looking for irons with great distance consistency that don't compromise on forgiveness

[ShAMbotay]

There seems to be a trend in the iron market that chases distance in game improvement irons at the cost of the distance consistency you see in something like a single piece forging. There's always that "jumpiness" in the game improvement irons that might shoot the ball further than it should. I'll be the first to admit that iron play is not my strong suit, even if I'm good at scrambling. I bought the whole face, and dangit, I'm going to use the whole face!

 

I'm currently playing PXG 0211's (2019) and the jumpy shots are... frequent. I expect some distance loss when I don't hit it center, but what I don't want to see are shots that go off the back of the green with no reasonable explanation.

 

I might have poor iron play for an 8hcp, but I'm still an 8hcp. consistency and feel are a must, and forgiveness can't be neglected.

 

8hcp, driver swing speed: 108mph, 7i carry: 170yds. 4-GW set preferred, no cursive allowed (sorry Titleist, I know it's the dumbest reason ever, and I apologize to your original secretary and her penmanship.)

Edited April 1, 2021 by ShAMbotay

[North Butte]

If the trampoline effect hot faces that you are trying to avoid, one option is to get some SGI type irons (big heads, wide soles) from a few years back. I had some Ping G30 irons that I don't believe (based on advertising and my own experience playing them) had high COR faces like the Ping G and later irons. There was a high launch, low-spin ball flight from the G mid irons that I'd never experienced before but it seems to be what most manufacturers are looking for in the "distance" irons today.

 

I suspect you're going to have trouble looking at recent models and finding a really big head, wide sole, high-MOI, low-COG max forgiveness iron that doesn't have a high COR face to some degree. Not trying to start a dispute but I personally haven't seen the sort of "jumpy shots" that you and many others talk about. Not saying it doesn't exit, just that I haven't seen it in my game or the guys I play with. But we don't swing very fast, being a bunch of old guys and mostly hacks!

[Cwing]

I’m not certain it exists. Personally I don’t find my PING g410 irons to be overly hot faced. That stated, I do find that quality of strike matters, ALLOT.

 

I’m not referring to solid strikes just off the center (heel or toe) or even a consistent toe strike. I tend to get similar distances on those shots. I’m also not referring to a solidly struck pull that usually goes much further than a solidly struck non pull.

 

If I club down to ensure I cover the required distance, I am going to be long if I strike it solid. When I club up and strike it poorly, I’ll be short.

Edited April 1, 2021 by Cwing

[bladehunter]

Mizuno mmc or titleist t100 

[forrester_fire]

Mizuno JPX 921 Forged are a forgiving one-piece forging...

[homergolf]

Forgiveness and good feel + consistency = Apex DCB.   Demoed this club a few days ago and really was impressed.  This suggestion would also have mentioned Titleist but that, for some reason is off your list. 

[tsecor]

3 hours ago, ShAMbotay said:

There seems to be a trend in the iron market that chases distance in game improvement irons at the cost of the distance consistency you see in something like a single piece forging. There's always that "jumpiness" in the game improvement irons that might shoot the ball further than it should. I'll be the first to admit that iron play is not my strong suit, even if I'm good at scrambling. I bought the whole face, and dangit, I'm going to use the whole face!

 

I'm currently playing PXG 0211's (2019) and the jumpy shots are... frequent. I expect some distance loss when I don't hit it center, but what I don't want to see are shots that go off the back of the green with no reasonable explanation.

 

I might have poor iron play for an 8hcp, but I'm still an 8hcp. consistency and feel are a must, and forgiveness can't be neglected.

 

8hcp, driver swing speed: 108mph, 7i carry: 170yds. 4-GW set preferred, no cursive allowed (sorry Titleist, I know it's the dumbest reason ever, and I apologize to your original secretary and her penmanship.)

"Game Improvement" is a marketing term used to brainwash the industry into thinking YOU will be a better scorer if you buy their product.....its 100% false.....there is zero relation to scoring improvement with "fat soled, jumpy" irons. Some cases can be made for players irons to be marketed as "game improvement".  

 

I real nice CB iron seems to be what you are looking for.....todays tech offer decent distance on mishits without feeling like you have hit a rock.   if you are eliminating Titleist because of their logo......not sure you can be helped ...lol......  

[MtlJeff]

My guess is your inconsistency in the irons is more related to your ballstriking which you admit is only so-so. But psychology is important to the game so just buy Mizuno JPX921s as was suggested and you should like them and they have a great reputation among good iron players. 

[jmagri78]

Check out Sub70 irons, they're pricing, quality and customer service are second to none

 

https://www.golfsub70.com/

[Hawkeye77]

Thought you were all about getting irons from Texas based (local) clubmakers and supporting them? 

 

Kind of like abandoning Crockett and Travis at the Alamo.

Edited April 1, 2021 by Hawkeye77

[ShAMbotay]

4 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Thought you were all about getting irons from Texas based (local) clubmakers and supporting them? 

 

Kind of like abandoning Crockett and Travis at the Alamo.

That search ended with 3 and a half companies that didn’t have the kind of iron I’m looking for. Ben Hogan is still in the picture, depending on what their release this month is.

[ShAMbotay]

41 minutes ago, tsecor said:

"Game Improvement" is a marketing term used to brainwash the industry into thinking YOU will be a better scorer if you buy their product.....its 100% false.....there is zero relation to scoring improvement with "fat soled, jumpy" irons. Some cases can be made for players irons to be marketed as "game improvement".  

 

I real nice CB iron seems to be what you are looking for.....todays tech offer decent distance on mishits without feeling like you have hit a rock.   if you are eliminating Titleist because of their logo......not sure you can be helped ...lol......  

I know it’s a dumb reason, and I posted it in another thread involving dumb reasons not to use a club.

 

That said, there should be other high quality options out there other than just the Titleist offerings.

[Hawkeye77]

4 minutes ago, ShAMbotay said:

That search ended with 3 and a half companies that didn’t have the kind of iron I’m looking for. Ben Hogan is still in the picture, depending on what their release this month is.

LOL.

[ShAMbotay]

44 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

My guess is your inconsistency in the irons is more related to your ballstriking which you admit is only so-so. But psychology is important to the game so just buy Mizuno JPX921s as was suggested and you should like them and they have a great reputation among good iron players. 

I will admit that this is completely true. I am an inconsistent iron striker. However, as much as I’d like to believe that I have the potential to hit my 5i 220 every time instead of my measured 190, that’s not possible unless I bulk up.

[Argonne69]

Ping i210s (w/ traditional lofts) are likely to fit the bill. 'Probably one of the most forgiving players iron out there.

 

I'd also check out the new Srixon lineup.

 

[ShAMbotay]

Right now I see a lot of pointers towards JPX 921 forged. At a bare minimum I’m going to hold off until Ben Hogan has their press release on their teased irons, but the ball is in Mizuno’s court.

 

sub70 could interest me, but I don’t know enough about them and their lineup to jump on their train. I’d be more willing to consider them if I could have a deep dive into their tech, data, experience, models, all of it. There’s nothing I love more in the world than hoarding information, but getting someone to give me that kind of course on sub70 seems a bit far fetched.

 

I appreciate the MMC and T100 input, as comparisons are important, even if they aren’t going to be chosen.

 

oh, and Juan Seguin didn’t abandon them at the Alamo. He was forced to leave and notify the Texan army, and returned to die with them before reinforcements arrived.😉

[MG_TX]

5 hours ago, ShAMbotay said:

There seems to be a trend in the iron market that chases distance in game improvement irons at the cost of the distance consistency you see in something like a single piece forging. There's always that "jumpiness" in the game improvement irons that might shoot the ball further than it should. I'll be the first to admit that iron play is not my strong suit, even if I'm good at scrambling. I bought the whole face, and dangit, I'm going to use the whole face!

 

I'm currently playing PXG 0211's (2019) and the jumpy shots are... frequent. I expect some distance loss when I don't hit it center, but what I don't want to see are shots that go off the back of the green with no reasonable explanation.

 

I might have poor iron play for an 8hcp, but I'm still an 8hcp. consistency and feel are a must, and forgiveness can't be neglected.

 

8hcp, driver swing speed: 108mph, 7i carry: 170yds. 4-GW set preferred, no cursive allowed (sorry Titleist, I know it's the dumbest reason ever, and I apologize to your original secretary and her penmanship.)

I highly recommend the Mizuno 921 Hot Metal Pros or maybe the 921 Forged. I have the HMP in my 5-7 and the Forged in my 8-GW and they are perfect. No crazy distance jumps, feel amazing and packed with forgiveness where I need it. 

Edited April 1, 2021 by MG_TX

[ShAMbotay]

8 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Ping i210s (w/ traditional lofts) are likely to fit the bill. 'Probably one of the most forgiving players iron out there.

 

I'd also check out the new Srixon lineup.

 

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the i210’s. They’re also in the picture, but I don’t want to buy an iron that is monumentally difficult to obtain, prone to an imminent replacement, and really quite old.

 

that said, it’s still totally in the cards for how good it seems to be even with those (mental) obstacles.

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

New Level 902 or PF-2

Mizuno JPX 919 Tour

Srixon Z745/785

Ping i210

Callaway Apex 19

 

[ShAMbotay]

6 minutes ago, MG_TX said:

I cannot recommend the Mizuno 921 Hot Metal Pros or maybe the 921 Forged. I have the HMP in my 5-7 and the Forged in my 8-GW and they are perfect. No crazy distance jumps, feel amazing and packed with forgiveness where I need it. 

Can you clarify that a bit for me please? I think there’s a typo or other error in there that confused me.

[SugarLandGolfer]

7 minutes ago, ShAMbotay said:

 

sub70 could interest me, but I don’t know enough about them and their lineup to jump on their train. I’d be more willing to consider them if I could have a deep dive into their tech, data, experience, models, all of it. There’s nothing I love more in the world than hoarding information, but getting someone to give me that kind of course on sub70 seems a bit far fetched

If you want a deep dive on Sub70, there’s a (as of now) 25 page thread on the 1st page of this forum that almost universally praises Sub70 quality and customer service. As a Sub70 customer myself, I can’t recommend them enough. If you need more information about their products, feel free to call their CEO, Jason. His cell number is on their website, and he’s happy to talk to any potential customers about their needs. You can’t get any deeper dive than him. No one else on this site would come close. 

[MG_TX]

2 minutes ago, ShAMbotay said:

Can you clarify that a bit for me please? I think there’s a typo or other error in there that confused me.

Sorry, I got ahead of myself there a bit. I 'highly' recommend the Mizuno 921 line I am playing. 

[ShAMbotay]

Can anyone compare the JPX 921 Forged and the i210’s? Forgiveness in particular, as I know both of them are great irons, but I need more data. I always need more data.

[Flip4000]

Man, I was going to say the t100s sound perfect for you until you said no titleist haha. I think the Calaway apex line is forgiving and relatively consistent distance wise also the mizuno HMB I have found very consistent distance wise. 

[ShAMbotay]

Just now, Flip4000 said:

Man, I was going to say the t100s sound perfect for you until you said no titleist haha. I think the Calaway apex line is forgiving and relatively consistent distance wise also the mizuno HMB I have found very consistent distance wise. 

In all seriousness, the recommendation for the T100 is still okay, as it gives a metric to measure by. I’m still not going to pick it, but the information itself has value.

[Jace_bkr]

I have tried jpx921 and while they are great sticks I dont get along well with them thru the grass for whatever reason..

 

Don't overlook the Titleist T100S, they are great thru the turf, plenty long and not terribly punishing on off center strikes.

 

 

[tsecor]

41 minutes ago, ShAMbotay said:

Right now I see a lot of pointers towards JPX 921 forged. At a bare minimum I’m going to hold off until Ben Hogan has their press release on their teased irons, but the ball is in Mizuno’s court.

 

sub70 could interest me, but I don’t know enough about them and their lineup to jump on their train. I’d be more willing to consider them if I could have a deep dive into their tech, data, experience, models, all of it. There’s nothing I love more in the world than hoarding information, but getting someone to give me that kind of course on sub70 seems a bit far fetched.

 

I appreciate the MMC and T100 input, as comparisons are important, even if they aren’t going to be chosen.

 

oh, and Juan Seguin didn’t abandon them at the Alamo. He was forced to leave and notify the Texan army, and returned to die with them before reinforcements arrived.😉

isnt the Ben Hogan logo in script just like Titleist?  

[tsecor]

2 minutes ago, Jace_bkr said:

I have tried jpx921 and while they are great sticks I dont get along well with them thru the grass for whatever reason..

 

Don't overlook the Titleist T100S, they are great thru the turf, plenty long and not terribly punishing on off center strikes.

 

 

I can attest to this. The T100-S is amazing for me....such a "playable" iron around the gren as well. 

[Flip4000]

4 minutes ago, ShAMbotay said:

In all seriousness, the recommendation for the T100 is still okay, as it gives a metric to measure by. I’m still not going to pick it, but the information itself has value.

 

I would try out the apex pros. As an 8 handicap I imagine your ball striking is pretty decent and you can find center. They have good distance control and are pretty forgiving 

[Hawkeye77]

46 minutes ago, ShAMbotay said:

 

oh, and Juan Seguin didn’t abandon them at the Alamo. He was forced to leave and notify the Texan army, and returned to die with them before reinforcements arrived.😉

LOL, wasn't referring to him, he was loyal.