Thin soled Iron with forgiveness for a Sweeper!

[shaolingolfer]

Guys, I am a "Sweeper".

 

When I work on trying to hit down the iron more with more hand in front, being shallow and try to hit down.  It get me into all kind of troubles with thicker sole irons, thin or chunky.  It seems I always hit the iron too low on the grooves.

 

Last years or so, I have been trying all kind of irons and it seems thinner the sole, less offset really help me to actually get in the turf more and have better ball contact higher on the iron face.  Because I can start "slightly" hit down more with proper technique, I can compress the ball more and only lose a few yards of distance even with iron that has 3 degree more loft (0311 P to 0311 ST).   My ball striking with my irons has improved significantly with blade because of better turf interaction (I can get in the turf more) and more satisfying.

 

Might be with more range sessions and Golfwrx therapy, one day I will not be a sweeper anymore.

 

 

 

 

[martinbns]

Op doesn't mention swing style other than sweeper.

 

I am sort of a sweeper, and I suspect it has a lot to do with the clubs I use which tend to me semi wide soled.  Don't overthink it, hit some clubs see what feels best and go.

 

The never ending search for perfect equipment is a mirage, a decent player can play almost any iron with the appropriate shaft.

[ChaosTheory]

1 hour ago, DHoch said:

The v-sole is a love or hate proposition in my experience. I'm in the hate camp, which is a bummer because Srixon make great irons.

Same observation here. 

[Brobespierre]

Well I don’t think any of these are incorrect. I would just add that there is “thin” and then there is “thin for a forgiving iron” or “thinner”

 

I will throw in a couple recent ones I find “thinner”

 

Titleist T300 is super forgiving but thinner than some other shovels in the sole.

 

Cobra MiM Tour is a larger bladed for a players iron with a thinner sole. 

Really depends on whether thin or forgiving is more important to you.

[m_w]

Callaway Rogue ST Pro

Callaway Apex

Mizuno MP20 MMC

Honma TR20P

Titleist T100S

Ping i525

 

 

[toddba11]

4 hours ago, ob1soccer said:

dont they have alot of bounce? 

I bought a set coming from the Wilson Staff blades and did not get along with them at all, for a sweeper hard to beat the thin sole, low bounce and feel of the newer (2020 or so production) Wilson Staff irons.

[ericft]

as a sweeper my observations: 

thick soles don't work. 

zx7 v sole doesn't either

best luck I have had is with ping iblades and taylormade p750 irons...perfect blend of forgiveness and sole width. P7MC might be a contemporary option. 

[Wardonation]

We are really better off with blades thin soles min bounce... I am pushing it with my MIM TOURS but going to grind trailing edge relief soon and should be perfect...

[Binson]

18 hours ago, Snowman9000 said:

Usually, thicker soles play like they have a lot of bounce.  That’s better for someone who is steep.  It’s not optimal for some who comes in shallow and doesn’t drive the club down below the ball.  

If one is delivering the club with shaft lean and a neutral AoA (which could be one definition of a sweeper), I don't see how the sole comes into play until after the club-face hits the ball though right?  And even after impact, if it really has a lot of ground interaction, is it still sweeping?  Because that then sounds like there's a fairly negative AoA.

 

If someone is steep and deliver the club with shaft lean, it's really the leading edge bounce that help most though, right?  Or, you could have a super thin sole, with a sharp leading edge that would then dig.

 

The only case I can think of where a thinner sole could help is if one delivers the club with negative AoA and add loft at impact (basically the least efficient possible strike in spin-loft).   

 

If the sole were fat, then it could interact with the ground before the leading edge quicker than a thin sole would. 

 

Right?  Sorry I'm just not quite understanding what being a "sweeper" actually means in terms of delivery conditions.  So, then I don't really see why having a thicker sole comes into factor at all. 

[DLong72]

Thin sole with a lot of camber is going to be your friend. I’ve found that Titleist T100-S or Ping i59 (in power specs lofts) are great current choices for that.

A pre-worn leading edge will be your best friend. None of the current new iron lines have this but recent models that have worked great for me with this feature are TaylorMade P760 and Titleist 718 AP2s. 

[bladehunter]

2019 t100.  Only iron that’s not an Mb that I’ve got on with more than 2 months. 

[Breiman]

If I only kept that old set of Hogan Apex II …. There was a playable club that swept thru the grass with ease and had just enough forgiveness.

[ob1soccer]

4 hours ago, ericft said:

as a sweeper my observations: 

thick soles don't work. 

zx7 v sole doesn't either

best luck I have had is with ping iblades and taylormade p750 irons...perfect blend of forgiveness and sole width. P7MC might be a contemporary option. 

but how about a sweeper that needs forgiveness? Then a narrow sole wont work right

[ob1soccer]

4 hours ago, Binson said:

If one is delivering the club with shaft lean and a neutral AoA (which could be one definition of a sweeper), I don't see how the sole comes into play until after the club-face hits the ball though right?  And even after impact, if it really has a lot of ground interaction, is it still sweeping?  Because that then sounds like there's a fairly negative AoA.

 

If someone is steep and deliver the club with shaft lean, it's really the leading edge bounce that help most though, right?  Or, you could have a super thin sole, with a sharp leading edge that would then dig.

 

The only case I can think of where a thinner sole could help is if one delivers the club with negative AoA and add loft at impact (basically the least efficient possible strike in spin-loft).   

 

If the sole were fat, then it could interact with the ground before the leading edge quicker than a thin sole would. 

 

Right?  Sorry I'm just not quite understanding what being a "sweeper" actually means in terms of delivery conditions.  So, then I don't really see why having a thicker sole comes into factor at all. 

yeah everything u just asked i want to know as well.

[CUBuffaloes]

Callaway Apex Pros work well for me but I would not hesitate to go with a Maltby TS1 (or TS2 if you want something more forgiving). The TS1s were in the bag before being replaced with the Apex Pros and the Pros were only bought because I got a great deal on them and the allure of new clubs were tough to resist at the time.

 

If my Callaways were stolen or lost today I'd be ordering a set of Maltby TS1s tomorrow.

 

[dayvei214]

On 5/2/2022 at 3:26 PM, jomatty said:

They are my favorite iron released this year but they are a bit thick in the sole imho.  

I agree with this. I'm not fooled by those beveled top lines and soles. Especially after playing t100/mp20mmc.

Used to have a set of Apex 19 that I pick up to look at every now and then at pgas and they look like sgi clubs to me now LoL. 

 

 

[ericft]

44 minutes ago, ob1soccer said:

yeah everything u just asked i want to know as well.

The issue I find is as a sweeper my miss is thin adding loft. Most often neutral shallow aoa but sometimes thin. Anything with wide sole risks making early contact with ground behind the ball. Perfect hits are a little divot for me. Sweeper generally means the miss is thin no divot. Bit usually a small divot. Anything with thick sole will bounce out of the ground and catch the ball thin. 
I find the iblades perfect blend as they are thin soled but have longer blade length that adds forgiveness front to back which I need. I do not need sole forgiveness. It only hurts to have a thick sole. 

[App Alum]

On 5/2/2022 at 11:35 AM, Brentwalker52 said:

If this has been addressed before I apologize, I went through a fitting and was told that since I sweep the ball and almost never take a divot, I would be better served with a iron that has a thinner sole which is completely opposite with what I have been playing! so I'm asking you guys what thinner sole irons are out there with some  forgiveness for a mid capper??? have been looking at rogue pro and apex pro 19 online but open to all brands! Thanks in Advance

New Level 902 OS

[ob1soccer]

1 hour ago, ericft said:

The issue I find is as a sweeper my miss is thin adding loft. Most often neutral shallow aoa but sometimes thin. Anything with wide sole risks making early contact with ground behind the ball. Perfect hits are a little divot for me. Sweeper generally means the miss is thin no divot. Bit usually a small divot. Anything with thick sole will bounce out of the ground and catch the ball thin. 
I find the iblades perfect blend as they are thin soled but have longer blade length that adds forgiveness front to back which I need. I do not need sole forgiveness. It only hurts to have a thick sole. 

it sounds like we cant win until we get better? Im not sure i add loft because i hit the ball too low already. how forgiving are the Iblades

[ericft]

1 hour ago, ob1soccer said:

it sounds like we cant win until we get better? Im not sure i add loft because i hit the ball too low already. how forgiving are the Iblades

One of the most forgiving blade like irons. The name is misleading as they are more of a players cavity. Unfortunate ping didn’t keep them going. One of the best irons made for playability feel and forgiveness. I have 2 sets!

[ericft]

2 hours ago, App Alum said:

New Level 902 OS

Just getting a demo of the 623 cb, 902 pd and 902 os this Friday to see which has the thinnest sole. 

[Jmccas]

On 5/3/2022 at 6:00 AM, Florida Gator said:

I’m currently playing the MP-5 but the 221s are much more forgiving than you would expect.

Interesting observation. I’m playing MP4s and could use a touch more forgiveness. If you had to quantify, how much more forgiving would you say they are?

[EastTNGolfer]

Honestly I think it comes down to whatever you feel hits best. Even between different sweepers and steep hitters they will have different feels with turf interaction. I'm a sweeper and prefer the wider v-sole of the ZX5s. Just go somewhere where you can try out different irons on actual turf.

[games]

I hit it on the forehead as much as anyone.  Maltby DBM or TE for the win.

 

Had a fitting in March, where my thin shots were on full display.  You know those Oban CT iron shafts that CC fits everyone into, but no one buys?  If CC did outdoor fittings they’d sell more of those.  Was hitting T300 head, carry 155-160.  Most shafts, my thin miss carried 135-140.  But with the Oban shafts my misses carried 145-150.  
 

So while I’m waiting for the T300s, I have a set of DBMs, and my club guy has access to Obans.  Hmm…

[Kelmore01]

Anyone try Miura TC201 as a sweeper?

[Binson]

13 hours ago, ericft said:

The issue I find is as a sweeper my miss is thin adding loft. Most often neutral shallow aoa but sometimes thin. Anything with wide sole risks making early contact with ground behind the ball. Perfect hits are a little divot for me. Sweeper generally means the miss is thin no divot. Bit usually a small divot. Anything with thick sole will bounce out of the ground and catch the ball thin. 
I find the iblades perfect blend as they are thin soled but have longer blade length that adds forgiveness front to back which I need. I do not need sole forgiveness. It only hurts to have a thick sole. 

Ok, so in this case, the definition here is neutral to upward AoA + adding loft.  Sweeper is just such a generic term that it could also apply to my current swing, with a fairly neutral AoA (about 1 to 2 degrees negative) but decreased loft.  So, appreciate the clarification.

 

Prior to swing changes when I had that neutral to upward AoA while adding loft, I played Ping S58's for the thinner sole and low VCOG.  I chose them since they are a bit of an anomaly according to the Maltby numbers for the style of club.  I still had problems with fatting it (since my low point was either right at or before the ball) but in combination with the center of gravity not being so far back compared to a regular GI iron, I think the thinner sole and low VCOG did help on thin strikes.   That said, I did eventually move into the Rapture V1 J-Spec which also have a very low VCOG and I found that to be more forgiving for the swing I had at the time.  There's some camber built into the thicker sole and maybe the more rounded leading edge as well as the forgiveness saved me from fat-ish shots as well as the thin ones. 

 

I remember the pure lack of confidence I had with iron in hand after a good drive... Glad that swing is in my past xD

[silverbackster]

Believe it or not PXG. 0211ST (super tour) are great narrow sole with stronger loft 7i @32degree With MMT. It’s a stretch for mid capper!!! But I have become better ball striker instead of swinging club violently. So  it’s a deal for $90/head.. fitting is $50 buck worth the travel to get the right lie and shaft… plus it’s 1 piece forging and look sexy as hell.. 

Edited May 6, 2022 by silverbackster

[Chunkitgood]

I sure thought modern GI irons with thick soles were designed to help people

like the OP (and the vast majority of golfers), the idea being to prevent his early contact from digging or at least being stopped or slowed down by the ground.

 

Maybe the thin soles bounce less on the mats people are fitted on.

 

 

[craz-e]

2 hours ago, silverbackster said:

Believe it or not PXG. 0211ST (super tour) are great narrow sole with stronger loft 7i @32degree With MMT. It’s a stretch for mid capper!!! But I have become better ball striker instead of swinging club violently. So  it’s a deal for $90/head.. fitting is $50 buck worth the travel to get the right lie and shaft… plus it’s 1 piece forging and look sexy as hell.. 

 

They look good 

[ob1soccer]

wow those look awesome