Advice on new irons needed....

eoghan104

Hi Folks,

So I am thinking of taking the plunge on buying new irons and had a couple of questions as the process is new to me.

As a background, I play off 7 and it’s the lowest I have been having started last year at 9 so I am on an upward curve so to speak. At the moment I have some ancient Mizuno irons that I bought second hand 10 years ago! They are standard cavity back irons with a thin sole which is what I like (I hate the ones with thick soles almost like driving irons).

Irons are probably the strongest part of my game (chip and putt like a beginner!) so I want to make sure I can get something similar just newer!

1. How important is the made to measure element? Is buying “off the rack” just a no no? ie is 2nd hand a waste of time?
2. Considering I like a thin sole to the irons are blades a good idea? Or a hybrid set?
3. I like the look of the Titleist irons but would I better sticking with Mizuno?

I know a lot of the above is a bit wishy washy but was just looking for someone to help me pull the trigger!

Thanks for any help.

DiegoWorst

eoghan104 wrote: »

Hi Folks,

So I am thinking of taking the plunge on buying new irons and had a couple of questions as the process is new to me.

As a background, I play off 7 and it’s the lowest I have been having started last year at 9 so I am on an upward curve so to speak. At the moment I have some ancient Mizuno irons that I bought second hand 10 years ago! They are standard cavity back irons with a thin sole which is what I like (I hate the ones with thick soles almost like driving irons).

Irons are probably the strongest part of my game (chip and putt like a beginner!) so I want to make sure I can get something similar just newer!

1. How important is the made to measure element? Is buying “off the rack” just a no no? ie is 2nd hand a waste of time?
2. Considering I like a thin sole to the irons are blades a good idea? Or a hybrid set?
3. I like the look of the Titleist irons but would I better sticking with Mizuno?

I know a lot of the above is a bit wishy washy but was just looking for someone to help me pull the trigger!

Thanks for any help.

Try before you buy.
If you can get your hands on a few demo clubs, and hit a few shots with each.

Was your current set fitted?

FWIW I find Mizuno blades quite forgiving for a blade, and you can't beat the feel of a forged iron.

Dublin Spur

I'm in a similar boat - changing my irons after 7 years.
I have opted for a fitting as its free of charge in McGuirks if you buy your clubs there.

I wouldn't like to give you any advise on specific irons as players tend to have unique tastes - try as many as you can before would be the best advise. Kinsealy driving range has demos of every iron in the market. I'd start there.

eoghan104

DiegoWorst wrote: »

Try before you buy.
If you can get your hands on a few demo clubs, and hit a few shots with each.

Was your current set fitted?

FWIW I find Mizuno blades quite forgiving for a blade, and you can't beat the feel of a forged iron.

Yeah I think getting out and trying a few different ones is the best way forward. Does the made to measure help a lot? obviously can't test those!

My set now are not fitted.

DiegoWorst

eoghan104 wrote: »

Yeah I think getting out and trying a few different ones is the best way forward. Does the made to measure help a lot? obviously can't test those!

My set now are not fitted.

It could make a big difference to some players. And well worth doing if the retailer is throwing in that service for free.

I'd be inclined to match the spec of the my current clubs, flex, length, swing weight, lie angle.

I didn't have to adjust mine.

mike12

I would go for a quick fit and then get some second hand Muzinos some really great sets if you have a look on adverts for a fraction of the price new.

eoghan104

mike12 wrote: »

I would go for a quick fit and then get some second hand Muzinos some really great sets if you have a look on adverts for a fraction of the price new.

Yeah I noticed a few sets on adverts that looked great but seemed too good to be true!

slave1

There's a massive thread on club fitting that just got crazy towards the end and was closed but I'd deffo have a good long read of it as buying clubs without a fitting is pot luck IMHO

DuckSlice

Look up what the equivalent of your irons in the new mizuno range! Mizuno have some gorgeous irons!

Jazzzman

eoghan104 wrote: »

Hi Folks,

So I am thinking of taking the plunge on buying new irons and had a couple of questions as the process is new to me.

As a background, I play off 7 and it’s the lowest I have been having started last year at 9 so I am on an upward curve so to speak. At the moment I have some ancient Mizuno irons that I bought second hand 10 years ago! They are standard cavity back irons with a thin sole which is what I like (I hate the ones with thick soles almost like driving irons).

Irons are probably the strongest part of my game (chip and putt like a beginner!) so I want to make sure I can get something similar just newer!

1. How important is the made to measure element? Is buying “off the rack” just a no no? ie is 2nd hand a waste of time?
2. Considering I like a thin sole to the irons are blades a good idea? Or a hybrid set?
3. I like the look of the Titleist irons but would I better sticking with Mizuno?

I know a lot of the above is a bit wishy washy but was just looking for someone to help me pull the trigger!

Thanks for any help.

You've answered your own question there mate.

If you're talented, which you must be to have picked up the game so quickly, then you'll find you'll be well able to hit the ball using any good set of irons.

Unless you have the cash, spending 900e on a new set of Titliests and then extra quid on customising would be OTT imho.

You can never go wrong with a second hand set of AP2s/Mizunos.

Domo1982

etxp wrote: »

Look up what the equivalent of your irons in the new mizuno range! Mizuno have some gorgeous irons!

Smart thinking there - a great starting point.

On another note if you've got to 7 without being too good around the greens there might potential to drop even further by working on your short game specifically in 2015.

That could be a lesson or simply just more regular short game practice

Best of luck!

eoghan104

Domo1982 wrote: »

Smart thinking there - a great starting point.

On another note if you've got to 7 without being too good around the greens there might potential to drop even further by working on your short game specifically in 2015.

That could be a lesson or simply just more regular short game practice

Best of luck!

Thanks for all the advice folks. I will talk to the pro and see what he thinks also.

Just to clarify I am not a beginner that just got to 7! I have been playing 15 years and was down to nine, got the yips and went back to 13 so the putting is still majorly ropey at times.

Thanks for the advice above 2015 is all about the short game you're right!

BigChap1759

Jazzzman wrote: »

You've answered your own question there mate.

If you're talented, which you must be to have picked up the game so quickly, then you'll find you'll be well able to hit the ball using any good set of irons.

Unless you have the cash, spending 900e on a new set of Titliests and then extra quid on customising would be OTT imho.

You can never go wrong with a second hand set of AP2s/Mizunos.

Strange view - I would say the complete opposite. If you're talented I think you could get much more out of being custom fitted?

I guess you really have to suss out what your goals are and how much you're prepared to spend, custom fitting isn't that expensive and I would also say that you need to differentiate between in shop fitting and fitting somewhere like Carton House, Foregolf or Birr - different things IMO

mike12

I think for irons a quick fit is fine as long as u are average enough height then off the shelf lie is usually fine. 3 swings on the muzino DNA and you have a iron shaft. If you are having a lesson the Pro can check the lie and put you on a hit board with some tape which takes a minute. So i reckon you could have an iron fitting done in 10 mins. The grange in Portmarnoch is good in that you can take some demo clubs out on the range ourself and see what they are like.

Even if you spend a couple of hundred on a second hand set you are not going to loose much on the resale.

Sean_pop

I dont no what your budget is but Mizuno irons are generally expensive.

If you have a consistent Golf swing then custom fittings will benefit you.

Montgolfier

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Strange view - I would say the complete opposite. If you're talented I think you could get much more out of being custom fitted?

I guess you really have to suss out what your goals are and how much you're prepared to spend, custom fitting isn't that expensive and I would also say that you need to differentiate between in shop fitting and fitting somewhere like Carton House, Foregolf or Birr - different things IMO

+1 I would money is better on a custom fit rather than changing your swing to suit the club's you buy secondhand or off the rack.
Your off 7 so you must be a fairly keen golfer a custom set could do you 10 years.
If I was buying a set tomorrow for myself I would buy mp54's bladed short irons and a cavity in the long irons. Mizuno can give you any swing weight you like. Good luck with whatever you decide.