Do you play players irons or game improvement irons?

red ears

On the surface it would seem that mid to higher handicapped golfers should play game improvement irons but we see plenty using more player type irons. I really like the look of some of the player irons. AP2, i Ping range, Apex Pro irons etc.

Do you play players irons or game improvement irons? What was the deciding factor.

CalamariFritti

My clubs are probably somewhere in between.

Something that I can hit sufficiently well even with what's not my best swing and thats still pleasing enough to look down on.

red ears

CalamariFritti wrote: »

My clubs are probably somewhere in between.

Which clubs are you playing at the min.

FixdePitchmark

I think many of the "players clubs" - are not as player as they once were.

Like AP2 are suitable for up to mid handicap golfers.

I think to play blades you'd be mad at this point when how good the clubs are in between them.

So is anyone playing true blades these days and if they are - I'd like to see them off 2 or less.

red ears

I'm playing ping G20 irons at the min and i have had bother getting too much draw and pulls. From the moment i got them the off set put me off a bit and now i have it in my head that the off set is causing my problems. I'm tempted to change them and look for something with not so much off set. But the only irons i can see with min off set are players irons. I don't really want to sacrifice forgiveness either.

It seems to either be large forgiving heads that launch the ball high and have plenty of off set or compact head players irons with minimal off set.

FixdePitchmark

red ears wrote: »

I'm playing ping G20 irons at the min and i have had bother getting too much draw and pulls. From the moment i got them the off set put me off a bit and now i have it in my head that the off set is causing my problems. I'm tempted to change them and look for something with not so much off set. But the only irons i can see with min off set are players irons. I don't really want to sacrifice forgiveness either.

It seems to either be large forgiving heads that launch the ball high and have plenty of off set or compact head players irons with minimal off set.

What is your handicap ?

dan_ep82

Go for it, you can always buy G20's again if you feel the need.

I've played a few rounds with all types (super game improv. , Game improv. , player irons, muscle backs/blades) and it didn't effect my score consistently either way so I just play with what I like the look of and what ball flight I like the look of.

Just to add it could be because I'm pretty bad at golf too, but my better scores were with clubs not marketed at me.

red ears

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

What is your handicap ?

8 but heading up the last few months. Not playing great.

red ears

dan_ep82 wrote: »

Go for it, you can always buy G20's again if you feel the need.

I've played a few rounds with all types (super game improv. , Game improv. , player irons, muscle backs/blades) and it didn't effect my score consistently either way so I just play with what I like the look of and what ball flight I like the look of.

I like the apex irons but i put the apex 4 iron beside the G20 4 iron and the difference was significant.

dan_ep82

red ears wrote: »

I like the apex irons but i put the apex 4 iron beside the G20 4 iron and the difference was significant.

It's all about what your used to seeing. I've predominantly played with smaller club heads and top lines so most clubs I look at seem to have alot of off set or thicker top line than I'd like but it's probably minimal.

Why not get a second hand set from a few years ago,
ap2, JPX Pro etc, that have a similar look and offset to the Apex for alot less.

red ears

dan_ep82 wrote: »

It's all about what your used to seeing. I've predominantly played with smaller club heads and top lines so most clubs I look at seem to have alot of off set or thicker top line than I'd like but it's probably minimal.

Why not get a second hand set from a few years ago,
ap2, JPX Pro etc, that have a similar look and offset to the Apex for alot less.

Yeah i was looking at the 2015 apex version. Brand new the price for the latest version is crazy. €1200 or so.

dan_ep82

red ears wrote: »

Yeah i was looking at the 2015 apex version. Brand new the price for the latest version is crazy. €1200 or so.

Yeah its crazy money, second hand is the best way to go.

I remember something about the finish being dodgy on the 15' version though I think?

I hit the 7i of these aswell when they came out, they'd still be considered a game improvement iron unless your looking at the pro version, felt pretty nice if I remember correctly but the lofts were quite a bit stronger than mine, not sure how it matches up to the G20 but I'd check incase it throws your wedge yardage out.

bmay529

Have you looked at the JPX900's. I bought a set recently. They are available in Hot Metal, Forged and Tour. The first two could be considered GI irons but with very little offset and a compact head size somewhere between the Apex and G20. The new JPX can be expensive but the previous 850 model can be bought very reasonably or used. Try them and see what you think but you need to be fitted to ensure you get the right shaft, lie and length as they can also have a bearing on your draw/pulls. First thing I would suggest is to have a lesson and have a pro look at your swing to ensure it is not at fault... could be the cheapest few euros spent. G20's are a good and forgiving club and I know a couple of low single fig golfers that play them very well

Russman

Obviously play whatever you like the look of. Almost every manufacturer has some class of in-between set that's GI but looks a bit like a players club - whatever the heck those categories even mean nowadays, there's tour players using Ping G irons !

But, IMHO there's a lot of truth in the old adage of "Play the biggest, most forgiving irons you can stand the sight of". A good shot is a good shot with any club, its mostly the misses that determine how you play and that's where you see the benefit of GI.

I'd almost argue that the better you get, the more benefit you see out of GI irons. If someone is hitting it all over the face, it doesn't really matter what they use since the strike is just so far off the sweet spot, but if you're a better player and only missing the sweetspot by a little bit, then you'll really see the benefits of GI (as opposed to super GI).

Agree with the above post re the JPX irons. I went from MP53 to the JPX850 Forged last year and there's a pretty noticeable difference in forgiveness. The still look gorgeous but there's plenty of help there too. Plus the 850s can be picked up cheaply now that the 900s are out.

red ears

The jpx 850 and 900's are nice clubs. They are a bit like the apex sizewise I think. The ping g range must fall into the super gi range. They are very big heads compared to the likes of apex and jpx850.

Tilikum

I use R9 Tps. They'd be 'players' irons I suppose. But I'd never call myself one.

the lawman

red ears wrote: »

The jpx 850 and 900's are nice clubs. They are a bit like the apex sizewise I think. The ping g range must fall into the super gi range. They are very big heads compared to the likes of apex and jpx850.

I have the 850 forged irons. Only my second set of irons so took a bit of getting used. Kind of forced me to work harder on getting my swing better. Improving strike that is.

No better feeling though when you catch one out of the screws. I also find my distance is much more consistent so I can trust them more.

Old set were Burner 2.0.

Aelun

First post in this forum...

I only took up the game in may of last year and have been getting lessons most months. Still off 28 as the winter period came in as I was starting to hit the ball well - so can't get cut.

Hoping the time is right to invest in some new irons as have been using 15year old Spalding's. Would love some advice on what I should be looking at in the GI area. Am I still too high to be looking at Steelhead Xrs, Ap1 714/716 and Jpx900 hot metals?

Appreciate any advice.

the lawman

Aelun wrote: »

First post in this forum...

I only took up the game in may of last year and have been getting lessons most months. Still off 28 as the winter period came in as I was starting to hit the ball well - so can't get cut.

Hoping the time is right to invest in some new irons as have been using 15year old Spalding's. Would love some advice on what I should be looking at in the GI area. Am I still too high to be looking at Steelhead Xrs, Ap1 714/716 and Jpx900 hot metals?

Appreciate any advice.

Welcome.

Go to Foregolf and tell them what you need and they will look after you very well.

Aelun

the lawman wrote: »

Welcome.

Go to Foregolf and tell them what you need and they will look after you very well.

Thanks, the only issue I have is that I can get sorted price wise from a friend who works in one of the big retail chains. So wouldn't want to waste foregolf's time.

the lawman

Aelun wrote: »

Thanks, the only issue I have is that I can get sorted price wise from a friend who works in one of the big retail chains. So wouldn't want to waste foregolf's time.

That's fair enough.

I'd say look at YouTube channel for Rick Shiels. I find his reviews very good and he covers all ability levels. If you see something you like then go hit some!

I will say one thing though, sometimes it's better to pay the extra to get the best. Especially if you're addicted to this hobby......

Aelun

the lawman wrote: »

That's fair enough.

I'd say look at YouTube channel for Rick Shiels. I find his reviews very good and he covers all ability levels. If you see something you like then go hit some!

I will say one thing though, sometimes it's better to pay the extra to get the best. Especially if you're addicted to this hobby......

Yeah I watch all his vids already. Apart from the models I mentioned, do you think there's any others I should try? Are those models even suitable for a 28 handicap. I know they all mention they're suitable for high handicapper, but does that mean all the way to 28?

the lawman

Aelun wrote: »

Yeah I watch all his vids already. Apart from the models I mentioned, do you think there's any others I should try? Are those models even suitable for a 28 handicap. I know they all mention they're suitable for high handicapper, but does that mean all the way to 28?

Of course they are yeah. High handicapper covers all I would imagine. I'd keep getting the lessons and if you can also shell out for irons then do just that. Will probably push you on that bit more.

bmay529

Aelun wrote: »

First post in this forum...

I only took up the game in may of last year and have been getting lessons most months. Still off 28 as the winter period came in as I was starting to hit the ball well - so can't get cut.

Hoping the time is right to invest in some new irons as have been using 15year old Spalding's. Would love some advice on what I should be looking at in the GI area. Am I still too high to be looking at Steelhead Xrs, Ap1 714/716 and Jpx900 hot metals?

Appreciate any advice.

As said already, welcome. It's a great sport and you will have cracking fun for years ahead. Stick with it as it takes time to improve. I nearly gave it up in frustration several times in the first 2 years but glad I stuck with it.

When selecting a club the look and feel to you are important but the shaft in the club is the most important thing plus shaft length and lie, so get fitted, maybe in a couple of places to compare recommendations. Clubs with offset are easier to hit and get up in the air, especially long irons, than those with little or no offset. New Steelheads, Ping G series, JPX900 HM all have some offset and are cracking clubs particularly the Hot Metals IMO. Get a good sand wedge and I would recommend a 52 degree wedge also. Don't be afraid to go for used clubs a few years old, preferably the GI models as opposed to blades, if they have the right shaft. Blades are good for wedges. You can get used sets in many of the shops or online (adverts.ie, Donedeal, golfbidder, etc), but you must know what you want. If your friend is a pro they may advise you. I played to single fig hcap with 20 year old Cally X14's for years until I changed them recently, as many others still do, so club age is not as important as you might think as long as they are in good condition.

Stick with the lessons if you can. They will help build the basics of a good swing that will stay with you forever and not build bad habits that are difficult to reverse later. If you have access to a chipping green spend time there as it will pay off big time when the long game is off and you miss greens. Suggest 1/3 long game, 1/3 chipping/pitching, 1/3 putting.

Good golfing

Russman

Aelun wrote: »

Yeah I watch all his vids already. Apart from the models I mentioned, do you think there's any others I should try? Are those models even suitable for a 28 handicap. I know they all mention they're suitable for high handicapper, but does that mean all the way to 28?

For example I don't think Titleist make anything that's more GI than the AP1 so you'd have to think its fine for all handicaps. You could also throw the Ping G in the mix too, or a discounted set of G25 or G30 if you find one.

It'll be coming into the time of year when the big chains, McGuirks, Halpenny etc will start having demo days/nights in various driving ranges. These are usually free and you get a half hour fitting done. Maybe try one or more of those before you buy. Granted, some people will argue Foregolf or others are more comprehensive, but meh, each to their own IMO. A fitting at a demo night is better than a total stab in the dark anyway.

Aelun

Thanks for all the replies...

I'm getting fitted next week, so hopefully i'll get sorted. Glad to know that the clubs I've been reading up on will be ok for my handicap - hopefully:)

PARlance

Slightly off topic but along the same lines.

Where are all the GI wedges?

In an industry that will create new products so regularly and market the hell out of them, I'm surprised we haven't seen a big push on GI wedges. I know there are some out there but you will see people who really buy into GI benefits carry a couple of Vokeys along with their irons.

red ears

the lawman wrote: »

I have the 850 forged irons.
No better feeling though when you catch one out of the screws. I also find my distance is much more consistent so I can trust them more.

That's an important factor, I find with the g20 I can get a real flyer from time to time.

newport2

Russman wrote: »

For example I don't think Titleist make anything that's more GI than the AP1 so you'd have to think its fine for all handicaps.

I played with a guy off +2 last year, he was using AP1's. Shot 66 gross with a set of irons that some far worse golfers would think were below them. My mate was off 24 last year and got down to 17 using AP1's too. Just shows what you say is true, they're fine for all handicaps.

Russman

newport2 wrote: »

I played with a guy off +2 last year, he was using AP1's. Shot 66 gross with a set of irons that some far worse golfers would think were below them. My mate was off 24 last year and got down to 17 using AP1's too. Just shows what you say is true, they're fine for all handicaps.

There's definitely a lot of vanity out there when it comes to clubs alright !

Golfgorfield

newport2 wrote: »

I played with a guy off +2 last year, he was using AP1's. Shot 66 gross with a set of irons that some far worse golfers would think were below them. My mate was off 24 last year and got down to 17 using AP1's too. Just shows what you say is true, they're fine for all handicaps.

That comes down to being custom fitted to a high standard, ball spin rates and launch angle were obviously optimum off the AP1 so given he wanted whats best for his game thats the route he took.


Think i know who it was tbh....... GL ?

shane1981

Aelun wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies...

I'm getting fitted next week, so hopefully i'll get sorted. Glad to know that the clubs I've been reading up on will be ok for my handicap - hopefully:)

Im in same boat as yourself. New to the game and plan is to work on my swing a bit with some old clubs before I look at getting irons. Would be interested to hear how you get on with your fitting.

Aelun

shane1981 wrote: »

Im in same boat as yourself. New to the game and plan is to work on my swing a bit with some old clubs before I look at getting irons. Would be interested to hear how you get on with your fitting.

Will let you know how i get on.

Morris Moss

Just wondering does it make sense to get fitted when you're starting off?

Aelun

Morris Moss wrote: »

Just wondering does it make sense to get fitted when you're starting off?

Do you think it would be too early? I've been playing pretty much twice a week since may.

newport2

Golfgorfield wrote: »

That comes down to being custom fitted to a high standard, ball spin rates and launch angle were obviously optimum off the AP1 so given he wanted whats best for his game thats the route he took.


Think i know who it was tbh....... GL ?

No, it was JM! (I think, didn't know him directly)

Morris Moss

Aelun wrote: »

Do you think it would be too early? I've been playing pretty much twice a week since may.

To be honest I don't really know, definitely think you'd benefit from newer irons, lots of good second hand clubs out there.

CalamariFritti

red ears wrote: »

Which clubs are you playing at the min.

I'm playing Mizuno JPX800pro, they're cavities but forged and not oversized.