How long do you give new irons a chance?

[theothertwo]

Seems like replacing irons is one of the harder things to do but I always buy new irons and end up going back to my old set.  I suppose I don't give the new ones enough time.  How long do you give new irons a chance? 

[rsiehr]

I think it would depend upon the problem. If contact isn’t square I’d give it some more time. If contact is fine (or at least substantially similar to old irons) but flight or turf interaction isn’t great, then more time may not solve the problem anyway.

 

What is your current issue?

[Phireside]

Just buy Mizuno's and you'll always be in love 😍

[theothertwo]

9 minutes ago, rsiehr said:

I think it would depend upon the problem. If contact isn’t square I’d give it some more time. If contact is fine (or at least substantially similar to old irons) but flight or turf interaction isn’t great, then more time may not solve the problem anyway.

 

What is your current issue?

Old set was Bridgestone J33CBs - small cavity/blade like and thin sole - can't seem to get used to the wider sole of the Honma TW-X irons.  Thanks.

[rsiehr]

5 minutes ago, theothertwo said:

Old set was Bridgestone J33CBs - small cavity/blade like and thin sole - can't seem to get used to the wider sole of the Honma TW-X irons.  Thanks.

Someone smarter than me will have to solve that.

[nvr3putt]

get rid of the J33CBs ASAP. 

Edited April 25, 2021 by nvr3putt

[ProVman]

I am assuming you have been fitted for both sets and they are built to the same specs. Is this accurate??

[mogc60]

For me it’s a few solid shots...if it’s not on the flight I want or feel I want I’m moving on. I’ve used enough irons long term to know what I like and what flight window I want. 

[lefthack]

I was actually pretty happy with my KZG's when I first put them together, but with the new shaft they are damn incredible. I've got about a half dozen rounds and they just get better and better.

 

So far I really haven't been that disappointed, but I've also been playing some damn good sticks. 

[Golf Dino]

1 hour ago, theothertwo said:

Seems like replacing irons is one of the harder things to do but I always buy new irons and end up going back to my old set.  I suppose I don't give the new ones enough time.  How long do you give new irons a chance? 

 

I don't buy them unless my fitting data shows me a good improvement -- both Trackman numbers and my feel/experience.   When I am in a fitting, I look for launch angle, ball flight, height/trajectory and angle of descent.   

Feel is important to me as well...don't like the feel of mishits (i.e.: slightly off-centre), I look for my spin numbers, plus my ability to play shots ... fades, draws, cut shot, etc.   And if it addresses one of those areas, then I will pull the trigger and buy them/order them.   From my way of thinking, it saves me a ton of time and money.  

 

[ScottF]

Except for adjusting to how far I hit them, it took almost no time for me to adjust to the last irons I bought last September. I knew when I hit them during my fitting that I’d hit them well. 

[Texas Golfer]

The improvements should be fairly immediate.  Otherwise what’s the purpose of switching?  I am guilty of the same thing though. Still thinking a different set of irons is going to solve more issues.  Sometimes it does solve something but creates another problem to worry about.  An endless cycle.

[LeftyMatt24]

I try and give them at least two grass range sessions and three full rounds to get a gauge on if they will work. I’ve played blades this past year and many different players cavity and cavity and my scores are very similar. Differences are in how I get up and down and my driving for the day. 

[Duffer222]

1-2 rounds.  Bought 921 forged, played 36 holes, liked them, but didn’t love them.  Bought ZX5’s and played 18.  They’re in the bag until something else replaces them.  Should be awhile.  The Zx5’s are just EASY to hit and accuracy is amazing.

[ChipNRun]

1 hour ago, ProVman said:

I am assuming you have been fitted for both sets and they are built to the same specs. Is this accurate??

 

This should have been the starting point for this discussion.

[RogerinNewZealand]

The ZX5 comment may be the one Ezy too hit..and that summed up my J33cb ownership! I did a quick wrx search and its easy too find tw x info..wide sole,big offset,strong lofts..hollow.Everything you didnt have.Try some old Tourstage....🙂

[theothertwo]

2 hours ago, ProVman said:

I am assuming you have been fitted for both sets and they are built to the same specs. Is this accurate??

Right on, the J33 CBs were fitted for me (L/L/L), the Honmas were off the rack, maybe I should get the lies fitted.  Good point.

[ProVman]

Your lie angles are incredibly important for pure consistent contact.

plus your lie angles are just that...yours!
get them to match and then decide which set you like better.

But, if your lofts, lengths, shafts, grips, and swing weights are not exactly the same set to set, it’s not a fair comparison but you could certainly learn something about each set with a few range sessions.
 

if you just like the look of the new heads, take your specs to a builder and your game will thank you for it!

[mallrat]

For me it depends on the issue. Currently playing 718 cb’s and ordered a set of 785’s. Liked, didn’t love the feel but with the same shafts and specs the weighting felt really off. The heads felt heavy and it felt like I never really knew where the club face was. Didn’t want to go down that rabbit hole for the same result. 

[North Butte]

Generally, if I've played 3-4 rounds with a set of irons and I'm not loving them that's it. Sell them off and go back to the old set. Usually the first two rounds are solo then I'll try them a round or two in my usual competitive games.

 

Twice I've let it ride a little longer with sets I really wanted to like even though it took a little longer to figure out how to get good results with them. Both times it turned out I wasn't quite squaring the face up correctly at address and was struggling to get it consistently back square at impact.

 

The first of those times, about ten years ago, after a dozen rounds something clicked and I really hit them well. I was glad I stuck to them. The second time, more recently, after maybe eight rounds I settled into pretty good groove with them and could have kept using them longer term but I moved on anyway after a few months.

 

So really, I think my normal plan of taking them straight out the box to the course and playing 3-4 rounds gives a pretty good idea. I might fit in a half-hour driving range session in there if there's something specific I want to focus on for a few shots in a row. But mostly I figure if they're good irons that suit me that will show up quickly in normal play.

[NixLix26]

I have accumulated quite few iron sets, because I just really love going out and seeing how they perform for 18 holes. Trying different shafts and looking heads.  When something feels great I keep them.  If I pure a shot and it just doesn’t feel good, I sell them. 
I usually allow for 1-3 rounds before I ship em off. 
I keep track of all the loft and lie info for each set and their build specs. 
 

[braincramp52]

8 hours ago, theothertwo said:

Right on, the J33 CBs were fitted for me (L/L/L), the Honmas were off the rack, maybe I should get the lies fitted.  Good point.

WINNER WINNER Chicken Dinner!!

[Maroon_19]

When I switched from my Mizuno MX-20s to Mizuno JPX 919 forged back in 2019, it took me almost 3 months to get really good and comfortable with the 919s.  Multiple times, including a couple of golf trips, I debated on playing the MX-20s but never did.

[tannyhoban]

A couple rounds. If first round is off will double check everything - lofts, lies, sw and try again. Sometimes the magic just isn't there and sometimes it's a simple adjustment to bring it in.

If it isn't there I move on, plenty of clubs out there that will work.

[Hawkeye77]

I assume the only credible wrx answer is one shot - if the first iron shot of the round with my new irons isn't perfect, they are clearly crap and I'm on my phone seeing what latest posts blindly recommend for me!

 

For a few reasons, including not having taken a real iron swing in five months, my initial sessions with my new irons weren't great. Then I was forcing things. Once I got a clue how to swing and played a little bit, then had a session with pro to check alignment and ball position (and other useful info), all of a sudden my new irons were, to paraphrase George, everything they should be ...... and more! Sometimes new irons are a jump in a cold pool and you just need to let them gently descend into your game.

[bladehunter]

11 hours ago, Texas Golfer said:

The improvements should be fairly immediate.  Otherwise what’s the purpose of switching?  I am guilty of the same thing though. Still thinking a different set of irons is going to solve more issues.  Sometimes it does solve something but creates another problem to worry about.  An endless cycle.

Second that.  I’ve never liked an iron set that wasn’t an immediate situation.  Every single time I try to “ wait and see “ it’s a negative ghost rider “ situation.     Some of us don’t get along with wide soles. I’m one. And it sounds like you are  too. 

Edited April 25, 2021 by bladehunter

[tannyhoban]

4 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

I assume the only credible wrx answer is one shot - if the first iron shot of the round with my new irons isn't perfect, they are clearly crap and I'm on my phone seeing what latest posts blindly recommend for me!

 

For a few reasons, including not having taken a real iron swing in five months, my initial sessions with my new irons weren't great. Then I was forcing things. Once I got a clue how to swing and played a little bit, then had a session with pro to check alignment and ball position (and other useful info), all of a sudden my new irons were, to paraphrase George, everything they should be ...... and more! Sometimes new irons are a jump in a cold pool and you just need to let them gently descend into your game.

Well said. That's always the caveat, lol. Sometimes it is my swing and I know it. In that case they live to see another day, there have been more than a few sets through the years that had a poor initial showing and proved worthy. 
 

On the flip side this is the reason I never get rid of the last generation set until I am absolutely sure.

[Itsjustagame]

2-4 weeks playing them on the course.

[Davidv]

3 rounds is it.

[theothertwo]

On 4/25/2021 at 6:46 AM, bladehunter said:

Second that.  I’ve never liked an iron set that wasn’t an immediate situation.  Every single time I try to “ wait and see “ it’s a negative ghost rider “ situation.     Some of us don’t get along with wide soles. I’m one. And it sounds like you are  too. 

Ok so I got rid of the Honma TW-X with wide soles.  Kept the J33CBs just because I love these irons.  Just got the 2019 Apex Forged CBs and they are my first Callaway irons, 4 rounds in so far and I like everything about them.