iron question

bbthorn · February 17, 2015

I have a question for those of you that have been playing for a while. I quit playing 20+ yrs ago and started back again last summer. It took about 3 months of steady range work to find my swing again. When I started playing the first thing I noticed is how much "woods" had changed. My driver was smaller than playing partners fairway wood. After hitting his woods a bit I picked contemporary woods. Now to my question is have irons changed that much in the last 25 yrs? What is your opinion comparing older club to the new ones? Forged club to forged club G.I. to G.I. I have averaged 82.3 for my last 20 rounds with several rounds in the 70's and expect to improve that this year. But I still have that nagging thought it could be better. Having said that I am not a person that needs the latest and greatest just to have shiny new. So what are you thoughts?

coloradogolfer632 · February 17, 2015

The biggest difference is forgiveness and distance in both sets of clubs.

Jones01 · February 17, 2015

I think if you buy some irons that are probably 5 years old or newer you will be fine.

Problem I was having was distance control with the older clubs. It was quite frustrating.

I think today's irons are much better then they were 5 years ago and way better then 25 years ago.

I used to get new irons every year searching for something better. I've played my present irons for three seasons now and there is nothing I see today that can make me want to change.

Imp · February 17, 2015

Yes, the club face has become a lot more forgiving in the past 5-10 years. Getting something that's only a few years old will be almost as good as todays brand new stuff.

The shafts these past few years, however, are the real game changer. If you're fairly decent, and it seems you are, go to a good club fitter and have them work with you to get your preferred trajectory/flight. One that can look at your swing and will suggest a shaft that works with how you take away and load the club.

It was the best money I ever spent on golf equipment having that ever valuable, and knowledgeable, 2nd opinion. He suggested I go to a different shaft than I was thinking of in my irons and it worked wonders all last year.

--kC

tony_teetime · February 17, 2015

Yes you are missing out especially with drivers and fairway woods. The newer drivers and FWs have hotter face and lower weight to help golfers get the ball air borne. Shaft technology has gotten better too , so combine with the right head , it will make your game a bit easier.

If you are playing a blade type irons , then you may want to consider going with perimeter weighting irons which is more forgiving on mishits.

Idris789 · February 17, 2015

Well I play an "older" set of irons (Mizuno MP-52) They not super old, only 5 years or so and I don't get any difference really between today's modern forged irons, the only time I see any difference is today's GIs have lofts much stronger than my Mizunos therefore, I'm not surprised by the distance increase