CLEVELAND CG7 IRONS

Player: Chris Bradshaw Handicap: 9 MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Cleveland CG7 Tour 3-iron to pitching wedge fitted with True Temper Dynamic Golf stiff steel shafts

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
I use a full set of hybrid irons, so I expected to have issues with this iron aesthetically. The head and face certainly were more blade-like. However, you can see in the cavity there’s a bit behind it with the rubber insert, which inspired a bit of confidence.

VERDICT:
The CG7 Tour was very workable, and the feel very impressive through the set. The shafts were stiffer than my current irons, which I actually felt suited me better. The accuracy of the irons was absolutely terrific, which was noticeable on the tight course we played for the road test. On the 9th hole, I hit a 7-iron from the rough which actually struck the flag stick and ended up 10 feet from the hole. I really noticed the great feel off the sweet spot.

By the end of the round, I had totally settled in with these Cleveland irons. Being so different to what I currently use, that really says something about their impressive performance. I believe that if were to I use these clubs regularly, my game would keep improving – they really do help to produce the shot you need at any time.

Player: Bruce-Robson Handicap: 16 MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Cleveland CG7 4-iron to pitching wedge fitted with Fujikura Fit-On regular steel shafts.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
The CG7s present very nicely, they sit extremely well on the grass. In hand, they have a really good feeling – you pick them up and they immediately feel comfortable.

VERDICT:
It’s probably one of the most accurate irons I’ve ever played. An easy swing would get the ball where you wanted it to go. Thedistance control was great, and I was getting five extra metres with every iron without any additional effort.

The ball comes off the face very solid, a feel which I liked. The trajectory the CG7 produced – stronger, more penetrating – suited my game better. I could get some spin on the more lofted irons, while I quickly noticed the long irons were very easy to hit. The best shots I hit during the test were long approaches into par-4s.

Overall, the whole set was very forgiving. I felt I never really hit a bad iron shot, or when I did I never got into serious trouble. Even if I mis-hit it, it stayed on the line I needed with no big hook or slice.

There really wasn’t a negative about the CG7 at all – I was already looking to buy the set once the round was over.

FACTS& FIGURES

SUITABILITY: CG7 is suited to all levels of player, with the Tour version for low- to mid-handicapped players.
SHAFTS: True Temper Dynamic Gold steel and Cleveland CG7 graphite are standard options.
GRIPS: Cleveland Golf.
LOFTS: 6-iron is 30°; 3-iron, 50° and 55° wedges also available. Tour model 6-iron is 30.5°; 2-iron also available.
LEFT-HANDED MODELS?: Yes.
HOW MUCH?: $149 per iron (steel shafts); CG7 in graphite and Tour model are $159 per iron.
CLEVELAND SAYS: “The new CG7 and CG7 Tour irons both provide the technical support every golfer is looking for in their irons: feel, distance and forgiveness.

From the June issue of Golf Australia magazine