After GI irons, What next?

I've been using a set of Ping G30s and I play great with them, but as I'm getting better, I'm curious as to what I should be looking to next. I love how forgiving they are but I think I'm ready to take the next step.

What have you guys gone to after game improvement irons?

Are you having a problem that the G30's are causing you? Gapping problems? Inconsistent distances? If you aren't having problems I don't think you really need to change.

Time for blades.

<sarcasm >

Nothing, stick with the G30's. There are lots of good players gaming G series irons.

Play what you like and what works not what you think you should play based on your ability. There are no hard and fast rules.

You are right Gary, and I do feel I hit them pretty well. As they say, if it ain't broke don't fix it!!

Something like a 'players cavity back' like the Apex CF16, JPX900, M1/M3 which have thinner toplines, smaller heads; but still have a little bit of help, but are not huge shovels.

^^ thanks.

Although I do agree with other replies to keep playing my G30s if they work well for me, I now know a "players cavity back" are what I should look at when the day comes. Thanks!!

^^ thanks.

 

Although I do agree with other replies to keep playing my G30s if they work well for me, I now know a "players cavity back" are what I should look at when the day comes. Thanks!!

I agree with previous comment.

Search for some intermediate players irons. There are many offerings. This way to ncould start working in better feeling; this means you will know when you hit it good or bad and this feeling will help you try better.

You might look at the 'i' series. A lof of my friends play i10, i15,and i20 irons.

They seem to be forgiving, and they still shot shape.

I'm using the S59s, and they aren't that hard to hit for me.

Also would suggest i series. iE1, i200, i210. All good options to consider. Plus they all look oh so much better than any G series iron.

If you like the Pings i series seems like next logical progression. If you want forged then so many good options: Titleist CB, Callaway x-forged, Mizuno MP-18sc, Srixon z-7 series to name a few.

I've been using a set of Ping G30s and I play great with them, but as I'm getting better, I'm curious as to what I should be looking to next. I love how forgiving they are but I think I'm ready to take the next step.

 

What have you guys gone to after game improvement irons?

What's the weak spot in your game? If you play great with the G30's and it's not iron play, changing irons isn't going to make any difference to your scorecard. At least not a positive difference. You could always end up doing something stupid and being worse off! Don't worry, you won't be alone as most of us have done it at one time or another... :rolleyes:

Figure out what it is you need to work on. See if there's going to be any material difference by changing equipment, if so, proceed. If not, then take some lessons and work on technique.

What's next......senior shafts.

^^ thanks.

 

Although I do agree with other replies to keep playing my G30s if they work well for me, I now know a "players cavity back" are what I should look at when the day comes. Thanks!!

Why? How will a players cavity back iron improve your game? Sorry, maybe this is a rhetorical question? It just seems that there are so many people around here that want to play the same irons as PGA players use just as soon as they start to break 90 regularly. Simple fact is that unless there are certain shots that you can not perform using your G30's, and I don't know what those might be, then there is no real advantage to moving to smaller and harder to hit iron. If you hit the dead center of the club face every time then go ahead, because the larger head won't help you much, otherwise the forgiveness of a GI club will help you score.

I've played "players" clubs in the past and if that's what floats your boat there's no harm in it. Just don't imagine that they will improve your scores. In fact, it's entirely possible a smaller-headed, thinner-soled, less-forgiving set of irons might even cost you a lost stroke here or there relative to the G30's you're used to. But you're playing for fun and it isn't like you're going to be shooting in the 60's whatever irons you choose.

My advice was, when the itch to "upgrade" comes along, buy something really nice and fancy that doesn't cost you anything in performance. Like those Ping G700 irons. High-tech, slightly more "player-ish" appearance (although they are still huge) and the hot face will actually give you a few yards of extra distance and perhaps some added elevation on your mid-irons. But they're just as forgiving as your G30's.

^^ thanks.

 

Although I do agree with other replies to keep playing my G30s if they work well for me, I now know a "players cavity back" are what I should look at when the day comes. Thanks!!

 

Why? How will a players cavity back iron improve your game? Sorry, maybe this is a rhetorical question? It just seems that there are so many people around here that want to play the same irons as PGA players use just as soon as they start to break 90 regularly. Simple fact is that unless there are certain shots that you can not perform using your G30's, and I don't know what those might be, then there is no real advantage to moving to smaller and harder to hit iron. If you hit the dead center of the club face every time then go ahead, because the larger head won't help you much, otherwise the forgiveness of a GI club will help you score.

Arguably; the 'easier' to hit heads do not make you a better player. They are a crutch and a band aid. You may post better scores but you're riding on training wheels indefinitely.

I personally like the feedback I get from 'players' irons because it tells me when I'm doing bad and I can remedy it. Hosel shots, heel strikes, off the toe, top of the face or low....etc. I know what to change in my swing, or what I'm forgetting, by getting that feedback.

With SGI shovels I can't feel a damn thing and the ball does the same thing every time. Sure I might play better with them by a few strokes overall when averaged out, but I want to become a better golfer, not a better $5-per-hole-game-winner.

YMMV of course and it all depends on what you want out of your personal golf quest throughout your life.

AP-3, P-790, G500, i210, MP-18MMC, JPX900F....

https://Not allowed because of spam.com/2018-most-wanted-players-iron/

^^ thanks.

 

Although I do agree with other replies to keep playing my G30s if they work well for me, I now know a "players cavity back" are what I should look at when the day comes. Thanks!!

 

Why? How will a players cavity back iron improve your game? Sorry, maybe this is a rhetorical question? It just seems that there are so many people around here that want to play the same irons as PGA players use just as soon as they start to break 90 regularly. Simple fact is that unless there are certain shots that you can not perform using your G30's, and I don't know what those might be, then there is no real advantage to moving to smaller and harder to hit iron. If you hit the dead center of the club face every time then go ahead, because the larger head won't help you much, otherwise the forgiveness of a GI club will help you score.

 

Arguably; the 'easier' to hit heads do not make you a better player. They are a crutch and a band aid. You may post better scores but you're riding on training wheels indefinitely.

 

I personally like the feedback I get from 'players' irons because it tells me when I'm doing bad and I can remedy it. Hosel shots, heel strikes, off the toe, top of the face or low....etc. I know what to change in my swing, or what I'm forgetting, by getting that feedback.

 

With SGI shovels I can't feel a damn thing and the ball does the same thing every time. Sure I might play better with them by a few strokes overall when averaged out, but I want to become a better golfer, not a better $5-per-hole-game-winner.

 

YMMV of course and it all depends on what you want out of your personal golf quest throughout your life.

Ain't no club in the world ever made someone a better player. You must be confusing a set of irons (used to play golf) with some sort of training aid (used to work on swing drills).

Went from G30's to 716 MB's and now 718 MB's. Scores improved. Ball striking improved. Love for the game improved.

All the best with whatever direction you decide to go :-)

I was fit for Cobra Fly Z irons the year they released and started taking lessons around the same time I got them. As my swing improved and my scores started coming down I started noticing weird distance gaps and a little bit of inconsistency in distances. Instead of having a comfortable 10ish yard gap between clubs I'd have 10 yards between some and 20-25 between others. I also would randomly have really high ball flight that seemed to come out intermittently. It just seemed a little weird to me. I went to my swing coach and talked to him about it and mentioned that I was concerned maybe I needed to re-shaft the clubs or perhaps start playing forged/players irons. He recommended going through a fitting process and told me my swing had developed enough to get out of GI clubs if I wanted to. I decided to make the move to forged since I'm starting to work on shaping shots a little anyway. The fitting process showed that the shafts in my GI clubs were not good for me anymore so I decided to go ahead and get new clubs. The result was playing a heavier shaft in a forged club. My distances have leveled out, gapping is perfect now, and I'm no longer seeing the random ballooning shots that I was seeing before. That being said, if you are seeing any weird issues or your gapping is off.... maybe its worth looking into getting new clubs or new shafts, but if you aren't seeing any issues just stick with whatever is comfortable/works for you.

Buy new clubs if you want, the heart wants what the heart wants.

But as someone else said above, think about what you're looking for. Odds are there are MUCH better golfers who you who play the G30 and are are fine with them. Are irons a strength of your game? Have you reached the point where you are shooting for quadrants of the green with your irons? Can you flight the ball high/low or work it when needed? (Though I think the ability to work the ball is vastly overrated for most recreational golfers) If so, find a iron that fits your need.

Or be like a lot of people on here and buy new equipment because it's fun, it looks good in the bag or you think it'll make you play better. Believe me, 90% of us on here have talked ourselves into new harder to hit equipment thinking it would make us better.

I've been playing G30's for a couple of years now. Last year I put SteelFiber shafts in them and the combo is better for me. I'm happy with them. That being said, I'm always looking for a better mousetrap. When they came out I spent a lot of time trying the P790's and almost got a set. I did a side-by-side comparison on a LM and the numbers were better. The cost scared me off. Today I spent a half hour hitting a G700 7i on a LM and that club may get me to drop some cash. I really really like it.

I played the Ping G10s (G2s before that) and went into the Ping Anser after that. The Anser was a forged blade that had a good deal of forgiveness built in. Much like the JPX 900 Forged I play now.

i210s are your next clubs OP. ;)

Nothing wrong with a nice iron upgrade, lots to be said for striking more traditional sized irons,

Good luck with your search, you will not regret ditching the " Training Wheel " style clubs.

I went from M2 to MP18SC. I agree with comments above. I’m a happy player making some happy hits.

I was going for i200 which are very good clubs, but after a club champions fitting, the MP were better for me.

Something like a 'players cavity back' like the Apex CF16, JPX900, M1/M3 which have thinner toplines, smaller heads; but still have a little bit of help, but are not huge shovels.

Agreed. Keep hold of the Pings though for when you climb back up to 22 and need GI again....(not being as cynical as you might imagine..)

Something like a 'players cavity back' like the Apex CF16, JPX900, M1/M3 which have thinner toplines, smaller heads; but still have a little bit of help, but are not huge shovels.

 

Agreed. Keep hold of the Pings though for when you climb back up to 22 and need GI again....(not being as cynical as you might imagine..)

Not cynical at all.

I spent the first decade of my golfing life using some lovely player's cavity backs that I liked better than any clubs I've owned before or since. Worked my game all the way down from my first handicap of around 27 circa 1997 to a solid 20-21 ;-) six years later. Stayed there for quite a few years, give or take a couple strokes.

Then I got my first set of "shovels". Original version Callaway Razr X (not Forged or Tour) with the generic "uniflex" shafts. Not claiming it made a night and day difference in my scoring but the handicap did trend down under 20 for the first time, ever. Took a bunch of lessons, practiced every day, went to the gym three morning a week and really got after it for a couple years. Lowest index I ever achieved was 12.9 for one month but I kept in the in the 14 range for a good while.

Now I was ready to get back to the style of irons I really preferred. Also I started reading stuff on GolfWRX and the club ho'ing bug bit hard. Tried several different "players" sets from Titleist, Callaway and Mizuno culminating in a few months playing the Razr X Forged '09 irons. Man those shiny Endo forgings were something. I could actually hit cuts and hooks on purpose when I was swinging well. And so nice to chip with around the greens or for digging the ball out of the rough with a short iron.

Fast forward to late 2011. Handicap index of 20.3 and rising. At that point I am not really loving shooting in the mid-90's instead of upper-80's every weekend. So I bit the bullet, bought some Ping G20's and found my new level. No practicing, no going to the gym, almost never taking lessons. My index fluctuates around 17-ish and I can flirt with breaking 80 a couple times year. when everything comes together for one round.

If I were to get back on the lesson/practice/workout treadmill I've no doubt within a year or two I'd be scoring several shots better than I do now. But if I swapped my Ping G's for a set of AP3's or iBlades or JPX Forged? It would take a while but 22 HCP would not be at all out of the question. And I certainly would not magically shed strokes just from the difficulty of hitting those "players" irons.

It all depends on how you hit your long irons. If they significantly worse than your mid and short irons, then try a combo set

i500 4,5 i210 6-PW

AP3 4, 5 AP2 6-PW

TMB 4, 5 CB 6-PW

Mizuno FLI 4, 5 MMC 6-PW