Lowest lofted set/non-utility iron

[bobbyclampett!!]

Really not getting along with 3w right now. Haven’t been for a couple years. Not doing its job of finding fairways. Liking irons better, but never have liked chunky, fat , offset utility/driving irons who want to get the ball up where I want ball to stay down. 

 

What’s the lowest lofted “set” iron out there? Right now I have a 19* i200 3 iron. Wish I could get a 16* i200 2 iron. Or something similar. 

[Kingcat990]

Mizuno H4/H5 1i @ 16°

[ChipNRun]

Any chance the 3W itself is problem? Consider switching to 4W.

 

Ping players often get 5W and play it at 17.5* or loft down to 16.5* (basically a 4W). And, the 5W shaft is shorter and easier to control.

 

And, 4W will get you better distance out of light rough than a driving iron.

 

Plus, you already have a P790 3i. Can you get distance with that as a fairway finder? And, can you hit a stinger with 3i?

 

Just something to think about.

[Golfingfanatic]

AP2 2 iron if you can find one.

[PEI_Golfer]

7 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

Any chance the 3W itself is problem?

I'm thinking it's the shaft he has even tho I don't get along with Ping fairways either.  Better options out there.

[Ger21]

I have a Honma TW-X 18° 3 iron.

[Sean124]

PXG 0311 XP 3 iron. 
 

Gen 3: 17 degrees 

Gen 4: 16 degrees 

 

I use the Gen 3 as a driving iron. It’s a rocket. 

[tilasan1]

U500 2 iron is 17 degrees.  Pretty sure you could bend a degree or two also.

[rsballer10]

12 hours ago, bobbyclampett!! said:

Really not getting along with 3w right now. Haven’t been for a couple years. Not doing its job of finding fairways. Liking irons better, but never have liked chunky, fat , offset utility/driving irons who want to get the ball up where I want ball to stay down. 

 

What’s the lowest lofted “set” iron out there? Right now I have a 19* i200 3 iron. Wish I could get a 16* i200 2 iron. Or something similar. 

 

I think in the extreme low lofts it's not ideal to have a set iron. Unless your CH speed is extremely high, launch and spin aren't going to be ideal. Even on tour, players start transitioning into higher launch/spin irons at the 4 iron (22-24 degrees) and even sometimes the 5 iron (26-28 degrees). Doubtful a set iron is a good fit at 16-17 degrees.

[GMR2iron]

Titleist 620CB has an 18* 2 iron

[bobbyclampett!!]

On 11/28/2021 at 9:41 PM, Kingcat990 said:

Mizuno H4/H5 1i @ 16°

 

Yo that MP20 HMB 2 iron at 16 degrees is hot. May be the answer. Thank you!

 

On 11/28/2021 at 10:02 PM, ChipNRun said:

Any chance the 3W itself is problem? Consider switching to 4W.

 

Ping players often get 5W and play it at 17.5* or loft down to 16.5* (basically a 4W). And, the 5W shaft is shorter and easier to control.

 

And, 4W will get you better distance out of light rough than a driving iron.

 

Plus, you already have a P790 3i. Can you get distance with that as a fairway finder? And, can you hit a stinger with 3i?

 

Just something to think about.

 

Yeah, I don't know if other 3 woods would be better.  Seems like a lot of Ping pros have a Sim 3w or some other 3w. It's so strange, but the Ping 3 wood is the only club I will just cold top every now and then. Was an issue with my G400 with a HZRDUS Black shaft and now the G425 with Ping Tour shaft. I just can't feel the head. And even when I do connect, the chances of it going straight are fairly slim. LOVE the G400 Max, on the other hand. That thing doesn't do anything but go straight.

 

On 11/29/2021 at 9:33 AM, Sean124 said:

PXG 0311 XP 3 iron. 
 

Gen 3: 17 degrees 

Gen 4: 16 degrees 

 

I use the Gen 3 as a driving iron. It’s a rocket. 

 

That Gen 4 3 iron at 16 degrees is also hot. Those are the two best options I've seen so far.

 

Thanks for the recommendations. If anyone else has some ideas, keep em coming. Love that there a couple of decent 16 degree set options out there.

 

Of the 0311 and the HMB, anyone compared them?

[Fade]

https://www.banggolf.com/shop/club.aspx?p=KIRIBM&c=KIR

 

(#0) 11ºin-stock(#1) 14ºin-stock(#2) 17ºin-stock(#3) 20ºin-stock(#4) 23ºin-stock(#5) 26ºin-stock(#6) 29ºin-stock(#7) 32ºin-stock(#8) 36ºin-stock(#9) 40ºin-stock(#P) 45ºin-stock(#D) 50ºin-stock(#S) 55ºin-stock(#L) 60ºin-stock(#X) 65ºin-stock

[aadadams]

I play Speed Blades irons and the 3i is 17*.

 

[ChipNRun]

43 minutes ago, bobbyclampett!! said:

LOVE the G400 Max, on the other hand. That thing doesn't do anything but go straight.

 

OK, then use it! Do you want to impress people on the first tee showing off your G425 with Ping Tour shaft, or do you want to golf well?

 

Be a player, not a poseur... You'll be happier.

[A.Princey]

Callaway Rogue - 18* 3i

Cally Rogue X - 18.5* 4i

Cally Mavrik/Max - 18/18.5*, respectively.

 

All high launch and low spin rockets.

[bobbyclampett!!]

56 minutes ago, Fade said:

https://www.banggolf.com/shop/club.aspx?p=KIRIBM&c=KIR

 

(#0) 11ºin-stock(#1) 14ºin-stock(#2) 17ºin-stock(#3) 20ºin-stock(#4) 23ºin-stock(#5) 26ºin-stock(#6) 29ºin-stock(#7) 32ºin-stock(#8) 36ºin-stock(#9) 40ºin-stock(#P) 45ºin-stock(#D) 50ºin-stock(#S) 55ºin-stock(#L) 60ºin-stock(#X) 65ºin-stock

11 degree zero iron! 😹

[bobbyclampett!!]

17 minutes ago, ChipNRun said:

 

OK, then use it! Do you want to impress people on the first tee showing off your G425 with Ping Tour shaft, or do you want to golf well?

 

Be a player, not a poseur... You'll be happier.

Whoops, sorry, meant I love the G400 max DRIVER. Did not get along with G400 3W either. 

[bobbyclampett!!]

On 11/28/2021 at 10:02 PM, ChipNRun said:

Any chance the 3W itself is problem? Consider switching to 4W.

 

Ping players often get 5W and play it at 17.5* or loft down to 16.5* (basically a 4W). And, the 5W shaft is shorter and easier to control.

 

And, 4W will get you better distance out of light rough than a driving iron.

 

Plus, you already have a P790 3i. Can you get distance with that as a fairway finder? And, can you hit a stinger with 3i?

 

Just something to think about.

Oh, also forgot to say I’m ditching the P790 with the DI shaft. It just feels too different from my i200s with DG 120. I am not confident in it. Although it is an absolute rocket when hit properly. 

[bobbyclampett!!]

Hmm, I’m torn between MP20 HMB and Gen 4 XP. HMB has less than half the offset of the XP, which I think I like as I think I don’t like big chunky offset driving irons, but 790 was minimal offset and I didn’t get along with it super well. Also, I would just guess XP is closer in style to i200, what with the Ping defection to PXG. 

 

Any thoughts?

[justcallmemoses]

Mizuno JPX 921 Hot metal pro is 19 degrees and bendable stronger if needed.

[bobbyclampett!!]

Hmm, and now things complicated by PXG introducing a driving iron with 18 degrees loft but .1” offset and meant to keep ball down, which I’m guessing would produce a lower flight than the Gen 4 16 degree set 3 iron that is a SGI iron which I’m guessing is meant to produce a higher ball flight….

[Kingcat990]

The new PXG seems like a no brainer IMO. I'm kicking tires on it. They got it right. 

[bobbyclampett!!]

23 hours ago, Kingcat990 said:

The new PXG seems like a no brainer IMO. I'm kicking tires on it. They got it right. 

You got one? Let us know how it goes. I’m very interested. 

[Kingcat990]

Just now, bobbyclampett!! said:

You got one? Let us know how it goes. I’m very interested. 

I don't. I was hoping you'd take the $300 dive and report 😁. I currently have an equivalent in a TEE CBX 119 16° that's been lethal and keeps the flight way down. I just can't stand to look down at it. Hideous little head. 

[bobbyclampett!!]

3 hours ago, Kingcat990 said:

I don't. I was hoping you'd take the $300 dive and report 😁. I currently have an equivalent in a TEE CBX 119 16° that's been lethal and keeps the flight way down. I just can't stand to look down at it. Hideous little head. 

You know what, I think I am going to do it. I’ve been a good boy this year. 😇 That head just looks perfect at address (like a set iron, not a fat, chunky utility iron) and its selling points are exactly what I’m looking for: low launch, low spin. Only question I have is how to utilize those weight port customization options to “dial in at a fitting” when I’m not trying one out at a fitting. Do I just tell them what swing weight I think I want and then see how it feels when I get it?

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

TL, DR: consider a hybrid or wood instead of an iron. 

Long version:

I shoot mid to high 80‘s on medium hard courses (71.1/139, 71.3/136). 
I’ve had a complicated relationship with anything between Driver and my 19* club, but after a lot of testing, I know this: low lofted irons are one-trick ponies and 3-woods are almost as hard to hit as the driver, and since they aren’t used exclusively from the tee box, they are ultimately the hardest club to handle in the bag of a mid-handicapper. 

 

If you’re never in the deep rough off the tee, and can hit anything below a 19* iron reliably high and far off the turf, you are a very good golfer and should by all means use one. But I believe hybrids and woods are the way to go for us mere mortals.

 

They look less cool, I get it. Yes, it’s awesome to flush a 2i and marvel at that low flight through a strong headwind. But they’re just not versatile and easy enough to use for the different lies and mental situations I’m facing during a normal round.

 

My game is all about confidence. If I need to hit a narrow fairway or reach a green after a bad drive, or if I’m playing a very long Par 4, I want a reliable tool.

That’s when I reach for these clubs.

 

Getting on in 2 on a Par 5 is not what I’m faced with usually, it’s „dang, after that mishit of the tee, I need to get back in play out of that rough and save my Par“. If I’m looking down at a 2i in this scenario, I’m screwed. 

Currently, I’m torn between a Tour Edge 2H at 16* (CBX 119, and I think it looks awesome), and a Mizuno JPX 850 5W that I lofted down to 17*.  

Both are

- great and reliable off the tee

- easy to hit off the deck

- good out of light rough

- spinning enough to hold greens

2H is

- a straight up cannon

- easier to flight down

- more draw/hook prone

- a little less forgiving due to smaller face, but shorter shaft somewhat equalizes this

 

5W is

- long and high
- more forgiving (bigger face, smoother leading edge)

- sometimes ballooning

 

My 3 different driving irons are

- sexy as hell in the bag

- like Viagra if you catch one perfect

- more piercing through a headwind

- hard to hit flush every time

- very unforgiving (distance loss)

- tough to hold greens with

- hard to hit off the deck

- useless out of the rough

I might upgrade my 5W and this could be the ticket. Or I‘ll stick to the 2H. But I won’t go back to a low lofted iron. 

Thanks for coming to my TED talk. 

[BubbaBallesteros]

PING G425 #2 hybrid at 17° and loft it down to 15.5°. A 4W or 5W could also be an options. 

 

Going straight from driver into a super low lofted set iron seems awfully ambitious and the gapping would be crazy at the top of your bag. 

 

If it's just a technique/swing issue, I would take that money and get some lessons.

[bobbyclampett!!]

13 hours ago, BubbaBallesteros said:

PING G425 #2 hybrid at 17° and loft it down to 15.5°. A 4W or 5W could also be an options. 

 

Going straight from driver into a super low lofted set iron seems awfully ambitious and the gapping would be crazy at the top of your bag. 

 

If it's just a technique/swing issue, I would take that money and get some lessons.

Yeah, I've been thinking about this. I kind of like the idea of going straight from driver to iron. Maybe one of my issues with 3W is that it is basically the only club in the bag where you have a neutral, aka sweeping, angle of attack. Driver you're hitting off a tee, and then all other clubs you have that downward AoA. It's almost like you have to learn an entirely different swing for 3W. Maybe one of the reasons I suck with it.

 

I want club after driver to be straight fairway finder. Don't even care if it results in a big gap. It's pretty much never that I need exactly 285 club. When I'm pulling less than driver, it's because I need to hit it straight, not a certain distance. I'd like the straight iron I hit to go as far as possible, but it's not about getting it out there 285. It's about hitting a solid down the shot down the fairway.

 

My last three good tournament rounds of 2021 (73, 72, 76 in State Am-Tournaments) I didn't hit 3w once. I don't really need it. But I would like to have an iron that I know is going straight and as far as an iron will go.

 

Don't like hybrids because they balloon and hook. Don't trust them at all.

 

edit: ps a mini-tour pro I know goes Driver 2-3 iron for the reasons stated above. He does hit that 2i about 300 yards at altitude though. It goes about 225 in the air and the rest is all hot hot roll.

 

Edited December 5, 2021 by bobbyclampett!!