This summer the big launches weren't new clubs so much as new finishes. Three brands sold dark versions of irons and wedges they already made. Here's what each costs.
| Club | Price | What's different |
|---|---|---|
| Titleist T-Series Black Vapor | $285 a club (steel) | Finish only. Same heads as the 2025 T-Series |
| Vokey SM11 Black Vapor | from $249 a wedge | Finish only |
| Ping G740 Midnight | $202.50 an iron (steel) | Finish, with fewer loft and lie options |
A standard 2025 Titleist T100 lists at about $215 a club at US retailers.
What a dark finish does
It reduces glare, and many golfers find a dark head looks smaller and makes the topline look thinner at address. It doesn't change launch, spin or forgiveness. The performance is exactly the same as the chrome version.
Is it worth it?
Only if the look helps you. The Titleist premium is about $70 a club, or roughly $490 across a seven-iron set. Ping's is the only one on an iron designed for mid- and high-handicappers.
The verdict
Pay for the fit, not the finish.
Choose the iron that fits your game first. If it comes in a dark finish you like and the price is close, fine. Don't pay $490 extra for a look and skip the fitting.
One more option if you like the look but not the price: Callaway's Apex MB Tour Raw, a blade left unfinished so it rusts over time. It was $1,599.99 for seven clubs, in very limited numbers.
Sources: Titleist media center (7 July); Today's Golfer (Vokey pricing); MyGolfSpy (Ping G740 Midnight); Callaway product page (Apex MB Tour Raw).