High Handicap Irons for Long-ish Hitter

Nessism · July 1, 2020

Srixon 5 series and Callaway Apex 16/19 have a LOT of love around here. Both are players irons with some help. Personally, I'd recommend something even more forgiving (Ping G series) for someone that doesn't break 100 but that's your call. The old adage of playing the most GI irons you can stand to look is good advise.

Myherobobhope · July 1, 2020

When you are taking lessons, ask the pro if he thinks you need new clubs... It's easy to adapt our swings to the clubs we are playing, but if there is a glaring problem, he should notice it... If you are standard in terms of loft, length and lie consider picking up a used set of cavity backs for now...

If blades aren't working for you right now, move into something else and then start progressing. I've significantly changed the way I hit the ball over the past 3 months and my irons still work for me. As long as you don't go super offset and SGI, any iron from the past 10 years will perform well enough regardless of your swing faults... Fitting is more to optimize results or minimize misses (usually both) but that can wait until you are settled into a "swing"

Or stick with blades... some people here are convinced that the feedback you get from them is the best way to improve your ball striking... I know from experience they at least let you work the ball more easily, so you can see the impact of different swing paths and face angles will do.

The fun part of golf is there are plenty of different ways to get the ball in the hole... equipment is just another one of those choices. I've met plenty of good golfers who didn't care what was in their bag and plenty of good golfers on a quest to have every stick be perfect... You can be a better golfer with the clubs you have, but that doesn't mean new clubs won't make you better as well. We all have our own limited resources, time, money and access to practice facilities... just make sure you are maximizing your return on them and you will improve at golf.

ChipNRun · July 1, 2020

@bradleybusch92 said: "Lessons are in my plans. Just thought it might be good going into them to have a better fitted set of clubs."
I fear I thought the same way as a beginning golfer. I was self-taught for 10 years, and have been trying to recover ever since.
Lessons and fittings can be alternated for good effect. The trouble with self-teaching through YouTube videos is they come at golf from all different directions. Joe's video on full iron shots may not mesh with the motions of Brad's video on partial wedges. You end up going in different directions rather than having a unified approach to the swing.
A good instructor can help tease out the golf swing you have inside. A good instructor can take you farther in two lessons than you can take yourself hit-and-miss over a full season. (This implies that you practice and play between lessons, applying what the instructor showed you.)
If you're lucky, you'll find a good instructor that also knows how to fit people for golf clubs. I would suggest that a couple of lessons followed by practice and a fitting could get you set for the season, and beyond.Note: If you're worried about some irons flying too long, check out the Ping web site and the retro lofts they offer on some iron models. This gives you a 42* 9i, a 47* PW that gives you shot loft and stop, not just raw distance.

Mart78 · March 12, 2022

Let's revive this topic!

I have a similar problem, I'm playing callway x-16 whit traditional loft, I'm hitting my 7 iron around 185-190, all new "more forgiving" iron have strong loft.... I don't want a 30° 7 iron. Was looking into apex pro but I don't know how the forgiveness compare to my x-16. I'm playing 88-92 whit very bad chipping and putting!

Any club suggestions?

ws65 · March 13, 2022

The big issue you will have at this moment is you are a little bit limited on what you can get if you're looking for brand new just due to some manufacturers having issues; if used, you're golden. Maybe stick with Callaway since that's what you're used to?

Edited March 13, 2022 by ws65

BraxtonFullerton · March 16, 2022

On 3/12/2022 at 9:52 AM, Mart78 said:

Let's revive this topic!

I have a similar problem, I'm playing callway x-16 whit traditional loft, I'm hitting my 7 iron around 185-190, all new "more forgiving" iron have strong loft.... I don't want a 30° 7 iron. Was looking into apex pro but I don't know how the forgiveness compare to my x-16. I'm playing 88-92 whit very bad chipping and putting!

Any club suggestions?

Don't think about it.

All the lack of forgiveness means is that it will force you to do is improve your ball striking. Just keep it in your head that your scores may get worse for a bit until you get the feel for the new clubs.