How good do you need to be to play T100S irons?

[Vater]

I’m thinking of getting T100S short irons. I hit them well in the bay and got consistent numbers for my short irons. I love the buttery feel and control that I’m looking for more of in my short irons. 
 

But how good do you need to be to play them over time, not just at the shop?

 

Do you need to be a blade player, a solid low handicapper, a super ball striker? 
 

Anyone playing then who’s more of just an average golfer?

[LeftyMatt24]

Depends on your strengths. Also which irons you’re going to get the t100s in i think contributes to if you can play them. I’d say if you’re a good ball striker should have no issues with 7 iron down. 

[jeff1727]

I ordered a combo set - T100s (7-48*), (T200) in 5-6.  If they ever come in I will let you know how they perform in the real world.   When testing I could have gone straight 5-48* in T100s but felt a little more confidence looking down at T200’s in long irons.  I usually shoot 76-82 for reference.  

Edited February 18, 2022 by jeff1727

[third-times-a-charm]

You can play whatever you want. Theres 25hc who play blades 'cause it makes them feel good.

 

I would say at least a 10hc at the most to properly make use of them and get the ball speed and striking you need. Im sure there will be differing opinions.

[golfandtennisfan]

Vater, as someone who also fits clubs, more important than your handicap is your ball striking skill/consistency. If someone is a great ball striker but has a poor short game, their handicap may be higher than what I would generally  suggest handicap wise. If a very good ball striker, up to 15 to 20 is possible with a combo set as you are considering. That would be pretty rare however. If just basing off handicap, I would agree a 10-12 max handicap. Taylormade had said when the current 770 came out they suggested 6 or less and that is a comparable club class wise. If you trust your ball striking, I say go for it. 

[R5Two]

No. You can hit them. Practice. If you hit them well in the bay just give yourself some time on the course and you'll get used to them 

[CUBuffaloes]

Don't let someone tell you that your handicap has to be at least a certain number to play them. If you like them, play them.

 

I'm a crappy bogey golfer but I'd happily play a set of T100s. I can't stand wide soles and huge offset commonly found in GI irons. I've tried GI irons and shoot worse than I do with a more players type club. Find the right shaft and play what you want.

 

[David Miller]

I completely agree with the comments above. If you like them... go for them! 

 

For reference I'm a 4 handicap who just put some T100's in the bag. I love them but they're honestly more forgiving than I thought they would be (I used to play Callaway Apex's). However, not to rephrase everything mentioned above, it does help if they are the shorter irons. After all, your wedges are probably "blade-like". 

 

I've always thought that it would make the most sense for someone to play 

"blade-like" wedges

"blade / players (T100) irons" -> short irons

"players (T100) / players distance (T200) irons -> longer irons. 

 

 

[KBong]

4 hours ago, Vater said:

I’m thinking of getting T100S short irons. I hit them well in the bay and got consistent numbers for my short irons. I love the buttery feel and control that I’m looking for more of in my short irons. 
 

But how good do you need to be to play them over time, not just at the shop?

 

Do you need to be a blade player, a solid low handicapper, a super ball striker? 
 

Anyone playing then who’s more of just an average golfer?

If you like them and like the results...buy them...you need not validate with others how to spend you own money.

Will they lower your cap?....likely not.

[tsecor]

I have the T100-S irons and i play to a 10-12 for the most part. My overall game has improved with these clubs....especially the 150 and in range...if you like em, play em....all the HDCP crap people try to put on you is bogus....if you can strike it reasonably well, you can play these. to me, they are much easier to hit then the credit they are given. 

 

 

[Rosey31]

8 hours ago, KBong said:

If you like them and like the results...buy them...you need not validate with others how to spend you own money.

Will they lower your cap?....likely not.

This!!

[me05501]

I've always preferred to play irons that are middle of the road in terms of forgiveness. I'm always between an 11-13 handicap and I've played Srixon Z765's, Z565's, Callaway X-20 Pros and similar irons for years. 

 

I've flirted with bigger heads in the past like the Ping G series and others. I just don't enjoy using them and they don't seem to help me score any better. 

 

Almost anyone with a repeatable swing can use a wedge or nine iron of any type. It really comes down to is how many shots per round you need to use a 5/6/7 iron for a precision shot. It's probably fewer than 6-7 shots for most people. 

[Streetscape]

I just got a very good deal on a set of T100 S irons. I don't have an official hdcp, but I am by no means good (yet to break 100). I bought them because while they may be lacking in forgiveness, I have hit them periodically at shops and what I really enjoyed compared to my old irons (Callaway X hot pros) is that I could feel exactly where on the face I was striking the ball. I also really enjoy the look of them and I have already been putting a lot of work in to improve my ballstriking. Long story short, if they fit your eye and like how YOU hit them, get them. AS long as you feel confident standing over the ball, play whatever you like.

[cgasucks]

It is OP's money if he wants to buy them, but if he wants his money's worth on those clubs and have it perform the way they were designed for, he's better hit it off the sweet spot on all those irons (including long irons) consistently.

Edited February 18, 2022 by cgasucks

[Whodamon1]

The T100s is surprisingly forgiving.  I am almost a year out from my 4th back surgery since 9/2018.  My swing has been all over the place since the surgeries.  I am coming from 716T-MB's.  Played them because I thought they were so easy to hit.  Wasn't sure if I had the game anymore to play a club like the T100s.  I hit them in a fitting in Sept. and really loved them.  My swing has gone from 2* up to now 2* down.  I have struggled a lot with ball striking over the last 4yrs. simply due to the changes in my body and that i haven't practiced in almost 5yrs.  I have no problems at all playing these irons.  I have 5-PW currently and have just ordered the 4 iron.  They are just really good sticks.

If you like'em, play'em! 

 

[Streetscape]

9 minutes ago, Whodamon1 said:

The T100s is surprisingly forgiving.  I am almost a year out from my 4th back surgery since 9/2018.  My swing has been all over the place since the surgeries.  I am coming from 716T-MB's.  Played them because I thought they were so easy to hit.  Wasn't sure if I had the game anymore to play a club like the T100s.  I hit them in a fitting in Sept. and really loved them.  My swing has gone from 2* up to now 2* down.  I have struggled a lot with ball striking over the last 4yrs. simply due to the changes in my body and that i haven't practiced in almost 5yrs.  I have no problems at all playing these irons.  I have 5-PW currently and have just ordered the 4 iron.  They are just really good sticks.

If you like'em, play'em! 

 

How has golfing been with your back? I dread the day I need surgery to fix mine...

[scooterhd2]

Slightly better than me. 

[Tiptx1122]

Hey if you like how they look and feel you should play whatever you want. Now if you're planning on getting super serious maybe go get professionally fitted. I was never professionally fitted but was fitted and demo'ed so many different sets that I have no reason to look elsewhere as I feel that I have the perfect set for me. Now with what I play I'm surprised why I don't shoot under par every time I got out Lol! No but seriously I don't really expect that but try to hit as many brands and try as many different shafts that you can and don't just go by what OP say about this or that brand. Your opinion is what matter and don't let anyone influence you in hitting something other than what you are hitting well and like. 

[Bad9]

If you have to ask you aren't good enough😉😇😁

[Itsjustagame]

The only way you will know is to buy/borrow/steal a set and try them on the golf course for several weeks. 

Can always sell them if it doesn't work out, and you will have learned far more than you will ever learn about what you like/want in an iron than you will find on the range or an on-line forum.

Edited February 18, 2022 by Itsjustagame

[iNeedMoreGolf]

If you're even just a decent iron striker then you will be just fine. Only the guys who duff and chunk and blade irons shouldnt play smaller clubs. If you can get the ball up and to your desired distance in the general area of direction you want then there is no problem. Even down to a 4 iron if you can. This modern stuff is way more forgiving then they lead on imo.

[Whodamon1]

2 hours ago, Streetscape said:

How has golfing been with your back? I dread the day I need surgery to fix mine...

Not great.  But I am still able to swing. Can be really frustrating. Still have a long way to go to get strength back.  And learning to work with the nerve damage and drop foot in my right leg. This Dr. has been very cautious with recovery this go around ( and i have been a bit lazy as well) .  A lot of people acted like a fusion (5 levels) was a death sentence for playing golf.  I actually walked out on 2 different Dr's that said I should quit playing golf.  Definitely can't do what I used to do, but I am still able to play.  I'll do it till I can't.  I guess Im kinda lucky that i can still play.  

 

[PGAproretired]

Vader, I am a retire PGA Professional and I will be 80 years old the first week in April.  Needless to say, I am no longer a single digit player, usually playing just nine holes and shooting any where from 38 to 44 from the mid tees.  I played the T100 irons and love them.  Are they unforgiving?  Not like the blades of my youth.  Are they forgiving?  Much more so than I expected.

 

If you consistently play the ball off the center of the club face and like how they look to you, buy them.  They are sweet.  

 

BC

[Vater]

I appreciate the insights that seem to have a couple themes to them. Gives me a better sense of longer-term performance. Kinda like reading the 10,000 mile review instead of the just off the track review.

 

Could've gone the way of "Yeah, they're pretty, but I feel like I need to be perfect every time or I get punished for it." And I'm not hearing that.

 

I think one thing that I've noticed with my question and many other threads is that no one is asking for permission or someone else's opinion on whether or not they should buy something. Of course we know we should buy what we want. That's not the question.

 

The question is if anyone has had real-life experience with the equipment and found them to be easier/harder/finicky/poorly built/deader/even better than when they tested them. I get that's largely unique to the person, but to my car analogy above, I want to know if the acceleration time is only true on a cold day at sea-level, if the handling isn't what the marketing says it is, or if the new bells and whistles all go haywire after 1000 miles... But I'm not asking for validation or permission to buy my car.

[rsballer10]

I think because of the forgiveness built into them, mid handicaps could play T100 irons just fine. A lot of these "player's performance" irons fit such a wide range of golfers. Because of the multi-material construction, a smaller iron can "look" compact but "play" like a larger iron.

[lggolf42]

I'm a 10HC and my buddy who's a scratch just got them. I hit them great in a simulator and they felt amazing. You have to try them out to see if they'll work for you. Really nice clubs

[Tree Levino]

17 hours ago, golfandtennisfan said:

Vater, as someone who also fits clubs, more important than your handicap is your ball striking skill/consistency. If someone is a great ball striker but has a poor short game, their handicap may be higher than what I would generally  suggest handicap wise. If a very good ball striker, up to 15 to 20 is possible with a combo set as you are considering. That would be pretty rare however. If just basing off handicap, I would agree a 10-12 max handicap. Taylormade had said when the current 770 came out they suggested 6 or less and that is a comparable club class wise. If you trust your ball striking, I say go for it. 

 

I've still never seen one of these mythical 15 HCs who is an elite ball striker but can't chip or putt. Not a fitter though. Just haven't encountered one in the wild. T100s are great irons and forgiving for what they are. My dad plays the previous version as a 10HC (he is only that due to being a very proficient chipper).  As someone that can launch things a little high due to poor wrist conditions and high speeds, I prefer the 2019 version, but my dad is the perfect example of a slightly slower player that benefits from the added launch of the new version. He hits his a bit too low and they don't spin quite enough. I have a feeling he will struggle with them on firm courses this summer and will opt for something a bit more forgiving. I LOVE them though and would highly recommend them to someone who spins the ball a bit too much but has speed. 

[Bad9]

22 minutes ago, TigerInTheWoods said:

 

I've still never seen one of these mythical 15 HCs who is an elite ball striker but can't chip or putt. 

as you said they are mythical and therefore don’t exist

[Sean124]

1 hour ago, Bad9 said:

as you said they are mythical and therefore don’t exist

I saw that guy on my course. He was playing with Bigfoot. 

[Hawkeye77]

As good as me, because I’ve decided over the course of the past several days I’m getting some!

Bar just set low!

Edited February 18, 2022 by Hawkeye77