Forgiving Irons without Major Offset

[GolfingPastor]

I’m a mid handicap golfer and was fitted for the PXG 0317CB irons in 2023. They feel great and when I’m playing well I really enjoy using them. I’m a half-decent ball striker with a 7 iron swing speed of 85-90mph, but I’ve come to the conclusion that I need irons with more forgiveness. I’m not bothered about shaping shots but I do enjoy the feel of forged irons off the face and the look of minimal offset at address.

Another concern with the more forgiving irons is the drop off in spin but I’m hoping the extra height will make up for it.

Is it unrealistic to find an iron with:

•High launch
•High forgiveness
•Good feel
•Minimal offset

??? Suggestions and advice appreciated

 

[GreiginFife]

Ping i230?

Titleist T100 or 150?

Mizuno 241 or 243?

 

[RichA]

I’m a mid handicap golfer and was fitted for the PXG 0317CB irons in 2023. They feel great and when I’m playing well I really enjoy using them. I’m a half-decent ball striker with a 7 iron swing speed of 85-90mph, but I’ve come to the conclusion that I need irons with more forgiveness. I’m not bothered about shaping shots but I do enjoy the feel of forged irons off the face and the look of minimal offset at address.

Another concern with the more forgiving irons is the drop off in spin but I’m hoping the extra height will make up for it.

Is it unrealistic to find an iron with:

•High launch
•High forgiveness
•Good feel
•Minimal offset

??? Suggestions and advice appreciated

Pretty much sums up my own feelings.
Haven't used the current version, but my research points me towards Mizuno JPX Forged or HM Pro.
Hoping to try them at some point this year.

 

[Teebs]

I
i230 or Blueprint S

 

[GolfingPastor]

Ping i230?

Titleist T100 or 150?

Mizuno 241 or 243?

Thanks for the suggestions.

The i230, T100 & 241’s appear to be very similar to the PXG 0317’s that I have so I’m not sure they would offer more forgiveness?!?

 

[GreiginFife]

Thanks for the suggestions.

The i230, T100 & 241’s appear to be very similar to the PXG 0317’s that I have so I’m not sure they would offer more forgiveness?!?

It was more the minimal offset I was playing to.

T150s are plenty forgiving.

T200s are very nice although I found them a tad jumpy.

i525 (not as strong lofts as the 530)

Mizzy 245

 

[Teebs]

i230s are super forgiving. Might not meet your requirement on feel though

 

[slicer79]

Hot metal pro could be an option

 

[kp17]

T100 or possibly even 620cb would be good on the offset/feel front but maybe not much more in the way of forgiveness, both quite similar to PXG.

I play an older model of T100 they’re great irons.

Book for a fitting or go hit all the different models mentioned to give yourself an idea or narrow selection down at least. There’s not much between all these ones mentioned

 

[jim8flog]

Meeting that requirement is relatively easy.

Not sure why people are suggesting T100 I would be suggesting T200 just be aware of the loft difference if considering T150

Having done something similar a couple of years ago (moving from Mizuno Tours) I went with Honma TRP 20 manged to find a nearly new set at half the cost of new.

 

[3 jabber]

I'd look at T200's rather than 100 or 150's and also look at Mizzy 245's. Not tried Srixon myself but hear great things so worth looking at them. Also consider P770's.

 

[Imurg]

What you're looking at, in effect, is the Player's Distance category.....and, blimey, it's a wide category.
They do tend to launch higher, even with stronger lofts, but they do drop the spin.
That may or may not be a good thing - depends how much you spin the ball to start with.
Not enough spin can be detrimental to keeping the ball in the air and lower spin shots tend to have less distance control than spinnier ones.
Spin doesn't really have a vast effect on stopping power, at least at our level..land angle helps more until you reach the wedges.
There's always compromises to be made - gain "X" and you lose a bit of "Y" etc etc....
Worth checking out Askgolfnut on YouTube..he does a lot of good reviews at different swing speeds and includes forgiveness - shots from all over the face.

 

[slicer79]

I
i230 or Blueprint S

Blueprint S don't seem to have a great level of forgiveness from the reviews I've seen

 

[KenL]

Ping g440, 430 or 425 don’t have much offset.

 

[GolfingPastor]

Ping g440, 430 or 425 don’t have much offset.

How do they feel? I’m not expecting Miura/Mizuno/PXG forged but are they soft or hard and harsh feeling?

 

[KenL]

How do they feel? I’m not expecting Miura/Mizuno/PXG forged but are they soft or hard and harsh feeling?

They feel fine to me. I’ve owned forged irons in the past.

 

[GolfingPastor]

What you're looking at, in effect, is the Player's Distance category.....and, blimey, it's a wide category.
They do tend to launch higher, even with stronger lofts, but they do drop the spin.
That may or may not be a good thing - depends how much you spin the ball to start with.
Not enough spin can be detrimental to keeping the ball in the air and lower spin shots tend to have less distance control than spinnier ones.
Spin doesn't really have a vast effect on stopping power, at least at our level..land angle helps more until you reach the wedges.
There's always compromises to be made - gain "X" and you lose a bit of "Y" etc etc....
Worth checking out Askgolfnut on YouTube..he does a lot of good reviews at different swing speeds and includes forgiveness - shots from all over the face.

Despite a relatively high swing speed for a mid handicapper I don’t actually generate a huge amount of spin. As you say, the added launch should counter the loss in spin

 

[spongebob59]

This fitter is worth a look

 

[Junior]

Mizuno MP225 or the newer MP245.

Quality clubs and they don’t ‘jump’ off the face like other hollow bodied irons.

 

[Golfnut1957]

For my money, you are looking at the JPX Hot Metal Pro. I was playing the Mizuno Pro 221, loved them but thought that I would give the 225's a go. I was expecting a little more distance and forgiveness with a similar feel, I was disappointed on all counts and went back to the blades.

With the HMP research shows a club that is comparable with the JPX Forged in terms of size and actually has slightly less offset, so while not a baby blade it is definitely not a shovel. It also looks good at address and has a fairly clean cavity.

Actually playing with them is a joy. They are not forged but feel great, they are defiantly forgiving, particularly on thins and toe shots. Launch high, land soft and of course they have jacked lofts so are also long, I only go up to 6 iron which is almost the same loft as my 221 4 iron.

I bought some Taylor made P7MC a few weeks ago as I love the idea of small compact forged heads and I kept on rotating the two sets in and out of the bag. I sold the Taylormades on Saturday. It definitely looks as if my chopping and changing days are over.