Kirkland Signature Players Irons

[aevans17]

13 hours ago, BigBoiGolf said:

This doesn't mean anything. The default bore diameter for 355 irons is 9mm. If you go to 10mm, it's a "universal bore" for 370 and 355.

The neck lines are purely decorative and are offered from the OEM/ODM as a finishing option. Nobody actually puts these intot he 3D cad model, just like they don't with face end milling patterns.

The material finish is RAW. The head material is 431 stainless steel, which is a common cheaper per lb of material item. The OEM/ODMs offer different metals for different baseline pricing, such as SAE 1020/S20, SAE 1025/S25, etc. With regards to the finishing options, the OEM/ODMs offer standard options such as

• Nickel Chrome Electroplating
• Nickel Electroplating
• QPQ Salt-Bath Nitride AKA Diamonized Black Metal
• Raw (None)
• Physical Vapor Deposition (Generally used for 'Copper' like colors or Mizuno Blue)

With regards to surface pre-coat finishing, they generally offer

• Quartz bead blast
• Brushed
• Satin
• Polished

Xiamen-Jasde golf produces clubs for Sub70, Yes!, and Mazel

Example pictures of the finishes are attached for you, feel free to ask any questions as I am in the process of designing my own irons and putter.

Thanks for all the info... since you're designing your own clubs maybe you can shed some light on how similar/different the heads could be and what that process is like? Are you saying that Xiamen Jasde offers a list of options (like when we buy a car) and the differences between the K-Sig, SMT Pro 579, and Sub 70 699 irons are just the options selected by each brand? 

[fixyurdivot]

On 12/12/2023 at 5:45 PM, PeterHenric said:

7 pretty little ladies, all in a row.

There is significantly less offset on these compared to my Stealths.

Loaded and ready for Hawaii. Will report back.

Those look good. Are the wedges more of a brushed/satin finish?

[BigBoiGolf]

8 hours ago, aevans17 said:

Thanks for all the info... since you're designing your own clubs maybe you can shed some light on how similar/different the heads could be and what that process is like? Are you saying that Xiamen Jasde offers a list of options (like when we buy a car) and the differences between the K-Sig, SMT Pro 579, and Sub 70 699 irons are just the options selected by each brand? 

Sure, I've made engineering discussion slides on Google before, but I will keep it straightforward.

Most of the heads from DTC companies like Sub70, and smaller brands without any manufacturing integration reach out to these OEM (Original Equipment Manfucaturer) with ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) for assistance with golf clubs.

Life is simple, it starts with either the golf company making their own 3D CAD files (like myself), or just contacting the OEM/ODM and saying "Hey, I like this general shape, here's some design sketches, can you put this on there for me?". Myself I am working with CAD models, which means for RH/LH there's a model for each club, so 14 for 4 - P.

Performance wise, they're going to be very similar to any other same-style on the market unless you do some extra lifting on the CAD design yourself, but even then it's super close. So, a Ksig iron, which is a hollow body, will have similar performance to P790, Mizuno Pro 225, Apex Pro, etc. Because they're hollow body spring-like-effect irons. Sound obviously is different, and sometimes the metal/materials and finishing is different as I described above.

If you bring your CAD design, you'll usually have to select a blank to remove material from to "house" the design, subtractively. These blanks should be very close to your loft and offset specs, everything else is CNC'ed away and then hand smoothed. If you don't, you can pick from a catalogue. The face and back work is always CNCed, such as the grooves and lettering and hosel work, etc.

Then the iron is sand blasted and cleaned up, and sent through an electroplating setup for your finish, and then painted, weighed, bagged and shipped.

For the most part, you're paying for the branding and warranty/customer support from a company.

[PeterHenric]

5 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

Those look good. Are the wedges more of a brushed/satin finish?

The wedges are like a tour chrome finish. The irons are a mirror finish. 

[aevans17]

FIrst review is out from Gabe at Let's Play Thru:

 

[aevans17]

Got the SMT 579 Gap Wedge head from Diamond Tour. I only purchased the AW and am comparing that to the Kirkalnd PW. The SMT has larger top line and sole. General shapes of the clubs are similar and definitely started from the same rough outline. (SMT has a black shaft.)
  SMT AW at address

 side by side

 Costco smaller overall profile and smaller weight port screw. 

Edited December 16, 2023 by aevans17

[GolfSpy_APH]

They look similar, but definitely different at the same time. 

[PeterHenric]

There are certain lines that lets you see they started from a similar design but there’s a lot more that’s different than similar, IMO. 

 

I have been impatiently waiting for my round on Tuesday to try these out. Will post up an informal review after.

[fixyurdivot]

1 hour ago, PeterHenric said:

I have been impatiently waiting for my round on Tuesday to try these out. Will post up an informal review after.

Your not the only one... .

[KC Golf]

DTCs and the design process is fascinating to me. I look forward to seeing KS irons on the range at some point this year. I am certain someone will have them in the bag.  

[PeterHenric]

Went out and hit the 8 and 9 iron for about a half dozen shots each. I currently game some stealth irons with graphite shafts so the swing weight on these is VERY different. They feel very heavy. 
As far as performance, they are less forgiving than my stealths. I hit exactly 1 great shot in my limited test and that ball went high, long, and straight. Went about 160 which is a bit longer than I would normally expect with my stealths. I kept missing the face and hit off the toe. Predictably, those balls went shorter and lower. Still straight though. The feel on mis-hits was worse than my stealths. Probably because of the combination of graphite shafts and a more forgiving head. Full round scheduled for Tuesday. 

[fixyurdivot]

Anyone else find it odd that Kirkland would enter this market with PD design?  I would think they would have started with a GI offering... but perhaps their marketing group saw something in the data.

[CFreddie]

6 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

Anyone else find it odd that Kirkland would enter this market with PD design?  I would think they would have started with a GI offering... but perhaps their marketing group saw something in the data.

Great question- was thinking similar. To your point, Costco have a pretty incredible merchant team, so I’m sure their research saw the biggest opportunity to go “middle of the road”. 

[fixyurdivot]

1 minute ago, CFreddie said:

Great question- was thinking similar. To your point, Costco have a pretty incredible merchant team, so I’m sure their research saw the biggest opportunity to go “middle of the road”. 

Taylormade's P790 team thanks you for calling their crown jewel "middle of the road" .

[CFreddie]

Just now, fixyurdivot said:

Taylormade's P790 team thanks you for calling their crown jewel "middle of the road" .

Haha - I meant category wise! No disrespect to TM!

[GolfSpy_APH]

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Thanks all!

[Donn lost in San Diego]

Reason for starting with a PD type iron?  Could be a manufacturer had the design already and did a deal with Costco.  I don't know if Costco has buyers who go and initiate searches , I rather think they get barraged with sellers offers, and this appealed to them.  They are barely in golf, so far they are just dipping their toes in.  The ball was an overrun offered to them, I believe.  I am not a member, I don't reacall from a few visits if they sell much sporting goods.  

[PeterHenric]

Couldn’t wait until my round tomorrow so went out to the range and spent some time hitting some shots. Not gonna lie, I kinda dig em! Good swings are rewarded with good shots. They will be staying in the bag for a while. 

Pitching wedge

5 iron

 

Getting used to the look of a smaller profile, it was kind of trippy seeing how big  the Ksig 60° wedge looks at address. All you can see is a wide open face.

[PeterHenric]

Got to play a round with the irons and I don’t have a single negative thing to say about them. The caveat is that I’m playing in windy Hawaii so distances cannot be trusted. I like the look and feel of the irons. They’ll be staying in the bag for a while. 

[aevans17]

On 12/18/2023 at 5:53 AM, fixyurdivot said:

Anyone else find it odd that Kirkland would enter this market with PD design?  I would think they would have started with a GI offering... but perhaps their marketing group saw something in the data.

I don't find it odd... Costco already sells the Callaway Edge set in the GI category. It would be hard for Costco to build a GI set at a better price/value. These irons may be a bit too aspirational for the person who started golfing 6 months ago and is in the market to buy their first set of irons, but that same person could easily walk into their local golf store and buy a set of P790's with X-stiff shafts. (This happens all the time!)

Personally...  I'm definitely not good enough to play the Costco irons, BUT they look like the irons I want to play. For the price of $499 (one third the cost of P790's) I can justify buying them and trying them out for a season to see if I can improve into them. I am the exact shopper that Costco has in mind for these irons. Since I aspire to be good enough to play these I am unlikely to admit to myself that I am not good enough to play these which reduces the likelihood that I'd return them. 
 

[GolfSpy_APH]

https://mygolfspy.com/we-tried-it/we-tried-it-kirkland-signature-players-irons-review/

Check it out!

[Rob Person]

Interesting results. The distance and speed percentages do not appear to be that far off each other. Especially for an unmodified set.

[Aim490]

All this K-Sig irons discussion as it pertains to actual performance is a bit ridiculous, considering almost everyone here is looking at these as a $499 novelty.  No fitting options, no shaft choices other than R or S, length, lie, grip, etc.  So really $499 buys a set of decent heads and everything else is hit-or-miss.  In my case, mostly miss.  I don’t have a spare 500 bucks to spend on golf novelties.  I don’t think that many of us do.  There’s about a 99% chance I wouldn’t game them as-is.  So what’s the point?  

They’re pretty cheap, decent looking and generally playable.  That’s a pretty low bar that I’m willing to bet several other off-the-shelf sets can equal.

[PeterHenric]

Driver and irons are both back in stock on Costco.com

Just saying.

[scolist]

1 hour ago, PeterHenric said:

Driver and irons are both back in stock on Costco.com

Just saying.

Just ordered the Driver. Can't beat the return policy.

[PeterHenric]

Me too. Already had the irons and I am still gaming them. 
Have the wedges and putter as well but they aren’t in the bag.

[theblake7]

nobody seems to have checked the QC yet  - surely thats the most important thing.

Loft/Lie/Length/SW/Flex do they stack up or not.    I suspect they will be just as good as every other OEM big brand - shitehouse.

[nick93]

Just got my set today and man they are shiny. Can’t wait to compare em to my M4s tomorrow!

[UNCRoss]

Someone on Reddit took the paint off of his and  they look better in my opinion 

[Rob Person]

I guess they make them look a bit more... classier? Elite?