Mini-reivew: i-506 and J33 combos

[Mugnut]

Okay - tried to float my J33 combos in B&S but got no real takers so I sat on them, then put them in my No. 2 bag for an out of town tourney this weekend. So I now have 4 days of golf in the last 5 with either the Srixon i-506's or the J33 Combos, and thought it would be a good time to do a mini-review for those of you (and i think you're out there) who have been eyeing both.

 

Me: 14.5 index - father of two so game's a little shaky right now - I can it very strong shots and some real cruddy ones; the cruddy ones usually come from a quick transition and I never blame the clubs. Put differently, I know what to do, but my body don't always do it. I try to make some shots within reason, and play in the wind a lot so the knockdown is real important to me.

 

the clubs: Srixon i-506 4-PW standard lofts/lies; S300 OEM Lamkin crosslines. Bridgestone J33 combos; 1/4" up; standard lofts/lies; S300 (no shaftbands - felt a hair soft could be the 1/4" up?) Lamkin Crosslines.

 

the conclusions: I really love both of these clubs, and will keep both.

 

The i-506's are gonna stay in my No. 1 bag. They give me a slightly more powerful ballflight - I would characterize it as mid-high and penetrating, seems to stay fairly flat once it is up. They are easily 1/2 to 3/4 club longer than the J33's (they are 2* stronger, which would explain that). They look easier to hit at setup than the J33's, but do not look like a game improvement club at all at address. Feel is slightly softer to me than Bridgstone, but not Mizuno-soft. Srixies' probably need some fit-tweaking for me (either upright a little or maybe a little long), but I think they fit my game right now. Offer a little more forgiveness than the B-stones, but at the cost of feeling a little less precise to me (harder to knock down, don't love the P-wedge around the green (use a 51* instead).

 

The J33's are schweet. Really good-looking clubs. Look more intimidating in the bag and at set up than the 506's, but they don't play that intimidating (but I was using them on a course that is really my favorite where I score well for me - so that countered the intimidation factor). Definitely a little harder to hit than the 506's. 2* weaker than the 506's - definitely noticed it in my ballflight. Ballflight in general was lower and less penetrating than with Srixon - seemed like more of a parabolic flight rather than the flatter flight I seem to get with the Srixons, but felt very controlled - not too low nor too bloopy by any stretch. Super feel on flushed shots. Short irons felt like precision tools - I don't usually play blades but you can see why blade players like them so much. All in all really solid set, more forgiving than they look and easily suited to a mid-handicapper if you like a smaller clubhead and jones for the blade feel in short irons. They're staying in No. 2/out of town bag for now.

 

As an aside - I just moved my G5 to my No. 2 bag and put the Srixon W-506 in my No.1. That driver has been awesome so far. My need to reshaft, but i love the look, sound and results.

[Mud]

Thanks for the review Mugnut.

 

I wound up buying the J33's a couple of months ago because I just couldn't find anyone in my are who carried the Srixons. I've been very happy with the B'stones and am continually amazed at how well they perform for me. The parabolic flight you mentioned allows me to pretty much throw darts when my swing is on. I mean drop and stop! It's a good feeling, and I think the clubs are making me swing better too - I love being able to feel exactly where the ball is on the clubface.

 

One big difference that I noticed when I finally saw the Srixons was the much larger sole - not quite the classic look of the J33's but I think that's where the additional forgiveness originates. Someday I'll find some to hit!

 

BTW, what shaft did you have in your G5?

[dansrixon]

As an aside - I just moved my G5 to my No. 2 bag and put the Srixon W-506 in my No.1. That driver has been awesome so far. My need to reshaft, but i love the look, sound and results.

 

I am glad to see the driver is working out!! :cheesy:

[Mugnut]

Yes, the soles are significantly wider, and the leading edge is sharper on the i-506's. The width probably is what makes them feel a little more stable on off-center hits.

 

I have a stiff NV-65 in my 10.5* G5 at 45". That combo is pretty nice, the Srixon driver is just longer for some reason.

 

(Yes Dan the driver is working out - just need a little more heft to the shaft.)

[pdxhak]

Thanks for the review! I currently have the J33 combo's in the bag but have been looking for a set of i-506's because I need a touch more forgiveness. The J33's are awesome irons but like you, with two little ones at home, and a busy career, I do not have the time to dedicate to golf.

 

I bought the w-506 driver last month and it is in the bag. It is a very forgiving head and I like that face is not as deep.

[pdxhak]

Srixon I 506 with Rifle Flighted 6.0 is really awesome... at least for me. I could feel a big different between S300 and Rifle and I like Rifle a lot better for the smoothness feeling. I have another I 506 with PX 5.5 that for some reason doesn't work very well for me. I have no idea. They are entirely different shafts and I couldn't do anything with it. I really wanted to make it work for me but after 3 rounds, I'm putting them up for sale unfortunately. Maybe they'll work better for someone else whose swing will benefit from it.

 

The lies are flatter than typical Callaway, Titliest. etc are another reason for going withi 506 as it kept the cost down. No need to order custom set for a lot more...

 

 

Email me at [email protected] with pics and price :drinks:

[Mugnut]

yes - the lie angles the i-506's are flat - about 1.5 degrees per club flatter than the J33 Combos. I recall that the i-506 lie spec. is similar to Mizuno, which is flatter than most american OEMs.

 

I actually really like the setup on my J33's - 1/4" up and standard b-stone loft and lie, and most likely will have the i-506's bent and extended to match.