irons

maxima · February 17, 2008

Hi Fellow golfers.

Been playing golf now for 29 YEARS and have been using PING KARSTEN 11 HEEL-TOE BALANCE LH irons.These clubs came out with Roman Numerals on them so are a bit unusual.Got down to a 1 handicap when i was 42 yrs old and when i was 55 i gave up the game and then i was 5hcp.Started again when i was 60 yrs old and first round was 89.I had my PINGS reshafted with TRUTEMPER A light shafts and went down to a 7hcp in no time.I am now 64 and i thought i might try some new irons.

Tried the new Callaway FT irons and the Callaway X forged irons and to my surprise they are no better than my old Pings.So what i am saying is why all the huff and puff about the new irons available.

I have a new FT-5 Callaway Tour driver and this is a truly great driver and have VFT 3 AND 5 fairway woods Plus a X HOT 3 wood.

Any suggestions why i should try other brands of clubs.My way of thinking is it all depends on the SHAFT.

Regards

teespoon · February 17, 2008

Welcome to the site! :drinks:

I certainly agree that the Karsten series were great Irons. I play the II's also.

I am 68 and am trying some of the newer stuff in graphite, as I demo now and then. Let us know if you find something that works well for you

rony · February 17, 2008

I simply made the normal transition which most senior golfers follow. I replaced the steel/ blades with cavity/ graphites. Having good ball striking ability with a smooth tempo, this enabled me to somewhat neutralize the effects of the aging process and still play a competitive game, albeit from the white tees. Getting older presents a problem for golfers......Only if they allow it to become a problem. :drinks:

teespoon · February 17, 2008

I simply made the normal transition which most senior golfers follow. I replaced the steel/ blades with cavity/ graphites. Having good ball striking ability with a smooth tempo, this enabled me to somewhat neutralize the effects of the aging process and still play a competitive game, albeit from the white tees. Getting older presents a problem for golfers......Only if they allow it to become a problem. :drinks:

Yep! Your post also reminded me that I have not hit the G10's in graphite yet. Bet they are sweet!

maxima · February 17, 2008

Might try the MIZUNO MP-57 with UNILITE shafts which i believe would be beneficial.Will keep you in formed.

pickerjohn · February 18, 2008

While I see huge advantages in the latest Drivers, after that it

starts going downhill as far as improvement in playability goes.

I've just gone back to my TM V Steel 3 wood, which is a huge improvement over the steel shafted

persimmons, and the hybrids are a great improvement over long irons and 5 woods for me,

the latest game improvement irons just don't do it for me at all. If I had started with the

Karsten I's, I'd still find them as good as it gets, but I started with blades in 1958 and

everytime i try to go to game improvement its a disaster. I have a brand new set of irons,

but check my signature, and they are awesome. To finally bring this post to a conclusion.

Drivers-best ever,

FW woods, great improvement, but not much in the last few years,

Hybrids, big game improvemeni.

Irons, forgings are better and shafts are better, nothing else, for me.

Wedges, forgings are better, design for modern courses, much better.

Putters- generally much better, the balance and sweet spots are much improved.

Stay with the karstens:

JHI · February 23, 2008

One of the most difficult parts of the aging process is to admit it. I congratulate anyone willing to say, "Let's face it, I've lost muscle mass (although the body weight seems right up there!), fine motor control, ability to concentrate throughout 18 holes, flexibility and the ability for my muscles to respond quickly and smoothly. I'm an inch shorter than I was and not as active, day to day, as I used to be. I need all the help I can get! Why am I playing these MB blades with S400 shafts like I did 30 years ago?"

This is not an easy admission, especially for someone who still has youthful energy and was always "an athlete." I'd suggest to anyone whose game seems to be faltering that they should take a serious look at who they really are NOW.

And right now there are a host of equipment alternatives to meet the needs of every niche. This does not mean that older models of clubs are not still beneficial. We really need to get clear on the main engine that drives equipment change -- especially the tweaking that is only a cosmetic change at best -- and that engine is the need for a company with a product to sell that product. So what does any one of us actually need? Get some professional advice -- realizing that the professional may also be in the business of selling clubs -- and get what's necessary.

I'm 69 years old, have been playing golf, on and off, for 60 years. I find the new stuff amazing. Graphite shafts take the bite and residual pain out of iron shots; cavity backs help tremendously with the inevitable off-hits, grips (which were something you had stuck on and lived with for years) come in all sizes and degrees of firmness and are easily changed/upgraded if you're at all a tinkerer. Even shoes have vastly improved in their ability to keep you in contact with terra firma. In short: take a hard look at yourself; get to a clubfitter; pick up what is necessary and appropriate for your game. This does not have to be new (expensive) equipment. Once you understand what it is you need you can find it, and the search and acquisition can be an enjoyable part of the process.

My own method is to use an unforgiving MB blade with shafts identical to my gamers for practice. My gamers are forgiving CBs (Mizuno MP-27s. These are a Japanese domestic market model. Love 'em!! But Mizuno's MX-25s are sensational, readily available, even more forgiving, and they're turning up used at reasonable prices). Forged muscle backs really prompt you to make a good swing, because the feedback is so instantaneous and so graphic. Going from the MBs to the CBs is like night and day. I have found no difficulty making the transition from the practice range to the course. How hard IS it to go from difficult to easy???

So them's my two cents worth. If you can't be with the game you love (that low handicap, long ball thing you used to play) love the game you're with. It'll love you right back!

maxima · February 24, 2008

Very sensible and down to earth view on your golf ability.As with golf equipment it all depends on being able to talk to some one with good knowledge and honest assesment of your golf swing and to match it with appropriate shafts etc.

I recentlty bought a As New X HOT 3 WOOD with a Fujikara Banzai 65g REGULAR shaft and it is truly amazing of the tees.Very long and easy to hit but hard to hit of the Fairway.The shaft is the same as my FT-5 Tour Draw driver and this is also a excellent club.People my age 64 are using Senior 55g shafts which are to whippy for me but easy to hit.Just ordered a a trial iron being MP-57 Mizuno whith a light shaft and i am also interested in the new Miura CB-301 when they come out LH.

Unfortunatly in NZ it is very hard to access some trial clubs in LH but i will overcome this.I am playing in the WORLD LEFT HANDED GOLF tournement in Queenstown NewZealand next week and will keep you informed of the outcome.

teespoon · February 24, 2008

Very sensible and down to earth view on your golf ability.As with golf equipment it all depends on being able to talk to some one with good knowledge and honest assesment of your golf swing and to match it with appropriate shafts etc.
I recentlty bought a As New X HOT 3 WOOD with a Fujikara Banzai 65g REGULAR shaft and it is truly amazing of the tees.Very long and easy to hit but hard to hit of the Fairway.The shaft is the same as my FT-5 Tour Draw driver and this is also a excellent club.People my age 64 are using Senior 55g shafts which are to whippy for me but easy to hit.Just ordered a a trial iron being MP-57 Mizuno whith a light shaft and i am also interested in the new Miura CB-301 when they come out LH.
Unfortunatly in NZ it is very hard to access some trial clubs in LH but i will overcome this.I am playing in the WORLD LEFT HANDED GOLF tournement in Queenstown NewZealand next week and will keep you informed of the outcome.

Best of Luck at the World Left Hand Tournament! Hit'm Good!

'

For myself! Even though the game is leaving me,.. I will never leave the game.

I golf Til' I die!

teespoon