Considering new irons

blue note

Firstly, my apologies, I know I saw thread on this recently, but the search function kept throwing up years old threads.

I'm considering a new set of irons. I play off 16 which is a fair handicap for me. I don't play all that often, so would think that a fitting would be pointless? I come down too steeply on the ball and want to change that anyway, so again am I correct to say that a fitting would be pointless?

I tend to strike the ball quite well - although I sometimes spray it everywhere. My 7 iron goes about 150m, I'm not looking for any added distance and wouldn't mind losing a little if there was a gain to it.

Does anyone have any opinions on specific clubs? I'm looking to spend less than €500 (and would have no objections to paying significantly less!). The clubs I've seen around in my price range are the Cobra S3s, Callaway RazrX, Wilson Ci9 / Ci11's (€300 and €469), Ping G15s.

The ones I like the look of the best are the Wilsons - does anyone have these and would you say the newer ones are worth the extra €169?

L.O.F.T

Im going to say that that you should buy a good solid second hand set and start playing more instead of spending up to €500 on a set.
Fitting is not pointless but it will be if you play irregularly. If you want to enjoy the game get some lessons and practice what your shown.

If it was me I would buy these as they are a fine set of irons and keep the other €350 in the kitty.
http://www.adverts.ie/golf/wilson-fg-tours-4-pw/2308850

mike12

Have a look at the Mizuno JPX range the Pro version are nice.
Mike

blue note

L.O.F.T wrote: »

Im going to say that that you should buy a good solid second hand set and start playing more instead of spending up to €500 on a set.
Fitting is not pointless but it will be if you play irregularly. If you want to enjoy the game get some lessons and practice what your shown.

If it was me I would buy these as they are a fine set of irons and keep the other €350 in the kitty.
http://www.adverts.ie/golf/wilson-fg-tours-4-pw/2308850

Thanks for the response. I play as much as I can, if there's ever an opportunity to play more I jump at it. And as regards practice - if I'm getting to play once in a month, I'm going to hit the course, not the practice area. Similarily, lessons aren't great value since I never get to properly work on what I've learned.

Those clubs look very nice - one concern is are they for better players? I saw Padraig Harrington uses them - I wouldn't be at his level. I don't know who Ricky Barnes is so can't say for sure that he's better than me, but there's a good chance he is.

L.O.F.T

blue note wrote: »

I don't know who Ricky Barnes is so can't say for sure that he's better than me, but there's a good chance he is.

I'd say you and Ricky would be on an equal level of ability.

alxmorgan

mike12 wrote: »

Have a look at the Mizuno JPX range the Pro version are nice.
Mike

Good timing

http://youtu.be/vy7eWxzP3L0

alxmorgan

Consider these perhaps

http://www.adverts.ie/golf/mx-200-s-reduced/2239099

tippgod

in the exact situation myself. Had a quick look in the shops yesterday and saw Wilson Ci9 with hybrid for 320 and Cleveland CG16 for 300. Both were nice but didnt get a chance to use them. Have been using a beginners set for a while now but a new job has given me more time so want to play more.

scubapro

Well I know if I was going to spend money on a new set of irons I would definately go with forged heads, If you want to bend them down the road for loft and lie you can no problem, I believe it's not so easy with cast heads, as they could snap. (I'm finding out to my own dismay).
I suppose one of the most important aspect of buying a new iron is how it looks to you, you are the one who is going to be standing over the ball looking at them all the time i.e thinner top line, oversized head, larger cavity etc.
I would look at last years line of irons and try and hit some on a LM see what numbers you get with different shafts, and finally I would wait until Janary when you are guarenteed to pick up a bargain.

tippgod

scubapro wrote: »

Well I know if I was going to spend money on a new set of irons I would definately go with forged heads, If you want to bend them down the road for loft and lie you can no problem, I believe it's not so easy with cast heads, as they could snap. (I'm finding out to my own dismay).
I suppose one of the most important aspect of buying a new iron is how it looks to you, you are the one who is going to be standing over the ball looking at them all the time i.e thinner top line, oversized head, larger cavity etc.
I would look at last years line of irons and try and hit some on a LM see what numbers you get with different shafts, and finally I would wait until Janary when you are guarenteed to pick up a bargain.

sorry for my stupidty but whats a "LM"

PARlance

tippgod wrote: »

sorry for my stupidty but whats a "LM"

Launch monitor me thinks

rafared

All these type of threads can be boiled down to 4 words...........


TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.

neckedit

blue note wrote: »

Thanks for the response. I play as much as I can, if there's ever an opportunity to play more I jump at it. And as regards practice - if I'm getting to play once in a month, I'm going to hit the course, not the practice area. Similarily, lessons aren't great value since I never get to properly work on what I've learned.

Those clubs look very nice - one concern is are they for better players? I saw Padraig Harrington uses them - I wouldn't be at his level. I don't know who Ricky Barnes is so can't say for sure that he's better than me, but there's a good chance he is.

If you want you are more than welcome to try them out for a game or 2.
PM me if interested

kagni

I haven't hit the exact ones you are considering but I have played the Cobra S9 and the Wilson Di9.

I got a 2nd hand set of Wilson Di9 irons recently and they are very nice.
I have the Di11 Gap wedge and there isn't much difference between the Di9 and Di11, I prefer the looks of the Di9.
The lofts are very strong so the PW is like a 9 iron from my old set, this means that I have two Gap Wedges in my bag now.
I have a steep swing also and find the wider sole stops me digging in too much.

The Cobra S9 were very similar, strong lofts also, just as easy to hit, they hit the ball a bit higher.
Like a fool I sold them and went downhill after.

I now know I need all the forgiveness I can get so will be sticking with the Di9's for a while.

neddynasty

I was in a similar situation in the summer. Had a beginner set for years and decided to change it. Same as yourself I get out when I can but that might only be once every 3 or 4 weeks. I was offered a new set of those Wilson FG Tour irons for €350 from a pro shop. Went to Nevada Bobs, where I generally go, and he refused to sell them to me. Said I'd want to be playing 3-4 times a week to be able to use them properly and I wasn't at that level and he wouldn't let me out the door with them.
He had a new set of Wilson CI9s there and said they'd be perfect. They were around €270 and I tried them out and bought straight away. I have to say I find them great. Took a few rounds to get used to but you can really feel when you hit the ball well (or not!). I'd recommend the CI9s anyway.

I bought a second hand Wilson Staff Fybrid HS afterwards too. Probably my easiest club to hit from anyway lie.

slave1

I'm not a million miles from the way you outlined your post and I went with a set of Ping G20 irons for €500 (5-SW), pretty happy so far.
I would make sure you get the clubs you will use though, I've since dropped my 5iron and added a Gap Wedge, probably likely I'll drop my 6 iron soon for a hybrid....

blue note

Thanks everyone for your help. I think I am sorted and will post back to confirm when all is finalised.

Dr_Colossus

slave1 wrote: »

I've since dropped my 5iron and added a Gap Wedge, probably likely I'll drop my 6 iron soon for a hybrid....

Seriously? Not having a dig but what have you got against mid irons. I think it's the Ping G20 I'm thinking off but they have enormous sole plates as is so should be very like hybrids in terms of preventing digging into the turf.

slave1

I replaced the 5iron with a hybrid as I found the hybrid easier to hit from the rough.

blue note

slave1 wrote: »

I replaced the 5iron with a hybrid as I found the hybrid easier to hit from the rough.

Hard to argue with that explanation.

blue note

Everyone, thanks for all your help - I purchased a set today. I tried half a dozen in birr and they were all nice clubs to be honest, but the r11s were my personal favourite. Also, at 450 for 9 irons with stiff shafts, they were a very fair price. They are an ex demo set, but they're like new. A couple of them are still in the wrapper.

If anyone's looking after Christmas and is curious to what I thought of the various sets I'll rank the ones I tried from least to most favourite (although they were all very good clubs).

6th: ping G15. I hit them well, but simply found the heads too chunky to warm to.

5th: mizuno something. They were the only ones I didn't hit consistently well to be honest. It's hard to criticize the impact feel when they were generally off centre, but there was no point persisting with them when there were plenty that suited me.

4th: ping i20s. I actually can't remember why I ranked them 4th. I didn't warm to them quickly and pretty much put them aside. I suppose they just weren't better in any way than the others.

3rd: Nike VRPro cavity back. I found them a little heavy to swing and a little heavy at impact, but they were possibly the longest and straightest.

2nd: Callaway RazrX. Lovely club. Hard to fault.

1st: Taylor Made R11. Just slightly lighter and thinner than the Callaways. They were the nicest to swing and the nicest to hit. They were the ones I think I'll enjoy the most simply.

So, now to see if I can knock even a shot off my handicap for 450e!

Happy Christmas all!

tippgod

A bit off topic but went in to buy my irons today. Was hoping that they were on sale. Walked up to the shop and A sign outside with a picture saying my clubs were reduced. Brilliant I thought till I saw that they were reduced to a price that was ten euro more than before Christmas