What Irons do LPGA players game

[oscar10]

I’ve been told on a number of occasions by a golf teacher that average men players should look at what LPGA players play and how they swing. Makes sense to me. I’ve been reading for years that LPGA playersplay cavity back irons for the forgiveness for and love Nippon shafts. So, I thought it funny when I checked to see what they are playing this year and  found that all the players (at least the 10 I checked) playing Pings play i210. Now isn’t that a Players distance iron? Has there been a shift in thinking and should guyslike me who swing driver 93 mph and 7 iron 75 change our thinking. I tend to hit the middle of the club face pretty consistently and have a very straight ball flight. Have a little flip in my swing, which I’m working to correct, and hit the ball too high. Right now I play Rogue irons with regular flex graphite shafts and was told by a fitter, at a driver fitting no less LOL,  I should go to steel and more of a players iron. That’s why Istarted looking at what the women play. 

[PEI_Golfer]

I don't think anyone would consider the I210s a players distance iron as Ping in this category are usually shorter than other OEM's offerings.  They are however very consistent across the face and known for their distance and flight control while still offering all that Ping engineering goodness to help on the less than stellar strikes.

 

You can get the lofts bent stronger if need be to the 'power spec' configuration.

Edited March 31, 2021 by PEI_Golfer

[tsecor]

26 minutes ago, oscar10 said:

I’ve been told on a number of occasions by a golf teacher that average men players should look at what LPGA players play and how they swing. Makes sense to me. I’ve been reading for years that LPGA playersplay cavity back irons for the forgiveness for and love Nippon shafts. So, I thought it funny when I checked to see what they are playing this year and  found that all the players (at least the 10 I checked) playing Pings play i210. Now isn’t that a Players distance iron? Has there been a shift in thinking and should guyslike me who swing driver 93 mph and 7 iron 75 change our thinking. I tend to hit the middle of the club face pretty consistently and have a very straight ball flight. Have a little flip in my swing, which I’m working to correct, and hit the ball too high. Right now I play Rogue irons with regular flex graphite shafts and was told by a fitter, at a driver fitting no less LOL,  I should go to steel and more of a players iron. That’s why Istarted looking at what the women play. 

the LPGA players would decimate the average male golfer but i would place a bet that most men wouldnt want to look to the LPGA for tips and would rather compare themselves to Spieth and Koepka.....lol....

[PEI_Golfer]

3 minutes ago, tsecor said:

the LPGA players would decimate the average male golfer but i would place a bet that most men wouldnt want to look to the LPGA for tips and would rather compare themselves to Spieth and Koepka.....lol....

 

I'm sure it was meant by comparable swing speeds and general set make up (ie, more than 1 hybrid in the bag) and not over all game.  Spieth is rather pedestrian in this category by the men's standard without the model swing, so not a bad one to go by to swing your own swing and still be successful.

Edited March 31, 2021 by PEI_Golfer

[JShaw]

43 minutes ago, tsecor said:

the LPGA players would decimate the average male golfer but i would place a bet that most men wouldnt want to look to the LPGA for tips and would rather compare themselves to Spieth and Koepka.....lol....

I definitely identify with Spieth.  I had a fairly decent game for a few years then decided to change something that didn't really need to be changed and my game has been in the tank ever since.  I'd happily play play ladies clubs if they helped me score better.  Yes, I know the LPGA players don't use off the shelf ladies clubs.  There is no doubt in my mind the LPGA players would roast the overwhelming majority of us.  I've been beaten by teenage girls and men well into their 80s.  

[Pepperturbo]

Though LPGA players are much better at scoring than average JOE golfer what the ladies play club wise is a separate issue that should not relate to average Joe golfer.  IMO - what that teacher said wasn't the best advice, unless of course, throughout life "you" compare yourself to accomplished women as opposed to accomplished men.  Yep, that is the question. 

 

Many of the stronger women bag player irons, but heads are not a measure worth debating.  They have the game to effectively use what ever clubs heads they like and hit the ball consistently.  IMO - What tells more about their game is what shafts they play. 

 

Lots of old golf guys see the distances women hit the ball as comparable to their own, so they relate.   I see it as apples and oranges.  I chose to live up to the most accomplished men, athletes and pro male golfers, even when I can't equal their accomplishments, it's still about aspiring for me, NOT relating.

 

 

[miamistomp]

[oscar10]

I’ve played with high school girls once while on vacation about 20 years ago and I had walked on single. Non of the other regular golfers wanted to play with these two little girls and their father. I said sure. Turned out the had just graduated, were twins, and both going to SC somewhere on Golf scholarships. They both shot mid 70’s from reg men’s tees. Point is I know that LPGA players are great players and would kick most amateur men’s butts.  I was just wondering if they have started shifting to players distance. The cavity back forgiving irons is a quote from Lexi Thompson who says why not get some extra forgiveness. And she also plays project x 5.0 shafts. At least she did at the time of the interview I read.

[FatThinShank]

1 hour ago, Pepperturbo said:

 unless of course, throughout life "you" compare yourself to accomplished women as opposed to accomplished men.  Yep, that is the question. 

 

I chose to live up to the most accomplished men, athletes and pro male golfers, even when I can't equal their accomplishments, it's still about aspiring for me, NOT relating.

 

 

Huh?? The point is for people with

similar swing speed to LPGA players that that is a much better comparison when looking at what equipment pros use. You can aspire to be Jack Nicklaus all you want if that makes you feel better. Haha

[nostatic]

I can learn from people with skills no matter what gender. Just depends on what is being studied - some skills perhaps require a role model with the same chromosome but others, not so much. I learned much of my job management skills from two different women bosses over the years. I still recall one of them saying, "you know, management is 25% "mommy he hit me" and 75% "mommy he took my stuff.".

 

A few years back I walked along with Min Jee Lee's group during a tournament at Riviera. That was a swing that I would emulate in a heartbeat. And it likely wouldn't result in me ending up in traction, unlike if I tried to swing like Bryson et al...

[PNW]

My opinion is IF you are going to compare your gear to a pro, the vast majority of golfers should look at the bags of LPGA players, not PGA players. Set makeup, shafts, heads. Skill levels will be drastically different (LPGA players are better) but swing speeds are likely to be a better comparison. Getting a sense of the trends could be useful (e.g. shift to players distance cavity backs and Nippon 120 shafts).

 

I don't understand the ego (or really misogyny) of the average amateur saying they prefer to compare their gear to make players. If you want to simply dream about 120mph SS and 320 yard drives, that's just dreaming. But if you're looking for a potentially meaningful comparison, look at LPGA bags. 

[oscar10]

I saw Annika Sorenstam the other night on the golf channel. Man if only I could swing like her. LOL I’d be scratch and club champion in a New York Minute.

[third-times-a-charm]

I frequently play around LPGA players and see their bags - they all use “players” equipment and none of them are out there with game improvement stuff.

[nostatic]

7 minutes ago, third-times-a-charm said:

I frequently play around LPGA players and see their bags - they all use “players” equipment and none of them are out there with game improvement stuff.

 

I think that depends if you consider hybrids in the GI camp. Those that pure their 3i blade probably do 😆

[ChipNRun]

A related comment on LPGA pro golfers...

 

If you want to see how to play hybrids, walk 18 at a women's pro tournament. A couple of years ago I got to caddie at a Symetra Tour event (LPGA developmental).

 

The women were magicians with the hybrids. After the opening round, I asked my player just how far she hit her 4H. She had used it off the tee, on a long par 3, and for two shorter approaches to par 4s.

 

She replied, "I hit my 4 hybrid as far as I need to!" 

Edited March 31, 2021 by ChipNRun

[Tree Levino]

2 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

A related comment on LPGA pro golfers...

 

If you want to see how to play hybrids, walk 18 at a women's pro tournament. A couple of years ago I got to caddie at a Symetra Tour event (LPGA developmental).

 

The women were magicians with the hybrids. After the opening round, I asked my player just how far she hit her 4H. She had used it off the tee, on a long par 3, and for two shorter approaches to par 4s.

 

She replied, "I hit my 4 hybrid as far as I need to!" 

 

Absolutely this. Many of these women do not hit it far off the tee at all. Inbee Park for instance averages less than 250 total off the tee. Most of their tournaments are played around 6400-6600 yards - longer than most average men play. Our men's league at my club is 6700 yards and my flight matches and club C are at 7100. Considering me and my friends are usually average 300 give or take 30 yards +/- depending on roll for time of year and wind off the tee, they have to be DEADLY with their long clubs to score as well as they do and they are. I would be interested to see some approach the green stats from 200 yards because I bet your GIR wise they keep up with the PGA players. They are fantastic with hybrids. Very few play 3 or 4 irons and many start at 6 or 7 iron. 

 

As far as models, as above you see a lot of players CBs. Titleist 716 and 718 seem to be especially common with the women, Ping i210 is a big one amongst others. 

[ChipNRun]

1 hour ago, TigerInTheWoods said:

they have to be DEADLY with their long clubs to score as well as they do and they are. I would be interested to see some approach the green stats from 200 yards because I bet your GIR wise they keep up with the PGA players.

 

Long clubs overall. My player hit 12 of 14 fairways in the first round.

 

And, some of them really blast the ball. One of the other women in our threesome was 5-foot-7 and maybe 130 pounds, but was a real power hitter.

 

On one 560-yd. par 5 with a stovepipe double dogleg... She takes her 3W on the tee, lines up pointing to the edge of the dogleg trees, and launches a moonball over the top; this cuts 40 yards off the hole. Her ball ended up partially blocked by the treeline. She hits a low bullet 3W, appears headed OB, but the ball turned right 30 yards from doom and curved up onto the green. She ran her eagle putt 25 feet toward the cup, lipped it, and had a 1-foot tap in birdie.

 

Moonballs, sharp-slice bullets, all with her 3W. 

[Yoshifan151]

I know Michelle Wie gamed Nike VR Pros at one point and I believe Vapor Pros too. Baller right there.

[b.mattay]

11 hours ago, PEI_Golfer said:

I don't think anyone would consider the I210s a players distance iron as Ping in this category are usually shorter than other OEM's offerings.  They are however very consistent across the face and known for their distance and flight control while still offering all that Ping engineering goodness to help on the less than stellar strikes.

 

You can get the lofts bent stronger if need be to the 'power spec' configuration.

I think they are pretty long! The i200 was 15 yards longer carry wise in the 4 iron than the 714AP2's for me, at only a 1.5 degree loft difference.

[JungleJimbo]

1 hour ago, Yoshifan151 said:

I know Michelle Wie gamed Nike VR Pros at one point and I believe Vapor Pros too. Baller right there.

Slightly off-topic... but Michelle Wie also (used to?) play a 9-wood (and 11-wood?), in addition to those Nike Blade Irons?
 

 

[Seamus_McDuff]

Not sure how accurate these are, but here are the WITBs from three of the 2021 winners, Lexi from late 2019, Charley Hull from mid-2020 after switching to Taylormade, and Danielle Kang from 2020. 

 

https://www.golfwrx.com/645890/jessica-kordas-winning-witb-2021-diamond-resorts-tournament-of-champions/

 

https://www.golfwrx.com/648626/nelly-kordas-winning-witb-2021-gainbridge-lpga/

 

https://www.golfwrx.com/649150/austin-ernsts-winning-witb-2021-drive-on-championship/
 

https://www.golfwrx.com/585130/lexi-thompson-witb-2019/

 

https://www.golfwrx.com/616428/charley-hulls-winning-witb-rose-ladies-series/

 

https://www.golfwrx.com/624930/danielle-kangs-winning-witb-2020-drive-on-championship/

[Drivingrangehero]

I think if your swing speed mirrors the LPGA tour players, then it’s worth looking at the WITB of LPGA Tour players., same goes for senior Champions Tour and PGA tour players at least as far a club make up from gapping.
 

Chances of PGA Tour players hitting the green from 240 yards out with an iron, is a lot greater than many of us regardless of swing speed. I think many high swing speed players would be better served with a 5-7 wood or hybrids.  

A friend of mine and I got paired with a girl and her father. She was devastated by her terrible play, and looked like she was going to cry. She shot 1 over from the men’s mid (white tees) Red-Gold-White-Blue-Black. She played for FSU and had her name on the bag in 2005.  I shot 75 from the Black and my buddy was 77. I was happy with my play, and my friend played well, but had a bad hole. He chipped in for 9 on a par 5 with 2 in the water 😂. I think he was more focused on the girls play, and impressing her, than our match. 
   
We were miles ahead of her off the tee, but she hit more GIR than both of us. Seems like everything 165 yards and out, she was hitting a either a hybrid or wood. In her bad day, she was better than both of us! 

I played a round of golf with a senior in 2007 that shot his age (69) and it was his 4th time doing so, 3 years strong. He told me his goal was to shoot 100, I knew what he meant. His entire bag was Callaway, and he carried 1-3-5-7-a Divine 9 wood with game improvement irons Callaway Hawkeye? It wasn’t a very long course out in Costa Mesa CA, but he did it from the tips. 
 

 

 

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Edited April 1, 2021 by Drivingrangehero
Added.

[Cwing]

Interesting thread. It would be nice to see more ladies what’s in the bag.

[Argonne69]

Ping i210s are definitely not distance irons. The i500 is more in that category. Also, the i210 (and i200) is available in traditional and "power spec" lofts. 

 

For the Ping staffers, the i210 is pretty much a given. The Callaway staffers tend to lean towards the Apex Pros. The few Titleist staffers generally play T100s.

 

Nippon 950GH shafts are very popular. They're one of the higher launching shafts out there. You'll also find a number of players with graphite or graphite/steel fiber shafts in their irons, e.g. Lydia Ko, and Jin Young Ko. See: JYK WITB

 

Plenty of "what's in the bag" discussions in the LPGA subforum if one hangs around for a while, or searches for WITB. A few have been posted above. Here's Inbee Park's winning bag from last week's Kia Classic: Inbee WITB

 

Danielle Kang and Nelly Korda are both playing T100s currently. DK was playing CBs previously.

 

You'll see 5 hybrids in a lot of bags. Lydia Ko was deadly with her hybrid back in 2015 and 2016. I recall her winning a playoff at the CME Championship with a laser-like hybrid on the 18th. One of the big reasons I ditched my 5 iron.

 

Edited April 1, 2021 by Argonne69

[Pepperturbo]

20 hours ago, FatThinShank said:

Huh?? The point is for people with

similar swing speed to LPGA players that that is a much better comparison when looking at what equipment pros use. You can aspire to be Jack Nicklaus all you want if that makes you feel better. Haha

You don't get it... LOL.  We're cut from very different cloth.  Thanks for clarifying WHO you relate to and why you like to think, though.  As I see it, most of the old guys I've encountered in match play don't know their SS, most don't know their club specs either, so there's NO way to actually relate as you suggest.   If LPGA players are hitting the ball further than YOU, it's because you don't have the same SS or impact position, but if it makes you feel better...

 

FYI, I don't related to JN because he no longer plays tournament golf.  If I relate to any older players it will be the guys I hopefully encounter "IF" I get through next year's qualifying for US Senior Champions Open, Super Senior category.

 

 

[Shilgy]

30 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

You don't get it... LOL.  We're cut from very different cloth.  Thanks for clarifying WHO you relate to and why you like to think, though.  As I see it, most of the old guys I've encountered in match play don't know their SS, most don't know their club specs either, so there's NO way to actually relate as you suggest.   If LPGA players are hitting the ball further than YOU, it's because you don't have the same SS or impact position, but if it makes you feel better...

 

FYI, I don't related to JN because he no longer plays tournament golf.  If I relate to any older players it will be the guys I hopefully encounter "IF" I get through next year's qualifying for US Senior Champions Open, Super Senior category.

 

 

I don’t see anything about the US Senior Open having a super senior category but I may have missed it.  What event are you referring to? 
 

can you provide a link?

[miamistomp]

Super  is 65-69 in Florida Amateur Golf. 70 and over is Legend class

 

  

[ChipNRun]

8 hours ago, Drivingrangehero said:

I think many high swing speed players would be better served with a 5-7 wood or hybrids.  

 

Scott Stallings is one of the tour guys who carries a 7W. He said, specifically, that a 7W is more versatile than a driving iron: easier to flight up and down.

[Drivingrangehero]

 

17 minutes ago, ChipNRun said:

 

Scott Stallings is one of the tour guys who carries a 7W. He said, specifically, that a 7W is more versatile than a driving iron: easier to flight up and down.

 

17 minutes ago, ChipNRun said:

 

Scott Stallings is one of the tour guys who carries a 7W. He said, specifically, that a 7W is more versatile than a driving iron: easier to flight up and down.

 

I personally don’t carry a 7 wood, but I do carry a 3 + 4 hybrid, then go 5-PW.
 

I have a problem flighting 7 woods down, so a 4 hybrid is more versatile in that slot for me right now.   I’m certainly not opposed to it. I recently picked up a 4 wood, (which is the gateway drug to a 7 wood) I play steel shafts in my hybrids (Modus 105) I’m sure if I could find the right 7wood head to add weight to, and shorten the shaft (or play steel)  I’d consider putting a 7 wood in the bag

 

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Edited April 1, 2021 by Drivingrangehero
Typo

[PNW]

2 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

You don't get it... LOL.  We're cut from very different cloth.  Thanks for clarifying WHO you relate to and why you like to think, though.  As I see it, most of the old guys I've encountered in match play don't know their SS, most don't know their club specs either, so there's NO way to actually relate as you suggest.   If LPGA players are hitting the ball further than YOU, it's because you don't have the same SS or impact position, but if it makes you feel better...

 

FYI, I don't related to JN because he no longer plays tournament golf.  If I relate to any older players it will be the guys I hopefully encounter "IF" I get through next year's qualifying for US Senior Champions Open, Super Senior category.

 

 

 

I don't get it. This thread is about looking at the irons that LPGA players use to potentially get an idea about what gear to use. Not "who do you relate to in life?" Why would you turn your nose up at this? If an average male golfer wanted to compare gear to pros, it would be more constructive to look at the bags of LPGA players simply because of more similar swing speeds (but again LPGA players are MUCH better at delivering impact). Saying you're "cut from a different cloth" implies a strong bias against doing so that doesn't make sense.