Sub 70 699 v2 Irons

Sub 70 Golf doesn’t introduce a new piece of equipment unless it’s an upgrade worthy of replacing something or addresses a new need within their product lineup. This keeps them out of the annual “new equipment” release wars that drive up marketing and production expenses. Doing so allows Sub 70 to provide a better value to their customer. Well, after seeing plenty of success with their original 699 irons lineup, the second evolution of the Sub 70 699 irons is here! One of the major changes is that there’s a bigger difference in profiles between the Sub 70 699 v2 irons and standard 699 Pro v2 model.

While the two 699 irons share some design elements such as a hollow body, added forgiveness, a channel back, and two finishes, they’re still very different clubs. The ‘standard’ 699 is a “game improvement” (GI) iron that combines a high level of forgiveness and really long distance with sleek looks.

The Looks

Whether you prefer a classic satin chrome, or want something in a more contemporary black finish, Sub 70 has you covered with the 699 irons! Yes, folks, the 699 is available in TWO different finishes. The black finish is called DLC which stands for “diamond like carbon”. This finish is more durable and will stand up to the beating a golf club takes much better than your traditional black finishes. From my experience with other Sub 70 clubs, I’ll vouch for this finish being more durable. Then of course is the classic and timeless satin chrome finish if that’s more your speed.

Though the Sub 70 699 v2 irons are a GI iron, they look clean behind the ball. Sure there is going to be a thicker top line with a larger head profile and some offset, but that’s to be expected in this category. Kudos to Sub 70, the offset blends nicely at the heel.

The biggest difference in appearance from the 699’s predecessor is the deeper channel cut across the back of the club and the badge in the center. These both serve functional purposes which we’ll cover more throughout the review.

How Does it Feel?

Feel is one of the major areas I feel like the Sub 70 699 v2 irons differentiate themselves from the original as well as the Pro version. These are TPE resin-injected irons so the body is hollow, which allows for a little bit more face flex. This makes the feel a little more “jumpy” but the TPE also dampens the impact a bit. As a result, the feel is very active and clean across most of the face. There are also two internal “ribs” in the head to help stabilize it and prevent “deformation” at impact  for better energy transfers. This will make the club feel more responsive so you get accurate feedback in your hands as well, but without any of the sting.

Remember that channel in the back of the club that I mentioned? This channel removes weight from the center region of the head and moves it out to the perimeter. By moving the weight to the perimeter, the club head’s MOI is higher and the sweet spot is a bit more gracious. If there’s one thing I’ll say, there’s definitely a lot of pop across a lot of the face and the 699 v2 is very generous on mishits.

How Does it Sound?

Hollow-body/injection-filled irons tend to have a certain type of sound by nature of their design. I remember early versions of hollow-body irons almost sounding like little fairway woods or hybrids. This is a key element that Sub 70 addresses by injecting the 699 irons with a TPE resin. The resin dampens the vibration in the head so the sound is muted and more in line with what you expect an iron to sound like. While the 699 irons won’t sound like a buttery forged blade, there is a moderate “whack” on pure shots. Should you deviate from the magnanimous sweet spot, the sound takes on a slightly “slappy” tone. If there’s one thing I’ll say, the Sub 70 699 v2’s sound has a really satisfying pop that gives you the confidence you’re looking for in a game improvement iron.

On-Course Performance

The Sub 70 699 v2 irons do everything they’re supposed to. They’re incredibly forgiving, easy to get up in the air, and the offset definitely helps take the right side out of play. (Or if you’re a huge slicer with your irons – less in play.) And like I’ve said already, the sweet spot is very generous. You can watch my first session of testing with 699 v2 at The Seventy below and you’ll hear me regular comment that I was getting much better results than I deserved on a good amount of shots. The 699 v2 irons made hitting good shots legitimately easier.

The biggest standout, however, was the distance. Oh man, the distance. Yes, the clubs are power lofted, but I would say the stronger lofts are relative to the higher/easier launch angle of the irons. The fact is that all of the design elements combine for fast ball speeds and the ball really goes. As I write this, I still can’t believe how effortless these distances were for me to achieve. I’ve even had additional sessions with my pal Kris McEwen and he was equally impressed with the power he was able to generate with the 699 v2 irons. In my opinion, the new version is considerably longer and more forgiving than the original.

Final Thoughts – Sub 70 699 v2 Irons

As far as game improvement irons go, the Sub 70 699 v2 irons really impressed me. I mean really impressed me. They deliver on all of their promises and are, of course, a solid value with Sub 70’s direct-to-consumer pricing. So if you’re looking for a forgiving iron at a good price point that’s easy to hit a long ways, the new Sub 70 699 v2 is really worth having on your radar.

Stock Sub 70 699 v2 Irons Specs

I went out to The 70 to test the new 699 v2 irons and you can watch that below: