Can making the game harder for yourself make you a better player?

[ScienceBoy]

I have a 70 odd year old 2 iron I hit for fun every now and again. I have got quite good at belting it down the range!

Time would be better spent hitting my own clubs however due to the massively different head characteristics.

 

[Slicer30]

I sort of agree with this idea. Went from JPX800 to MP52 and I had to improve my swing to get the same consistency. question is whether I would score better by now going back to the JPX800??

I also changed from a super forgiving, Draw bias driver to a less forgiving model in the MP600 - purely so that I could get some feedback and understand the bad shots. Probably suffered some scores as a result but I feel I understand my driver swing better now.

In summary, I am probably shooting the same scores now but feel like I can go lower and understand what I am doing more

On a different note - I went to a very forgiving putter and would never go back to the old one!

 

[patricks148]

I played for the first time since my 2 week break in Rhodes tonight. Due to the light, I only managed 8 holes.

A good friend of mine who is a Cat 1 player joined me on the 3rd tee, at the time I was 1 over. Come the end of the 8 holes I finished 3 over, him 1 under.

He passed a comment after shaking hands and looking at the contents of my bag on the 8th green that got me thinking. He said



"Better player" blade irons. "Better player" driver (Smaller head, open face). "Better player" fairway (Small head, shallow face). Higher spin ball. Blade 3 and 4 irons over hybrids (Although I do carry a 2 iron replacement hybrid).

My answer:



This season I've dropped from 18.3 to 16.7 using my current set up. It would have been more except for the weather making a few comps non-qualifiers. I beat my handicap by 2 or 3 shots pretty much every round, and hit buffer a few times too.

My question to you good people exactly that. Can making the game harder for yourself by using unforgiving equipment (Like when people had no other choice but to) make you a better player in the long run?

I suppose it all come down to personal preference.

I would say high handicappers would prob be better using something more forgiving to start with but onve you start improving and are finding a level, then use what makes you happy.

I used a bit hoofing cavity back untill i got down to 10 then changed to a players type club. i got stuck at ten for a while but nothing to do with the clubs.
I prefer a more bladed club myself, i've tried more forgiving clubs over the last couple of years and struggled with them. for instance i had a go wih some pings, could not hit them for toffee. a mate has some JPX pro, which went 2 clubs further tha my current irons but did not suite my eye or the ball flight i like (low).

in short, they prob won't make you a better player, lets face what clubs will, but if you are happy so what.

Ive said it before, the MP32 are very forgiving for a blade, i wish they still made them.

Was playing at Moray Old last weekend and as we didn't have much space in the car i took my winter carry bag with my mp32 s in. not touched them in months. 3 over par off the back tee's, they were flying further than my normal irons by at least a club.

 

[Snelly]

I agree with the playing partner Gareth.

There is no point apart from the aesthetics, in having Mizuno irons that are unforgiving, thin topline, smaller heads and so on unless you are a very good player and have the skills to consistently hit them out of the middle. They definitely make the game more difficult and cost you shots every round.

I recently got some MP irons from Rick and they were beautiful to look at and deeply satisfying when you hit them bang out of the middle and stick a 5 iron to a foot from the pin. The flip side though is that they are frustrating and irritating when you hit a 330 yard drive then hit the same 5 iron to a par 5 green, catch it slightly thin and end up 40 yards short. That 40 yards with a set of players cavity irons like the ones I use would be dramatically reduced.

High handicap golfers need clubs that are easier to hit. I learned to play in the 80's and didn't own a set of blades until I was a low single figure player. I started with a set of McGregor Tourney cavity clubs then had Ping eye irons during the first 5 years of my serious golfing life. I think it is a wise approach. Learn the game with every benefit possible from your equipment and when you can hit them, get some bladed irons if you must.

I would never have any though. I am just not a good enough ball striker to be able to play with them. In addition, of the guys I know who have handicaps lower than 3, all would say the same and none play blades.

I know the Mizuno junkies like to have their shiny irons but I find it unfathomable. Leave the blades for Luke. Get some Pings and they will help you get to single figure golf!

 

[Region3]

We're not playing to put food on the table and keep the house warm, so play with whatever makes you happiest.

I might hit more good shots with some chunky un-fattable SGI irons, but it wouldn't give me any more satisfaction about my game.

 

[drutz]

When starting out, like myself, I think you really should go down the cavity back route. Mainly because the game is hard enough when stating out, and blades would make some people who start want to give up before they have really given it a try. even now some days I get so frustrated with my cavity clubs and this is with lessons. So I think if you have a good grounding in the game yes I think blades might make you better but to start with no.
Now I know some have said it was the baldes that they learnt the game with years ago but when starting out if someone had offered you a more forgiving club how many can say hand on heart they would not have taken it.

 

[Curls]

Its an interesting take Gareth, personally I cant see myself outgrowing my G15s at the moment but that day may come, if it does then shineys will be my reward but until then I'll enjoy playing to win and it really doesn't matter to me what I win with

But best of luck in your endevour, hope it pays off in the long run