The perfect iron - can it be made?

[barnum1]

I just bought a G425 iron set and it performs fantastically. Incredible forgiveness, good distance and great height/landing angle.

The only areas where they are not perfect for me are look and feel.

 

If we start with feel, would it be possible to make a forged club with the same forgiveness? Or is the cast process a necessity to be able design the club to make it forgiving?

When it comes to look, it's subjective. But for me, if the G425 would have hidden the cavity back (like a hollow club) it would be perfect. E.g. like MP-20 HMB.

And maybe made the club head a touch smaller.

 

Just a thought. Would be interesting to hear what you all think.

[Bad9]

There have been hundreds, maybe thousands, of perfect irons made over the years, its just that everyone has a different idea of what's perfect. There are numerous models that are smaller than the 425, forged and have a hollow body. Maybe you should check them out. Maltby has two models alone.

[lefthack]

For me, perfect is the ability to hit the shot I want. Forgiveness is nice, but for me, I want control. Yes, if I miss hit it, that's on me. I have accepted that. But if I put in the work to earn the shot I want, I expect to be rewarded, dammit.

 

I think my current combo is close. The CB's in the longer irons help enough.

[RogerinNewZealand]

Barnum, when you go Ping, you are,genearalising here,after easy too hit, forgiving,low maintenance long life, and your not after the latest WowLookingStuff.....that will last at least 15 years,not need the lie reset and the face wont cave in.So, you have feel as a lower priority and style is less important.Ping I15 and S58 would be my most recent purchases..super easy,cool styling,niiiice to use,any day.Ping isnt Mizuno...doesnt want too be! Forged at Ping is quite recent...Love your Pings OR start hoing....the grass is not always greener..Play Your Best....

[MattM97]

The perfect iron is the one you are fit into, that can change every time you're fit or if your swing/physical abilities change as well.

[TwistedSister]

19 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

The perfect iron is the one you are fit into, that can change every time you're fit or if your swing/physical abilities change as well.

I have seen many cases where the ones one is fit into are NOT perfect.  FAR FROM IT!!

[TexasTBag]

X14 pro!

[shoot4par]

If you build it, they will buy. 😂

Edited April 11, 2021 by shoot4par

[Cwebb]

45 minutes ago, TexasTBag said:

X14 pro!

 

that damn short bore-through hosel !

[MuskieCy]

Perfect irons do not exist for true GOLFWrx'ers.

 

Just ho some mo!!!!!

[phizzy30]

To me, the perfect set is a players cb or mb that offers some level of forgiveness, forged and where I can work the ball both ways and hit it high and low.  I don't get along with are the Miura Baby Blades for example.  I have tried my father's old Honma blades from the 90's and the heads are tiny and the sweet spot is the size of a dime.  The Baby Blades are similar.  Had a chance about 8 years ago to try one of buddy's at the time.  While she is a thing of beauty, it would punish on even slight mis hits.  It's not practical or playable for me especially when I used to play in tournaments back in the day.  The irons I have now are perfect for me.  Blades but as forgiving as most player's irons including cbs.  I can hit them low, high and work them if need be.  They also feel like butter when struck right. 

Edited April 11, 2021 by phizzy30

[bladehunter]

T100.  

[barnum1]

Thanks for the comments.

I agree that there is no perfect iron for everyone, I should have added "for me".

 

Still, is it difficult to make a forged club with the forgiveness like a G425 (or similar GI iron).

And would a hollow iron lose forgiveness because of "hiding" the cavity back? 

[dhen9]

It seems we've been searching for the same iron. You're looking for mid/long baked length, mid/chunky sole with a thinner topline and little offset. You're looking for a durable finish and at address you DON'T want to see any of the technology that makes golf a little bit easier. Well, after a few schekel's flushed here's your list of perfect. Oh, and it can't possibly be a "Perfect List" as perfection lends itself to only one but here ya go:

0311P/XP

T300/200

JPX 921 HM,HMP,F

P790

Maltby PTM

Maltby TS1

Edited April 11, 2021 by dhen9

[joostin]

The type of steel will affect the feel more than the process of forging or casting.  It's just that certain types are more commonly used or are more friendly for each process.  You can cast "soft" 1020 steel.  You can also forge "hard" stainless steel.

 

A one-piece forging process is limited to the designs that can be done.  Casting can open the door to more design options that won't be possible to forging.  Multi-piece construction can open the door even more.

 

In this case more forgiveness means getting MOI as high as possible, meaning you have to move mass away from the center of the face as much as possible and get the center of gravity as far back as possible to minimize twisting on off-center hits.  Casting and multi-piece designs can help accomplish this, though sometimes they can forge the face or something else (and call it "forged").  Hiding the cavity back may actually help distribute weight rearward to help this cause.

 

Gotta agree with you and everyone that perfect "for me" doesn't apply across the board.  There are definitely irons that have stood the test of time from pros to ams... Eye2.  And those that are cult-ish on wrx - like J15CB, Z745, ... - that combine clean looks, feel, and some kind of forgiveness.  Those would be my perfect ones as well. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

11 hours ago, MuskieCy said:

Perfect irons do not exist for true GOLFWrx'ers.

 

Just ho some mo!!!!!

 

Sure, the perfect irons exist for WRX'ers...

 

...I swear the next set is going to be the perfect one!

[bullie76]

Perfect irons have already been made. 

[Pepperturbo]

The only way to identify a "perfect" club is for someone to pick that club up and smack the ball like he's never smacked it before.  Next we'll hear damn, it's perfect club, till the honeymoon wears off.  Then he's posting them for sale on Golfwrx, and dreaming again about the perfect club.  

 

There will never be a perfect club.  Just the perfected swing and patience needed to stick with a given club till "YOU" can hit it effectively. 

 

Using that definition, yesterdays' ball striking and finish of 1 over par using 620 series irons was an 8 maybe 9... Damn, I love this game.

[barnum1]

43 minutes ago, joostin said:

The type of steel will affect the feel more than the process of forging or casting.  It's just that certain types are more commonly used or are more friendly for each process.  You can cast "soft" 1020 steel.  You can also forge "hard" stainless steel.

 

A one-piece forging process is limited to the designs that can be done.  Casting can open the door to more design options that won't be possible to forging.  Multi-piece construction can open the door even more.

 

In this case more forgiveness means getting MOI as high as possible, meaning you have to move mass away from the center of the face as much as possible and get the center of gravity as far back as possible to minimize twisting on off-center hits.  Casting and multi-piece designs can help accomplish this, though sometimes they can forge the face or something else (and call it "forged").  Hiding the cavity back may actually help distribute weight rearward to help this cause.

 

Gotta agree with you and everyone that perfect "for me" doesn't apply across the board.  There are definitely irons that have stood the test of time from pros to ams... Eye2.  And those that are cult-ish on wrx - like J15CB, Z745, ... - that combine clean looks, feel, and some kind of forgiveness.  Those would be my perfect ones as well. 

 

Thanks for the insights, especially that forging limits the possible designs.

We'll see what future technology bring us. For now I'm happy with my G425s, and I am getting used to both look and feel..

[wam78]

Golf is so subjective and player dependent. I’ve been fit many times into a different iron every single time.  Shaft profile is almost always the same.
 

 In the past year I spent a ton of money on a fitting and new iron set.  Sold my beloved bridgestone cb’s and fully committed to what I was fitted into.  Fast forward to now, 3 iron sets later and I’m back in my bridgestone’s.  Why?  Because they are perfect for me.  Nothing feels better, gives me more confidence over the ball or cuts through the turf better for how I deliver the club at impact.

 

I think one of the biggest influencers in all this is sole design.  I’ve come to the realization I do best with pre worn leading edge, some bounce and camber.  All of this plus that soft yet solid feel is what makes a perfect iron for me.  Find what works for you, including all subjective features.  Whatever gets us out and on the course enjoying the game!

[cgasucks]

The perfect iron was created long ago.  It was this.

 

[blazman11]

i500 with SIGNIFICANT improvement to sound and feel. No change please in form factor. I’d buy 2 sets tomorrow. 

[Mr. Clean]

The 84-87 Hogan Apex PC IS PERFECT.  However they were never made left handed, so I am forced to play the 73-75 Apex model.

 

Edited April 11, 2021 by Mr. Clean

[barnum1]

Just saw this video on youtube comparing two GI (one forged, one non-forged):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V9gwGz4Nmw

 

 

According to Michael Newton, the Apex DCB (forged) felt better, and the numbers were pretty similar to G425 (also in dispersion). I didn't like the looks of DCB, but that is personal. 

(The DCB were also pricey of course.)

[Devildawg67]

A perfect swing would say any well made forged mb blade 

 

for me the iron that does everything well feels like butter with great looks and sets up almost perfect at address is the 07 X forged callaway 

 

have yet to hit another iron that scores high across the board at least in a players club 

[billybaroo]

Might as well ask if there is a perfect color, flavor, or smell.  😛  

 

Every club is "perfect" for a segment, the problem is there are many segments of golfers.

Edited April 11, 2021 by billybaroo

[TheDominator273]

19 minutes ago, billybaroo said:

Might as well ask if there is a perfect color, flavor, or smell.  😛  

 

I believe Bacon is the answer to all 3 of those questions.

[mogc60]

For me this was my perfect iron for 10 years...MacGregor VFoil 1025M. Gorgeous blade, very solid and the perfect sole grind. 

[Jimjam651]

The perfect iron doesn't exi...

 

 

[phizzy30]

11 hours ago, cgasucks said:

The perfect iron was created long ago.  It was this.

 

I had a set of those when I was a kid.  Lasted a year.  Then I moved on to something else.  They were solid for sure, but even back then I was a junior club ho.