Do club faces "wear out"?

[RoyalMustang]

I've had this set of Mizuno MP20 MMCs for 3+ years now. There is no reason to get rid of them: they work well. However, I hit a lot of balls; when it's wet, the range balls are pretty sandy, and I have some nice big marks on the faces where the balls have worn off the initial finish. Same with my wedges. 

 

Does this affect play in any way? I really like the heads and would consider just buying a newer set of these MMC heads to throw onto the shafts. 

 

It kinda stinks as my initial ball striking pattern was off; I had an OTT move for a long time. Now that I'm playing better, the marked-up area is still toe-centered but moving to the center. If you saw my clubs, you'd think I was pretty bad instead of my current reasonably mediocre state. 

 

 

[Nessism]

Get yourself an eyeloup or strong magnifier and inspect the grooves and face.  Use the grooves outside the hitting area as a baseline of what the grooves looked like when new.  If you see appreciable rounding of the edges on the grooves in the hitting area, then it's clear that the faces are getting worn.  Too worn?  That depends on whether you can stop balls on the green like you want.

[DataGolfer]

Sounds like you're looking for an excuse to buy new clubs because you're embarrassed that your wear pattern doesn't look like that 8-iron of Tiger's that floats around the internet.

 

They'll last for another 3-4 years, easily.

[gripandrip]

I was paired with a guy in a tournament a few weeks ago. He had the tiger type wear pattern in the middle of his irons. So worn they were almost black looking. Considerable wear on the faces. He had no issue with spinning the ball back on a green or stopping a long iron. Those wear marks get there for a reason.

Edited October 2 by gripandrip

[Putter Addict]

I have had most of mine for around 10 years and funny enough the middle of the face all look brand new 😃

[gators78]

Jeff Overton I think is still using the MP68s, those were released in 2010. 

 

Irons shouldn’t be a problem for a long, long time. Wedges are obviously different. 

 

I would practice at a range that would use sand for fill, that can wear out grooves at a much faster clip than normal ranges. If you can avoid scraping balls over when the ball picks up a lot of sand it goes a long way (especially on woods). I also try to clean the grooves with a plastic brush after any extended session.

[RoyalMustang]

7 minutes ago, DataGolfer said:

Sounds like you're looking for an excuse to buy new clubs because you're embarrassed that your wear pattern doesn't look like that 8-iron of Tiger's that floats around the internet.

 

They'll last for another 3-4 years, easily.

 

Thanks! Yeah, if I did get new irons, it would just be the same heads in better shape. It's a little annoying on one hand, but nice to see the strike pattern change over time; mine is never going to look like Tigers LOL

[Pepperturbo]

37 minutes ago, RoyalMustang said:

Does this affect play in any way?

No, not in my experience. 

 

I have some old very soft 1018 forged wedges, with wear spots on the face, chrome is worn off the face.  They are from the days when I practiced daily, hit over 1100 balls a week plus 1–2 rounds.  Those wedges, today, perform like the new SM9's in the bag.  The reason they were replaced was appearance, only.  If a person knows how, he/she can spin the ball with worn faces & grooves with proper impact.

 

So, if you need an excuse to replace them, appearance works for me. 🙂

 

[tatertot]

35 minutes ago, Putter Addict said:

I have had most of mine for around 10 years and funny enough the middle of the face all look brand new 😃

Mine too ... but I got a dime size wear pattern that's solid black out on the toe, where there ain't no grooves. Pretty impressive, if I must say.

[RoyalMustang]

2 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

No, not in my experience. 

 

I have some old very soft 1018 forged wedges, with wear spots on the face, chrome is worn off the face.  They are from the days when I practiced daily, hit over 1100 balls a week plus 1–2 rounds.  Those wedges, today, perform like the new SM9's in the bag.  The reason they were replaced was appearance, only.  If a person knows how, he/she can spin the ball with worn faces & grooves with proper impact.

 

So, if you need an excuse to replace them, appearance works for me. 🙂

 

 

haha-I actually like having "worn" clubs. It shows you play a lot. Plus, I really like these and they seem to be working well enough. It's like in any sport: usually the guy with the shiniest gear and toys is not the fastest. 

[philly2kuk]

1 hour ago, DataGolfer said:

Sounds like you're looking for an excuse to buy new clubs because you're embarrassed that your wear pattern doesn't look like that 8-iron of Tiger's that floats around the internet.

 

They'll last for another 3-4 years, easily.

It’s called spreading the wear and tear 😉

 

I played a set of g25 for just over 6 years previously. Now ok, they weren’t forged, but it was only towards the end I started noticing some odd shots with them and changed. Already had these g410 three or four years (I’ve lost count) and they’re still good.

[ShortGolfer]

If I played for money I'd keep those old clubs!  

[AdmiralPicard]

When I was a younger lad I had a set of MP14s that I wore out. I mean the impact area was probably almost smooth. 
 

That was back when I hit hundreds of balls a day, played 18-27 holes every day, and had misguided aspirations of playing for money. 
 

Then one day I switched irons because I thought mine were too worn out. I still regret it. 
 

My suggestion is to get as many sets of heads as you can, shaft up one of the sets, and keep them all close by. Keep practicing with the ones you have now. Use them as a range set if you need to, but when you feel like the wear is affecting play on the course use the new set on the course and shaft up the next set of backups. 
 

Technology is great and all, but there’s something to be said for finding something you like. Especially irons and fairway woods. 
 

Just an old man’s opinion. Your mileage may vary. 

Edited October 2 by AdmiralPicard

[Springsteennut]

My wife believes that they wear out. I’m not sure where she gets her information.

[Socrates]

5 hours ago, RoyalMustang said:

I've had this set of Mizuno MP20 MMCs for 3+ years now. There is no reason to get rid of them: they work well. However, I hit a lot of balls; when it's wet, the range balls are pretty sandy, and I have some nice big marks on the faces where the balls have worn off the initial finish. Same with my wedges. 

 

Does this affect play in any way? I really like the heads and would consider just buying a newer set of these MMC heads to throw onto the shafts. 

 

It kinda stinks as my initial ball striking pattern was off; I had an OTT move for a long time. Now that I'm playing better, the marked-up area is still toe-centered but moving to the center. If you saw my clubs, you'd think I was pretty bad instead of my current reasonably mediocre state. 

 

 

Take a "true" straight edge and put it onto the face and look at the iron faces under some magnification.  If the faces are worn out, you will see daylight between the straight edge and the face.  If so, that can cause directional problems depending on how worn they are.   The "browning" in itself isn't enough to warrant replacement, but good enough to justify a new set.

[kekoa]

7 hours ago, gripandrip said:

I was paired with a guy in a tournament a few weeks ago. He had the tiger type wear pattern in the middle of his irons. So worn they were almost black looking. Considerable wear on the faces. He had no issue with spinning the ball back on a green or stopping a long iron. Those wear marks get there for a reason.

We played together? 🤣

 

 

[Phabs]

9 hours ago, RoyalMustang said:

I've had this set of Mizuno MP20 MMCs for 3+ years now. There is no reason to get rid of them: they work well. However, I hit a lot of balls; when it's wet, the range balls are pretty sandy, and I have some nice big marks on the faces where the balls have worn off the initial finish. Same with my wedges. 

 

Does this affect play in any way? I really like the heads and would consider just buying a newer set of these MMC heads to throw onto the shafts. 

 

It kinda stinks as my initial ball striking pattern was off; I had an OTT move for a long time. Now that I'm playing better, the marked-up area is still toe-centered but moving to the center. If you saw my clubs, you'd think I was pretty bad instead of my current reasonably mediocre state. 

 

 

Same irons and same amount of time owned.  I hit probably 1000 balls a month off sandy grass from April to October. 
 

Just out of habit when I warm up/ practice I start with 10 half swing 54 degrees, hit about ten 9 irons, hit about thirty seven irons, ten or so 4 irons then about 10-15 drives, then back to 100yd 54 degree swings for the rest of the bucket.  Due to this only my 9 iron and my 7 show any wear.  I’m about due for a 54* too.   I’ve always warmed up this way through college golf and I have no idea why but it works for me. 
 

Even with hitting that many balls a month the irons still spin and do what I want on the course.  I think it takes a serious amount of practice/play to wear out a set of irons.  

[Snowman9000]

10 hours ago, gators78 said:

. If you can avoid scraping balls over when the ball picks up a lot of sand it goes a long way (especially on woods). I also try to clean the grooves with a plastic brush after any extended session.

Yes.  I probably look foolish, but I often pick and place the balls.  I keep a small towel handy and wipe the face after nearly every shot.  It slows me down, which is good.

[raspymcnasty]

Even if they do wear out, cant you technically get a whetstone sand them flat, regroove, and nickel again?