Gaming 18 year old Tourstage irons - crazy?

[hanfrac]

Have a couple more rounds with the Z101's.  Results are better (and my swing has been better).  They are still 10-15 yards shorter than the same-numbered Apex, which I've adjusted to.  The problem is when I get to 165-185 yards.  I haven't really hit a good one with a Z101 5 iron off the grass yet.  So when I'm further than I can hit a 6 iron (160-ish) and my 3 hybrid (190-200), I'm sort of stuck.

 

This past weekend, I hit a couple of shots with the Z101's which felt absolutely wonderful.  I don't recall getting that feeling with the Apex.  Maybe they were just lucky swings.  I also noticed more greens in regulation.  

 

One thought I have - maybe I prefer a narrower sole, which the Z101 has compared to the Apex, which is not exactly wide.  Maybe to PineStreet's point, I need to find a modern club with a narrower sole, but something that can help me get a 5-6 iron up in the air.  Maybe a good used set of Bridgestones.

 

Or I much prefer Nippon 1150's to C-Taper Lites.  I'm considering reshafting the Apex with Nippon 1050's as another possible path.

[TaS22]

Regarding iron technology-

I'm a mid level State am type player with a handicap always around +1 to +2.  I've been playing 690 CBs since 2003 and have no issues with them at all.  I like the forgiveness and the distance control that I get with them.  

 

But I'm also very into playing tournament hickory golf and I have several hundred clubs from that era that I either restore or have someone else restore for me.  I am honestly telling you that the best irons from the 1920s with strong hickory shafts (say S300 or stiffer) hit the ball the exact same distance for any given loft as my Titleist irons. The Macgregor OA model with the flange and the low CG are a great example of what I'm talking about as this iron will be right around a D4 swing weight.  For a scratch player, irons like this could go in your bag and you could easily shoot the same exact score as if you had modern irons.  

 

With the 1920's driver, I'm giving up 40 yards of carry at least.  The wedges had very little bounce.  The putters are harsh.  Those are what make hickory golf harder, definitely not the irons.  

 

I'm just saying all this to put things in perspective.  The point of irons isn't to gain distance.  

 

[Christen_The_Sloop]

On 1/15/2021 at 2:42 AM, markheardjr said:

Just don't use the Tourstage MR23 CBs/MBs. They both have the sweetspot about the diameter of a pencil eraser.

I love the CB. I must be special.

[Nzgolferhb]

Time has past since you posted this but to be honest I’ve payed a range of irons in the past few years from ap2s(which I loved) to some Calloway x20 cbs to Bridgestone j38s but I reluctantly tried a set of z101s and one flush ball I couldnt go back. Been in the bag ever since such a beautiful iron from looks to feel especially feel actually I’ll be playing them for many many years to come I think . Hope yours aren’t gathering dust if so maybe time to bless another lucky person with them .

[Stonewalled]

I was pleased to see u resurrected the z101 thread (Nzgolfer) . I had bought a set of z101 heads a few years ago, after reading many glowing reviews  about them.  Kinda great timing your resurrection,  Yesterday I  pulled out the PW head and dry fitted  a shaft just to admire it's look at address, thinking to myself I have to get these on the course this year. My  z101's  heads  have been collecting dust way to long and are over due to be hit. Hopefully After reading this entire thread again I will finally get my butt in motion and get these cult classics on the course this year to see what the fuss is all about😀

 

Impressive that one flushed ball was all it took for you to send everything else to the dustbin. Hit em well!!!

 

 

[sociojeje]

For one-piece forged irons, I think it is really about one's preference. 

[autronicdsm]

What “tech” is there in irons? Tungsten? That just moves weight around, usually lower. Hollow body? Is that really a tech? Inserts behind a face. Seems that would just affect feel/sound more than distance. Variable face thickness?

[Nzgolferhb]

as far as calling them cbs I would say they are more of a modern day “muscle back” then anything else . If your into irons for added distance your not really into iron play it’s all about feel and control personally anyway.. and “stone” was more like a round and I was invested but that first pure strike was a feeling I hadn’t felt with many other clubs not because I hadn’t flushed other forged irons … I hope you bring your heads out of there slumber .. not an iron I think many people have used or even seen truely a diamond in the “rough” 

[hanfrac]

On 4/16/2022 at 3:48 AM, Nzgolferhb said:

Time has past since you posted this but to be honest I’ve payed a range of irons in the past few years from ap2s(which I loved) to some Calloway x20 cbs to Bridgestone j38s but I reluctantly tried a set of z101s and one flush ball I couldnt go back. Been in the bag ever since such a beautiful iron from looks to feel especially feel actually I’ll be playing them for many many years to come I think . Hope yours aren’t gathering dust if so maybe time to bless another lucky person with them .

Yup - they are in the garage, gathering dust.

[Notashank]

Yes. Nobody on tour plays an 18 year old iron. Even if they were paid. It’s definitely not going to help your game. But you’re not a pro so do whatever. 

[infinii]

 I still have a set of Z101s as spare at my parents place (other side of the world) so when I visit, I can catch a few rounds with old friends and not have to lug my current set. The irons play totally fine. The only drawback to that bag is the TM 510TP driver which is tiny by today's standards.

[R5Two]

 

Here was a thread I started not too long ago. You'll find a ton of guys playing their favorite irons that are pretty old! There is a couple good posts on launch and spin differences but overall some old stuff is still great!

 

[dmeeksDC]

A lot of what was great about Tourstage irons and the Z101s can be found in Bridgestone irons.
 

The J15CB is beloved but it has a little longer blade length than the Z101. The profile from address of the more-compact Tour B X-CBs of 2017/19 is a very similar one-piece forging and has a little lower CG and stronger lofts. Anyone who plays the Tour Bs will tell you how fine they are, you just don’t see that many sets around. 

Edited April 18, 2022 by dmeeksDC

[theothertwo]

Just got a set of 2009? Bridgestone Tourstage X-Blade GR C-1 (P-5) with factory graphite shafts for $129 shipped from Japan.  This model is a midsize forging, I've played Bridgestone J33 CBs and other forged CBs including the Miura CB 57s and I have to say these TS X-Blade GR C-1s have the softest and purest forged feel, it must be a combination of the graphite shafts and the additional forgiveness of the midsize.  I painted over the red GR logo with a gray Sharpie and this is how they look now.

 

IMO, these are comparable to anything new out there.  They were ahead of their time, even the lofts are strong with the PW at 45* and 5 Iron at 25*.

 

 

 

Edited May 23, 2023 by theothertwo

[subrew]

With all the recent Tourstage talk, I swapped out my set of Bridgestone J Joe "waffle" irons for my Tourstage X-Blade CB.  

[G-town_Brown]

On 5/23/2023 at 10:41 PM, subrew said:

With all the recent Tourstage talk, I swapped out my set of Bridgestone J Joe "waffle" irons for my Tourstage X-Blade CB.  

 

Could you post a picture of the top line of one of the irons. Thinking about getting a set off of ebay! Thanks in advance.

[subrew]

Here you go, this is the 7-iron:

[miles2go]

Those Z101’s look very similar to something more modern out there but can’t place it. Maybe 2013,Callaway X Forged’s. Way ahead of their time.
 

I still think the original Callaway XForged from 2009 are as good as anything produced in that line since. Lofts have probably changed but I used to love those clubs. Would probably play them if I had them back with the right shafts. 

[Cmiles]

For sure crazy but awesome!

[mootrail]

I recently put my Precept EC603s into play for a few rounds.  Bridgestone's lower tier from the Tour Stage's, they are cast muscle cavitybacks.  They were maybe the first irons introduced into the US with stock Nippon's, 20 years ago.  The look, sole and shape is clearly a predecessor to my current 2018 Bridestone JGR CB's.

 

When I play these I am astounded by the distance and purity of the strike, even though they are cast.  The Nippon's are of course, fantastic.

 

Then it happens; not long, not pure, feels clunky.  Oh yeah, that forgiveness thing.  Back in the closet they go.

Edited June 7, 2023 by mootrail