Benross Aero XF Iron Review
Benross is releasing two new irons for 2024 and Joe Ferguson has been looking at the Aero XF iron…
The value for money here is reasonable. For a beginner starting out, the Aero XF is a nice solid option if you are looking for something a little more sophisticated than the average package set. Slightly light on ball speed, and not quite as forgiving as some, however, they are relatively easy to launch, look nice in the bag and offer good proportions behind the ball.
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Good shelf appeal
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Very digestible price point
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High-quality components
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Light on ball speed
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Very clunky on mis-hits
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Benross has been producing value golf equipment for many years now and 2024 sees the release of the Aero XF iron. Looking to sit amongst the best irons for high handicappers, the Aero XF has been launched alongside Benross’s new player's distance iron the Delta XT.
I took the Aero XF out for a thorough test and here is what I thought…
In terms of the technology involved, the Aero XF is a relatively basic iron. Made from solid 431 stainless steel, it features perimeter weighting and a progressive top line that thickens up as you move up the set into the longer irons. The steel has been vacuum heat treated which Benross claims improves the sound and feel. Aside from that, however, there isn’t too much to mention in terms of technical features.
I quite enjoyed the looks of the iron from both the back and playing position. The back has a nice modern feel with a carbon effect cavity badge, and the minimal bluey-green accent stripe lifts the overall look somewhat although some of the paintwork on my set wasn’t of the highest quality in parts. Down behind the ball the proportions and head shapes were nice, with just enough real estate to inspire confidence without looking too clumsy. Overall the finish could have been slightly better, but when you consider the full set (6-PW) retails at £369, it is far from bad.
Although the Aero XF irons are definitely not aimed at me, I was slightly underwhelmed by the performance. I tested the irons at Saunton Golf Club using my FullSwing Kit launch monitor and TaylorMade TP5 golf balls.
I found them to be a little light on ball speed and didn’t really enjoy the feel at impact. Even my better-struck shots felt somewhat clunky and harsh which was a slight disappointment. While the distance and feel weren’t exactly what I was hoping for, I did find them very consistent in terms of flight and yardage. In my entire practice session, my carry yardage rarely fluctuated more than 3 or 4 yards on my well-struck shots, although my mishits did suffer more than I would have liked for an iron in this category.
Although the heads weren’t quite what I hoping for, the components used in construction are of high quality. Benross has gone with KBS for the shafts and Lamkin for the grips and these add a strong premium element to the overall package.
I test a lot of irons at very different price points so I do need to be careful how harshly I criticize lower-priced gear because obviously, something needs to give to achieve a certain price. Against a TaylorMade Qi or a Ping G730 for example, the difference in quality is stark, but the cost is more than double for both of those equivalent sets. While there are shortcomings, in this price bracket, the Benross Aero XF is competitive and would be a decent starter set for someone new to the game.
