Cleveland Golf has a long-standing reputation for delivering reliable, performance-driven golf equipment, and its irons have been a key part of that legacy. The journey of Cleveland irons began in the early 1990s when the brand introduced the VAS (Vibration Absorbing System) irons. These irons, although polarizing in terms of looks, offered something innovative for the time—extraordinary forgiveness and stability for high-handicap players. The VAS+ model, launched in 1993, was built with an emphasis on dampening unwanted vibrations and enhancing consistency. Despite their unusual design, these irons gained popularity, especially among those looking for clubs that made the game more accessible.

In 1996, Cleveland refined this technology with the VAS 792 irons. These featured a slightly more traditional look while maintaining the wide sole and larger face area that provided players with better launch and forgiveness. The 792 irons continued to perform well with amateur golfers and earned recognition for making difficult shots feel easier. This period established Cleveland as a serious player in the game-improvement iron category, and the brand started to build a strong following among everyday golfers.

As Cleveland moved into the late 1990s, it turned its attention to better players by launching the Tour Action (TA) series. The TA3 and TA5 models, released toward the end of the decade, focused on providing a more compact head design, reduced offset, and improved feedback. These irons were made for those seeking more control and shot-shaping ability. Cleveland also began offering forged options, such as the TA1 and TA3 Form Forged irons around the early 2000s. These clubs combined classic blade-like aesthetics with modern cavity-back forgiveness, appealing to skilled golfers who valued precision and feel.

Cleveland didn’t abandon the game-improvement market, though. In the early 2000s, the company continued developing irons that appealed to a wide range of players. The TA7 and TA7 Tour irons were a great example of this balance, offering a forgiving shape with a more appealing look for mid-handicap players. These clubs were popular for delivering solid performance without compromising on feel. Around this time, Cleveland also experimented with high-launching, hybrid-like designs, preparing for a trend that would later become widespread across the industry.

By 2004, Cleveland introduced the Launcher irons, marking a significant leap forward in design for recreational golfers. The Launcher series prioritized ease of launch and distance, featuring a deep cavity-back construction and wider soles. These irons made it easier for players with slower swing speeds to get the ball airborne. They were also visually more traditional compared to the older VAS models, helping Cleveland appeal to a broader audience while maintaining its identity as a performance-first brand.

Throughout the mid-2000s, Cleveland continued expanding its iron lineup with models like the CG series, including the CG1, CG2, and CG4 irons. These sets offered different levels of playability, with the CG1 being more of a player’s iron and the CG4 geared toward forgiveness. The CG4 irons stood out for their use of advanced materials that helped dampen vibrations while maintaining a solid feel at impact. This period cemented Cleveland’s dual-focus strategy—offering products for both serious players and everyday golfers.

Looking back, Cleveland’s older irons tell a story of a brand that wasn’t afraid to push boundaries and serve golfers across skill levels. From the daring design of the VAS series to the refined forged TA and CG lines, Cleveland consistently balanced innovation with playability. These early irons laid the groundwork for many of the technologies we see in modern clubs today, including perimeter weighting, hybrid-style irons, and progressive set designs. While the brand has evolved, its older irons remain respected for their durability, forgiving nature, and commitment to enhancing the golfer’s experience.