The Cleveland QuadPro irons were designed to incorporate some of the same elements that are utilized in the successful QuadPro line of fairway woods. They are user-friendly, game improvement irons that offer a soft, controlled feel and versatile performance. Their appearance is dark and handsome, too heavy looking to be beautiful, but attractive nonetheless.
On the face of hard, maraging steel is the distinctive copper ring inserted into all QuadPro clubfaces. It is intended to cushion the impact sensation generated by maraging steel. It creates the feel that is unique to all QuadPro’s. Copper weights in the heel and toe are anchored by a copper-tungsten weight in the center of the sole. These heavy inserts, coupled with a deep cavity, create a very low center of gravity.
We have been hitting the senior flex version of the QuadPro’s this season. They are now played full-time by our oldest tester, a 75+ year old former low-handicapper who plays religiously in local senior tournaments. The graphite shaft in senior flex is different from other flexes. It is filament wound and has a lower bend point to further aid in getting the ball airborne. The shaft and the heavy sole weighting combine to make the QuadPro’s extremely effective in getting the ball airborne quickly, a trait needed by many senior players. From thick rough, the QuadPro’s require little effort to successfully extricate the ball.
As to the feel of the QuadPro’s: it is distinctive. The deep cavity, the copper face ring, the filament wound shaft and the standard VAS system (vibration absorpting system) inside the cavity all combine to create a rather subdued and muted feel. Some will doubtlessly like this, but others may find it a bit dull feeling. Pure hits come across as substantial and solid – a very pleasant feeling, but lacking in much sense of vibrancy. Mishits, are handled well. Few uncomfortable sensations make it up to the player.
Performance has been as claimed: very stable. Heads stay comfortably online through thick grasses. The shafts have responded well to the variety of swing speeds applied to them by our testers of various ages. Some senior shafts respond well only to most smooth of tempos. The high trajectories give them good stopping power. They are comfortable and reassuring at address and alignment is relatively intuitive.
The QuadPro’s are accurate irons, but have a progressive offset that will eliminate them from consideration by many better, younger players. Most will appreciate the aid these offsets give to the longer irons, especially those senior players who are a tad slow in getting the heads through to impact on their longer irons.
Overall, these have been consistently accurate irons. Shots launch high and easy. Length has been good, but not exceptional. The degree of forgiveness provided by these heads is very high. Mishits are handled well. The QuadPro’s are a safe performance bet for those who like a calm, muted kind of golf club. Those who prefer a bit more pizzazz and liveliness will probably be happier with last year’s Orlimar TriMetal’s, the Taylor Made Firesole’s or the new Callaway X-14′s. All are expensive. Expect to pay in the vicinity of $800 for the QuadPro’s or any of the others.
Cleveland also produces QuadPro Launch irons (included in the picture above). These are designed to take the place of fairway woods and to do double duty as trouble clubs – along the lines of the popular Taylor Made Rescues. The similarities between regular QuadPro’s and QuadPro Launch irons make for a nice option in creating a compatible set of clubs.
Note: Senior sets come with 4 to PW plus a SW. Regular and stiff sets come in the standard, 3 to PW. Senior flex is available in True Temper Release steel, as well. This is a very easy-hitting, senior steel shaft. All flexes are available in right-hand only.
