Your opinion on best DTC irons?

[jonsnow]

I'm probably going to be replacing my Bridgestone DPCs sometime this year. I've liked the DPCs a lot & had them refinished & regrooved a couple of years ago. I'm not willing to pay what new OEM irons are going for these days so looking at the DTC options. I like what I see on video reviews of Takomo, Sub 70 & New Level offerings but hard to get a good feel for them without seeing them live. May take advantage of some demo options. For those who've gone this route, which do you like & why? Thanks...

[Phabs]

New level gets my vote.  Played their utility iron for the last 4 years and demo’d the pf1/pf2 iron heads.  Just ordered two hybrids for a buddy who loves em. 

Edited May 28 by Phabs

[parbung]

i've only had sub70, but Jason and Cody from sub70 are very communicative and helpful.

 

been gaming the 699 pros for the last 4 seasons and gifted few wedges to some people and have nothing but positive to say about them. 

 

I've read and heard issues with takomo. 

 

 

 

Edited May 28 by parbung

[Rbsiedsc]

Sub70 will get you the most customization possible from a shaft and grip perspective. New level is a close second and they are less expensive than Sub70s new offerings. Takomo's are the cheapest but also most limited in customization and are coming from Europe.

 

I had a sub70 hybrid and liked it. If I knew what I knew now I'd still be gaming it. I also am gaming a Caley (Another DTC) utility iron and it is really fun to hit. However, that company is a lot like Takomo in terms of customization.

 

Haywood golf is a higher end DTC out of Canada. Buddy has a wedge from them and loves it. Heard lots of good things about them.

 

When I got fit for my irons, I regretted not going DTC to save some green FWIW.

Edited May 27 by Rbsiedsc

[BBO]

Maltby, hands down. They are actually designed custom by Golfworks and not just picked out of a foundry catalog with their names slapped on it. Super affordable and forgiving clubs. Go see the TS-2 thread and see all the love for them. You can buy them in "paks" assembled for a great value, or custom with any shaft/grip combo you want.

[ChaosTheory]

I like and play Maltby.  They have many models but they are all pretty similar when it comes to sole shape and bounce (low to medium), and vertical center of gravity (low).  If those fit your needs, Maltby irons are great.  If you want higher bounce, I'd personally look at Takomo.  I have not seen the others to know what their soles are like.

Edited May 27 by ChaosTheory

[PedronNiall]

Maltby and Sub 70 are the most likely next buys in my "no need for new clubs" purchases mainly for the fact that on top of looking lovely and having functional design to make even their blades forgiving they have very fair pricing. I like supporting brands that utilize tech well, give value for the money, and offer superb feel off the face and both of them fit firmly in that camp with their offerings from everything I've come across.

[Springsteennut]

I’m a big fan of Sub 70. I’ve been purchasing from them since not long after they opened for business and I’ve never been disappointed.

[DaBirdiMaster]

I got the Sub 70 669 MB irons a few weeks ago, they immediately knocked my Taylormade P7MCs out of the bag. Amazing irons, fabulous customer service, and some pretty good options for shafts grips and ferrules

[Ger21]

My top 3 would be Maltby, Sub 70, and New Level. All the rest are copy and paste stock Chinese clubs.

 

 

44 minutes ago, DaBirdiMaster said:

I got the Sub 70 669 MB irons a few weeks ago

 

These clubs made me want to buy a new set of irons. Ultimately, though, I went with the Maltby TS4's, because they were 25% cheaper for heads only. And while I haven't hit the Sub 70, I'm pretty sure the TS4 is a more forgiving iron, and a better fit for my game.

 

The TS4 is a beautiful iron, with loads of forgiveness where I need it, low and toe side.

 

I've played the original Sub 70 Pro driver, and 949X 4 wood for a couple years, and they were great clubs.

Edited May 27 by Ger21

[Ajgaguy83]

New Level has been really good. It's a unique feel (very good), but all of the their products have been quality. 

[ldh692002]

Sub 70 has the most options for customization and they make great products. I will say this, I hit the takomo 201 irons, they are beautiful and felt great fwiw

best of luck!🍀 

[DaBirdiMaster]

57 minutes ago, Ger21 said:

My top 3 would be Maltby, Sub 70, and New Level. All the rest are copy and paste stock Chinese clubs.

 

 

 

These clubs made me want to buy a new set of irons. Ultimately, though, I went with the Maltby TS4's, because they were 25% cheaper for heads only. And while I haven't hit the Sub 70, I'm pretty sure the TS4 is a more forgiving iron, and a better fit for my game.

 

The TS4 is a beautiful iron, with loads of forgiveness where I need it, low and toe side.

 

I've played the original Sub 70 Pro driver, and 949X 4 wood for a couple years, and they were great clubs.

Nice. I think Haywood does their own R & D btw

[TNwanabe]

Ben Hogan. Gorgeous irons, not expensive, original engineering. At least have a look.  

[lambo428]

I don't understand the allure of DTC irons...you usually can't try them before purchase...they all look like they came out of the same factory in China (at least the cast ones do)...and they are no longer reasonably priced. Even if forged, they are no where near as nice feeling as Mizuno, Titleist, etc.  I tried a set of New Level irons - nothing outstanding about them and returned them.   

 

I recently picked up a nice used set of Mizuno 921 Tours for under $700 with the shafts that I wanted.  So in my opinion, any 2-5 year old used, mainstream irons in great shape will probably outperform any new DTC brand and still cost less.

[Ty_Guy]

I've heard some good things about Maltby and Ben Hogan, but only one DTC iron has won a major:

 

Avoda!

 

They may no longer be strictly "direct to consumer." Though what they are doing to combine the benefits of single length with combo length irons is the exact unique approach a DTC company should offer. A different company (Forward?) builds their entire iron philosophy by grinds. Setting themselves apart by specializing in something seemingly insignificant like that is where these little guys shine.

 

I like to see DTC products focus in like this instead of the "cut the middle man approach" to give clubs at half the cost. Cheap clubs have their obvious benefits, but I'd rather see PGA Superstore or Dick's Sporting goods offer that and have the little guys take the artisan approach.

[gators78]

2 hours ago, DaBirdiMaster said:

I got the Sub 70 669 MB irons a few weeks ago, they immediately knocked my Taylormade P7MCs out of the bag. Amazing irons, fabulous customer service, and some pretty good options for shafts grips and ferrules

How are they? There’s a heavy MP20 mb vibe with their design, so I’m intrigued. 

[DaBirdiMaster]

1 minute ago, gators78 said:

How are they? There’s a heavy MP20 mb vibe with their design, so I’m intrigued. 

Great irons. The two biggest things I'm seeing with them are that the slight v sole design stops them from chunking that much, and they have a lot of heel forgiveness but not as much toe forgiveness.

[Ger21]

56 minutes ago, Ty_Guy said:

but only one DTC iron has won a major:

 

New Level has cleaned up on the Champions Tour with Steven Alker.

[NRJyzr]

I don't personally consider them DTC (I count component companies in a different classification), but I'd go with GolfWorks/Maltby.  They have a number of designs that cover a lot of ground, and because they're a component house, you can source clubheads from them and build them exactly how you'd like.

 

[AU_Matt]

I’m currently on season 3 with a sub70 699v1 combo set. Entire process from customization, order, after sale service, etc was all fantastic. 
 

That said, I’m now coming around on the idea of replacing them and the maltby TS4s are calling my name.

[PPhil]

Maltby DBM TS4s 

[Asiangolfer1995]

Best ones I've seen are Sub 70, Maltby, New Level, and the VERY underrated Ben Hogan irons.

 

I would avoid Ram, Takomo, and Caley

[PARETO]

I’ve gone to Maltby. TE+V4. Amazing irons. Amazing price. 

[MattM97]

2 hours ago, lambo428 said:

I don't understand the allure of DTC irons...you usually can't try them before purchase...they all look like they came out of the same factory in China (at least the cast ones do)...and they are no longer reasonably priced. Even if forged, they are no where near as nice feeling as Mizuno, Titleist, etc.  I tried a set of New Level irons - nothing outstanding about them and returned them.   

 

I recently picked up a nice used set of Mizuno 921 Tours for under $700 with the shafts that I wanted.  So in my opinion, any 2-5 year old used, mainstream irons in great shape will probably outperform any new DTC brand and still cost less.

 

A few DTC brands like New Level you can buy a single "demo" iron for under $100 i think. Then can order the rest of the set if it works if not you have a beater club for the desert or whatever. 

[dmeeksDC]

3 hours ago, lambo428 said:

I don't understand the allure of DTC irons...you usually can't try them before purchase...they all look like they came out of the same factory in China (at least the cast ones do)...and they are no longer reasonably priced. Even if forged, they are no where near as nice feeling as Mizuno, Titleist, etc.  I tried a set of New Level irons - nothing outstanding about them and returned them.   

 

I recently picked up a nice used set of Mizuno 921 Tours for under $700 with the shafts that I wanted.  So in my opinion, any 2-5 year old used, mainstream irons in great shape will probably outperform any new DTC brand and still cost less.

Baloney on the “outperform” claim. That is subjective. The 921 Tour won’t do anything the 702CB can’t do. I prefer the feel of New Level irons over Mizuno, especially the Mizuno chromoly heads. 
 

Mizuno and New Level heads are both forged

from 1020 steel. 

[PJE]

Maltby. Fantastic designs which generally feature low to moderate bounce, longish blade lengths, and low COG.
Specifications on the head designs  are clearly outlined on the web pages. 
Build quality is excellent or you can build the clubs yourself. 

Edited May 28 by PJE

[vwgolfer]

Maltby TS3.  I tried the TS4 and the IMs.  TS3 are the best irons for the price I’ve hit. 

[Streuner]

with my recent experience of Takomo, Takomo NO, only if you order the heads only and build them for yourself.

If I would life in Northern America, Maltby for sure. but it is to much hassle to let send them to Europe.

[POKeefe]

14 hours ago, Ger21 said:

My top 3 would be Maltby, Sub 70, and New Level. All the rest are copy and paste stock Chinese clubs.

 

 

 

These clubs made me want to buy a new set of irons. Ultimately, though, I went with the Maltby TS4's, because they were 25% cheaper for heads only. And while I haven't hit the Sub 70, I'm pretty sure the TS4 is a more forgiving iron, and a better fit for my game.

 

The TS4 is a beautiful iron, with loads of forgiveness where I need it, low and toe side.

 

I've played the original Sub 70 Pro driver, and 949X 4 wood for a couple years, and they were great clubs.

This is the correct answer. To the point someone else made, though, most lightly used clubs from other brands are great too. You can grab a set of Srixon Z785 or ZX7 for <$500 as an example, and they're unbelievably pure. 

I do not have a very high opinion of Takomo, Caley, etc. There is no QC and a bunch of reprints from China. Takomo has taken off because they were well capitalized to pay every YouTube influencer to use their product. To me, their success is more a product of the fact that much of golf is marketing and how you feel that day. I don't see a reason why you would buy their clubs over going to Callaway Pre-Owned or Global Golf.