Sub 70 659 CB vs Sub 70 699 V2
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | 659 CB loft | 699 V2 loft | 659 CB lie | 699 V2 lie | 659 CB length | 699 V2 length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 20 | — | 59.5 | — | 39 | — |
| 4 | 22 | 20 | 60 | 60.5 | 38.5 | 38.5 |
| 5 | 25 | 23 | 60.5 | 61 | 38 | 38 |
| 6 | 28 | 26.5 | 61 | 61.5 | 37.5 | 37.5 |
| 7 | 32 | 30 | 61.5 | 62 | 37 | 37 |
| 8 | 36 | 34 | 62 | 62.5 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 40 | 38 | 62.5 | 63 | 36 | 36 |
| PW | 45 | 43 | 63 | 63.3 | 35.75 | 35.75 |
| GW | 50 | 48 | 63 | 63.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
| SW | — | 54 | — | 63.5 | — | 35.5 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- 659 CB
- 699 V2
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the 659 CB is 32° and the 699 V2 is 30°, a 2° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the 699 V2 should carry roughly 6 to 8 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the 659 CB. Across the 8 clubs both sets share, the 699 V2 averages 1.9° stronger, with the largest gap at the 4-iron (22° vs 20°). The pitching wedges are 45° and 43°; the stronger one leaves a 7° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the 659 CB 7-iron sits 0.5° flatter (61.5° vs 62°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander.
The sets are built differently: the 659 CB runs 3-iron to GW (9 clubs), the 699 V2 4-iron to SW (9 clubs).
The 659 CB is a players iron and the 699 V2 a game improvement iron, so they sit 2 steps apart on the forgiveness scale. The 699 V2 is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. The 659 CB trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits roughly scratch to 10 handicaps.
The 659 CB is listed as forged and CNC milled from a single billet and the 699 V2 as two-piece hollow body, TPE resin injected. The 699 V2's hollow body lets the face flex more and moves mass low and outward, usually giving higher launch and more ball speed on off-centre strikes than the 659 CB, at some cost in feel.
The 699 V2 came out 1 year after the 659 CB, 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 699 V2 is the stronger-lofted set — up to 2° stronger than the 659 CB 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 70 659 CB specs and Sub 70 699 V2 specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sub 70 659 CB stronger lofted than the 699 V2?
No. The 699 V2 is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 30° against 32° for the Sub 70 659 CB, 2° stronger and worth roughly 6 to 8 yards of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Sub 70 659 CB and 699 V2?
At the 7-iron the difference is 2° (32° vs 30°). 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 70 659 CB or the 699 V2?
The 699 V2. As a game improvement iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. The Sub 70 659 CB is a players iron, better suited to roughly scratch to 10 handicaps.
Do the Sub 70 659 CB and 699 V2 have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Sub 70 659 CB is 61.5° lie and 37 inches, the 699 V2 62° and 37 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
Shop both models
Compare prices for new and used sets on eBay:
We may earn a commission from purchases made through links on this page at no extra cost to you.