Equipment
Today from the Forums: “Forgiving 18-degree utility iron?”
Today from the Forums, we take a look at a discussion on utility irons. WRXer ‘mark98ca’ is on the hunt for an 18-degree utility iron and has asked fellow members for their opinions on what is the most forgiving option on the market, with a variety of models getting a recommendation.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Golf64: “Ping Crossover, Titleist U-500 and Wilson staff for me.”
- mootrail: “From the tee, the Srixon Z U45. Forged, butter, soft, and long. The squared-off fat sole is clunky and not the best from the fairway. I’d guess ditto for the U65, but I didn’t like my U85 at the new higher D4 SW. From the fairway, the Cobra King Utility Black One. Large sweet spot forged face and the seven iron length makes center contact and play from the turf a breeze. The sole-turf interaction is the best of any of the many DI / UIs I’ve tried. Of course, you’re going to give up yardage, but there is the full-size one as well. What’s more forgiving? A 20° Utility or higher. Plus if you go up in loft, there are a lot of long and easy SGI / GI irons out there with quite a few making it into tour player’s bags.”
- dekez: “Cobra F6 Baffler. An ultimate utility club. You can hit it like a 5 wood or like a hybrid. From any lie.”
- wam78: “My top 3 that I tried this year are U85, mp 20 hmb and u500. Currently playing the u500 and absolutely love it. It was the best looking to my eye, and it fit my gap better than the other ones.”
- QuigleyDU: “The cobra King Utility irons has been my favorite club the last two years.”
Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Paul
Mar 26, 2020 at 10:18 am
If you need forgiveness you shouldn’t he hitting an 18* utility club.