Sub 70 659 Irons

My first glimpse of the Sub 70 659 irons came from a round of golf sometime last summer. I was playing on a lovely sunny weekend afternoon with Sub 70’s own Jason Hiland and he had a couple prototypes of a new iron in his bag. Just from looking at them, they reminded me of many of my favorite forged classics but still had that signature “Sub 70 vibe” to them. I was in love. Fast forward a little less than a year and Sub 70 introduced the forged 659 irons in CB, TC, and MB options. (Cavity Back, Tour Cavity, and Muscle Back respectively.) Available in three different finishes, these irons can be combined seamlessly into the perfect combo or standalone set for a wide range of golfers.

After anticipating the release of the 659 irons for so long, I went to Sub 70’s fitting studio, The Seventy, to make sure I got properly dialed in. You can check out video of that fitting here. This review will cover the club build I came away with from that experience.

The Looks

Regardless of which Sub 70 659 irons you go with, or combination of for that matter, they are offered in three different finishes. For players that are into the whole rust/patina look, the 659s are available in a raw finish. Next is a classic matte black “QPQ” finish that’s more durable than its Tour PVD predecessor. Then there’s the timeless satin chrome finish which is strong and will protect your clubs for years. While I’m a fan of all three options, the traditionalist in me went for the satin finish this time around.

The 659 CB and TC irons have a moderately compact blade footprint with a moderate-to-thin top line. They won’t be mistaken for teeny tiny butter knives, but they have a clean profile more preferred by better iron players. As a more forgiving club, the 659 CB has a progressive offset throughout the set that blends in nicely in the longer irons. The TC also has some offset, but slightly less than the CB. Both clubs have an aesthetic that’s a departure from Sub 70 irons we have seen before, but still have the signature milling marks on the cavity and minimal branding.

The 659 MB is the player’s “blade” option of the 659 family. As such, the MB’s offset is minimal with a thinner top line and a more compact profile. From address, the 659 MB has a much more traditional, yet modernized “blade” look to it. Aesthetically, the 659 MB is more reminiscent of previous Sub 70 iron models with its styling of the muscle pad on the back of the club.

How Does it Feel?

All three Sub 70 659 irons are made of a soft DT-4 steel and have their own unique feel characteristics, but also flow together nicely. I’ll do my best to break down each version individually.

Starting with the 659 CB, this is the most forgiving of the three variations, but it’s still designed to be a player’s cavity back. The feel at impact is crisp, yet as soft, precise, and responsive as you’d expect from a forged iron. With more weight lower in the head for a lower center of gravity (CG), and the undercut to the cavity in the longer irons, the sweet spot is a little more generous and there’s a bit more pop on the face. Pure shots feel clean with a lot of effortless jump. The sole has a touch more “body” to it with a rounded leading edge for smooth and gentle turf interaction.

Of the three 659 irons, the MB has the most responsive feedback with a soft forged signature to it. The 659 MB is more of a traditional forged blade and feels as such with its smaller sweet spot and a slightly higher CG. Sub 70 updated the sole design by rounding both the trailing and leading edges for smoother turf interaction that will work for a wider range of swing types and abilities. I like this because the 659 MB still feels crisp through the turf, but doesn’t naturally want to dig.

As you might imagine, the TC is the perfect blend to bridge the 659 CB and MB. It has a lot of the easy jump/pop and forgiveness of the CB with similar feedback and response to the MB. The turf interaction is crisp like the MB, but also has a smooth generosity similar to the CB.

How Does it Sound?

Sound is pretty consistent throughout each version of the Sub 70 659 irons. Being all three 659s are forged irons, they have that signature soft, yet firm classic “whack” with a little bit of snap to it when you find the sweet spot. In the case of the CB and TC, that sound will be found in more of the face as the sweet spot is a touch bigger. Overall, I really enjoy the 659’s sound. While the 659 irons feel much more updated and friendly than grandpa’s old blades, they have that familiar classic forged sound that makes a blade so satisfying.

On-Course Performance

I ended up being fit for a full combo set in the Sub 70 659 irons. For the 4 and 5 irons, I went with 659 CBs to help get the ball in the air and carrying a little easier. The added mass low in the head (lower CG) and the aforementioned undercut technology give me some help in a typically difficult part of the bag without sacrificing precision and playability. This has also helped me be more consistent so I can confidently rely on my long irons every time I need them.

Like I mentioned in the Feel section, the 659 TC falls right in the middle of the CB and MB, and that holds true in its performance. Like the CB, there’s a bit of added mass lower in the head which lowers the CG and makes it easier to get the ball in the air and carrying. The sweet spot is also a little more generous, however, the TC will be more workable than the CB.

While “playability” with the 659 MB is more along the lines of a traditional blade, I would say they are still a little easier to play as far as muscle backs go. Don’t get me wrong, they’re still best for a “better ball striker’s” club, but a little “friendlier” than old school blades due to the new sole design. The slightly higher CG allows for a more penetrating flight that can shoot darts into greens. Between the flight and precise response, the MBs were a perfect fit for me 8 through pitching wedge.

Final Thoughts – Sub 70 659 Irons

While Sub 70 has made plenty of great irons since their inception, it’s hard for me to say that the 659 isn’t their best overall to date. With three different variations, the 659 irons all fit a slightly different performance profile. Each iron can work perfectly fine as a standalone set, but can also be mixed and matched for a combo set that’s a perfect fit for your game. In my case, I sought the benefits of all three throughout my bag. I find them fairly easy to hit for being a “low-handicap” forged blade iron, and the feel and control are excellent. Since adding the 659s to my bag, it’s the most confident I’ve felt in my iron game in a long time. Sure that has a lot to do with the fitting, but the clubs are legitimately that good.

If you’re looking to get an in-person fitting at The Seventy with Kevin or Jason (both are great), you can book an appointment here. Speaking from my own fitting, as well as a few friends who have also gone in, this experience is worth every second. If you can’t make it out to The Seventy, check out the Sub 70 online fitting tool here. Sub 70 also has a handful of fitting carts across the US as well as some international distributors that can be found on their website.

Stock Sub 70 659 Irons Specs

Sub 70 659 CB Irons Specs

Sub 70 659 TC Irons Specs

Sub 70 659 MB Irons Specs

Sub 70 659 CB

Sub 70 659 TC

Sub 70 659 MB

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