In the search of iron accuracy - how much distance to give up

StuartRS · May 9, 2012

Heavy vs light vs graphite

I will admit that I have got caught up with distance over the last few years. My irons have got less and less accurate my swing has got pretty loose and as a bandaid I have swapped irons mores than I want to think about trying to find my game again. I have had some times where I have dropped 8 balls from 150 and not hit the green with any of them.

I have worked on my swing and at the driving range tonight I just focused on a tight compact half swing and hit my gap wedge (dynalite xp r300) very accurately about 100 yards with good contact, but once I moved to a 6 iron (dynamic gold r300) although I hit it very accurately, with flight being low it flew around 150 yards with good consistency.

Trying the Dynalite XP R300 in a 6i, a lighter regular shaft, or even a regular graphite is an option. I hit my dads old Mizuno MX25s with graphite lite shafts and the fact that I had to slow everything down improved my ball striking no end and my consistency.

I appreciate that the DG R300 with a slow compact swing may not load properly and will fly too low, but how much distance would you give up to hit it on a shoe string? If you hit a 6i with one shaft 150 but super tight dispersion, against one that went 170 but with upto 20yds of dispersion, I guess everyone would take the first one?

MadGolfer76 · May 9, 2012

I don't know that you have to choose one or the other. Improved accuracy comes from an improved strike, which should improve distance as well. Obviously the shaft plays a part too, but I don't know that those two points are "either/or," necessarlly.

ptjn1201 · May 10, 2012

A shorter backswing can help with dispersion as there's less movement overall in your swing -- you're less likely to sway off the ball. But depending on your swing, you might prefer heavier and/or stiffer shafts, as your transition will probably be a little quicker. I've been working on a 3/4 swing with my irons as well, and as long as I remember to turn my hips instead of just sliding them, I've only lost about a half club distance.

Shaft Mechanic · May 17, 2012

[quote name='StuartRS' timestamp='1336597756' post='4882714']
I will admit that I have got caught up with distance over the last few years. My irons have got less and less accurate my swing has got pretty loose and as a bandaid I have swapped irons mores than I want to think about trying to find my game again. I have had some times where I have dropped 8 balls from 150 and not hit the green with any of them.

I have worked on my swing and at the driving range tonight I just focused on a tight compact half swing and hit my gap wedge (dynalite xp r300) very accurately about 100 yards with good contact, but once I moved to a 6 iron (dynamic gold r300) although I hit it very accurately, with flight being low it flew around 150 yards with good consistency.

Trying the Dynalite XP R300 in a 6i, a lighter regular shaft, or even a regular graphite is an option. I hit my dads old Mizuno MX25s with graphite lite shafts and the fact that I had to slow everything down improved my ball striking no end and my consistency.

I appreciate that the DG R300 with a slow compact swing may not load properly and will fly too low, but how much distance would you give up to hit it on a shoe string? If you hit a 6i with one shaft 150 but super tight dispersion, against one that went 170 but with upto 20yds of dispersion, I guess everyone would take the first one?
[/quote]

You might be surprised like many club fitters are but with a proper fitting of the shaft, accuracy and distance occur at the same time. Why you say, it is because if the shaft is fitted properly it is back to straight at ball impact. Such a fitting is based on matching the frequency or timing of the clubs response to the players swing timing not his swing speed. Check out [url="http://www.colfclubfittingsystem.com"]www.colfclubfittingsystem.com[/url].

mctrees02 · June 4, 2012

Poor guy can't even spell his website link right when spamming a post... :taunt:

mr300 · June 6, 2012

Hey there I only swing my iorns that go just past 3/4 before the **** of the wrists at the top and i hit it solid 8 iron 150 metres, timing is the key to a solid ball strike, not hitting it but swinging it, When i go to the range I see heaps of overswinging and unbalanced finishes from people that go nowhere because there timing is out. Two things you can try before changing any equipment is get a lesson from a pro to tune up what you have to get added distance etc. Or if you are like me an just want to work it out for yourself try a lot of punch shots before progressing to a full swing, start swinging 1/2 way back then 3/4 back then full but keep your follow through below the sholders and this will improve your ball contact at he bottom of the swing and you might be surprised at the result and length of your punch shots to your existing full swing. PS try to use the grass tees only at the range for hitting the punch shots can hurt on the tuff mats.
Good luck and happy golfing!

StuartRS · June 16, 2012

I wanted to back to this as I have settled on a set of irons and shafts and am quite supprised with what has worked.

After hitting dgs300, dgr300, dynalite xp r300, project x flighted 5.5 over the last 8 months or so, the club and shaft combo which has allowed me to get my rhythm and ball striking back is......

Taylormade Burner Plus with std 85g uniflex shafts. I do not seem to miss the sweetspot, and as said above because of this, my control and accuracy have improved dramatically.

bellview17 · June 28, 2012

I give up one to one and a half clubs and swing at 50 to 70 percent.
I can step on a wedge for 130, but who knows where it goes.
I have given up on hitting the ball far. And, my game is much better for it.
I hit the wedge 115 to 120 max and gap at 100.

Don't be fooled by distance, it means nothing without hitting it on the target.

drew4008 · July 10, 2012

Those XP R300's are nice shafts. Not going to work if you're just a monster out there hitting your 6i 190+... but otherwise, nice control, great flight. I think they get a bad rep and more people should try them.