MacGregor Releases MT Line
Posted March 25th, 2008 by Alan Olson
MacGregor Golf goes back to some classic styling and releases some fine looking clubs in their MT line.
The folks at MacGregor Golf have been making golf equipment for 110 years. Recently, some profitability issues, ownership changes, and some rather bland product lines have made them almost an afterthought in today's golf equipment world.
Happily, those days seem to be in the past with the release of their new MT line of clubs that include drivers, woods, hybrids, wedges, and five new iron sets. So come along as we peruse all that MacGregor Golf has to offer.
MT 460 Drivers
The new MT 460 driver is a traditional pear-shaped head and features MacGregor's Cup Face 360° technology which they claim makes the entire clubface a sweet spot so even off-center hits still get good distance. The beta titanium cup face is plasma welded to a titanium body and there are no face inserts or face welds. Not sure about the technical aspects of that but I'll gladly take a larger sweet spot, thank you very much.
The MT 460 driver comes in two flavors with you having the choice of a neutral or draw/offset bias. The neutral bias MT 460 comes in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, and 11.5° and features either a Aldila DVS or Mitsubisihi Bassara for shaft options and comes with a Golf Pride DD2 grip.
The MT Offset driver comes in 11.5° and 13.5° options and is 0.5° closed. A MacGregor MT graphite shaft rounds out the Offset driver. You can add either version of the the MT 460 to your bag for about $300.
MT Fairway Woods and Hybrids
The MT Fairway Wood utilizes the same Cup Face 360° technology found in the MT 460 Driver but comes in a stainless steel head that also is plasma welded like the MT Driver. The MT Fairway Wood features internal weighting that has a neutral to slight draw bias as well as "two slightly pronounced rails along with it's carefully sculpted sole helps to minimize turf drag."
The MT Fairway Wood comes in 13°, 15°, 16.5°, and 18° with a MacGregor MT graphite shaft and a Golf Pride DD2 grip and will cost you about $180.
The MT Hybrid features the same technology, construction and sole as the MT Fairway Woods but feature a deeper face "for more confidence at address than with long irons." The same Cup Face 360° technology makes the entire face of the MT Hybrid a sweet spot making off-center hits more tolerable to your game.
The MT Hybrid will come in 17° (2), 20° (3), 23° (4), 26° (5), and 29° (6) and comes standard with a MacGregor MT graphite shaft and a Golf Pride DD2 grip. Other options include different lie configurations as well as Senior and Women's versions.
The MT Hybrids will be sold either individually or as long iron replacements in the MT-OS iron set and will run you about $150.
MT Wedges
The MT line also boasts two new wedges, the MT DW Pro and the MT EZ-Out (I like that name!). The MT EZ-Out is an oversized, cavity-backed wedge that has the same general shape and profile of the MT Pro but with a lower center-of-gravity. Toss in the "super-wide radius sole" and you should have no excuse in not getting out of the bunker in one shot. The MT EZ-Out comes with a MacGregor MT graphite shaft (on a wedge?) and comes in either a 56° and a 60° and will run you about $100.
The MT DW Pro were designed by Hall of Fame clubmaker and legend Don White who has been fitting various professional Tour players for over three decades. That expertise is now available to the rest of us now in some really nice looking wedges. The MT DW Pro wedges are forged from 1025 carbon steel and feature a "slightly onset, curved leading edge" as well as a "classically high toe."
The MT DW Pro comes in two finishes, satin chrome and the sinister (and quite nice) looking gun metal and come in a variety of lofts from 50° to 60° with a Dynamic Gold Wedge Flex shaft and a Golf Pride DD2 grip. You'll be able to add either the gun metal or satin chrome MT DW Pro to your bag for around $110.
Irons
To say MacGregor overhauled their irons lineup would be a mild understatement as they are releasing a grand total of five sets for 2008 (with some additional variations on the MT OS line).
For those golfers who love a traditional looking muscle back, the MT Pro-M might be just up your alley. Featuring a compact profile, a flatter sole, CNC flat milled faces, square grooves and forged from 1025 carbon steel, the MT Pro-M are one of the nicer looking irons on the market today (and the limited-run gun metal version looks extremely nice). The Pro-M come in 3-PW with either True Temper Dynamic Gold or Nippon NS Pro 1150 GH shafts with Golf Pride DD2 grips. These beauties will set you back about $800.
The MT Pro-C basically are the MT Pro-M's but feature a cavity back that gives you more forgiveness yet still maintains the workability of the MT Pro-M's. Shaft options are the same as the MT Pro-M's with the ever present Golf Pride DD2 grips.
For those of you who remember the VIP series (I still have a set of VIP V-Foil 1025 C's that I keep in my basement that feel oh so smooth when struck well), the MT Pro-C's are a nice updated version of that line. The MT Pro-C will also set you back about $800. If you like both the MT Pro-M and Pro-C and have a tough time making a decision on either, rest easy as a blended set is available for you as well.
The MT Irons are a classically shaped forged iron that feature the Cup Face 360° technology to help with distance and accuracy. The face is plasma welded to the sole, hosel and body to give you a much bigger sweet spot. The head is slightly larger than more traditional looking blades that hide "a slightly greater offset and a wider sole to provide jaw-dropping forgiveness.
The undercut cavity provides low weight and is inset towards the face to move the center of gravity (CG) forward to enhance trajectory control. The raised wedge design on the Cup Face optimizes power and feel at impact while the club's weighting allows the lofts to be strengthened for added distance without reducing trajectory."
The MT Irons come standard in 3-wedge with Nippon NS Pro 950 steel shafts with Golf Pride DD2 grips. A gap wedge is also available. Individual clubs go for about $100 with a eight-club set costing you about $800.
For those who want the looks of the MT Irons but could use a bit more forgiveness, the MT MID irons might be what you are looking for. Featuring the same Cup Face 360° technology of it's forged brother, the MT MID has a bit more game improvement technology built in with a shallower profile, medium offset and a wider sole with a deeper cavity, which lowers the center of gravity to give you a higher ball flight.
The MT MID irons comes in a 4-wedge set with a gap wedge included. A sand wedge is also available to round our your set. The MT MID comes standard with a lightweight micro-set shaft with Golf Pride DD2 grips. A set of MT MID irons will run about $600 with the sand wedge costing you $75.
Finally, the MT OS irons, which fit squarely in the game improvement category, are available for golfers as well. Featuring the same Cup Face 360° technology as in the MT and MT MID irons, the MT OS feature a "deep undercut channel for optimal weighting combined with a wider sole and slightly thicker top line, maximizes the depth of the center-of-gravity while minimizing the CG height to launch the ball farther."
The MT OS come as a combo-set of hybrids with the four and five irons replaced by hybrids with 6-wedge being irons. A gap wedge comes with the set and a a sand wedge is also available. The MT OS comes standard with a lightweight micro-set shaft with Golf Pride DD2 grips. The MT OS will set you back about $800 with the sand wedge being around $100.
In addition, the MT OS comes in a Seniors version as well as Women's version. Both the Seniors and Women's version come with MacGregor graphite shafts.
Final Thoughts
To say that the past few years at MacGregor Golf has been rocky would be a slight understatement and some of the recent offerings have been quite awful looking in my opinion but I must say, the MT line looks fantastic. Classic styling while utilizing their Cup Face 360° technology should make this line successful.
I have a couple of sets of MacGregor's including some great looking blades and persimmon woods from the 1970's that were my dad's so perhaps my view is a bit more sentimental for this company that has been around for 110 years and is synonymous with the rich heritage of the history of golf. It would be great for golf to have MacGregor back as one of the major players in the equipment arena. Only time and great products will see if they can make it back.
Hopefully you will give the "new" MacGregor Golf a shot while out looking for you next set of clubs. I know I will.
Feedback
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Posted 25 Mar 2008 at 9:47am #
It's great to see MacGregor getting back in the game after years of mediocrity.
The NVG line was great performing but just too out there. Good for them keeping the technology and figuring a way to put it in a classic package.
Most importantly they've kept the incredible custom program. What other OEM will let you get your clubs hand ground by a legend like Don White? The same hands that made clubs for Norman and Nicklaus can make your clubs to your exact specs as well.
Awesome!
Posted 25 Mar 2008 at 10:13am #
I own a set of the Pro M irons and cant say enough good things about them or MacGregor themselves. These are some of the best irons out there. They are o so soft but still give you the feedback that the better players desire. They are sneaky forgiving as you wouldnt think they would be but they are. I plan to game these for a long time.
Posted 25 Mar 2008 at 12:00pm #
I have always liked the MacGregor name, and I have appreciated the role they have played in the history of golf.
When casting about for a new putter three or four years ago, I became enchanted with Bobby Grace's "Amazing Grace" design. Since I couldn't locate one to try, I emailed his factory. They informed me he just signed with MacGregor and that I should contact their Albany, Ga., office. I called, started asking questions about the putter and they couldn't answer them. A nice girl referred me to another telephone number. I called. It connected me with the Grace factory! I actually spoke with Bobby Grace, who asked me lots of questions ( height, weight, type of greens I usually play on, preferred swing path, etc. ). He said he would make me a putter and have it to me in a couple of weeks; he even asked if I wished to have my initials engraved on the putter. I received it in the mail and use it to this day. Although I suffer from a wandering eye, I have nonetheless remained faithful to the MacGregor Grace putter in my bag.
Earlier this year, I called Macgregor's office, spoke to a customer service rep and asked to buy a new headcover for my putter. He sent me one free of charge.
I wish MacGregor's products were more readily available in my area. I would certainly give them a try.
I certainly wish them well.
Posted 25 Mar 2008 at 12:28pm #
If the Pro-m and Pro-c irons feel as good as they look, I foresee a blended set in my future.
Posted 25 Mar 2008 at 5:42pm #
I wasn't aware that MacGregor had revamped their line when I saw these in my "local" golf shop this weekend. I was very impressed with the look of the new irons; they reminded me of the old Jack Nicklaus Muirfield line of old. The irons actually look like something I would actually put in my bag, especially since you can order a blended set.
Posted 25 Mar 2008 at 8:10pm #
I have a set of the macgregor pro forged mt tourney irons. I bought these in 2001, & have not been interested in any other irons. I might try the new MT mix set. I am always looking for a new driver & am going to give the new Mac a try against the 907D2.
Posted 26 Mar 2008 at 10:00am #
Easily the best looking irons released this year, nothing even comes close, not even my Mizuno's...
Very excited to see how they perform and I'm hoping they offer the Pro-C in LH.
Posted 26 Mar 2008 at 12:43pm #
Beautiful looking clubs.
Posted 26 Mar 2008 at 9:06pm #
MacGregor really missed the mark by not making the majority of these great looking products available for lefties
Posted 09 Apr 2008 (5 weeks ago) at 12:22am #
I'm finally trying to learn the game after owning but seldom playing an old set of Ping Zing2 knockoffs. Went to a free swing analysis/fitting at the local shop to see if a new set of clubs might help. I compared my 6-iron to the Macgregor MT OS, Nickent 3DX, and Taylormade r7 CGB Max. The Nickents and the TM's added 20 yards according to the machine. The MT OS added almost 40 yards!! I didn't believe it was possible for clubs to make that much difference (isn't it all marketing hype?), but went back and forth between the clubs several times. Accuracy was much better as well. I'm sure much of it is in the shaft, they were all graphite.
Unless you like flash, the Macgregors are much better looking to boot. The sale lasts until the end of the month. Maybe that swing analysis wasn't so free...
Posted 14 Apr 2008 (4 weeks ago) at 8:48pm #
I've been playing golf for 40 years, and back in the days always used MacGregor clubs. Last summer I purchased a set of V-Foil Macgregor Irons 585's and these are the best irons I have hit in years. Great forged feel, very forgiving, and long. Now I've ventured into the MacGregor MT line of "woods".
Purchasing two 460 CC drivers with the Aldila DVS shafts. I tried to purchase that shaft alone off ebay, and lost out at $175 twice. The 9.5 (S) and the 10.5 (R) arrived together and I headed to the range. Both were awesome to start and while I was secretly hoping the R would go in the closet for another year or two, when I swung a bit more smoothly, it added 10mph ball speed than the S which is a bit easier to hit straight each time. At 57 I'm trying to tone the tee shot down just a bit. The MT 3 wood 15* arrived next, and last Thursday I played my first round with them. I reached places in the middle of the fairway that my brand new Ping G10 "R" had not reached. The overall feel and playability of the MT is (for me anyway) heads above any driver I have tried or played in the past. My playing partners used words such as, "you hit that one out there with the big boys Mark,".
I've orded the Pro Mt 60*LW to replace a Taylor made that has served me well.
My swing speed is normally 96-104. The R gets up to 110 a few times. Way to go MacGregor
Posted 15 Apr 2008 (4 weeks ago) at 11:32am #
Just bought the MT mids and love them!! I owned CW X-20's but fell in love with the look and feel of the MT's and expect to shave a point or 2 off my handicap with then as well.
Anyone looking for a classic look with some game improvment tech built in should look at these! Norman won't disappoint you!
Posted 20 Apr 2008 (3 weeks ago) at 2:24am #
Well after another 18 holes, and numerous range balls, the MacGregor MT 460 10.5 "R" flex DVS Aldila shaft, though a bit longer when swung perfectly has been placed in the closet until my swing speed slows down some. The 9.5 Stiff DVS just performs better under "the pressure" of the actual round of golf. These are the longest and best feeling clubs I've hit since the advent of metal woods back in the 80's.
Go grab one off Ebay and give it a chance. I think you will like them.
Posted Yesterday at 9:44am #
I've got an update. 5 weeks ago I compared the MT OS to Taylormade and Nickent. Since then I also compared them with Adams, Callaway X-18 (didn't like) and Ping G-10. Ended up buying the Macgregors w/ 1" long graphite shafts, 2 degrees upright. I've only played golf once since then, but I love them! I'm having troubles overshooting the green, have to recalibrate everything. Plus, they are accurate. If I skull it or something there's nothing the club can do, but if it's hit on the face, the ball goes straight and long.