Initial Iron Testing - Surprising Results

[Wilf]

Apologies if a bit long winded

Have been debating changing my irons for a while now and decided to start the process yesterday by narrowing down the options before getting a custom fit.

Step one was to have a chat with my pro and take a selection of 7 irons to the practice area therefore hitting off grass using my own golf balls.

The options provided all had the standard regular shafts in them
Ping G and I25
Callaway X2
AP1's - rejected the option of a AP2 just looked to hard to hit
Cobra Bio Cell
Taylormade Tour Preferred CB - took some convincing to try this one.

Warmed up with mine and was relieved to find I was hitting it ok.

Working on Nick Faldo's principle that if you haven't hit a good shot within 3 swings the club is not for you I started with the G25 and I25's and after 3 swings with each realised I just couldn't hit either of them, which considering the G25 is supposed to be one of the easiest to hit iron ever produced was worrying. Callaway went the same way.
AP1's next up and these were the ones I planned to like beforehand, they went ok, without making me think wow but I was at least middling them
Cobra was next up and this one went quite well, felt really nice and hit it consistently.
Last up the Taylormade and this was a revelation, hit it really well, lovely strong ball flight and consistent, when I got a couple a bit off the toe the results were still impressive. Just felt and looked like a stunning iron.

For some reason the two least forgiving irons of the batch were the two I hit best and in the case of the Taylormade significantly better, unless it was something to do with the shaft as both these clubs come with a KBS Tour?

Problem now is the Taylormade was never on my radar supposedly being more of a players iron, and if anything the reason for changing aside fancying new irons was something more forgiving . My brain (having once bought MP52's and regretting it) is attempting to tell me that these are to good a club for me and that a relaxed 7 iron on a practice range is not the same thing as a forced 5 iron carry over water on one of my courses par 3's on a Saturday in competition.

Going to go back and try again, and maybe try AP1's in the KBS shaft, and there is a Taylormade Demo day shortly so will get a better idea then but have a bad feeling I am about to do something daft.

 

[Foxholer]

Interesting session then!

AP1's next up and these were the ones I planned to like beforehand

Like that statement!

Worth trying the AP2 w KBS as well imo. Maybe there's just something in your brain that unconsciously decides 'Ooh, hard to hit. I'd better concentrate more!' Never mind whether it's right or not!

And try the 5-iron (or even the 4 just to add a bit of stress) as well. If they feel good, then great, but at least it's a test for that shot over the water!

Good Luck!

 

[Blue in Munich]

Interesting session then!



Like that statement!

Worth trying the AP2 w KBS as well imo. Maybe there's just something in your brain that unconsciously decides 'Ooh, hard to hit. I'd better concentrate more!' Never mind whether it's right or not!

And try the 5-iron (or even the 4 just to add a bit of stress) as well. If they feel good, then great, but at least it's a test for that shot over the water!

Good Luck!

Isn't hitting a Taylor Made 7 iron the same as hitting anybody else's 5 iron?

 

[Foxholer]

Isn't hitting a Taylor Made 7 iron the same as hitting anybody else's 5 iron?

Just because they do for their mass market SpeedBladez/RocketBladez, doesn't mean their 'Player' irons are also jacked!

TP CB/MC/CM ranges are pretty 'normal' compared to their competition - maybe a small amount (a degree or so) stronger than Titleist, for example).

http://taylormadegolf.com/taylormade/tour-preferred-cb-irons/DW-WZ001.html#tabs-pdpTab2

http://www.titleist.co.uk/teamtitle...itleist-introduces-new-ap1-and-ap2-irons.aspx

Don't do them an injustice just because their marketing is not to you (nor my) taste!

Interesting to note that 3-7 of CB/MCs (the heads with SpeedPocket) are cast - only way to get the SpeedPocket I guess.

Speedblade/Rocketbladez are certainly longer and stronger though!

http://taylormadegolf.co.uk/TaylorM...aylormade-irons-allCurrentModels#tabs-pdpTab2

 

[davemc1]

Seems like the more shots you played the better the club's got? Could it of been you where just getting into it the longer the session went on? I've never been fitted so this could be blissful ignorance, I'd of thought unless you don't like the look/feel instantly then maybe you should mix up the club's, have a couple with one, move on, come back to etc

 

[NorfolkShaun]

No mizzys?????

 

[garyinderry]

discounting a club after 3 swings is idiotic. sorry nick & wilf !

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would certainly have given every club more than three shots. It might work for Faldo, but fore mere mortals...

Very surprised you couldn't get anything out of the G25's even if the I's were a little more tricky. I guess at the end of the day its down to your own preferences but I would be trying them again for more than three shots. Different day, different swing and all that.

 

[Stuey01]

So the clubs you hit first you disliked and they got progressively better club to club as the session went on?
I don't think it was the clubs...

 

[TheClaw]

Seems like the more shots you played the better the club's got? Could it of been you where just getting into it the longer the session went on?

This is exactly what I was thinking. I've just bought myself a set of G25s and they are difficult to hit poorly...let's it hope this continues into the season.

 

[Foxholer]

discounting a club after 3 swings is idiotic. sorry nick & wilf !

On the contrary, I think it's a good way. If you can't hit it pretty well in 3 swings, there's something about you and/or the club that just isn't clicking! And when it comes down to a real pressure shot.....

 

[garyinderry]

On the contrary, I think it's a good way. If you can't hit it pretty well in 3 swings, there's something about you and/or the club that just isn't clicking! And when it comes down to a real pressure shot.....

no wonder you have been through so many wedges!


for me it can take a little time to work out how best to use a club. hybrids and wedges especially.

 

[Wilf]

Fair points and pretty much what I was thinking so I went back later on this afternoon. Tried again with Ap1 and G25 again with standard stock shafts and the KBS tour to try. No missy's available. (Taylormade was already out with someone)
Hit about 40 balls with each, mixing them up through the sets of balls. Results were pretty similar to yesterday, don't know what is is but just don't get on with the G25's maybe just don't fit my eye.
AP1's were better with the KBS shaft in but didn't convince me worth changing for.

No rush will keep trying different options out until I find the ones that work for me and I'm comfortable with

 

[HarryMonk]

I to tried the G25's and just couldn't get on with them and I currently play an old set of ping i's.

If you are thinking Taylormade you should try the Speedblade the distance and ball flight is fantastic, I tested these again today and if I do go for new shineys these are a front runner in my search.

 

[beau d.]

I feel you are going about things in the right way (other than not trying a selection of Mizunos) my first consideration is looking down at any club and liking what I see and feeling able to hit it. I don't like the look of Ping Irons myself (too spade like) but others are inspired by them. Keep trying clubs, rule nothing in or out and narrow it down to 2 or 3, then off for a fitting where you can compare exactly apples with apples would be my advice.

 

[Wilf]

Just a quick update, the clear winner once I'd found a mizuno stockist were the EZ forged.

Stat's were as follows

DNA, 4,4,3,4. (not really sure what this means) 6 iron swing speed 80 mph, ball speed average 105 mph. The only other club I hit that got close to this ball speed were the speedblades. The ball speed with my current clubs never got above 95 mph.

The recommended shaft which gave the best results and dispersion was the KBS Tour in Regular. So a set of Mizuno EZ Forged 5 - PW 2 degree's upright are on their way.

Now all I need to do now is resist the urge to add a set of nice new wedges into the bag to compliment them. Those new SM5's and Taylormade TP's do look good though.

 

[Bratty]

If you want wedges, see if Cleveland are still offering the £25 trade-in on old wedges. The 588's are lovely!

 

[the_coach]

Just a quick update, the clear winner once I'd found a mizuno stockist were the EZ forged.

Stat's were as follows

DNA, 4,4,3,4. (not really sure what this means) 6 iron swing speed 80 mph, ball speed average 105 mph. The only other club I hit that got close to this ball speed were the speedblades. The ball speed with my current clubs never got above 95 mph.

The recommended shaft which gave the best results and dispersion was the KBS Tour in Regular. So a set of Mizuno EZ Forged 5 - PW 2 degree's upright are on their way.

Now all I need to do now is resist the urge to add a set of nice new wedges into the bag to compliment them. Those new SM5's and Taylormade TP's do look good though.

The first #4 is tempo- the speed you move from backswing to downswing at transition.
Second #4 is toe down- how much downwards 'bow' there is in the shaft in the downswing.
Third #3 is shaft kick angle - how much forward bend in the shaft in the downswing.
Fourth #4 is release factor - just when & how the shaft/club head is releasing during the downswing.

L.Donald is with a 6i is 92mph, 4,4,5,5. The higher the last two numbers the more club head speed, forward leaning shaft through impact so better smash factor.

 

[chrisd]

Wilf - try the Callaway X2 Hot irons!

Right through to the A wedge they are awesome. Mine have the True Temper 85g shafts and with a smooth swing, they go miles at a good hight and I'm beginning to love them!