What is a Player’s Distance Iron?

Orlimar is introducing a new iron called the Intercept MB. It will be our first foray into the “player’s distance iron” category. So, what exactly is a player’s distance iron and who is it for?

Blade-like Appearance

The MB in the Intercept MB stands for Muscle Back. Typically these type of irons have been designed for better ball strikers as traditional player’s irons possess a shorter blade length, narrower sole and topline and little in the way of game improvement features. However, that was in the past. Today’s muscle back irons in the player’s distance category feature a hollow body design. This is where the weight is better spread our around the perimeter to provide more accuracy on off-center shots. In a nutshell, on the outside it looks like a blade or muscle back iron, but all the game improvement features are hidden.

Distance Driven

The distance part comes from the ultra-thin, high-strength 17-4 stainless steel face. The thinner face allows the discretionary weight to be concentrated low and rearward for improved launch conditions and less dispersion. This is the justification for the stronger, modern lofts to normalize the launch and landing angles to control roll once the ball lands on the green.

Who is the Intercept MB for?

The Intercept MB irons are designed for intermediate and better ball strikers or those that can shoot 90 or below. For those that score higher, the standard Intercept, Escape HL or Stratos irons would be a better choice. The Intercept MB are also a fraction of what the name brand player’s distance irons, which run from $999 - $1499 a set. Depending on the finish, the Intercept MB Chrome cost $399 or Intercept MB Black at $449 per set leaving you more money for greens fees.