What new set of irons? Forgiveness but not game improvers.

Webbs

I currently use Cobra S9 irons and am pretty happy with them, however, I feel I would like to have a little more feel and control but I would like to still maintain a reasonable amount of forgiveness especially off the 4 -7 irons.

What would people recommend I have a look at?

Adiaga 2

You could take a look at the mizuno MP53s. They provide plenty of forgiveness but without the bulkiness of game improvers. Worth a demo if you're in the market.

k.p.h

I picked up a set of Mp-58's last week and I'm well impressed with how solid and forgiving they feel, they are very similar to the AP2's also. they are definitely a little bit harder or clunky than my old Mp-60's but also a good bit more forgiving, it's a fair trade of TBH and they look exactly the same at address.

I reckon AP2's or Mp-58 (or 59's if you want the latest model) are the leaders in "forgiving" players irons. The counteract not having a cavity by using titanium inserts to disperse weight.

It's worth reading a few reviews, I wouldn't look any further than them though,it's for good reason they are so popular.

golfnut1

I recently got a set of mp63's and happy with the way Im hitting them but in terms of feel they don't come close to my old titleist 735cm's. Best clubs I have ever had in terms of feel.
The 735's had dg s300 in them and the mp63's have project x flighted shafts. I wonder is it more the shaft than head that makes the most difference?
Tbh I'm not getting this super soft feel that mizuno are famous for. Maybe just me.
Anyone any thoughs on this?

newport2

Webbs wrote: »

I currently use Cobra S9 irons and am pretty happy with them, however, I feel I would like to have a little more feel and control but I would like to still maintain a reasonable amount of forgiveness especially off the 4 -7 irons.

What would people recommend I have a look at?

Just try as many as you can in a fitting session. I always used Mizuno's, went to get fitted in Spring last year and walked out having ordered AP2s. Hadn't even entered my head before I tried them, but time after time I was hitting them better than any of the others, even the more forgiving ones.

Webbs

newport2 wrote: »

Just try as many as you can in a fitting session. I always used Mizuno's, went to get fitted in Spring last year and walked out having ordered AP2s. Hadn't even entered my head before I tried them, but time after time I was hitting them better than any of the others, even the more forgiving ones.

Unfortunately am stuck out in the west so getting to a fitting session is always a challenge in itself.
Had a look online at the mizuno offerings mentioned, has anyone played the JPX-800 Pros.

kagni

I had Cobra the S9 irons for a few years and really liked them but switched because I needed stiff shafts and wanted something that would fly a little lower.
I got a set of Cleveland CG7 on Golfbidder for around £150 over the Christmas. I have only played a few rounds with them but so far I've found them great. They might be worth a look as they would match what you are looking for.

U.P.O.

Webbs wrote: »

Unfortunately am stuck out in the west so getting to a fitting session is always a challenge in itself.
Had a look online at the mizuno offerings mentioned, has anyone played the JPX-800 Pros.

I actually went from Cobra S9s to JPX800 Pros. I love the Pros. Im actually hitting them much better than the S9s. They are much nicer to look down on and i find them plenty forgiving. Great clubs !

Webbs

U.P.O. wrote: »

I actually went from Cobra S9s to JPX800 Pros. I love the Pros. Im actually hitting them much better than the S9s. They are much nicer to look down on and i find them plenty forgiving. Great clubs !

Hi UPO thanks for the reply, hope you dont mind me asking but what is your handicap at the minute?

U.P.O.

Webbs wrote: »

Hi UPO thanks for the reply, hope you dont mind me asking but what is your handicap at the minute?

No problem. Its 14 at the moment

Tones69

I got a set of the new 712 Titleist AP2's last month, absolutely love them

betting fool

I'm in the Market for the very same think, anyone have any views on the Taylor made mc irons.

Also is there much difference in the ap2 vs ap1 and is it worth the extra to get the latest for 712s or is a second hand set of 710s just as good.

Any other advise I'll be happy to take on board, playing off 13 but looking to go lower over the summer,

GreeBo

Webbs wrote: »

I currently use Cobra S9 irons and am pretty happy with them, however, I feel I would like to have a little more feel and control but I would like to still maintain a reasonable amount of forgiveness especially off the 4 -7 irons.

What would people recommend I have a look at?

Define what you see as game improvers v's forgiveness?
A cavity back is going to improve your game/scores because it is more forgiving or mi****s or offcentre hits than a blade or MB is.

Personally I would say pure game improvers are the sets that are all hybrid type and offset, the F.A.S.T clubs for example. Anything else is just variances in forgiveness.

I would suggest getting a mixed set, MB from W-6/7 and cavities for 6/5-3.
TM used to do a nice mix like this for their RAC's (a mix of MB and MC)

/edit
in fact they still do.
http://www.taylormadegolf.com/products/irons/Tour-Preferred-MB-irons/Select_Fit

Webbs

GreeBo wrote: »

Define what you see as game improvers v's forgiveness?
A cavity back is going to improve your game/scores because it is more forgiving or mi****s or offcentre hits than a blade or MB is.

Personally I would say pure game improvers are the sets that are all hybrid type and offset, the F.A.S.T clubs for example. Anything else is just variances in forgiveness.

I would suggest getting a mixed set, MB from W-6/7 and cavities for 6/5-3.
TM used to do a nice mix like this for their RAC's (a mix of MB and MC)

/edit
in fact they still do.
http://www.taylormadegolf.com/products/irons/Tour-Preferred-MB-irons/Select_Fit

Thanks Greebo, I am a decent driver of the ball and have a tidy short game however my iron striking (particularly 4-6/7) can be a little erratic so I think I would struggle with a blade or similar iron. I consider the S9s I play with to be a game improver i.e. cavity back throughout the set and so agree a mixed set would be a good compromise. The Taylormade look a nice iron as well

It may well be that as I have been playing with the cavity backs that I am just a little nervous about moving up to more of a 'players' iron, and am not sure if a single session at a fitting would be enough as I can have good striking one day and poor the next.

Do more of the manufacturers/ suppliers do mixed sets without going to specialist fitters?

golfnut1

Tbh I don't really buy into this forgiveness business . If you hit it out of the middle it going to be good if not you are going to miss your target. Getting another few yards out of a bad shot with game improver clubs doesn't really matter, a miss is a miss.
The "players clubs" give far more feedback which can help your game long term. I think the most important thing is to be custom fit with the right shaft. As far as heads go if you have a slow ss then you might need to stay away from the heavier blade like club but even average ss can handle these. The one thing I would say in favour of the game improver is at this time of year with the ground so soft the wider soles makes them easier to hit but its not like its going to be a good shot its just you will probably get a lot more distance but with player clubs it forces you to shallow out your attack angel. Playing with mb or blades longterm improves your striking and ability to work the ball low, high, fade or draw imo.

Webbs

golfnut1 wrote: »

Tbh I don't really buy into this forgiveness business . If you hit it out of the middle it going to be good if not you are going to miss your target. Getting another few yards out of a bad shot with game improver clubs doesn't really matter, a miss is a miss.
The "players clubs" give far more feedback which can help your game long term. I think the most important thing is to be custom fit with the right shaft. As far as heads go if you have a slow ss then you might need to stay away from the heavier blade like club but even average ss can handle these. The one thing I would say in favour of the game improver is at this time of year with the ground so soft the wider soles makes them easier to hit but its not like its going to be a good shot its just you will probably get a lot more distance but with player clubs it forces you to shallow out your attack angel. Playing with mb or blades longterm improves your striking and ability to work the ball low, high, fade or draw imo.

Each player has different strengths and weaknesses, mine is my long-mid irons and so a little more forgiveness means the off centre hits still get to the green or near enough to allow me a really good chance of up and down.

If the advantage is there from more 'forgiving' clubs then I am going to take it.
I am a fairly straight hitter with a gentle fade on good contacts which I am happy about and not all that concerned with working the ball much on longer irons but I do want more control and feedback on shorter irons where I generally hit the ball much sweeter.

For me I dont see the point of struggling over a period of time on the longer irons when the technology is there to help. But that is just my case

golfnut1

Webbs wrote: »

golfnut1 wrote: »

Tbh I don't really buy into this forgiveness business . If you hit it out of the middle it going to be good if not you are going to miss your target. Getting another few yards out of a bad shot with game improver clubs doesn't really matter, a miss is a miss.
The "players clubs" give far more feedback which can help your game long term. I think the most important thing is to be custom fit with the right shaft. As far as heads go if you have a slow ss then you might need to stay away from the heavier blade like club but even average ss can handle these. The one thing I would say in favour of the game improver is at this time of year with the ground so soft the wider soles makes them easier to hit but its not like its going to be a good shot its just you will probably get a lot more distance but with player clubs it forces you to shallow out your attack angel. Playing with mb or blades longterm improves your striking and ability to work the ball low, high, fade or draw imo.

Each player has different strengths and weaknesses, mine is my long-mid irons and so a little more forgiveness means the off centre hits still get to the green or near enough to allow me a really good chance of up and down.

If the advantage is there from more 'forgiving' clubs then I am going to take it.
I am a fairly straight hitter with a gentle fade on good contacts which I am happy about and not all that concerned with working the ball much on longer irons but I do want more control and feedback on shorter irons where I generally hit the ball much sweeter.

For me I dont see the point of struggling over a period of time on the longer irons when the technology is there to help. But that is just my case

I agree with you if the technology is there to help you use it, but I don't belive it is.
I don't think game improvement irons are any easier to use than players irons. All they do is fly higher due to the weight being so low. If you can launch the ball then I think you could look at any type of club you like. If you struggle with your long "game improvement" irons then yes you will still struggle with "players" long irons but that is not down to type of club category your hitting that's more swing mechanics.
But whatever you decide to go with as long as your happy with them is all that matters.

TheGrump

golfnut1 wrote: »

I agree with you if the technology is there to help you use it, but I don't belive it is.
I don't think game improvement irons are any easier to use than players irons. All they do is fly higher due to the weight being so low. If you can launch the ball then I think you could look at any type of club you like. If you struggle with your long "game improvement" irons then yes you will still struggle with "players" long irons but that is not down to type of club category your hitting that's more swing mechanics.
But whatever you decide to go with as long as your happy with them is all that matters.

Have you ever tried out your theory? Go to a range and hit some game improvers and then hit some players irons, there is a massive difference.

To the Op, I would recommend trying out the R11 irons, I bought them recently after trying numerours different irons over a few months. They were easily the best irons for me (but they were also at the expensive end of the scale). They have a big difference in the size of the cavity as you go from long to short irons, so that might suit your needs. They also look more blade like at address if that is an issue

dnjoyce

golfnut1 wrote: »

I recently got a set of mp63's and happy with the way Im hitting them but in terms of feel they don't come close to my old titleist 735cm's. Best clubs I have ever had in terms of feel.
The 735's had dg s300 in them and the mp63's have project x flighted shafts. I wonder is it more the shaft than head that makes the most difference?
Tbh I'm not getting this super soft feel that mizuno are famous for. Maybe just me.
Anyone any thoughs on this?

Surprised at this TBH. I just switched to MP63's with DSG S300 and am loving the feel off them. Changed from Adam's idea pro which were also forged and had a very soft feel off them and the MP63's are at least as good. That said, I had a set of Callaway x-forged with project x in them a few year ago and hated them, so there might be something in your "shaft v head" question.

golfnut1

TheGrump wrote: »

golfnut1 wrote: »

I agree with you if the technology is there to help you use it, but I don't belive it is.
I don't think game improvement irons are any easier to use than players irons. All they do is fly higher due to the weight being so low. If you can launch the ball then I think you could look at any type of club you like. If you struggle with your long "game improvement" irons then yes you will still struggle with "players" long irons but that is not down to type of club category your hitting that's more swing mechanics.
But whatever you decide to go with as long as your happy with them is all that matters.

Have you ever tried out your theory? Go to a range and hit some game improvers and then hit some players irons, there is a massive difference.

To the Op, I would recommend trying out the R11 irons, I bought them recently after trying numerours different irons over a few months. They were easily the best irons for me (but they were also at the expensive end of the scale). They have a big difference in the size of the cavity as you go from long to short irons, so that might suit your needs. They also look more blade like at address if that is an issue

I have tried them yeah. What I found with the gi clubs was that generally that I got more of a balloning flight. Could not flight them low. (very handy in to a wind). Less feedback/feel and louder so you think your absolutely ripping it.
The better players clubs I find I hit them with a better flight, easier to work, much better feel and a truer sound not a louder manufactured sound with the others. And for me looked a lot better behind the ball which inspired confidence.
I know what I say goes against what is pretty much accepted but I think it all a load of marketing/sales driven crap.
All I'm saying is every golfer out there that thinks he can't play players club I'd say go and try them.

golfnut1

dnjoyce wrote: »

Surprised at this TBH. I just switched to MP63's with DSG S300 and am loving the feel off them. Changed from Adam's idea pro which were also forged and had a very soft feel off them and the MP63's are at least as good. That said, I had a set of Callaway x-forged with project x in them a few year ago and hated them, so there might be something in your "shaft v head" question.

Yeah i haven't had them long but might just need to get use to them.
I was custom fitted and the project x were what was recommended. I use to play dg s300 lovely feel to them but not right for me.

Imdavewalshby

Sorry to butt in on your post Webbs but seems to the right place to ask the question if thats ok..
I have a set of Game Improvement clubs (W/S di7's) which I love the feeling of. The problem I have is with the offset. I tend to hit a fairly consistent draw and feel like I have to open the face a little to straighten her up or aim a good bit right of target.. When I do open the face the consistency is drastically lowered and its not always an option to aim mad right of target. Maybe I should start looking for a new set only I wouldn't feel at all confident to do justice to blades?

dozer11

Anyone got any recommendations for game improvement irons for an 18 handicapper. Kinda lost when it comes to this stuff...

peepee

Mizuno JPX are game improvement, Mizuno make great golf clubs