Should new irons be this frustrating?

[mahuwf]

Just before Christmas I got fit into a set of i210 with the Project X stiff shafts and I’m really struggling with my ball striking with them. Fats, thins, and flipping. It’s incredibly frustrating. 
 

I had a set of Cobra Bio Cells with huge offset that my game had outgrown (so I thought) and I wanted to progress into better irons. The Bio Cells had stiff 85 gram shafts and they were not fit to me. I can’t help but think that the i210 shafts are too heavy and keep getting stuck behind me. The thing is, I hit them great on the monitor at Edwin Watts and they felt amazing. Since then, I’m hitting lots of weak fades, where my typical ball flight has always been a draw. I’m an 11 hdcp and I really wanted something that I could dial in more precision with. 
 

 I don’t expect equipment to make me better, but I certainly don’t expect it to make me worse either. Is it typical to have such an adjustment period to new irons? My excitement for these new irons has really waned and I have far less confidence in hitting a green from 150 now than I did with the Bio Cells. What gives?

Edited January 11, 2021 by mahuwf

[blam89]

give a few more weeks.. it takes time to get used to new clubs. once you have a couple good hits, then a few good rounds, you'll forget about the old set. 

[MPAndreassi]

You made a pretty drastic change. Don’t quit on them. There’s a learning curve even when switching just shafts and comparable heads. The curve is bigger when the change is so drastic. The other thing is during a fitting everything is nice and grooved, the lies are perfect. It sets the bar high, you’ll get there with them. 

Edited January 11, 2021 by MPAndreassi

[seth514]

Give a new iron set 2-3 months, then you'll know one way or another. 

 

[95124hacker]

True WRXers would’ve put them on BST after 9 holes...

 

[bevans0222]

That's a 30+ gram increase in shaft weight.  That's going to take a little time to get used to.  Don't give up yet!

[SUPERG]

Always give irons a couple months, unless they are a direct successor than it will take time to get used it!! 

[setter02]

You are basically trying to relearn how to play irons given how different they are.  If your previous set was close in specs and shaft weight, less time.  But as others have said, that is a pretty drastic change.  I210s are great irons heads, so just give it time.

[sociojeje]

That's why i am very hesitant to change my irons (11+ years). One day, i felt like i'm determined. But then, I think what if i struggle? More than this, what's the point? Or, it could be a fitting issue. Did you go back to the simulator and hit YOUR irons, not the irons for fitting? Also, many people, including me, hit much better with a square setup of simulator. 

[Nixhex524]

IDK, I'm gonna go the other way here.  A lot of times, people play what they "think" they should be playing instead of what they WANT to play.  I have tried this, like you with the i210.  I figured a more forgiving iron with more help all over the face would surely make this game easier.  Nope.  I didn't like the way they felt after a few rounds, I didn't love the look, and I started getting all sorts of uncomfortable.  I don't think it takes long to know if something will work for you or not, I have picked up other sets and put them in play with ease, like my current set of Z785s.  It doesn't mean you can't or won't make them work, but sometimes, things just don't.  

[bombs]

Do you know the lie angle of the set you were fitted to, and how different this is to your old set? I had a horrible lie angle fitting once that made great clubs unplayable for me. A simple adjustment and all was resolved. 
 

To echo everyone else's thoughts.. you have made a massive jump in shaft weight as well as a smaller, less forgiving head. Hopefully you adjust and start striking it well. If not, you wouldn't be the first person to be fitted to clubs you can't consistently hit well. Big difference between fitting indoors on mats and taking clubs into the real world. 

Edited January 11, 2021 by bombs

[bombs]

2 hours ago, 95124hacker said:

True WRXers would’ve put them on BST after 9 holes...

 

 

True story.. I picked up a cheap set of used P760's as an experiment that did not go well. 

 

I had them listed by the 8th hole, got a flood of messages straight way, and they sold by the 13th.

 

Saw them re-listed again three weeks later. Pretty sure they were cursed.

Edited January 11, 2021 by bombs

[aenemated]

My P7MCs were the first like actual irons fitting I'd ever done - and were pretty considerably different than my previous set. Way heavier shaft (105s to 125s), longer, flatter and heavier swing weight.

 

First range session after they arrived was ... a disaster. Dead shanks like 2 of every 3 swings. I was like "WTF?" Called up my fitter and she was like "Keep working with them - it'll take some time."

 

Took about 5 or 6 range sessions before everything clicked and now they're just amazing. Just took me a good bit to get used to the weight. I say keep working with them for a bit. 

[doctorgriffo]

Don’t be afraid to use their 90 day warranty - I got fit into a set of p790s, and the shaft was all wrong (hit it far too high out on the course, and spin was off as well). Went back, tried other head and shaft combos and am now loving the ones I got 2nd time around. You get 3 goes at getting it right at any Worldwide Golf affiliate. Fittings can be wrong, particularly when you only hit a 7 iron off a mat.

[jomatty]

You guys really give a set of irons several months if they are not performing?  I’ll go in the other direction on this one.  If I was really struggling with them I would very quickly be asking myself “why”. It sounds like in your case it is more likely the shafts than the heads.  
 

Was the data at the fitting giving you much better numbers than what you were using before?  What sort of 85 gram shafts were you using before?  For me, project x shafts play very stiff, too stiff for me to play a 6.0, while I can play a “stiff” in most shafts.  I might hit project x’s ok in a fitting with max concentration and making a really hard swing (kinda like c tapers for me) but it would never work on the course, long term.

 

For me, I would have to see something in the numbers/ball flight in the new shafts to force me to spend months trying to make them work.  I know a lot of people don’t like to do their own work on clubs, but changing out steel shafts is super easy and I personally would go hit some different shafts and try to find something you like better.  Personally I would hit them somewhere and then keep my eyes open on BST or the bay for a set used, and it won’t cost you much of anything if you sell the project x pulls.  That said, I am a combination of 1. Impatient and 2. Not nearly as wealthy as some of the wrx’rs so it might not make sense for you to spend an hour working on the clubs if the money isn’t a big deal.

 

I’m not a great golfer by any account (6ish hcp) so maybe some of these other guys opinions are more valid, but there is no way I’m giving a set of irons MONTHS to try to get accustomed to them.  It just seems more likely it is a bad fit...

[bladehunter]

I hope you adjust  to them.  But.  I’ll be the opposing view and tell you that it never happens for me.  If I don’t get on with it inside the first day , it’s never going to happen.  For me it’s opposite, I can try to go to a lighter shaft and may hit them ok for a round , maybe. But inevitably the “ who knows where it’s going “ miss will come in.  I just had this happen.  I swapped my old standby modus 130 into the same NEW heads I was struggling with . I swapped the shafts on Friday night and Saturday morning I shot a 3 birdie round where I hit 15 greens .  This after 5 weeks of poor scores , greens missed etc.   

 

so for ME , if it doesn’t work , it’s doesn’t work.  No sense in changing YOU  to suit a club.  

[bladehunter]

8 hours ago, bombs said:

 

True story.. I picked up a cheap set of used P760's as an experiment that did not go well. 

 

I had them listed by the 8th hole, got a flood of messages straight way, and they sold by the 13th.

 

Saw them re-listed again three weeks later. Pretty sure they were cursed.

Back in my putter collecting / hoeing days I sold or traded MANY putters during their maiden round.  Lol. Walking and playing leaves bst time between shots. For sure !  

Edited January 11, 2021 by bladehunter

[morgan1819]

12 hours ago, mahuwf said:

Just before Christmas I got fit into a set of i210 with the Project X stiff shafts and I’m really struggling with my ball striking with them. Fats, thins, and flipping. It’s incredibly frustrating. 
 

I had a set of Cobra Bio Cells with huge offset that my game had outgrown (so I thought) and I wanted to progress into better irons. The Bio Cells had stiff 85 gram shafts and they were not fit to me. I can’t help but think that the i210 shafts are too heavy and keep getting stuck behind me. The thing is, I hit them great on the monitor at Edwin Watts and they felt amazing. Since then, I’m hitting lots of weak fades, where my typical ball flight has always been a draw. I’m an 11 hdcp and I really wanted something that I could dial in more precision with. 
 

 I don’t expect equipment to make me better, but I certainly don’t expect it to make me worse either. Is it typical to have such an adjustment period to new irons? My excitement for these new irons has really waned and I have far less confidence in hitting a green from 150 now than I did with the Bio Cells. What gives?

It's the shaft change.  Increasing 35 grams takes time to adjust, and Project X is typically a stout shaft relative to flex rating.

I had the exact same thing happen to me  going from DG 105 to PX 6.0.  The PX just happened to be in a set of irons in wanted to buy, so I gave them a chance before swapping out, even though I knew they were probably more than I needed.  They have a fantastic feel and flight, but my swing lost consistency because I was working harder to get the best out of them.  Had the occasional fat, shank, which I never did before.  I simply was used to lighter, easier to swing clubs.  

Tldr - you may be able to make them work, but I would consider a swap to a shaft closer to what you are accustomed to.

Edited January 11, 2021 by morgan1819

[RainShadow]

11 hours ago, 95124hacker said:

True WRXers would’ve put them on BST after 9 holes...

 

 This man speaks TRUTH!

 

[sunbeltgolfer]

I've not had this happen and honestly don't have the patience to wait months to figure out how to adjust to new clubs. I fall into the camp with those that expect to see the benefit on the first round or range session. It would be additionally frustrating if they were clubs I was fit for. I hope this works out for you.

[cgasucks]

Going from GI or SGI irons to a player's CB or even a blade will be quite a change and will require a more demanding swing.  I think it is pretty much all in your head when you see the thinner topline and the smaller blade profile of the i210 at address.

 

You will have to get used to it or get lessons till your swing it at a point where your swing is compatible will all types of irons from the thinnest of blades to the chunkiest of SGIs.

Edited January 11, 2021 by cgasucks

[hondarob]

I tried switching from S300's to Project X 5.5's and it was not a great experience for me.  The 5.5's just felt super hard to swing so I ditched those irons and went back to my old faithful's.  As others have already said, don't give up just yet.  It will take time and patience to get used to a new club!  

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

4 minutes ago, hondarob said:

I tried switching from S300's to Project X 5.5's and it was not a great experience for me.  The 5.5's just felt super hard to swing so I ditched those irons and went back to my old faithful's.  As others have already said, don't give up just yet.  It will take time and patience to get used to a new club!  

If you're used to the S300, the 5.5 will likely be too whippy.

[SylvesterLundgren]

Honestly I’ve done similar way back when. 
it is a adjustment period but i would say focus on your technique and less on the outcome. Once those two things build you’ll probably find the results after establishing your foundation with them. 
DONT OVERTHINK SHYTE 💪🏻

[jll62]

 

I could not disagree more with the idea of new clubs requiring an adjustment period. If the club fits properly, it should perform well right away.

 

If you find that you need time to adjust to the club, what that really means is that you're making a series of small compensations to account for the clubs not fitting. While it's possible the player will end up in a better spot than they were before, more often than not it goes the other way and the player ends up ingraining some bad habits in their swing, setup, etc.

 

A new club gets two, maybe three swings from me. Anything more than that and I know I'll be subconsciously changing myself to fit the club.

[mahuwf]

Thanks for all the input. These are the first irons I've ever had fit to me, so I'm trying to figure out how much leash these should have (recognizing the weights are substantially different).

 

Also perhaps potentially relevant: in the Bio Cells, I had midsize grips. The i210s have standard. Could this also be a reason I've gotten super "handsy" with these? My fitter said I'm right on the line between standard and midsize and like I said, I hit them really well in the fitting so we left the standard on there. Does grip size make more than just a marginal difference here?

Edited January 11, 2021 by mahuwf

[Lobby]

"Give them time."    What a bunch of nonsense!

Return them.  Get your money back.

Golf clubs should be no different than any other item we buy.   Perhaps if more folks did that OEM's would be more cautious about the over the top promises they continue to make.

[Gsea]

32 minutes ago, mahuwf said:

Thanks for all the input. These are the first irons I've ever had fit to me, so I'm trying to figure out how much leash these should have (recognizing the weights are substantially different).

 

Also perhaps potentially relevant: in the Bio Cells, I had midsize grips. The i210s have standard. Could this also be a reason I've gotten super "handsy" with these? My fitter said I'm right on the line between standard and midsize and like I said, I hit them really well in the fitting so we left the standard on there. Does grip size make more than just a marginal difference here?

Was the fitting on grass or mats? bet mats, not a real true picture. plus 35 gram heavier shafts kinda skeptical.

[Gohigh]

My opinion is that...

 

IF you already have swing problems to begin with, new set of irons wouldnt help much with that, although most of us here, including myself, would ignore that and keep trying to find improvements.

 

IF your swing was semi dialed in to start with, and new set of irons doesnt not improve your ball striking or any improve in any other parameters like consistency, distance, height, etc,  then I say its a bad fit and need to revisit your clubs choices.

 

Too often, I see players having to adjust to their clubs to a point where their swing is no longer the same as before...

 

Sometimes that can be GOOD thing, but more often than not, it can lead you down a dark dark swing path and into the unknown.

 

For what its worth, PING irons are either love it or hate it for most people. Regardless of model I tried and I tried most of them (Eye2, Rapture, Anser, i20, S55, i25, iBlade, i500, Blue Print, i210), PING irons always take a bit of adjustment for me. 

 

Maybe its the head shape, sole design, etc, but its different enough to take some gettin used to.

[RogerinNewZealand]

Go back too point of sale,and thankyou for supporting a Real Shop, and ask for help,assistance,rediagnosis,or half hour Coaching, thats your cost.Outline your issues, the 30 grams shaft issue, your Fat shots etc. Kindly ask is there another alternative...Cobra...Ap1..etc.Seek an improvement!Grass is where you test impact,flite,divots,fades!