Sub 70 649 MB Tour vs Sub 70 659 CB
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | 649 MB Tour loft | 659 CB loft | 649 MB Tour lie | 659 CB lie | 649 MB Tour length | 659 CB length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 21 | 20 | 60 | 59.5 | 39 | 39 |
| 4 | 24 | 22 | 60 | 60 | 38.5 | 38.5 |
| 5 | 27 | 25 | 60.5 | 60.5 | 38 | 38 |
| 6 | 30 | 28 | 61 | 61 | 37.5 | 37.5 |
| 7 | 34 | 32 | 61.5 | 61.5 | 37 | 37 |
| 8 | 38 | 36 | 62 | 62 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 42 | 40 | 62.5 | 62.5 | 36 | 36 |
| PW | 46 | 45 | 63 | 63 | 35.75 | 35.75 |
| GW | — | 50 | — | 63 | — | 35.5 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- 649 MB Tour
- 659 CB
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the 649 MB Tour is 34° and the 659 CB is 32°, a 2° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the 659 CB should carry roughly 6 to 8 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the 649 MB Tour. Across the 8 clubs both sets share, the 659 CB averages 1.8° stronger, with the largest gap at the 4-iron (24° vs 22°). The pitching wedges are 46° and 45°; the stronger one leaves a 5° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping.
The sets are built differently: the 649 MB Tour runs 3-iron to PW (8 clubs), the 659 CB 3-iron to GW (9 clubs).
The 649 MB Tour is a blade iron and the 659 CB a players iron, so they sit one step apart on the forgiveness scale. The 659 CB is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for roughly scratch to 10 handicaps. The 649 MB Tour trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently.
The 649 MB Tour is listed as forged muscle back with rear port and tungsten toe weight and the 659 CB as forged and CNC milled from a single billet. The 649 MB Tour adds tungsten weighting, which lowers the centre of gravity and raises stability on mis-hits, helping the long irons launch. The 649 MB Tour's muscle-back shape keeps mass directly behind the strike for feedback and control, where a cavity spreads it to the perimeter for forgiveness.
The 659 CB came out 1 year after the 649 MB Tour, but it is a different line rather than a direct replacement, so the two were designed for different golfers as well as different seasons.
Which should you choose?
The 659 CB is the stronger-lofted set — up to 2° stronger than the 649 MB Tour on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Sub 70 649 MB Tour specs and Sub 70 659 CB specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sub 70 649 MB Tour stronger lofted than the 659 CB?
No. The 659 CB is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 32° against 34° for the Sub 70 649 MB Tour, 2° stronger and worth roughly 6 to 8 yards of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Sub 70 649 MB Tour and 659 CB?
At the 7-iron the difference is 2° (34° vs 32°). The largest gap on a shared club is 2° at the 4-iron, and all 8 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Sub 70 649 MB Tour or the 659 CB?
The 659 CB. As a players iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to roughly scratch to 10 handicaps. The Sub 70 649 MB Tour is a blade iron, better suited to low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently.
Do the Sub 70 649 MB Tour and 659 CB have the same lie and length?
At the 7-iron, yes: both are 61.5° lie and 37 inches long.
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