Choices, choices and more choices: Ping i50 or i210 and DG 105 S300 or Project X LZ 6.0

[milobloom]

Getting back to playing more after a lean 3 years. HCP was 7-8 and irons have always been my strength (putting and short game another story). I'm in market for new irons (still playing Ping i3 after 20+ years) and have begun to realize it's now all about the shaft. So many options. Hit the PX LZ 6.0 (indoors) couple of times with i59 and it seems to fit me very well. Low dispersion, consistently straight and like the load up feel of it. Avg 7 iron speed 82 mph, ball speed 106 mph and RPM around 6600 (smash factor 1.29) with carry of 150. Not chasing distance (though I'd prefer not to lose any more). I read conflicting reviews that the LZ plays stiffer than comparable stiff shafts (and also read that it plays softer, thanks GolfWRX). Like everyone, I am aging (turned 50) and my swing leans to faster and aggressive tempo vs silky and smooth. I had purchased preowned iBlades and either the head and/or shaft (C-Taper Lite Stiff) did not seem to agree with me. Push fade was the miss and seemed like I often couldn't get the face squared up.  My normal miss has always been left (right handed). Sent iBlades back and now looking online at used sets of i210 (which I have not hit) and i59 in either DG 105 S300 (have not hit yet, going to try) or PX LZ 6.0 (see above) or maybe LZ in 5.5 (which I've not hit). Any thoughts? Other options to consider?

[milobloom]

New here.  No way to edit my topic?  i59 not i50.

[PureDivots]

I’m a bit of a LZ fanatic. I’ve played both 6.0 and 6.5 regularly. I have hit the 5.5 a decent number of time as well. To me the biggest difference between flexes with the LZ is the weight. There is a difference in stiffness but because the shaft is so easy to load I find it’s not as noticeable compared to other shafts. My 60’s father plays 6.0 with no issue, I think anyone could play them. 

[milobloom]

That was my thinking as well and I'm concerned something like DG 105 will be too light for my tempo.  But too much reading on this site and elsewhere got me questioning my sanity! 

[Jeff58]

Lots of questions 😀

 

ProjectX shafts tend to run very stiff to the classic R S X designations. ProjectX LZ shafts are significantly softer overall with a softer mid section (the LZ, or loading zone).

 

At a 150 7 iron carry with 6600 rpms, you’re giving up a significant amount of distance, probably unnecessarily, to spin and height. As a set, i210’s will spin more than the i59’s, which will act to collapse your yardage gapping on the short end of set. Combining i210’s with PX LZ’s could be doubly disappointing.

 

My 7 iron swing speed is slightly higher than yours. I have 2 sets of irons, P790’s with DG105 S and ZX5 with C taper lite’s. In neither case do I consider them a disadvantage in terms of timing and tempo. The key to moving to lighter iron shafts IMO is to maintain an optimal swing weight. It’s the cases where heavier shafts are blindly traded for lighter ones that tend to generate the worst responses.

[doctorjedi]

Shafts don't make as big a difference as the head.  I would pick the head you want to see in your bag and the shaft you like the feel of more.

[milobloom]

3 hours ago, doctorjedi said:

Shafts don't make as big a difference as the head.  I would pick the head you want to see in your bag and the shaft you like the feel of more.

I disagree that shafts don't make a difference. The golf swing is full of many moving parts and each piece contributes - hence why having a good fitting and can make a big difference.  I'm buying used since I'd rather spend $2,350 CAD on playing actual golf rather than clubs, but the trade-off is I'm rolling the dice on shafts. If the PX LZ doesn't agree with me, I'll look at other options, and still be below cost of new i59s. The i210s are hard to find right now where I am. I recall hitting them a while back and remember it fondly - though it could be a GolfWRX placebo you get from reading all the great things about them 🙂 

[Poor Fortune]

I just got fitted for the LZ 6.0 in my new PXG 0211's. I have a smooth tempo swing, and a naturally high launch. The LZ feels a little stiffer over all, to me, but not in a bad way. The shaft loads nicely, and I don't feel any weird kick. My swing speed is similar to yours, but my carry is a little further (betting this is the iron head). 

I agree with the above statement to start with a iron head you like and then get the appropriate shaft. I was amazed during my fitting how different the same shaft felt with a different club head.