Do I NEED new irons or a psychiatrist? (titleist - ping - titleist)

[Michael K]

Now that I have your attention.

 

Im 38 with a 98-102 swing speed. Played down from a 9 to a 3.7 last year. and 13 to 9 the year before. Of the 10 3 strokes was course management, 3 strokes was short game technique and putting, and 4 strokes was ball striking and consistency. 

 

I'm not a club whore per see but I do think too often about the difference a degree on the clubs makes (usually at address). I don't swing that hard, I generally would prefer a straight lower boring flight (My tendency as an old baseball player is to throw the hips open and trail with the hands and increase dynamic loft with a high butter cut, but its gotten better) vs true workability. As a low handicapper, just give me a straight ball with consistent distance and that'll work on 15-16 holes a round to make par and position you for birdies.

 

2018: Callaway Apex Pro Forged 16 - too unforgiving, didn't play enough, too high lofts, was hitting 7 irons ~140-145

2020: everything on shortage so bought 718 AP3 - really liked the loft setup, happiest I've been distance wise. Adored the 48* AP3 gap wedge, it was my cheat code from 90 - 110. Hit the 7 iron 150-155. Wanted something forged and frankly I reached a life milestone and just wanted new clubs.

2022: got fit (t100/200, mizuno 223 etc) in to PIng i525 to max forgiveness. My play has drastically improved since. However, I do not like the spacing of the 8-9-W-U (35-40-45-50) as that spacing leaves some gaps, namely at 135 and 120 yards, which are quite common for a 250-270 driver playing 6700. (375-410 yard par 4s). The irons are forgiving but the shape is big but the gaps really are getting to me.

 

I played a resort course in Cancun with new T200s and just played lights out. I dusted off the 718 AP3s this fall as my regular clubs were at the course and I needed to play elsewhere. The T200s shape was much better and I liked the loft disparity and I liked the forged feel.

 

Theres a Titleist fitting at my club 2/23. Should I get T200s, T150s or bend my Pings 1* stronger in the 9-W, leaving the 50-54-58. of note I do have a 48* ap3, 50* ping, and vokeys 52-54-56-58-60 at home (SM8 and 9) and can blend the set. 

[MattM97]

You need both but make it a sports psychiatrist not a regular one. 

[tatertot]

45 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

You need both but make it a sports psychiatrist not a regular one. 

Less thinky-thinky, more golfy-golfy.

[bekgolf]

Yes.

[teedub21]

Best title I’ve ever read.  

[OnTheBag]

2 hours ago, Michael K said:

and can blend the set. 

There is no rule that every club has to match.  At one time, I built a bag and played damn good golf with it, that contained 6 different manufacturers.  Each club was selected because of how it performed on the course and for no other reason.  Give it some thought and maybe throw a Frankenstein bag together for a few rounds to see how it plays.

[Lasorcier]

You could buy a bender for less money than a set of good irons and it would be money well spent.  You can then do your own experimenting and not have it cost you a set of new irons every time. 

[Maine Golfer]

maybe

[puttingmatt]

Unfortunately, You are a club whore,

Its that simple, embrace it !

There are worse things than this ,

have fun !

 

Edited January 21 by puttingmatt

[Cstobaugh]

My hero. 

[stimpmeterp]

You are a whore and you are in denial.  Take that first step.

[MikeW2]

Ideally, find a psychiatrist that flips clubs???

[MikeW2]

2 hours ago, OnTheBag said:

There is no rule that every club has to match.  At one time, I built a bag and played damn good golf with it, that contained 6 different manufacturers.  Each club was selected because of how it performed on the course and for no other reason.  Give it some thought and maybe throw a Frankenstein bag together for a few rounds to see how it plays.

Bernhard is that you?

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

I'm reading this and nodding along, as someone else who overthinks a ton, but I'm a bit puzzled about someone loving both i525 and t200.  I'd think they'd feel pretty different through the turf, but if it's not a problem for you, go you?

 

Maybe split the difference and see how G430s treat you?

[OnTheBag]

1 hour ago, MikeW2 said:

Bernhard is that you?

Haha.  No, I'm older than he is, but his strategy isn't anything new.  In days of old, it wasn't as uncommon to mixup a bag as it is today.

[2Down]

Pay no mind to the loft, just the number on the sole says the marketing department.  

 

Was the 140 7 iron leaving you short putts also?   I’m thinking the shrink is the path.

 

Also get the new blueprints for the scoring end of the bag, your opponent will be quaking in his shoes before you even start.  That’s also psychiatry.  

 

Edited January 21 by 2Down

[MtlJeff]

1) You probably need a psychologist, and not a psychiatrist...unless you think you need medication for your club desires

2) Do you need T150s? Let's just say there's some members here who THINK THEY ARE THE BEST CLUBS EVER!!!!!!

[Lemonde]

2 hours ago, MtlJeff said:

1) You probably need a psychologist, and not a psychiatrist...unless you think you need medication for your club desires

2) Do you need T150s? Let's just say there's some members here who THINK THEY ARE THE BEST CLUBS EVER!!!!!!

I’m not sure who that would be?? 😂 

[caniac6]

No psychiatrist, just talk to the cart guy. They seem to know a lot.

[Nickb333]

I’ve owned more iron sets in the few years of retirement than I owned 40 years prior. 
 

so… there’s your answer. 

[T Creer]

Buy the Blueprint and report back here and tell us if they were any good. 

[Kale_m]

Get the new T200, then wear them out. 
 

good to go! 

[Pepperturbo]

On 1/20/2024 at 12:25 PM, Michael K said:

Now that I have your attention.

 

Im 38 with a 98-102 swing speed. Played down from a 9 to a 3.7 last year. and 13 to 9 the year before. Of the 10 3 strokes was course management, 3 strokes was short game technique and putting, and 4 strokes was ball striking and consistency. 

 

I'm not a club whore per see but I do think too often about the difference a degree on the clubs makes (usually at address). I don't swing that hard, I generally would prefer a straight lower boring flight (My tendency as an old baseball player is to throw the hips open and trail with the hands and increase dynamic loft with a high butter cut, but its gotten better) vs true workability. As a low handicapper, just give me a straight ball with consistent distance and that'll work on 15-16 holes a round to make par and position you for birdies.

 

2018: Callaway Apex Pro Forged 16 - too unforgiving, didn't play enough, too high lofts, was hitting 7 irons ~140-145

2020: everything on shortage so bought 718 AP3 - really liked the loft setup, happiest I've been distance wise. Adored the 48* AP3 gap wedge, it was my cheat code from 90 - 110. Hit the 7 iron 150-155. Wanted something forged and frankly I reached a life milestone and just wanted new clubs.

2022: got fit (t100/200, mizuno 223 etc) in to PIng i525 to max forgiveness. My play has drastically improved since. However, I do not like the spacing of the 8-9-W-U (35-40-45-50) as that spacing leaves some gaps, namely at 135 and 120 yards, which are quite common for a 250-270 driver playing 6700. (375-410 yard par 4s). The irons are forgiving but the shape is big but the gaps really are getting to me.

 

I played a resort course in Cancun with new T200s and just played lights out. I dusted off the 718 AP3s this fall as my regular clubs were at the course and I needed to play elsewhere. The T200s shape was much better and I liked the loft disparity and I liked the forged feel.

 

Theres a Titleist fitting at my club 2/23. Should I get T200s, T150s or bend my Pings 1* stronger in the 9-W, leaving the 50-54-58. of note I do have a 48* ap3, 50* ping, and vokeys 52-54-56-58-60 at home (SM8 and 9) and can blend the set. 

First, I do NOT think 1' difference is a noticeable issue.  My being clinically educated, that's where the psychiatrist is needed by a plenty of golfers, they overthink, especially during winter months. LOL   

 

I am the last person who should tell anyone to buy....  Currently, play new T200 2i and new T100 3i-9i, and 620 MB PW at 46'.  Have sets of T100s, 620 MB and 620 CB.  Golf is fun.

[jplroper]

The answer is always Titleist. 

[RacineBoxer]

Gosh your story is so similar to mine. I'm about 10 years older, but over the past 10 or so years I've taken my handicap down from around 9 to a low of around 4.2. I've spent a lot of time in Ping G series irons the past 20 years because I've always just wanted to hit it high and straight. I too hit a slight fade and therefore low spin has never been a problem for me, I often get "drop and stop" results with a 7 iron out to 160-170. The last 3 years I played G425, i525 and last year i230. I just bought t200's a couple days ago.

 

One of my criticisms of the G400, G425 and the i525 was that I felt the loft spacing on the short end of the set wasn't always perfect. I usually had about 13 yards between clubs which felt right to me for my 100mph driver SS. But on the short end of the bag, multiple sets, I would usually get a 9 iron distance of about 150 and my PW distance was about 132 (set GW right at 120). As I studied GI irons vs more players irons I did see that a lot of the "players" irons were often 4* loft spacing in the 7-8-9-W range while the GI clubs often were 5*. It doesn't sound like much but it can add up. With some sets the difference between 7-P is 14.5* and others its 12. And like you said, I'm playing 6500ish yards a lot and I'm hitting a lot of 100-150 approaches so why not be a smidge tighter on my gaps between those scoring clubs. Lastly, being a little bit of a Ping homer and listening to a lot of the stuff they put out, I listened to a podcast with Marty Jertsen on it in 2023 and he was talking about the G430 lineup and he said that in the Arccos data for approach shots there is a little bit of a wave (think bell shaped curve) where people hit a lot of iron shots in the 130-150 range (don't quote the exact yardage I'm going off memory) so they decided to change the lofts on the G430's to 4* between each club 7 to P. 

 

Now my i230's have good loft gaps but my ego is too fragile to be giving up basically a full club. I know it shouldn't matter. The t200's are on the tighter side of gapping with 12.5*'s between 7 and P while still keeping a relatively strong 7 iron loft and a little tech to boost distance (and my ego).

 

Lastly, I'll say that I could go back to the G15's and shoot the same scores. I really don't think iron tech helps scoring as long as you have clubs that work for you. I'm secure enough where I can "waste" $400-800 (I'll sell my i230's) on some irons and I really enjoy the process of learning about new clubs, getting them on the course and figuring out the yardages, the feels, etc...  

[lefthack]

I love my blades, I just bought another set of blades and plan on possibly buying a third set of blades. Yes, I have a problem. 

[Binson]

One thing I'd check is descent angle.  If it's around 48 degrees, you probably don't need new irons. 

 

If it's quite a bit lower than that and you're finding it difficult to hold greens with the lower iron flight you prefer, it may be worth a look at options to increase descent angle.

 

As for the gaps in your i525, have you played with adjusting the lofts on the set in a gapping session?

Edited January 23 by Binson

[Michael K]

Thank you to all who commented. 

 

I did a titleist fitting and got fit into T200s. Really wanted the 150s but the T200s were more right. T350 4i worked better than the U505 utility. Loved the wedge fitting. 

 

Playing better, throwing more darts. Really enjoying the gapping now. And going from a 50 to a 48* AW has significantly helped, the T150 is a cheat code. Overall 43-48-52-56 fits my game much better than 45-50-54-58. Its only about 6 yards but I like the ball flight and just the way it sets up more

[North Butte]

Sounds to me like you're either crazy or stupid. And you seem to be a pretty smart guy. I'm just sayin'...😉