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The benefits of new irons

  • 13-06-2014 02:41PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,956 ✭✭✭


    My irons are around 9 - 10 years old, Taylormade 300's. I still really like them and had them regripped a few years ago, but I'm wondering what sort of benefits I could see from a new set.

    I know newer irons can launch the ball higher, so my 7 iron would most likely be an 8 iron in a new set - in a way increasing my distance per club, but are there other benefits to getting a new set?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,138 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    SuprSi wrote: »
    My irons are around 9 - 10 years old, Taylormade 300's. I still really like them and had them regripped a few years ago, but I'm wondering what sort of benefits I could see from a new set.

    I know newer irons can launch the ball higher, so my 7 iron would most likely be an 8 iron in a new set - in a way increasing my distance per club, but are there other benefits to getting a new set?

    You'll probably just find that the new 8 iron has the same loft as your old 7 iron.

    Ie most PW's in the new sets are 44-45*... Where they would have been 48* in older sets.
    If you're happy with the current ones then I wouldn't change.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,505 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    If your last regrip was a few years ago, get yourself re-gripped again, will feel like new clubs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,956 ✭✭✭SuprSi


    But if I forget about the iron number and think directly about lofts, will the new club go any further? So if I take a new 8 iron and my old 7 iron, would they go about the same distance?

    I'm only asking as it's been a while since I bought any new gear and I can't help but feel somewhat influenced by the marketing of certain irons being particularly long!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,505 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    yep, pretty much the damn same.
    They might and I say might be more forgiving but imo that tech is much more in woods these days.

    What handicap are you? Are you looking for game improvers?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 998 ✭✭✭John Divney


    Keep them, unless they are wrecked on the face.

    They are good clubs and probably as good a set of cavity irons they made.

    There is no benefit in newer cavity irons of the same style.

    If you have money to spend look more towards woods/driver/hybrid and wedged for benefit


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,635 ✭✭✭newport2


    SuprSi wrote: »
    My irons are around 9 - 10 years old, Taylormade 300's. I still really like them and had them regripped a few years ago, but I'm wondering what sort of benefits I could see from a new set.

    I know newer irons can launch the ball higher, so my 7 iron would most likely be an 8 iron in a new set - in a way increasing my distance per club, but are there other benefits to getting a new set?

    How worn are the grooves?

    If I liked a set of irons and played well with them, that would be the only reason I would consider changing them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,956 ✭✭✭SuprSi


    I'm off 4 and tbh I haven't checked the grooves, though the wedges definitely don't spin as much as they used to. I'm not looking for anything in particular, just wondering if the technology improvements/advancements in woods have transferred somewhat to irons and whether I could benefit from a new set. Plus, 10 years is a good return on investment and next year I might be ready for a similar investment!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,252 ✭✭✭benny79


    go get a custom fit in the likes of foregolf or cartlon and they will tell you after the fit if new irons would improve your game espeacially been of single figures!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,385 ✭✭✭Tom.D.BJJ


    PARlance wrote: »
    You'll probably just find that the new 8 iron has the same loft as your old 7 iron.

    Ie most PW's in the new sets are 44-45*... Where they would have been 48* in older sets.
    If you're happy with the current ones then I wouldn't change.

    PW in the 300's is 48 degrees.

    here's the loft and lie for them all.

    http://www.equip2golf.com/specifications/specs_frameset.html?taylor_made/TM_300.html~specs
    GreeBo wrote: »
    If your last regrip was a few years ago, get yourself re-gripped again, will feel like new clubs.

    Completely agree. I have the 300's and got regripped less than a month ago. It has made a massive difference.

    Edit to add: I got a few extra layers of tape under the grip too, because i have large hands :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,138 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    Tom.D.BJJ wrote: »
    PW in the 300's is 48 degrees.

    Cheers, that data seems to be fairly old irons. I looked up the new Taylormade Speedblade loft for PW and it's 45*.

    So OP, you'll "get" extra distance from a new PW but there would be something wrong if you didn't.... as it is closer to your 9i than PW

    Taylormade (and others in fairness) weren't as keen to market the "Loft down" campaign when they were producing longer irons


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,956 ✭✭✭SuprSi


    That's an interesting site, thanks for linking it. If I compare the lofts of my clubs to a new set, like the Callaway Apex Pro, each of the Callaway clubs has 2 degrees lower loft, which would explain some extra distance. Interestingly when compared to a new set of TM Tour Preferred MB irons, the lofts are exactly the same.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,385 ✭✭✭Tom.D.BJJ


    I also don't think degrees of loft and lie are the only considerations here. Have there been major advances in shafts for irons in the same way as there has been for woods?

    I don't know what the breaking in period would be for a new set of clubs, but i would expect it might take quite a bit of time the longer we wait to upgrade.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,000 ✭✭✭Russman


    Tom.D.BJJ wrote: »
    I also don't think degrees of loft and lie are the only considerations here. Have there been major advances in shafts for irons in the same way as there has been for woods?

    I don't know what the breaking in period would be for a new set of clubs, but i would expect it might take quite a bit of time the longer we wait to upgrade.

    Not nearly to the same degree. For sure there are some new things out like, say the steelfibres, and some new companies, but broadly speaking, a steel shaft is a steel shaft. Most of the same models that were the big sellers years ago are still the big sellers, eg Dynamic Gold.

    As it happens I've just got a set of 11 year old irons, that I picked up a few months ago in absolute mint condition, reshafted. Irons haven't advanced to the same degree as woods/metals.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,635 ✭✭✭newport2


    SuprSi wrote: »
    I'm off 4 and tbh I haven't checked the grooves, though the wedges definitely don't spin as much as they used to. I'm not looking for anything in particular, just wondering if the technology improvements/advancements in woods have transferred somewhat to irons and whether I could benefit from a new set. Plus, 10 years is a good return on investment and next year I might be ready for a similar investment!

    Go to a fitting session and bring your own irons along. Hit them along with new irons you would consider and compare the results. Guess that will tell you if they are really going to make a difference or not.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,140 ✭✭✭✭TheDoc


    I'd also recommend the fitting. To be honest playing of 4, you shouldnt be buying of the shelf imo, and should be getting fitted.

    Summer is a good time to invest. A lot of the major brands will do mobile fitting sessions at local driving ranges or golf club.

    I got a fitting session with a Titleist rep, ended up with a new driver and rescue. Fitting was free anyway, ended up with discount from the sale also.

    If your a member of a club ask your pro if he got any information on fitting sessions. Titelist are really good in that they do free fitting sessions all through summer. Taylor made only do one session per year afaik.


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