Ballistic is a small Canadian company, and its Forged CB took second place in a 15-iron players test with only one OEM set ahead of it. It also costs a fraction of what that OEM set does.
What's new
The Forged CB is a players cavity back forged from carbon steel, with minimal offset. Ballistic builds every set to order around a 105 g stiff steel shaft as standard.
Lofts follow the traditional pattern, weaker than anything sold as game improvement. Pricing sits well below big-brand players irons, and a head-only option runs about half the cost of a built set for anyone who wants to choose their own shafts.
How it plays
Accuracy carries this iron. In a 2026 test of 15 players irons it ranked second for accuracy, posted a 98.90 percent playability rate, and grouped shots into 823 square feet, the second tightest pattern in the field. It scores 9.1 for accuracy and 9.2 for forgiveness, strong numbers for a head this size.
Feel earns a 9.4, and one hands-on review singled out the feel and the workability of the forged steel. Shaping shots comes easily (workability scores 9), and the same test named it the best value players iron of 2026, which squares with a 9.6 value score.
Where it lacks
Distance is the one score below 9, at 8. With traditional lofts, shots land about 5 yards behind a strong-lofted game improvement set, and in the 2026 test the CB trailed the field for yardage.
Buying one takes some faith. Ballistic is small, the sets are built to order, and you will rarely find a demo club on a shop floor to hit before you pay.
“I would put it against irons that cost far more and expect it to hold its own.”- The Club Stand gear team
Reasons to buy
- Finished second of 15 in a 2026 players iron test, beaten by only one OEM set
- A 98.90 percent playability rate and the second tightest dispersion in that field, at 823 square feet
- Forged carbon steel heads for well under what the big brands charge for their players irons
Reasons to think twice
- Traditional lofts carry about 5 yards shorter than strong-lofted game improvement irons
- Ballistic is a small brand, so you order the set built to spec and will rarely see one in a shop
- Distance trailed the field in the 2026 test, and short-iron carry pays for the classic lofts
Specs
| Construction | Forged carbon steel |
|---|---|
| Profile | Players cavity back, minimal offset |
| Lofts | Traditional, weaker than modern game improvement |
| Standard shaft | 105 g steel, stiff |
| Custom | Head-only option available |
More irons we've scored
- Wilson DYNAPWR Forged 2026 - 9.1/10. Wilson's forged players distance iron led its class in a 2026 iron test, and it costs flagship money.
- PING i240 2026 - 9.0/10. A soft, workable players cavity back from PING that finished third of 15 in its 2026 class.
- Tour Edge Hot Launch Max D 2026 - 8.9/10. A hollow ironwood set that won its super game-improvement test on accuracy, at value-tier money.
- Takomo Iron 101 MKII 2026 - 8.9/10. A hollow game improvement iron that won its 2026 class test without asking for big money.
- Tour Edge Exotics CB 2025 - 8.9/10. A forged cavity back from Tour Edge that beat 14 rivals to win the 2026 players iron test.
- Callaway Quantum Max Irons 2026 - 8.8/10. A cast super game-improvement iron that holds its yardage on mishits and feels better than it should.