Hippo ITX2 Irons

If you're seeking game-improvement irons that won't break the bank, the Hippo ITX2 set is one you should look into. These irons feature technology designed to achieve maximum forgiveness, but without a maximum price. That model is one is that Hippo has become very successful at achieving.

Hippo Golf is the largest OEM manufacturer in Europe. In the U.S., the brand is best-known from the days of its original monster-sized Hippo driver and the company's association with John Daly (Ian Woosnam is now Hippo's touring rep).

Hippo drivers continue to be declared a great value. Recently, in robotic testing sponsored by Europe's version of Golf World magazine, the Hippo ITX driver was found to be "the longest driver under $200." The article went on to say the driver "(is) a bargain because it's packed full of technology and features the same carbon-composite construction that several of the premium priced drivers offer."

The same can be said about the ITX2 Irons, which feature a technological approach to game-improvement found in many higher-priced sets, yet carry an MSRP of under $300 with steel shafts (around $350 with graphite shafts).

Among the construction highlights of the Hippo ITX2 Irons:

• A 3-piece head construction using 17-4 stainless steel and a kevlar carbon insert. The carbon composite is inserted into the cavity between the face and back sections (a cutaway in the back section makes the carbon visible in the finished product). The carbon insert is virtually the same size as the face plate.

• A widened sole and deep, undercut cavity that combine to put much of the clubhead's weight below the ball.

The point of the carbon insert, widened sole and undercut cavity is to create a soft-feeling iron with a low center of gravity and a fully "hot" face (enlarged sweet spot). It's a game-improvement combination that ratchets up forgiveness and aids the golfer in getting the ball airborne.

Does the combination work in the Hippo ITX2 Irons? Our testers thought so. The higher-handicappers in our group all had positive things to say about the clubs. But the toughest critics are always the pros, the golfers who play Titleist or TaylorMade or Callaway almost reflexively.

We were most impressed by one of our pro's comments when hitting the 3- and 4-irons from the Hippo ITX2 set. He said simply, "I could put these long irons in my bag right now."

"The clubs are just so forgiving," he continued, "I feel like I can't hit one bad."

Low-handicappers might not get as much spin out of the short irons and pitching wedge as they prefer, but mid- and high-handicappers aren't likely to even notice.

In short, the Hippo ITX2 Irons are a set well worth looking into for any golfer who seeks maximum forgiveness in a new set of game-improvement irons without having to empty his wallet to find it.