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The New Level 702+ irons are mid-sized players irons. One-piece forgings that offer wonderful feel and shot control. Forgiveness on par with other irons of this size.
Introduction
In the increasingly competitive direct-to-consumer space, it’s important for a company to have a defined identify. New Level Golf is going all-in on the better player, building a line full of irons that cater to the preferences of skilled ball strikers. Their 702 family consists of three models, and I got the chance to test the New Level 702+ irons, the most forgiving of the group.
Looks
In the 702 family, the 702+ irons are the largest, and New Level describes them as “slightly oversized”. I think the word “slightly” should be bolded and italicized. The New Level 702+ irons are players irons, through and through. These irons have a larger face than the 702 CB and 702 MB, but their top lines and soles are thin, and they have very little offset. They may not be the smallest in the New Level family, but I have a hard time imagining that any skilled player would object to looking down at these.
For those that like comparisons, New Level suggests that the 702+ is similar in size to the Srixon ZX5 [review HERE] and Titleist T200 [review HERE]. While I agree with the T200 comparison, I think the ZX5 is meaningfully larger than the 702+. That said, I may be over-indexing on top line width.
In the bag, the New Level 702+ irons look sharp. The cavity features a radial design that’s similar to the 702 CB and 702 MB, but each club has its own personality. Branding is extremely minimal – just a simple “NL” logo on the toe. If you want to give the 702+ an aesthetic kick, you can have your set built with one of eight gorgeous custom ferrule options from BB&F.
Sound & Feel
The New Level 702+ irons are a bit of a throwback in that they’re a solid, one-piece construction. Forged from carbon steel, they give the player a level of connection to the golf ball that’s hard to find in multi-piece designs. On your best strikes, there’s a link that goes from the ground and ball all the way to your chest. They definitely feel soft, but it’s the solidity that I like best.
Unsurprisingly, the impact sound is equally traditional. Striking a Tour-caliber ball produces a quiet “thud”. Mishits get a bit louder, but these irons are incapable of producing a sound that’s harsh or discordant. There is clear feedback through your hands that will let you know where the ball met the face.
Performance
Per New Level, the 702+ irons are “players distance irons” meant for those that want a balance of power and precision, forgiveness and control. That likely describes what everyone below a 20 handicap wants, though each player’s ideal balance point will differ. I took the New Level 702+ irons to the launch monitor and the course to find out where theirs is.
As I started hitting these irons, the first thing that jumped out to me was the level of shot control. Whatever I tried to do with my swing was reflected in the ball flight, both in trajectory and shot shape. New Level describes the 702+ as having “Less” workability, but that is more about what they’re being compared to than what this set can do. Unless you’re a plus handicap, I think the New Level 702+ irons will give you all the shot control you could ask for.
For me, a big part of what makes these irons so appealing is the thin sole. Not only are the soles thin, they have very little bounce. If you tend to take big divots, you might prefer an iron with a little wider sole like the 480-TC [review HERE] being played on Tour by Ryan Moore. For me – a shallow swinger – the thin sole lets me feel like I can pinch the ball off any lie with control.
Where there is a more meaningful distinction between the three 702 models is in forgiveness. With a moderate cavity back, undercut channel, and a tungsten plug in the toe, the New Level 702+ irons offer more consistency on mishits compared to a blade. These aren’t on the cutting edge of the forgiveness to size ratio, but I would rate them as playable for those with handicaps in the low double digits.
My one quibble with New Level is that I don’t think these irons are “players distance.” The lofts may be stronger than New Level’s previous offerings, but they’re still about three degrees weaker than the TaylorMade P790 [review HERE], the iron which embodies “players distance”. The New Level 702+ irons have launch, spin, and distance that’s in line with most traditional players irons. Additionally, most irons in the players distance category feature multi-piece construction for enhanced forgiveness. None of this is to knock the 702+, I think it’s a fantastic set, I just want to place it in its proper context as a players iron with slightly elevated forgiveness.
Finally, I think the 702 irons are rife with possibilities for combo sets. All three sets have the same lofts, which removes one of the common combo set roadblocks. It is worth noting that the New Level 702+ irons have substantially more offset than the CB or MB in the 4, 5, and 6 irons, but that can be helpful in elevating those long iron shots.
New Level Demo Program
The biggest problem with the direct-to-consumer model is the inability to try before you buy. New Level aims to combat this with their demo program. As of this writing, the demo program is offered for all the models of their 702 family – 702+, 702 CB, and 702 MB. You can order a 7I, built to your specs, at a discounted price ($75). That club is then yours to keep, and you can order the rest of the set if you like it. You can argue that this doesn’t fit your definition of “demo” or that it’s not free or cheap, but I think it’s pretty fair for a smaller company trying to balance the benefits of the traditional and DTC models.
Conclusion
If you want to make the jump into a forged, one-piece players iron but have a little trepidation, check out the New Level 702+ irons. These irons give you all the shot control that you’ve been missing with your “modern” set but with a slightly larger profile.
Visit New Level Golf HERE
New Level 702+ Irons Price & Specs
