Irons: What Keeps Them In Your Bag?

[JB_007]

Starting to realize I have an iron problem. I've had 9 sets in the past two years ( not many for some on here) but I still can't find a set that seems to be "the right one". I've been fit twice by Top 100 fitters and the results I see in the fitting near match up when I actually go to play. I'm lucky that I can afford to buy sets / have used ebay to buy used and basically come out of all this experimenting even. I'm tried everything from blades, to players irons, to players distance, no matter what i try after a few rounds, I start creating a cons list of each iron, whether it's feel, height, not holding greens, etc... I'm starting to think I'm looking for something that doesn't exist or just a club ho who needs to find another hobby..

 

Just curious, to those who have kept an iron for a while, what was some of the traits or performance aspects that kept the set in your bag?

[BC33]

I've had my Apex Pro 16's in the bag for the better part of two full seasons now.  They're shafted with Project X 6.0's and I've lead taped each head and to me they're just as good of an iron setup I've had.  Predictable distances, ability to flight down or hit high and reasonably forgiving with a good swing put on them.  I purchased them on Preowned and they are 3/4" long and the 8,9 and PW are starting to brown a little on the face but I don't have any intention of replacing due to confidence in them.

 

I bought a set of Srixon 785's to start the season and have since sold them.  I couldn't get the confidence I have in my Apex Pro's even after reshafting with Project X 6.0's.

 

Once you find a set of irons you like, my advice is to stop looking.  Easier said than done but you'll save some $$$ and play better golf if you'e confident in swinging what you've got.  Now drivers or putters?  I'm on my 4th driver this season but I think I've finally got a keeper.

[Gopher68]

I was looking at buying a new set of irons but after hitting several brands i'm just not that sure anymore, I have a almost new set of Bridgestone J33 cb's that I like everything about them, other than distance, the newer irons didn't seem to offer anything to my game. I think I will just spend the money and have these reshafted with something that fits me better.

[Jonesy]

Mostly cause I'm poor...

 

But really, if I find a set I like aesthetically and I hit them solid then I honestly have no reason to change. Rather use the money I've now saved to go play golf. 

[jholz]

4 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

Mostly cause I'm poor...

 

This is my go to answer, but I think the word "cheap" might be closer to the truth. If I really wanted to, I could come up with the money.

 

But, good god are new irons expensive... Used? Probably not going to find anything much better than what I've got. 

 

So, I keep playing what I have. They work good. 

[James the Hogan Fan]

Just stare at the clubs and say "for better or worse, these are my sticks this year" 

 

That green you didn't hold? Wasn't a good enough swing to get the height/spin needed. Not liking the flight? Control it with technique. Etc. Shift the blame from the clubs on to yourself. 

 

What qualities keep them in the bag? Well they are Hogan blades and they look fantastic. For the most part I play well with them. I've hit some incredible shots with them and know that given time I will again. Recently I've played some bad rounds and have been looking at other options, but I don't have the desire to go through the hassle of a new set. So they stay.

[Jonesy]

23 minutes ago, jholz said:

 

This is my go to answer, but I think the word "cheap" might be closer to the truth. If I really wanted to, I could come up with the money.

 

But, good god are new irons expensive... Used? Probably not going to find anything much better than what I've got. 

 

So, I keep playing what I have. They work good. 

 

100% this, it's actually pathetic, irons shouldn't be the price that they are these days.

 

I got lucky with my new ones, found them on FB in great condition and at a 3rd of the retail price so I couldn't pass them up, especially since I've had my old irons for 8 years. 

[SteelyDan]

Every 3-4 years, I feel my swing has changed and will go see a fitter to try some of the new stuff out. Meanwhile, I feel pretty confident and rather go for lessons.

[Chadwickog]

Do I like the way they look?  Do they feel good? Am I hitting decent shots with them, when I put a good swing on it?  If I hit 2/4 greens on par 3s and am keeping it in play without a ton of fat shots (my miss) then I'm happy

[iNeedMoreGolf]

a few things.

1. I just went through 3 sets a gi set... a players distance set and now players iron set. I stuck with players irons set mizuno mp20 mmc because they look great feel great and do everything i want and need. The others were very very good but i couldnt settle until i was truly happy and now i am. It had to do with offset size and feel. 

 

2. Ive played 4 different iron sets this year... not one set has not "held a green" i keep hearing this not hold a green with an iron thing.. the only club that hasn't held a green this year for me has been my 3 hybrid and it dont even faze me. Ive had 3wood hold greens this year also. Unless some of you are playing pga greens im not sure how your iron sets arent holding... and you cant be counting hitting the last yard of the green and then it pops off... im talking front or middle... then again ive hit shots in the back that even stuck.

 

3. This is a journey i think we all take and love just as much as actually playing... after doing this clubs searching journey for the past 6 yrs ? ive realized now what my game needs and i like so for now im very content and just want to golf... and for future i know it will be easier knowing now what i like and need. I think it can become somewhat of a fun thing to do and seems to be what you maybe experiencing. Try to just find each club that you really love and fits into your game. Id like to suggest some mizuno irons as recently ive discovered as good as other iron brands are... i do belive mizuno has them all beat. Super soft like no other... forgiving.. accurate. Fits the eye. Not much more i can ask for. Hope this all helps.

[Kyle M]

I’ve had my MP64’s for 8, maybe 9 seasons now.  Some of the newer sets have my attention (I’m looking at you T100-S) but then I sometimes think why would I do this. I’m playing maybe the best golf of my life (index is currently +1.7) so I am probably an idiot to change. But, there’s a little club ho in all of us... and I also believe that it’s not necessarily the arrow. You’ve been fitted, so maybe it’s not the clubs?

Edited August 31, 2020 by Kyle M

[woodriff]

5 hours ago, 2ndCut16 said:

Starting to realize I have an iron problem. I've had 9 sets in the past two years ( not many for some on here) but I still can't find a set that seems to be "the right one". I've been fit twice by Top 100 fitters and the results I see in the fitting near match up when I actually go to play. I'm lucky that I can afford to buy sets / have used ebay to buy used and basically come out of all this experimenting even. I'm tried everything from blades, to players irons, to players distance, no matter what i try after a few rounds, I start creating a cons list of each iron, whether it's feel, height, not holding greens, etc... I'm starting to think I'm looking for something that doesn't exist or just a club ho who needs to find another hobby..

 

Just curious, to those who have kept an iron for a while, what was some of the traits or performance aspects that kept the set in your bag?

I think you answered your own question. “Looking for something that doesn’t exist”. 9 sets is a ton in 2 years. Not sure you’re in a location where you can play for a longer season. I looked for an iron that was just right, until I started switching out shafts, THEN I found what I wanted. I play Maltby forges now and it’s the best decision I’ve made. 
How about sticking to one brand and one design that you like. Same with drivers and wedges. If you’re going to change anything read up on shafts. I’m a senior, and tried graphite, then I changed to Nippon and never looked back.

Ive played the same driver for 8 years, and the same Scotty putter.

Irons I don’t play I take out of my bag. Haven’t touched a 9 iron in a long time. 
Two wedges. A 52, and a 58. 
Remember it’s very seldom and arrow. It’s always the archer.

 

~Bill

 

 

 

 

[Myherobobhope]

6 hours ago, 2ndCut16 said:

Starting to realize I have an iron problem. I've had 9 sets in the past two years ( not many for some on here) but I still can't find a set that seems to be "the right one". I've been fit twice by Top 100 fitters and the results I see in the fitting near match up when I actually go to play. I'm lucky that I can afford to buy sets / have used ebay to buy used and basically come out of all this experimenting even. I'm tried everything from blades, to players irons, to players distance, no matter what i try after a few rounds, I start creating a cons list of each iron, whether it's feel, height, not holding greens, etc... I'm starting to think I'm looking for something that doesn't exist or just a club ho who needs to find another hobby..

 

Just curious, to those who have kept an iron for a while, what was some of the traits or performance aspects that kept the set in your bag?

 

I'd recommend changing the way you think about your irons... If you are switching them out 4 times a year, it's not the irons...

 

Any set of clubs is going to have trade-offs. Want the ability to work the ball? You have to give up forgiveness. Want a higher ball flight? It's going to make hitting a stinger harder...

 

Changing clubs multiple times is just going to make you a worse golfer... Pick a set, stick with it and learn what you can and can't do... 

[NYCGolfNut]

3 hours ago, Chadwickog said:

Do I like the way they look?  Do they feel good? Am I hitting decent shots with them, when I put a good swing on it?  If I hit 2/4 greens on par 3s and am keeping it in play without a ton of fat shots (my miss) then I'm happy

This. Looks, feel and performance - not in any particular order!

[bnperrone]

I don't see how you can make the best use of your irons if you're swapping them out all the time. You do you, but it seems like it would hamper improvement and enjoyment.

[Jack Pearsall]

 

He likes the feeling of forged irons. He played Hogan then Mizuno blades for many many years. There weren't as many shaft choices back then. Hogan had Apex, everyone else had TT. Rifles fcm arrived (what a godsend), Then KBS, then project X, then nippon years later...The marriage of shaft to head is essential to JP. So you would need to know what shaft you like. That is the hardest thing to test for without a fitting. He would go to OEM days to test shafts as much as heads. This plays out over many years...

 

Jack Pearsall's First Rule of Golf states that when you have expectations, you will be crushed by those expectations.

You seem to expect something from your iron sets that would appear to be unreasonable.

 

 

[NYCGolfNut]

13 minutes ago, Jack Pearsall said:

 

He likes the feeling of forged irons. He played Hogan then Mizuno blades for many many years. There weren't as many shaft choices back then. Hogan had Apex, everyone else had TT. Rifles fcm arrived (what a godsend), Then KBS, then project X, then nippon years later...The marriage of shaft to head is essential to JP. So you would need to know what shaft you like. That is the hardest thing to test for without a fitting. He would go to OEM days to test shafts as much as heads. This plays out over many years...

 

Jack Pearsall's First Rule of Golf states that when you have expectations, you will be crushed by those expectations.

You seem to expect something from your iron sets that would appear to be unreasonable.

 

 

Agreed. Someone very wise once said “With most things in life, there is no success or failure,... there are only expectations!”

[scooterhd2]

i'm revolving my guest/backup set of irons, but my Srixon 785s are firmly in my bag. They check all the boxes for me. 

 

[mizuno player]

For me it's looks then how they feel. By feel I mean weight. Too heavy, too light? If the weight doesn't feel correct I know the results won't be there. 

 

I bought a set of Titleist 710mb when they first came out. I tried a few times to replace them but couldn't. The weight - feel was just perfect. So they stayed. 

 

Just this year I went to my fitter and my swing changed a little and he suggested switching to PX. So I ordered 919 tours. Luckily all clubs feel perfect to me. 

 

Confidence in the feel and weight will usually translate to good ball striking. 

 

Find a club you like the looks of then go have a in-depth fitting done. If you have one club you really like over others take that one club with you. Weight is by far most important for good contact. For me anyway. 

[MtlJeff]

I mostly play irons for 3-4 years until i get bored and get new ones. Usually i think about it for a few months before buying so i am typically happy with my purchases, and they tend to last the mentioned time period

 

I've rarely gotten rid of irons due to performance, it's mostly just wanting something new. 

[uglande]

Mizuno blades -- the feel, the look, the consistency and the workability. I love the clean look, the feeling that I can do anything with them, and the knowledge that they will produce the exact yardage that they should for the strike I make.  

[MattM97]

My irons are fit to me, anything else I buy isn't fit to me and won't work as well so no need for new irons until I need/want them. At that point I'll get another fitting. 

[2Down]

I seem to change more recently, as I’m getting a bit older.    Looking at g710 now.   Last year at this time I was playing mizuno MP5 with kbs, Switched out to ping ie1 with dgs300.  Love the feel when I flush them.    But. Tried a buddies g710s and found them stupid easy.   Different feel but every shot was high on line and landed close to my target.

my setup will be different as he had the stock shaft and flat lie where I’ll be getting dg r300 and a bit upright.  I like the feel of almost anything with dg gold in em.  Looking forward to these.  

[setter02]

I've bought a dozen or so sets of irons over the past couple of years, but the only one I keep going back to is my set of I20s.  That being said, my Hogan's arrived today, sooooooo........

[GSDriver]

Still gaming my 2014 Apex Pros.  I like the look at address, turf interaction and feel.  I don't buy the whole distance thing, if I need more distance I take a longer club.

[Dr. Block]

Switched from a split set of Callaway X Forged 4-7iron, muscle back 8-PW to Taylormade P760's this year.  Did it because of the foam in the head and the forgiveness. They work as advertised.  I have all the same feel and shot shape control with the short irons as I did with the Cally blades, and the foam in the mid and long irons makes them stupid forgiving.  A shining example of Golf tech that actually works 

Edited August 31, 2020 by Dr. Block

[tets]

Not sure anyone can top this , but its real ... Whats keeping my irons in my bag .. earlier in the season I had 5 brand new sets of irons in 1 WEEK .. I was taking a pretty god ribbing from my game at our country club .. last set was the Apex Pro 19 .. I made the statement "if you guys see another set of irons in my bag this year, everyone in our game gets a milkshake"  Well our game has about 12 guys and I'm not about to buy everyone a milkshake.  I have even bought a couple sets since and hit them on the range (not in my bag though), but sold them soon after. Thats what is keep my irons in my bag.

[evolvingwildes]

Most important aspect IMO - Dispersion. They can look fantastic but if they don't perform then unfortunately they won't work.

[Roejye]

I replaced my entire bag earlier this year, I had a set of 40 ish year old wilson k 28 blades, "upgraded" to the VAS 792's. Was playing ok with them but they were hooking a bit too much (especially if I really tried to step on one). I decided to purchace a set of Cleveland 588 mts. They look good to me and they perform well enough. In response to the question as to why they'll be in my bag for a while 1A) performance, 1B) price I paid for them, followed by overall condition. I don't really care much about looks, only club I've ever sat down behind a ball and immediately said "nope" was some weird hybrid iron esque thing with a bulge in the back with what looked like wire coiled around it.

[dubbelbogey]

I can and have adapted to a wide variety of irons, but ultimately, I try not to blame poor performance or attribute particularly fantastic results to my irons. Yes, they have all been "adjusted" to my build, swing and grip preference (via flex, length and lie tweaks). I no longer use the word "fit" for this process because that word has become corrupted. Yes, they fit me, but to me it's the equivalent of having the right waist size and inseam length on my pants - not a technology choice. Pretty much every set I've owned has worked fine for the job.

 

My current set has been in the bag for several years, and same for the set prior. They stay there because they are very familiar to me (like a baseball glove or a comfy set of jeans) - no reason to change. I don't look to irons to make a performance difference - I look to them to be reliable and predictable.

 

So why I have changed at all? Mostly curiosity. Even though it may take many 5 or 10 (or more) years for me to switch, even I eventually get the itch to try something different. 

Edited September 1, 2020 by dubbelbogey