Have you paid any attention to Edel Golf?
This is a company who is wholly focused on disrupting the status quo through innovation not for the sake of it, but with the founding principal of the company always at the lead, to help golfers perform to their utmost potential by fitting to the induvial attributes we all have in our own swings.
THP has been at the forefront of the evolution and continued growth of Edel. Most recently it has been the introduction of their SMS wedges with moveable weight technology, of which you can read the feedback of both our staff as well as THP members here. Those three moveable weights have started a revolution for Edel, the ability to dial in wedges unlike ever before has been so successful that it only made sense it would find its way to irons.
Today, Edel announces the arrival of the SMS Irons, and trust us, you are going to want to pay attention to this one.
Swing Match System: SMS
For those perhaps less familiar with the SMS weighting that Edel has applied to their wedge line, it stands for “Swing Match System” and the idea behind it is brilliant, yet at the same time so obvious it is astounding we have not seen it integrated to this degree before.
This adjustable weighting system isn’t revolutionary in that Edel is the first to bring adjustable weights to wedges or irons, but they are the first to find a balance of understandable integration and adjustability within the framework of weight options that truly impact performance.
Each golfer has a unique swing, and rather than trying to fit the swing to the clubs, the SMS weighting focuses on fitting the club to the swing in a way that only a company like Edel is willing to do. By adjusting the positioning of the three different weights in the head to fit the golfers swing, it aims to improve clubface control at impact. By doing that, you can tame, or even eliminate, the big misses right and left of target which through better clubface position at impact also means more efficient energy transfer that can make for more distance and accuracy as well.
Iron Integration: Edel SMS Irons
This idea at its root isn’t new, in fact, any of us with a modern driver in the bag benefits from the idea of tuning the club to fit the person swinging it. Historically with irons however, it has always been more about making a lot of different models in a cycle, each of which pays attention to one specific speed, variable, or even flaw. The Swing Match System though, turns that on its head by allowing this single iron to be tuned to all of that, for every individual.
Because the SMS can adjust to a variety of different swing types, it is essentially a Swiss Army Knife of the iron segment, but in an aesthetic and design tech which is appealing to the overwhelming majority. The iron itself is classified by Edel as a “Hollow body, players distance iron”, meaning it seeks to work for scratch golfers all the way up to those in the high teens. The body is made up of 1025 Carbon Steel which is forged to give the sound/feel golfers will expect in an iron at this price point. The face is plasma welded to the frame to ensure not just maximum speed potential with the steel face cup, but also saving maximum weight versus traditional welding techniques. Internally however, is where it gets even more fun as the SMS is using a “urethane foam fill” that is high density to ensure that forged feel is intact.
When fitting the Edel SMS irons, the process allows the golfer to not have to alter their swing path to fit the iron and instead find the optimal location for the heaviest of the three weights that frees up the iron as well as the user to work together. In testing, the company put the new SMS in the hands of golfers against their 7-iron, hitting them against the user’s iron as well as swinging the SMS in each weight configuration. Each and every testing sample showed significant jumps not just from the persons own iron, but when the best fitting weight orientation was in play.
Overall, the testing showed improvement in every notable category (ball speed, carry, club speed, peak, descent, and yards from centerline) not just in the optimal position, but in all positions. What will jump out most from that data for most readers might just be the ball speed, with 3.3 MPH more speed found in the SMS Irons when dialed in versus 2.16 MPH without. A staggering 96% of testers saw speed increases, that is all but one tester.
Another part of the story here according to Edel is how quickly golfers could feel the difference when their “optimal” weight setting was found. This is right in line with what THP saw through the SMS wedges, with many remarks and feedback centering on how much easier the club was to square without feeling like it had to be forced than in a non-optimal setting.
For those wondering, the standard weighting in the irons will be two 2-gram titanium weights and one 8-gram tungsten loaded weight which is the key to the Swing Match System fitting. Additionally, the heavy weight will be able to be tuned in by exchanging for 4, 6, or 10-gram options to dial in swing weight as well. Standard swing weighting will be D2, with fitting options above allowing more possibilities for those who need it. Additionally, the SMS irons will play off a 45-degree pitching wedge, settling in nicely to what we see in this category of iron, if not a bit weaker lofted in some cases.
The SMS irons come in priced at $250 per club with 4-GW available. As stock, they will be paired with KBS Tour steel and Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips, however, there will be a handful of no upcharge shaft and grip choices as well as upcharge selections.
What do you think? Is Edel onto something? Do you want to know more? Be sure to keep and eye on THP as we will have ample feedback to come and jump into the conversations here as well as the community!
For more information, make sure to check out their website at www.edelgolf.com.
The Details
Retail Date: 7/21/22
Price: $250.00/club
Options: 4-PW, GW
Dexterity: RH
Unfortunately the day we took these to the range it had rained and we were on the mats so did not get to feel what they were like on the grass.
It’s same as with driver, weight in heel is draw, toe is fade.
Mid to high handicapper here. One of the things that impressed me about these irons, and the Edel gear in general was the impression of not just a fit for right now, but into the future as well. I am in the process of lessons, and my swing continues to change. If I have an iron that can continue to adapt alongside me, that’s a huge positive for me. Very excited to get some more time with these and see how they affect things not just this year, but into the future as I continue to grow as a player.
Great point.
@Koske explained like putting weight on a hinged door. More weight by the handle – easier to close. More weight by the hinge (pivot point) – harder to close.
No just the opposite. Weight in heel closes faster toe slower.
that’s opposite of drivers then.
I like reading this!
I have no idea what that means but it sounds fancy.
These look and sound like absolute ?. The overall idea of tuning an iron set to match your swing w/ the weights is fantastic.
Very jealous of the Edel Quest Cup participants right now!!
Lead tape also works but is not as pretty or sufficiently heavy.
I like the idea. I hit it towards the heel a little too much – but working towards the center more.
The price is Ping i59 territory. But I bet the shaft options are better.
For sure.. the article does mention some shaft upgrades at no additional charge.
I think the idea is you put the weight in the back of your miss. If your miss varies, then voila, move the heavier weight. The swing weight options with various weights is also nice.
Good call!
Is it because the swing speed increases, or the smash factor gets higher, or both?
It’s something that’s definitely intrigued me. I got a similar feeling about these and the SMS wedges that @Jman talked about in the Edel fitting thread. This is a company that cares about putting golfers in equipment that works.
" This brings the great conversation point, if you’re fit to a putter that you’ve seen in fitting and on course works better than anything you’ve rolled before for hitting your chosen line….are you still hunting for putters?
The answer to your quote should be….
No….
May seem trivial, but for me coming in at D2 and being able to tweek the SW is cool! Not to mention so easy!
Looking forward to the guys feedback and the tinkering that will be going on.
Face control. When the club fits the users swing and allows the face to square properly, strikes see more speed than that with an inconsistent, open, or closed face at impact.
Thanks @Jman! You’re the man!
The irons look and feel just as good as the wedges. I don’t know how Edel does it but the irons just stand out as soon as you see them and they are love from first contact.
As a high handicap (18) with very inconsistent ball striking I was a bit nervous about moving to a players distance profile from my GIs. I found out pretty quickly that these are incredibly forgiving and easier to hit than my current GIs. My second shot was off the toe and I watched in awe is it maintained almost all of the distance and ball flight of a flushed shot. I looked at @JB and told him I couldn’t believe how much forgiveness they got into that profile of iron. Within a few swings it was pretty clear these were not only going to be an easy transition for a high cap but would be an improvement in forgiveness from my GIs on top of every other benefit. The size is not at all intimidating and really fit my eye.
I can’t wait to get some more detailed feedback for the other high caps out there but these are the irons I have been dreaming about.
I’m a great example of how much the weight can help with face control. My miss is left and I learned at my wedge fitting that I close the face every time at impact which causes a hook with my draw path. Moving the weight to the toe helps me square the face without having to make any swing changes and was an instant improvement. As mentioned it not only eliminated the hook but my sweeping draw went to a nice controlled baby draw with added distance.
With irons being even harder to hit I thing the adjustable weight is going to be a game changer.
Although a fitting would be ideal to get dialed in, the data showed that even in the worst position nearly everyone saw gains.
With the wedges, at my fitting I could feel woth out a doubt the position that was not good for me. I felt I was fighting the club. The other 2 felt good and were pretty similar to each other one just had slightly better spin numbers. That being said just by feel alone you would probably be able to eliminate one spot, possibly two.
Thank you for sharing @Datkison! Great info here!
Think you have that backwards.
Yep, agreed!
No its actually the opposite. My miss is right because I DON’T close the face enough. Throwing the weight in the heel helps to do that and straighten my shots out.
Edit spelling
It will be cool to see how much distance you will gain from these irons.
I played another iron head, with moveable weights, and the Edel’s look is much better, IMO. They really did well.
You might be correct.
In the toe for me, I close the face with wedges and irons and the weight in the toe squared me up right away.
Now, lets talk gains I posted these pictures in the quest cup thread, but this seems like a good time to post them again.
With my Mizuno 7i, Modus 120s shaft
View attachment 9096585
Demo 7i with Modus 120R shaft and weight in the toe. Not a shabby gain at all. Hit a little push with this. Usually when I get that little push cut I also lose distance. Here I gained distance and almost 1500 spin!
View attachment 9096586
And finally (get ready to have your mind blown!
With @Koske personal set (He was so generous to let us lunatics hit his personal clubs) MMT95 shaft, weight in the heel. I hit a little pull with this shot, which does tend to travel a little further. 17 yard gain and over 500 more spin! That is nuts!
View attachment 9096588
Needless to say I’m just a little excited to put these in the bag as soon as possible!
Good looking head that is filled to the gills with tech.
First thing to say is that I didn’t get much time with them, so I don’t have any numbers to give anyone yet. We were hitting off mats, but we were hitting our own irons off mats as well. The feel and sound was outstanding and an improvement over my current irons. The profile was a touch smaller than my king forged tec. The shafts in @Koske clubs felt fantastic. I hit my current 7i and this SMS 7i and fell in love with this one. Nice high ball flight and better feel (with range balls). I won’t swear that it went longer, but I think it did. This was without messing with the weight at all in any of the irons.
I hit the PW well, but it will take some adjustment for me to go from my current PW that is the length of a 7i to this one. I am having the same transition with my new SMS 50 degree wedge compared to my GW that is longer due to being one length.
the highlight for me was the 4i. I struggle currently at that spot in the bag. I have not been hitting my single length 4i very well and was about to get a hybrid when picked for this event. I loved the sound/feel of the SMS 4i and it was higher and longer than my current 4i. Huge difference when swinging my 4i side by side with this one.
these irons have so many possibilities. Just looking above at my own feedback, I wonder if maybe the weight in the 4i was perfect for me and maybe the PW or 7i would have been better in a different slot? There is nothing here that wouldn’t let me have weight in the toe of the 4i and center/heel in the PW.
I think a fitting would really help with these, but I also think just some time on the range with them will help you decide where to put the weight.
one thing that can’t be emphasized enough is that they are not strong lofted and they are still getting more ball speed and distance in the hands of golfers. The SMS 7i is 32 degrees and my current is 29.5 degrees. When in the robot hands, these irons were not longer than some of their competitors due to the loft difference, but in the hands of golfers with the ability to change the weights, they were longer and more accurate for 96% of testers. Personally, that leads me to believe the weight adjustability works great!
They are a hollow iron that feel great. Very similar profile to the Apex or P790
As @Nerdy_81 said, pictures do not do these irons justice. My first impression upon seeing pictures was, not ecstatic. In hand, Holy Schnikes Batman these things are beautiful. Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t ever not looking forward to getting them but as soon as I saw them my desire to get my set in the bag intensified 100 fold.
I hit @Koske clubs with graphite shaft and the Modus 120. @Koskes felt really good. The steel shaft was heavier than what I’m used to and I didn’t hit it as well. They feel very similar to the way I describe the wedges, soft yet crisp.
@ryang13 mentioned the adjustability for a changing swing. I’m in the same boat, working on improving my swing so being able to change things up as I get better makes me think these will be in the bag for a long time.
I played most shots in center. I really expected to have to move 4 iron weight to heel. It preformed perfect for me in center.
You’re right. I read it backwards. Heel generally promotes a draw, toe a fade