2 Iron vs Driving Iron

[BIG STU]

12 hours ago, PhillipG78 said:

I’ve actually gone back to an old chipping technique I used to use that every coach has tried to cure me of but it worked for me. 

There you go ----- If it works for you and you are confident then to heck with what the teaching gurus say

[PhillipG78]

It finally got me back into the low 80’s. I started focusing on my putting too, hopefully I’ll break 80 soon.

[PhillipG78]

Any thoughts on this beaut?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164961079818?hash=item266872520a:g:UoQAAOSwJB9g8GRB

[Foozle]

9 minutes ago, PhillipG78 said:

Any thoughts on this beaut?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164961079818?hash=item266872520a:g:UoQAAOSwJB9g8GRB

My thoughts are it is a '77 not a '76. The '76 has a mini bullet back.

[PhillipG78]

1 minute ago, Foozle said:

My thoughts are it is a '77 not a '76. The '76 has a mini bullet back.

Is there a big difference between the 77 and 76 models?

[Fellaheen51]

44 minutes ago, Foozle said:

My thoughts are it is a '77 not a '76. The '76 has a mini bullet back.

 

Learned something just now. Thought the '76 & '77 Staffs were the same.  Guess these "mini-bullets" are 76'ers.  Never played them though.  Can't even remember where I found them.  The eBay 1 iron looks wickedly difficult to hit.  Would stand a better chance of advancing the ball using a persimmon 5 wood. 

 

 

Did fool around with a 1 iron awhile back.  Out of curiosity if I could hit the dam(n) thing.  A couple of good tee shots.  More not so good (low burners right).   Forget about using it off a turf lie.  A 15.5* iron is a bridge waaaay too far.  I have other clubs.  

 

 

Edited August 24, 2021 by Fellaheen51

[BIG STU]

On 8/22/2021 at 1:09 PM, PhillipG78 said:

Not particularly high, I’m actually quite adept at the stinger

I am too had to learn it here. My current home course and former home course are less than a mile off the ocean by the way the crow flies. The guys around here call it the Stuey Stinger. Back in the day it was called the Bullit ball

[PhillipG78]

3 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

Learned something just now. Thought the '76 & '77 Staffs were the same.  Guess these "mini-bullets" are 76'ers.  Never played them though.  Can't even remember where I found them.  The eBay 1 iron looks wickedly difficult to hit.  Would stand a better chance of advancing the ball using a persimmon 5 wood. 

 

 

Did fool around with a 1 iron awhile back.  Out of curiosity if I could hit the dam(n) thing.  A couple of good tee shots.  More not so good (low burners right).   Forget about using it off a turf lie.  A 15.5* iron is a bridge waaaay too far.  I have other clubs.  

 

 

I’ve seen several videos of people hitting the Ping 1 iron. I know if you hit it clean it can carry 245

[PhillipG78]

1 hour ago, BIG STU said:

I am too had to learn it here. My current home course and former home course are less than a mile off the ocean by the way the crow flies. The guys around here call it the Stuey Stinger. Back in the day it was called the Bullit ball

I’m actually learning how to add more height to the ball

[Circaflex]

Imposter!

[PhillipG78]

1 hour ago, Circaflex said:

Imposter!

?????

[Foozle]

8 hours ago, PhillipG78 said:

Is there a big difference between the 77 and 76 models?

I have never hit the '77 model so can't really comment. However I suspect the differences are quite subtle so probably similar in play.

As a general rule, I don't think you can go far wrong with Staff blades from this era - '76 - '88 being a high point in Wilson forged blades IMHO.

I have the '76, 1980 Fg17, '84 Tour Blade and '86 Fluid Feel and they are all great irons. 

The '77 1 iron you linked to is very similar to the Fg17 1 iron I pictured earlier in this thread being the club it morphed into.

If you want to go pure butter knife, find yourself some Fg49's although I think they may be scarce Stateside?

I will caveat my comments above by saying I have never been lucky enough to find a set of Turfriders so my opinion on Wilson high points may yet vary!

The late '80's was the end of Wilson for me, they went into decline at that point. Faldo playing Mizuno irons out of a Wilson bag said it all really. They do seem to be making a come back now with some of their new fangled stuff, even some blades that catch my eye but not likely to replace my '76's anytime soon!

[Foozle]

4 hours ago, PhillipG78 said:

I’ve seen several videos of people hitting the Ping 1 iron. I know if you hit it clean it can carry 245

Sandy Lyle was possibly the greatest 1 iron player I ever saw. Being Scottish I will confess some bias! He played a Ping 1 iron (not sure which model) and regularly appeared in the top 10 for driving distance on his 1 iron stats alone! 

[PhillipG78]

7 hours ago, Foozle said:

Sandy Lyle was possibly the greatest 1 iron player I ever saw. Being Scottish I will confess some bias! He played a Ping 1 iron (not sure which model) and regularly appeared in the top 10 for driving distance on his 1 iron stats alone! 

I've played a 2 iron for years so curious how a 1 iron will do. The 2 iron i currently have in the bag is about 17.5* so a 15* 1 iron cant be much harder.

[PhillipG78]

7 hours ago, Foozle said:

I have never hit the '77 model so can't really comment. However I suspect the differences are quite subtle so probably similar in play.

As a general rule, I don't think you can go far wrong with Staff blades from this era - '76 - '88 being a high point in Wilson forged blades IMHO.

I have the '76, 1980 Fg17, '84 Tour Blade and '86 Fluid Feel and they are all great irons. 

The '77 1 iron you linked to is very similar to the Fg17 1 iron I pictured earlier in this thread being the club it morphed into.

If you want to go pure butter knife, find yourself some Fg49's although I think they may be scarce Stateside?

I will caveat my comments above by saying I have never been lucky enough to find a set of Turfriders so my opinion on Wilson high points may yet vary!

The late '80's was the end of Wilson for me, they went into decline at that point. Faldo playing Mizuno irons out of a Wilson bag said it all really. They do seem to be making a come back now with some of their new fangled stuff, even some blades that catch my eye but not likely to replace my '76's anytime soon!

Any idea what the loft would be on this? Im guessing 15-16*

[Fairway14]

7 hours ago, Foozle said:

Sandy Lyle was possibly the greatest 1 iron player I ever saw. Being Scottish I will confess some bias! He played a Ping 1 iron (not sure which model) and regularly appeared in the top 10 for driving distance on his 1 iron stats alone! 

 

For his junior golf, collegiate, and amateur days Tiger played a Ping Eye 2 model 1-iron off as many or more tee boxes than driver. He hit it on a very high trajectory and carried the ball 250 at sea level. In those days guys hit their driver 250-260 so Tiger was able to reach driver distance using a 1-iron, which gave him a competitive advantage.

[gioguy21]

OP -- i'm asking this and please do not take offense -- i'm genuinely serious. 

 

why, at a 14 are you considering a driving iron? you should be looking for forgiveness (ie hybrid or oversized driving irons) instead of these archaic irons being shown in here...

 

is it strictly for 'vintage' purposes ???

Edited August 25, 2021 by gioguy21

[PhillipG78]

20 minutes ago, gioguy21 said:

OP -- i'm asking this and please do not take offense -- i'm genuinely serious. 

 

why, at a 14 are you considering a driving iron? you should be looking for forgiveness (ie hybrid or oversized driving irons) instead of these archaic irons being shown in here...

 

is it strictly for 'vintage' purposes ???

Why at a 14 handicap? 

[gioguy21]

1 minute ago, PhillipG78 said:

Why at a 14 handicap? 

as in, not a single digit - ie someone who probably needs more forgiveness than they do a blade iron...

[PhillipG78]

6 minutes ago, gioguy21 said:

as in, not a single digit - ie someone who probably needs more forgiveness than they do a blade iron...

I'm a higher handicap because my short game needs work, I'm the classic just off the fringe in 2 on a par 5 and then 2 chip and 2 putt guy. I can hit a blade just fine, i took a 10 year hiatus from golf got back into this year, I used to be a consistent sub 75-78 player back in the day.  As my short game improves my handicap will drop back to single digits. Oh and no offense taken

Edited August 25, 2021 by PhillipG78

[gioguy21]

1 minute ago, PhillipG78 said:

I'm a higher handicap because my short game needs work, I'm the classic just off the fringe in 2 on a par 5 and then 2 chip and 2 putt guy. I can hit a blade just fine, i took a 10 year hiatus from golf got back into this year, I used to be a consistent sub 75-78 player back in the day.  As my short game improves my handicap will drop back to single digits. 

gotcha -- well, i still think you'd be better served with a hybrid but that's me. 

[PhillipG78]

1 minute ago, gioguy21 said:

gotcha -- well, i still think you'd be better served with a hybrid but that's me. 

I actually hit the long irons better than the hybrids, never liked them for whatever reason. I'm currently bagging a 3W and 5W but no 2 Iron since the 2 Iron and the 5W are same loft. I can hit the 5w about 250 so right now it's in the bag, but i'm considering putting a 2 iron in the bag and taking out the 5w

[PhillipG78]

Plus it's just fun hitting a ball 250 with an iron if you can do it plus with a blade 1/2 iron i could hit a fade or draw better than a 5w

Edited August 25, 2021 by PhillipG78

[PhillipG78]

Any have thoughts on this beauty?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154565798817?hash=item23fcd6eba1:g:C-EAAOSwuZthE~Xh

[Foozle]

1 hour ago, PhillipG78 said:

Any have thoughts on this beauty?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154565798817?hash=item23fcd6eba1:g:C-EAAOSwuZthE~Xh

I will let brother NRjyzr eulogise in full about this glorious creation. Suffice to say Ram Tour Grind are some of the best blades ever made.

I played 80 - 82 Tour Grinds (2 - PW) until they wore out. Note the chrome loss on the soles! (guess they were slightly too flat for me but they played great!)I often added a Frequency Matched 1 iron like this one to the line up along with a couple of TW Scoring System wedges only leaving room for 1 wood and a putter! I never did find an 80 - 82 1 iron.🥲

I believe the FM models are from about '87.

I personally prefer the 80 - 82 models but anything Ram of this era is top notch!

[PhillipG78]

I might have to add this bad boy to the batch swap out my 5W hit a stinger special 

[dcopp7]

I have a Northwestern 1 iron I could send you to try.  PM me.

[PhillipG78]

6 hours ago, dcopp7 said:

I have a Northwestern 1 iron I could send you to try.  PM me.

Sent you a DM

[NRJyzr]

On 8/25/2021 at 4:16 PM, Foozle said:

I will let brother NRjyzr eulogise in full about this glorious creation. Suffice to say Ram Tour Grind are some of the best blades ever made.

I played 80 - 82 Tour Grinds (2 - PW) until they wore out. Note the chrome loss on the soles! (guess they were slightly too flat for me but they played great!)I often added a Frequency Matched 1 iron like this one to the line up along with a couple of TW Scoring System wedges only leaving room for 1 wood and a putter! I never did find an 80 - 82 1 iron.🥲

I believe the FM models are from about '87.

I personally prefer the 80 - 82 models but anything Ram of this era is top notch!

 

On 8/25/2021 at 2:06 PM, PhillipG78 said:

Any have thoughts on this beauty?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154565798817?hash=item23fcd6eba1:g:C-EAAOSwuZthE~Xh

 

 

That is a truly amazing Golden Ram 1 iron.  Looks virtually new.

 

If you're wondering about the particular details of the model, the Frequency Matched Golden Rams were made from 1987 to 1991 or 1992.  The dot on the back indicates lie angle; black was standard lie, white dot was 2* upright, gold dot was 2* flat (I've also seen it described as 1.5* instead of 2*, minor quibble).

 

Excellent find.  Very worth the effort.  I'm also very biased.  LOL

 

The 80-82 Tour Grinds, the Vibration Matched, and the Frequency Matched models are all fairly similar, but have minor differences.  The 80 Tour Grinds appear to be flatter soled from heel to toe.  The Vibration Matched introduced a bit more heel-toe camber.  The Frequency Matched may have tweaked this slightly, and the long irons appear to be slightly smaller; my Frequency Matched 1 irons seem to be slightly smaller than my Vibration Matched 1 iron.

 

Complicating this, Ram had a very active custom shop.  It could well be what I've seen is merely variations in custom sets.  <shrug>

 

Edited August 30, 2021 by NRJyzr

[BIG STU]

On 8/24/2021 at 11:00 PM, PhillipG78 said:

I’ve seen several videos of people hitting the Ping 1 iron. I know if you hit it clean it can carry 245

Well that aint me any more but back in the day I could roll it out to 240 or so. If I hit it clean and in the spot I only get around 185 190 now days with the roll out