10 Handicap and Up...What irons do you use? Blades, CBs, GIs?

[mwmgolfx]

Personally I still play blades but firmly believe average player should not be playing them. I've been playing them off and on (mostly on) for over 60 years. i still pretty much hit them in the center over 90% of the time but don't have the distance i used to have and that's why i'm thinking of some SG or SGIs. But Not sure that It'll make any difference with my physical ailments. For the last 6 years, I've tested almost every major manufactureres driver that's come out (unil this year0) and have seen zero distance improvements over that time with any new "longer" driver than the one I currently use (TM 425 lengthened to 47.5 inches with a 60 weight shaft - regular with tip flex, not mid flex. Since this maes no difference, I get the impression why change on irons since the woods are all equal or bettr than new stuff.

 

The Blades just seem to fit me and i swing them smoother and better than all other clubs (when i'm not hurting and can swing reasonably). And I see a reasonable chance of consistently breaking 80 this year if the health holds up. Biggest problem right now is distance off the tee. Most days i average 140. Good days 170. and I'm averaging about 12-14 fairways a round (had another 14 fairway round the other day 5th one this month) with only 25 putts. Biggest issue was severe pain turning and walking.

 

But GET FITTED and play what provides the smoothest feel and works best for you. There are really tons of options that are good. Everyone's swing is different and there is no one recommended solution.

[benhays98]

HC-11.7

Mizuno MP15 w/ C Taper Tour 120

[ian-500]

My last two iron sets were/are Epon AF Tour MB and Taylormade R9 Forged. Totally different size/shape but similar results......other than off centre strikes, but only by a smidge.

[Smooth is Fast]

12 HC - iron play is a weakness

I play srixon 585s

[jplroper]

Right now it looks like the Titleist 990's 3-pw with s300 shafts will be in the bag.

[TIM929]

716 TMBs/ S300 ... fits me like a sock.

[mahonie]

Have you had a hole in one ???

[Zen_Golfer]

15 handicap. Ive been playing the Tommy Armour Atomic since last summer and I really like them. I find them to be easy to hit and stupid long.

[i*windows]

13 handicap : Lynx VT prowler, excellent hollow forged blades. Best clubs I have played in a long time.

[Old Tom Morris]

Using the Jerry Barber Shank Proof Irons. Replaced the 3 iron with a persimmon progressive faced Ginty 7wood.

 

[TIM929]

HAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH! Yes, a few times now lol.

[eyeeye]

13 hcp playing MP59 with KBS Tour.

Swing 87~91 mph w/ 7 iron.

Have a huge issue with driver (which is getting fixed, so hopefully the handicap will go lower this year).

I think the main deciding factor of "can you play a player's iron?" should be whether a person can launch the ball at a sufficient angle and speed with enough spin, and not what number your handicap sits at.

As far as miss hits go... If I miss my iron on the far toe, it would end up about 5~7 yards shorter. When I use a GI club? it's about 4~5 yards shorter. Is that a huge difference to overlook whatever else you may like better about the player's iron? I think it's for each individual to decide.

But, if you can't launch it with enough spin, then I think that's when you need to look into irons that offer more help.

I admit, my 3 and 4 irons don't launch with enough spin often unless it's off a tee, and I probably should get easier irons for that length. But from 5 to pitching wedge, I'm very confident with strike, launch and spin.

[BTO]

10 handi. All Srixon 'cept wedges which are vokey's sm7 46-50-54-58 all stock L/L/L. zu 85 3 & 4 iron, 785 5,6 iron, and 965 7,8,9 iron. All irons 3-9 1* strong with modus 120 stiff.

[CDM]

Did not read the entire thread, but at 10 HDCP I would say for the price right now.... killer deal. https://www.pxg.com/en-us/clubs/irons/0211* Can get them right now for $665 - $840 depending on shaft in 4-PW....

[nsxguy]

However likely or unlikely your scenarios is (higher handicappers puring the blades "every time"), how many separate DAYS did you achieve this feat ?

Hypothetically of course.

[nsxguy]

Sorry, but if they are hollow they are not blades.

[jackdanger]

Started as a 12 last summer with 2017 M2's. My miss is usually thin with irons. This meant that my usual 150 PW would fly 160ish on thin miss-hits and I kid you not, had one go 190 on what looked like a normal ball flight (this was the straw that broke the camel's back). Absolute trampolines. I tried out blades for fun and found that my thin misses would just go 10 yards shorter instead of longer, which I found it much easier to chip from a short of the green usually fairway lie than an over the green - often short sided - always rough lie. Long story short, I played just as much golf in 2018 as I did in 2019 but my handicap went from a 12 to an 8 in 2019, even though I lost about 15 yards of distance per iron. It did not improve at all in 2018. I'm not saying that's all on the blades and I'm not saying everybody should be playing them but at least give them a try if you don't need the extra distance and height GI irons give you.

Residual side-effects: I never cared how irons looked before but now that I've fallen for blades I most definitely do and I keep feeling the need to try the next shiniest (or satin-iest) ones I see

[mukster]

12.5

Srixon z765 irons.

It appears that according to some, I should play more forgiving irons until I drop under 10.

Then I can put them back in the bag without fear of retribution. :)

[i*windows]

sorry, hollow blade shape and size golfing sticks.

[4x4GGG]

16 at the close of last season gaming Ping i15s. With the adjustment to HCP I became a 15 over night. Just picked up a set of i500's w/ Ctapers and have 3 full rounds with them. Current HCP 14.1

 

4-PW - i500 C-Taper S

50*GW - Ping Glide 2

54* SW- Tour Edge

60*AW - Ping tour

Putter- BB1Flow

[Bridges]

15 handicap. I play the Apex Pro 19's. My irons are the strong point of my game. I would consider a game improvement iron but these are working quite well for me.

[bripgall3265]

10 handicap. I have played Ping i-20's 4-9 for close to 4 years but lately I have gone back to my Mizuno T-Zoid Pro's.

[akao1029]

 

Absolutely not. Unfortunately everyone hits off center shots...even the guys on tour. Its part of the game. If bladed irons give you confidence and a good feeling at addresses, thats half the battle. I feel that a lot of times golfers shy away from blades is because they look intimidating/not forgiving, no offset, etc...

 

Another example:

I know a few players in my group that play off a higher handicap than me (11.6) and they don't use GI irons. While agree some of them probably should the others not so much. A golfers handicap isn't based solely off of iron play. Theres a few other factors that play into handicap. I know for me, my handicap is due to my driving and putting. My short game is decent as well as my approach/irons shots. Now, I won't say that I don't have bad approach/iron shots but it has more to do with swing than contact. I don't think a GI iron will help my chunks or bladed shots. I was fitted for my current irons (919 T's) by a very reputable fitter not a big box store. Based on how I was swinging during the fitting, the 919 T's gave me the best numbers according trackman and the fitter seem to think so after looking at ball speed, launch, spin, etc... I guess what I'm saying is don't worry so much about what people say you should be using based on your handicap. Swing whatever youre comfortable with that also yields you good results.

[nsxguy]

No worries. They are purty.

And I DO have a soft spot in my heart for Lynx as the original Parallax was one of my favorite iron sets.

[catbutt]

Currently an 8 - playing Wilson Fg V6’s and I am absolutely in love. Never had more consistent control of distances. And they feel buttery when I flush em. Hoping to get good/confident enough to step into the Staff Model one day.

[el_hefty]

15 HDCP here, playing Ping G410s, coming from some 20 year old Ping i3 O-size. Irons are my weakness, especially mid and long range. At first the G410s were a revelation coming from the i3's, but since I've apparently learned how to hit them my same old mediocre way :\. Actually I feel like I could sort things out with some range time but that's not an option right now so....

[Figgeduni]

Started from scratch last summer with a set of Wilson D300 off the shelves, played myself down to a 16 hcp and now I got myself fitted for a set of Wilson D7 Forged with C Taper Lite. Planning on play these for a good while down into single figures unless something unexpected happens.

[95124hacker]

13-19 over the past 3 years. Over 50 golfer. Discovered JDM forgings & high quality graphite iron shafts about 5 years ago. Have gamed players CB’s exclusively. GI/SGI don’t lower scores & I can’t get used to the look. Currently enjoying Fourteen TC770’s with Roddio Pentacross I-8 shafts (yes, Fourteen makes more than wedges)...

[theothertwo]

am using graphite shafted Honma TW 737Vs, very promising...

[Sleeky_D]

This is a great thread. I'm currently about a 20 - 25 and playing with srixon z585. Love the look and feel of these but will probably make a switch soon because.....why not?!