In 1997, Jon Everitt set out to launch a brand that would “produce top quality golfing equipment without the prohibitive price tag.” As the brand approaches its 30th anniversary, that philosophy remains the same.
This is still a set that currently costs in the region of $600 (around £450), so we’re not talking about a cheap product. However, given the best drivers on the market can cost as much as this whole set alone, this is your more affordable, entry level set of clubs.
Let’s start with the looks. The black and red accent colors are very smart, as is the Benross logo on the back of the club towards the toe. They look good in the bag (the set comes with a 14-way cart bag) and, most importantly, down behind the ball.
With the irons, the topline is fairly chunky, although I have seen thicker. Better ball strikers and those who have a bit more confidence hitting their irons may prefer a sleeker topline, but I think the majority of mid to high handicappers will prefer this shape - it's in line with what you get on the best game improvement irons.
I’m narrowly holding onto my single-figure handicap, and I actually enjoyed going back to something more forgiving (I currently play Titleist T200 irons, a compact mid handicap iron).
The set features seven irons: 5-9 iron, plus a PW and SW, all steel with regular flex shafts. They deliver a powerful strike and there’s plenty of forgiveness in the heads, so players should find their mishits aren’t so severely punished in terms of distance or accuracy.
The forged titanium driver (10.5°) comes with a lightweight graphite shaft (regular flex), which is pretty standard with package sets. It sits nicely behind the ball and does a good job of making you feel like you’re capable of making a solid strike.
My old Titleist 915D2 driver has a stiff shaft, so this spec wouldn’t suit me – at least it would take a little getting used to. Overall, it’s a solid offering with a seemingly large sweetspot - shots felt solid and powerful most of the time.
It was a similar story with the fairway wood and 4-hybrid. For me, the shafts were a little too soft or whippy. However, they were both easy to launch when I slowed my swing down a little, the hybrid especially so. Meanwhile, the stainless steel heads make a nice sound on impact.
With the putter, Benross has opted for an oversize mallet putter that, as with the woods, comes with its own headcover. I putted terribly the first round I played with it, but most of that was down to adjusting to the different design (I play with an old Odyssey White Hot Rossie, a mid mallet model).
In my opinion, it’s not of the same level as the irons in terms of looks; the paintwork isn’t that tidy when you hold it up close. However, if I was going to buy this set, it wouldn't be a deal breaker – I'd add my own model to the bag.
Talking of which, the bag is excellent. Yes, it’s a cart bag (I prefer carrying) and with the one strap it’s not really designed to be carried for 18 holes, but it’s very smart and has plenty of storage space. There are nine pockets in total, which is more than enough room to carry extra clothing and all your golfing accessories.
If you’re looking to keep your costs down, the fact that the set comes with a decent bag is a big bonus, as is having good quality headcovers for the woods and the putter which will stop them from chipping/rubbing. If I could change one thing about them, I’d just lose the numbers for a cleaner look in the bag – a minor quibble.
Given that you are allowed to carry 14 clubs (this is an 11-club set), there are obviously a few gaps here – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The more you play, the more you’ll get an idea of where you might need a bit of extra help, which for a lot of golfers will be at the bottom end of the bag (an extra wedge or two).
In fact, if you have a pretty handy short game, you might look to add one of the best wedges to your bag sooner rather than later. In testing, I wasn't able to get anywhere near as much spin as my Titleist Vokey SM8. This was to be expected, but I thought the sand wedge might offer a touch more control than it did.
All in all, this is a solid package set – one that looks good and performs well. Given how expensive a whole set of new clubs can cost, I can see the appeal in going for a package set, and this one is surely one of the best on the market.
