Edel SMS and SMS Pro Irons - 2023 Forum Review

[GolfSpy BOS]

Congratulations to our 4 Edel SMS and SMS Pro Irons Testers!!!

Testing a Combo Set of the SMS and SMS Pro Irons:

@Getoffmylawn & @ejgaudette

Testing the SMS Irons:

@ChitownM2 & first time tester @Triple_Putt

Also joining in the fun and testing out the SMS Pro irons:

@GolfSpy_BOS

We are very excited to get this test underway and know we have an excellent well represented group here if you're interested to see how the SMS or SMS Pro irons might work for you!  Click that follow button to make sure you don't miss out on any of the great content this group will produce!

Happy Testing!

 

 

 

 

[Getoffmylawn]

Getoffmylawn’s Review of the Edel SMS/SMS Pro Combo Irons – April 2023

 

Introduction. Hello fellow spies!  My name is Hayes.  By now I suppose I qualify as a long-term member here at the MyGolfSpy forum, and let me say up front that if you are in any way new-ish to the forum:  stick around!  Get involved and immersed, and not only will you find some incredible testing opportunities, but some great knowledge and potentially even lifelong friends.  As for this testing opportunity, first and foremost let me offer a huge “THANK YOU” to Edel and MyGolfSpy. As I’ll talk about several times over throughout this test I’m sure, this particular opportunity is right up my alley and I’m beyond excited, and honored, to have been selected.

A little bit about me:  I’m on Active Duty in the Air Force and have been for the past 22 years.  I’m currently at Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, PA, and will move this summer to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.  My wife and I have been married for 12+ years now, and we’re very very busy with 3 little ones ages 5, 7, and 9.  The bulk of time outside of work is spent running kids around to their many activities, from ballet to travel baseball, and when I do stumble upon some truly “free” time, you can bet I’m going to head to the golf course. Put simply, I’m an absolutely obsessed golf junkie and have been for about 10 years now, with precious little time at this stage of my life to actually play golf.

 

That puts me squarely at a 7 handicap right now.  I’ve taken a few lessons, I do plenty of strength training and speed training via The Stack System, and I have a basement putting green along with an assortment of training aids I use to do a lot of daily dry swings and drills.  As a result, for a guy who plays pretty sparingly I can still get it around halfway decent.  My scores tend to hover around that 78-82 range, but I’m also a threat to go lower or higher. Put simply, it’s tough to be consistent without more on course reps.

That consistency challenge is especially noticeable in my approach game.  Here’s the latest & greatest breakdown from Arccos on where I’m great and not so great, and as you’ll see, my approach game continues to hold me back. If I can clean that up, I’ll be able to capitalize on what Arccos says is above average driving and putting, and in turn start shooting the consistently lower scores I’m after.

Fitting.   I did NOT get a fitting from Edel, or specifically in preparation for this test.  I am instead relying on several fittings from the past year that have led me to the Frankenstein iron set I’m currently gaming...

 

I’ll post more of a What’s in the Bag later, but the bottom-line is I’m currently gaming a set of JPX 919 Forged irons, with copious amounts of lead tape throughout the set to put me at a swingweight of D3 across the set.  To make a long story short, 2 years ago I developed a serious case of golfer’s elbow, and the solution I landed on (in addition to some physical therapy) is the Aerotech Steelfiber i95.  Not only did I see near-immediate relief in my elbow, but I gained spin and 3-5 yards, and while some find them a bit boardy I’ve grown to love the shaft. However, my specs also call for the sticks to be a quarter inch short, and getting the swingweight right on a shortened Steelfiber shaft can be a challenge.  6 months ago I did a full bag fitting at Club Champion, and I got confirmation that the Steelfiber i95 is the ideal shaft for me, but that I needed to be at a D3 rather than a more typical D2.  So with that info in hand, I’ve been gaming some lead taped Mizuno’s that are about to sit on the sidelines (perhaps permanently) while a new set of Edel’s tryout for a spot in the bag!  On order is a combination set with the SMS Iron in the 5 and 6, and SMS Pro for 7 through PW. They’ll be swingweighted to D3, ¼ inch short, in a standard lie, and 1 degree strong.  (That will make for a gapping problem with my current wedges…more on that in another post.)

Curiously, when asked, Edel advised that they would achieve that D3 swingweight via tip weights, rather than through a heavier SMS Weight in the center.  My clubs will come with the standard 2-8-2 weights in the toe, center, and heel, but I will also be picking up 6 and 4 gram weights and playing with the weight positioning.  THAT is going to be my main point of emphasis for testing these irons.  The Swing Match System purports to help golfers find a level of customization not possible with more conventional clubs, and most every review I have seen or heard verifies that there is a distinct “aha” moment when the right weight configuration is plugged in. I intend to put that to the test and measure the results to find out what are the real differences in yards, spin, dispersion, etc., between weight configurations of 2-8-2, 8-2-2, 4-6-2, 6-4-2, etc.  The possibilities aren’t endless, but it’s close.

To do that, I’ve secured use of the Full Swing simulator at my home course clubhouse, and free of charge at that!  

My plan is to compare them heads up to my gamers in their standard configuration, then try all the different variations and document the differences.  Then, experiment with changing configurations within the set.

As a guy with a bit of heel-strike bias, and some difficulties turning the ball over on longer clubs, I am beyond excited to have a chance to achieve the kind of customization Edel says I can achieve with their system. If their claims prove true, the Edel’s will earn a spot in my bag.

 

Unboxing   So let me be clear up front on the unboxing thing:  I have high hopes that I'm really going to love these clubs, and the sticks themselves are freakin' beautiful.  My personal unboxing experience, however, left a bit to be desired.

Here's how my clubs arrived:

As you can see, the box is not the typical brand-specific box one would expect, and there is copious amounts of packing tape and "extras" going on to try and pack and ship these. In the end, the clubs arrived in perfect condition so all's well that ends well, but I have to say it wasn't quite the "premium" feel I was expecting.  I got over that initial disappointment quickly though, because even still in the plastic these things are gorgeous: 

First Impressions (Score: 17 of 20)   I can't wait to get these on the course. Out of the box, they are truly awesome to look at, and that applies to both the SMS and the SMS Pro.  Here's the SMS 5 iron:

And here's the SMS Pro 7 iron:

This being my first blended set of irons, I think one of my more immediate concerns was how well the set would transition from SMS to SMS Pro. As a reminder, here's my build sheet showing I've got the SMS in the 5 & 6 iron, and SMS Pro in 7 iron through PW.  I've also provided the specs from the Edel website for each line:

As you can see, the SMS has .7-.8mm more offset than the SMS Pro and has a half a millimeter thicker topline. Put next to each other, I have to say they blend really well together, with the only truly discernible difference being the non-milled sole on the SMS.  Here's the SMS 6 iron and the SMS Pro 7 iron side-by-side:

Add in some Steelfiber i95s and the Golf Pride ZGrip, and I can't wait to get these bad boys on the course:

Before I can get on the course, it's time to dial in the Swing Match Weighting...that comes Thursday.  I'll be posting spin and distance numbers with various weight combinations soon!

FINAL REVIEW

Aesthetics (Score: 9 of 10)  Put simply, these clubs are drop dead gorgeous.  As a blended set, Edel has done a masterful job in blending these clubs to appear as a natural progression. As you can see in the picture on the right (below) in particular, which is an SMS 6 iron and an SMS Pro 7 iron, these transition nearly seamlessly with almost imperceptible differences in offset and topline. They scream players iron, with a premium look captured in the Edel badging, Edel logo on the hosel, and the Edel-colored ferrules. And, while the Swing Weight Matching system is obviously front and center, it is integrated in a very clean and refined manner. Add in a classic satin finish, and Edel has created a masterpiece.

 

Sound and feel are nearly as masterful as well. Well struck shots offer a tremendously smooth and soft feel in both the SMS and SMS Pro.  I do find mishits to be more perceptible in the Pro, and herein lies my reason for knocking a point off.  Perhaps it’s unfair of me, since by definition a blended set is combining two different clubs, but the feel on mishits is different between the two. The SMS contains a urethane foam fill not found in the SMS Pro, likely explaining a more muted feel on off-center shots in the SMS. And, while I had no problems with using the SMS out of the rough, I would personally prefer if Edel would CNC-mill the SMS sole, like the Pro, to make the blend between the two irons even better. 

The Numbers (Score: 10 of 10)  Let me get straight to the point:  Swing Match Weighting works.  The system absolutely impacts ball flight, and allows a level of customization and optimization that I’m not sure other clubs can offer.

I was able to use a Full Swing Kit simulator to test my old gamer 7 iron against, the SMS Pro 7 iron in 4 different weight conflgurations. These irons come in a standard setup of 2-8-2, or 2 grams in the toe, 8 in the middle, and 2 in the heel.  Edel also offers additional 4 and 6 gram weights, meaning the customization options are extensive.  Knowing my tendencies as a heel striker, I experimented with varying levels of weight in the heel, with noticeable results:

As you can see, adjusting the weights made  significant changes in distance, spin, and accuracy.  In my optimized 2-6-4 setup, I’m gaining 5 yards more carry, less spin, and an astounding 12 yards better dispersion number.

Anecdotally, I would offer two more observations. One, for a “players iron” the set, particularly the Pro, is shockingly forgiving. Normally with that much less offset and a smaller blade size you would expect a bit more punishment from mis-hits, but I experienced many misses that retained a lot of distance and stayed on line. Second, these are VERY workable. On course, I’m not one to try and work a ball unless a tree is in the way, but on the range I love to try and shape shots as a form of practice. BOTH the SMS and SMS Pro are much more capable of bending shots than my previous gamers.

On-Course (Score: 20 of 20)  I’m really not much of a ball-striker. (Have I already said that?) As evidence, Arccos shows a GIR of 35% with my old gamers, certainly nothing to write home about.

 

I do not have Strokes Gained tracking of my rounds with the Edels.  For one thing, they’re just too damn pretty to stick a green sensor into the end of. However, I can absolutely verify my approach game significantly improved with the Edel’s in my bag. My last round with them was at the MGS Pinehurst Open at Talamore Golf Club, where I hit 12 of 18 Greens in Regulation. I was paired with several golfers, namely @cnosiland @cksurfdude who played with me last year who noticed a significant improvement in the quality of my iron play. In fact, @cnosil called it the greatest display of ball-striking he's ever seen!  Okay, that part's not true, but I did hit them pretty damn well. 

I can only chalk this up to the Swing Match Weighting system and the ability to truly customize the irons to the golfer. For me, moving a little mass to the heel not only improved my ball flight but also imrproved the quality of strike and my ability to access the sweet spot of the club.  Once again, Swing Match Weighting works.

 

The Good, the bad, the inbetween (Score: 16 of 20)  As much as I’m obviously a huge fan of the Swing Match Weighting system, I do think it could be improved just a bit in execution. The wrench supplied is almost like an Allen wrench, rather than the typical torque style wrench that comes with a driver and clicks twice to let you know the hosel is properly secured. With the Edel’s, no torque wrench, just a cautionary statement to be careful not to overtighten. The weights slot in easily enough and I can’t see how one could really overtighten them, but if that’s truly a concern then why not include a torque wrench?

 

It's a minor and maybe even petty grievance I know, but seems to me to be the logical improvement to make.

Additionally, I’m knocking off a couple of points for the packaging and overall process of getting the clubs.  To be clear, I love the sticks, but running out of the main Edel grip and Edel-branded shipping box kind of smacks of a smaller boutique builder without the wherewithal of a larger OEM. It was interesting to note the Callaway Paradygm testers received their clubs in essentially a week, while the 5 testers here seemed to get them one at a time and at longer wait times.  Again, love the clubs and the performance, but if you do go with Edel you might be slightly more likely to run into supply problems and longer wait times.

Play it or Trade it? (Score: 20 of 20)  Oh, these are staying in the bag, and I would suggest anyone in the market for new irons give these a look. Frankly, I’m convinced Swing Match Weighting works to help you find the sweet spot and optimize the clubs to adjust for your swing tendencies.  How many other clubs can say that? Add in surprising forgiveness in a players iron, and to me these irons should be considered by anyone in the market for new sticks.

Now, allow me to go off script for a seoond, and talk about what might be an elephant in the room on the MGS forum…the SMS and the SMS Pro placed very middle-of-the-road in Most Wanted testing in their respective categories. To my knowledge, those tests were done with the weights in the standard configuration…testers did not adjust the weights to optimize the clubhead.  You all know I’m a HUGE fan of MGS, and I normally wouldn’t question testing protocols, but I can’t see the logic in that.  Swing Match Weighting is the signature technology in the irons…how can you thoroughly evaluate the irons if you don’t use the tech??

Bottom line:  if you can, try them. 

Conclusion

Edel’s Swing Match Weighting works. Consequently, they’ve created a phenomenal set of irons that blend together nearly seamlessly and deliver exceptional performance. These irons can be customized in a way no iron can to help golfers optimize the fit of the club to their swing, and in turn optimize on-course results.

Final Score (Score: 92 of 100)
 

[ejgaudette]

Edel SMS/SMS Pro Combo Review

 

Introduction

Hello MGS for those that don’t know me my name is Evan, and I am very lucky to be heading into my third review for MGS. So, first of all thank you so much to Edel, MGS, and the mods as I know pulling these tests off are a true team effort and I count myself very lucky every time I have been selected. I started out just applying for tests and as many know that got me nowhere. I decided to stop applying for a bit and dive into the community, and I have found more than I could ever hope for from this community. So, to new members stick around and enjoy all the content as there is much more here than reviews.

I started playing this game at 12 with my dad at a par 3 course before moving to a smaller executive course, before finally getting a chance to move up to a full course. I enjoy public golf and am forever grateful to the local course that charged $10 for me to play anytime which made it possible for my dad and I to play every weekend. I was lucky enough to join my high school golf team for a couple years as the only real competitive golf I have played. I am now back into the game in a big way after a college/young career hiatus. I do have three smaller children but a lovely wife who supports me playing.

As for my actual golf game as Shot Scope will tell you my putting is the biggest strength of my game, mostly on the back of three putt avoidance and short putt make rate. Driving has improved and now with moderate length and minimal penalties driving is solid to at a scratch level. Short game can be a bit hit or miss but usually ends up around average. You are probably thinking man this guy can’t be good at everything right, and you would be correct. Iron play is by far my words area. Last years shot scope data will tell you just that.

So, you next questions is probably, what is guy doing testing the SMS Pros at all? Well, it is a bit of a vanity play and wanting to try a cavity back iron to be fair. I am currently gaming the Mizuno 919 Hot Metal Pro irons and it has been ok but has not changed my game with that added forgiveness. My misses are usually related to start line or shape not contact. I tend to overdraw the irons or leave the face squarer when missing right. Fat and thins of course are there but less of an issue. This is what interested me in the SMS irons and the movable weights potential to make the face control a bit more consistent, so I have a better chance of the ball moving one way.

This brings me to how I plan to test these irons. The biggest overall metric is strokes gained as tracked by Shot Scope. If I can get my approach play to a 5 handicap level that would be a great improvement. Given I am moving from a more forgiving iron I want to monitor strike consistency, shot shape, distance dispersion with the SMSs to ensure not too much is lost there. Given the movable weight technology I will also be testing how this plays out by moving my weights around. At standard I have 10-4-4 in the T-C-H positions. I will also be having 2 and 6 gram kits to adjust swing weight and move things around as I test.

“Fitting”

I say “fitting” as what I did to determine my specs should not be called a true fitting. I live a solid two hours from a Golf Tec or Club Champion so getting a true fitting was not an option. There is a retailer about 1 hour away that had a full Mizuno fitting cart which had all the shafts Edel offers. I tested a number of the shaft offerings all in the Mizuno JPX 923 Tour Head. I currently play graphite in my irons and the only offering from Edel is Steelfiber 95 and 110 so I started with the 95s. I enjoyed the weight and how I could feel the head. I then bounced to the 110s which also felt fine, but I could feel the weight in the shaft. At this point I felt I needed to give steel a try and used the Mizuno shaft optimizer. As expected, it wanted to give me more weight, like 130 grams, it seems to always do that. I did try some KBS and Modus 120 options around 120g but was not a fan. Went back to the SF 95s and loved the feel so that was the choice.

As for the weights I miss toe side generally so I am starting with the weights in the toe to improve that contact and hopefully help the over draw, but I will admit this is a bit of a guess. Also, the weights are going up from standard given the move to 95 gram shafts, and a mid-size grip to manage swing weight. The grip again is a bit of a change but in testing some other mid-size grips I have enjoyed the reduced grip pressure. Finally, all that was left was set make up. The Edel irons both SMS and Pro have the same lofts and are more traditional, so coming from the Mizuno HMP the 5 iron matches the Edel 4 iron. I have decided to get the 4 iron to help with testing, but I might drop it at times. My current 6 iron matches the 5 iron in loft so I also went SMS in there. From there on Pros it is from 6 down.

 For everyone that has been checking out the Edel site and building your set since this test was announced here is where I landed.

• 4-5 SMS, 6 – PW SMS Pro
• Std Loft
• Std Length
• 1 Flat
• Steelfiber i95 Stiff
• Golf Pride MCC Edel Red Gray Midsize
• Edel Red and Silver Ferrule (is there any other option)
• 10-4-4 for the T-C-H weights

So out with the old and in with the new,

I can’t wait to get this test rolling and look forward to seeing how everyone else gets along with the irons. Please send all the questions you got. Can’t wait to get that shipping notification.

 

Unboxing and First Impressions (20 out of 20)

After a bit of a delay due to a grip selection that was out of stock (can I still blame Covid for this, I think I can) the fateful delivery day came. Not that this is a review of UPS, but bit of a mixed bag on that front, my package arrived they day it was promised which is very rare for my rural location. On the other hand, the box looked like it had been through the ringer a bit. This is where Edel gets the first check mark from me, the packaging was stout around the clubs and all the heads were well protected and had not a mark on them.

The clubs look absolutely amazing. The finish is great, and I really enjoy the milling lines on the bottom of the pros. Updated grips were spot on and shafts look great, the little Edel sticker on the shafts is a nice touch. Overall the clubs had a real premium look and feel.

On top of that there was a nice little pouch to hold the extra weights and Allen wrench. The wrench also has a nice sandpaper like finish that give it a bit of that higher end feel. Might just have to make that my go to when putting together IKEA furniture in the future. Below is a video and some photos below showing the original unboxing and some comparison shots. I think these will show just how nice and clean these clubs look, I have to say the pictures online do not do these justice. If you have a chance to check them out in-person I would highly recommend it.

(Final note yes the video has no talking, have my recorded voice, even my wife has said wow that does make you sound higher pitched so some royalty free music from iMovie it is)

 

I will say that these sets really blend well, both offer the same lofts and the difference in off set and top line make them bled effortlessly. Without seeing the Pro 5 iron it would be hard to tell if the offset on the SMS 5 iron is more as it progresses from the SMS Pro 6 iron so well. In the photo the left if the 5 iron and the right is the 6, the only real difference from address is the top-line thickness, otherwise the blend is flawless.

In the first on course experiences I have loved the feel of these clubs. When I actually hit one out of the middle, wait I mean I do that all the time, the feel is wonderful. Also I have really enjoyed that tri-sole on the pros. I like to play a knockdown pitching wedge shot that gets a little steep to drive it in with higher spin so its easy to get stuck. The SMS Pro wedge has nailed this shot and really gets through the turf very nicely without digging in. Also early forgiveness returns are great as I have hit some clunkers that the toe weight has helped save me on. Looking forward to more time on course with them, more to come here.

 

Final Review

Here we are after a wonderful 6 weeks or so with the Edel’s its time to give my assessment. I have tried to get out with these a number of times both in the morning and evening. Some launch monitor testing, changing weights around, and sad to say various swing thoughts given the state of my iron game. I hope you find this review helpful.

 

Aesthetics (10 out of 10)

As this thread shows there are countless beautiful photos of these clubs. The badging, colors, and iron finish are all top-notch. I really want to dig into the finish on these, it is more of a brushed chrome with a darker tone that really looks clean and has very little glare. Even when playing in the afternoon sun (for those up this way yes, the sun still exists even if we can’t see it lately) it was never harsh looking down at the club. The addition of a couple ferrule options (something some other companies are doing) is another nice touch that really helps pull the club together. Finally, the showstopper is the sole on the SMS Pro, that milled line finish with the leading edge and heel relief just looks amazing. I have never enjoyed the look of an iron sole more. From a blending perspective, things look great, while top lines, off set, and blade length are different between model, I never felt like I was taking out such a drastically different looking club between the 5 and 6 iron. A solid combo set in terms of looks.

From a sound and feel perspective both models are great for their construction. The SMS being a hollowed body iron has a lovely dull crack with a satisfying solid feel. I previously played the PING I500 irons, and they were much louder by comparison and much prefer the SMS sound and feel. The SMS Pro has a more traditional sound of a solid thud like two dense pieces of wood colliding with just a bit more metallic tone to it. The feel is similarly very solid and makes mishits much more noticeable. When hitting of the toe of the Pro you know it while the regular SMS has less of this feedback, though still not no feedback.

 

The Numbers (9 out of 10)

Here is where the rubber meets the road in any sort of review, how does the club perform. I was able to get the SMS/SMS Pro combo set out in a number of conditions and for a number of rounds to give it a thorough test. Both models did well throughout the test, my terrible strikes at times notwithstanding. Throughout the set I found the clubs to have a solid peak height, and trajectory overall. In the last couple rounds I have been working to flight the ball down a bit more and this worked great on both models. The added speed and height from the 4 and 5 iron was welcomed to help with forgiveness and playability of the set.

On the short irons I really loved the SMS Pro and the consistency that the provided, with solid spin. Just yesterday I was able to get out and on back-to-back holes I hit to 133 and 125 both times I was able to slightly adjust and hit a nice wedge, and then take a little off and both spun and stopped at about 15 feet. Both shots went through the same window and a slight draw. Here is one of those shots,

That is what I would expect out of a cavity back design like the Pro, so it was great to see this. The mid-irons were strong as well with the ability to have the ball to go both ways if needed, though I am not one to move it much.

The SMS 5 iron had some really solid forgiveness and helped at that top end. I don’t think I have the speed for a SMS Pro 5 iron from a speed and height perspective. I actually got the 5 iron to be the same height or maybe even a bit more than the Pro 6 iron. The SMS irons were very straight flying with less workability which is perfect in a long iron to be sure.

In launch monitor testing I found the weight system really worked. With a bad set up I was losing 5 to 6 yards and loads of consistency versus when I found the correct weights distribution. I found the clubs to launch well and spin solid even with an ionomer ball, coming it a 5000 with a 7 iron, a number some get with a urethane ball. Part of this is the loft, 7 iron comes in at 32 degrees but also, I think the traditional profile of the Pro helps this. Though even the SMS 5 iron was spinning around 4200 with an ionomer ball (at 26 degrees) which highlights why I think many will still find consistency from the SMS even though they are a more distance-oriented club. Below are the numbers from the various weight set ups with a 7 iron that I tried and peak height performance of 5 versus 7 iron.

5 Iron

7 Iron

Overall, both models provide what is expected, precision and consistency in the SMS Pro irons and the SMS provide a bit more speed and distance without sacrificing consistency, really only giving up workability.

 

On-Course (19 out of 20)

The biggest question of all though is how to they play on the course. The jump into theses was a big leap for me, coming from a more game improvement profile to the cavity back Pro irons. Overall, I don’t think I have lost anything at all and in fact the short irons have given me a level of consistency that I lacked with my previous clubs. On countless occasions when I tried to go after a pin with the pitching wedge from 100 to 130 the clubs delivered with great control, something I was struggling with previously. To this end I had one of my best strokes gained approach rounds in years with the Edel irons only losing 2.2 shots (as you can tell iron play is a weakness).

Dispersion chart

Stroke Gained 2023 against a 0 Handicap

Strokes Gained 2022 against a 0 Handicap

The SMS 5 iron was a great option one of the par 3s that plays long and worked great when needing to layup on the one of the Par 5s, or after a poor tee shot on a par 4 like this one.

Not to mention the punch out game with the 4 iron was awesome to be able to really keep things low. The only clubs I really struggled with was the 4 iron on full shots. When well struck it seems to spin up and just never went as far as it should but that is purely a speed issue. I just need more ball speed from a hybrid at that loft, so keep that in mind for yourself.

As I mentioned earlier, I love being able to go high and low with the wedge and 9 iron while mid-irons had plenty of height and spin to stop the ball, even on drier days there was no concern of running through the green. On course I really noticed well balance performance throughout the set and in all conditions. The grind on the SMS Pros was also amazing. I can get a bit steep, but these clubs just wanted to glide through the turf. I have never noticed turf interaction until this club, it truly is something different than I have ever experienced.

 

The Good, the bad, the inbetween (17 out of 20)

Overall, I really enjoyed the clubs and Edel was very gracious in giving us all extra weights to test with. The build quality was great, even the little wrench that came with the weights had a sandpaper like coating that gave it a higher quality look. The only issue I had was that the grips that I and a couple other people selected we out of stock, but this was not clear on the website. I would have picked something else if that was noted to make sure we didn’t have to wait. Also, as with most smaller shops a few more stock shaft offerings would not hurt. Though the biggest plus for Edel is that the Steelfiber shafts are no upcharge which is awesome for those that are looking to try graphite shafts.

 

Play it or Trade it? (18 out of 20)

The clubs are staying in the bag for sure. I love the look and feel of the clubs and think that now with the weights in a better set up that things are going to get rolling. My only question is the SMS Pro 6 iron it might make sense to move to the SMS 6 iron given my speed. Also I noticed that from the 7 to the 4 iron only have 3 degree loft gaps, so I might stretch those out to avoid bunching. I don’t hit them all enough to have seem that but it does seem in limited testing to be bunched up a bit at that top end. For sure though that pitching wedge is my new favorite club.

 

Conclusion

If you are looking for a highly customizable quality set of clubs the Edel’s definitely deserve a shot to go in your bag. The performance is top notch, the SMS irons deliver distance and consistency, and the Pros are a true performance club delivering distance control and workability. Edel has a real strong offering on their hands here.

 

Final Score (93 out of 100)

 

PS: Scratch anything negative, I just smoked about 10 Pro 6 irons into my net, these clubs are the best ever

[ChitownM2]

ChitownM2’s Edel SMS Review

Introduction

I wanted to start off with a big thank you to both Edel and SMS for giving me the opportunity to review these new SMS irons.  My name is Ryan and this will be my fourth product review for MGS since joining the forum.  Previously I was fortunate enough to review the Ben Hogan (RIP) VKTR+ hybrid, the 2021 Maxfli Tour & Tour X, and then the Precision Pro NX10 last season. I thoroughly enjoy doing the reviews for the site and do my best to give back by performing the best possible review I can so if there are any questions you have or something you want to see please reach out by tagging me in this thread or shoot me a PM.

I’m currently 42 years old and have been golfing since my teens; however most of that time I never really took the game that seriously and then had a long break from ~2010 until late 2019 when I picked the game back up.  Since 2019 I’ve made it a point to try and get out as often as possible for someone with a full time job and a son who is playing travel soccer for the entire golf season.  For me that works out to getting out once on the weekend and starting last year I’ve been playing in a 9 hole Spark Golf league on Monday nights.

I’ve always hovered just below a 20 handicap but last season I started making some big gains in my consistency and knocked 4-5 strokes off my handicap over the last ~15 rounds of the season to get me down to a 15.  The biggest contributors to my improvement were better shots off the tee and working on my lag putting.  As you can see, my approach game is definitely something that is holding me back.  

I’m currently gaming a set of Srixon Z585 irons for the past 1.5 seasons that I really like a lot as they provide better feel / feedback compared to the G400 irons I was playing previously, but I purchased them second hand and still believe there may be better options out there for me.  Specifically, I’m hoping that the SMS irons and their hollow body construction will provide me with more consistency between my good shots and my mis-hits so I can hit more greens. 

 

For this test I plan to use my Arccos to compare my current irons against the new SMS and see if they are able to make a discernible difference in my approach game over the course of the review period. On a shorter term basis, I’m planning to use my Mevo and my local range’s Top Tracer to get some numbers for a direct comparison.  One of my swing flaws is coming in too steep and with a closed face so I tend to hit shots with a lower trajectory and less spin which can make it difficult to hold greens at times and I’m hoping that the additional loft on the SMS irons may help with that problem while I work through on trying to fix my swing.

 

Fitting

For those that have been following this test already, you’ve probably seen that I posted a dissertation about my fitting experience last week which you can find here. To summarize the experience, I would say that it was a learning experience for both myself and my fitter.  Since my fitter knew that I was coming in to look only at the SMS he had come up with a game plan to determine the best shaft for me along with the best position for the “heavy” weight which I appreciated.  Unfortunately, the execution of this plan fell a little short as it resulted in me taking a lot of test swings with a club that had a swing weight that was substantially lighter (C7) than I was used to (D3 gamers) or was typical for most irons in this category (D1 to D2). After going back the next day to re-assure my confidence in my selections I did arrive at something that I believe is really going to work for me.  

For this test I will be receiving a 4-GW set of SMS irons with standard L/L/L, a 4-10-6 (Toe-Center-Heel) weight configuration that matches the D3 swingweight of my current gamers and Steelfiber i95 shafts in a stiff flex.  

One interesting bit of info I got from my fitting is that Edel doesn’t provide typical fitting heads like most other OEMs.  Instead they send the fitters the available shaft options all with a special reverse thread tip adapter. It works fine, but it can be pretty difficult to change shafts after  you’ve hit a bunch of balls as the clubhead can really work itself onto the shaft and it can be hard to keep the shaft from spinning when trying to unthread it.  The other drawback I saw would be the inability to try out a bunch of exotic shafts that you might typically have at a Club Champion or similar for those whose game is more dialed in than mine and could benefit from that level of fine tuning.  

 

First Impressions - 5/27/23  (20 out of 20)

First off, there is no way to ignore that these irons are absolutely gorgeous.  I love the brushed finish, I love the weight ports and the black / red color scheme with the BB&F ferrules are a striking combination that isn’t currently matched by any of the big OEMs.  People always talk about how a certain set of blades may look amazing but in my opinion, these look as good or better than a set of blades and definitely better than most of the other offerings in the players distance category.  As someone who is on the high end of the handicap spectrum for an iron in this category I find the head size, topline and offset to be very appealing.  The topline is thick enough to inspire confidence but doesn't look like a shovel and the same goes for the head size & offset.  It's kind of a goldilocks.  

Now back to the beginning, the packaging from Edel has a premium look with a custom design that certainly beats the plain brown logoed box.  Inside the box the irons were well protected in foam and secured from moving around or banging into each other.  A build sheet with all of the specs from my order accompanied the clubs along with a a sturdy fabric pouch to hold any extra weights along with the allen wrench for adjusting the weights and a registration card. 

I inspected each of the irons and couldn’t find a single thing to complain about.  The build quality is top notch, the shaft labels all line up, the ferrules are turned down nicely, no signs of stray glue and the MCC align grips all are installed square.  The heads themselves all look perfect without a mark on them

Since I was the first to receive the clubs, I’ve had them in my possession for quite a while now and have had a chance to get in 3 rounds, 2 league nights and 3 range sessions.  So far I am impressed with these clubs. The feel is as good as my gamer Z585s and I have yet to hear any unpleasant sounds that some people complain about with hollow body irons.  Solid shots have a dull muted sound and my poorly struck shots are similar.  Based on my range sessions and the initial rounds, I have moved the 6 gram weight out to the toe (from the heel) as that is where my typical miss is and it seems that I’m getting some extra distance on my poorly struck shots, although that is hard to quantify.  Overall though, I am seeing a slight increase in distance but that may be due to some swing changes I've been working on this spring to improve my launch angle.  I plan to get on a launch monitor before the test is complete to compare the Edel vs. Srixon's and see if the new clubs are the difference.

 

Final Review 7/1/23

Aesthetics (10 out of 10)

I basically covered this above and it’s probably been said by just about everyone who has been following this test, these irons look fantastic.  They really do have a premium look to them and I can’t find anything that I would change.  Obviously looks are subjective but I have received a lot of compliments on the irons from both my buddies and the random players I’ve been paired up with over the last two months.

As great as these irons look, you can’t see most of their best features when you are standing at address, however I still like what I see.  I measured the 7 iron topline at 0.271” which is just a hair over the 0.256” Edel lists on their site and about 0.01” more than my gamer Z585s. For me, the thickness is just right, it’s thick enough to be confidence inspiring but thin enough that no one will mistake them for a set of SGI irons.  Likewise the irons have a reasonable amount of offset on them but not enough to be distracting.  This is one of the bigger differences between my gamers and the SMS irons, the Z585 lean towards the game improvement side of the category whereas I think the SMS are more in the middle of the players distance segment.

(SMS - Left       Z585 - Right)

Overall, there isn’t any subjective aspect of these clubs that I dislike. The looks are great but so is the feel. The primary attribute that got me to change from a set of G400 into the Z585s was the huge difference in feel.  The Srixons were the best combination of forgiveness and feel that I had found up to that point and I think the SMS have matched that feel.  Having never tried a hollow body iron prior to the SMS I had read a lot of negative things about the feel and sound of hollow bodies but I’m happy to report that I didn’t experience any of those things with these clubs.  Well struck shots have a solid feel like you were hitting a ball with a sledgehammer and produce a muted sound that is hard to describe.  It’s not clicky or high pitched, it’s almost like a quiet thud.  Poor shots provide enough feedback to let you know where the ball was struck and create a small click noise. The sound isn’t loud or objectionable but is enough to let you know you didn’t strike it purely.  

 

The Numbers (9 out of 10)

The numbers are telling a mixed story for me.  I’ve had these clubs to the range a half dozen times the past several weeks and some of the data backs up what I’ve seen and other parts of the data seem to contradict what my eyes are telling me, but I think there is an explanation.

As you can see, the TopTracer data says that the Z585 irons are longer (although that is probably within the margin of error) however, more importantly for me, the dispersion on the SMS is substantially better.  I believe there are two things going on here to explain these figures.  The first is that my tendency is to come over the top and close the face down.  This is the main cause of my low launch angle and lack of spin. In that regard, moving the 6 gram weight out to the toe seems to have helped me keep the face closer to square and the ball more online (smaller dispersion).  The square face creates a higher launch angle and higher peak height.  I will continue to experiment with this and will provide additional updates but based on what I’ve experienced so far the movable weight technology works and is helping my game.

The second conclusion I’ve drawn is that the SMS irons are likely longer than my gamers due to the fact that I’m basically de-lofting the Z585s which leads to less dynamic loft and leads to the longer distance figures on the launch monitor.  Unfortunately, that extra distance isn’t helpful for me because it results in a ball flight that is too low and can’t hold a green.  In other words, my swing is “loft jacking” the Srixon irons leading to the higher ball speeds and making the overall carry distances nearly identical.  

 

On the Course (20 out of 20)

On the course is where I have been most pleased with these clubs.  My Arccos says these irons are  within a few yards of my Z585, some clubs are longer and some are slightly worse but on the course I feel I hit them better and end up long as often as short.  This is not something that happened with my previous gamers. It’s hard to quantify or gather data on, but I feel that my misses with the SMS irons are less penalizing than my Srixons.  When I miss on the toe and know that I am going to come up short, I end up at the front of the green instead of 10 yards short of it.  That experience is confidence inspiring to say the least.  Overall, I feel like these irons are helping me to improve.  I’ve struggled with my long game for the early part of this season which has overlapped with the test and the irons have been the one consistent thing that has kept me from completely falling apart.  While I can’t say that my scores have improved, it is noteworthy that my scores have stayed level while I’m struggling with the one area that used to be a strength.  

 

As I mentioned in the previous section, I have issues getting enough height and spin with my Srixons to hold greens and I've noticed a difference on the golf course with the SMS irons.  Whether it is all the weights low in the club or the hollow body design or some combination of everything, I have seen a higher ball flight and a better ability to drop and stop balls on greens.  This probably has the biggest opportunity to help my game if it continues to hold true and I'm looking forward to see if the clubs combined with some swing modifications can really lead to big improvements.

The Good, the bad & the in-between (17 out of 20)

It’s easy to start off with the good, I love the way these irons look.  The brushed steel finish is amazing and I like the way the weight ports make the irons stand out from every other brand.  They obviously have a little PXG vibe but in my opinion Edel has done it better because the weights are actually functional rather than decoration.  I also like the clean look opposed to the two tone scheme PXG has been obsessed with the last few years.  They have just the right amount of flash without screaming look at me.

For me, the performance is the in-between.  The hard data says the performance of these irons isn’t substantially different than my gamers but my anecdotal experience on the course says they’re better.  I have more confidence in them and right now they are the part of my game that is working.  This is probably the biggest thing I plan to keep an eye on for my long term updates.  Is my iron game better with these clubs or is it just a placebo effect of having a brand new, absolutely gorgeous set of irons?

Finally, there are some negatives that are worth mentioning.  The first being the fitting process.  As many members of this forum can attest to, a fitting is really only as good as the fitter and there are probably a lot more average to bad fitters out there than really good ones. Unfortunately, that means there are going to be a lot of fitters out there that don’t know how to handle the extra variables that the SMS irons present.  In my situation, the fitter knew that I was specifically coming in to be fit for SMS irons and did some research into them beforehand and, in my opinion, still did a less than stellar job. I can’t imagine that the situation would be better if someone was coming into a truly brand agnostic fitting and was putting the SMS up against all the other options out there.  I’m not sure what Edel’s long term plans are under this new ownership group but I think one thing they should look into is expanding their fitting training or creating more of their own branded stores to make sure people see the strengths these irons offer.  

The other elephant in the room is the price of the clubs.  For as many compliments as I received on the irons, I got just as many weary looks when I told them what they cost.  If I’m honest with myself, I probably would not have considered a set of SMS based solely on the price if I was doing a brand agnostic fitting.  Even if they were within my budget, I probably would have considered Miura or another similar premium brand with more name recognition before giving the Edel’s a chance. It really has nothing to do with the clubs, but it is another hurdle that I think Edel will have to address moving forward.  Perhaps they will be able to mimic the success PXG has had moving from a premium brand into a more mainstream manufacturer with options at every price point.

Play it or Trade it? (20 out of 20)

This is an easy one for me, the Edel SMS irons are staying in my bag. Right now they are the best thing I have going and I’m hoping that over the rest of this season I can bring my game back up to match what I’ve been doing with these clubs and start shooting some personal best scores.  I really believe in the movable weight concept behind these irons as I think it’s helping my mishits now and is something that could help me with shot shaping if my game develops to that point.  

Conclusion

The short story here is that the Edel SMS irons look amazing but also have the performance attributes to back them up.  The feel they transmit back is as good as my Srixon’s and distance wise they are the same or possibly better.  Based on the testing I’ve done so far I think there is merit to their movable weight technology and I think it can benefit a high handicapper like myself or could be used by more skilled players to fine tune things in their swing. Without a doubt the SMS irons are going to be staying in my bag for the remainder of the season and probably a lot longer based on my experience so far.

Final Score 96 out of 100

 

 

[Triple_Putt]

Triple_Putts Official Review

Edel SMS Irons 4-GW

Introduction 4/18/23

Hello everyone!  I'm extremely grateful to My Golf Spy and to Edel for allowing me to test these beautiful irons! As most can tell I'm pretty new to the site, even though I lurked through google for many, many years looking for the ever elusive missing puzzle piece to my 100+ score golf outings.  The idea of testing something this important was merely a fantasy when I put my name in the virtual hat, but I am very ready to follow through and provide a test and review that hopefully people can relate to, learn from, or at the very least enjoy. 

  I have lived here in Connecticut for my entire life and have been playing golf for nearly 15 years at this point. I have played as time allows while working two jobs the last 10 years and mostly find myself playing public courses around the state whenever I can. In the past 18 months I have started a new career at a very large transportation company, and while I have lost my weekends off and usually end up working night time hours, this has surprisingly led to me spending A LOT more time on my golf game and a lot more time out on the course.

  Going from basically no practice and hitting the course once or twice a month and still continuing to shoot 100+ every round, to now practicing weekly and playing 18 holes at least once a week spring through fall, I have been able to bring my handicap way down and have shot as low as 86 at the end of last summer.  Even with our shortened season up here in the northeast, there has been an influx of indoor simulator venues so my clubs still get a chance to be swung year round, even when the snow is on the ground. 

My current set of irons are probably clubs that nobody has seen out on the course in well over a decade, ping i3’s….. A hand-me-down set.  While I do truly love these clubs; they reward you for hitting the ball well, and punish you harshly if you step out of line.  I have tried to play with other clubs over the years, but just never felt comfortable to dive in and invest in the latest and greatest.  I’m hoping these Edel’s will provide the forgiveness I'm looking for, along with the ability to adjust for my game, rather than adjusting myself to the club.  Finding a set that will allow me some more “wiggle” room and make its way through the turf better, and be more workable would be a huge improvement for me and my game. The testing will determine that! 

I honestly had only really glanced at Edel as a brand prior to this, and didn’t even know they already had a full set of wedges until I started researching their website after the Testing was announced on here.  After that I dove into the reviews on this site for those wedges to see how the Swing Match System was received, and from the glowing reviews of the system itself, as well as the thoughts on how high quality the Edel product was, it certainly ramped up the feeling of wanting to test out these SMS Irons even more.   

Feel free to ask any questions and I'd be happy to answer the best I can! I'll also have some help to test out these irons, he's great at supervising!

 

Cheers

The Fitting

The closest shop to me that had the SMS head to be fit with was my nearest Club Champion.  I had never been fit for any clubs before, so I was nervous from the moment I called to schedule through the time I walked in the door with my clubs a few short days later.   My fitter was a very nice guy and had me warm up, which kicked off the numerous mishits and general horror that is my golf game.  He was very kind… “Believe me, I've seen much worse” and slowly but surely I started actually getting some decent hits with my current set to see where I was and we could move forward.  A few minutes with the tape measure and he figured +¼” would be about where I need to be.  I had a chicken scratch list of the stock shafts that Edel has available to order with, and we started down the line with what he thought would be best for me.  After working through both the Steelfiber, and most of the lighter weight side of the Steel shaft options, 3 shafts stood out as far as dispersion and length.  

The KBS Tour R 110g, the Modus3 Tour 120 R, and then the Project X LZ 6.0.  The Steelfiber shafts just did not seem to be right for me, and while I actually had the most distance with them, my left to right was much wider, nearly double.  I’ll take accuracy over distance any day.

Once settled on the KBS Tours, we set out to see if I needed to adjust any of the lies or loft. After some swinging he recommended I order them standard and get some time under them and decide from there if any tweaks should be made.  It seems like I could benefit slightly from some upright Lie, but I honestly was too inconsistent with my swing to really nail it down; something I really need to work on.  We also did some experimenting with the Swing Match Weight System, which is obviously the huge attraction to these Edel Irons.  The stock 3 weights are from Heel, Center, Toe 2,8,2 grams.  We started by pushing the 8 grams out the toe and I could actually feel a difference! It was shocking! Even though the head weight is the same it certainly feels heavier on the swing.  Felt like I was swinging harder naturally but accuracy diminished a tad(again very limited testing, much more to be done when they are actually in my hands!).  After that we moved the weight to the heel, and it definitely felt lighter on the swing, and I found it more neutral and I was making great contact almost every single time.  This is where we pretty much ran out of time, so that is most likely the starting point with the weights when these beauties arrive.  Overall the ease of changing out the weights make me think that setting up the weight for each individual club wouldn't take much time at all out on the range.  Moving the weights around, even being only 8grams, changes how it feels instantly to swing, I really was shocked and doubted if my relatively unskilled game would be able to detect such a thing. How wrong I was and now im counting down the days until these arrive!

Once again feel free to ask any questions and I will answer the best I can!  I really wish I grabbed some photos but after a rough start on just warming up I focused on trying not to waste any of the fitters time and get the work done. 

 

Initial Impressions 5/28/23

 

After a slight delay due to grips I wanted being out of stock, the clubs finally hit my doorstep.  Much like Hayes, my clubs did not arrive in a nice Edel box, and it looks like UPS decided to exercise next to zero caution in keeping the box looking pretty.  Nonetheless, the clubs arrived and looked absolutely gorgeous with nothing missing, and all neatly tucked in foam with the nice Edel pouch tucked and taped between it all.  

These clubs are beautiful looking, and not a scratch or a mark from them being assembled could be found, they were nicely shrink wrapped and once taken out really had a premium look.  The look of those weights in the back has really started to grow on me just from staring at them(probably for too long), and especially now that I've swung them; more on that in a minute.  The midsize Golf Pride MCC Align grips look awesome, and feel great in the hand.  This is my first foray into the MCC’s, as I usually play Tour Velvets, so far I'm very happy with them.  The nice pouch they include for the weights and wrench is a nice touch and feels right at home in the golf bag already.  I checked all the weights and everything was snug and ready to go for my first swings out at the range.

Here is a look at how the SMS 4 iron looks compared to my “vintage” Ping i3 oversized, as well as solo.  The back of the sole is barely noticeable when teeing up and the top line is slender, while still having a forgiving look to it, even though it is a bit smaller than my current gamers. Edel only goes down to a 4 iron, and while I currently have a 3 and a 4 in my bag, I realistically hit those clubs almost identically from a distance and trajectory standpoint, so just having the 4 will be A-okay with me. 

The same but with my 7 iron instead

And finally a look down compared to my MacGregor pitching wedge.  The Edel is much smaller surface area wise, and has a lower toe height, but so far I haven't noticed fouling off any shots due to the lower toe and less surface area.

I'd also like to note that this is the first time I have a Gap Wedge to play with.  Currently I just jump right from my pitching wedge right to a 60*(a 15* gap), and while it has worked out fine for the most part, having something in there to bridge the gap I am hoping will be helpful in allowing me to do a little less guess work when trying to get to the green from in closer.  Having the Gap be the same club head as the rest of my irons seems like it would be a good idea to try and keep things consistent and help build up some confidence when trying to stick it on the green from ~100 yards or so. 

On The Range

So far I've spent two days with these beauties on the range and my initial feelings are good.  They have a distinctive “click” when you make good contact, almost reassuring you that it was decent before seeing its flight.  I was expecting to feel a little less vibration due to the foam and design, but nothing outlandish and it almost seemed to get better the more I hit the same club, though I might just be getting used to it more. It's also my first time playing with the KBS Tour shafts which may also play into the dampening characteristics of the clubs. These irons also have lower lofts compared to my Pings, so while I don’t have concrete numbers to compare for distances(yet), they certainly seem to fly a bit lower and further than I'm used to.  Both days I went I forgot the foot powder on the counter at home, but when it felt like I made contact more on the outside near the toe it was not nearly as far off and more “saved” than my current clubs, which would usually end up about three fairways over. I'm also lucky to have a grass area to hit from at my range and all the clubs seem to interact really well with the turf and don't feel choppy or like they hang up.  I try not to spend too much time over there as it gets destroyed quickly but initial impressions are great.

I am playing a quick 9 tomorrow, so my first time on the actual course and am very excited to really put them through the paces the best I can.  I also am heading to the simulator at the end of week to try and get some distance, height, and dispersion numbers to try and compare with my current gamers.  

As always let me know if anyone has any questions!

 

6/30/2023

Triple_Putts Final Review of the Edel SMS Irons, 4 iron - Gap Wedge

I would like to start out by thanking Edel and MyGolfSpy for this opportunity, being my first test ever on the site. I really put my all into this and I hope it helps those of you on the fence about the clubs.

First Impressions (18 out of 20)

Having the ability to move weights around on a golf club is not a new concept, at least for the top end of all of our bags. But it is a relatively new concept when it comes to your irons, the precision side of your bag.  Edel set out to create a beautiful set of irons to compliment their wedges, which introduced the ability to move weight around on the club head and tailor them precisely to you and your swing.  The technology initially had me skeptical, mostly due to my high handicap scores and wondering whether or not I had the ability to truly feel a difference  moving a few grams of weight around the club head.  They claim that these forged beauties are 15% more accurate and can add as much as 5.6 yards to your distance, a bold claim, but the numbers will determine that!  The one negative I have with my first impressions is the shipping box they sent it in.  I was expecting an Edel branded box to go along with high dollar irons, and unfortunately it was delivered in a slightly oversized plain box where the clubs had plenty of room to move around as they made their way to my house.  That said, the clubs were in nice foam, with the nice weight pouch sandwiched in between, the heads wrapped nicely in shrink wrap, and all the clubs arrived without a single mark or defect on them both from shipping and also from assembly.  I’ve taken away 2 points for the generic oversized box and somewhat sloppy packaging with no literature, etc.  Now, onto the looks!

Aesthetics (10 out of 10)

 They certainly nailed the beautiful part, with the brushed finish and  red, black, and silver ferrules to match the logo and lettering on the head.  Finishing off the aesthetics with the three weights on the back of the head, at first I was apprehensive on the looks of them, but they certainly grow on you quickly as I spent plenty of time admiring each and every club after taking them out of the box.  With a thin top line, and sole barely visible when at attention behind the ball, they are forgiving looking without looking overly large.  The GolfPride MCC Align grips along with the KBS Tour shafts complete the Red/Grey/Black look and accent nicely to truly make these clubs beautiful.  They get asked about every time I take them out, whether it's at the course, range, or the simulator.

The sound of these irons is also great.  A nice “click” while not being annoying.  Even when I know I've caught the ball on the toe, the sound stays almost identical, maybe just a tad more dull.  Overall a very smooth sounding club that you wouldn’t mind listening to all day.

The Numbers (10 out of 10)

These clubs are without a doubt much more forgiving than my current Ping’s, which is the biggest thing I need in a new set of irons.  Even when catching the ball on the toe or on the inside, I'm still getting a straight ball flight just with some decreased distance, a welcome change compared to the ball heading towards the adjacent fairway when I grab one off the toe with my current gamers.  That being said, I am finding that I make contact with the centers on these almost all the time. I think this has a lot to do with being properly fit for these rather than having just a box stock setup.  They just feel natural to swing and like the head is right where it needs to be when making contact.

My accuracy is much improved, the left to right is night and day, these Edel’s just fly straight (as straight as my skill level allows) almost every time.  I am definitely a point and shoot golfer, without the ability to shape a shot on demand, so having clubs that will fly straight and where I intend them is needed to try and bring my scores down and keep the fun factor high on the course.  As you can see from the chart, these clubs are going farther and in a much tighter group than my current set, who wouldn’t be happy with improvements like this?  My control over the ball is drastically improved, which is leading to higher confidence when standing over the ball with an iron in my hands.  So how about Edels claim about 5.6 more yards and 15% more accuracy?  Well they actually exceeded that for me in both categories! Picking up 8 yards in carry, and a 43% increase in accuracy.  Now I will have to admit, I think A LOT of this has to do with actually being properly fit for clubs in general, but the numbers are there to support their claim in my case!

On-Course (20 out of 20)

Out on the course these irons shine.  They feel great both off the tee, and when in the fairway or the rough. They come through the turf very well and still glide through relatively smoothly even when hitting it a bit too chunky.  Gone is the worry of grabbing nothing but a huge chunk of sod and leaving my ball almost unmoved when trying to save my ball after my inevitable slice with the driver.  Trying to save my score with these irons feels less like a chore and more like a challenge, feeling like I can walk up with confidence rather than scratching my head and saying a prayer while I grab a club from the bag.  Off the tee is also improved for me, I feel like they do a better job of driving the ball out and upwards on a mid flight trajectory rather than skying it for the wind to battle with and blow around.   Like I said before, these irons inspire confidence for me and I actually trust the yardages that I can hit with them.  As an example, if I am ~ 100 yards from my target, I know that I'm grabbing the Gap wedge, there is no guessing like I previously would with my gamers.  They have tightened up my game, and I actually have shot my lowest ever round thanks in part to these irons(an 87). Even without having the chance to hit the range and warm up before heading out, the iron game has become the least of my worries out on the course at the start of a round. 

The Good, The Bad, The In between (17 out of 20)

To start off with, the fitting process was great, and had I not been so new to it we most likely could have messed with weight placement as well as swing weight in the time allotted(about an hour).  One thing I was a bit disappointed in was the amount of shaft options they have available on their site for such a premium product.  Compared to others with dozens of choices, hopefully you can find a shaft to fit your swing within their choices(minus 1 point).   There is no doubt these clubs look great, and perform better. They fly great off of the entire club face, not just the dead center, and come through turf nicely when needed.  These may not be the longest irons out there, but they certainly are no slouch and have increased my distance, while closing up my left-to-right significantly.  They fly straight and are extremely predictable, which is what has helped my game the most.  I do feel they have a bit of harshness in the hands when really smacking the longer irons(minus 1 point), but I think that may have a lot to do with my shaft choice as well as the GolfPride MCC grips which are pretty firm. It feels like I'm getting more and more used to this the more I play but definitely still noticeable.  Moving onto the Swing Match System, and as a self diagnosed “gear head”, I love the fact that I can move weight around on the club head in a matter of seconds.

One thing I also have noticed is that changing the weights out and making the 7 iron feel perfect, doesn’t exactly translate to both longer and shorter irons.  For example, when I swapped out the pitching wedge weights to match my likings on the 7, it just felt “off”, and I have since gone back to the stock weighting on the P and G wedges until I can really mess with them over a few hours on the range or simulator.  Basically, every club would need to be dialed in separately to make them feel exactly how you want(minus 1 point), but kudos to Edel because having the ability to do this without mucking up your clubs with lead tape is a thing of beauty, just time consuming.

Play it or Trade It (20 out of 20)

The photo below should say it all, these are staying in the bag, no question about it. Having a confidence inspiring set of irons in the bottom end of your bag does a world of good towards improving your entire game.  They keep feeling better and better in the hands and more like an extension of the body the more I play them.  Leaving the golf course not feeling dejected about how you played has kept me wanting to play more and more, which is something I used to not say about my game.  

Conclusion

If you are looking for a set of irons that are beautiful, have exceptional build quality with matching fit and finish, and enjoy the idea of dialing in your clubs over weeks and months as you find what feels best, these are the clubs for you.  They come with a high price tag, but the premium look and feel of these clubs would be tough to be outdone.  From the mid level ball flight, great feeling across the entire head upon impact, and the way it comes through the turf both skinny and fat, these irons make you feel good when standing over the ball no matter the shot.  Dialing in the weighting system is absolutely worthwhile, so while it is a bit time consuming, a few nights at the simulator with some friends could go a very long way into finding what works best for you and leading to gains out on the golf course.  It's actually fun for me to go through that process and tinker with the clubs without needed any spectacular tools or talent.  These clubs make me feel confident when standing over the ball, and I have no doubts I am playing better golf with these in my hands.  

Final Score (95 out of 100)

[GolfSpy BOS]

Edel SMS Pro Iron Review | GolfSpy BOS Edition

 

Introduction

Well it’s probably about time for me to update this thread with my introduction and unboxing/first impressions of these beautiful Edel SMS Pro Irons now that all of our forum testers have their gear in hand!

  

Hi! I’m Bryan, or as most of you know me GolfSpy BOS.  I’ve been a moderator here for a little over a year now and am thoroughly looking forward to meeting some of my virtual friends here down in NC in a few weeks!  Count me as one of the many on here who would love to have more time to dedicate to our golf game.  I have been blessed with three happy and healthy kids who keep me busy between sports, cub scouts, and various other activities.  Thankfully it looks like I’ll have some built in golf buddies as my oldest and I do go out golfing and my middle one is also getting into some range days.  My youngest is already putting around the house too!

 

As for my golf game, I’m a 6.1 handicap according to Diablo Golf with the new WHS which feels way too low… but I have been getting better!  My goal is getting down to scratch, but I’m not sure I’ll have the time to dedicate towards practice to do that right now, but there’s always hope.  Arccos will show you my approach play is the biggest opportunity for me to improve.  I cannot blame the Cobra Forged Tec irons I have been playing, as they have provided a consistent yardage gap for me from 5 to GW, but I still come up short too many times.  Left to right is not a major driver for me as I am generally a straight shooter with irons.  

  

 

First Impressions

So, onto my unboxing a first impressions.  For the unboxing, everything was packed extremely well in an Edel branded box.  The entire experience felt premium to go along with the looks of these irons.  I love the compact shape of the SMS Pros and everything from the milled sole, paint fill, and BB&F Co Ferrules lead to a fantastic looking set of sticks.  

   

The good vibes from the initial unboxing experience carried right over to my first round with the Edel SMS Pros in the bag.  I didn’t have an opportunity to hit them before heading to the first tee, so I was flying blind and had no idea what to expect.  First hole was Driver, Wedge… so no action there.

Hole 2 - First swing with the Edel 8 Iron: Pin High and Tight!

Hole 3 – First swing with the Edel 4 Iron:  Pure.

 

Since that round I’ve been able to go to the range and hit a bucket on the Rapsodo to gauge some distances and played another round.  My swing is still in rough, early season form but I’ve managed to put a few really nice swings including the two resulting photos here of my 7 iron from 165 on a par 3 (so close!!) and an approach shot from the rough 130 yards out with the 9 iron.

 

To say they’ve been impressing me would be an understatement, but there’s still a lot of work left to do before a final verdict is in, including going through the gauntlet of the NC MGS golf trip where I’ll have the added pressure of showing up and playing well on some new courses!

Final Reivew!

Aesthetics (10 out of 10) 

The Edel SMS Pro Irons are absolutely stunning in the metal.  While not classic or traditional due to the weight ports these irons look purposefully powerful.  The shape is squarish which gives is a stocky and strong look.  Just enough offset to add some confidence to an otherwise neat and tidy view from the playing postion.  Even the 4 iron shows no sign of anything sticking past the thin toplines.  Edel absolutely crushed that looks of these clubs for me.  The shape of the iron blends nicely in the hosel transition, and the BB&F Co furrels are the icing on the cake that pulls the whole look together.  Speaking of the in the bag view… the tri-milled sole looks gorgeous on these clubs and really highlights the premium build quality of the irons.

  

Enough on the looks, time to talk about sound and feel.  I am happy to report that the sound and feel matches the compact and solid looks.  Hitting small chips and pitches with the PW versus my previous games showed an immediate improvement in feel for me.  Now, I like the feel of the Cobra Forged Tec too, but it’s a hotter feel and higher pitched sound, a touch clicky compared to the dense, solid, and satisfying feel of the Edel SMS Pro.  Full swings result in the same solid and dense sound and feel with a lower pitched thwack versus the sound I’m used to hearing from irons in the players distance category.  It feels like a solid one-piece forging.

When my ball striking is off, and boy has it been, the Edel SMS Pros offer exactly the feedback I want.  It’s more than enough to let you know you didn’t stripe it, but never gets too unpleasant either.  I can tell if I’ve impacted Heel or Toe side as well as Thin or shots High off the face as well. 

 

The Numbers (8 out of 10)

So… let’s talk numbers.  Overall, I think these SMS Pro irons stack up well when it comes to numbers and data.  Loft for loft they’re every bit as long as I think they should be which I think is awesome given the compact shape.  Here is a chart where I originally looked at the lofts and tried to figure out what I thought the gapping should be as a result of playing with my prior irons.  I then went back and looked at every shot I hit with each iron (and my 52* wedge this year) to see how close I was.  I removed obvious mishits and outliers here as I’m more curious in the “good averages” and not if I hit it well for this compare:

As you can see, they are performing great here and falling well within my expectations for distance.  The 8 and 9 irons might still be benefiting from par 3 tee shots where I usually get a few extra yards, and the PW has been longer than I expected, leading to a problematic gap that a new wedge setup will fix.

Accuracy – These clubs have been easy for me to aim and start along my intended line.  They also have performed well on distance control.  I am loving the accuracy I get out of these clubs.

Distance – I am hitting these as far as I feel I should.  I don’t think I’m giving any meaningful yardage up with the Edel SMS Pro versus other top performing irons.

Forgiveness – For a club this compact the forgiveness has been great.  I cannot believe how comfortable I am hitting the 4 iron.  They may be small in size, but being able to move the weights to best fit your swing has resulted in added forgiveness and really makes them play more forgiving than their size.

Control and Workability – The SMS Pro irons are workable and I am able to envision the shot I want to take and then have the opportunity to execute.  They generally play very straight and neutral for me which is great because I can then work in some small draws or fades as needed.

 

On-Course (15 out of 20)

Now we get to where the rubber meats the road.  Has my approach play improved since putting the Edel SMS Pro irons in the bag?  In short, no. 

Long answer: There were a few rounds where I was grossly mishitting the ball.  Now, I’d love to blame the SMS Pro and call them unforgiving, but that’s just not the case.  I spend 2.5 rounds hitting 3-4 inches behind the ball with my irons and wedges.  And then I would follow that up with a really good shot.  Now I tool a chance with the Steelfiber shafts because they were interesting enough during my fitting and I wanted to.  They are lighter than I’m used to, and I’m thinking that maybe I’m just not getting along with them and my timing is off.  Or its just from lack of consistent practice during baseball season.  It’s 50/50 at this point.

 

But, when I step up to hit a shot I enjoy the confidence I get out of how these irons look at address.  The smaller size makes me feel like I can hit behind the ball and get it started on the trajectory I want.  When I play with a larger game improvement style head I can sometimes feel like I’m not going to get into the turf, which makes me swing steeper than I need to.

Also, I cannot stress enough how awesome the Tri-Milled Sole is working for me.  Generally my miss is steep, and when it gets wet out I’ve been known to take some rather long and deep pelts out of the ground.  I have had zero of those shots… and it was more than “damp” that last time I was out, and it wasn’t the only time I’ve played in wet conditions this year.  The sole feels very forgiving for its size and may be the highlight of the irons for me.  If I’m a little behind the ball it seems to do well maintaining some speed into the turf and clips it shallow to help get back out quick.  As is turns out the milling is more than just a pretty face!

  

As I move forward post final review I’ll be updating here and will change my score if needed.  I do expect my approach figures to improve as I get more time with the Edel SMS Pro irons and continue to knock the rust off.  I’ve already had several great shots and can see how these will become weapons for me with a little bit more time. 

 

The Good, the bad, the in-between (20 out of 20)

From fitting to bagging my experience was awesome in getting the Edel SMS Pro irons in.  I worked with a local independent fitter, and we worked through both the SMS and SMS Pro irons and many shaft and weight configurations.  It was a cold a blustery day, but I was already hooked on the solid premium feel of these irons.  My delivery went smoothly, and the packaging felt premium.  They were well protected and secure in the box and we we’re also provided with additional weight kits, so we could fine tune the swing weight and try different combos during our testing. 

I am curious to see if the new ownership changes any of that experience, and what we see down the road for Edel.  The recent release of new apparel and products from Jones would lead me to believe that they will be sticking around in the premium space.  By the way... the shirts as awesome.

 

 

Play it or Trade it? (15 out of 20)

Ah, the toughest section yet.  Will these stay in my bag?  Yes, almost undoubtedly.  But the Steelfiber i110s shafts may not.  I need some more rounds with them to really decide, as I like the idea of a composite shaft and think they’re on to something.  But it seems my tempo and rhythm are being thrown off by the lighter weight shaft.  I don’t feel them quite as well at the top, and a heavy shaft seems to help me from pulling down and coming over the top.  If I don’t see progress, there I’ll likely swap over to the Project X LZ 6.0 that came out on top during my fitting.  Either way I’m happy that I took a chance on a composite iron shaft and I think it’s great the Edel offers a few at no upcharge.

 

 

Conclusion

So you want to skip right to the good part huh? Shame on you!  Well, either way let me sum things up for you…. The Edel SMS Pro Irons looks are only bested by their sound and feel.  I thoroughly enjoy the confidence they give me when I set up for shots, even with the compact profile.  They feel strong and powerful, but offer a deeper thwack sound that I love, and partial shots feel soft like they should, not springy and hot off the face.  The milled tri-sole is a fantastic addition to the iron, and it may be the sneaky sleeper best feature of the irons over the moveable weights.  While I may need to swap out my shafts, the Edel SMS Pros are going to stay in my bag whether the Steelfiber shafts make the cut or not.  If you’re remotely interested and in the market for this style of club you owe it to yourself to go find a competent fitter and give them a try.  They may just be the best iron for you.

Final Score (88 out of 100)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Sorry @sirchunksalot had to remove your post as I was adding in the others! 

I am done now so feel free to repost!

[sirchunksalot]

Congratulations @Getoffmylawn, @ejgaudette, @ChitownM2, and @Triple_Putt on being selected as testers for the Edel's. Also, congrats to @GolfSpy_BOS for being the moderator tester. We've seen some sneak peeks of how well Bryan's fitting went and I think these clubs are going to work well for you all. 

[sirchunksalot]

4 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Sorry @sirchunksalot had to remove your post as I was adding in the others! 

I am done now so feel free to repost!

It's no problem, Jamie. I saw the announcement and jumped on it. I'm excited to follow along with this one. 

[pozzit]

Congratulations everyone this tread is getting an immediate follow. 

[edingc]

Great group! Still loving my wedges from last year, I'm sure these are solid. Looking forward to following along.

[DStar]

Good luck guys, congrats on being the testers. Look forward to your thoughts

[CFreddie]

Huge congrats to all the testers- looking forward to seeing these write ups in the coming weeks!!!

[MattF]

Congratulations @Getoffmylawn  @ejgaudette @ChitownM2 and @Triple_Putt

[Getoffmylawn]

So incredibly honored and excited to have this opportunity! Thank you MGS!

Proud to be a part of a great group of testers…let’s get it fellas!

[Lacassem]

Solid group. Can’t wait to hear about these (and see them in person)! 

[revkev]

Congrats to a great group of testers - I will look forward to reading the results. These irons look sweet and are on my radar for sure. 

[Triple_Putt]

Honored to be chosen for this test and can’t wait to put these through the paces! Thank you MGS and Edel!

[Preeway]

Congratulations guys. Eager to hear how these perform for you. 

[Placasse61]

Congrats Testers. Looking forward to following the test, and seeing the clubs in action.