It is probably the review you have been waiting for. The recent release of Costco’s Kirkland Signature irons was highly anticipated.
So, another company is making a new set of irons? What is the big deal in that?
In any case, there are lots of brands that release new irons nearly every year. So, what makes Costco Kirkland special?
Well, this is what we will discuss in our review. Somehow, we managed to get our hands on the Costco Kirkland irons and tested them on the course.
So, be prepared for a detailed, impartial review covering every aspect.
To give you a sneak preview, the new irons feature a hollow body design, making them easy to launch with some incredible distance advantage. Continue reading to get more juicy information about these irons.
Overview
It is hard to go wrong with an under $500 upgrade on your golf bag if you use older irons.
The Kirkland irons might not replace some of your clubs, but they will be a nice addition if you are looking to ace your performance.
Apart from being forgiving and offering a nice feeling, it is hard to beat what they offer for such a price point. Unfortunately, Costco Kirkland Signature irons then ran out of stock.
The set targets a price-conscious players and is mainly available in their warehouse. So, the next time you take a trip to Costco, consider checking them.
What’s more, they are already listed on the USGA conforming list.
Pros
- Hollow forged feel
- Offers consistency
- Easy to launch
- Impressive distance and forgiveness
- High quality at a reasonable price
Cons
- Limited options
- Sold out quickly and only available in their stores.
Price
$499
Detail Review of Kirkland Irons
Looks and Design
A first glance at the Kirkland iron will give you some information about them. First, the look is impressive.
So, you are less likely to underestimate the Kirkland Signature logo on the back. The polished chrome finish gives them a fine touch.
We are curious to know if this impressive finish will last over time. Additionally, the face and top line have a matted finish while the heel, toe, and hosel feature a polished chrome.
The brains behind the development of these irons understood the strategy of delivering lower-priced but cosmetically pleasing irons similar to some of the well-respected brands.
For sure, it will be one of the most outstanding golf equipment in your bag. In fact, Costco should start thinking about designing Kirkland’s Signature golf bag to match its beauty.
The clean and nice-looking iron is what you might find in a mid-to-high handicapper’s bag. It is certainly not a blade, but it is neat and aesthetic. The packaging is also superb with form inserts nicely, protecting the irons during shipping.
Impressive Feel
As mentioned above, the Kirkland iron feel falls between a golfer’s distance and GI iron.
Hollow GI irons tend to have minimal feedback and are more spongy.
On the other hand, a hollow-body player’s iron will be firmer, which provides more face response.
So, the Kirkland irons fall somewhere in between. Generally, they are mid-weight, softer, and easier to launch, thanks to the True Temper Elevate 115 shaft.
With such a shaft, you can easily instill some life to the club. Sadly, players with faster swings and more aggressive transitions may run into problems with this shaft.
Limited Option but Quality Construction
Kirkland irons feature a multi-material construction. Their stainless steel body comes with a urethane insert as well as an internal tungsten weight. These cool features give the irons better distance and forgiveness.
Another notable thing about Kirkland irons is a True Temper Elevate 115 steel shaft. Unfortunately, they are available for right-hand only. At the end of the shaft of a lining of Lamkin Crossline 360 grip, making them a good quality selection.
Again, the Lamin Crossline grips are in standard size. So, your options is limited. But to be fair, these specs fit about 80% of the golfing market.
On-Course Performance
Just like Costco’s other golf products, such as gloves, balls, and wedges, Kirkland irons are easy to play.
Admittedly, we didn’t play with these clubs for long to find out major shortcomings.
But during our short test, we enjoyed playing with them. Here are a couple of things we noted about Kirkland Signature irons in terms of performance:
- Suitable for a wide range of players: When analyzing the performance of Costco Kirkland Signature irons, it is important to consider who they were designed for. Ideally, these irons are fit for a wide category of players. They fit golfers seeking an easy launch, forgiveness, and strong carry distance without scratching their pockets.
- Versatile shafts simplify hitting the ball into the air: One of the things that make it versatile is the True Temper Elevate 115 shaft. This shaft selection is an easy-playing option ideal for different golfers. With that said, golfers who want less spin with a lower trajectory and require stability are not the greatest fit.
- Off-speed pitch: Considering its lower price point, Kirkland’s Signature irons perform well in terms of ball speed. On center strikes, the ball flies with a speed of 111.6 mph. But on ¾-inch toe and heel strikes, the irons lost some 10 yards on heel misses and 11.3 yards on toe misses.
- Easy to launch: By design, the Kirkland irons are designed to get up in the air easily and carry further. You can achieve this because of the placement of internal tungsten. Placing internal tungsten weight low in the clubhead makes it easy to launch.
- A bit difficult to control strokes: As I was hitting the clubs, I realized that fighting the ball was a little bit challenging. Pro players would not likely experience the same challenge, though. The good thing is that I didn’t notice any directional bias during the play.
- Allowed for higher flight and more spin: We also noted that placing weight down in the head will lower the center of gravity, thus promoting more spin and higher flight. The art of balancing the low center of gravity is a progressive power loft. What it means is that lofts are generally strong throughout the set, but shorter irons are closer to traditional loft specs.
Value
In the realm of golf, where the cost of initial entry can be high, the Kirkland irons stand out as a beacon of value.
Most premium irons will start at upwards of $1,000, while Kirkland Signature Player irons challenge this status quo.
Kirkland’s pricing point is hard to beat. For only $499—or slightly more on the resale market—Kirkland irons undercut a majority of premium brands. And it does so without compromising on the quality.
This attracts value proposition further bolstered by Costco’s return policy.
This offer provides peace of mind for golfers who just want to test the waters. It is a feature that you should overlook when shopping for new golf equipment.
How We Tested the Irons
To enable us to provide a detailed review of Kirkland irons, we embark on a series of tests, including playing them on the course.
But first, we created an indoor test lab to enable us to test the iron under a controlled environment.
Doing this enabled us to create more reliable data and insights about the performance of the irons in different aspects.
Once satisfied with our indoor testing, we move to the golf course to put the irons on another series of tests.
We recorded every shot (we took several of them) to test various aspects like ease of launch. We also recorded how the ball flights and forgiveness.
Of course, we also checked other physical aspects of the irons, like the looks and feel while playing. This enabled us to provide an all-round review of the set.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The main issue here is false advertising. According to TaylorMade, Costco’s inset is made of a different material. It also claimed that Costco misled journalists.
Perhaps the accusation that carried more weight is patent infringement. TaylorMade alleged that Costco sold its $499 irons as a similar iron to its $1,399 P790 irons.
The Kirkland Signature iron is a quality piece of golf equipment that fits players seeking distance.
According to Costco, these irons are suitable for players with a handicap of between 5 and 20. The set is designed to go head-to-head against the P790.
The company responsible for manufacturing Kirkland’s irons is Indi Golf. It does so on behalf of Costco.
Verdict
We will give credit where it is due. The Costco Kirkland Signature irons are pretty solid and easy to launch. Designed to be a playable club, these irons suit a variety of players. And man, the price point is undoubtedly tough to beat.
So, if you are looking to upgrade your current irons, then spending $499 on Kirkland irons won’t disappoint. You might not be blown away by the offer, but you will likely feel you got a good deal from Costco.
Definitely, they will not change what OEMs do, but they will be an effective way for many players to upgrade their clubs, especially when you consider the cost.
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