How many range balls can you hit before you need to replace your irons?

I know the easy answer is, "until they wear out," but I was looking for something a little more specific. Auto and tire manufacturers, battery manufacturers, etc, market their products telling us how many hours or miles of testing their products endured.

Just curious if anyone has read a study that said something to the effect of, "you can hit 10000 range balls with your irons on turf or mats before you need to replace them."

I’ve never seen anything quoted but I’d imagine a number of things would come into play like quality and hardness of range balls, sandiness of range, etc. I’d guess that hitting off mats, though it might affect lofts and lies of irons, would not effect life of the grooves near as much as a real turf range, especially a sandy one like where I practice. I’ve seen some sets that must have seen a lot of range use with the chrome worn off pretty good, but in true WRX style, I’ve never kept a set long enough to see that occur on my own set!

7,356,279

7,356,279

Hahahah

I think Tommy Fleetwood just had to replace his nike irons. I don't know when he started to use them or if they were a backup set, but here's some estimations:

Number of Balls = 6 days / week * 70 shots per round * 2 rounds / day * 2 years (2016 to 2018) / club life * 52 weeks / year =

At least 87,360 shots on pro quality balls with a pro quality swing?

Way to many factors can come into play,

The ball its self:

How hard the ball is

What kind of shape they are in

Your swing:

Your not hitting the ball consistently with the same speed thus causing different types of impact force. (Practicing half shots, 3/4 shots, foul shots, angle angle of attack and its affect on the grooves.

If you as player A are hitting a softer ball at 10 mph slower swing speed than player B using the exact same setup are causing and impact force less than player B thus resulting in the face of the club lasting longer than player B.

That's also not taking into weather conditions and the impact temperature can have on metals.

My head hurts now.

There's no right answer, but for me. I'm on my second set of identical Mizunos. I live in upstate NY and only get so many months of golf but when it's warm I'm on the range. It took 4years for ss browning to occur on my first set. On my second set now 2years in and browning has just started to occur.

How many people actually practice every iron in the bag?

40 rounds tops, at least that's what the mrs. thinks

Like some jerk told me about Pro V balls, three or four holes at best.

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IA5Cv_5-g8[/media]

GolfWRXers will never know since irons are sold before we can find out.

In general, grooves in cast irons will last a lot longer than grooves from forged irons or irons made from softer metals. The process will accelerate even further if the soil is sandy. My 2002 Tommy Armour 845 Oversize Plus is has the sharpest grooves in my stash and still shreds range balls till this day, even the short irons and PW.

How do you all define "worn out". I understand the grooves can become dull. But can the actual surface become concaved from hitting so many balls plus,sand/dirt interaction?

Technically, if the grooves are still sharp enough and face is still flat it`s really not worn out, even if the chrome is stripping and the face is browning.

Not sure you are going to get a legit answer, but I won’t throw shade, I practice with an entirely different set at home and at the range.

Neuroses for 1 please...

I think that it would be more than a few.

If they’re coated with Pings HydroPearl finish? 6. 6 range balls, then they look like they need replacing lol!

More than are currently in existence

How many people actually practice every iron in the bag?

I do, though my 7 iron takes the bulk of the abuse. Which is why it has the noticeable wear pattern.

Thankfully given my ball striking, the wear pattern is very, very small

How many people actually practice every iron in the bag?

 

I do, though my 7 iron takes the bulk of the abuse. Which is why it has the noticeable wear pattern.

 

Thankfully given my ball striking, the wear pattern is very, very small

I also do, my 8 iron works the hardest, but unlike Jeff, I spread my shots all over the club face, making them last a lot longer.

Practice? You talkin 'bout practice?!?

Likely more than you are able to hit..... I've used the same 4 sets of Titleist 681's since 2001.... the equipment industry is full of myths, one of which being Irons need to be replaced frequently, even if the bottom couple grooves are worn a bit, the ball doesn't make contact there, it shouldn't affect the playability of a club at all.... especially if you are a mid handicapper...

Practice? You talkin 'bout practice?!?

If I can't practice man, I can't practice.