50 Words or Less
The Moe irons from GEOM Golf combine stellar looks and feel with outstanding, consistent performance. Available as a four club half set.
Check out GEOM’s blade iron, the Lee, HERE
Introduction
I’ve written numerous times about the benefits of carrying fewer clubs [find one example HERE]. And while almost everyone I play with has expressed interest in my half set, the temptation to buy “all the clubs” is too great for most people.
Enter GEOM Golf’s Moe – an iron set sold exclusively in a 1/2 set configuration. If you want the full story of Moe, you can get it from the creator HERE, but if you want the details on how these irons perform and whether you should be building a minimalist set around them, read on.
Before I jump in, I want to thank Nippon for providing the Modus 115 shafts [review HERE] and Club Champion for building the clubs to perfection.
Looks
Pictures do no justice to how clean the GEM Golf Moe iron is. I’d studied every available snapshot of these irons before I received mine, but I was still blown away by the near-total lack of branding, engraving, or marking of any kind. In the toe of the cavity there’s a small “GEOM” logo and that’s it. The sole is completely clean, not even a loft stamping.
For some of us (boring, slightly OCD people like me), the clean look with a satin finish is exactly where we want to be. However, a quick look at GEOM’s Instagram story [check it out HERE] will let you know that the highest purpose of these irons is to be a blank page for your creativity. Players are taking the Moe – particularly the raw version – and creating unbelievable one-off masterpieces. With custom paint fill, stampings, ferrules, and patinas, you can make an iron that’s unlike anyone else’s.
Getting back to the basics, the Moe is a traditional players cavity back. There’s very little offset and the top line, which GEOM calls “moderate,” is thin enough to please all but the most ardent blade snobs. These irons are compact from heel to their rounded toe, with just enough face around the ball to give you full confidence.
Sound & Feel
The GEOM Golf Moe iron slices through the air like a scythe, but it hits like Thor’s hammer. I’ve hit dozens upon dozens of forged irons, but I can’t recall anything that hits with the weight of Moe. Some of my mishits with Moe felt more solid than pure strikes with other irons.
Don’t let my focus on weight and power allow you to forget that Moe is forged from 1020 carbon steel, so impact has that forged softness, too. It’s Mjolnir with manners.
Forged carbon steel also means superior feedback. If you’re paying any attention at all, you’ll know with precision how you struck each shot. This kind of clear feedback is a cornerstone of improving as a ball striker.
Performance
After very little range time, I knew that I was falling for the Moe irons, so I ran to the launch monitor to see if the numbers would provide a splash of cold water. They did not. Despite being small and having no “technology,” Moe produces high ball speed and consistent yardages. What really impressed me was the way it dealt with thin strikes. You can catch the ball a groove or two low and still get your full distance on a playable trajectory.
Now, let me be clear: this is not an SGI iron, and it’s not built for the high handicapper. Compared to a much larger, hollow body, multi-material, thin faced iron, Moe is probably going to be shorter and it will be more punishing on mishits. My comments are comparing Moe to other players irons, those of a similar size and construction. In that category, Moe is outstanding.
Within “only” four clubs in the half set, Moe not only allows for shotmaking, it demands it. And GEOM puts that right into the description. These irons are named for arguably the greatest ball-striker ever. If you’re not interested shaping shots, hitting “in between” yardages, and controlling your trajectory, Moe may not be for you.
For me, the Moe irons bring out the joy of golf. I like choking down or taking something off to hit a shorter yardage. I like having to lean into the shot to squeeze out those last couple paces. And I enjoy hitting cuts and fades at different heights. Moe allows and enhances all that creativity.
To close, I want to mention one of my other favorite things about the Moe irons: the mental edge they give me over other golfers. The look on the face of a golfer when they ask, “What’d you hit?” and you shrug while pointing Moe’s blank sole at them is priceless.
Check out GEOM’s wedge offering – Tom – HERE
Conclusion
If it’s not evident, I love the GEOM Golf Moe irons. They’ve been in my bag [full WITB HERE] since they arrived because they are everything I want in an iron – beauty, exquisite feel, performance, consistency. Moe isn’t for everyone – some people are committed to carrying 14 clubs – but if you hear Moe speaking to you, take the plunge. You won’t regret it.
Visit GEOM Golf HERE
GEOM Golf Moe Irons Price & Specs
Matt Saternus
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Curious, are these named for Moe Norman?
Yes.
I guess i’d have to have the heads sent to my local golf store for shafting and gripping (and lie angle adjustment)?
Guessing might total $200/club?
W/O having been able to demo them.
I currently play i210’s and very happy with them but intrigued by the MOE’s.
Should i pull the trigger? Will i find the MOE’s much less forgiving vs the i210’s?
Stephen,
Yes, you’ll need a local builder to put them together and get them spec’d out for you. The cost will depend on the shaft you buy for them and your builder’s fees.
To the question of forgiveness, the i210 is a high bar. I don’t have head to head data, but my sense is that the i210 is a bit larger and slightly more forgiving.
Best,
Matt
Are these comparable to the Miura CB 1008s in Feel/Ability to hit, etc?
John,
Yes, both of those are in the same category. I think the Moe is a bit more forgiving, but I don’t have head to head data.
-Matt
Great review, Matt. I have a set in the mail now and was going through the usual misgivings that we have when ordering something “sight unseen”. Happily, you have dispelled those!! Keep up the great reviews.
Bob,
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Best,
Matt
😍😍😍
I like the idea and they look great, but $450 for 4 heads seems pretty steep. There are some very nice component heads out there for less than half that.
What club lengths did you use? Equivalent to a 3,5,7,9 in a standard set or something different?
Have my set coming and want to plan for the makeup so I can assemble and enjoy quickly. Have yet to find a user group.
Mike,
I play the Moe irons at 36″, 37″, 38″, and 39″.
Good luck with your set!
Best,
Matt
Great review. You play your Moe heads at 36” 37”, 38” and 39”. Good to know, but for better reference, how tall are you Matt?
Six feet.
Hi Matt,
Your podcast with Garret Krynski was great and your review of these irons was what made me purchase a set. There on the way.! Can’t wait!!
I was hoping you could share your setup with these irons and the Edison wedges(I have a 58 degree wedge). Specifically the lofts of each club and the shaft length? Did you keep the 8 degree loft between each club? Are you carrying two Edison wedges.
I walk when I play and I have gone to a “minimalist “ set up. I’m in my mid 50’s and I’m not so concerned with what I shoot anymore. I’m just happy making a few pars and a birdie once in a while. And it makes it more fun trying to create different shots.
Plugged in Golf is one of my favorite websites. Thanks for the great content.
Jim
Jim,
Thank you!
I’ve been playing the 4 Moe irons and a 55* Edison wedge. My lengths from 55 to longest Moe are 36″, 36″, 37″, 38″, 39″. I play all my wedges at 36″ which is a bit unusual. I haven’t tweaked the lofts of the Moe irons yet, and I don’t have any immediate plans to. I think if I were going to add anything else to my very short set, I would add the 64* Edison or go to my 50* and 60* Edisons. With the lack of consistent play and practice in my game, having more stock wedge yardages could help my scoring a bit.
Good luck with your Moes!
Best,
Matt
Great review Matt, too good, they sold out! Looking forward to the restock.
Great review, I enjoyed reading it. I recently bought the satin set, and had Golf Works (I’m up here in Canada) build them for me with PX LZ and I decided to go for Pure Pro grips so I could have different color grips for each of the clubs. They look amazing. I’ve only had one range session with them so far but have immensely enjoyed hitting them. A strike out of the button feels so pure but also feels powerful. Almost too hard to describe. The feel with the “wedge” was gorgeous.
To address a couple of the other comments above, yes you have to buy them site unseen direct to consumer without hitting them in a bay, but I think this is part of the fun and mystique. The heads look unbelievably clean, the reviews tell you they strike the ball beautifully, and you can build them to your choice of shafts, grips, lies etc etc.
This is a far removed departure from a full set of purpose built distance / forgiveness / marketing hyperbole, and are more of an artisanal approach to golf and the clubs you use to create shots. Just like they had to do when the game of golf began.
A pencil bag, a set of Moe’s, a wedge, a putter and some timber is all you need for a cathartic Sunday afternoon stroll around the links.
Matt: Are the lengths of your regular irons standard or longer? I’m trying to figure out what length to make the 21 and 29 degree heads. I see you have yours shafts set at 39” and 38” respectively. That looks like somewhere between a 4-5 iron for the 21 and a 6-7 iron for the 29. I suppose you can always choke down a little if you go long on the shaft length.
Dana,
There’s no clear answer to that question because there are no industry standards for length or loft. I chose my lengths because they fit me well and they give me 1″ between clubs which affords more shotmaking options.
Best,
Matt
Matt,
How do these compare in forgiveness/feel to the Ballistic CBs you reviewed earlier in the year.
Thanks
Rob,
The GEOM Moe is superior on both counts, though feel is subjective.
-Matt
Matt,
I actually bought the Moe’s raw, had them nickel plated and they are out getting shafted. Your review sold me on them.
Thanks
How was the turf interaction?
Eric,
It’s great. I’ve played them in all kinds of conditions and never had an issue.
-Matt
How would you rank these from a forgiveness profile in comparison to an iron like the ZX7?
Brian,
They’re in the same class.
-Matt
Hi Matt, first time poster, long time reader, I know this post is older, but wondering if you could assist, I love the look and everything about what I have read about the Moe’s, my biggest concerns are surrounding Sole Width, and without looking at them or hitting them wanted to find an answer prior to purchase.
What current mainstream club do the Moe’s and the Lee’s GEOM clubs most resemble?
Thanks
Matthew,
The Moe sole is on the wider side of the players iron spectrum.
I don’t have the Lee in hand anymore, so I can’t speak to that definitively.
-Matt
I started with a half set and it really helped me improve my ability to hit partial shots. Became addicted to the feel, look and performance and ended up buying the rest of the set. I don’t exactly know why but these irons just work for me and my scores are much better than with irons that have “more tech”.
Matt,
I saw in an earlier reply that you think the Moe is of a similar forgiveness as the ZX7, could you compare the sole width between the Moe and the Zx7? Thanks…Terrific site!!
Rudy,
They’re similar. The key difference is the V-Sole on the ZX7, which I think is quite versatile.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt
I agree that the fun of custom assembly is appealing, but is your Moe on-course experience much different than a hybrid, and 6, 8, p in the blueprints, or really any half set of Mizuno MP Cavities?
I sometimes use 4, 6, 8, p from a set of Ping i3 Blades, for instance…
Cheers
Keith,
Much as I enjoy them, the Moe irons are not radically different than any other players irons.
Best,
Matt