Sub 70 659 Irons (MB, TC and CB)

• Sub 70 has released the 659 MB, CB, and TC irons.
• The new irons are suitable for low to mid-handicap golfers.
• Retail price is $109 each ($763 for a seven-piece set).

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The release of the Sub 70 659 family isn’t an occasion to start a debate over the definition of direct to consumer. So, if you’ll allow me to paint with a broad brush, I’d argue that, short of PXG, Sub 70 has emerged as the leader in the DTC club space. Anecdotal evidence suggests it’s the No. 1 DTC brand among MyGolfSpy readers. If nothing else, the brand can point to a growing list of satisfied customers as proof it’s doing plenty of things right.

You can chalk that up to clubs that, more often than not, hold their own against leading brands and a company ethos rooted in exceptional customer service. As a Sub 70 customer or even potential customer, if want to pick up the phone and talk to owner Jason Hiland, you can do that.

Try that at PXG. I mean, it might work … I don’t know.

Sub 70’s customer-first approach is a big part of the reason behind the company’s cult following and there’s no reason to expect it’s going to change with the release of the 659 series of irons.

The Sub 70 659 series is a collection of three models. All three fall within the better-player category. We’re talking low to maybe mid-low handicappers. Rounding up, let’s call it single-digit-ish or better.

Sticking to the theme, all three models are forged from DT-4 steel. DT-4 isn’t as commonly used as, say, 1025 or 1020. So if it’s new to you and you’re interested in this sort of thing, the key point of differentiation, I suppose, is that DT-4 is a low-carbon offering that by some measure fits in the stainless family. 1025 and 1020 are carbon steels.  Nevertheless, DT-4 is still considered a soft metal and buttery soft feel is part of the Sub 70 659 story. Feel remains a largely subjective metric so all I can say is try them for yourself and get back to us.

With the big picture painted, let’s zoom in for a closer look

Sub 70 659 MB

The “all you need to know” portion of the story is that Sub 70 bills the 659 MB as a “Tour-caliber blade.”

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the evolution beyond the 639 MB caters to the better players within the category. Of course, the category we’re talking about is muscle-backs so, with all deference to 15 handicappers trying to Bubba their way through the bag, I’ma shoot you straight: better players should encompass 100 percent of MB buyers.

Like the other 659 irons, the MBs feature the signature Sub 70 milled look. That’s certainly appealing (to me anyway) but a good bit of what’s important to the design isn’t discernable with the naked eye.

With 659 MB, Sub 70 has raised the center of gravity. The idea here is to provide a more penetrating trajectory and put a little bit of spin back into the iron for improved green-stopping power. It’s a design goal that’s basically the antithesis of what’s happening in other iron categories where the trend is undeniably towards lower-lofted irons with low and deep centers of gravity designed to launch high, spin very little and create distance.

That’s not what you want from an MB and that’s not what you’re going to get with the Sub 70 659.

The other notable enhancement is a more rounded leading and trailing edge. Smoothing things out provides a bit more glide through turf and less digging.

Sub 70 659 MB lofts fit my definition of traditional, albeit by the modern standard. That’s a 32-degree 7-iron and 45-degree PW. Not exactly Tiger spec but sensible for the category.

Sub 70 659 CB

The naming convention here isn’t rocket surgery. You know how this works. The 659 CB (cavity-back) is the evolution of the prior-gen 639 CB. Apart from the obvious, the CB differentiates itself from the 639 MB in the approach Sub 70 took to design.

The 659 is the same size as 639 with the same amount of offset but, instead of moving weight up as it did with the MB, Sub 70 pushed mass lower. That’s your standard formula for higher launch, a bit lower spin and little boost in forgiveness.

The 659 CB can be considered a progressive design as the 3-,4- and 5-irons feature undercut cavities. It’s a widespread industry trick that gives the longer irons a little bit of a speed boost.

Your bottom line: the Sub 70 659 CB is a reasonably straightforward take on a player’s cavity-back that’s well suited for golfers who want something compact without taking the leap into a blade.

Sub 70 659 TC

Another example of a product that could be named for me but isn’t, the 659 TC or Tour Cavity is designed to bridge the gap between the 659 MB and CB. Sub 70 describes it as an elevator. While it’s ripe for use in combo sets, on its own it can elevate your ball-striking and shot-making capabilities.

We’re a long way from what we’d call forgiving but the 659 TC should be a bit less punishing than the MB while still giving you plenty of flexibility to work the ball around the course, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Sub 70 describes the 659 TC as “the crowd-pleasing middle child of the 659 lineup.”

I’ll leverage my Goldilocks analogy here. If the 659MB is too small, and CB is a little big, the TC could be just right.

Blending without Bending

In 2022, combo (aka blended) sets are common so Sub 70 makes it easy to mix within its 659 offerings. For example, you could start with the CB in long irons and work your way through TC all the way to MBs in the short irons. Because lofts are consistent throughout the family, you may not have to tweak any of the lofts to produce the gaps you’re looking for.

Stock Options

Stock shaft offerings for the Sub 70 659 iron include the True Temper Elevate and True Temper Dynamic Gold. Additional options from Project X, KBS, Nippon, Mitsubishi, Aldila and Paderson are available for an upcharge (pricing varies by shaft model). If there’s something you’d like that isn’t in the Sub 70 matrix, give them a call and they may be able to get what you need.

The stock grips are Lamkin Crossline 360. Additional options from Golf Pride and Winn are available for an additional $2 to $7 per club.

Custom ferrule options are available for $3 (per ferrule).

All three Sub 70 659 models will be available in RH and LH in either .355 or .370 diameter hosels (shaft choice will typically drive that decision). Available in chrome and raw. Black versions of all three models are slated for release later this summer.

For more information, visit the Sub 70 website.

• Best Player’s Irons 2023
• Sub 70 659 TC Irons Review
• Sub 70 659 CB Irons Review