More forgiving irons to improve dispersion?

PureDivots · September 24, 2020

I am currently playing a combo set of Srixion z785s 7-PW and z585 6-4 with PX LZ 6.0. Iron play/ball striking has been holding me back for last few season and always been my weakness. The rest of my game has improved alot while iron play lags behind. It's most likely just my ability and swing if you put me in a non neutral lie, such as ball above or below my feet or rough with the ball down more likely than not I'm going to miss my mark. This tends to show itself in my score by either not getting close enough to the hole to make more than 1-3 birdies a round or just missing greens left and right and trying to save par all day. I am working on my swing, but results are slow and inconsistent due to lack of available time. I'm wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and gone for a more forgiving iron set and noticed improvement in their iron play. Typically when I think of more forgiving it just means ball speed across the face on mishits.

golfandtennisfan · September 24, 2020

Your current clubs a reasonably forgiving for a better player club. If you are as confident in flat lie shots, just some subtle adjustments should get you where you want to be. A bit of practice and fine tuning and you are there. I am with you as if you go more forgiving, you will certainly lose feel and control. In my experience, it is almost impossible to get both great speed/forgiveness and great control. Think about what direction you want to work on your game from and go from there. Good luck.

gdb99 · September 24, 2020

I've never been that great of an iron player. I have played blades to SGI irons. My scores really do not change that much.

What does change is my confidence at what I'm looking at. I do not like looking down at that super thin top line on a 5 iron.

As far as irons go, play with what gives you confidence when you look down on it, and practice more. You only get out of this game what you put into it.

You are probably right, more forgiving irons will give you retained ball speeds across a bigger area of the face, I guess. I think that's a good thing for us that don't always hit the middle.

Good luck!

Edited September 24, 2020 by gdb99

scooterhd2 · September 24, 2020

Read title, came to post Z585 / Z785 combo.

You can certainly find more forgiving irons, but I wouldnt say that the launch and spin characteristics on those are going directly improve dispersion.

North Butte · September 24, 2020

If you are pulling and pushing the ball, the clubhead design won't help. If you're coming up very short on mishits (away from center of face) more forgiving irons can help a little. If you are hooking or slicing (or both) a more forgiving iron may cut down on a curvature a good bit.

ChipNRun · September 24, 2020

7 hours ago, DaltonSTL said:

...such as ball above or below my feet or rough with the ball down more likely than not I'm going to miss my mark. ...

or just missing greens left and right and trying to save par all day.

Uphill, downhill, ball above and below feet... A local pro with minitour experience says amateurs struggle with these shots because they're hard to practice on a level driving range. If you can find a slow day at the course, go out and practice these on a couple of the holes.

If you spray your iron shots a lot, try this test. Take a 5i, 7i and 9i and put an impact decal on the face of each. Hit 8 or so shots with each club. If the impact points are scattered all around the face, possibly your shafts are too long for you to control. If you find this, a tune-up fitting might be in order for your current irons.

(P.S. I play out of Stonewolf in Fairview Heights, IL. What is your home course?)

PureDivots · September 24, 2020

2 hours ago, golfandtennisfan said:

Your current clubs a reasonably forgiving for a better player club. If you are as confident in flat lie shots, just some subtle adjustments should get you where you want to be. A bit of practice and fine tuning and you are there. I am with you as if you go more forgiving, you will certainly lose feel and control. In my experience, it is almost impossible to get both great speed/forgiveness and great control. Think about what direction you want to work on your game from and go from there. Good luck.

At one point I played all z545s granted with a lower spinning shaft, but they felt too hot back then. Air mailing greens with a club I never thought possible. Giving up the distance control on well struck shots might not be worth it.

1 hour ago, gdb99 said:

I've never been that great of an iron player. I have played blades to SGI irons. My scores really do not change that much.

What does change is my confidence at what I'm looking at. I do not like looking down at that super thin top line on a 5 iron.

As far as irons go, play with what gives you confidence when you look down on it, and practice more. You only get out of this game what you put into it.

You are probably right, more forgiving irons will give you retained ball speeds across a bigger area of the face, I guess. I think that's a good thing for us that don't always hit the middle.

Good luck!

Thanks input on blades-SGI sort of confirms my thoughts possibly not going to have that "aha!" moment. Confidence seems to go a long way there is days few and far between where the I cant miss and feel good.

1 hour ago, scooterhd2 said:

Read title, came to post Z585 / Z785 combo.

You can certainly find more forgiving irons, but I wouldnt say that the launch and spin characteristics on those are going directly improve dispersion.

Funny enough launch and spin with the Srixons have been a game changer for me picked up 10-15 yds per club coming from MP-18 MMC with same specs only .25" longer. Made a difference hitting less club but always searching for more.

1 hour ago, North Butte said:

If you are pulling and pushing the ball, the clubhead design won't help. If you're coming up very short on mishits (away from center of face) more forgiving irons can help a little. If you are hooking or slicing (or both) a more forgiving iron may cut down on a curvature a good bit.

Push and pull would be the term I would use most often with my missing. With the off balance sort of lies it can be those overcooked fades or draws thought. Was hoping for a magic answer, but seems my general thought is correct.

PureDivots · September 24, 2020

1 hour ago, ChipNRun said:

Uphill, downhill, ball above and below feet... A local pro with minitour experience says amateurs struggle with these shots because they're hard to practice on a level driving range. If you can find a slow day at the course, go out and practice these on a couple of the holes.

If you spray your iron shots a lot, try this test. Take a 5i, 7i and 9i and put an impact decal on the face of each. Hit 8 or so shots with each club. If the impact points are scattered all around the face, possibly your shafts are too long for you to control. If you find this, a tune-up fitting might be in order for your current irons.

(P.S. I play out of Stonewolf in Fairview Heights, IL. What is your home course?)

Definitely lack of practice is a key contributor, dont we all wish for more time doing something golf related. Surprisingly I am actually playing my current irons .25" short of standard. Fitting before the start of next season is on my list. Had the thought that going to a stouter shaft might help tighten things up. If you have an recommendations either for a fitter or a club builder Id love to hear them.

I would call Forest Park my home course, play a league there and the most throughout the year due to the convenient location. Stonewolf is a great layout, but I was appalled at the conditions of the greens back in July.