New Level 480 Irons - 2024 Forum Review

[GolfSpy_APH]

We are pleased to bring another new company to MyGolfSpy Forum member testing. New Level Golf is providing products for our members to test, review and keep. 

New Level has had successes with MyGolfSpy Most Wanted Testing and now our members get to see how they perform on the course in the hands of real golfers. 

About New Level Golf

New Level Golf was originally founded in 2017 by Eric Burch, is dedicated to enhancing the golfing experience through exceptional club craftsmanship. In 2022, New Level underwent new ownership that brings a wealth of PGA Tour experience and expertise. New Level Golf specializes as a DTC (direct-to-consumer) company in premium golf irons, wedges and utilities, all designed and manufactured with precision engineering. Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., New Level Golf takes pride in their hands-on approach, overseeing every step from design to production, ensuring high-quality equipment for both avid and casual golfers. Being a DTC brand, they are able to provide high-quality products at competitive prices. 

The Opportunity

For this testing opportunity, we are looking for four golfers to test, review and keep either a set of New Level 480-TC irons or a set of New Level 480-DB irons. Here is a quick comparison of the two sets. 

New Level 480-TC Irons:

“Tour-caliber” design for precision and control

Enhanced turf interaction for improved ball striking

Forged from high-quality materials for exceptional feel

New Level 480-DB Irons:

Game-improvement design focusing on forgiveness and ease of use

Optimized weight distribution for better launch and stability

Forged construction offering a soft yet solid feel

Please welcome and congratulate our testers

@Josh Ross 

@CSiders12 

@ClarkWGriswoldIII 

@Mr. Mushball

[Josh Ross]

Hey there fellow Spies!

First, I want to thank MyGolfSpy and New Level for this amazing opportunity! I use this joke each time I do a review, but if you couldn’t tell from my super creative username, my name is Josh. I'm 34, live in North Georgia, and play most of my golf at the course where I live called Whitepath Golf Course. This part of Georgia is home to some of the Appalachian Mountains so the golf around here is pretty hilly and lined with trees. I’ve been swinging a club since I was old enough to hold a cut down 7-iron my dad made for me as a little boy, but I started taking it seriously at 14 years old. When I'm not coaching my awesome 10 year old nephew in baseball or attending Georgia Southern athletic events, you can find me on the golf course working to get better. Below is a picture from just up the road in Tennessee where my dad and I like to travel to play. Hard to beat the views around here!

For this review, I'll be using the New Level 480-TC irons. Most of my life I've been a Mizuno MP iron player, playing the MP-32 and then the MP-59. I switched to JPX Tours in the 919 and 921 versions before moving to my first blended set of Srixon ZX5 and ZX7. I liked the ZX7 more but thought I needed a little more forgiveness. After a great phone call with David Rhoden, the Master Fitter and Builder at New Level, we settled on a setup that I think is going to be a great fit for me.

I've long been interested in New Level and have heard nothing but great things about them. With this iron testing, I plan to get on course data along with launch monitor data to give a good comparison of these irons to my Srixon's and other current irons on the market. One reason I'm excited is because this iron set will also be the debut of a new iron shaft for me (KBS C-Taper Lite) as the shaft I've been using for years (Project X LZ) is finally not working for me anymore. I'm pretty impressed with my Srixon irons, so for these New Level to earn a spot in the bag they're going to need to have great feel, enough forgiveness for my game, proper distance, and most importantly consistent dispersion. One thing that I've never liked about certain irons is that the front to back dispersion can be so different because the middle of the face is so hot compared to missing by a quarter inch. I expect from what I've read about New Level that these irons should deliver on all those points and will have a great shot at landing in the bag for good.

Edited August 8 by Josh Ross

[CSiders12]

Introduction

Hello Spies!

First of all, thank you to the MyGolfSpy staff and the entire community for making opportunities like these possible. I am beyond grateful to be part of this community and can't wait to be part of the New Level testing opportunity!

A bit about myself... I am 25 years old and live in Tiffin, Iowa which is outside of Iowa City. I started playing golf when I was a Junior in high school, but honestly, didn’t take it seriously. I began taking golf more seriously when I got into college and worked my handicap down from a 12, to an 8, to a 4.3, and now to a 2.0. Outside of golf, I am a special education coach working toward my Master of Educational Administration degree with aspirations of becoming a special education administrator. I coach middle school football, basketball, and high school golf, which I absolutely love. Spending time with my wife and three pets, Nova (dog), Stevie (cat), and Laney (cat) is a passion of mine and I wouldn't be where I am at without them. 

Before this testing opportunity, I had heard of New Level, however, never truly looked into them as a company. I am familiar with DTC brands, especially Sub70, Takomo, Caley, etc. I currently play Mizuno JPX 921 Tour irons which are very similar to the New Level 480 TC irons. The specs are almost identical, so I should be able to compare these irons to my current gamers, and comparing any irons to Mizuno irons is quite the comparison. I plan to test the forgiveness, on-course performance, and aesthetics, as well as look at data from a launch monitor to look at spin, carry distance, total distance, launch angle, etc. After looking into the company, I am very impressed after an initial glance. I am excited to be part of this testing opportunity and look forward to providing the community with an in-depth review of the New Level 480 TC irons. If you want to check out my specs for the clubs, I have posted them below. 

 

Stay tuned!

Unboxing - August 13th

I was able to unbox these new beauties and I felt like a kid on Christmas morning! The clubs arrived in a relatively simple white box with the New Level Golf logo on it. When opening the box, I was greeted with a lot of paper wrapping, but a nicely covered set of irons. Each iron had an individual head cover to protect the club and paper wrapping around the club. The clubs were very well packaged and there were no signs of mistreatment during the packing and shipping process. I took the head covers off and was greeted with a beautiful set of 480-TC irons. Wow.... all I can say is wow!

 

Edited August 15 by CSiders12

[ClarkWGriswoldIII]

I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity to try out the New Level 480 DB irons.

I am in Northeast Ohio and play primarily on public courses.  Due to time constraints, most of my rounds are nine hole rounds, including a weekly league.  I am 60 next month and with age my club speed and distance have predictably decreased, though I still hit it farther than many of my contemporaries.  My entire family has been golfers so I have played since I was very young.  I generally score in the 40-42 range for nine holes and the mid-80's for 18.  

I plan to test the irons both on the course and in a simulator.  My current irons are Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal.  My wedges (52/56/60) are Cleveland CBX Zipcore.  I am curious to see how these irons compare the Mizunos.  The primary weakness in my game is iron play, so the New Level 480 DBs will stay in my bag long term if they outshine the Mizunos.  I've read some really positive reviews of the New Level products in recent years and expect a high quality product and the  larger profile and cavity design would certainly seem to be suited for my game given its design for forgiveness.

I'm really looking forward to the virtual fitting and receiving the clubs and will swing back as soon as these occur.  I hope to give you all info that will help you assess these clubs.

Unboxing- The 480 DBs arrived on August 13th.  The heads were wrapped in plastic and padded head covers.  The quality of the fit and finish of the clubs really stands out.  There's nothing poorly finished or misaligned in the set and the paint fills are perfect.  More details on the unboxing can be found here-  

 

 

Edited August 14 by ClarkWGriswoldIII

[Mr. Mushball]

Hi Spies! 

I'm very thrilled to be chosen for another test, and some pretty sweet looking clubs this time.  Congratulations to the other testers @Josh Ross, @CSiders12 and @ClarkWGriswoldIII.  I'm looking forward to your perspective on these as well as we'll all take different perspectives.

For those who aren't yet familiar with me, I'm perhaps the biggest hack on the forum.  I started playing seriously in 2020 and have been working on improving my game.  While I don't think equipment will fix my skill deficiencies, I am curious and hopeful that some new design will work better with my game and give me a boost.  Isn't that why we're all here?

My current handicap is a high 40.1 and dropping.  I’ve been working this season on improving my swing speed and low point control and have been getting more consistent with both.  I’ve been gaming the Callaway Rouge ST MAX with Project X Rifle 105 shafts.  These have been good clubs and were “fitted” with them during a Callaway fitting.  Certainly an improvement over the Wilson Di9 set I was playing previously.  Now I’ll get a chance to test out a completely different design and approach to a game improvement iron.  I’m very curious how these New Level 480-DB irons will work for a player in development like myself.

I’m excited to get fitted and receive these beauties.  I like the simple look and clean lines of these heads, can’t wait to get them in my hands and on the ground.  Very interested in how a forged improvement iron looks, feels and flies. I think some good things are in store for this review, and am psyched to get under way to get your (and my) questions answered.  Least of all, can these help a player like me get under 100 more regularly?

Edited August 6 by Mr. Mushball

[GolfSpy_APH]

Congrats to this group! Should be a great testing op for all!

[Josh Parker]

Congrats guys!  Great group and I'm looking forward to seeing how these work out! 

[TJ Hall]

Congratulations testers!

[bbreezy716]

Congrats testers!

[rkj427]

Congratulations to this group of testers.

Looking forward to seeing the comments and reviews when comparing these irons to the sets you have played previously.

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

Congrats all! @Mr. Mushball, time to shoot some lower scores now!

[ejgaudette]

Congrats everyone and good luck with the testing!

[3Putt4Double]

Congrats testers.. Wanna know how this brand stacks up!

[GolfSpy_KFT]

17 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

We are pleased to bring another new company to MyGolfSpy Forum member testing. New Level Golf is providing products for our members to test, review and keep. 

New Level has had successes with MyGolfSpy Most Wanted Testing and now our members get to see how they perform on the course in the hands of real golfers. 

About New Level Golf

New Level Golf was originally founded in 2017 by Eric Burch, is dedicated to enhancing the golfing experience through exceptional club craftsmanship. In 2022, New Level underwent new ownership that brings a wealth of PGA Tour experience and expertise. New Level Golf specializes as a DTC (direct-to-consumer) company in premium golf irons, wedges and utilities, all designed and manufactured with precision engineering. Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., New Level Golf takes pride in their hands-on approach, overseeing every step from design to production, ensuring high-quality equipment for both avid and casual golfers. Being a DTC brand, they are able to provide high-quality products at competitive prices. 

The Opportunity

For this testing opportunity, we are looking for four golfers to test, review and keep either a set of New Level 480-TC irons or a set of New Level 480-DB irons. Here is a quick comparison of the two sets. 

New Level 480-TC Irons:

“Tour-caliber” design for precision and control

Enhanced turf interaction for improved ball striking

Forged from high-quality materials for exceptional feel

New Level 480-DB Irons:

Game-improvement design focusing on forgiveness and ease of use

Optimized weight distribution for better launch and stability

Forged construction offering a soft yet solid feel

Please welcome and congratulate our testers

@Josh Ross 

@CSiders12 

@ClarkWGriswoldIII 

@Mr. Mushball

Congrats, testers!

[xOldBenKenobiX]

Congrats Testers @Josh Ross, @CSiders12@ClarkWGriswoldIII and @Mr. Mushball

[Shrek74]

18 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Please welcome and congratulate our testers

@Josh Ross 

@CSiders12 

@ClarkWGriswoldIII 

@Mr. Mushball

Congrats testers!!! I've been watching NLG for quite a while now, including when I met the guys in Scottsdale a few years ago. I played the 902OS for a short time and so I'm really interested in hearing how the new versions work for everyone. Good luck!!

[Erin B]

18 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

We are pleased to bring another new company to MyGolfSpy Forum member testing. New Level Golf is providing products for our members to test, review and keep. 

New Level has had successes with MyGolfSpy Most Wanted Testing and now our members get to see how they perform on the course in the hands of real golfers. 

About New Level Golf

New Level Golf was originally founded in 2017 by Eric Burch, is dedicated to enhancing the golfing experience through exceptional club craftsmanship. In 2022, New Level underwent new ownership that brings a wealth of PGA Tour experience and expertise. New Level Golf specializes as a DTC (direct-to-consumer) company in premium golf irons, wedges and utilities, all designed and manufactured with precision engineering. Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., New Level Golf takes pride in their hands-on approach, overseeing every step from design to production, ensuring high-quality equipment for both avid and casual golfers. Being a DTC brand, they are able to provide high-quality products at competitive prices. 

The Opportunity

For this testing opportunity, we are looking for four golfers to test, review and keep either a set of New Level 480-TC irons or a set of New Level 480-DB irons. Here is a quick comparison of the two sets. 

New Level 480-TC Irons:

“Tour-caliber” design for precision and control

Enhanced turf interaction for improved ball striking

Forged from high-quality materials for exceptional feel

New Level 480-DB Irons:

Game-improvement design focusing on forgiveness and ease of use

Optimized weight distribution for better launch and stability

Forged construction offering a soft yet solid feel

Please welcome and congratulate our testers

@Josh Ross 

@CSiders12 

@ClarkWGriswoldIII 

@Mr. Mushball

Congrats @Josh Ross @CSiders12 @ClarkWGriswoldIII @Mr. Mushball I am looking forward to your reviews!!! I'm gaming the NL 902PDs and if the 480s are anything like the 902s you're gonna LOVE them! Call me green with envy!

[William P]

Congrats Testers! Looking forward to your experiences with these clubs!

[cksurfdude]

Congrats testers!

Curious about the DB model...

[Mr. Mushball]

3 hours ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

Congrats all! @Mr. Mushball, time to shoot some lower scores now!

Geez, I hope so.  Need some help getting under 100 more.  And yes, that Par 3 at Forrest Hills is a bugger. 

[golfinnut]

Congrats everyone!  I'll be following along intently, as these irons have always intrigued me, just have never pulled the trigger on them

[MattWillGolf]

Congratulations testers. New Level offerings are interesting to learn about.

[Willie T]

20 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

We are pleased to bring another new company to MyGolfSpy Forum member testing. New Level Golf is providing products for our members to test, review and keep. 

New Level has had successes with MyGolfSpy Most Wanted Testing and now our members get to see how they perform on the course in the hands of real golfers. 

About New Level Golf

New Level Golf was originally founded in 2017 by Eric Burch, is dedicated to enhancing the golfing experience through exceptional club craftsmanship. In 2022, New Level underwent new ownership that brings a wealth of PGA Tour experience and expertise. New Level Golf specializes as a DTC (direct-to-consumer) company in premium golf irons, wedges and utilities, all designed and manufactured with precision engineering. Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., New Level Golf takes pride in their hands-on approach, overseeing every step from design to production, ensuring high-quality equipment for both avid and casual golfers. Being a DTC brand, they are able to provide high-quality products at competitive prices. 

The Opportunity

For this testing opportunity, we are looking for four golfers to test, review and keep either a set of New Level 480-TC irons or a set of New Level 480-DB irons. Here is a quick comparison of the two sets. 

New Level 480-TC Irons:

“Tour-caliber” design for precision and control

Enhanced turf interaction for improved ball striking

Forged from high-quality materials for exceptional feel

New Level 480-DB Irons:

Game-improvement design focusing on forgiveness and ease of use

Optimized weight distribution for better launch and stability

Forged construction offering a soft yet solid feel

Please welcome and congratulate our testers

@Josh Ross 

@CSiders12 

@ClarkWGriswoldIII 

@Mr. Mushball

Congrats testers - will be a good test to follow…

[BradM]

Interested to learn more about these irons, especially as the DTC market gets more crowded 

[tdroma98]

Congrats Testers!  It's great to learn about the DTC equipment, including New Level Golf! Looking forward to your reviews! 

[jbern]

Congratulations @Josh Ross, @CSiders12, @ClarkWGriswoldIII & @Mr. Mushball! I have put several model/shaft NL iron variations in my cart over recent months and I'm excited to see what you all think of these! Enjoy the test!

Edited August 6 by jbern

[frazzman80]

Looking forward to hearing about this one from fitting to playing! Very interested to see how these stack up to gamers and to mainstream brands. 

[Owengeorge13]

480db are legit! 

[Ejgorka]

Congrats guys

[Coulter]

Congratulations!!