Over the last three years Nike have been tirelessly developing their Victory Red series, their aim to engineer three sets of clubs that will benefit golfers of all abilities. So far the results have been outstanding with the VR series being the most grown up and focused sets that Nike have ever produced - and the Victory Red Forged Split Cavity Irons are my favourite of the bunch.

The VR Split Cavity Back Irons are directly aimed at aspirational golfers looking to play in the low teens right down into low single figures. By providing the forgiveness benefits of full cavity back and the playability of true blades, Nike is ticking all the boxes with the VR Forged Split Cavity Back Irons.

With a forged 1025 carbon steel head normally reserved for pros and a thin sole and top line to really control the ball, this club screams quality. The addition of a split cavity back means there is a larger hitting area on the club face that produces a greater degree of forgiveness than you would find in a true blade design. This thin face combined with the cavity back makes for a sweet striking club that can even be wielded by the mid handicappers.

The VR Forged Split Cavity Backs look great in the bag with a thin top line at address. Their polished steel gives a mature yet contemporary look that is a departure from their normal futuristic styling, while the satin finish with chrome detailing is incredibly understated and purposeful for a brand which has been traditionally flamboyant.

This statement of intent extends to the sole which has a sharp leading edge on a cambered sole, providing great turf interaction and control while also allowing you to follow through and not 'dig' into the turf. This delicate balance between performance and forgiveness is rife throughout the VR Forged Irons with a slight offset allowing players to close the face while shaping the shot.

A new edition to the series is the custom 'Eton' grips which I have never played with before. The grip is separated into two composites. The top is much softer providing better feel while the lower, right hand, part of the grip is firmer for better power transfer and control. After a sceptical start I absolutely fell in love with these grips and would recommend them to anyone.

To top it off Nike have included True Temper Dynamic Golf Steel Shafts which complement the club face beautifully for a low penetrating ball flight which is helped by a forgiving centre of gravity placed well behind the ball.

Every element of the VR Forged Split Cavity Back Irons comes together in a perfect combination, providing the inspiration to play better. These are a truly aspirational set of players clubs which aren't just for the pros but do require a degree of skill and ambition to use. Although I'm not the greatest golfer, I found that when the VR Forged Series were hit cleanly they outperformed anything I've tried before, adding a few yards on a thin yet workable margin of error.

I love these clubs because they don't mollycoddle you with a bunch of 'improvement' technology that ultimately holds your game back, instead they motivate you to play better and take measured risks. Although they aren't the cheapest clubs on the market they do stand out as an individual set that simply can't be compared to other clubs in the 'players' category.

What the Web is Saying

"Solid contact is well rewarded. I hit some really nice golf shots with these clubs, each and every time I hit them dead solid perfect. The ball just jumps off the face and flies like well struck muscleback." – thesandtrap.com

"Jon had used these Nike Victory Red split-cavity irons before and said he knew they were powerful as well as forgiving. But Tom felt differently, and didn't get as much help on off centre hits as he was expecting. They look good though and had impressive performance stats." – todaysgolfer.co.uk