Irons for an 8.1 index: Aye or Nay?

[20six]

Strength of game is putting, pitching and chipping. Irons are solid from the 6 on down, 4 and 5 are inconsistent. Miss is a hook. 7 iron distance is 162. Would you recommend  any of the following to a hack of this caliber? Thanks.

 

Apex Pro 2021

Cobra MIM Tour

ZX7

[VanTheMan0519]

I’d throw in that group Titleist T200’s and TM P790’s….

[darkhelmet]

What kind of irons are you playing now?

 

As far as the srixons go, you might consider a combo set with the ZX5 in the longer irons, or even just all ZX5.

 

[craz-e]

Mizuno MMC (if you can find them)

Wilson Staff CB

Titleist t100 and t100s

Callaway apex pro 

 

All worth a go 

[jomatty]

The apex pros and the Srixons should be good options.  I’d combo the, with the apex or the zx5’s if I were you, based on what you said about your ball striking.  I had the apex pro 19’s until recently and loved them, but definitely appreciated a 5 and a 6 iron with a little more help.

Edited September 23, 2021 by jomatty

[20six]

49 minutes ago, darkhelmet said:

What kind of irons are you playing now?

 

As far as the srixons go, you might consider a combo set with the ZX5 in the longer irons, or even just all ZX5.

 

Currently playing T300 (previous model).

[GHIN n Juice]

1 hour ago, VanTheMan0519 said:

I’d throw in that group Titleist T200’s and TM P790’s….

The 2021 T200s are loud and not in a pleasing way.

[roxald]

2 hours ago, 20six said:

Strength of game is putting, pitching and chipping. Irons are solid from the 6 on down, 4 and 5 are inconsistent. Miss is a hook. 7 iron distance is 162. Would you recommend  any of the following to a hack of this caliber? Thanks.

 

Apex Pro 2021

Cobra MIM Tour

ZX7

I’m a 10.3 with similar strengths and I play ZX7 6-PW and ZX5 5 iron.

Driver consistency has hurt me this year.

 

MIM are nice but smaller, however, I play a MIM GW and it is great.

 

For my game, the Apex Pro ‘21s would be okay to 7-iron and then I would need more forgiveness in the longer irons.

 

All great choices and all look great at address!

 

Rox

 

[kdphan]

8 index here

I play the Z785 4-PW and thinking about the P770/P790 and even ZX5

 

[20six]

Thanks, all, for the input.

[Nixhex524]

ZX5.  They look plenty playerish, but offer lots of help.  Maybe even a ZX5/7 combo set.

[nvr3putt]

5 hours ago, 20six said:

Strength of game is putting, pitching and chipping. Irons are solid from the 6 on down, 4 and 5 are inconsistent. Miss is a hook. 7 iron distance is 162. Would you recommend  any of the following to a hack of this caliber? Thanks.

 

Apex Pro 2021

Cobra MIM Tour

ZX7

What putter and wedges do you play? 

[ShowMe]

5 hours ago, 20six said:

Strength of game is putting, pitching and chipping. Irons are solid from the 6 on down, 4 and 5 are inconsistent. Miss is a hook. 7 iron distance is 162. Would you recommend  any of the following to a hack of this caliber? Thanks.

 

Apex Pro 2021

Cobra MIM Tour

ZX7

 

Apex 4 thru 6

Apex Pro 7 thru GW

[Hawkeye77]

Dump the 4/5 and get hybrids. 

[Fairway14]

ZX 7.

[wam78]

I’ll give you a sleeper that is easy to hit, looks and feels great and not overly expensive.  Wilson D7 forged.  Really fun iron!  Also, maybe check out Mizuno 921 forged.  Combo the forged with hot metal

pro in 4/5.  Just throwing out a couple of other ideas to think about.

[halliedog]

Only on WRX is an 8.1 a "hack" 😉 

 

"According to the USGA, the average handicap of a golfer of those who have established handicaps is 15, which equates to roughly a bogey golfer.   "Only one percent of golfers who have an official handicap index are single digit (below 10) or lower."

 

[i*windows]

I'm on a similar journey to you, thinking about new irons and I don't think there are any bad irons made these days, you will get a 'little' more help from say an Apex over an Apex pro, but not a significant amount. You just need to make sure that you get enough spin, or launch the ball high enough so the ball can stop on firmer greens.

 

Another brand to consider would be Honma, they offer some great clubs, but maybe hard to find. Or new Level Golf, have a great set of irons - but are difficult to test.

 

 

[SwingMan]

7 hours ago, 20six said:

Thanks, all, for the input.

 

No to all.

 

Get something slightly easier where you are hitting 5i and up consistently.

 

[vtpachyderm]

Short reply : Try the MIM's - they are surprisingly easy to hit and get in the air. Am considering them myself (7.7 hcp and play Apex Pro 16's)

 

Long answer below :-).

I play Apex Pro 16's with Recoil 110 F4 shafts in 4-P - they feel pretty stout. Have played my handicap down to 7.7 now. I don't play hybrids as I have found I can actually hit the long irons well (4 is 24 deg and I use it from 190 - 195 (175 - 180m on the course), 5 is 27 deg of loft). I have a 20 deg Srixon zu85 with a Recoil 95 F4 shaft that kicked out my 19 deg Cobra F7 hybrid.

 

I can hit these pretty well, but realize that I need to play/practice regularly to stay consistent which is getting harder due to other family time commitments, and so am considering getting a set of MIM Tours with slightly lighter shafts i.e. Recoil 95 F4's or MMT 95's (I have to play graphite due to arm issues). Have compared them to the Apex Pro 21's with the same shaft, and the MIM's are way easier to hit and get up in the air (they have pretty much the same lofting as my current set). I didn't like the feel of the new Apex Pro's compared to my 16's. The other alternative I'm considering is the T200 series in 4-W with the same shaft options to maintain some loft consistency. But just considering changing as I really like my current bag setup.

[alkal11]

I would give the Apex '21 a look. They are great irons. 

 

You could always mix in the Pro's as a combo set if you want in the lower irons. But if they don't look to big to you then they are definitely worth a shot. Lots of forgiveness and great turf interaction. 

[NoTalentLefty]

Consider the PXG 0311 P Irons.

[cgasucks]

Have you considered lessons or practicing more?  The T300s are very nice irons but are only as good as the person using them (as with most clubs).

[larryd3]

I'm in the same handicap range as you and just moved from the Apex 21s to PXG 0311 P Gen 3s.  They are on sale and great irons.  So far really liking them better.  Time will tell.  Prior to the Apex 21s I was playing prior year model T200 irons which were really good.  Those might be a suggestion if you can find them with the correct shafts for you.  

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

I'm a firm believer that how they look to you at address and how they feel when you hit them makes a difference in your results. I'd ask you what looks good to your eye and then go from there. 

[nsxguy]

Ping 425

[20six]

On 9/23/2021 at 10:17 PM, nvr3putt said:

What putter and wedges do you play? 

Cobra Agera at 37.5" and Bettinardi HLX 3.0

[Therty]

If you’re in the single digits you can play whatever you want. Find something you love the look of that has a sole you get along with.

[maamold]

On 9/23/2021 at 2:08 PM, 20six said:

Strength of game is putting, pitching and chipping. Irons are solid from the 6 on down, 4 and 5 are inconsistent. Miss is a hook. 7 iron distance is 162. Would you recommend  any of the following to a hack of this caliber? Thanks.

 

Apex Pro 2021

Cobra MIM Tour

ZX7

I own the Cobra Tour MIM irons. Without a doubt the best irons I've ever owned. Player looks without being scary, low offset, good turf interaction, extrememly forgiving. Consistent distances. 

[LHGolf4]

I am now down to a 7.8.  I ditched the 3,4, and 5 iron and got hybrids.  I am currently playing PXG 0311 P (Gen 2) irons that replaced Apex 21 DCB irons.  My irons were not the best part of my game, but I finally found a set that fits my swing.