Honma TR20 P Irons Review

50 Words or Less

The Honma TR20 P irons look like they’re players irons, but they perform a bit more like game improvement clubs.

Introduction

Like most American golfers, I’m just getting to know Honma. Having taken a look at a couple of their TW irons in the past, I was eager to check out the new TR20 line and see what changed and what remained the same. The TR20 P irons made a strong first impression, and I was hopeful that they would back that up with great performance.

Looks

In the bag, the Honma TR20 P irons have the look of a high end players club. The shape of the cavity is modern without being gaudy, and there’s just enough engraving to hold your attention. Branding is fairly minimal, and the silver/black/gold color scheme is a winner.

At address, there’s a little more size than you might expect. This is a compact iron from heel to toe, but the top line is a touch thicker than most players irons. Similarly, the sole is a wider than expected. The offset is right on the edge of acceptable for this type of club.

Sound & Feel

The impact feel of the TR20 P irons is noticeably firmer than their partner in the TR20 line, the TR 20 V. Striking the ball on the center of the face creates a solid “clap” that feels more fast than premium. When contact wanders away from the sweet spot, the feel becomes hard, bordering on harsh. While not pleasant, this does provide excellent feedback on your ball striking.

Performance

I love when OEMs are forthright, and with the TR20 P irons, Honma is that. “Strong lofts for distance” is the second bullet point on their website for the TR20 P. While these certainly aren’t the strongest lofts I’ve ever seen, they are strong for a players iron, and they’re very effective at creating distance.

Much like the TW 747 P irons (review HERE), the TR 20 P irons produce strong ball speed and low spin. That combination translates to a very strong ball flight with plenty of distance. Trouble can arise at the destination, particularly for the low spin or low launch player. If you don’t generate enough spin or height, the ball will skip over the green rather than landing and stopping.

One element of the TR20 P that surprised me is that I had a hard time controlling my shots. Though this isn’t a particularly big iron, it felt bulky to me during the swing. The result was a steady diet of draws with very little variety. Of course, that’s how my swing interacted with this club and your results may differ.

Conclusion

The Honma TR20 P irons are an interesting offering that pairs some of the look of a players iron with performance more reminiscent of a game improvement club. For players seeking a lot of distance in their approach game, that might be a winning combination. As always, make sure that you test these with the help of a qualified fitter before you invest.

Matt Saternus

Founder, Editor In Chief at PluggedInGolf.com

Matt is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Plugged In Golf. He's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.

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