RH/LH P 44.0º 64.5º 0.08 35.75 /35.75 D1/D1 RH/LH G 49.0º 64.5º 0.06 35.50 /35.50 D3/D3 RH/LH S 54.0º 64.5º 0.06 35.25 /35.25 D3/D3 RH/LH L 59.0º 64.5º 0.06 35.25 /35.25 D3/D3 RH/LH

I have written this review about 10 times and when I read through it I have babbled on about how outstanding these clubs really are for around 500 words or so. So with this in mind I am going to just say that I would probably buy another set of these clubs when I eventually use mine till they are no more. So that is my brief and very bias review of my S9 King Cobra Golf Clubs.

The reason Nike have decided to drop the three iron from this set is to tempt people into getting their game improved with hybrid clubs so I can see where they are coming from. So out onto the range today bucket of 100 balls and a nice quiet range as today is Reyes in Spain which means everything apart from the caddy master the pro shop and half the range is closed! (Reyes is three kings day which traditionally is when the exchange of presents takes place for the Christmas festivities)

Starting off with my practice swings I notice that the irons are a lot lighter than the TaylorMade XD Burner Irons I tried out yesterday. I am for some reason pushing the ball right with the 4 iron which is very unusual when moving onto a different set of irons with my swing. The clubs bumph (the technical term for the promotional material the manufacturers send out to promote) says that the clubs have a large responsive sweet spot for maximum distance and increased forgiveness across the club face but as yet I am not seeing it.

As I go through the clubs I notice that I am getting more used to the way that the weight of the club is distributed in my swing and things improved. I have to say that the distance was not much to shout about and the feel of the club was a little bit of a let down.

Sales pitch below:

NIKE SQ SUMO Irons – Graphite (4-AW) – New for 2008! – Taking Advanced Orders Now! Features High MOI (moment of inertia) provides greater forgiveness on off-center hits with a tighter shot dispersion SQ SUMO geometry for increased ball speed and accuracy Hot Cryo steel face provides large responsive sweet spot to amp up the distance TPU insert dampens unwanted vibrations at impact Long blade length and wide sole deliver an extreme perimeter-weighted club PowerBow Weighting has weight strategically positioned to move the CG (center of gravity) low and deep, increasing the MOI and creating a more stable iron at impact

To sum up I have to say I was disappointed with the set as a whole and will be straight out on the range tomorrow with my own clubs to ensure that I haven’t messed up my swing to badly! All in all I would have expected more from Nike but I will try them again in a few weeks time to make sure I wasn’t just having an off day.

I was lucky enough to be able to try both the steel shaft and the graphite shaft which is always nice as there can be cases where the manufacturer gets one of the shafts spot on and the other so very wrong, thankfully in this case both are very nice to use.

Now if you are a high handicapper and you are looking at getting a set of these clubs then you would do well to go with the graphite shaft as it is much more forgiving than the steel. The clubs themselves feel slightly heavier than the King Cobra irons that I play with regularly and this showed by giving an extra few yards on every club.

So why more distance, well those clever bods over at TaylorMade have put a thin flexible titanium face on the Burner XD Irons that increases the ball speed as it leaves the club, they have also used their inverted cone technology (don’t blame me for all the technical bumph it was the guy from TaylorMade that was spurting it out I just relay the information). So once the mand from TaylorMade had gone, I started my bucket of balls test.

Yes they do give you more distance and the clubs feel like they belong in your hands, forgiving and easy on the eye with the supersize head they come through the swing smoothly and stable. Sales information below:

TaylorMade Burner XD Irons – Graphite – New for 2008! Features Thin, flexible and fast titanium clubface delivers higher COR for faster ball speed and longer distance SuperFast Technology promotes a lightweight shaft plus thin and fast clubface for more clubhead speed, more ball speed and more distance Inverted core technology expands the high COR zone for higher ball speed on mis-hits and more distance from shot to shot Extra large (oversized) clubhead and deep cavity promotes an ultra-high MOI (moment of inertia)

So to answer the question that is always asked, would I buy the TaylorMade Burner XD Irons? I would but they wouldn’t replace my current King Cobra’s because they are what I am used to but if I was looking to go between the new King Cobras and the Taylormade Burner XD then I have to say it would be a close call, I have to say they are the nicest of the irons I have tested in the past 4 months.

The Srixon clubs have come a long way in the past few years as have their golf balls but I have to say in my opinion they still have a little way to go to catch up with the likes of Ping, TaylorMade and Nike.

The Srixon I-701 Irons have the forged cavity at the back of the club where as a lot of the newer clubs that are coming out are using this for different weights, however as the brochure quite rightly points out the technology with these clubs is far from ordinary.

The Srixon I-701 Irons feel comfortable straight away, the first practice swing felt like I had been using the club for weeks and the clubs feel like they are going to make sweet contact every time, and most of the time due to the stability of the design they do.

The off center strikes still came out reasonably high and straight making the clubs forgiving and smooth to use. I like them and would recommend them to the intermediate golfer.

As normal here is the technical bit straight from the manufacturer:

Srixon I-701 Forged Iron Set (Right Handed) Though the Srixon I-701 Irons look like a traditional forged cavity back iron on the outside, pop the hood and you’ll see that the technology is anything but ordinary. The secret lies in the pocket cavity structure, which effectively lowers and deepens the I-701′s center of gravity. This delivers an extremely stable clubhead through impact and makes it easier to get the ball airborne for high, straight iron shots. The I-701′s clubhead is also unique in that it is a 2-Piece design with a forged 1025 carbon steel body and an extremely soft forged 1020 carbon steel face. The softer, thinner clubface allows for a very large, high COR area making the I-701 extremely long, even on off-center hits. While that may sound like a lot of science, one look at the I-701 and you’ll know that aesthetics and playability were equally as important to the designers. With its clean set up, progressive offset and traditional profile, this is a club that will appeal to the mid to low handicap golfer alike ? ? Club Loft Bounce Lie Angle Length 2 18 deg .5 deg 59.5 deg 39.25″ 3 21 deg 1.0 deg 60.0 deg 38.75″ 4 24 deg 1.5 deg 60.5 deg 38.25″ 5 27 deg 2.0 deg 61.0 deg 37.75″ 6 30 deg