The most “science-y” iron test ever.

[PARETO]

My wife had her lesson today so I tagged along to hit a few balls in the next bay. It’s a Top Tracer range so I figured I’d take 3 different 7 irons from my 3 very different iron sets (from 3 different decades even) to do a battle royale of the ages. 💥

- 20 year old current gamers….. Ping ISI BeNi (love) S300

- 10 year old very recent “score”….. Bridgestone J38 CB w/ PX flighted 5.0. I’ve yet to hit these. 

- 2 year old “impulse” purchase …… Ping G425 (haven’t really given these any turf time)

 

Heres my very scientific findings. 🧐
- The BeNi irons work. Well. Predictable yardages. Decent enough feel for a casting. I’m playing well with them right now. Wasn’t looking to change. 
- The G425’s feel awful. I’m selling these immediately. These are dead to me. 
- The J38’s are sublime. Flighted PX’s with an Endo forged CB is legit. Even with their traditional lofts (35 7iron), they out paced the same lofted ISI (with a much better window for my preferred flight). Was surprised how well the 5.0 shafts matched the head. 
 

I’m headed back to the range tomorrow with a full bag of the 10 year old Bridgestones to see what the rest of the irons have to offer. So far, I’m BFF’s with the 7. That’s my science. 

[Roejye]

Always awesome to find something that just works for you.

[PARETO]

5 minutes ago, Roejye said:

Always awesome to find something that just works for you.

I really wasn’t looking to make a change this late in the season but hey. Golf’s funny that way. Let’s see what happens. The feel alone of that J38 7iron made todays range session an eye opener. 

[Roejye]

2 hours ago, PARETO said:

I really wasn’t looking to make a change this late in the season but hey. Golf’s funny that way. Let’s see what happens. The feel alone of that J38 7iron made todays range session an eye opener. 

Reminds me of when I was at my fitting, I was fine with my bag, but won a contest here. I didn't do well the first day, but was swinging much better the 2nd. I remember holding the club I ended up getting, thinking "maybe I should hit my 6 iron again to compare," Then I looked at my club, and thought "nah."

 

Overall my scoring hasn't improved, I feel like I'm hitting better shots more often, but my clubs are a lot more enjoyable to swing now.

[blades_are_life]

 

3 hours ago, PARETO said:

My wife had her lesson today so I tagged along to hit a few balls in the next bay. It’s a Top Tracer range so I figured I’d take 3 different 7 irons from my 3 very different iron sets (from 3 different decades even) to do a battle royale of the ages. 💥

- 20 year old current gamers….. Ping ISI BeNi (love) S300

- 10 year old very recent “score”….. Bridgestone J38 CB w/ PX flighted 5.0. I’ve yet to hit these. 

- 2 year old “impulse” purchase …… Ping G425 (haven’t really given these any turf time)

 

Heres my very scientific findings. 🧐
- The BeNi irons work. Well. Predictable yardages. Decent enough feel for a casting. I’m playing well with them right now. Wasn’t looking to change. 
- The G425’s feel awful. I’m selling these immediately. These are dead to me. 
- The J38’s are sublime. Flighted PX’s with an Endo forged CB is legit. Even with their traditional lofts (35 7iron), they out paced the same lofted ISI (with a much better window for my preferred flight). Was surprised how well the 5.0 shafts matched the head. 
 

I’m headed back to the range tomorrow with a full bag of the 10 year old Bridgestones to see what the rest of the irons have to offer. So far, I’m BFF’s with the 7. That’s my science. 

I have PX 6.0 Flighted in a few 2006 Callaway X-Forged (I assume not made at Endo but still high quality product) I found at the thrift store and it does feel like a pretty perfect combination. Needs a touch more calmness in the swing to load correctly than DG S300 but easy to adjust that.

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

@blades_are_life Everything is easily adjustable at WRX. 😄

[driveandputtmachine]

You are selling the J38's short, they came out in 2010, so over 13 years now.  I only remember because that was the year I moved to Atlanta and I got them from Bridgestone that year.   I got the j40 when they released too.  I played the J40's forever and still have them here in my basement.  I had them refinished and then played a few more years on them.  I put them into play every once in awhile.  They both look and feel great.

 

Fred Couples played the J38 DPC from release up until a few years ago.  He switched to Pings for a few rounds, and a believe he went all the way around to J15 DPC last I remember.

 

I am still sore that Srixon pushed into North America and Bridgestone just gave up on clubs here.

[blades_are_life]

39 minutes ago, Mikey_HACKilroy said:

@blades_are_life Everything is easily adjustable at WRX. 😄

?

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

LOL..... I guess that one hit the ground with a dull thud. I didn't sell it well.

But it seems like the more time I spend on WRX, the more golf purchases are made purely for the sake of making adjustments (no matter how minor) to golf equipment and related things. 😄

[PARETO]

Update - my deep attachment to my ISI BeNi’s was too great of a hill for the J38 to climb. While being buttery and a joy to pure, the J38’s were no match for the familiarity of my ol’ Pings. 
I like trying different irons as much as the next WRXer but my goal of getting under a 5hcp is within reach before the snow flies this year so the comfort of familiar irons to score better wins the day. Ping it is. Old Pings at that. 

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

Sometimes, sticking with the old tried and true is a better play than moving on to something new.

 

Ok, I tried to hard with that. 😁

 

I tend to hang on to clubs for a long time, myself.