my honeymoon with SGI's

[MtlJeff]

2+ years in the bag and going on 3

Hi All

There are a lot of threads about higher handicaps playing blades (and that's fine, not trying to start anything), lower handicaps playing blades, and higher handicaps playing SGI's. But there really aren't that many threads about low cappers really trying out SGI's. In 2010 i have decided to take the SGI challenge.

I picked up my G15's recently and have been to the range a couple of times since then. I am a low single digit/scratch player and have played MP32's, I5's and I10's as my last 3 sets, so forgiveness is not new to me, but i was thinking it was time to get nuts and go overboard on that front with full blown SGI's. Let me tell you that i haven't been this excited about golf in a long time, my first 2 range sessions with these clubs have been arguably my best sessions ever. I hit laser after laser with my 4-8 iron (my 9 and PW are I15's which are also great) and probably didn't hit a single shot that would've put me in any trouble. Hitting in my 150yd dome, i'm pretty sure at one point i hit the same exact ball mark on the wall with 3 consecutive 7 irons. I was downright giddy

A couple of immediate observations

1) the mats at my dome are horrible for steep swinging divot takers (which i am) and still the wide soles had no problem going through them...very encouraging
2) I hit knowckdowns with the same accuracy and height as my I10's ...also very encouraging
3) I had no problem hitting a draw...checkmate SGI's, checkmate...as far as fades go i can't really do that anyway so whatever

I'll try and update people as i get more time with them, if you're interested. But my god, where has this idea been my whole life! I felt like a pro on the range today...

[minhjn]

for most of us low handicappers, it's all between the ears as far as playing game improvement clubs. seems as if you've already passed that hurdle. good luck and keep us updated

[Bubb]

When I run up against a low handicapper with GI clubs, I know I've got my work cut out for me. Not only will I have to fend off birdies, but I will have to fend off consistency as well. Low handicappers can get hot with blades, but they can go cold too, and then it's over. Nice pickup.

[freed0m]

[i]"felt like a pro on the range today... "[/i] Would like to know the results after a couple of rounds (18), interesting topic BTW.

[MtlJeff]

^^^ can't wait to play a real round, but it might be a while. For sure will post a bit more during the summer in regards to how it's going. Ive always been a big supporter or forgiveness so this summer i'm putting my money where my mouth is, and seeing if it helps my game.

[walts00]

Very interested in this thread. I've always felt that the bigger the better when it comes to clubs as long as it is possible to maintain a reasonably penetrating ball flight. The problem I've had is SGI irons balloon on me and my only shot shape is "high". I don't work the ball anyways so not worried about that part.

Perhaps a bit tough to tell in the dome but how is the trajectory on a normal shot? What shafts?

[rymail00]

Jeff- Very interested to hear how it all works out.

Where is this dome? Is it expensive? I might have to make a road trip if its not to far.

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='3wggle' date='12 February 2010 - 10:07 PM' timestamp='1266030456' post='2247866']
Very interested in this thread. I've always felt that the bigger the better when it comes to clubs as long as it is possible to maintain a reasonably penetrating ball flight. The problem I've had is SGI irons balloon on me and my only shot shape is "high". I don't work the ball anyways so not worried about that part.

Perhaps a bit tough to tell in the dome but how is the trajectory on a normal shot? What shafts?
[/quote]

i hit my I10's the day before as a basis for comparison, than the next 2 days with the G15's. The balls there are quite good and the shafts (AWT pings) were the same with both sets. I hit the the irons the same height which was surprising, however the G15's are lofted a bit stronger. But still i expected them to go higher

i knew the trajectory would not be an issue for me as i hit a low ball. That made the decision a bit easier

the forgiveness between the sets was absolute night and day. I dont think i hit a ball outside a 5 yard width window until i got down to 6 iron in either session, and the wall is over 100yds away. I was shocked to be honest

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='rymail00' date='12 February 2010 - 10:17 PM' timestamp='1266031072' post='2247891']
Jeff- Very interested to hear how it all works out.

Where is this dome? Is it expensive? I might have to make a road trip if its not to far.
[/quote]

Hey Ryan, it's nothing special, it's a big dome in the suburbs of montreal that's maybe 130yds long down the middle and narrows a bit. I spend most of my winters there LOL. It's like 25$ an hour. Probably not worth the drive but what do you normally do in the winter? I thought these domes were commonplace in cold weather cities? (if you searched i bet you could find one closer to where you are)

come up in the summer when we can play some real golf! haha

will keep you posted on the progress

[Ian]

MtlJeff, this is a refreshing topic! I often wonder why more good ball strikers and low cappers don't go your route. I've played with some single digit guys and when they "miss" a shot I can't help thinking what would have happened if they had GI or SGI clubs.
I'm pleased to say that as of yesterday, I'm now a Ping G15 convert and loving it. I went to the Ping HQ for a fitting and really wanted to come out of it with I15's. They were great and I love how they look. But, Trackman doesn't lie. The G's were much more consistent, longer for me and so easy to swing.
Anyway, enough about me. I'm very anxious to hear your results as you get used to your new setup.
Well done.

[varsityhacker]

Interesting plan of action and it could be fun to show on the 1st tee and play someome for money claimimg your are a mid-handicapper with your G15 irons and getting strokes. Just watch out for the guy at the end of the match he might try and give you a

[sharkiesj]

Nice to hear about your experience MtlJeff. Mine is very similar although I'm not a scratch golfer like yourself.

But I did get to play with a +2 handi and he had a set of Nike Sumo irons. All he did was hit these high, towering shots that was a thing of beauty to watch. He smashed the ball from everywhere. Tight lies, rough, bunkers you name it he could hit those things so good. He mentioned that these irons were so easy to hit, although quite ugly, he quickly got over the looks and loves them now. He was saying how alot of SGI irons sit closed when you put them on the ground at address. With the Sumos, they sat square and he liked that. He also liked the fact that they were long heel to toe and it just looks so forgiving.

I'm a 4 and was hitting TM 300's. I just picked up a set of G5's at a great price and will have at it for awhile and see what happens.

[MtlJeff]

So, a few people were interested in this thread so i figured i'd update people. It's been a couple of weeks and i've probably hit 1000 balls with these babies now

One of my sessions i definitely didn't have my "A" game, which was probably a good thing since it was a good test of the kind of difference the clubs will make. Interestingly, i've found that balls hit high on the face are actually [i]less [/i]forgiving then smaller cavities, probably because most of the weight is located on the bottom of the club to get the ball up, whereas a club like the I10 there's more weight near the top. I was very surprised by this, the top of the club is pretty dead. I'm guessing that would be the case with most SGI's but i've only hit G15's in this segment

Anyway, maybe that lends some credence to some of the higher handicap players who say they play better with smaller cavities (if you're missing high on the face a lot GI's might be better for you then SGI's). hmmm...anyway, for a good ball striker whose misses aren't that bad, i actually think SGI's benefit [i]them [/i]even more than higher cap players, which is kind of the opposite of the target market for SGI's but i'm telling you it makes a difference. I've had range sessions unlike anything i've ever had. Anything near the sweet spot is a laser, and anything on the bottom half of the club will still result in a good shot

i'm still very high on SGI's. My range sessions are better, and my first virtual round with them resulted in a personal best score.

summer can't get here fast enough

[tigerfan23]

good thread jeff. Do you find the weight of the shaft too light?
You're a ping player so I'm sure your used to the AWT but I dunno man. I'm willing to bet you are back to players clubs sooner than you think.

Good luck though and keep us posted!

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='kgeorge78' date='23 February 2010 - 10:52 PM' timestamp='1266983546' post='2273257']
good thread jeff. Do you find the weight of the shaft too light?
You're a ping player so I'm sure your used to the AWT but I dunno man. I'm willing to bet you are back to players clubs sooner than you think.

Good luck though and keep us posted!
[/quote]

yeah i'm pretty used to the AWT's by now, they aren't so bad in the X flex in terms of weight, they are maybe 15g lighter than the dynamic golds i played previously. I played them in the I10's aswell, and find the G15's feel a bit heavier, that might be imagined on my part but they feel heavier to me.

i'm stuck with these for a while, just updated my ski gear too so i have no money now LOL...(so they better work!)

[jones137]

I'll be interested to hear how it works out when you get on the course. I tried the same thing 2 years ago with the G10's coming from MP60's and it didn't workout. They were a lot easier to hit but i felt they weren't as accurate. I also felt the larger heads have a hard time in heavy rough. It actually sounds like to me that the sole profile just fits you better......wide sole with a steep swing. I'm more of a picker and I seem to do better with narrower soles.

I still might try the new AP1's though.

[hfcasino]

Jeff-you already took the G15 driver out of your bag? What happened? Is it just the Ho in you trying something else out or did the honeymoon end? I know you were very high on the g15 driver. I'm considering it. really easy to hit. I play mizuno mp 52 irons & I love them but who knows................maybe mizuno mx300?????? Keep up the good posts!!

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='hfcasino' date='23 February 2010 - 11:16 PM' timestamp='1266984992' post='2273327']
Jeff-you already took the G15 driver out of your bag? What happened? Is it just the Ho in you trying something else out or did the honeymoon end? I know you were very high on the g15 driver. I'm considering it. really easy to hit. I play mizuno mp 52 irons & I love them but who knows................maybe mizuno mx300?????? Keep up the good posts!!
[/quote]

LOL you caught me! I still love the G15 driver, but i throw in the FT9 maybe 30% of my rounds, it's really growing on me aswell. My virtual round i used the FT9 so i changed my WITB just for fun

i actually looked at AP1's and wanted to check out MX300's aswell, but they aren't available lefty. They look really sweet though. I wasn't sure if i could deal with the extra wide soles on the G15 but so far so good

[JIMFANTE]

I recently switched to the G10 and have similar enthusiasm over the change. I formerly played i10s as well, which were just ok. The G10s go higher, longer, and straighter. I think that covers it. The wide sole both promotes a higher ball flight but perhaps more importantly minimizes twisting yielding much straighter shots. Even when I think I've put a bad swing on (an over-cooked pull hook is my downfall) I look up and the ball is on the left side of the green. The other thing that has blown me away so far is how well they handle around the greens. I thought they'd feel clunky but they actually feel exceptionaly good. Amazing sticks. I hope I'm never dumb enough to go back to a players stick. Why? The only reason would be if you were a tour quality ball striker and needed the workability. That's definitely not about 99% of us.

[Ace In The Hole]

I tried doing this as well, and the G10's were my choice at the time, I had to take them out of the bag after about 8 tournament rounds as there were multiple times I hit the same exact shot and had the ball carried at least 5 yards more than it should have normally, I just couldn't give up that distance control so I comprimized and went to R7 TP's and then recently back to CB blades in the Mizuno MP-60's. I guess it's to each their own, it just didn't work for me.

[JIMFANTE]

[quote name='Ace In The Hole' date='23 February 2010 - 10:49 PM' timestamp='1266994173' post='2273584']
I tried doing this as well, and the G10's were my choice at the time, I had to take them out of the bag after about 8 tournament rounds as there were multiple times I hit the same exact shot and had the ball carried at least 5 yards more than it should have normally, I just couldn't give up that distance control so I comprimized and went to R7 TP's and then recently back to CB blades in the Mizuno MP-60's. I guess it's to each their own, it just didn't work for me.
[/quote]

Well I haven't played with mine in anything but a recreational round yet, so I'll see what happesn. So far I've gained a club over the i10s and MX25s and it seems very consistent. Anyway, time will tell on the G10s, but I like what I see so far.

[mozgolf]

Very interesting thread. This issue came up a year/ 18 months ago when one of the golf mags did some testing and found the SGI clubs benefited the low to scratch handicappers more than any one.... will keep an eye on your results

[rafal]

My G15s gonna arrive on Friday, and I went to the store to maybe buy a player's cavity model. Testing G15's was like a bucket of ice water...I just knew that these are the sticks to lower my handicap with. Coming from Ping Eye2+'s I feel good staying with Ping.

[bogey train]

I have done a similar move
Have a set of mizuno mp30s and a set of srixon I-506 irons
on my day hit them both well but found recently that my good days are becoming further apart
going home frustrated that my golf was going backwards
started to even hate practicing
didnt want to play other courses as i knew it would be a struggle

To cut a long storey short a mate had a set of taylormade RAC OS irons reg flex
let me borrow them for a few games

Holy Crap !!!!!!
started to hit greens again
shaping my shots with a consistent draw
even hitting less club to greens
I am left hander and I now play with a consistent draw shape to all my irons " go figure ? "

Havent enjoyed my golf as much for ages

Definitely recommend that anyone having small problems with irons give a set of GI clubs a go first before selling or buying new clubs or getting lessons etc

I dont think anyone out on the course really cares what you are playing with but only what you score

I now call these GI clubs game enjoyment irons because thats what they did for me

[Nille]

I started using blades when I was a 12 handicap or so. I did not notice it so much that they were harder to play. Now I am a 6 hdcp and I am annoyed how slight misshits make the ball fly so much shorter. The lower the hdcp is, the more these kind of shots matter (with a higher hdcp you were happy that you hit the ball near the green, now you you are more demanding with the results and you take more risks)

So, I am thinking about picking up i15. Longest iron would be a 5 iron, I love hybrids. (I hit the 5iron i15 as far as the blade 4 iron anyway). (birthday in summer)

[Sonnyducks]

Great post. So many threads about playing blades but none on SGI/GI. Had this same discussion with a friend yesterday. He plays G10s and is a low single digit. I play MP68s and am about a 8-10. Went hit the G15s yesterday on his suggestion. At least a club longer and after hitting about 20 balls w/ the demo 7, none carried shorter than 150 (even with some stinkers). No way I get that out of my blades. Once I got warmed up the distance consistency was so much better. I'm ok w/ missing right or left as long as I'm pin high, it's just being short and right/left that drives me nuts.

Wish I had not seen this post as I'm planning to fitting session now.

[wfrogge1]

[quote name='jones137' date='23 February 2010 - 11:15 PM' timestamp='1266984931' post='2273321']
I'll be interested to hear how it works out when you get on the course. I tried the same thing 2 years ago with the G10's coming from MP60's and it didn't workout. They were a lot easier to hit but i felt they weren't as accurate. I also felt the larger heads have a hard time in heavy rough. It actually sounds like to me that the sole profile just fits you better......wide sole with a steep swing. I'm more of a picker and I seem to do better with narrower soles.

I still might try the new AP1's though.
[/quote]


+1 to the narrower sole.... I dont like the feel of SGI irons due to the wide sole but love the forgiveness.

[wfrogge1]

[quote name='Sonnyducks' date='24 February 2010 - 10:33 AM' timestamp='1267025631' post='2273960']
Great post. So many threads about playing blades but none on SGI/GI. Had this same discussion with a friend yesterday. He plays G10s and is a low single digit. I play MP68s and am about a 8-10. Went hit the G15s yesterday on his suggestion. At least a club longer and after hitting about 20 balls w/ the demo 7, none carried shorter than 150 (even with some stinkers). No way I get that out of my blades. Once I got warmed up the distance consistency was so much better. I'm ok w/ missing right or left as long as I'm pin high, it's just being short and right/left that drives me nuts.

Wish I had not seen this post as I'm planning to fitting session now.
[/quote]


MP 68 7 iron = 35 loft
G15 7 iron = 32 loft

Thats why they are a club longer

[cardoustie]

Jeff
Good thread
Let me first say ..... GO CANADA

Like you I am kinda of a low cap and also steep.
Similar to you I have now locked down PING Rapture J v1's in 3-6 iron, and I go with Ping s-57 in 7-PW
I actually prefer the v1 Rapture J's over the v2's

I think a mixed set that blends nicely is the wave of the future

Think of the tour guys that are plus 7's. They now all have one hybrid and we are seeing lots of 4i's that are SGI and I think we will see more and more 5i's that are SGI as well over the next 24 months creeping in

There is something empowering about high straight and deep 5 irons !!

The 3i will not be in play as I doubt it can kick out my hybrid

Thinking I may go Ping Anser forged in 7-PW if I line them up

[Sonnyducks]

True on the loft thing between the two clubs but what I'm mainly focused on is my distance range. I quickly learned about that before I bought the clubs and lived it afterwards...no biggie there. I'm more concerned about distance consistency on mishits.