Do you buy clubs marketed at your handicap?

dan_ep82

When looking for new clubs do you try only the clubs marketed at your HC?

e.g High HC looking at Game Improvment irons, Mid looking at muscle/cavity, low looking at muscle/blade, smaller vs bigger headed drivers, cavity wedges etc

Or do you try everything and buy what you like? Or is it a mix of both?

Do you wish you could play different irons but feel it will effect your game?

Do you feel clubs should be marketed differently?

I play irons aimed for a lower handicap but I feel they perform well enough for me to get around the course and still enjoy the good and bad shots.

If I could get a driver I could hit as efficiently as my irons I wouldn't care if it was bright pink but its always been the part of my game I'm least happy with so its not surprising I'd like a little help there. Surprisingly the best driver I ever had was an Xhot Pro and I sold it

Boskowski

I couldn't play with big shovels or a half hybrid set or something even tho I'm off 16. I've always been a gear freak and I need my stuff to please me.
I found a good looking and nice feeling and pretty easy hitting set of muscle backs and I'm sticking with them. In my defense if I ever got to 7 or so that wouldn't give me the urge to go and buy a set of blades either.

dan_ep82

Boskowski wrote: »

I couldn't play with big shovels or a half hybrid set or something even tho I'm off 16. I've always been a gear freak and I need my stuff to please me.
I found a good looking and nice feeling and pretty easy hitting set of muscle backs and I'm sticking with them. In my defense if I ever got to 7 or so that wouldn't give me the urge to go and buy a set of blades either.

I think thats something similar to how I feel, if it suits the eye and gives confidence its what I'll play.

I did have the odd doubt that the clubs were holding me back but after a few rounds with TM Burners and a talk with my Pro he said to stick to the CB's.

Russman

I think whatever works for an individual. Confidence and appeal are a huge part of liking a club.
That said, better results will soon help you to get over the aesthetics of any club. I remember waay back in the day, I'd used TP9 blades for 6/7 years and, for the craic one day, took out my fathers T Zoid Oversized XV - it was like legal cheating ! Ugly as sin but I couldn't argue with the results ! Ended up buying a set of MX cavities and went from always hanging around 5/6 handicap to hanging around 3/4 handicap, was it the irons ? who knows. Did they help ? absolutely. Were they marketed to low single figures ? No.

To answer the Op, no I don't pay any attention to what handicap range clubs are marketed for, if it works for me I'll use it, no matter what the advertising says.


Hope this doesn't turn into a blades Vs cavities debate !!:D

dan_ep82

Russman wrote: »

I think whatever works for an individual. Confidence and appeal are a huge part of liking a club.
That said, better results will soon help you to get over the aesthetics of any club. I remember waay back in the day, I'd used TP9 blades for 6/7 years and, for the craic one day, took out my fathers T Zoid Oversized XV - it was like legal cheating ! Ugly as sin but I couldn't argue with the results ! Ended up buying a set of MX cavities and went from always hanging around 5/6 handicap to hanging around 3/4 handicap, was it the irons ? who knows. Did they help ? absolutely. Were they marketed to low single figures ? No.

To answer the Op, no I don't pay any attention to what handicap range clubs are marketed for, if it works for me I'll use it, no matter what the advertising says.


Hope this doesn't turn into a blades Vs cavities debate !!:D

I suppose if I seen a dramatic difference in scoring and the clubs were nice to look at I could probably get over the looks. I've tried Apex, Ez Forged,AP1, X2hot etc, all the leading GI irons but never thought "wow"

Not at all, I think thats a discussion the Americans get hung up on but the ego's on those sites are massive.

Russman

dan_ep82 wrote: »

Not at all, I think thats a discussion the Americans get hung up on but the ego's on those sites are massive.

I don't think there's anyone on those sites who doesn't swing at 120mph and doesn't "need" X100 shafts !! :D

mike12

Have a set of Muzino MX 300 Cavity back in the lower irons and muscle in higher irons it has the matching GW which i really like.

SevesThreeIron

I bought a set of blades a few years ago to practice with in the winter, Titleist MBs. Figured they would sharpen up my strike in the off season. Picked them up for cheap enough. The difference after a few months with them and going back to my normal clubs in march or so, RBZs, is fairly big.

For me, the blades are much harder to get a good connection with and don't go as far. No way I would consider using them the whole season, no matter what handicap I get down to. That's just me though, other guys will say the blades are more workable and stuff like that and each to their own.

slave1

I think GI irons are certainly suited to those with less than perfect contact given their forgiving and high flight design, blades would kill a player like that.
Low-mid-high to GI irons but blades for low and close to low, in other words a low handicapper can play with GI but much harder for a high handicapper to play with blades IMHO

Ciaranra

SevesThreeIron wrote: »

I bought a set of blades a few years ago to practice with in the winter, Titleist MBs. Figured they would sharpen up my strike in the off season. Picked them up for cheap enough. The difference after a few months with them and going back to my normal clubs in march or so, RBZs, is fairly big.

For me, the blades are much harder to get a good connection with and don't go as far. No way I would consider using them the whole season, no matter what handicap I get down to. That's just me though, other guys will say the blades are more workable and stuff like that and each to their own.

Would agree with you on this,
I used blades for a few months then went back to my 2.0, don't think I would ever consider using them again,
Sure not all pro golfers use them either

Boskowski

Just as an add on. I played big GI irons on business trips, rental sets, on several occasions. Nikes and Taylor made. I hit them longer alright but they have longer shafts and are delofted so no surprise. Did I hit them better than my S58's? No.

Ciaranra

Boskowski wrote: »

Just as an add on. I played big GI irons on business trips, rental sets, on several occasions. Nikes and Taylor made. I hit them longer alright but they have longer shafts and are delofted so no surprise. Did I hit them better than my S58's? No.

Would you hit any club well that's not yours,

TheDoc

I moved to semi blades in my late teens on advice they would better suit my game as I was tumbling down in single figures. While it wasn't the only reason, I completely failed to adapt and my game went to dog ****.

I sold them immediately on my return to golf and picked up a set of Taylor MAde Burner 2.0s. They would be aimed at the "game improving" market and there was even some hesitation from the salesmen, but I had good memories of using TM RAC's back in the day.

Couldn't be happier. Playing off 8

dan_ep82

For those lower guys who play the GI irons, what was the biggest difference?

Do you find yourself striking both irons the same with better results or do you strike better with the GI irons over players irons?

@ Ciaranra I know the question wasn't directed at me but I'll answer it anyway

Confidence plays a big part to my strike/swing. I'd be more than willing to give anything a go but I think they're are some clubs that you really must middle it or you get severely punished and others where you can be off center by a bit and still produce a good shot.

I think , once lie,length and shaft are a fit, I could hit any of the smaller CB's as well as I hit my current ones. I've hit some muscle/blades (TM MB's,Nike VR Pro's etc) and while I could hit a good shot with them the bad shots were too punishing , generally because of carry. My miss would be slightly low toe side would take a dive where as the CB's offer enough help to get me 85-90% of the yardage.

My current clubs carry
Good strike 150
Average 145
Bad 135-140

I can live with that, if I was losing 30yds on a bad strike it would be too much

TheDoc

In reality I could probably hit anything you put into my hand. One of my playing group got a new set of TM blades late last year and I had a few strikes and was hitting them fine.

But as I said I had this period using Mizunos that destroyed my confidence. I went with Burners because they were about as close to TM RAC's you could buy. And that was a period in my time playing golf where I felt unstoppable, so I tried reclaiming that.

So for me it's kind of comfort. Granted I only realised six months in I was was given REG shafts instead of STIFF, I'm more then comfortable with my burners.

I'd be someone who kinda struggles to see the difference anymore with the advancement in tech. When I was pushed to blades ( and I say pushed, because it was the thing that was done 10 years ago. If you started plummeting down to single figures, you wouldn't meet a pro or salesmen that wouldnt say the word "blade") and the benfits were having more control, ability to shape shots, more spin on the green and you would sacrifice a little distance.

I've never once had to blame my Burners for when a shape didn't come off, or a ball didn't bite etc. I just don't feel I'm missing out on anything, yet I'm gaining some forgiveness and distance. The PW is a really comfort club for me, and I'm able to hit a variety of shots with it, which might come as a suprise on the face of it, considering it's a GI club.

When you mention those distances above, what iron are you talking about their?

When I was using my TM RAC's at about 14-16 yrs of age I was hitting a seven iron comfortable from 150yrds. When I moved to the Mizuno semi blades, realised I was having to force it, so ended up having to hit 6 irons from 150yrds.

With my burner now I'm hitting an 8iron from 150 yards comfy. Granted I'm older and stronger and hitting the ball better then ever, it's a big difference.

I'd also have a preference at times to hit a 3/4 or 1/2 shot for control purposes, and find it's more achieveable with a game improvement style iron, then a blade where I'm having to go a club extra.

Then gain, maybe blades and semi' have come on technology wise in that they arn't losing the distance that they did of old?

I can sometimes go through phases(weeks) where I'm too steep on impact. So a GI let's me get away with it, where as if I had a blade in my hand I'd be ****ed.

John Divney

I couldn't play a lot of the Ping stuff, or the large sole TaylorMades because they do the opposite they are supposed to for me, I swing more aggressive and lose tempo because they are so blunt looking.

These clubs don't save bad swings, they just make a bottom grove better and a few mm right or left of the sweet spot. The pros would actually benefit more than the amateurs with some of these clubs like the JPX range, saving a green or a front on a thin, and carrying a bit more when you hit closer to the kneck, saving shots over the round.

Most cavity back players Irons are suitable for pros to 20 Hc imo, but only probably to a 5 or 6 Iron for some depending on ball flight.

slave1

Sure Bubba plays with massive cavity backed irons not blades, has not done him any harm

dan_ep82

TheDoc wrote: »

When you mention those distances above, what iron are you talking about their?

8 iron, its a yardage I find myself at alot so it would be a club I'd be confident on yardages.

neckedit

TheDoc wrote:

I can sometimes go through phases(weeks) where I'm too steep on impact. So a GI let's me get away with it, where as if I had a blade in my hand I'd be ****ed.

An absolute honest and refreshing post.....the whole lot not just the bit I quoted.........Every single player could benefit from a cavity back. more room for error, higher ball flight, greater ball speed and more durable vs an un forgiving blade, that, I will agree, look better. Give me ugly performance over Beautiful inefficiency anyday.
I started with a set of McGregor Nicklaus signature DX Irons, showing my age now. UGLY!! you could've ploughed a field with the 7 iron. first handicap 15, got down to 3 by the second year playing. Got me a good aul set of Mizuno TP 11's....cause I was the mutts nuts....looked great in the bag, great by the ball....the score card shows the truth unfortunately. Changed to Titleist 962's imho Titleist's best moment got to 2 and held it there for a few years before giving for 4/5 years. Back playing a bit proper now. Gonna try and relive my former glories.....but not a blade in sight. Over the last few months been trialing almost all models and genres looking for the club that gives the right numbers.
A well struck Titleist MB v average strike.....polls apart. Well struck Callaway Apex vs avg struck Apex.....no we are talking. Taylor Made RSi's......Complete bombers. (not sure if struck is a word even) I know its all preferences, but if I wanna play and enjoy, for me it's about the numbers on the card.

BigChap1759

slave1 wrote: »

Sure Bubba plays with massive cavity backed irons not blades, has not done him any harm

Does Bubba not play S55s ?

stockdam

When I was young I loved Pings as they were so different to the blades that I played with. When I could afford to buy a set I went for Ping and have never considered changing as I don't believe new irons would make any significant difference.

dan_ep82

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Does Bubba not play S55s ?

http://www.tourprogolfclubs.com/players/bubba-watson

He does, you can see what clubs pro's are using but I don't think it lists all.

Zardoz

TheDoc wrote: »

I moved to semi blades in my late teens on advice they would better suit my game as I was tumbling down in single figures. While it wasn't the only reason, I completely failed to adapt and my game went to dog ****.

Same thing happened my brother when he switched from Ping Eye irons to Titleist blades.

It destroyed his game and he eneded up giving it up for a few years due to frustration.

He was off 6 at the time he changed and was a really good ball striker but the blades were a disaster ,he started playing like a hacker.
They seemed to have a tiny sweet spot and if you didnt hit the ball cleanly they were extremely inefficient and you'd get a pain in your hands from the miscontact.

slave1

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Does Bubba not play S55s ?

Yes, but not the bladie type ones you could be thinking about, look at the sole width and depth of cavity on his...



Prior to his change he was 9 years using S59 irons, Bubba don't like change.
These pros are using equipment that are simply not available to use, custom jobs. Sure look at Paula Creamer and her 'special' Titleist ball she's been using forever, they only made a few runs of them way back, she got virtually all of them and she has now simply ran out and because they stopped making them years ago she'd had to begrudgingly switch.
Mind you she can play with my balls anytime.

Senna

I'm off 12 but definitely have the bag of a higher handicap player. Big soled cavity irons, cavity wedges, played most of last year with an offset driver too.
It makes the game easier and I don't get to practice and I don't get to play much.
My best ever iron play was with Wilson blades, but I was playing more then, and on links courses were a thin sole can be of benefit.

Russman

While I would never tell anyone what they should or shouldn't use, each to their own, I remember picking up a golf magazine on a flight years ago and browsing through it. Two items of advice stuck in my mind, and the older I get the more I think there's more than a grain of truth in them:
1) play the biggest irons you can bear to look at, and 2) a 60 degree wedge costs you more shots than it saves.

This year I'm going to experiment with a better than mint set of MX20s I found last year for €60. Currently getting them re-shafted. It'll be interesting to see if they're still relevant and how different they are to my MPs.

FixdePitchmark

Well I'm doing an experiment for a few months at present.

But reading a few of these posts, why do you think lads stick with clubs that they can't play ?

If this doesn't work out , it is so easy and often cheaper to go back to an old GI set of irons.

If my handicap gose up to say 9 , back to GI irons in a heart beat.

The only reason i would change is if there is an actual advantage.

Russman

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Well I'm doing an experiment for a few months at present.

But reading a few of these posts, why do you think lads stick with clubs that they can't play ?

If this doesn't work out , it is so easy and often cheaper to go back to an old GI set of irons.

If my handicap gose up to say 9 , back to GI irons in a heart beat.

The only reason i would change is if there is an actual advantage.

Usually ego. Often coupled with an idea that you can't "shape" shots with cavities. Of course, you can, and besides, realistically how many club golfers genuinely "shape" shots apart from allowing for their natural hook or slice ?

FixdePitchmark

This man does ,

:D

dan_ep82

slave1 wrote: »

Yes, but not the bladie type ones you could be thinking about, look at the sole width and depth of cavity on his...

That pictures seems to make the clubs look alot chunkier than they are, in person they're as small as an players CB

As for ball shaping, I think lie and shaft have alot more to do with shaping a ball (skill aside) than the club head make up. I'm sh**e and can draw/fade a chunky club.

So it seems the answer as to why better players use chunkier clubs is forgiveness?

I know some days the more GI irons would help me get those few extra yards when I'm not striking as well, but most bad days snow shovel wouldn't help as it would be much more down to a crap swing. I think GI irons can help in the right situation but you still need a relatively good swing to make the most of them

BigChap1759

slave1 wrote: »

Yes, but not the bladie type ones you could be thinking about, look at the sole width and depth of cavity on his...



Prior to his change he was 9 years using S59 irons, Bubba don't like change.
These pros are using equipment that are simply not available to use, custom jobs. Sure look at Paula Creamer and her 'special' Titleist ball she's been using forever, they only made a few runs of them way back, she got virtually all of them and she has now simply ran out and because they stopped making them years ago she'd had to begrudgingly switch.
Mind you she can play with my balls anytime.

These are a players cavity, as small a head as almost any blade around now.

galwaylad14

As I always say, if Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell don't feel there's a need benefit to using blades then I don't see why any of us feel we should be using them instead of a club that offers some degree of forgiveness.

Norfolk Enchants_

BigChap1759 wrote: »

These are a players cavity, as small a head as almost any blade around now.

There's an oxymoron if I ever heard one.

DuckSlice

I play off 10, 13 when I bought the clubs. I have jpx 825 pro's. Driver is cobra amp cell pro. Not sure what handicap these clubs would be aimed at!!

Senecio

I play off 6 and I use what you would call a players cavity (R7 TP). So I guess you could say I am playing the clubs that were targeted/marketed to me. I've played clubs in this category for years.

I use these clubs for many reason.

- They have a little offset, which helps all players square the club face. But not too much that they encourage a draw/hook

- They have a compact head that looks good at address, but not too small that they sacrifice forgiveness on off centre hits

- Thin top line (for a cavity) and a narrow sole to help on tight fairways but the grind on the leading edge prevents digging in

- Traditional lofts. I have no desire to hit a 6-iron that goes as far as a 5-iron. I'll use a 5-iron for that.

- They're cast, not forged which means they're still in good condition at 7 years old. I don't understand this "forged is better/softer" argument so I use clubs that will hold up to some abuse

I have no desire to change them at this point because I don't think there has been that much innovation in this segment in recent years. Most of the innovation has been in the GI/SGI category which makes sense as the audience is bigger.

FixdePitchmark

So are there any players that moved from GI irons and seen benefits.

So far not too many people saying so.

Because if they are harder to hit, less forgiving, shorter - what is the point of them at all ?
For even single to low single figure golfers ?

Russman

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

So are there any players that moved from GI irons and seen benefits.

So far not too many people saying so.

Because if they are harder to hit, less forgiving, shorter - what is the point of them at all ?
For even single to low single figure golfers ?

I used blades all my life until around 2003, then went from TP9 blades to MX20 cavities for 5 years, then to MP60. Reason I went back to the MP60 was that I was playing well for a few years, off 3, and felt the MXs were beginning to look "chunky". Currently on MP53 and like them a lot, but as I said the other day, in the process of re shafting a 'like new' set of MX20 I picked up last year.

Honestly, there wasn't a shot I ever hit with the MP60 that I couldn't hit with the MX20. The bigger heads take a little time to get used to, but, hand on heart, there was no downside to them. That's not to say everyone should use cavities or no one should use blades. Golf isn't an emotionless science, so looks, feel and confidence are hugely important. Theoretically we probably all should be using GI clubs, but it doesn't work like that.

BigChap1759

I started back at golf about 10 years ago after a long hiatus - bought the Ping G2s new and got on well until there came a point where I was just hitting them far too high, losing me significant distance.

I eventually found my way to a set of MP-30s and, after playing with those, I just couldn't play with a set with any significant offset, it just threw my alignment and aim out of the window completely. Currently playing TM TP MCs - I have looked around long and hard to find something game improvement without the offset but there's not much out there - Wishon do some but nowhere to try outside of the US