Iron Fitting- which clubs to try for a in-between cavity back and blade

[Pinky5]

Getting fit next week. I am looking for a mix in look and feel between a full cavity back and a full blade. Fitter would like me to have a general idea so I don't have to go through 20 sets/

 

I currently game the Callaway Rogues, and although I love the distance, I don't love how big they look to my eye. I also have a set of Callaway MBs and they are too thin and unforgiving for my liking. Basically I want to try and keep the distance that I get in my Rogues, and get that thinner topline without sacrificing too much forgiveness. I am a 3 handicap so I feel I can do this.

 

As a bonus, I'm looking for a higher flight and a tad more spin if possible. What do you suggest?

[vman]

Srixon ZX7 and Mizuno Forged 921. You will be well served with either, great irons that fit the bill.

[MtlJeff]

Power Blades sound very much like what the doctor ordered

 

Forged Tec

I500

P770

 

etc

[Pinky5]

9 minutes ago, vman said:

Srixon ZX7 and Mizuno Forged 921. You will be well served with either, great irons that fit the bill.

I was kinda hoping to hear this. Both of these have my attention.

[forrester_fire]

Srixon ZX7 

Mizuno 921 Forged, MP-20 MMC, MP-20 HMB

TM P770

Titleist T100(s?)  - the "s" version has stronger lofts in the same player's profile of the standard T100

 

There are tons of "tweener" clubs that fit what you're describing.

Edited April 21, 2021 by forrester_fire

[monkeyboy]

Most Players Distance categories should fit the bill

Srixon

Mizuno

TaylorMade 

Cobra

 

Maybe even look at a mixed set (more bladelike in say 7-P, and more forgiving in 5-6)

[phizzy30]

New Level 634-M if you don't mind going DTC.  They have a demo program where you can try their irons before you buy.  I game these and they are technically blades, however longer from heel to toe in length.  Their thing with these irons is that they are every bit as playable as any player's cb and I wholeheartedly degree.  The COG on these are lower so they do launch higher and spin more which is what you're looking for anyways, not to mention how sexy they look.  Check them out, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. 

[Pinky5]

My question with these forged irons. Will I be giving up any distance? I have gotten pretty used to my current yardages as I am usually not a distance hitter at all and the rogues allow me to hit a 7 iron 185 for example.

[Pinky5]

I should also mention that I am left handed. So that does limit the choices unfortunately.

[phizzy30]

2 minutes ago, Pinky5 said:

My question with these forged irons. Will I be giving up any distance? I have gotten pretty used to my current yardages as I am usually not a distance hitter at all and the rogues allow me to hit a 7 iron 185 for example.

You can always bend them 2 degree strong.  You may be giving up some distance but not much. 

[PNW]

I second ZX7. I have been playing a MP20 combo set for the last several months and REALLY wanted to like them (and I do). I then bought a lightly used set of ZX7s here on the classifieds and they're really an ideal set for me. Compact profile, not a ton of offset, VERY forgiving for its category, V sole for the soft/muddy turf here in Seattle for 6 months, and ideal that its a single set throughout vs combo. I found that inevitably you will compromise slightly on a combo with at some point in the set between yardage gaps, offset, bounce to try to make it work. It can definitely be done though.

 

ZX7s are also a little bit strong (7 iron at 32). Really great clubs. But so are the MP20/JPX and other options mentioned above. 

[ChipNRun]

Ping i210 model is Hot-Listed as Players iron, but the head design has a soft elastometer insert allows more perimeter weighting to help with launch. Rather, a head that bridges blade and cavity. And, i210 offers Retro Lofts option about 2* higher per club than standard.

 

Also, several stock shafts to choose from.

Edited April 21, 2021 by ChipNRun

[jomatty]

I’d hit the callaway apex 21 pros as well.  I don’t know the exact lofts on the rogues but I imagine there will be some compromise on distance with most of these irons.  Shouldn’t be too much though, especially with something like t100s.

[Pinky5]

The rogue 7 iron is lofted at 30*, so pretty strong. I'm willing to give up a little bit of distance, but not so much that I don't want to hit the new clubs. I think I have a good idea on the 5 sets or so that Id like to try out.

[Pinky5]

How hard is it to get these bent stronger and does that effect anything negatively with the club face?

[STL_Baller]

I went from 712MBs to Mizuno 921 forged and really liked the look of them and how they felt.  Nice high ball flight and good distance.  In the past week or so I ended up swapping them out for some Titleist T100 as I believe the stock stiff shaft I had available in the 921 was a tad on the soft side for how I deliver the club.  The T100 just fit my flight windows better than the Mizzy...may give these 2 a go though I think they both fit what you are looking to paly with.

 

On a side note, the P7MC were on my radar until I hit them....found them almost as demanding as a blade, however the new P770 had the same look of a players iron and were much more consistent all be it a little too hot-faced for my swing speed.

[lefthack]

1 hour ago, Pinky5 said:

How hard is it to get these bent stronger and does that effect anything negatively with the club face?

 

I paid $2 a club to have my CB's bent 1* weak. But you aren't going to bend a 36* 7 to 30*. You might just consider using a 31* 6 iron. But it depends on the set and what lofts they are to start with.

[FormerDimer]

3 hours ago, Pinky5 said:

My question with these forged irons. Will I be giving up any distance? I have gotten pretty used to my current yardages as I am usually not a distance hitter at all and the rogues allow me to hit a 7 iron 185 for example.

 

I would temper your distance expectations if you're changing from game improvement Rogues to actual players cavities. Take note of the lofts of each of your irons and compare... you will experience at least a club less of distance, and unfortunately like the person above said the loft difference is too much to just bend. You'll be pulling a 6 iron where you used to pull a 7. Unfortunately, those game improvement sets with modern "power lofts" create a false sense of distance. Good luck!

 

 

Edited April 21, 2021 by FormerDimer

[GrandStranded]

4 hours ago, Pinky5 said:

My question with these forged irons. Will I be giving up any distance? I have gotten pretty used to my current yardages as I am usually not a distance hitter at all and the rogues allow me to hit a 7 iron 185 for example.

Why not go to pxg.com and check out the two versions of the 0211?
I have the stronger lofted version (I think they’re called the DC now,. They’re a progressive set, look great and have lofts similar to your Rogues in a much nicer package. (I came from the Rogues to these btw). I love them, and you’ll save some money. I got mine with MMT shafts for $94 a club.

Then they have the other version 0211 which looks gorgeous, but probably won’t give you the punch you’re looking for. Trust me, it’s very hard to go from a power iron like the Rogue to something that’s going to play one less club. I know I had the i210’s for a couple of weeks. They were great irons, but I couldn’t see giving up the distance. Thankfully I was able to sell them for almost the exact price I paid for them, thanks to Ping having such a backlog on new orders, people were tripping over each other trying to get a like new lefty set.

[forrester_fire]

4 hours ago, Pinky5 said:

I should also mention that I am left handed. So that does limit the choices unfortunately.

 

That almost entirely removes Mizuno from the equation.  They only offer two sets, both combo sets, to lefties.  One is the MP-20 SEL, which includes the MP-20 blades in 5-PW and the HMB in the 3, 4.  The other option is the JPX 921 SEL, which is the Tour in 6-GW and Forged in 4, 5.  The Tour is pretty blade-like with minimal forgiveness.

 

Your choices are down to:

Titleist T100, but not the "S" version w/ stronger lofts

TM P770

Srixon ZX7

Cobra King Forged Tec

Callaway Apex 19 or 21

 

There might be a few others, but those are the most notable.

 

[Strategery]

Ping i210. /thread

[lefthack]

I'm a huge fan of blended sets. Like a ZX5/ZX7 setup.

[phizzy30]

4 hours ago, Pinky5 said:

How hard is it to get these bent stronger and does that effect anything negatively with the club face?

It's easy to get forged irons bent.  I wouldn't recommend getting them bent more than 2 degrees either way.  Remember, changing loft from bending irons also affects bounce. 

[Stonewalled]

PXG 0311 Gen 3 T's. Surprised these are not more popular... Compact shape, tapered top line,  great feel. Also very happy with the ball flight, steal of a deal now at $199 per club.  

[abenjami]

8 hours ago, Pinky5 said:

Getting fit next week. I am looking for a mix in look and feel between a full cavity back and a full blade. Fitter would like me to have a general idea so I don't have to go through 20 sets/

 

I currently game the Callaway Rogues, and although I love the distance, I don't love how big they look to my eye. I also have a set of Callaway MBs and they are too thin and unforgiving for my liking. Basically I want to try and keep the distance that I get in my Rogues, and get that thinner topline without sacrificing too much forgiveness. I am a 3 handicap so I feel I can do this.

 

As a bonus, I'm looking for a higher flight and a tad more spin if possible. What do you suggest?

 

What is your 7 iron carry?  What is your driver carry?

 

How far you hit the ball is a big factor for a single digit handicap player IMO.  A lot of irons in that "middle" zone you are looking for are jacked for distance and others are more traditional.

 

If you have plenty of distance naturally, there's no reason you should be looking at stuff like the i500's or P790/770's.  But if you need your clubs to help generate some distance, those would be worth swinging.

 

 

[Pinky5]

9 hours ago, abenjami said:

 

What is your 7 iron carry?  What is your driver carry?

 

How far you hit the ball is a big factor for a single digit handicap player IMO.  A lot of irons in that "middle" zone you are looking for are jacked for distance and others are more traditional.

 

If you have plenty of distance naturally, there's no reason you should be looking at stuff like the i500's or P790/770's.  But if you need your clubs to help generate some distance, those would be worth swinging.

 

 

I am currently carrying my 7 iron 180-185 and my driver carry about 280. I have never been a super long hitter, but the rogues really added some big distance for me. I mainly hit the ball pretty low, so I think that is one of the reasons. If I lose 5 yards a club, its not a big deal. But I don't want to lose 15-20 yards a club. Id just keep my current setup and get some new shafts if thats the case.

Edited April 22, 2021 by Pinky5

[Ger21]

58 minutes ago, Pinky5 said:

I am currently carrying my 7 iron 180-185 and my driver carry about 280. I have never been a super long hitter............

Maybe by tour standards, but your longer than 95% or regular golfers.

I'm 57, and hit my 7 iron 160, and I'm longer than most people I play with, unless they are much younger, and good players.

Any 7 iron longer than 170 is long.

[abenjami]

2 hours ago, Pinky5 said:

I am currently carrying my 7 iron 180-185 and my driver carry about 280. I have never been a super long hitter, but the rogues really added some big distance for me. I mainly hit the ball pretty low, so I think that is one of the reasons. If I lose 5 yards a club, its not a big deal. But I don't want to lose 15-20 yards a club. Id just keep my current setup and get some new shafts if thats the case.

 

Well you certainly don't need to increase distance and something like the i500's are going to do just that.

 

I would check these out:

 

Mizuno JPX921 SEL

Titleist T100 and T200

Srixon ZX7

 

[Pinky5]

6 hours ago, Ger21 said:

Maybe by tour standards, but your longer than 95% or regular golfers.

I'm 57, and hit my 7 iron 160, and I'm longer than most people I play with, unless they are much younger, and good players.

Any 7 iron longer than 170 is long.

Before I had the rogues, my 7 iron was my 165 club. They gave me a huge jump in distance and I have got accustomed to that.

[Ger21]

Then you need to find a set with a 30° 7 iron. Or realize that your Rogue 7 iron is a 6 iron (or even a strong 6 iron) in most other sets, and don't worry about your 7 iron length.

 

My 6 iron has more loft than your 7 iron.