Iron design thoughts for fast swing, picker...?

[nailleb]

HI all,

I tinker with building my own clubs and it's time to change irons.  My head is swimming with all of the factors and I know I probably need to try a fitting or two.  Thing is, I also know that there are fitting biases and I don't want to get caught going the wrong direction.  I'd like some thoughts about the physics of clubs for my particular game as I used to be a low handicapper with a lot of power, but now am older, fatter and play less.  I hit the ball extremely high, so I am just not convinced that a game improvement iron improves the things I need.  Would love some thoughts - I know there will be differences of opinion but I love gaining insight...

- 53 yrs old, overweight but fairly strong (I powerlift with a trainer)
- Driver swing used to be about 110+, last I checked I'm closer to 105 when I really go after one
- I hit my irons mostly straight (no fade, draw) and super high - the launch looks like more of an arc instead of driving to a peak
- Almost no divot, I suspect I catch the ball right at the bottom or even coming up
- For wedges, I seem to have better success with less sole/bounce
- I currently hit an 8 degree driver and hit it much farther than lofts in the 10 degree range - can still get it 300 on occasion
- 8 iron roughly 150, but probably losing distance due to trajectory
- I can hit a fade on command with longer clubs but can rarely draw one - still play a straight ball mostly
- Was a 5 handicap in high school but probably more in the 12 range now - tough to tell since I only play once per week
- Swing hasn't changed a lot since back then - I hit it super high back then too, just a little further

So, I really feel like I may be better suited to a cavity back iron that's NOT a SGI.  I look at the thick soles on those clubs and wonder if my "picking" style of swing is giving me more inconsistency.  Since I'm playing some GI irons now and not hitting them as well, I'm wondering if the game improvement concept is for different types of swings as I know very few golfers that hit it as high as I do.  I currently have a set of Maltby KE4 SSI irons, but honestly I'm inconsistent at best.  I used to play a smaller profile iron like the old Tour Edition irons way back years ago.

I realie that I probably should change my swing, but that ship sailed - I don't play often enough.  I need to find the best fit for what I have and make it work.

Would love some thoughts - thinner sole, less bounce, higher COG?  Or do those really matter much (maybe not)...?

Brian

[propman]

There is always Maltby TEs or TS1s

[Mako J]

Agree with TE/DBM rec. Definitely a pickers head. I’m finding I’m probably a little too steep for them but I love everything else about them. The low vcog may not be what you want though.
 

A good buddy (4hcp picker) just dropped his AP2’s for TS1s and loves them....so also a good rec.
 

 

[Jc0]

On 3/17/2021 at 1:01 PM, nailleb said:

HI all,

I tinker with building my own clubs and it's time to change irons.  My head is swimming with all of the factors and I know I probably need to try a fitting or two.  Thing is, I also know that there are fitting biases and I don't want to get caught going the wrong direction.  I'd like some thoughts about the physics of clubs for my particular game as I used to be a low handicapper with a lot of power, but now am older, fatter and play less.  I hit the ball extremely high, so I am just not convinced that a game improvement iron improves the things I need.  Would love some thoughts - I know there will be differences of opinion but I love gaining insight...

- 53 yrs old, overweight but fairly strong (I powerlift with a trainer)
- Driver swing used to be about 110+, last I checked I'm closer to 105 when I really go after one
- I hit my irons mostly straight (no fade, draw) and super high - the launch looks like more of an arc instead of driving to a peak
- Almost no divot, I suspect I catch the ball right at the bottom or even coming up
- For wedges, I seem to have better success with less sole/bounce
- I currently hit an 8 degree driver and hit it much farther than lofts in the 10 degree range - can still get it 300 on occasion
- 8 iron roughly 150, but probably losing distance due to trajectory
- I can hit a fade on command with longer clubs but can rarely draw one - still play a straight ball mostly
- Was a 5 handicap in high school but probably more in the 12 range now - tough to tell since I only play once per week
- Swing hasn't changed a lot since back then - I hit it super high back then too, just a little further

So, I really feel like I may be better suited to a cavity back iron that's NOT a SGI.  I look at the thick soles on those clubs and wonder if my "picking" style of swing is giving me more inconsistency.  Since I'm playing some GI irons now and not hitting them as well, I'm wondering if the game improvement concept is for different types of swings as I know very few golfers that hit it as high as I do.  I currently have a set of Maltby KE4 SSI irons, but honestly I'm inconsistent at best.  I used to play a smaller profile iron like the old Tour Edition irons way back years ago.

I realie that I probably should change my swing, but that ship sailed - I don't play often enough.  I need to find the best fit for what I have and make it work.

Would love some thoughts - thinner sole, less bounce, higher COG?  Or do those really matter much (maybe not)...?

Brian

 

This sounds familiar. So a projection here, you aren't a picker, you have an early release and your clubs are probably to short. I pretty much have the exact same ball flight/spin issues. You "pick" because the club can't go any further down at impact so you barely reach the ground. Because you have already released the club prior to impact you add loft which increase trajectory and spin. The fade also comes from the early release as this can lead to high hands at impact which promotes a fade. While to may not need to be fully fit I would definitely suggest getting fit for length and lie, or just go to a store and try some longer length and see what feels best. As for head choice play what you think you can hit the most solid but plan to bend things strong. With an early release the head can only do so much. I normally play my irons 1-2 degrees strong to get the ball flight in the window I want. Personally I have had better success with blades and players cbs vs game improvement.

[rlb4]

Mizuno JPX921 line has low bounce and narrowish soles. They have been recommended a lot for sweepers/pickers.