This year’s club-tech season is upon us and manufacturers are making more models of clubs that meet the playing needs of a full range of golfers.
There are “families” of drivers and iron heads whose compact size do not twist on off-center hits for straight shots.
Putters now come in a wide range of heads and materials to meet any number of combinations of type of stroke, playing surface or just simple looks.
The advance of 3D-printed clubs is also making inroads. Before the 2024 U.S. Open, Brandon DeChambeau arrived at Pinehurst with prototype irons whose clubheads were created by a 3D printer.
Gear heads questioned whether they were just another one-off experiment that only the world’s elite golfers could afford. After all, 3-D
printing is not new in club design. Cobra Puma golf has been using 3D printers to make some putters. For 2025, however, Cobra has gone the extra step with the new 3D Tour iron. Each head is created on a 3D printer, and after a few swings you’ll understand why they are so remarkable.
These iron heads have a “lattice-like” backing of the face as well as two large tungsten weights in the heel and toe. The result is a club with remarkable forgiveness of a larger iron head but with the look and feel of a traditional “player’s” club. Hits off the toe or heel flew straight and far and gave that buttery off-the-sweet spot feel.
Cobra lists the 3D Tour at just over $400 each, about twice as high as most irons. It takes a full day to print one iron head.
All the subtleties can be confusing, even mesmerizing, but in the end the game becomes more enjoyable.
01.
PING G440 LST
Why You’ll Love It: Faster swings will love lower spin and high stability
Why You Should Buy It: High-speed swings will not result in “ballooning” - too high flight
Insider’s Insight: Ping’s models look similar but the interior tech changes yearly
Price: $650
02.
TITLEIST GT1
Why You’ll Love It: Pros and higher handicappers love the stability and launch
Why You Should Buy It: Back weight port allows for higher launch for slower swing speeds
Insider’s Insight: Unique in that interior weighting means pros avid golfers can use & enjoy
Price: $650
03.
COBRA ADAPT LS
Why You’ll Love It: Smaller head with unique shape for better aerodynamics
Why You Should Buy It: Better players will love front weighting for faster energy transfer
Insider’s Insight: 33 adjustable sole weights allow super fine-tuning = proper trajectory
Price: $550
04.
SRIXON ZXI
Why You’ll Love It: Variable face technology allows for larger sweetspot
Why You Should Buy It: Fits a large range of golfers for higher ball flight with little spin
Insider’s Insight: New titanium alloy in face; super-thin ti crown for fast exit speed
Price: $550
05.
PXG 0311 GEN6
Why You’ll Love It: Teardrop shape belies speed and stabiity at impact
Why You Should Buy It: Delivers mid-spin, midlaunch numbers; suits high and low handicaps
Insider’s Insight: Lots of ajustability for your game to produce maximum distance
Price: $300
06.
XXIO PRIME ROYAL EDITION
Why You’ll Love It: Elegant materials in super-lightweight club for higher launch
Why You Should Buy It: Designed for slower swing speeds & bisect face induces big energy
Insider’s Insight: Japanese Co. innovated the now common multiple-part forged heads
Price: $1200
01. CALLAWAY ELYTE
Why You’ll Love It: Sole shape delivers better turf interaction for consistent results
Why You Should Buy It: Tungsten Speed Wave is 35g weight for fast ball speeds
Insider’s Insight: AIdesigned face has more “control points” for exceptional pop
Price: $350
02. TAYLORMADE Qi35
Why You’ll Love It: 7-wood is the hottest club on PGA TOUR; this one might be the best Why You Should Buy It: 4 degrees of loft adjustment to dial in perfect launch and distance
Insider’s Insight: Chromium carbon, steel and aluminum constitute solid pro-style look
Price: $350
03.
PING G440 LST
Why You’ll Love It: New titanium face, tungsten sole plate, Carbonfly crown
Why You Should Buy It: 3- and 5-wood can be adjusted 1.5 degrees up or down to fit your bag
Insider’s Insight: Players with faster swing speeds will swoon over trajectory and distance
Price: $549
04. TITLEIST GT2
Why You’ll Love It: More forgiving and easy to hit, even off very tight lies
Why You Should Buy It: The secret: advanced face & crown construction for impressive power
Insider’s Insight: Don’t be intimidated by classic Tour look; forgiving, stable, consistent Price: $400
05.
COBRA ADAPT LS
Why You’ll Love It: Titanium face for extra zing & 33 settings to adjust to your game
Why You Should Buy It: Adjust head in +/- 2 degrees in any direction, but face remains square Insider’s Insight: Ultra fine-tuning of this club can bring greater distance and shot shaping
Price: $429
06.
XXIO PRIME ROYAL EDITION
Why You’ll Love It: Same elegant materials as driver; best for slower swing speeds
Why You Should Buy It: Face design gives extra flex for more speed at launch
Insider’s Insight: XXIO calls it an “exalted look.” But it’s definitely eye-catching and classy
Price: $800
01.
SRIXON ZXi7
Why You’ll Love It: Unique bisected sole reduces digging for fast impact
Why You Should Buy It: Best looking hightech forged iron with outstanding feel
Insider’s Insight: Customize your set with ZXi5 long irons or ZXiU utility iron
Price: $185 per club
02.
COBRA 3DP TOUR
Why You’ll Love It: 3D-printed head with lattice behind face & tungsten weights
Why You Should Buy It: Amazing forgiveness and feel in a “tour-sized” head
Insider’s Insight: The future for demanding players; takes a full day to print each head
Price: $408 per club
03.
MIZUNO JPX925 FORGED
Why You’ll Love It: Great Mizuno feel in super techno-iron
Why You Should Buy It: Slots in cavity & thin face for high flex & ball speed
Insider’s Insight: Best combo of distance with legendary Mizuno feel
Price: $200 per club
04. PING BLUEPRINT S
Why You’ll Love It: Forged 8620 carbon steel super soft compared to cast irons
Why You Should Buy It: “Pocket cavity” design induces higher flight in long irons
Insider’s Insight: Ping knows pros love forged heads for feel & shot shaping
Price: $187 per club
05. TAYLORMADE P970
Why You’ll Love It: Center of gravity precisely placed in each head = more distance Why You Should Buy It: Improved feel of forged but with explosive launch at impact
Insider’s Insight: New: an even lower CG in the long irons enhances launch and playability
Price: $200 per club
06.
PXG WILDCAT
Why You’ll Love It: Wide sole, extreme interior weighting = high, straight shots
Why You Should Buy It: Designed to make it easy for those new to the game
Insider’s Insight: Interesting how “best player” manufacturer is broadening its line
Price: $120 per club
01. PING s159
Why You’ll Love It: Star Blast milling on face increases friction for more spin
Why You Should Buy It: Higher lofts have tightly spaced grooves for more edges
Insider’s Insight: Avid golfers will love the 25 options available for ultra customization Price: $200
02.
CLEVELAND RTZ TOUR RACK
Why You’ll Love It: Personalize every detail: bend, grind, color, engrave, etc
Why You Should Buy It: Unique steel is softer yet won’t rust as much over time
Insider’s Insight: The hosel is lighter (ZipCore tech) and the saved weight moves to toe
Price: $190
03.
TITLEIST VOKEY SM10
Why You’ll Love It: The master turns out another weapon better players trust
Why You Should Buy It: Many grind/bounce options to match your common course conditions
Insider’s Insight: PVD treatment achieves unique rich copper color - easy to see in the bag
Price: $180
04. MIZUNO T3
Why You’ll Love It: Little longer body with cavity back for more forgiveness
Why You Should Buy It: Made of soft 1025 steel with copper underlay for velvety feel
Insider’s Insight: Better players like the smaller-headed, straight sole design of T-1
Price: $180
05.
CALLAWAY OPUS PLATINUM
Why You’ll Love It: More grooves on face for tourquality spin
Why You Should Buy It: Aggressive face blast brings more spin and bite on soft shots
Insider’s Insight: Wanna turn heads? Get it in black shadow finish Price: $170
06.
COBRA KING
Why You’ll Love It: MIM construction means tighter grain structure & softer feel
Why You Should Buy It: Four sole options to match your most common turf conditions
Insider’s Insight: Low CG in lower lofts, higher in higher lofts for penetrating ball flight
Price: $169
01. ODYSSEY AI ONE SILVER MILLED 2
Why You’ll Love It: Consistent ball speeds no matter where you hit it on the face
Why You Should Buy It: Contours on aluminum backer molded to white hot urethane insert
Insider’s Insight: That White Hot feel just got more forgiving, and unique insert stands out $300
PING PRIME TYNE4
Why You’ll Love It: New insert has great feel; with more energy than urethane
Why You Should Buy It: Twin-forks head promotes straight-back, straight-through stroke
Insider’s Insight: Old urethane insert on urethane ball cover can come off as “dead”
Price: $200
BETTINARDI INOVAI 6.0
Why You’ll Love It: Aluminum body backs super milling in face for ultimate feel
Why You Should Buy It: Super-high MOI for no twisting on off-center strikes
Insider’s Insight: A piece of art that brings superb confidence with each strike
Price: $400
04. COBRA SUPERNOVA
Why You’ll Love It:
A 3D-printed cavityback putter bringing remarkable stability
Why You Should Buy It: Single-bend shaft & high MOI is perfect for straight-2-straight stroke
Insider’s Insight: Internal 3D-lattice structure behind face maintains highest MOI
Price: $349
05. CLEVELAND HB SOFT BLACK
Why You’ll Love It: Simple but elegant design will straighten out your stroke
Why You Should Buy It: Popular head shape with three alignment marks Insider’s Insight: Great feel and performance from lower-priced line Price: $200
06.
LAB DIRECTED FORCE 3
Why You’ll Love It: New company based on lie, angle and balance (LAB)
Why You Should Buy It: Each model is designed for very little face rotation, increasing MOI
Insider’s Insight: Off-center hits travel true as putter and shaft find correct path to ball
Price: $449
01.
BRIDGESTONE e12 HIGH LAUNCH
Why You’ll Love It: Air has less friction than grass, longer in the air - more distance
Why You Should Buy It: Soft core stays on clubface longer to give that higher launch Insider’s Insight: Best overall performance for the full spectrum of recreational golfers
Price: $35/dozen
02.
TITLEIST PRO V1X
Why You’ll Love It: Refined core induces higher launch and more spin
Why You Should Buy It: ProV1 model has less spin and lower launch; softer feel on approach shots Insider’s Insight: ProV line accounts for 1 of every 5 sold in the U.S.
Price: $55/dozen
03.
SRIXON Z-STAR DIAMOND
Why You’ll Love It: Great performance with reformulated highvelocity core
Why You Should Buy It: Thinner cover produces more spin on mid-and long irons
Insider’s Insight: Earthfriendly new cover derived from plant-based Biomass
Price: $50/dozen
04. TITLEIST AVX
Why You’ll Love It: Different dimple pattern induces lower flight, less spin
Why You Should Buy It: Doesn’t require a high swing speed to get the most performance Insider’s Insight: Some might find this model a little “squishy” with short irons
Price: $50/dozen
05.
MIZUNO PRO
Why You’ll Love It: Low spin but with very soft feel means ball speed and control
Why You Should Buy It: Thinner cover, thicker mantle work together for increased ball speed Insider’s Insight: Axial Flow Dimple Design creates penetrating ball flight
Price: $48/dozen
06.
TAYLORMADE TOUR RESPONSE
Why You’ll Love It: Wide, easy alignment strip also makes for easy visibility
Why You Should Buy It: Urethane, cover, softer core for slower swing speeds
Insider’s Insight: Tour Flight Dimple Pattern same as TP5 for longer carry
Price: $43/dozen