Players distance to game improvement.

[jsmil4901]

I currently play P790, the last generation model. My iron game which was usually good has gotten very bad, with inconsistent strikes, and weak low shots. I'm now a 10.7 HC whereas several months ago I was a 6.9. I'm closer to 70 years old than 60. Most of the people I play with are in the same age range and have slightly higher HC's. A lot of them play TM Stealth irons or Cobra game improvement, some play Mavriks and they have a much better iron game than I do. Has anyone made the switch to game improvement irons? If so what model did you choose and why?

[alexc93]

This is probably more a shaft issue as swing speed changes with age than it is an iron head issue. I’d recommend going to a fitter and seeing if they can dial in your P790 with a different shaft that fits you better.

[bellairemi]

I went from Apex 21 to Ping G25.  The Pings have a higher peak height and more consistent spin rates for me.  Regret that I did not make the change sooner in the season.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, bellairemi said:

I went from Apex 21 to Ping G25.  The Pings have a higher peak height and more consistent spin rates for me.  Regret that I did not make the change sooner in the season.

G25’s are unicorns. Tons of forgiveness and higher trajectory but good feel. Imho Ping’s G line have went downhill in feel ever since the g30.

[Jeff58]

Funny, I just came from a TaylorMade fitting with the 2023 (newest) P790’s. The fitter was very good. He was able to change me from rather inconsistent to unable to miss in a matter of moments, all with the same iron head.

 

When we  loose swing consistency, we tend to accuse “the club”, meaning the head, while the reality is that the head only modifies launch conditions. It doesn’t actively modify out swing mechanics the way that a shaft does.

 

If your course is relatively flat with a large percentage of unguarded greens, the additional distance provided by hyper lofted irons may outweigh the loss of height and spin of more conventional models. On more challenging courses, these characteristics are disastrous. The more advanced players distance models, such as the P790’s and ZX5’s, are the only workable solution to those who need distance and aren’t willing to abandon green holding ability.

[Tiptx1122]

I have jumped back and forth as my players distance irons were 2021 P790's, Cobra MIM Tour,  PING i525, GI irons were Callaway APEX, Srixon ZX5's, PXG 0311 XP, and now Titleist T-350. I'm sure I have left out maybe some others but these are the ones that stood out the most. I like the looks of the players irons but these new T-350 to me look the best and very excited about playing my best as I've always played better with GI irons as maybe the T-350 are SGI irons IDK as I've never hit an irons so easy as these. Most forgiving by far with plenty of distance as I'm comparing the feel to the PXG XP's if that tells you something

[golf-RN]

If you played well with the TM's before, I doubt it's the irons. Try to focus in the issue and find a way to correct it rather than switching irons

[Tiptx1122]

I played ok so my correction is to play with something that is easier and more forgiving to hit as I just lost some of my swing speed and I don’t have an ego problem either. If I play better with GI irons especially with my Titleist T-350’s and my TSr2 11* driver I’m ok with that. We all age so I know what works best for me thank you

Edited August 26, 2023 by Tiptx1122

[azgreg]

I've played player cavities my whole life. Titleist DCIs, Tommy Armour 845s, etc, to my latest set the Maltby TE Forged. Recently I put a set of Maltby KE4 Tour+ together (SGI) and I'm having my best iron play year ever. Why make an already tough game harder?

 

[Tiptx1122]

4 minutes ago, azgreg said:

I've played player cavities my whole life. Titleist DCIs, Tommy Armour 845s, etc, to my latest set the Maltby TE Forged. Recently I put a set of Maltby KE4 Tour+ together (SGI) and I'm having my best iron play year ever. Why make an already tough game harder?

 

Exactly that’s my point good advice Thank You

[gvogel]

5 hours ago, jsmil4901 said:

I currently play P790, the last generation model. My iron game which was usually good has gotten very bad, with inconsistent strikes, and weak low shots. I'm now a 10.7 HC whereas several months ago I was a 6.9. I'm closer to 70 years old than 60. Most of the people I play with are in the same age range and have slightly higher HC's. A lot of them play TM Stealth irons or Cobra game improvement, some play Mavriks and they have a much better iron game than I do. Has anyone made the switch to game improvement irons? If so what model did you choose and why?

10 years ago when I was 60, I went to Titleist AP1 with a Nippon 108 gram shaft.  They worked great for me.

 

This year, having turned 70, I tried T300 with graphite shafts, but no go.  I've ended up T300 with Nippon 950 NEO, and have gained some height and distance that I lost over the past 10 year.  I only play 6 or 7-iron to PW.

 

The new Titleist irons look lovely.  Next year I might buy a T150 or T200 7-iron just to see how much distance I would lose from T300.

[Roejye]

I went from Cleveland 588 mts with the stock tractionlite shafts, probably not technically a pdi, to Cleveland Launcher xl's with Nippon Zelos 7 shafts. I feel like my iron play has improved, but it's not really showing up in the scores. 

[golf-RN]

9 hours ago, golf-RN said:

If you played well with the TM's before, I doubt it's the irons. Try to focus in the issue and find a way to correct it rather than switching irons

 

8 hours ago, Tiptx1122 said:

I played ok so my correction is to play with something that is easier and more forgiving to hit as I just lost some of my swing speed and I don’t have an ego problem either. If I play better with GI irons especially with my Titleist T-350’s and my TSr2 11* driver I’m ok with that. We all age so I know what works best for me thank you

Wasnt directed to you, it was for the OP

[Tiptx1122]

2 hours ago, golf-RN said:

 

Wasnt directed to you, it was for the OP

It's all good, it's fine as I just want to make this goofy game of golf as easy as I can. Many times people will buy something new and never give the irons a fair chance and are easily talked into getting something else only because their favorite Pro is playing them or what some reviews might say. If what is in your signature is what you are playing then you have some very nice clubs and must have a pretty good game. I don't do my clubs justice but there are many time I actually play as if I know what I'm doing. Lol! 

[jimb]

I'm in my mid-70s and I have been working on my golf swing for over 45 years.  It sounds like what you are describing is more of a swing issue than a club issue.  Striking the ball solidly and getting poor results is more of an equipment issue.  I noticed that my gapping in my longer irons, 5 and 6 irons, has gotten narrower.  Inconsistent contact where there once was consistent contact is in my mind a swing issue.

 

The best players in the world still have swing coaches because their ball striking goes off.  I watched Scottie Scheffler's miscues at the Tour Championship happen mid round yesterday.  There is a guy who is about as good a ball striker as there is.  Spend some range time to see if you can figure it out or take a few lessons.  

[golf-RN]

7 hours ago, Tiptx1122 said:

It's all good, it's fine as I just want to make this goofy game of golf as easy as I can. Many times people will buy something new and never give the irons a fair chance and are easily talked into getting something else only because their favorite Pro is playing them or what some reviews might say. If what is in your signature is what you are playing then you have some very nice clubs and must have a pretty good game. I don't do my clubs justice but there are many time I actually play as if I know what I'm doing. Lol! 

No worries 👍 

I'm 52 and went down this road last last summer. I thought I'd swing easy and use the help of the GI clubs. Went from TM Tour Preferred blades to a set of Cobra T-Rails and then a set of Cobra Radspeeds. The T-Rails derailed (no pun intended lol) my iron game so bad, I thought I might have to quit. The Radspeeds were so much better, but strong lofts made it difficult for approach shots and I hit everything left. Switched to the 2023 Cobra King Tours this spring and those made all the difference in the world. Iron play has been day and night difference. I think the offset of the GI clubs really messed with my head lol