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to change or not to change

  • 20-11-2014 01:54PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,190 ✭✭✭


    Hi all. I currently play a set of callaway razr x irons which i bought a few years ago when they were first released. I was playing off 17 back then. .... generally inconsistent ball striking etc. Typical 17 handicapper in other words. I'm now down to 13 and improving all the time. My question is at what stage do you move from game improvement irons (which i understood the razr x were) on to better player irons? Please don't get me wrong I'm not being big headed here. I was just wondering would someone like me who is improving and practising a lot gain anything from say moving to mizuno mp's or taylormade rsi 2 etc? Christmas is coming and normally my parents and siblings give me vouchers for the shop of my choice. The thought crossed my mind to trade up to new irons. .....


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 20,664 ✭✭✭✭Rikand


    You change when your game improvement irons stop improving your game... and not a second sooner ;)


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


    Rikand wrote: »
    You change when your game improvement irons stop improving your game... and not a second sooner ;)

    He speaks the truth ^^^


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,190 ✭✭✭opinionated3


    But what do the better irons offer that's different?


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


    Custom fitted clubs be more suited, game improvement irons just help the ball get in the air quicker higher and ur misses not to be as bad better player irons would help you with maybe more distance but more so in shaping the ball, but you obviously have to know how too!

    My advice get custom fitted with the likes of the Titleist test centre or foregolf or the likes..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭Nozebleed


    Id wait until you reach single figures an the treat yourself to a custom fit set.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,331 ✭✭✭the lawman


    Not sure if this will answer your question but I'll give you my current decision on the exact same question.

    I went from 13 to 9 this year and I always said Id treat myself to fitted 'player' irons but I just didn't think I'm hitting my irons well enough or more importantly consistent enough to warrant a change. So I'm waiting until the new year with lessons over the winter to see where I am then.

    In short I don't feel I'm ready for less forgiving irons just yet. I guess only you can answer the question for yourself.

    Can't wait to get there mind!


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


    @ Lawman I had game improvement irons and was very inconsistent and taught the same, but after a few months wasn't getting any better so just went ahead and got fitted was told it was my irons holding me back and am much more consistent now with my new clubs(after getting fitted)! pity I can't say the same about my woods :( but getting there.......


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,695 ✭✭✭ForeRight


    But what do the better irons offer that's different?



    But what are better irons?
    The blade and forged irons are not as forgiving as what you have now so may set you back if your ball striking is not super consistent.

    You hit a bad strike now you have a bit of play with the irons and might get away with it but hit the same with a blade and you are in big trouble.

    It's not as simple as being that you are just ready for top end clubs because your handicap is coming down.

    If I was you I'd invest the money in lessons and keep what you have while you are going well.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,133 ✭✭✭✭FixdePitchmark


    I was hitting the ball very well early last year and was down to 6/7.
    So got the idea should try blades, hit a few and realised how much my gi irons were doing for me. they are so small it is actually a big mental jump.

    Then a few weeks ago I got a nine iron in blades to test and was very happy with accuracy and flight.

    I sort of was thinking , some of the progressive sets are an option say for the high low figure player, in other words you may need to go in that gap from gi irons to pure blades - not sure the name of the group of clubs. So easier to hit low iron , but more blade like towards pw.

    I have Jpx 800 and they are very long and forgiving. They have a sort of hot spot that ball will go miles. Distance control hard enough, but that is made worse by my swing.

    Very , very hard to shape a shot if good enough.

    The pw is far too big and ugly for a club that should be getting refined IMO.

    But loved them, they were my first real golf set and got me from 12 to 6 - now 7.

    So in the same boat, but have decided to reshape / fix swing a bit and review in winter.

    Lads have said what are you doing with them clubs, funny.

    a) I think blades are for lads well under 5
    b) If you stop playing and practicing , it is easier to go back to GI irons
    c) at our level do you not need all the help you can get ?
    d) I think the blade thing is an ego thing for some.
    e) I'll stay open minded , but not sure they do " push on your game" ? Not from most gi irons.

    But I think if I get below 5 next year, curiosity will get the better of me.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 878 ✭✭✭Montgolfier


    I play TM mc iron from when I was 21 hcp to now 16 hcp.
    Just didn't like big clunky irons. They also gave a lot of feed back and feel. SO play whatever clubs you like you will get used to them eventually. I don't believe that certain clubs are for high hcp and others for the low boys.
    If you have trouble with ball striking, you simply have to improve to hit them.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,133 ✭✭✭✭FixdePitchmark


    I play TM mc iron from when I was 21 hcp to now 16 hcp.
    Just didn't like big clunky irons. They also gave a lot of feed back and feel. SO play whatever clubs you like you will get used to them eventually. I don't believe that certain clubs are for high hcp and others for the low boys.
    If you have trouble with ball striking, you simply have to improve to hit them.

    I 100 % believe.

    Sure they are designed in that way.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,749 ✭✭✭dan_ep82


    I think you should play what you like and are confident with, its meant to be fun after all.


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


    I was hitting the ball very well early last year and was down to 6/7.
    So got the idea should try blades, hit a few and realised how much my gi irons were doing for me. they are so small it is actually a big mental jump.

    Then a few weeks ago I got a nine iron in blades to test and was very happy with accuracy and flight.

    I sort of was thinking , some of the progressive sets are an option say for the high low figure player, in other words you may need to go in that gap from gi irons to pure blades - not sure the name of the group of clubs. So easier to hit low iron , but more blade like towards pw.

    I have Jpx 800 and they are very long and forgiving. They have a sort of hot spot that ball will go miles. Distance control hard enough, but that is made worse by my swing.

    Very , very hard to shape a shot if good enough.

    The pw is far too big and ugly for a club that should be getting refined IMO.

    But loved them, they were my first real golf set and got me from 12 to 6 - now 7.

    So in the same boat, but have decided to reshape / fix swing a bit and review in winter.

    Lads have said what are you doing with them clubs, funny.

    a) I think blades are for lads well under 5
    b) If you stop playing and practicing , it is easier to go back to GI irons
    c) at our level do you not need all the help you can get ?
    d) I think the blade thing is an ego thing for some.
    e) I'll stay open minded , but not sure they do " push on your game" ? Not from most gi irons.

    But I think if I get below 5 next year, curiosity will get the better of me.

    Excellent post.
    IMO and strictly IMO, the idea that blades somehow "make" you play better is a load of old tosh. Similarly you hear guys say their swings get sloppy if they use cavities, more rubbish. Yes, blades are prettier, and that's definitely an important factor in settling on a set, but, for me at least, I can learn to like a club pretty quickly if the results are good.

    Many moons ago I went from 5/6 handicap down to 3 shortly after switching from blades to cavities - never felt I was missing out on anything by playing a bigger iron or never felt there was a shot I could hit with a blade and not with a cavity iron.

    To the Op, play whatever you like, try various different sets, but don't think there aren't scratch players out there playing chunky Pings who need/want all the help they can get, or don't feel you "have" to change once you get to a certain level. If blades work for you, by all means use them, but base the choice on your own game and results.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 878 ✭✭✭Montgolfier


    I 100 % believe.

    Sure they are designed in that way.

    TM mc's have a cavity I suppose so not really blades .


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


    I play GI irons (Mx300) in my long irons and blades in my short (Titliest 735's).
    Was playing that set up off 18 and down to 12 and can't see myself changing if I go lower.

    Like to tell myself that I'm getting the best of both worlds and that's the set up that gives me most confidence.

    But ultimately, if I thin, fat, sh**k a shot, it's not going to pretty with any iron. Same if my swing is causing a hook, pull, push etc or if I'm hitting it perfect but aiming 20 yards right... None of the forgiveness or playability in the world is going to help me much tbh.

    To get the forgiveness from GI irons I think you need to be hitting it almost perfect, a low guy is going to be doing that a lot more often so I don't know why there's a lower limit in some people's head for using GI irons.

    I think they're of more use the lower the HC. That's my thinking with most golf club technology tbh, marketed at the higher HC's but most useful to lower guys that can consistently benefit from it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,133 ✭✭✭✭FixdePitchmark




    Whilest I have found this hot shot (15 - 20 yard extra) - on GI irons

    Is he a little contradictory on shaping here - as he then explains the wide sole controls club face rather than player on shaping.

    In fairness - he went off and did the test.

    Tiger has a combo set.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 468 ✭✭dines08


    4-7 iron GI irons
    8-PW players irons with a bit of forgiveness. Ie:mizuno mp 15's. Not necessarily bladed. Best of both worlds


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,133 ✭✭✭✭FixdePitchmark


    dines08 wrote: »
    4-7 iron GI irons
    8-PW players irons with a bit of forgiveness. Ie:mizuno mp 15's. Not necessarily bladed. Best of both worlds

    That is the way I'd be thinking - I'd just keep what I have up to 7/8.

    Only thing - you may find loft progression out of sequence. As GI irons may have strong lofts.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 468 ✭✭dines08


    That is the way I'd be thinking - I'd just keep what I have up to 7/8.

    Only thing - you may find loft progression out of sequence. As GI irons may have strong lofts.

    Found that with taylormade. Had a combo set of rocketblades and rocketblade tours and had to weaken the loft on the GI irons and strengthen the tours. Otherwise there was a 7 degree gap between 7 and 8 iron. Mizuno are the way to go on this one, especially this year. Mizuno H5 in the long irons and Mp 15's in the scoring. The loft and length progression is seamless


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,190 ✭✭✭opinionated3


    dines08 wrote: »
    Found that with taylormade. Had a combo set of rocketblades and rocketblade tours and had to weaken the loft on the GI irons and strengthen the tours. Otherwise there was a 7 degree gap between 7 and 8 iron. Mizuno are the way to go on this one, especially this year. Mizuno H5 in the long irons and Mp 15's in the scoring. The loft and length progression is seamless

    But how do you actually buy a set like that? I mean if i was to get fitted in say mcguirks would they actually sell me a half and half set like that? Btw Thanks a lot for all the replies folks. ... everything helps. I love my golf and would love nothing better than to get to single figures so basically I'll take any help i can get.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,151 ✭✭✭billy3sheets


    I play off 16 and have 3 (old) sets. Blades (Titleist ??), mid-size (Ping i5) and chunky (Mizuno MX-25). I've rotated between them over last few years, finding that I might prefer the heavier set in winter time or when I was off on another set.
    I've never found blades to be more difficult or less forgiving - if you're hitting it well, you're hitting it well.

    I'd suggest buying or buying a cheap 2nd hand set of blades and trying them out. If you don't like them you can probably re-sell at a small enough loss.


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


    I play off 16 and have 3 (old) sets. Blades (Titleist ??), mid-size (Ping i5) and chunky (Mizuno MX-25). I've rotated between them over last few years, finding that I might prefer the heavier set in winter time or when I was off on another set.
    I've never found blades to be more difficult or less forgiving - if you're hitting it well, you're hitting it well.

    I'd suggest buying or buying a cheap 2nd hand set of blades and trying them out. If you don't like them you can probably re-sell at a small enough loss.

    Very true, but there's no denying that when you're not quite hitting it 100% the cavities offer that little bit of help that blades don't. Personally I think that if the good shots are much the same with each club, why would someone not go for the extra help ? Everyone will have their own answer/reasons of course.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭alxmorgan


    GI irons to blades ? Way too much of a jump IMHO.
    Go for something a bit more neat if you want to.

    I moved from Cobra S9s to Mizuno Mx200s and love them. Forged feel is lovely and they still are forgiving without looking like shovels.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,133 ✭✭✭✭FixdePitchmark


    But how do you actually buy a set like that? I mean if i was to get fitted in say mcguirks would they actually sell me a half and half set like that? Btw Thanks a lot for all the replies folks. ... everything helps. I love my golf and would love nothing better than to get to single figures so basically I'll take any help i can get.

    I don't think getting to single figures is about clubs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,133 ✭✭✭✭FixdePitchmark


    From the thread here and for the laugh - hit the mp 15 today.

    Stunning - they are lovely to hit - am actually hitting them well lately. So this helped.
    Was very impressed - seem to be a good step rather than a crazy step - a bit of a middle ground from GI irons to Blades. They are targeted at handicap of 0 to 8 players.

    Loved them. They seem they would be perfect for me.

    But jaysus - they are expensive.

    Mizuno-MP-15.jpg

    If I get to 5 - I'm going to get a set 2nd hand next summer.


    By the way - the number of clubs and names at this stage - is absolutely mind boggling - very large and confusing.
    I mean you could look at many of irons - they look so similar.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,190 ✭✭✭opinionated3


    Mizuno must surely make some of the best looking clubs in world golf! ! I think having read what people are saying here, I'm just gonna keep playing as regularly as possible over the winter months and try to keep progressing with my game. I do have one issue with my current set that i must address. .... There is too much of a gap between my hybrid and 5 iron. I have no 4 iron. Distances between 175 and 195 cause me problems.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭alxmorgan


    Mizuno must surely make some of the best looking clubs in world golf! ! I think having read what people are saying here, I'm just gonna keep playing as regularly as possible over the winter months and try to keep progressing with my game. I do have one issue with my current set that i must address. .... There is too much of a gap between my hybrid and 5 iron. I have no 4 iron. Distances between 175 and 195 cause me problems.

    What degree is hybrid ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 310 ✭✭Dossy


    Id love a set of Titleist MB's myself, i have the AP1's but im getting a loan of a set of MB's to try out in the winter. Its NOT an image thing i just love them irons, ill give feedback in the next 2 weeks if you want....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,190 ✭✭✭opinionated3


    alxmorgan wrote: »
    What degree is hybrid ?

    22 degree rbz


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭alxmorgan


    22 degree rbz

    A second hybrid of 25/26 degrees might bridge the gap ?


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