As our editor, Erik J. Barzeski, reported in his review of the Nickent 3DX Pro irons, Nickent has taken on noted club designer John B. Hoeflich and, with his expertise, launched itself into the iron market in a big way.
Their latest offering is an evolutionary – maybe even revolutionary – take on set makeup. The Nickent 3DX Hybrid irons are designed from the hybrids on down. What this means is that there is no longer a gap in loft between the shortest hybrid and the longest iron. Loft progression through the set results in extremely strong mid-irons and weaker short irons.
They’ve brought the concept to market by marrying two of their proven hybrid clubs with extreme perimeter-weighted irons that range from a 5-iron to a pitching wedge, including a 10-iron. With a lot of offset, and all that forgiveness, they seem to be pitching these clubs at slower swingers and older players.
Appearance
Hoeflich is a proven master when it comes to iron esthetics. Most designers acknowledge that the 8-iron is the most difficult to conjure up as it is the transition club between the mid irons and short irons. Hoeflich’s 8-iron in the old Tommy Armour 845’s is one of the most beautiful ever designed.
You can see that same master’s touch in the 3DX Hybrid irons. They are very good looking. In the playing position they display a fairly thick top line and considerable offset. But it’s the shape of the iron face that’s most appealing and where you see most of the designer’s touch in evidence.
The entire set shares the same shaft and the larger iron heads blend nicely with the two hybrid clubs.
A graphite cap covers the cavity back and has a glossy clear finish revealing the woven graphite fabric pattern. Coupled with the very tasteful graphics and the highly polished stainless steel head it makes for a very, very classy-looking club. And while the head is polished, the top line and face are bead blasted to avoid glare. The two lower scoring lines are filled with white paint to help with alignment.
The two hybrid clubs, on the other hand, bear more a family resemblance to Nickent’s earlier hybrid offerings. Truthfully, I wonder how much design input Hoeflich had on these clubs. They are uniquely shaped and, to my eye, just a little awkward looking.
Playing with me the other day as I tested the hybrids, my good friend and PGA pro dubbed the hybrid “the cloven hoof.” But beauty is as beauty does, and as I’ll relate later, these clubs work.
The hybrids have a shallow face, moderate offset and feature a glossy black painted crown. Probably because they were designed as a line extension of the hybrids, not necessarily from scratch as part of this set, the accent graphics are green instead of the red on the irons. But such nits are mine to pick.
Design and Technology
There are two stories here: the construction of the clubs and the loft progression through the set. First construction…
The irons are designed along much the same lines as Callaway’s popular Fusion irons. They are a cast stainless steel clubhead with an exceptionally deep cavity covered by a graphite cap. Nickent claims the cap saved them 35 grams (that’s a lot) that they were able to reposition as two steel plugs in the heel and toe.
Because this design lets them achieve a lower center of gravity and a concomitant higher launch angle, it opened up the possibility to strengthen the loft so, in theory, anyway, the launch angle would be similar but the distance greater.
The top line is thick and the offset is plenty. Just what you’d expect from a game improvement club.
The two hybrid clubs are marketed separately as the 3DX Utility DC. This line has a wider body than the 3DX Ironwood and Ironwood DC models and is variously labeled as “wood iron” on their web site and designated “fw” on the sole of the club.
The bigger body allowed them to keep the same general shape as their original Ironwood while increasing the moment of inertia (resistance to twisting) by 25 percent. Fused polymer/tungsten inserts spread weight to the heel and toe.
I wondered why Nickent didn’t use one of the smaller Ironwood models with this set since it would seem the smaller size would better complement the irons. But then I checked the lofts on their website. At 15° loft the 3fw in this set corresponds to a “2+” Ironwood at 15.5°. The 4fw in the set is 17° and corresponds to their “2” Ironwood, also 17°.
And that brings us to the loft distribution through the set. It’s unique both at the top end and in the more lofted clubs. Before we go further, I must note that even according to noted club expert Tom Wishon, there is no such things as “standard” lofts in clubs. Typically forgiving, cavity back game improvement clubs have stronger lofts than forged iron “players” clubs.
With that in mind, here’s how the lofts of the 3DX Hybrid set compare against what Nickent chooses to represent as “standard” lofts on their website:
Club 3DX Hybrid Standard ---- ---------- -------- 3 15 (hybrid) 21 (iron) 4 17 (hybrid) 24 (iron) 5 22 27 6 26 30 7 30 33.5 8 34 37 9 39 41 10 44 PW 48 44
Whether you agree with Nickent’s definition of “standard” or not, what this tells us is that at the top end, the clubs are much more strongly lofted. The 3fw at 15° has the same loft as most players’ 3 wood. But, of course, with a much shorter shaft, it won’t go as far as that. Nickent is counting on the weight distribution and inherent higher launch angle to compensate for the low loft.
The UST graphite shaft is black. The loud graphic labeling is mercifully on the underside of the shaft.
It also means that the 5 iron – the first true “iron” in the Nickent set – is lofted almost the same as a traditional 3 iron.
At the bottom end it’s just as interesting. The 10 iron is lofted like a traditional pitching wedge. This makes the pitching wedge in the Nickent set a better transition to a 52° gap wedge and, ultimately, a 56° sand wedge (both of which they sell separately to match the set).
And it’s these weaker-lofted short irons that I think are ultimately the set’s biggest advantage. Slower swinging players on a 460-yard par four are going to hit two shots with the longest clubs they can manage. That third shot is likely to be under a hundred yards and that’s where having several clubs to choose from for precise distance control is a real scoring advantage.
One design characteristic that I have a personal problem with is the generous and consistent offset down through the whole set. Short irons with that much offset just don’t look right to me. At the same time, this feature is entirely in keeping with the “easy to hit” theme and the players these clubs should appeal to.
Performance
Let me get something off my chest right away. I’m quite at odds with Nickent’s marketing hyperbole in support of these clubs. Their web site trumpets them as “the longest irons in the history of golf.” Come on. Their 22° 5 iron doesn’t go any further than any other 22° iron… and it may even be shorter because it’s a shorter shaft than a traditional 3-iron.
They also talk about the 5-iron going 200 yards and the 8-iron traveling 150 yards. That may be true if you currently hit a 5-iron 185 yards and an 8-iron 140. But, again, the reality is that many of the players who should be playing these clubs aren’t getting that distance with their current clubs.
Finally, the number on the sole of the club doesn’t mean diddly… or shouldn’t. There’s a distance to travel and a club to send it that distance. If you need to brag about the number on the sole that sent it that distance you should go buy a Hummer instead.
Now I feel better. So let me tell you how these played:
My test set came fitted out with Nickent’s graphite shaft, a UST SR2 model in stiff weighing in at 85 grams. It’s been a long time since I’ve tried graphite shafts in irons and I must say these performed very well. They were solid and consistent in feel.
The irons themselves were extremely forgiving. So forgiving you can forget any thought of consistently shaping ball flight one way or another. It can be done, but with so much offset, it’s hard to pull off all the time.
With the design of the head and the offset, I found myself hitting these higher than I would have preferred. I still achieved reasonable distance, but every once in a while I’d launch a real balloon, especially with the short irons. I’d have to work a lot more with these to learn how to hit a knockdown shot.
The 9-iron, 10-iron, and pitching wedge shown here illustrate how the generous offset carries through the short irons.I very much liked the loft progression. I felt like I had much more precise control of distance throughout the entire set. And these clubs matched up well with my 52° gap wedge and 58° sand/lob wedge. I also like the way the 5-iron distance matched up with the 4fw hybrid. It took me a while to calculate new distances for each club, but once I did they performed consistently.
I must say the two hybrids are something special. Despite the “cloven hoof” crack my friend made, the look is something I could get used to. They just may find their way into my bag because they really do perform well. Despite the strong lofts they were excellent out of some pretty funky lies as well as tight fairways. And they’re exceptionally easy to hit.
On one long par three into the wind I hit what my pro friend likes to call a “pull hook bone fade.” Which is basically a terrible strike pulled far left, thin, that somehow slices back on target. Well, this hybrid managed such as esoteric shot with aplomb. It left me with a birdie putt. Cool.
All clubs in the set come with a Winn V17 grip which, of course, is branded for Nickent.
Jim Furyk is playing a Nickent hybrid and the company is doing exceptionally well in club count on the Nationwide Tour where they’ve concentrated a lot of their marketing effort. Now having played a couple of examples, I understand the success.
Specifications
The Nickent 3DX Hybrid irons come in a number of configurations. First, there are the two shaft options… the UST SR2 graphite I tested which comes in five different flexes ranging from X to light and includes something called an R-light. The steel shaft is a Nippon 850 in uniflex.
The set can be had as a seven-piece iron set (5-iron through pitching wedge, including the 10-iron) and as the full nine-piece set that includes the two hybrids. As mentioned earlier, a matching gap wedge and sand wedge are available separately. The iron only set has a retail price of $749. The full set with hybrids is priced at $849.
They are also marketing a “senior” set which replaces the 3- and 4-hybrids with 4- and 5- models for higher launch with the long clubs. The senior set also comes with a sand wedge.
Conclusion
These are well-designed, well-made clubs. The concept is a good one, despite the somewhat misleading marketing hype. It gives shorter hitters the length they need with longer clubs and the precision they need with the shorter ones.
Headcovers for the hybrids are, how shall I say… colorful? OK, they’re garish. Get some knits.
Stronger players may be put off by the offset and the lack of workability. But seeing how the loft progression plays out in this set may be an incentive to look more closely at the match up in their current or future sets.
Nickent and their chief designer, John Hoeflich, are to be congratulated on coming up with a great concept and executing it in stunning fashion. They are beautiful and they work. Anyone considering clubs like the Callaway Fusions or Adams Idea irons should definitely, most definitely, try these out.
While there may be no true “standard” for lofts, I can say that almost every pitching wedge I’ve ever seen is a whole lot closer to 48° than it is to 44°. Nice try, Nickent, but I ain’t buyin’ it.
Then again, these clubs really aren’t intended for me – and those they are intended for probably come up short with their current clubs. Perhaps stronger lofts (doubly strong!) can get them to the hole.
Strong pitching wedges are not that uncommon among game improvement irons. Among the sets with 44 and 45 degree pitching wedges are:
Cobra S9
TaylorMade R7 CGB
Adams AZ OS Senior
Cleveland Launcher
Precept EZ
Yonex Cyberstar VX
Tour Edge Tour Ironwood
Since all these clubs target the same kind of golfer, I think Nickent may not have been all that unfair in posing 44 degrees as a standard.
The real point is that anyone buying irons needs to check the lofts.
Why? Why have companies gotten away from traditional lofts? It doesn’t do a thing for you. Not one thing. It just makes long irons that much harder to hit. 3-irons are just 2-irons repackaged.
Now we need gap-wedges to replace what were pitching wedges. I’d prefer companies packaging a gap wedge instead of a 3-iron and we’d be right back where we started and I wouldn’t have to spend extra coin on a gap wedge.
The only thing it does is create buzz as some people say a club goes further than their old one. Actually their pitching wedge is a 9-iron with a “P” on the sole.
It does nothing substantive for consumers.
Companies have gotten away from “traditional” lofts because of the ability to move the CG of irons lower and farther back. This means a 48* PW would go a mile in the air, and bringing it up to 44* or 45* allows for a more expected trajectory, and has the added advantage of going farther. The shorter the iron, the better you hit it, and if we can give someone a PW they can hit the yardage they used to hit a 9 iron, they’ll actually hit it that distance more often. It’s a win-win.
I have a set of r7 CGB MAX irons, which have a 44* PW. I had 52* & 56* wedges, but found the gap too large between the PW and the 52. So, I switched it out with an “A” wedge from my 2002 rac OS set, which is a 50* wedge, and it has been working pretty well for me.
This, of course, has nothing to do with the Nickent irons review, and out of respect to John Hoeflich, who was my first boss at TaylorMade, I will just stay silent.
Jason makes a good point: The only reason you need to know the lofts of your clubs is to make sure you don’t have massive gaps between them at the top (between your shortest hybrid/FW and your longest iron) and the bottom (between your wedges). This is where custom fitting really comes in. A good fitter will make sure that you have a set that covers all the yardages and takes advantage of your abilities.
There are so many a la carte options to golfers now. There are LPGA Tour players who don’t carry an iron longer than a 6-iron. A clubfitter can help you put together the best set for you, and do it with special orders that keep you from having extra long irons sitting around (like those original Rescue club TM commercials, right Jason?).
Jeff, your point about companies only selling 3-PW sets is well taken. Offering the option of a 4-GW set is a no-brainer (and most companies will let you buy them that way).
Interesting reading the review and the comments. After seeing Gold Digest Hot List 2007, seems like these Nickent Hybrid irons would be (if there, they are not) in the “Super” game improvement catagory, rather than the “regular’ game improvement catagory, which includes the Calloway X-20, Adams A2, and Nike CCI. Seems like the Nickent Hybrid irons are more likely to be played by a 18 plus sorta player, rather than someone who flirts with the 70’s every once in a while. Thoughts anyone??
Having hit these, I think the irons fit the “regular” game improvement category. They have a fairly thin sole (as opposed to the Nike Slingshot and Callaway Fusion irons). They are not as forgiving as they might look. The hybrids are terrific clubs… every easy to hit. The irons, I think, are a little less so. Still, with these strong lofts, they could appeal to players looking for more iron distance.
I have been using the Genex Nickent clubs for a while and I’m going to try a set. I shoot in the 86-92 range and don’t even think about shaping shots. I’m looking for consisant ball striking, the added distance will be a bonus.
I’ll report back once I decide on the graphite or steel shafts.
I’m 60 yrs. old and have used the Nickent 3DX Hybrid Irons for nearly one month. During that time, my scores have steadily improved. I’m hitting 8 to 10 strokes better now. The reason is consistency. I’m hitting the Nickents nearly the same distances as my “old” Cyberstar VXs, ie, no real gain in distance, but my accuracy and consistency have improved dramatically. The 10 iron is my 110 yard club and I’m able to drop the ball near the flag nearly every time from that distance. The 5 iron (short 3 iron?) is my most difficult club to use in the set, but I’m improving. I hit my lowest ever score yesterday (74, with strong wind and greens recently aerated, but on my home course which I know like the back of my hand). Regardless of the lofts and advertising hyperbole, these clubs work for me. Best clubs I’ve ever purchased. *Note: I also get a lot of help from another recent purchase, the Cleveland Hibore XL, which is the most accurate driver I’ve ever used.
I’m joining this discussion because I purchased the 3DX Hybrid set after a lot of research, testing and filtering the comments on this site. Like Sebastian, I am an older golfer (53), started playing seriously 3 years ago, and this is my first new set of clubs. The purchase of a new set was part of my strategy to shoot consistently in the 80s this summer. The other part of the strategy was to take a series of private lessons, and develop a consistent practice routine.
I was attracted to this set by Nickent’s reputation for hybrids, and the claim of additional distance. I have been using the clubs 3-4 times a week for the last two months and I am hitting the mid-irons (5,6,7) 10-15 yards further and straighter than I did with my old handed down Cobras. I am having a bit of a challenge in dialing in the distance on the 10, P Wedge and the gap wedge. I just need to become comfortable with the the extra options in lofts. As one reviewer noted, these options do give one the potential for more consistent accuracy from 100 yards in.
The 3 and 4 FW hybrids hit the ball straight and long, and fill a yardage gap that I had with my old set perfectly. They play as advertised.
I also agree with Sebastian about the 5 iron being a bit challenging to master… with the loft of a traditional 3 iron, a more sweeping stroke is working for me.
Overall, I am satisfied to date. By the end of the summer, I’ll be able to determine if the set is a keeper or not.
I’m not too proud to say I’ve got a 9 handicap and have played with these “game improvement” clubs now for about 6 months. I may be marginally longer with them, but more importantly mishits go straight and far which is something I can’t say about my previous Taylor Made’s. The hybrid 3 & 4 are awesome.
Golf is a game of confidence, and I have more playing with these irons. I’ve dropped about 2 strokes in handicap since starting with these and they’ve given me many chances to go lower if I could just putt.
Golfers that have the capability to shape shots won’t like these, but the rest of us mortals sure will.
After using Nike Slingshot Clones for years.. this set really improved my confidence.
I am a “Slow – Smooth Swing” golfer. At 37 years old and having golfed since 10…. This set of clubs really helps with my game.
I wont tell you what I shoot.. but I am a recreational golfer. Ok.. I am happy with a 91… on a good day. 😆
But I dont do this for a living… and I don’t care what people think. I just want to have fun with Golf.
These clubs have really made me happy. The 10 Iron is what has gained my confidence in my short game. If you can get in on the green in 3 (On a Par 4) and 2 putt. That is what I shoot for.
If you are thinking of getting these clubs… at a good price… you wont be sad.
This is what I am hitting:
P- 85-95
10-100-110
9-115-125
8-130-140
7-150
6-160
5-170
H4-180
H3-195-210 (On a good hit)
Hope this helps if you are wondering.
I’m an 11 hcp with a consistent stroke, not too long, but straight.
These irons do an excellent job (and they look good as well). Sure, there’s a load of offset, the topline is big and the lofts are jacked up. So what?? These are easy to line up, they have a large sweetspot, they don’t twist on shots hit off-center, and they give me a constant ballflight on medium and good hits. Distance control is good, feel on flush shots is sufficient. I have the SR2 reg. shafts, they reward a smooth follow-through, but they also stand up to the occasional hard swing. Dampening is excellent, they play quite similar to the Callaway Fusions, which certainly is not a bad thing. Add a gap and a sand wedge and you’re set. I love that 5 iron, it’s perfect for long par 3’s, hit it high and let it fly!!
Forget about the distance hype surrounding these! Find your distance with each club and play with confidence. It’s not that easy to shape your shots, but most of us weekend warriors can’t do that anyway. I’d rather have a consistent straight iron shot than an one out of ten shaped low draw. This is not the fountain of youth, it’s simply a very well crafted set of irons that will work well for a wide variety of players.
Well, I recently retired from the Navy, finished my Bachelor’s degree, started workign on my Masters Degree and took a nice new job working as a consultat to a local city. My reward, a new set of clubs. I have long been a Taylor Made fan, but in reading of the Nickents I found that one of the old school TM engineers was involved, so why not try them? Well, I’m just about 40, had not played for over 4 years but wanted a club set that would permit me lots of possible game improvement as I got back on the course regularly. I used to be a 10 handicap (for a brief period I even flirted with an 8), but I’m in a much different place in life now. I wanted a set of clubs that I could keep my swing (aggressive and flaws and all) and still post a respectable score and hit solid shots.
These Nickent 3DX’s do that and more. Lets just say that Nickent touts that you can hit the 5 iron 200 yards and the 8 iron 150. I’m pretty close to their model as I hit the 5 iron cleanly 215 and the 8 iron about 160-165 consistently. Lets just say I can rip my Taylor Made SuperQuad down the fairway and take a pretty good shot at most of the pins with a very short iron that handles my perferred high launch angle that cozy up closer to the pin than anyone with my current level of play deserves. Only two months after having these I have found my swing improving, shots becoming very consistent to pattern and distance and my scores are coming down. I have them in STIFF and added the GW and SW and find that with the right backswing can dial in two consistent distances with each wedge that permit me to take aim at the pin or preferred landing zone with each club from the 10 down to the SW. That is like having four extra clubs if you undersand what I mean. This permits me to swing with confidence from nearly any yardage from 40-150 yards with a real expectation that I can put my shot within range of a solid long one putt. As my putting improves I will see that handicap and scores drop even further.
Could I have done this with any new set? Probably. Clubs have been improved across all the manufacturers. I chose these Nickent 3DX’s because I got the full set for about $400, added the two wedges (GW and SW) for another $100. That is an affordable return to the game with a new set, and that new set has given me confidence. The clubs look good at address, give good feedback and swing well. Looks good, feels good, results are good, makes the head feel good, there in lies the benefit. These make me feel like I’m capable of playing better, and in fact I am.
After just two months I think that I would say that I would estimate my current handicap at about a 14 or 15 (tough to say for sure as I have been touring all the local courses that I am seeing for the very first time, not familiar with their layups or blind hazards and not using any GPS aid. I think I will be comfortably back to a 10 in a few more months, maybe even lower.
Hi, I ve been playing with the Nickent Hybrid irons for 3months and so far it worked well for me. The issue for me is i would like to bend the lie 2 degrees flatter. I have approached a few customs fitters but they all say it would be difficult to bend the nickent irons because they are not forged. Any advice is kindly appreicated.. thanks…
If you could get any of these 3 sets for the same price, which would you choose: TM R7 Draw (5I-SW, including AW); Cleveland Hibore (3I-PW); or Nickent 3DX (3I-PW, including a free Nickent 3DX Square Driver)?
p.s. TM CGB (3I-PW) also available for $100 more.
p.s. All sets brand new. TMs and Clevelands were on sale here in the Philippines for about that price. Nickent needs to be ordered from TGW (US).
p.s. Nickent set might cost more after you input shipping and taxes.
Currently using Adams Idea which are about 5 years old and am thinking of getting a new set. Very few places here which allow you to try out clubs. basically need to rely on reviews of other people and hope the set works out for me.
I am a new 😯 golfer to the game and becoming a fanatic. I have always been very athletic throughout highschool and college, but have come to the conclusion that GOLF is the hardest sport to achieve in.
My father in law has gotten me into the sport, he has had the opportunity to work as a pro at a couple of courses in Tennessee, but currently lives in Kansas City; Therefore, he is unable to assist me with improving my game. I am looking for a great set of irons that will assist me with getting the ball down the green. Since I am so new to this game, I know that I will be unable to shape my shots. I have considered purchasing a set of Mizuno MX19 or MX25 irons, but since researching Nickent I am considering the change. My father in law has given me his old irons which are Mizuno MP 32, but I am a little worried that I will be unable to hit these clubs after researching them and reading reviews. I know that whichever set I purchase, I wil, also buy hybrid clubs. I am looking for knowledge here, for he just tells me to buy blades b/c if you plan on excelling you should just learn how to hit them or you will be going backwards b/c you will not know if you are hitting the ball properly, and once you buy blades you could possible create alot of mishits. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE… ➡ PLEASE ASSST ME 😯
First, I’m 57 these are my first clubs ever, I just started playing in December of 2007. These clubs were recommended by a golf shop here in Saint George, Utah. I’ve only played 9 holes 9 times. I started out by shooting a 57 and now its down to a 43. The par is 34. Steve, I want to thank you for posting what you can hit with these clubs it helped me out alott. I’m left handed 6’2″ my irons were made +1″ and my Ironwoods + 1/2″ and last but not least the 3dx square driver. The hybrid 5 fw utility I hit about 180, 3 fw utility 200, and the driver 10.5 degrees about 220 + yards. All I can say about them is they are really easy to hit and they are clubs I’ll never replace. I don’t see how I can out grow this set. I beleive that they are great for a person who wants to go out and have fun with your friends. They make you look good, so I would recommend these for those of you who want to buy one set that will last for a very long time.
Now that the 3dx RC hybrid Irons are available and aimed at the same audience I’d love to see you guys do a comprehensive review of that set.
What would be really great is if you compared them to these 3dx irons since this model can be had for half the price. Are the 3dx worth the investment?
This is the best review of the 3dx hybrids on the web and you’d be doing a lot of us a huge service by continuing to review the line.
Thanks!
I am surprised to see how many people were unaware that most clubs have been significantly delofted. Actually the traditional pitching wedge was 50 degrees before it was 48 back in the mid 60s.
The bottom line is that people with great short games always seem to figure it out. For example, even Minzuno and MacGregor are putting out 45 degree pitching wedges. That leaves 11 degrees between the pitching and sand wedge. An unacceptably wide margin – particularly with short irons.
For most modern sets manufacturers should be offering 4 – GW as standard. Instead they offer 3-PW (really 2-9) getting customers to pay a significant price $70-90 for a gap wedge (or a pitching wedge.
Nickent has got it right from one standpoint. Short irons 7-SW should have a consistent separation with respect to degrees. This allows a golfer to take a full swing and know within a few yards how far the ball will go. I don’t care who you are – the same swing for all irons is ideal. Most people (even mid-handicappers) are not capable of playing, consistent short irons with a 11 degree gap. If they are, they will be even better when they fill in gaps.
The bottom line, is that you can forget asking anyone what they hit on a given shot. Thats because one persons PW may be anothers 8 iron. It means nothing. You simply have to know how far the clubs you have hit. If you hit the PW 110 yards, you can bet a 9 iron will be about 10 -12 yards farther with the same swing, and 10-12 more yards with an 8.
I currently play Mac 585s and Maxfli A-10s (two of the highest rated irons ever produced). The PWs are 45 & 46 respectively. Buying the 50 degree gap – a 54 + 58 degree Cleveland wedges. In effect, duplicating Nickent’s approach, but it takes more effort.
I really believe these clubs would be an excellent choice for mid-handicappers and above, and can guarantee short games will improve. I applaud Nickent for flat out coming out and putting together a set of clubs designed for short play. I do prefer the old lofts (48 degree PW), but those days are gone. The other great thing about this set, is that it allows you to supplement these clubs with traditional 52, 56, 60 (GW, SW, LW) that have been manufactured for years.
I picked these clubs up from a golf pro for half off brand new. Thinking i would use them for a year and trade up for something better, but after using them for ten or so rounds I think will be keeping them for much longer. The clubs are forgiving and have great ball flight. The only question I have is, are the lofts for the 3 hybrid and 4 hybrid in this article accurate because I find 15* and 17* loft respectively, extremely low for how the ball seems to get up….any thoughts and Ladies and Gents.
Got a new set of these a few months ago. Jury’s still out. I have used Callaways since they came out. These are my first “other” set. I’ve compared the Nickents to my X-16’s on the range many times. I often get ready to settle on one set and sell the other and vice versa. I hit both sets about the same distance. The Nickents are a bit more forgiving. I think it has to do with my swing speed. The X-16’s are graphite and the Nickents are steel. I swing faster with the lighter graphites than the heavier steel. Therefore the same distances even though the loft of the X-16 5 iron is 26 and the Nickent 5 is at 22. I do think the more I play with the Nickents the faster I’ll swing and see the distance. As for the 3 and 4 hybrids. They’re staying. I can’t believe how easy they are to hit. Probably use the 3 off the fairway and use my Callaway 5 wood for “going for it” I also use a Cleveland HiboreXL as my driver. Love it. I wish I would’ve tried graphite on the Nickents but I think I’m more consistant with a heavier shaft. Not worried about distance as much as keeping it in play.
I picked-up a set of these (stiff graphite) a few months ago during a spat with my CG2’s. Figured I’d get a nice easy to hit set and see how I’d play. For me, these are not very easy to hit at all.
I’ve played CG2’s, Hogan Apex Edge’s and Cobra 3100’s; they’re all easier to hit than these irons (the 3 and 4 hybrids are very nice though). I might do better with them if I worked with them a while, but if I have to do that … I might as well work on the CG2’s.
I’m in my mid 50s and currently play to an 8.5 HCP. I’ve alternated between sets of Mizuno MP 33 and Taylor Made 320 over the past 6 or 7 years. One of my buddies showed up with a set of these earlier this month, and after trying them out, I went straight home and bought a set on the net ($189 for 9 clubs). I have not been disappointed!
They’re easy to hit, very forgiving, and I love the ironwoods- they’re long and straight. (A side bonus is that the graphite shafts have been a huge relief to my arthritis.)
Yea, they don’t work the ball well or look as good as premium irons; the offset and odd club lofts take some getting used to; and the short irons launch the ball higher than usual. Nothing a couple of hours on the range and a practice round or two couldn’t take care of.
“Game improvement” clubs? Call ’em what you want, but the bottom line is, these are some really nice sticks that help you score. That’s what matters to me. And, since they’re last year’s model, they won’t break the bank.
I highly recommend these clubs, especially for mid to high handicappers. By the way, my buddy plays to a 4 and hadn’t changed irons in over 20 years.
I’ve been playing 4 years (age 68) and just went from a Hogan Apex Edge CFT set in regular to the 3DX in senior flex. Very nice, and I can tell the softer feel on impact. Very nice also. I’m having to learn the distances on these clubs, but I already love that 10 iron from 100.
It would be nice to know the lofts on this senior flex set. All I have been able to find, even from the Nickent site (they didn’t respond to my inquiry about this)–is the lofts of the regular set. If anyone has this info, please post.
Mike,
I think the lofts should be the same. I can’t imagine them changing lofts just because the flex differs. One way to find out for sure is to take a club (or all of them if you want to spend the cash) to your golf shop and have the loft checked. If it corresponds to the Nickent loft chart, then they’re the same. If it’s way off, have them all checked if you want to know for sure.
I don’t know why it really matters, anyway. Just get them dialed in to your distances and go with it. Good luck.
Bob, I think you’re right. From what I see the two hybrids in that set are 23 and 26 degrees. I’m also carrying a 19 degree Hogan and thinking that a 15 degree 3 wood would complete the set. I’m also carrying 51*, 56* and 60* wedges. That should cover about any distance/situation, don’tcha think?
Played the clubs twice more since last report. Swing easier and go just as far or farther. Love’em!
Thanks Bob, comments welcome.
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to play with this set without a 10 iron? Thanks Frank
Hey Frank,
For me I really like the 10 iron. For me its my 100 yard hitter. But, I guess you can suppliment it with the 9 iron if you 3/4 swing. Elton
Mike, You are right, they’re not very responsive at all at Nickent. I have called and emailed to no avail. I did catch a rep at a Demo Day in my area and asked him the same question regarfing Senior lofts and he said they are lofted the same as the regular 3dx. He was pretty surly and dismissive about it though. Now about the clubs, while they play fine, I’m just not seeing any radical distance gains compared to any contemporary set of game improvement irons. I use the same club I use with my old set (MacGregor V-Foil M455-150 yd 7 iron/steel). The customer service compared to Ping or callaway is nothing to speak of.
I just wanted to say that I bought these clubs last season and absolutely LOVE THEM. I brought my handicap down 4-5 strokes after picking up these sticks and hope to bring it down another 4-5 this season as they have renewed my love for the game.. very easy to hit, and I am much more confident over the ball with these then my old set (late 90’s Taylor Made Bubble Burners… LOL.. classics!) ..
It took a bit to get used to the 10 iron, and the loft of this set – as I hit everything further then the old set.. I pretty much hit all these clubs 1 club further then my old set.. so that took some
getting used to.. but that is to be expected with a new set..
this year i plan on filling out my bag with a new Fairway Wood and am going to be considering the Nickent 4dx based largely on my love of these irons.
I also recommended them to a friend who bought them and loves them too.. this Company is very much under the radar I would say but more and more people are learning about them and once you try them – you will be a supporter.
I bought my set on EBAY (steel shaft irons, stiff shaft hybrids) for $250 brand new shipped to my front door – I would highly recommend anyone interested look on ebay as your going to find the best prices.. they were $700 in my neighbourhood store!! at $250 for a $700+ set of clubs – you cannot go wrong!
I’m probably alot different than many of you who have been posting on this site. I’ve been a single digit handicap for most of my adult life. The problem is that with two very young children at home and a 55hr a week job I can only play occasionally. I am considered by my playing buddies as a big hitter with 280+ tee shots. I just payed for my new set of 3DX irons this morning and can’t wait to try them out this week. The only reason I went with this set is the fact that I wanted more consistancy in my iron distances. I know enough about golf to realize that if they’re that much more strongly lofted, you just dial back and swing easier. I have been torn for over a year on whether I was going to purchase a set of Wilson Ci7 irons or these. I ultimately went with a set that I thought would be more forgiving since I can’t play every day anymore. I will not be switching from my Tour Edge woods anytime soon, but I have a feeling that the Callaway hook machine hybrid is getting ready to get an exit visa from my bag.
❓ 3DX Hybrid Iron Set. Did not come with the 44* 10 iron. Any ideas where I might find one. Any help fantastic. There 9* difference 9iron and PW. That 10 iron sure might help.
Try golfclubfinder.com
BTW, I use the 10 iron much less than you would think…one option as well would be to bend the PW a little stronger.
Gentlemen I would like to add to your comments. I was a Taylor Made swinger for ever and at the start of last season I was getting ready to reshaft my r7’s while I was at the Golf store they had the Nickents on sale complete set $399.00, 2 hybrids and 5-PW of course I bought them. This is my second season I hit TM Burner Driver, 3 wood, 5 wood and 22* hybrid Nickent 6 – PW 51*, 56*, 61* Solus wedges, went from a 14 down to a 4 and I am 55 years old. Nickent good cofidence booster, good all round clubs. Enjoy the game and hit to what you are comfortable with.
I have a 2 handicap, so on many courses that I can afford to play on in my area, I shoot par or better from the blues – I’ve played these clubs since August 06. My game is hit straight and hit fairways and greens. I only shape shots when I have to. These clubs are great, I’m 57 now and have had major spinal cord surgery on my neck and I’m very careful how I swing and these clubs give me the distance and accuracy so that I haven’t had to change tee boxes during my illness and since my operation. I noticed some of the early criticisms here were from people who seemed to have either too much game for these “game improvement” irons or hadn’t even tried them and/or both. Ego’s aside these are great irons, I just love them -Nickent makes a premium product and a set now goes on eBay for very little money. I play in a crowd that uses forged musclebacks,cutmuscles and high end cavitybacks — at the end of the day, it’s enjoying the game and the outdoors, and a good score is always a bonus and these produce for me- -no one has ever made a negative comment to me about playing these irons. Highly recommended.
I just picked up a new set last week for $159.00 . I always wanted a set since getting the 3dx square driver 2 summers ago but couldn’t afford them till now. I like them so far after playing 18 holes. My first set with graphite shafts and am liking those so far also. I like clubs that don’t rattle your teeth with mishits. Hitting about 1 club less with these but probably due to the tweaked lofts, but the score you put on the card don’t take lofts into consideration.
😥 My less than 2 month old 3DX RC irons began falling apart. My 7 iron head came off first on August 11th. Sent it back to Nickent for repair. August 20th, my Pitching wedge head came off. Not snapping off, but the shaft pulled apart between the hosel and flange, just like my 7 iron. Nickent tells me to send my P-5 irons back so they can reshaft. What am I to do in the mean time, just wait for my clubs to come back they tell me. They also told me my 7 irons would be back to my by August 19th, this is August 25th, I have yet to get it back!!!!
My clubs are men’s right hand with standard flex graphite shaft. One of the managers admitted to me that they had an entire bad batch of these clubs that were made overseas. They seem quite laid back about the entire ordeal considering that it is their product quality that is deplorable. They refused to send me new clubs, even after the KNEW FOR A FACT that my clubs were on their way back to them via Golfsmith. Told me I had to wait until the fixed my original clubs however long that will be!
Clubs worked well before they fell apart.
Just got a set of 3dx’s hybrids graphite shafts off ebay (slightly used for $130 shipping included) a couple of days ago and took them out for a test run yesterday. I shoot low to mid 90’s and was playing with a set of old Taylor Made Burners w/ steel shafts. From my first shot with them I was amazed with the clubs forgivness. I can honestly say I cut atleast 10 strokes a round from my game. That being said my Burners had alot of round on them and werent full cavity backed and had steel shafts. I added alot of distance and trajectory to my shot with these clubs, henceforth I hit alot more greens in regulation. I will never have the time or money to play golf as much as I would like. I will never be a professional golfer. I will probably never be able to shape shots or purposefully fade or draw the ball. All I want to be able to do is hit the ball straight and with decent accuracy. These clubs allow me to do that. Love em and as far as I am concerned they are the best clubs I have ever struck. Oh and I crush the 3 & 4.
Wow! Anyone who is negative on these clubs has not hit with them! Forget your pro level comments just hit with them and you will see. My friends cant believe my shots from the deep rough going nearly as far as a driver with the 3 Hybrid! Two shots to the green on a long par 5 is what I am finding now! Confidence to the max is what these clubs do to your game. The trick is to forget what loft they have changed and what club this used to be. I ignored that and just started playing. Then I was overhiting everything and then eased back a bit. This gave me more accuracy then I have ever had on any clubs I’ve played with. Thank you Nickent you have a friend for life!
To DR Moon,
Too bad you didn’t check on ebay before getting your set. Could’ve saved some $$$. Bought mine 2 years ago for less than what you’ve paid and judging from the posts here, it’s going for much much less now.
Anyway, glad to know the set works for you. What does price matter when you get value. The set got you to where you’re at today and that’s the bottom line… cos stone cold said so 😉
As for the clubs, after almost 2 years of evaluation, I’d have to say I’m quite pleased with the results. Although I wasn’t really able to compare them to other sets, I was able to take my handicap from a previous low of 21 with my old set (Adams Idea), to a low of 11 with a low round of 73 in my home course (par 69).
I have to agree with the posts that mention no significant gain in distance as I experienced, or rather didn’t experience, any significant gains but the consistency improved due to the game improvement features and the better spacing between clubs.
My brother-in-law, however, tried out my clubs and found a massive difference between my 3dx and his Cobras. Probably 3-4 club difference. Maybe the set is designed to help out players within a certain swing speed range. Or maybe the fact that his shafts are XS steel while mine are R graphite has jacked up the yardage beyond Nickent’s claims.
Whatever the case, I have to say that Nickent makes a quality set and at the price you’re paying for, you won’t be disappointed with the 3dx.
p.s. The guy with complaints about quality was playing a 3dx RC, which was probably made in China, as per his post. But then again, so was mine and I’ve never had any problems with mine. Go figure.
i like the set of 3 rc dx with 2 hybrids. the problem is that i cannot hit any hybrid. i can hit the irons fine, but the highbrids either pop up or skim the grass. i would appreicate any pointers. they say hithtem liek an iron- i think i do but poor results. any advice is welcome. thanks. overallthe set is great.
I am a great Nickent fan, started with the 3dx ironwood and 3dx Hybrid irons 2 years ago. Now with the RCs.
In order to hit a hybrid you have to hit it like an iron instead of a wood. the idea is to let the sole prevent you from digging in. So try to hit sown at the ball.
Good luck
I just purchased a brand new set of the RC’s, for less than 100 shipped!! I was pretty excited about the price. I have played everything from Wilson Deep Red,1 and 2 series, Taylor Made r7’s, and recently built my own set from Golf Galaxy. I built a set using graphite shafts, and love the distance I got, but my skills as a builder are subject, so I wanted something more factory. I still have my Deep Reds, as honestly they are the best iron I have ever hit. I run around an 8, but have shot a low round of even on a par 72 course. My iron play is actually the most consistent portion of my game, I hit my 5 iron typically in the 210 area, so I will be waiting to see what these irons do for me. I have a tendency to fade the ball quite a bit, so the offset in this club caught my eye. Will respond back after I get these things out to the range. Lets hope the florida weather cooperates a bit.
I bought the 3dx red iron set last spring and I could not be happier with them. I played to a 19 before I bought them. I now carry a 12 with a low round of 78 on a VERY tight course with small quick greens. These clubs perform as advertised. Very consistent distances and great trajectory. It took a few rounds for me to get the 3 and 4 hybrids working consistently for me. If anyone out there is looking for a GREAT set of game improvement irons at a great price, ,look no further the Nickent. I bought these for 139.00 from Rock Bottom golf. I did need to buy a 50 degree gap wedge to cover the distance gap between the PW and my 56 degree SW. I consistently beat the players in my league who will only use clubs from the “big four”, and they paid 4-5 times more for their sets. Bottom line here is that you should play with what works best for your game, period. These Nickent 3dx have done just that for me.
So I’m looking at the complete set of Nickent 3DX clubs on rockbottomgolf.com. Full set for $199!!!?
And after reading this review, it sounds like its going to be solid.
When I was a kid I used to play off a 14. I’m now 31 and am just getting back into the game. (play on about 20 hcp now after about 10-15 games).
I’ll be playing on and off quite a bit over the next year, so keen to buy a solid set. But not spend too much as I’m between jobs.
What is putting me off is a comment I read from Brian Rohan about his clubs falling apart after a few games… 🙁
I’m just a little worried that these super cheap clubs from rockbottom will turn out the same.
I’m getting them sent to New Zealand, so sending broken clubs back to the factory is problematic.
Can anyone verify that 3DX RC’s from RockBottom are ok? And that Brian Rohans set was probably just a bad batch?
If so, I’m gonna buy a set! 🙂
Brian, I have bought in the past from Rockbottom and have always been pleased. I have a set of Nickents and although they are now in my garage -went back to an old set of Adams GT Tours-I found the quality of the clubs to be just fine.
After a full review, no club owner has gone into detail about feel. I have a 15* 4DX hybrid which has just been replaced with an original 17* 3DX (I also have 20 and 23) because In my opinion the 3DX feels so much softer and very solid in comparison. It also goes a bloody mile. What do these feel like with a pure, toe-heel etc. Thanks
It is easy to find the 10 Iron…however I have not been able to locate the 52′ Gap Wedge for my Regular Flex 3DX Graphite Set? Any Advice? Thank you