Players Distance Irons with the Best Feel

[swaldron]

Out of all the players distance irons, which set feel the best to you?

[braincramp52]

Not sure what a players distance iron is since players irons don't usually focus on distance.

[Z1ggy16]

Players irons don't usually focus on distance.

There's a new market developing lately.... Player's looking irons that happen to have slightly stronger lofts and extra hot faces. See: P790, i500, AP3, etc.

 

With that said, I only hit P790 and AP3 out of this new category. 790's felt much better. AP3 was clicky... felt like a traditional cast club. 790 felt softer and more explosive off the face. I would also give Srixon 765/85 a hit, too.

[Natural1]

I've hit the 790, i500, and AP3. I own the AP3s.

790 probably did feel the best/softest, but wasn't right for me. AP3 second in feel overall, but yes it's a little harsh & clicky on a mishit (feels very good on a center strike though). i500 to me was much more "clicky" and just feels very hard even on a good strike (to me).

I'm very interested to see the Mizuno Hot Metal Pro, and I would also like to hit the Maltby TS-1.

Really my only gripe with the AP3 is the offset.

[KRW59]

Cobra Forged Tech Black....with Recoil Smacwraps

 

Solid...with that soft forged feel...not "springy"

[tsecor]

Marketing at its finest

[swaldron]

So Ive heard players don’t focus on distance and marketing at its finest.

Personally, my handicap is 4

Am I player, I don’t really know

Am I looking for more distance, absolutely

Being able to hit one club less into holes would be great

[Z1ggy16]

So Ive heard players don't focus on distance and marketing at its finest.

Personally, my handicap is 4

Am I player, I don't really know

Am I looking for more distance, absolutely

Being able to hit one club less into holes would be great

The problem is, I'd almost guarantee with these irons... you'll sacrifice spin for distance in the longer irons. If I catch my p790 4i super clean off the tee... I'll crush it and it'll go 220 because I barely got 3k spin. My short irons spin just fine but I do find my 4i and 5i can be especially low spin.

[me05501]

So Ive heard players don't focus on distance and marketing at its finest.

Personally, my handicap is 4

Am I player, I don't really know

Am I looking for more distance, absolutely

Being able to hit one club less into holes would be great

 

But are you really hitting one less club, or the same club with a different number on the sole? :D

[GolfTurkey]

So Ive heard players don't focus on distance and marketing at its finest.

Personally, my handicap is 4

Am I player, I don't really know

Am I looking for more distance, absolutely

Being able to hit one club less into holes would be great

 

But are you really hitting one less club, or the same club with a different number on the sole? :D

 

I think it's a bit of both. E.g. the i500 in retro spec has very similar lofts to the i210. The i500 still goes a fair bit further (and spins less) loft for loft because of the different construction.

[swaldron]

Sure, it’s just a club with the loft of a longer club (7 iron with a 6 iron loft) but also is the length of a 7 iron and I’m spoiled and want new clubs

Isn’t that what this site is all about?

[PenetratingWedgeStinger]

Sure, it's just a club with the loft of a longer club (7 iron with a 6 iron loft) but also is the length of a 7 iron and I'm spoiled and want new clubs

Isn't that what this site is all about?

 

80% of the time, yes, but it seems you've been unfortunate enough to get one of that 20% of threads filled with condescending, buzzkilling, bladier-than-thou tossports.

[Ripken08]

JPX 900/919 forged

[puttingmatt]

While I like the concept , the players distance iron is probably a few years away

Until the OEM's get all the design issues out of the way, Most of the players irons out today

Have a hollow design and a larger footprint . The looks are more GI in size. The trade offs

Are evident with spin . But , As newer models are brought to market, i am sure that they will

Be able to offer better profiles and better designs, with a smaller size. I look forward to the

Future of players distance irons.

[jonn443]

The rumored 760 might fit your bill.

[chisag]

Sure, it's just a club with the loft of a longer club (7 iron with a 6 iron loft) but also is the length of a 7 iron and I'm spoiled and want new clubs

Isn't that what this site is all about?

 

80% of the time, yes, but it seems you've been unfortunate enough to get one of that 20% of threads filled with condescending, buzzkilling, bladier-than-thou tossports.

 

... LOL, well stated. The Bladeanista's on WRX are like Storm Troopers, nerdy reference implied. Nowhere else can someone ask a simply question to people that play distance irons and get such ridiculous replies from people that don't even play them. On a college baseball thread it would be the equivalent of someone asking about a new aluminum bat and these guys posting a wooden bat will prepare them for MLB and players should only use wooden bats because different aluminum bats are just marketing.

[vman]

Mizuno JPX Forged, Srixon Z565, Ping i210 power spec and TM P790 all feel pretty good to me.

[tsecor]

how does everyone account for 100's of pga players using every type if club from blades to Ap2's, to JPx T's to ping cavity backs....all hitting the same distances?

[JDMRN81]

If going off of Golf Digests category of players distance irons I've owned 3 (565's, 0311's, and 790's) and have had range sessions with the AP3's and 900F. Feel is so subjective, but the 0311's felt the best when struck in the middle but are a little muted when you hit off center. Overall the 565's are probably my favorite in this category. Extremely consistent distance with excellent feel. You know when you hit it on the toe or heel but still get decent results.

[chisag]

how does everyone account for 100's of pga players using every type if club from blades to Ap2's, to JPx T's to ping cavity backs....all hitting the same distances?

 

... They don't read WRX?

[Z1ggy16]

how does everyone account for 100's of pga players using every type if club from blades to Ap2's, to JPx T's to ping cavity backs....all hitting the same distances?

What do you mean?

 

And comparing your average golfer (even the average WRXer) is a pretty bad idea when it comes to guys on tour.

[4rheel]

PRGR RS Forged (2016). Flash filled, jacked lofts but maintaining players profile at address. Feels like the good old days when I could consistently flush a blade (iron set).

[jimsmithleeds]

TM P790 and Mizzy JPX919 forged. Nothing beats these for feel.

[me05501]

Sure, it's just a club with the loft of a longer club (7 iron with a 6 iron loft) but also is the length of a 7 iron and I'm spoiled and want new clubs

Isn't that what this site is all about?

 

80% of the time, yes, but it seems you've been unfortunate enough to get one of that 20% of threads filled with condescending, buzzkilling, bladier-than-thou tossports.

 

 

Okay, allow me to restate from a more fact-based perspective.

 

Today's long, forgiving irons are constructed in such a way that they're not going to "feel" great whether hit on the heel, the toe or the sweet spot. They have large, consistently thin faces that are attached around their perimeter to hollow exoskeletons. The very best feedback they're going to provide is a sense of nothingness, which is the golfer's signal that they hit the ball squarely in the middle of the face. Unless you hit the ball with the outer edge of the face, you will be relying on the flight of the ball for your feedback.

 

All of this is FINE! There's no judgement on my part. A huge number of players are happy with irons that provide that experience. But the construction that provides maximum distance and forgiveness is the opposite of the construction that provides great feel. When someone says "I want forgiving irons with great feel," they might as well be saying "I want a pet unicorn."

 

Great feeling irons have their mass more behind the sweet spot. The sweet feeling comes from matching up that mass to the golf ball. There's no way to replicate that feel using a construction that has the mass distributed around the perimeter of the club.

[chisag]

Sure, it's just a club with the loft of a longer club (7 iron with a 6 iron loft) but also is the length of a 7 iron and I'm spoiled and want new clubs

Isn't that what this site is all about?

 

80% of the time, yes, but it seems you've been unfortunate enough to get one of that 20% of threads filled with condescending, buzzkilling, bladier-than-thou tossports.

 

 

Okay, allow me to restate from a more fact-based perspective.

 

Today's long, forgiving irons are constructed in such a way that they're not going to "feel" great whether hit on the heel, the toe or the sweet spot. They have large, consistently thin faces that are attached around their perimeter to hollow exoskeletons. The very best feedback they're going to provide is a sense of nothingness, which is the golfer's signal that they hit the ball squarely in the middle of the face. Unless you hit the ball with the outer edge of the face, you will be relying on the flight of the ball for your feedback.

 

All of this is FINE! There's no judgement on my part. A huge number of players are happy with irons that provide that experience. But the construction that provides maximum distance and forgiveness is the opposite of the construction that provides great feel. When someone says "I want forgiving irons with great feel," they might as well be saying "I want a pet unicorn."

 

Great feeling irons have their mass more behind the sweet spot. The sweet feeling comes from matching up that mass to the golf ball. There's no way to replicate that feel using a construction that has the mass distributed around the perimeter of the club.

 

 

... While this may be your experience, it is not others so it is subjective, not fact based. Of course a solid forged MB or even players iron with added mass behind the center will produce more of that sweet feel than a P790. But that doesn't mean that P790's are "forgiving irons are constructed in such a way that they're not going to "feel" great whether hit on the heel, the toe or the sweet spot." Those of us with better feel can most definitely tell instantly if we miss the center by a little, let alone out on the toe. Yes dead center has a nothing feel, very similar to the nothing feel I experienced with every MB I ever played, although admittedly not as sweet or dense. And I agree and would not describe my P790's as having the "great feel" of my solid forged 737's or MP63's but for me they produce a "good feel". As always with every iron ever designed, there are trade offs and what you play depends on what kind of trade offs every golfer is willing to make.

[PenetratingWedgeStinger]

Sure, it's just a club with the loft of a longer club (7 iron with a 6 iron loft) but also is the length of a 7 iron and I'm spoiled and want new clubs

Isn't that what this site is all about?

 

80% of the time, yes, but it seems you've been unfortunate enough to get one of that 20% of threads filled with condescending, buzzkilling, bladier-than-thou tossports.

 

 

Okay, allow me to restate from a more fact-based perspective.

 

Today's long, forgiving irons are constructed in such a way that they're not going to "feel" great whether hit on the heel, the toe or the sweet spot. They have large, consistently thin faces that are attached around their perimeter to hollow exoskeletons. The very best feedback they're going to provide is a sense of nothingness, which is the golfer's signal that they hit the ball squarely in the middle of the face. Unless you hit the ball with the outer edge of the face, you will be relying on the flight of the ball for your feedback.

 

All of this is FINE! There's no judgement on my part. A huge number of players are happy with irons that provide that experience. But the construction that provides maximum distance and forgiveness is the opposite of the construction that provides great feel. When someone says "I want forgiving irons with great feel," they might as well be saying "I want a pet unicorn."

 

Great feeling irons have their mass more behind the sweet spot. The sweet feeling comes from matching up that mass to the golf ball. There's no way to replicate that feel using a construction that has the mass distributed around the perimeter of the club.

 

Don't disagree on the above, but the OP asked for recommendations on the 'best' feel among distance irons, not 'great' feel full stop. I'm sure he's well aware that no distance iron will be letting him spunk out buttery marshmallows, he just wants recommendations about the best feeling ones from the distance iron subset.

[nsxguy]

Sure, it's just a club with the loft of a longer club (7 iron with a 6 iron loft) but also is the length of a 7 iron and I'm spoiled and want new clubs

Isn't that what this site is all about?

 

80% of the time, yes, but it seems you've been unfortunate enough to get one of that 20% of threads filled with condescending, buzzkilling, bladier-than-thou tossports.

 

 

Okay, allow me to restate from a more fact-based perspective.

 

Today's long, forgiving irons are constructed in such a way that they're not going to "feel" great whether hit on the heel, the toe or the sweet spot. They have large, consistently thin faces that are attached around their perimeter to hollow exoskeletons. The very best feedback they're going to provide is a sense of nothingness, which is the golfer's signal that they hit the ball squarely in the middle of the face. Unless you hit the ball with the outer edge of the face, you will be relying on the flight of the ball for your feedback.

 

All of this is FINE! There's no judgement on my part. A huge number of players are happy with irons that provide that experience. But the construction that provides maximum distance and forgiveness is the opposite of the construction that provides great feel. When someone says "I want forgiving irons with great feel," they might as well be saying "I want a pet unicorn."

 

Great feeling irons have their mass more behind the sweet spot. The sweet feeling comes from matching up that mass to the golf ball. There's no way to replicate that feel using a construction that has the mass distributed around the perimeter of the club.

 

 

... While this may be your experience, it is not others so it is subjective, not fact based. Of course a solid forged MB or even players iron with added mass behind the center will produce more of that sweet feel than a P790. But that doesn't mean that P790's are "forgiving irons are constructed in such a way that they're not going to "feel" great whether hit on the heel, the toe or the sweet spot." Those of us with better feel can most definitely tell instantly if we miss the center by a little, let alone out on the toe. Yes dead center has a nothing feel, very similar to the nothing feel I experienced with every MB I ever played, although admittedly not as sweet or dense. And I agree and would not describe my P790's as having the "great feel" of my solid forged 737's or MP63's but for me they produce a "good feel". As always with every iron ever designed, there are trade offs and what you play depends on what kind of trade offs every golfer is willing to make.

 

You took the words right out of my keyboard. :taunt:

 

Of all things "golf", perhaps the most subjective term of all is "feel".

 

I've described the "feel" of a well struck golf shot as a feel of "nothing". The club, head and shaft don't vibrate, don't twist, do nothing at all but go sweetly through the ball. That is a great feeling.

 

However, that "feel" of nothingness isn't universal,,,,,,,,,,, and those G700s and P790s do NOT "feel" the same as a proper cavity back iron (to ME).

 

I guess, net-net, to ME, the difference is in a "proper cavity back" iron I can still tell, 90% of the time, where on the face I've hit the ball. With the others (G700, P790), I often can't. :dntknw:

[BirdieBob]

Out of all the players distance irons, which set feel the best to you?

 

 

PXG!

[chisag]

... LOL, what exactly is a "proper cavity back".

[LeoLeo99]

... LOL, what exactly is a "proper cavity back".

 

One piece of metal. Not a frame and welded face abomination like AP2. Those are for hacks like Spieth.