Irons in regard to handicap

[clint6760]

Should I switch from my game improvement irons?

Ok. My scores always fluctuate between a 71 and 76. Today I played 36 holes and shot a 76 and a 74. On 18 holes I hit 11/18 GIR. I am currently using R7 XD's. I am not greatly pleased with them, but they are ok. They are extremely easy to hit. But it is hard to get any feedback on them. I was just wondering if I should stick with these irons since I am playing decent or switch to more of a player's iron. I was thinking along the lines of X-Tour's. I normally play around 100 holes of golf a week, so I'm out there alot. I hit quite a few greens but would I benefit more with a player's iron. Thanks

[wedgetoafoot]

I actually went through a similar decision recently and landed on the Mizuno combo set you see in my signature. No matter what course rating / slope you are playing on, you are shooting some respectable scores. There is no way you could do that without some solid ball striking, and seeing as the pros average 12 to 13 GIR, you are doing a fine job with what you have.

 

That said, you have to wonder what you are missing. What I found in making the switch is that a player's club gives good feedback and lets you control your trajectory more than a wide soled game improvement club. That has been the biggest bonus for me. You can draw/fade a game improvement club, but sometimes they are too forgiving, so this is another area you might appreciate. Coming from an old set of DCI's, I found the Mizuno's to be more demanding as far as making center contact, but a week into owning them, I've shored that up, and I'm sure your adjustment period would be short too judging from your description above.

 

These are some pretty stock answers obviously, but your post sounded really familiar to what I went through really recently. Good luck, and why not buy irons just for the sake of buying clubs, that's the spirit!

[clint6760]

Yeah I normally don't work the ball just my normally little draw. My on occasion it would be nice. But with my irons it is very hard for me to fade the ball with the offset. I do like to hit alot of knockdowns which is difficult with my irons too. I know that my scores may go up a tad for a little bit. But I play so much that I think that I can dial things in pretty fast. It is just that I'm shooting low 70's with my shovels and my playing partners are shooting high 80's with irons that are less game improvement irons than mine. I just think that in the long run that it will make me a better ball striker and player.

[clint6760]

I like the look of the X-Tours and have heard some good things about them. I played a friend's I3+blade and liked them alot. They are a little old but still good irons. I thought about going with older irons like them or Cleveland's. Anybody else with suggestions?

[Guillotine007]

i went from playing some i3+ blades to mp32's about a year ago. the 32 is had pj x's put in, and it took a bit of time getting used to the added weight (125 gram shaft) and the smaller head. my game has gotten much better over the last 6 months though as i find myself striking the ball much better. i attribute it to the 32's.

 

the biggest improvement the 32s have had over the i3s is distance control/trajectory control. i'm not sure if that has to do more with the heads or the shafts (probably both).

 

i'd say goto your local golf store and play around. throw some contact tape and check your ball striking. some people don't like thinner toplines or less offset just because of what they are used to...and some find it easier to aim. to each his own.

[bjackson]

if you are playing well with them, then why switch? my friend uses old VFT shovels, but hey, I've never beat him...use what works for you.

[clint6760]

Yeah I know. That is the only thing. I'm playing really good with them and my handicap is the lowest it has ever been. I don't guess I really need to change but I think that I should be playing with better irons. I don't get any feedback from them since they are so easy to hit. I could go on playing these irons forever and go great with them. But with these irons if I'm not swinging like I should then there is really no difference since they are so forgiving. But I would hate to change in a way since I am playing so good with them. I'm hitting greens and close to the pin. I mean if I could go out one day and make some putts then I could easily shoot a 69 or so. So I don't really know what to do. Anybody?

[nunee]

It really is a tough call. You are playing well, and hitting your irons well. The only REAL need to change is if you are not able to hit shots with your current set up. If you need to work the ball more, and are not able to do it, that would be a good reason to change. But, you are playing well, and shooting in the mid-70's consistenly. The real wuestion is "What are you looking to gain?" Really, you are playing MUCH better than most golfers, and doing it with clubs that work well for you. I don't see a need for change.

 

However, I think there is a compromise here. You don't have to go to blades, or a players cavity. Something like the TM LT, the Callaway X 18 PS or even the Fusion could benefit you.

 

Personally, I LOVE my Nike NDS irons. They really are the complete package. They have a small amount of offset, and are workable, but still very forgiving. Being a very good ball striker, you could move them left or right. There isn't a whole lot of offset either. The set is $400 retail, and much less on eBay. Oh, it provides GREAT feedback too, and sets up REAL nice.

 

If you DO decide to switch, you don't have to go all the way to Mizuno Blades.....something a couple steps down will likely do it. The NDS set will give you an idea, without breaking the bank on a set of Fusion irons.

 

Good luck!!

[dinkoh]

It seems like you have an itch to buy new set of clubs, and are just looking for an excuse/rationalization to buy them. don't worry, I have it too.

 

If not, then I would stick with your clubs. R7 XD are sweet clubs. Work the ball? why? You're playing great as is. You must be doing something right.

[jmc]

I think that's fantastic that you're playing so well. True other irons may give a little more feddback... But a better shaft could also do the same.

 

However, I also figure that when I'm playing well, then it's time to switch. Even though that's a silly idea.

 

I say if you have the extra cash and can pick up a set you like here or on eBay for cheap, then give them a try for a week or two. Sure there will be an adjustment, but then you'll be able to tell for certain. And if not, then you always can go back and sell the trial irons.

 

The only way that I ever calm my doubts is by trial. You'll know pretty quick if you like them or not...

 

Maybe not all the way to a blade, but I think you're thinking along the right lines... Something forgiving and can help you possibly control the ball a little better.

 

If you play that much golf in a week, why not try?

[momad]

I agree with most here, if you are shooting that well there is no need to change unless you just want something new. I have gone through the same situation. I became a solid player on callaway x-14 pro series irons. Everyone told me I should be hitting blades so I went and got some top flite tour pro grinds. My scoring basically stayed the same. The only thing that changed was mishits did not go as far and were further off line. Since then I have had I3 blades, TM Rac LTs, Titleist 990s, Titleist 690.mb, mp-33, TM rac mb's, titleist 762, ping s59, and a few other sets as well. My scores have remained pretty much constant through all these sets. It did not matter if they irons were game improvement or blade, forged or cast, rifle or dynamic gold. My scores stayed relatively consistant. The only things I learn is that I spent way to much to still be shooting the same scores and to be happy with the irons I use no matter what anyone says. The game speaks for itself on the course. If you are whooping your friends and shooting good scores with the shovels then don't change unless you want to.

[spk74]

The X-tour is awesome. For such a compact head, and minimal offset, I'm amazed at how easy they are to hit. I have never been able to hit a 2-iron...but now that I can, the X-Tours have made my short list of irons to consider for my next purchase. You should definitely try them out.

 

I like what JMC said...it is important to remember that it isn't a binary decision here, there's a broad spectrum of iron sets, each with different sets of game-improvement features. You don't have to go all the way to blades if you're only looking for more feedback...or looking to work the ball a little. There are plenty of sets out there that will let you ease the transition. I think the X-Tour is a prime example.

[JuiceMan]

I personally wouldn't recommend changing anything. The last two years have been my best scoring years. I was a 6 hdcp and played to it. Then I changed from Callaway Steelhead x-14's to Nike Pro Combo for the same reasons you are thinking of changing. What happened to me was my hdcp went from 6 to 9 in two hdcp marking periods. I've recently switched back to Callaway x-tours for 4,5,6,7 irons and kept the Nike 8,9,P. Now I am trending back to a 6. My point being, in retrospect wouldn't have given up my x-14's, I've shot my lowest scores with them and probably shouldn't have been looking for anything different.

[jmc]

I personally wouldn't recommend changing anything. The last two years have been my best scoring years. I was a 6 hdcp and played to it. Then I changed from Callaway Steelhead x-14's to Nike Pro Combo for the same reasons you are thinking of changing. What happened to me was my hdcp went from 6 to 9 in two hdcp marking periods. I've recently switched back to Callaway x-tours for 4,5,6,7 irons and kept the Nike 8,9,P. Now I am trending back to a 6. My point being, in retrospect wouldn't have given up my x-14's, I've shot my lowest scores with them and probably shouldn't have been looking for anything different.

 

But my point is that you would not have known this until you tried. And I'm sure that you, like me, absolutely HAD to try it. Right? That's why clint has to at least give it a go with another set of irons.

 

If you don't like it, then you can go back.

[dpriester]

Who hasn't gone out an replaced something in our lives that was working perfectly well just because we got the itch to do so?

 

At the end of the day, it all comes down to whether you are more interested in the "process" than the "result". Only you can make that call. I suspect you'll be fine whichever way you go. How's that for being absolutely no help!!??!

[JuiceMan]

I personally wouldn't recommend changing anything. The last two years have been my best scoring years. I was a 6 hdcp and played to it. Then I changed from Callaway Steelhead x-14's to Nike Pro Combo for the same reasons you are thinking of changing. What happened to me was my hdcp went from 6 to 9 in two hdcp marking periods. I've recently switched back to Callaway x-tours for 4,5,6,7 irons and kept the Nike 8,9,P. Now I am trending back to a 6. My point being, in retrospect wouldn't have given up my x-14's, I've shot my lowest scores with them and probably shouldn't have been looking for anything different.

 

But my point is that you would not have known this until you tried. And I'm sure that you, like me, absolutely HAD to try it. Right? That's why clint has to at least give it a go with another set of irons.

 

If you don't like it, then you can go back.

 

 

U R right.

[arkstorm]

Anecdotaly: I went through the same exact dilemma about three years ago. At the time I was playing X-16 Pros but I had an itch for something more toward a players' club so I picked up a combo set of Cleveland Gunmetal TA-3/TA-1's (3-6 TA-3, 7-PW TA-1). It made me a better ball striker but even on well struck shots I didn't get as good results as I did with the X-16's. So I found a middle ground with the RAC LT2's and have been very satisfied playing a tweener club that is not quite a players' club, but has a thinner topline and more workability than a game improvement model.

[bd8802]

The X-tour's are great clubs. I have a hard time finding anything wrong with them and they might be a good middle ground for you. They are not GI they are not blades. They are some of the most forgiving "players clubs" you will find. They will have some forgiveness, they will allow you to work the ball with the minimal offset, and they could make you a more solid ball striker because you will get feedback off of them. I would recomend them if you are looking for new clubs.

[clint6760]

Thanks for all the help guys. Most of you are right in saying that one reason I want to change irons is cause I just like trying new stuff even if I don't need to. I have no reason to change since I am playing great. I play with some guys that are the college golf team every now and then and on almost every hole I am putting it closer than them who are using true blades. So I could be just fine with not changing. I don't want to switch to true blades or nothing that close. But something along the lines of the X-Tours. But I could just stick with these and get better with them. ANybody else?