Do I go back to cavity back irons?

[Smiffy]

Jon
for what it's worth...
When I went to Mizuno on Sunday for my fitting session, I was still slightly in two minds which clubs to settle on.
My head was saying MX200's, but a part of me was hankering after the MP52's.
There is no doubt that the 52's are the "sexier" looking club (if a golf club CAN look sexy) but the 200's are certainly not ugly fuggers.
My experience with both clubs on the range told me that I hit the 200's more solidly. But still I was drawn towards the 52's.
I tried both sets again on the monitoring equipment, which proved once and for all that the MX200's were the way for me to go.
Sure a set of blades look superb. I look at the blades offered by the likes of Mizuno and Titleist longingly. Could I hit them? Could I feck...and that's off of 12 handicap.
Get yourself a decent set of GI irons, (no I'm not pushing Mizuno), and go from there. There's nothing terrible about your swing...you've said yourself the main area you lose shots is around and on the green. Blades aren't going to sort that bit of your game out mate.
Rob

 

[big_russ]

Jon, You need to think back a while and reconsider the Cobra combo irons you were considering. With these you would get the best of both with cavity long irons and bladed short irons.
It sounds as though your confidence has been dented by a few bad shots with the bladed long irons and now you are struggling throughout the set. The sooner you sort the clubs out the sooner that confidence will be back and then you can start to work on bringing the handicap down.

 

[HTL]

For those who asked I think he playes the the Titleise 690 MB

 

[medwayjon]

Yeah it is the 690MB

Havent got a confidence issue as I always feel at address that I will rip it.

Im just fed up of losing shots to poor strikes as even minutely slightly off centre, there is no forgiveness and you get a slight hook/slice with a severe loss of distance.

Looking at the advice on here I am definately going to look at the smaller-headed, small cavity Irons such as the AP2, I may also have a look at the Cobra Forged CB.

The other thing I will try is the 735CM from titleist as I can get a bargain on these from somewhere I know.

Thanks for all the comments.

 

[DCB]

In your original thread in December, you asked for our thoughts. We all gave our words of wisdom and you tried what you thought best.

Now get back to the cavity backs and get your game in check once again.

Original thread was,
http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk//showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/78577/an/0/page/20#78577

 

[Herbie]

Medwayjon its no cop out to change, there is only the feeling of greater consistancy throughout the club range.
Ive been there, sorry to lose the blades but more than happy with my golf. ( when Im having a good day )

 

[TonyN]

Jon. As nice as blades are and the rep that goes with them, if they are costing you shots you need to get onto something more suited to you.

The good thing about technology these days is there is something to suit everyone. You wouldn't use a stiff shaft if you had a low swing speed just because 50% of the time you manage to get the shot away, so don't use blades with the same kinda figures.

Even alot of pros are moving away from blades because they ain't as forgiving and they prob only miss hit 1 shot in 50.

You can still use really good looking irons with plenty of workability in them, but my advice would be to just concentrate on a straight shot out of the middle every time untill it's second nature and if a cavity or half cavity set help you do that then so be it. You can always go back to out and out blades if you so desire when your percentage of mis-hits drops significantly.

As suggested try the ap's or even look at the mizuno range!

Good luck in what ever you decide!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Having looked on the titleist website I think the way forward has to be the AP2. They are forged so you'll still get the same feel as your blades but the bigger cavity will give you the safety net on the 3-6 irons where having seen you is where you need the extra help.

I looked at the 735 and they are very similar to the TM tour preferred. Having hit the TM's in the middle of a purple patch I can tell you that they are a great compromise away from pure blades. What I can also tell you is that despite the shallow cavity the sweetspot is still much smaller than on something like the AP's and bad shots still have no forgiveness.

In my opinion as as a mate, I would advise you to givethe 735's a miss as if I'm being brutally honest your all round game isn't quite consistant enough yet and you'l still feel like you are wasting shots with them. Off centre hits still won't go as far as the AP's. Choose the AP's and you'll get away with more and your decent short game will come into play more and your handicap will tumble.

 

[haplesshacker]

Jon.

Having read all the replies here, you obviously have some honest and maybe sometimes brutal answers here. Ultimately only you can decide what's best or most comfortable to use.

I'd love to be able to use a set of blade (ish) clubs, but I know that I'm no where near it yet. It takes alot of self honesty to admit that you've perhaps made a mistake in your choice of clubs, and that has to be applauded. I'm not sure that if I bought some MP52s that I'd ever admit to only being 50% with them. I'd just basque in the glory of how they look in the bag, regadless of how I hit them.

Some of the guys here have seen you play and I would go with their gut reactions as well as your own.

The fact that you even asked the question would suggest to me that you already know the answer.

Good post though, it's made interesting reading.

Good luck, whichever path you choose.

(I haven't suggested what you should do as 1. I've not seen you play, and 2. I don't count myself experianced enough to comment on what you should do.)

 

[brendy]

Jon, Can I add that you shouldnt just try the AP2s, try the AP1s also, they are easier to hit over the ap2's.

 

[TonyN]

Ain't the ap1's aimed at the higher handicapper anyway and the2's for lower? I have read that unless you are a great ball striker the 2's should only be admired from afar.

 

[USER1999]

It depends who you talk to. Titleist view that the AP1s are for hackers between 12 and 16 and Ap2s for high single figures. They don't really make clubs for 16 and up.

I would take this with a pinch of salt really, as it is rubbish.

 

[medwayjon]

I have hit the AP2 and found it very easy to hit infact.

The AP1 was good also but didnt feel as nice and the head was a bit chunky.

I dont think I hit the ball like a high handicap golfer, just chip & putt like one.

Played an 11-hole stableford at Gillingham in the week and got 30 points so cant be that bad. just need consistency.

 

[USER1999]

And somewhere to park your horse.

 

[brendy]

It depends who you talk to. Titleist view that the AP1s are for hackers between 12 and 16 and Ap2s for high single figures. They don't really make clubs for 16 and up.

I would take this with a pinch of salt really, as it is rubbish.

Tell that to Billy Mayfair on the PGA Tour, he uses them.
Jon, get a hit with the ap2s on actual grass before you decide to buy them, out of the rough and long grass it takes a while to get used to them, off the fairway they are fantastic.
I can only reiterate what Ive said before, performance and function first cosmetics and vanity second, Beware the scruffy golfer.

 

[andiritchie]

Yeah Billy Mayfair uses them,i have the 3 iron in the ap1 and i can acutally get it going the distance i want which i cant with the ap2 3 iron

I remember the guy fitting my Titleists over a year ago say every set of irons Titleist make a tour pro uses,granted he said only Billy Mayfair used the 775cbs so they are all great clubs

The Ap2's should work well for you much easier to get going with the same feel of the 690mb's,i had the 690s and they are not the easiest to play well with esp when you not swinging too well the ap2's should solve that problem a little

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My mate has just invested in a 2nd hand set of AP2 from the club pro and I wasn't too sure when I held one and looked at it. They are steel shafts so much heavier now I'm use to graphite but I took a swing this morning in a howling gale and it felt awesome. I'd go for something that works over looks and these could be the ones. They didn't look as big and chunky as a cally X22 or G10 and there was plenty of forgiveness.

 

[bernix]

ever thought of using a mixed set?

 

[fastmover2]

Did you get fitted for yr blades in the first place or were they just stock?

Personally I have no problems with blades. I went from 15 to 8 using Wilson Tour blades. I think that the cavity back thing can be overhyped. For me I find that most cavity backs just look too chunky

My current clubs are TM TP Forged and I would recommend these, decent bit of forgiveness but look like blades at set up.

The big benefit with blades when you are looking to improve is you will get a better feel of what you are doing and what your mishit actually is.

 

[EchtLoon]

Did you get fitted for yr blades in the first place or were they just stock?

Personally I have no problems with blades. I went from 15 to 8 using Wilson Tour blades. I think that the cavity back thing can be overhyped. For me I find that most cavity backs just look too chunky

My current clubs are TM TP Forged and I would recommend these, decent bit of forgiveness but look like blades at set up.

The big benefit with blades when you are looking to improve is you will get a better feel of what you are doing and what your mishit actually is.

No offence, but I think that is terrible advice.

All but the best players benefit from forgiveness. Last year I finally ditched my DCIs after a lengthy service, but a five year slide to an 8 handicap.

Changed to MX25s, and at the time the pro said no-one should be using Titleists (specifically) unless they were off 3 or better.

Having gone to full cavities for the first time (although they progress to blades for the short irons) I am absolutely converted. Irons were my weakest part of my game, and the improvement I got from these last year wholly accounted for me getting back down to 6 again.

It sounds like your strong point is your iron play, hence why you get along with blades so well, and I can understand that, I have a mate who for years struggled around the 10 mark, but was about the best iron striker I'd ever played with (Mizuno blades), his trouble being eratic driving, and chipping yips from 80 yds in. He's sorted now and plays off 5, but there are few can hit an iron like he could off the 10 mark, or indeed what he plays off now.

In general ego is the only reason to play blades, just as it was for those who insisted on sticking with 2 & 3 irons rather than utility clubs, and look now, even pros use utilities.