Tommy Armour 845 vs Tommy Armour 845 Max
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | 845 loft | 845 Max loft | 845 lie | 845 Max lie | 845 length | 845 Max length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 22 | 23 | 61.5 | 61.5 | 38.25 | 38.375 |
| 6 | 25 | 26 | 62 | 62 | 37.625 | 37.75 |
| 7 | 29 | 30 | 62.5 | 62.5 | 37 | 37.125 |
| 8 | 33 | 34 | 63 | 63 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 38 | 39 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 36 | 36 |
| PW | 43.5 | 44.5 | 64 | 64 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
| AW | 49 | 50 | 64 | 64 | 35.25 | 35.25 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- 845
- 845 Max
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the 845 is 29° and the 845 Max is 30°, a 1° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the 845 should carry roughly 3 to 4 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the 845 Max. Across the 7 clubs both sets share, the 845 Max averages 1° weaker, with the largest gap at the 5-iron (22° vs 23°). The pitching wedges are 43.5° and 44.5°; the stronger one leaves a 6.5° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the 845 Max 7-iron is 0.12 inches longer (37" vs 37.125").
The 845 is a game improvement iron and the 845 Max a super game improvement iron, so they sit one step apart on the forgiveness scale. The 845 Max is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for high handicaps, beginners and slower swing speeds. The 845 trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits roughly 10 to 25 handicaps.
The 845 is listed as cast two-piece hollow body and the 845 Max as cast, ultra-wide sole. The 845'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 845 Max, at some cost in feel. Both use tungsten weighting to lower the centre of gravity and steady the head on off-centre strikes.
The 845 Max came out 1 year after the 845, 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 845 Max is the weaker-lofted set — up to 1° weaker than the 845. That trades raw distance for a steeper landing angle and more predictable stopping power into greens.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Tommy Armour 845 specs and Tommy Armour 845 Max specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tommy Armour 845 stronger lofted than the 845 Max?
Yes. The Tommy Armour 845 7-iron is 29° against 30° for the 845 Max, 1° stronger, which is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of extra carry with the same swing.
What is the loft difference between the Tommy Armour 845 and 845 Max?
At the 7-iron the difference is 1° (29° vs 30°). The largest gap on a shared club is 1° at the 5-iron, and all 7 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Tommy Armour 845 or the 845 Max?
The 845 Max. As a super game improvement iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to high handicaps, beginners and slower swing speeds. The Tommy Armour 845 is a game improvement iron, better suited to roughly 10 to 25 handicaps.
Do the Tommy Armour 845 and 845 Max have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Tommy Armour 845 is 62.5° lie and 37 inches, the 845 Max 62.5° and 37.125 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
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