forged question

feary

feary

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Wondering at what handicap forged clubs are meant for as i have no clue. What do you think the max handicap should be and when should i start considering them. I have a brief idea. Single figures?

age-14
h/c-11
 
There's no hard and fast rule..if you are 14 and play off 11 then there's no reason why you shouldn't be using them - it's purely a preference thing. Generally other clubs (cavity etc) are considered easier to hit/get airborne.
 
Feary - I dont think age or H/C actually matter, its all about what works for you.

I know a lot of our Juniors use forged clubs, and are about the same H/C as you, and coming down rapidly.
Clearly then, if you like the clubs, and can hit them, go for them.
 
Wondering at what handicap forged clubs are meant for as i have no clue. What do you think the max handicap should be and when should i start considering them. I have a brief idea. Single figures?

age-14
h/c-11
Click to expand...

I've played forged the last two sets of irons, and once before many years ago. Forged CAN be forgiving.
MacGregor 565 were forgiving and so are my new Mizuno MX-900s. I also believe the very lovely new Mizuno MX-200 irons are forged and if you can't hit them, you should give up.

Admittedly, many forged clubs are players clubs.
Also, Mizuno don't make anything even in the same galaxy of forgiveness as Callaway. But there are plenty of forged clubs out there suitable for an 11, going on 5 h'cap.

If you've got the money, the AP series or the MP series are the popular choices. If you win the lottery, maybe the forged Diablo.
 
Forged irons are for people who have good ball striking ability and who could be off +4 or 24. I know a guy who had Cleveland CG1's and struck them beautifully but because he couldn't read a putt was off 17.

Blades are non specific when it comes to handicap.
 
I have forged clubs. It's a fallacy that highcappers have to have cast clubs or can't have forged. Forged, imo, give a sweeter strike - when you get it right.

I quite fancy some KZG's with Nippon 950 shafts
 
The only thing a forged club does is gives you better 'feel' / feedback on shots. There is no reason a forged club had to be a blade so anyone and everyone can use them, as has been said above.

That said forged clubs are generally associated with the less game improvement type irons, so perhaps should be aimed at lower handicappers but it all depends on the model. Something like the MX-200's or AP2's would be worth looking at for your age / handicap. The only trouble is you may want to wait until you are fully grown before shelling out for a full custom fit set, depending on what your level of disposable is!
 
Since starting the game as an 11 year old (i am now 36) I have always used forged blades, and I would only recommend forged blades to anyone else. The reason for this is feedback from the club head, I beleive that only way to get a real understanding of what the club head is doing is to feel it. Which is why I would narrow that further and say nothing gives you more feedback than Mizuno blades

This is just my opinion and I know that people will disagree but I would say if you want to become a very good golfer for me it is the only way to go. My son who is not quite two yet will only use forged Mizuno blades.
 
Whether a club is forged or cast has ZERO effect on it's playability. None. Nada. The playability of a club is all to do with the design of the head, not the type of steel it's made with. Even then shaft is more important.

If the question is "Am I good enough to play forged players clubs over GI or SGI clubs", then the only way to find out is to hit some.

:)
 
Forged clubs were always considered to be 'players' clubs as the forging process didn't allow for the intricate cavity details you see in more forgiving cast clubs. The result was therefore bladed irons. The forging process is now much improved, meaning that genuine game improver irons such as the MX-200s can be created.

Many top 'players' clubs are cast e.g. Ping S57s and Taylormade tour preferred and these are being used by touring professionals (Cabrera won the masters with cast irons). As stated above its down to feel. Forged irons are generally softer, providing more feedback, but they will pick up little indentations etc that will make them look worn after a while. Cast clubs are harder and more durable, but do lack some feel.

As stated above, forget about handicap and go and hit some different makes/models. You'll soon find one that suits.
 
Recent research/testing has shown that 'feel' is actually sound. Players with head phones on couldn't feel a difference between forged clubs, cast clubs, or hard and soft golf balls.
Forging is a more expensive process, and yes, it uses softer metal for process reasons. If you think a piece of steel is going to feel different when squashing a relatively soft piece of plastic because it is a few points softer on the rockwell scale you are deluding yourself.
It is more to do with club head design, and getting the strike out of the sweet spot.

Yes Mizuno make nice (pretty) clubs, but there are plenty of others out there that are just as nice. Forged or cast. Makes no difference.
 
Recent research/testing has shown that 'feel' is actually sound. Players with head phones on couldn't feel a difference between forged clubs, cast clubs, or hard and soft golf balls.
Forging is a more expensive process, and yes, it uses softer metal for process reasons. If you think a piece of steel is going to feel different when squashing a relatively soft piece of plastic because it is a few points softer on the rockwell scale you are deluding yourself.
It is more to do with club head design, and getting the strike out of the sweet spot.

Yes Mizuno make nice (pretty) clubs, but there are plenty of others out there that are just as nice. Forged or cast. Makes no difference.
Click to expand...

One word "Rubbish"
 
I'm in a bit of confusion about all this.

All I know is that if I hit it right with my forged clubs, the experience is sweet and I know immediately if it's come out the proper place on the face. Soft and inspiring.

If I hit dozens with a modern forgiving cast club (Callaway, Ping) then it always feels and sounds the same....as bit...well..."disappointing"...

Having said that, my old, old set (Tommy Armour 845s) were cast, but a cast club without a crazy cavity design. These were nice to middle, yes siree.....

My guess (and I haven't tried every type of iron) is that forged or cast, the head design could well be the key factor. If you took a really top notch conventional iron (i.e. not massively forgiving and all G.I.) then a middle is probably a middle and the sweet spot will be noticed....?? dunno ??

I think the feel thing is overrated.....I only get the feedback (sound, strike, whatever) after the ball has long gone, so it will only confirm if I've hit it good that time.
 
Recent research/testing has shown that 'feel' is actually sound. Players with head phones on couldn't feel a difference between forged clubs, cast clubs, or hard and soft golf balls.
Forging is a more expensive process, and yes, it uses softer metal for process reasons. If you think a piece of steel is going to feel different when squashing a relatively soft piece of plastic because it is a few points softer on the rockwell scale you are deluding yourself.
It is more to do with club head design, and getting the strike out of the sweet spot.

Yes Mizuno make nice (pretty) clubs, but there are plenty of others out there that are just as nice. Forged or cast. Makes no difference.
Click to expand...

This is absolutely true. I had a set of MacGregor M565's last year. As my first set of forged clubs I was very excited to experience that forged feel. Unfortunately because the sound off the club was so tinny I hated them. They sounded like they were rock hard so they felt like it too.

I moved on to Mizuno MX20's and then understood the "feel" of forged. Why? Because they sounded soft and solid.
 
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