Hooking the heck out of new irons (PXG 0311XP)

[sfdoddsy]

I recently took advantage of the PXG price slashing to 'upgrade' my 0311/0311XF combo set to 0311XP Gen3s.

 

My old set have KBS C Taper Lite shafts, but every fitting I've done in recent years has fit me into lighter Steelfibers or Recoils.

 

So I ordered the MMT80 in stiff. My bad shot is a pull/hook so I ordered them a couple degrees flat. Usual D2 swingweight.

 

PXG don't have my preferred Align mid-size so I ordered their midsize grip. Which is crap, BTW.

 

I've had a few range sessions and a couple of rounds. Love the feel. Love the distance. Love the forgiveness.

 

Hate the fact that I am hooking/pulling the crap out of every single club. 

 

On the range hasn't been too bad, but on course it is awful.

 

The only straightish iron shot I hit today was by setting up for an exaggerated fade.

 

Even then there was still a slight draw.

 

Every other shot was either annoyingly left, badly left, destructively left, cussingly left or worse.

 

Offset is less than my 0311XFs, and actually less loft to loft than the 0311Ps so I can't blame that.

 

This is more an annoyed vent than a plea for help (plus I was hooking the crap out of my hybrids too today), but if anyone has any suggestions chuck them my way.

[Golf64]

Generally, going a bit thicker grip(or +4s) and flatter lie should/might help a bit. A heavier shaft would be next to try. Also take a look at the Mizuno shaft optimizer for shaft suggestions?!

[Red4282]

57 minutes ago, sfdoddsy said:

I recently took advantage of the PXG price slashing to 'upgrade' my 0311/0311XF combo set to 0311XP Gen3s.

 

My old set have KBS C Taper Lite shafts, but every fitting I've done in recent years has fit me into lighter Steelfibers or Recoils.

 

So I ordered the MMT80 in stiff. My bad shot is a pull/hook so I ordered them a couple degrees flat. Usual D2 swingweight.

 

PXG don't have my preferred Align mid-size so I ordered their midsize grip. Which is crap, BTW.

 

I've had a few range sessions and a couple of rounds. Love the feel. Love the distance. Love the forgiveness.

 

Hate the fact that I am hooking/pulling the crap out of every single club. 

 

On the range hasn't been too bad, but on course it is awful.

 

The only straightish iron shot I hit today was by setting up for an exaggerated fade.

 

Even then there was still a slight draw.

 

Every other shot was either annoyingly left, badly left, destructively left, cussingly left or worse.

 

Offset is less than my 0311XFs, and actually less loft to loft than the 0311Ps so I can't blame that.

 

This is more an annoyed vent than a plea for help (plus I was hooking the crap out of my hybrids too today), but if anyone has any suggestions chuck them my way.

Sounds like it was just your swing. Face is closed. Weaken grip perhaps.

[Tree Levino]

Over the top maybe slightly exaggerated with lighter shafts and closing the face I would say. 

[driveandputtmachine]

Everyone is different, so take this with a grain of salt.......

 

When I go lighter in iron shafts especially, I can play cuts but they cut less than normal and anytime I try to play a draw I come over it and pull hook it like a giant SOB.  My limit in returns is the 110 gram range.  I perform best around 115-125 range, if I get into the 130 range of shafts I get push cuts a lot of times.

 

However do not fret, well at least too much.  Take your old clubs out, on a day you are hitting it well grab your new clubs and some lead tape.  Measure out some strips in the 5 and 10 gram strips.  Find the balance point of your shaft(balancing on your finger) add the tape with equal lengths past and short of the balance point.  This will increase swingweight, as you are adding weight to the far end of the shaft and you may need to experiment with placement.  A hairdryer and a quick pass will make removing the tape easier.  You can get your 80 gram shafts up to closer to what you normally play, with C-Taper lite is in 115 gram range.

[sfdoddsy]

1 hour ago, Golf64 said:

Generally, going a bit thicker grip(or +4s) and flatter lie should/might help a bit. A heavier shaft would be next to try. Also take a look at the Mizuno shaft optimizer for shaft suggestions?!

They are already 2* flat with a midsize PXG grip. But I am going to regrip with a midsize align.

 

I've done the Mizuno Optimiser and for my swing (smooth verging on languid) the recommendation is Recoil 95R.

 

Interestingly I had similar issues with PXG 0211s last year. Also with MMT shafts. Their swingweight was very low (c8 or so) and unable to be adjusted. 

 

Hence why I ordered these at D2. Next step is to get the SW checked I guess.

 

I'm hoping I've just had two bad swing days. I'm playing early tomorrow and will be quite hungover so that should provide more data.

 

🙂

[dmeeksDC]

1 hour ago, TigerInTheWoods said:

Over the top maybe slightly exaggerated with lighter shafts and closing the face I would say. 

^This .... If you can, get down the line video of your swing. Given you say your miss already was a pull hook, very likely you are not shallowing the club and your first move down is your hands moving out and above the swing plane. Very much an arms-controlled move (instead of body.) From that position, the shot’s direction is going to be wherever the clubface is pointing at impact — pull/hook or a cut is possible. And sometimes straight if you time it up right. Shaft weight can be a factor as over the toppers tend to do better with more weight,  but it still is masking a fundamental problem. If you’ve been fitted for lighter weight as optimum, the video is your best way to diagnose. 

[cardoustie]

Shafts too light or whippy for your action, maybe ask for a redo in 105’s or try stouter like SF

[Calif_Mulligan]

Perhaps the additional offset in the XP model versus the P model ?

[tdelam]

That was my miss for a long time. I was actually too far inside with a strong grip, big draws with pull hooks as my miss if I was too quick. I weakened my grip and didn't use irons that have a lot of offset. Lots of offset, strong grip, and over-the-top swings make for a bad day! 

[puttingmatt]

Sounds like you are imparting draw spin at impact. Try a 3/4 swing and watch ballflight, if still draw bound ballflight, take a slightly open clubface at set up and swing, watch ballflight. Keep adjusting clubface open at set up  till you can hit straight ballflighted shots. Sometimes its just  what your seeing at set up, the leading edge of your irons are slightly closed at set up, which imparts  the face at impact to promote a draw spin, aka. You are just working the ball to draw, keep opening up clubface at set up at and you will fade the ball. Something to try,  assumtion here is that your  swing  is not over the top.

[Dpavs]

If it were me I would definitely start by making sure that the face is not closed during set up and then proceed from there. Sometimes what appears to be a square set up turns out to be a bit closed. A suction cup dart stuck to the face can be really helpful with this.

Edited February 10, 2021 by Dpavs

[grochol17]

As someone else mentioned, take your old clubs with you and hit them side by side on the range to see what happens, which will tell you if you're having a bad swing day or if the new irons are the problem.

 

Since you changed to a new set of clubs with different shafts and grips, there are a lot of variables to sort through.  But, since you mentioned having problems with the MMT shafts previously, my guess is those shafts don't match with the feel you're looking for, leading to the bad swings.  

 

A few people mentioned checking your set up since you may be closed with the new clubs without realizing it, which is a good idea and easy to test.  However, I think it is a bad idea to start trying to adjust your entire swing to fit the clubs... unless you have a swing flaw you're trying to fix, your new clubs should fit your swing, not the other way around.  

[scratchgolfer48069]

I think the MMT, especially in that weight, may be the issue. Generally (not always), a shaft that is too soft will tend to move left. Plus, pretty whippy, relative to pretty much any steel or Steel Fiber, from a torque perspective. Probably feels great loading (the opposite of boardy), but unloading too much through impact. 

[eRod v1.0]

Coming over the top as others have mentioned, and check lie & length.

[sfdoddsy]

Yep, coming a bit over the top with a strong grip is why I hook (also a tendency towards toe hits) but doesn’t explain why I hook the new clubs more than my old.

 

🙂

 

So I had them regripped with the same midsize Align grips I usually use and have had a long range session and comp round.

 

With the new grips the shape is much better. If I set up to hit a slight fade, I get a slight draw or slight push. Both are liveable given the otherwise exemplary distance and consistency.

 

But I have to really make a deliberate effort.

 

Given I am hitting the steel shafted wedges very well ( and my previous problems with 0211s and MMT) I suspect the graphite just doesn’t suit.

 

So I’m going to nab a set of 0211s with the Elevate Tour and see how they go, and if that works get another set of Gen 3s.

 

Given I live in Australia where the only official distributor still asks $600 per iron, I should have no trouble selling my current set for what I paid from PXG direct.

Edited February 13, 2021 by sfdoddsy

[Cwebb]

The bend profile of the shaft may not fit you....or is too different than the C-taper Lite that you've grooved your timing with

[mootrail]

Oddly, everyone is blaming everything except the clubhead.  If they don't work send them back and get something else.

[lvphil702]

On 2/10/2021 at 5:49 AM, sfdoddsy said:

 

Also with MMT shafts.

 

 

Your answer staring you right in the face.