Irons for ease of getting ball airbourne

[flognut]

Hi folks, right elbow arthritis is impeding my ability to practice much these days.  i have always been a sweeper/picker with minimal turf interaction but now i really need to move to a set that gets it airborne easily without going down after it.  any model suggestions with plenty of weight low in head but has low to minimal offset please?  i realize this combination is kind of rare but anything anyone can suggest will be greatly appreciated. thankyou

[North Butte]

I eventually decided they weren't for me but the all-hybrid sets like Cleveland HB Turbo (or whatever they call the current version) I'm convinced make it as easy to elevate the ball with a sweeping swing as any irons could possibly do. I actually found with the shorter irons in that set I was hitting kind of high, floaty shots that cost me some distance and believe me, hitting the ball TOO high was something I never thought I'd complain about. 

 

So for me, it was too much of a good thing. For you I've got to think they would work a treat. And they are not as clunky or awkward to hit off uneven lies and such as you might think from looking at them. They're a pretty well thought out set of clubs. Worth considering. 

[flognut]

19 minutes ago, North Butte said:

I eventually decided they weren't for me but the all-hybrid sets like Cleveland HB Turbo (or whatever they call the current version) I'm convinced make it as easy to elevate the ball with a sweeping swing as any irons could possibly do. I actually found with the shorter irons in that set I was hitting kind of high, floaty shots that cost me some distance and believe me, hitting the ball TOO high was something I never thought I'd complain about. 

 

So for me, it was too much of a good thing. For you I've got to think they would work a treat. And they are not as clunky or awkward to hit off uneven lies and such as you might think from looking at them. They're a pretty well thought out set of clubs. Worth considering. 

interesting, thankyou

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

51 minutes ago, flognut said:

plenty of weight low in head but has low to minimal offset

 

Take a look at New Level and the gi22 irons. I have a few pics here that I posted a while back.
 

 

[flognut]

1 hour ago, 5 O'Clock Charlie said:

 

Take a look at New Level and the gi22 irons. I have a few pics here that I posted a while back.
 

 

these look very appealing, thks

[Milfordlefty]

2 hours ago, flognut said:

Hi folks, right elbow arthritis is impeding my ability to practice much these days.  i have always been a sweeper/picker with minimal turf interaction but now i really need to move to a set that gets it airborne easily without going down after it.  any model suggestions with plenty of weight low in head but has low to minimal offset please?  i realize this combination is kind of rare but anything anyone can suggest will be greatly appreciated. thankyou

Along with the Cleveland Launcher XL Halo (current model, HB Turbo is prior), Cobra and Wilson also sell an iron of similar tech. Also, if you play steel shafts, maybe time to consider graphite shafts to help absorb some of the shock to the elbow. Good luck in your search.

[llewol007]

Based on what you describe, you need clubs with plenty of turf interaction. Clubs with wide soles. Cleveland Halos or a set that is heavy on fairways woods and hybrids. A set make up of Driver, 3w, 5w, 7w, 11w, and maybe finish it off with 7-Pw and probably a sandwedge.

[596]

I bought a set of Cobra T Rails 8 to SW hybrid irons. They are a blast to play and launch very high with the Recoil shafts. Great for a sweeper.  Don't try to open the face though, the rails want the face square and will square the face nearly automatically as it goes through the turf.  My 4 to 7 are Cobra FlyZ XL hybrids and are also very easy to launch. 

Edited November 22, 2022 by 596

[JAM01]

Perhaps Mizuno 923 Hot Metal HL irons with stock graphite shafts? 

[Kmagnuss]

Mentioned above but you're probably going to want to try out the Cleveland Launchers or Halos or whatever they're calling them, along with the Wilson Launch Pad version (which gets raving reviews by the way).

 

[Kmagnuss]

Lol at my picture above.  🙂 

[kmay__]

1 hour ago, Kmagnuss said:

Lol at my picture above.  🙂 

Really long heel to toe, and quite a flat lie angle 😆

[Kmagnuss]

Let's try again:

 

[Kmagnuss]

52 minutes ago, kmay__ said:

Really long heel to toe, and quite a flat lie angle 😆

It doubles as a hockey stick.  🙂

[Port and Starboard]

7 hours ago, flognut said:

Hi folks, right elbow arthritis is impeding my ability to practice much these days.  i have always been a sweeper/picker with minimal turf interaction but now i really need to move to a set that gets it airborne easily without going down after it.  any model suggestions with plenty of weight low in head but has low to minimal offset please?  i realize this combination is kind of rare but anything anyone can suggest will be greatly appreciated. thankyou

 

Graphite shafts and Winn Dri-Tac grips will greatly reduce shock...............trust me on this.  I'm still using steel but graphite will be my next move in a few years.

 

I have two bad wrists (3 surgeries) and the Dri-Tacs have really helped with reducing vibration.  They also feel really good.  Install a Dri-Tac on just one club and hit some balls. You'll see and feel what I'm talking about.

 

Anything in the Ping G series irons get the ball up pretty easy.

[Pepperturbo]

7 hours ago, flognut said:

Hi folks, right elbow arthritis is impeding my ability to practice much these days.  i have always been a sweeper/picker with minimal turf interaction but now i really need to move to a set that gets it airborne easily without going down after it.  any model suggestions with plenty of weight low in head but has low to minimal offset please?  i realize this combination is kind of rare but anything anyone can suggest will be greatly appreciated. thankyou

Yep, very rare.  Only a key factor to getting ball airborne is offset, which allows extra time for your hands, less strain the swing.

[caniac6]

7 hours ago, North Butte said:

I eventually decided they weren't for me but the all-hybrid sets like Cleveland HB Turbo (or whatever they call the current version) I'm convinced make it as easy to elevate the ball with a sweeping swing as any irons could possibly do. I actually found with the shorter irons in that set I was hitting kind of high, floaty shots that cost me some distance and believe me, hitting the ball TOO high was something I never thought I'd complain about. 

 

So for me, it was too much of a good thing. For you I've got to think they would work a treat. And they are not as clunky or awkward to hit off uneven lies and such as you might think from looking at them. They're a pretty well thought out set of clubs. Worth considering. 

Several guys in our group of about 20 have switched to these with much improved results. I have hit them, and they are very solid. If high and straight is your desired ball flight, these will do the trick.

[North Butte]

36 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

Several guys in our group of about 20 have switched to these with much improved results. I have hit them, and they are very solid. If high and straight is your desired ball flight, these will do the trick.

One nice bonus about them for me, I found the 4i and 5i as easy to hit as any hybrid I'd ever tried and buying them as part of an irons set is way cheaper than adding to name-brand hybrids. In fact, I'd say the 4i from my HB Turbo set would head-to-head beat out any separately purchased hybrid. Maybe not for raw distance but for consistency and straight, high flight. 

[Springsteennut]

Look at the Sub 70 799. Another wide sole iron that I tried at one of their demo days. Very easy to get up in the air.

[ChipNRun]

If you can find a set, try the Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro Tungsten irons with the graphite Mamiya Recoil 460 shafts.

Shaft weights: F2 senior = 63 grams | F3 regular = 65 grams | F4 stiff = 78 grams.

 

The irons have hollow heads, and launch the ball well. Due to low tungsten head weighting, the sole is beveled (rounded) but not overly large - this smooths turf interaction. Heads have modest offset, but are easy to line up.

 

CB Pro Tungstens went out of production circa 2018.

 

(My case: after a couple of years of CB Pros the steel shafts I had just felt too heavy. Now I swing graphite to lessen strain on hip and lower back.)

[boggyman]

You won’t much easier to get the ball in the air than with the hybrid style iron set. I’ve got the 1st generation Launch pads with Px 5.5 steel shaft and they’re stupid easy to hit.They definitely  the ball in the air, even with the Px in them. Just effortlessly. The trade off is there’s some offset but nothing crazy to me. Played for the first time today in a month and a half, used the Pads instead of my blades from the 80’s for giggles and lit it up. If you’re looking for easy, I’d most definitely check the hybrid style iron sets out! I’m playing mine again tomorrow in our Wednesday game. 

[Chunkitgood]

Here you go, Tommy Armour 845 Max 400 bucks.  As good a club for your purposes as you will find.

 

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/tommy-armour-2021-845-max-irons-21av3m2021t845mxrirn/21av3m2021t845mxrirn

 

Get over your offset phobia.  It is your friend since it is a design element that allows people to design the type of clubs that do what you want them to do.

 

 

[platgof]

Have you tried graphite shafts per chance??? They really make a difference. Srixon 5's are quite popular.

[Kid Frisco]

I think the Maltby TE or DBM with graphite shafts would suit you well.  Read the reviews and specs…perfect for a sweeper/picker and the price is right:

 

https://www.golfworks.com/maltby-te-forged-irons/p/ma0099/

 

https://www.golfworks.com/maltby-dbm-forged-iron-heads/p/ma0225/

 

[Nessism]

14 minutes ago, Kid Frisco said:

I think the Maltby TE or DBM with graphite shafts would suit you well.  Read the reviews and specs…perfect for a sweeper/picker and the price is right:

 

https://www.golfworks.com/maltby-te-forged-irons/p/ma0099/

 

https://www.golfworks.com/maltby-dbm-forged-iron-heads/p/ma0225/

 

 

I was going to suggest these.  They have a super low CG for high ball flight, and low offset.  Build them with a soft tip shaft, and they will hit the ball high.  They are low bounce and have a sharp leading edge too.  I don't recommend them for diggers.

[Soccerrick10]

Age and arthritis have pushed me to revamp my bag completely.  I now play the following:

10.5* driver

5w, 7w, 9w (dropped the 3 wood)

6h, 7h (dropped the 5 and 6 irons)

7i-Aw

54*, 58*

Putter

 

I was losing distance and loft in the 5, 6, 7 irons.  I fought it for years buying progressively stronger lofted irons.  Finally, I just decided the hybrids + 9w were easier to get in the air and recover some distance.  
 

The really cool thing is, I play smaller, more player oriented scoring irons which pleases my eye and improves my consistency where it really counts for me.

 

The newest irons you may want to give a look at would be the Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal HL - designed specifically to help get the ball in the air.

 

The other thing to consider are shafts.  Most street wisdom says to move to graphite with age and arthritis.  When I did that, I really lost accuracy and height - most graphite iron shafts are mid height flight.  So, I play a lightweight steel shaft (Nippon Zelos) in my irons which gives me the height and soft feel while regaining my consistency.

 

Finally, I almost NEVER hit off mats.  Doing so will cause my hands to flare up for days.

Edited November 23, 2022 by Soccerrick10

[flognut]

thankyou all