ORLANDO - It's a tie when it comes to the new irons between Callaway's X 22 and Cleveland Golf‘s CG7 (both classic cavity-backed designs). I'm not sure how to break this deadlock, but the Project X shaft might give Callaway the edge.

Still withholding judgment, though. The X 22 continues that line of clubs, which have been best-sellers for years. (I had a set of X 12s I played for seven years, before switching to Ping and then TaylorMade). Callaway has again made a great iron.

Cleveland's CG7 has a great offset look and a yellow injected molding to lessen vibration. It's not a gimmick; it works and gives great feel and feedback on the shot. Cleveland’s shafts are very good, too (maybe I'm just used to Callaway).

At No. 3, I've got Cobra's new FP irons. Just a good, strong feel and click at impact.

They've made this stuff so technical, you really need to do some homework before shelling out $800 or whatever for a new set of irons. That’s my hotlist for 2009 irons ... so far anyway.

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