Home Fitting my own Irons?!

[Jim_M_0211]

Hi all,

New to the forum and looking for some help/advice... I am going to speak to my coach on Monday, but wondered what the opinions would be from people that know more than me.

Now I am most definitely a higher handicapper (off 30.9 currently), but don't let that fool you when I'm asking for advice. I've got an addictive personality and I HAVE to know everything I can about the game and the data. I'm into the numbers. The below image shows you this; I know my swing speeds, I know my distances, I know my shaft weights, I know the torque of my driver shaft, I know the weight in the back of my TSi2 driver... you get the picture.

I've been playing for 2-3 years, and I've been through the selling/trading/buying of clubs to find the best ones that suit me. With a young child (1 year old) at home, I can't go spending £1,000 on a new iron set and that again on new woods, so I'm stuck with what I've got...And that sounds bad, but I actually love my irons; I have PXG's 2021 0211 DualCor Irons from 4i through to lob wedge, all with TT Elevate Tour VSS pro shafts, stiff flex. Really forgiving and look stunning behind the ball.

At the British Golf Show at the weekend, I went for a £10, 30-minute fitting with Srixon (love the new Zxi range), and I got on really well with the ZXi4 7i/8i and the ZXi5 PW. The fitter actually couldn't believe that I play off 30 with my iron swing (I did tell him it's because I can't get off the tee box!). They fitted me for 1/2" shorter stiff-flex shafts and recommend this throughout the bag. It didn't take anything away from clubhead speed, nor ball speed, but tightened dispersion. So now I want to make these changes to my current (standard) PXG 0211 irons, as it's a cheaper option than new irons... and I don't want to part with them.



Can you guys (that know better than I) see anything wrong with matching the Srixon fitted lengths (mostly) and adjusting my current PXG irons to suit. I'm really struggling with anything longer than an 8i on the course, and hoping that these adjustments will help, as I had no issue with the ZXi4 7i at the weekend?! Note: I will of course get my local aftermarket fitter to measure the swing weights and match them after the length adjustments... I think they're around D2-D3, but will check.

Looking forward to the advice of those in the know... anything wrong with the above?

Jim

 

[Neilds]

My personal advice would be get a lesson to learn how to hit the longer clubs but I think our personalities are totally opposite so this won't be what you want to hear

 

[Jim_M_0211]

My personal advice would be get a lesson to learn how to hit the longer clubs but I think our personalities are totally opposite so this won't be what you want to hear

Hi there! Thanks for your reply! I'm getting a lesson on Monday morning (4 days from now), and will ask the question then... but surely this will help as well as the lessons?

 

[Neilds]

You are asking the wrong person when it comes to specifications of clubs. I only know the loft of my driver and wedges as it has it printed on them, not idea about iron lofts, what shafts are fitted, etc

 

[Springveldt]

I'd imagine shortening the shafts would help as you will feel like you have more control. I know I get that feeling when I choke down on my irons now and again.

I'm also someone who gets lost in numbers and can get focused on them too much (especially tracking my stats) but I think at this point you are chasing the wrong numbers. The number you should be focused on is that 30.9, especially if you have already been playing for 2 or 3 years. How often do you get out to play? Is it like once a month or less or is it every week? I don't want to sound rude but (here I go ) if it is every week and you have been playing for 2 or 3 years and are still a 30.9 index you really shouldn't be giving a damn about what specs your irons are, all you should be focused on is where are you hitting the ground in relation to the ball and where is that clubface pointing when you hit that ball.

Your whole focus should be on those 2 points, not worrying about lofts, lies, swing weights, how fast you are swinging it etc. Worry about those things later when you can hit something longer than an 8 iron and keep it in play off the tee.

 

[Neilds]

I'd imagine shortening the shafts would help as you will feel like you have more control. I know I get that feeling when I choke down on my irons now and again.

I'm also someone who gets lost in numbers and can get focused on them too much (especially tracking my stats) but I think at this point you are chasing the wrong numbers. The number you should be focused on is that 30.9, especially if you have already been playing for 2 or 3 years. How often do you get out to play? Is it like once a month or less or is it every week? I don't want to sound rude but (here I go ) if it is every week and you have been playing for 2 or 3 years and are still a 30.9 index you really shouldn't be giving a damn about what specs your irons are, all you should be focused on is where are you hitting the ground in relation to the ball and where is that clubface pointing when you hit that ball.

Your whole focus should be on those 2 points, not worrying about lofts, lies, swing weights, how fast you are swinging it etc. Worry about those things later when you can hit something longer than an 8 iron and keep it in play off the tee.

I was thinking exactly the same but tried to be less direct

 

[Jim_M_0211]

I'd imagine shortening the shafts would help as you will feel like you have more control. I know I get that feeling when I choke down on my irons now and again.

I'm also someone who gets lost in numbers and can get focused on them too much (especially tracking my stats) but I think at this point you are chasing the wrong numbers. The number you should be focused on is that 30.9, especially if you have already been playing for 2 or 3 years. How often do you get out to play? Is it like once a month or less or is it every week? I don't want to sound rude but (here I go ) if it is every week and you have been playing for 2 or 3 years and are still a 30.9 index you really shouldn't be giving a damn about what specs your irons are, all you should be focused on is where are you hitting the ground in relation to the ball and where is that clubface pointing when you hit that ball.

Your whole focus should be on those 2 points, not worrying about lofts, lies, swing weights, how fast you are swinging it etc. Worry about those things later when you can hit something longer than an 8 iron and keep it in play off the tee.

Hi there! Thank you for your reply!

I play 9 Holes every Sunday morning. I don't get to play 18 due to the aforementioned child, but my GC is now doing stableford comps, so that should help as well. I've got a lesson Monday coming, though I've struggled to find a coach/tutor that really understands my time/financial constraints.

I understand the need to improve my fat/thin/strike, and I'm having lessons again to get over that, but it's still frustrating not being able to hit anything longer than an 8 iron...

If I can improve my technical ability, as well as improve the clubs by tailoring them to me... that's a win-win, no?

 

[Springveldt]

I was thinking exactly the same but tried to be less direct

I'm not usually the direct type of person (or at least I don't think I am) but sometimes things have to be said. You can't be getting 2 shots a hole and worrying about the torque of your driver shaft.

As I said, I love numbers as well. When I took up the game again, I had this thing in my head that all good players hit draws and even although I'm naturally an over the top player (shoulders always go first) I spent hours upon hours changing my swing with the help of a Zepp Golf sensor to be in to out and hit draws. I thought I could make the game mechanical as I now had this magic sensor that told me everything I need to know about the swing and if I could get that to give me perfect scores I'd be a scratch player. Turns out chasing the perfect swing doesn't relate to the outcome of your shots as I'd top them and this thing would be giving me 95/100 for the swing.

Then the next thing in my number loving head was maybe I need to get fitted for everything and that would make it all work. I fixated on shafts, lengths, swing weights, etc. Then the next thing was getting on a launch monitor and chasing perfect numbers while stressing over the swing path and thinking anything over the top was bad.

Now I'm back to swinging over the top, on a launch monitor all I stress over is smash factor and final result in direction and I've got a driver I bought from GolfClubs4Cash, 3 wood/hybrids from Callaway PreOwned, 6-PW irons that I got fitted for 6 years ago when I swing nothing like that anymore, wedges and putter from Callaway PreOwned and I'm playing much better golf than when I obsessed over specs of clubs and swing paths. I don't even use the 4 and 5 iron from the Ping set as I found I hit those hybrids better even although I had never ever seen them before buying them.

 

[Springveldt]

Hi there! Thank you for your reply!

I play 9 Holes every Sunday morning. I don't get to play 18 due to the aforementioned child, but my GC is now doing stableford comps, so that should help as well. I've got a lesson Monday coming, though I've struggled to find a coach/tutor that really understands my time/financial constraints.

I understand the need to improve my fat/thin/strike, and I'm having lessons again to get over that, but it's still frustrating not being able to hit anything longer than an 8 iron...

If I can improve my technical ability, as well as improve the clubs by tailoring them to me... that's a win-win, no?

You would think so but your swing will change so much as you get better, at this point I'm not really sure how much it would help. Although those PXG irons look suspiciously long, they are half an inch longer than my i500 irons while also being 2 or 3 degrees stronger. Are they the standard length of have you got a set that is longer?

 

[rulie]

Wrt club length, there is no requirement to grip the club at the top end of the grip. Watch some professional golfers - many are "choked down" one inch, eg, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Justin Thomas....

 

[Jim_M_0211]

You would think so but your swing will change so much as you get better, at this point I'm not really sure how much it would help. Although those PXG irons look suspiciously long, they are half an inch longer than my i500 irons while also being 2 or 3 degrees stronger. Are they the standard length of have you got a set that is longer?

Standard length, they are! Crazy long really... especially if you factor in that I'm only 167cm (a little over 5' 6") tall!

Hence my question.... for £100 or so, I could get the shafts altered to a more usable length (and potentially swing weight) to help me, along with the lessons. Yes my swing will change, but my height won't?

 

[Jim_M_0211]

Wrt club length, there is no requirement to grip the club at the top end of the grip. Watch some professional golfers - many are "choked down" one inch, eg, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Justin Thomas....

Good shout. Might pop some tape 0.75" down from the top and "imagine" that's where the club ends?

 

[Springveldt]

Standard length, they are! Crazy long really... especially if you factor in that I'm only 167cm (a little over 5' 6") tall!

Hence my question.... for £100 or so, I could get the shafts altered to a more usable length (and potentially swing weight) to help me, along with the lessons. Yes my swing will change, but my height won't?

Based on this chart, you have the XP Length irons not the standard length ones.

Since you are 5'6" then I can see why the fitter had you in shorter shafts than these ones. Wouldn't hurt to adjust them I guess.

 

[BubbaP]

Good shout. Might pop some tape 0.75" down from the top and "imagine" that's where the club ends?

Yeah, definitely do that first ( a la Tommy Fleetwood) and see how it feels.

As others have mentioned the fitting part is a much smaller % of results compared with what the golfer is doing - but it will vary and having shared your height vs club lengths you will likely be a higher % than most.

If you can find someone with the kit to remove grips without destroying them that may help your budget. If not, removing grips, cutting down, and fitting new grips isn't especially difficult. But grips are IMO annoyingly pricey.

 

[Jim_M_0211]

Based on this chart, you have the XP Length irons not the standard length ones.

Since you are 5'6" then I can see why the fitter had you in shorter shafts than these ones. Wouldn't hurt to adjust them I guess.

Hiya!

Thanks again for your comment. I didn’t think they did an XP option in the 0211 and can’t find much online about them, I have an image of the PXG website with standard lengths and lofts on, but they’re the same I think anyway. Not that it changes the position I’m in, nor my stance on altering the clubs?

 

[Jim_M_0211]

Yeah, definitely do that first ( a la Tommy Fleetwood) and see how it feels.

As others have mentioned the fitting part is a much smaller % of results compared with what the golfer is doing - but it will vary and having shared your height vs club lengths you will likely be a higher % than most.

If you can find someone with the kit to remove grips without destroying them that may help your budget. If not, removing grips, cutting down, and fitting new grips isn't especially difficult. But grips are IMO annoyingly pricey.

Heading out first thing Saturday, so I’ll whack some tape on first!

I’ve got a local fitter that is remarkably well priced and has all the kit. I’ve had numerous grips from him and paint filled my putter face as well. Never paid more than £12 a grip from him, fitted.

I’ve got the means and motive…

 

[Springveldt]

Hiya!

Thanks again for your comment. I didn’t think they did an XP option in the 0211 and can’t find much online about them, I have an image of the PXG website with standard lengths and lofts on, but they’re the same I think anyway. Not that it changes the position I’m in, nor my stance on altering the clubs?

Yeah, it doesn’t matter if they are XP or Standard but I think they will be too long.

I’d have a test round gripping down an inch and if you feel like you have more clubface control then I’d get them cut down.

 

[VVega]

£100 or so, I could get the shafts altered to a more usable length (and potentially swing weight) to help me

For £179 you can get a full set of Srizon 565 and if you trade in your PXG it’d be less than £100 cost to you if any.

Srixon Z-565 Irons / 5-PW / Stiff Flex N.S.PRO Modus3 Tour Steel Shaft

SPECIFICATIONS Number of Clubs: 6Dexterity: Right-HandedBrand: SrixonModel: Z-565Club Type: Iron SetSet Makeup: 5-PW Flex: StiffShaft Model: N.S.PRO Modus3 TourShaft Material: SteelMeasurements: 38.25 inLength: 0.75" LongerGrip: Lamkin CrosslineGrip Size: Standard Department: Men Serial ID...

www.golfclubs4cash.co.uk

 

[VVega]

Also, if you “can’t get off” the tee, might be better to focus on this first. Plenty of options for drivers, woods, hybrids to make it long enough to be playable.

 

[Jim_M_0211]

For £179 you can get a full set of Srizon 565 and if you trade in your PXG it’d be less than £100 cost to you if any.

Srixon Z-565 Irons / 5-PW / Stiff Flex N.S.PRO Modus3 Tour Steel Shaft

SPECIFICATIONS Number of Clubs: 6Dexterity: Right-HandedBrand: SrixonModel: Z-565Club Type: Iron SetSet Makeup: 5-PW Flex: StiffShaft Model: N.S.PRO Modus3 TourShaft Material: SteelMeasurements: 38.25 inLength: 0.75" LongerGrip: Lamkin CrosslineGrip Size: Standard Department: Men Serial ID...

www.golfclubs4cash.co.uk

These Srixons are longer than my PXGs! 38.25" 7i (unless GC4C measures the 6i for Iron Sets?).. and only 6 clubs. Would need to then go and buy a GW, SW, LW... not sure this fixes my problem! But appreciate the suggestion; thank you!