Vega SS Irons Review: Both Beautiful And Terrifying In Equal Measure

Vega, a brand revered for its deep roots in Japanese forging and unparalleled craftsmanship, continues to produce some of the most sought-after irons in the world. While its Mizar Pro Cavity irons strike a masterful balance between performance and forgiveness, the new Vega SS irons are a pure celebration of the blade, a club designed for the most discerning and skilled ball striker.

After seeing some initial images online, I was genuinely excited to get these in hand to see if Vega could deliver a club that not only honors the tradition of a muscleback but also competes with some of the best golf irons on the market.

I’m not often lost for words, but when I first pulled the SS irons out of the box, I was genuinely gobsmacked. They are breathtaking. The full aesthetic package of this iron is arguably second to none right now, with only maybe the Mizuno Pro S1 its equal in terms of the 2025 releases.

The shaping is nothing short of exquisite, with a pristine satin finish that exudes class and timeless elegance. The head is noticeably diminutive, with essentially zero offset, a profile that will absolutely appeal to the purist. The proportions are perfectly balanced, and the lines flow seamlessly from the hosel to the topline. I have nothing but admiration for what Vega has produced visually here.

In terms of performance, there will be many who say that due to their extreme proportions, these irons are simply unplayable to the masses, a sentiment I can understand. However, as a relatively competent ball striker, I did not notice any significant difference in difficulty to, say, a Mizuno Pro S1 or a Titleist 620 MB. It’s absolutely a player's iron, yes, but it is not unduly unforgiving within its category.

The concept of the changeable weight ports didn't sit right with me initially for an otherwise classic and traditional forged club. I feared they would negatively impact the feel of the club, perhaps introducing a harsh or hollow sensation; however, I'm happy to report that my fears were completely misguided; the weight ports are a modern, functional addition that has no impact on the sublime feel of the club.

Essentially, they are cylindrical weights of various masses that can easily be switched in and out to create your ideal swing weight. Normally, this would be done through tip weights in the shaft at the build stage, but the Vega method allows for fine-tuning on the go, and for a tinkerer like me, it's a lot of fun.

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The Vega SS irons are the smallest and least offset heads Vega has ever produced, which allows for exceptional control and maximum workability, something I experienced in bucket loads. My testing sessions were an absolute joy, knocking down shots, cutting, and drawing at will, and I found perfectly playable distance out of the relatively conservative lofts (7-iron is 33˚).

The feel of the strike is soft and deep, a buttery sensation that communicates a well-struck shot with absolute clarity. The ball felt like it stayed on the face for an eternity before launching off with a pleasing, solid thud. On slight mishits, the feedback is clear and precise, allowing you to learn from your swing without the punishment of a jarring feel, but don’t expect much assistance in terms of ball speed retention.

While the appeal will certainly be niche here, for the player with a healthy budget, a finely tuned golf swing, and a desire to stand out from the crowd, the Vega SS iron is an absolute dream.

The SS irons sit very much at the pricier end of the market, starting from £1813 for a 4-PW set. There are several Oban and Shimada steel shaft options available, and those who require graphite will be looking at a proprietary Vega graphite shaft. There is also a wide variety of Iomic grips to choose from, which can be customised in terms of colour and thickness.