Iron set recommendation

[dougajmcdonald]

Hi All,

I'm a high handicapping (at the moment 27) player who is aiming to get the consistency up and 'cap down to ~20 by the end of the year (which I feel is achievable as I'm relatively new to the game).

I'm looking for suggestions for a new iron set which I'm planning to pick up around Christmas once my swing settles down a bit.

I'm currently playing with my dads old Kartsten Ping Zings (1,3-SW) which I'm informed were top end at the time, but are now 10+ years old. As a result I will be getting something fitted to me specifically, but looking for ideas as to what I should consider set wise.
I believe I would get some benefit from working with a more up to date set (I recently replaced my old driver and got a big benefit from it). I've got a driver, 3 hybrid (19degrees), and a 3 Wood (15 degrees) in the bag other than that, no specific wedges at the moment.

My swing speed I think is around 90 MPH and I'm 30, so still pretty fit / strong (not thinking I need graphite shafts at the moment).

Any thoughts on what would be a good set to work at going from say mid twenties to mid teens over the course of next year?

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[Hacker Khan]

How much wonga you got to spend? You talking a new set or second hand?

If you are talking new then I'd argue they are all much of a muchness as long as you go for a game improver set. And your choice will probably be as much about feel and you liking the look of the club, as opposed to which one will get you 5 extra yards. I may think the latest Mizunos are brilliant, you may well not like them. For example I can't hit Titliest irons to save my life, but I am sure others swear by them.

If you read the golf mags now every new set of irons gets good reviews so it's not as if some are rubbish and some are good, nowadays they are all good. I'd recommend getting yourself down to a shop with a big choice and try some out.

Or you could argue go for any manufacturers set that is not the current model, but one that has been recently replaced. For example Ping G25s, Cobra Amp, TaylorMade RBZ etc etc. As there is very little noticeable difference to most amateur players between the current and last set of irons from any manufacturer, so you can save yourself some money and not get the latest set. But it may be more difficult to compare and try these.

And before everyone else tells you I'll get in there and say lessons would be the quickest way to reduce your handicap.

And welcome to the forum.

 

[dougajmcdonald]

Thanks for the quick feedback.

Money is not an issue (Christmas pressie and all that), but ideally something like a last seasons new set would be preferred just to take a little sting out of it!

I'm definitely going to go and try a few sets, but I'm aiming to perhaps get it down to 4-5 sets to have a go on before heading out.

The reason I mentioned the timing thing is that if there are any nice sets which are currently the latest set, but
due to be superceded in the next 4 months or so (I'm not sure how predictable the lifespan is for iron sets) then these might be worth knowing about, as half the purpose of replacing my current set is to get something 'newer' as I'm aware a lot of things hav changed over the years!

Not trying to blame my old clubs, but interested in anything which would help drop a few shots!

 

[Foxholer]

I wouldn't bother changing the irons!

Very forgiving and great performance. Any 'difference' between those and a more recent set of irons are mainly because the loft of the newer sets have been tweaked! Not the 'prettiest' clubs though - though Eye2s were/are even less pretty!

I was out with a guy the other day who was playing with a set of Mizuno blades that were over 30 years old (Custom 4s that he'd bought new) and he still hit them really well!

 

[dougajmcdonald]

Interesting comment, I've never had a problem with the pings, it's just I've literally just picked them up from my old man who plays totally differently from me! (and it 6 inches shorter).

Perhaps I should be looking at getting the existing one's re-fitted (is that a possibility?). All good feedback, trying to get a feel for what is possible! or where I could go.

 

[gripitripit]

If you getting them as a present then go for nice shinies.
Wilson D100
Ping G20 or G15
Nike Covert 2.0

Come Christmas time they may be other clubs about.

 

[Foxholer]

Interesting comment, I've never had a problem with the pings, it's just I've literally just picked them up from my old man who plays totally differently from me! (and it 6 inches shorter).

Perhaps I should be looking at getting the existing one's re-fitted (is that a possibility?). All good feedback, trying to get a feel for what is possible! or where I could go.

Refitting an old set is not normally economic.

It's likely that, in spite of the distinct height difference, you may only be 1 step out on Ping's fitting chart - here's the process and a chart is probably imbedded in there too!

Any length increase could be accommodated with a plug when you next change the grips - assuming you need slightly longer shafts. The lie angle is normally affected slightly, but the standard Ping process is to give the head a couple of whacks with a rubber hammer! Obviously, there's a (small) risk of breakage. It's also actually surprising how well a swing adjusts to 'non-optimum' set-up - as long all clubs match!

If money really is no object, go to a proper fitter when you are 18-20 and your swing has settled. He/She should really only confirm that current clubs aren't holding you back/causing you future problems. It's once you have a relatively consistent swing that selecting heads/shafts to fit your goals will have a real benefit! For now, I believe there's more benefit from some lessons and practice than buying 'new shineys'!

 

[Hacker Khan]

I wouldn't bother changing the irons!

Very forgiving and great performance. Any 'difference' between those and a more recent set of irons are mainly because the loft of the newer sets have been tweaked! Not the 'prettiest' clubs though - though Eye2s were/are even less pretty!

I was out with a guy the other day who was playing with a set of Mizuno blades that were over 30 years old (Custom 4s that he'd bought new) and he still hit them really well!

I'd slightly disagree that the only difference mostly will be the lofts from some Ping Zings. I'm sure in their day they were very forgiving but how old are they? 20 plus years? There have been a lot of improvement in the forgiveness of irons in that time, and I am sure you will notice the difference on off centre hits, which a relatively high handicapper is more likely to do.

Totally agree that it is the workman and not the tools, but if you put some Ping G30s up against some Ping Zings I am more than happy to bet that the G30s will give a lot more forgiveness. Plus added distance, but I agree some of that will be the lofts which are not comparable between say the 7 irons in both sets.

I agree that swapping irons every two or so years is pointless, but swapping a 20 year old set for the latest set with the latest technology set will make the game easier, which is what most people want.

 

[dougajmcdonald]

Really interesting comments and largely what friends have been telling me!

At the moment the plan is to rattle through 8-10 lessons in the next 3 months and see where I am. I totally take the point that me not the kit should be the focus at the moment, but also accept that what was one forgiving may not be quite so now. My old driver for example had a head smaller than most irons, as did the Wilson firebird 3 wood! Swapping those over made a huge difference in forgiveness, so was hoping an iron change may be similar!

To put things a little more into context, 3 months ago I was going round in 120+ and in the last month have hit 6 rounds under 100 just with practice. Confident I can pick up 5-6 on the green with a bit of practice there as I frequently average 2.4 in that area.
At this point I think I would be approaching 20 and happy to invest is some irons which I'd hope properly fitted could kick me on a bit. Preparing for the hopefully inevitable!

Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[palindromicbob]

Really interesting comments and largely what friends have been telling me!

At the moment the plan is to rattle through 8-10 lessons in the next 3 months and see where I am. I totally take the point that me not the kit should be the focus at the moment, but also accept that what was one forgiving may not be quite so now. My old driver for example had a head smaller than most irons, as did the Wilson firebird 3 wood! Swapping those over made a huge difference in forgiveness, so was hoping an iron change may be similar!

To put things a little more into context, 3 months ago I was going round in 120+ and in the last month have hit 6 rounds under 100 just with practice. Confident I can pick up 5-6 on the green with a bit of practice there as I frequently average 2.4 in that area.
At this point I think I would be approaching 20 and happy to invest is some irons which I'd hope properly fitted could kick me on a bit. Preparing for the hopefully inevitable!

Thanks for all the help so far.

If you can give any MD irons a try then don't overlook them. Also worth giving the Wilson D100 or C100 a hit.

 

[Foxholer]

I'd slightly disagree that the only difference mostly will be the lofts from some Ping Zings. I'm sure in their day they were very forgiving but how old are they? 20 plus years? There have been a lot of improvement in the forgiveness of irons in that time, and I am sure you will notice the difference on off centre hits, which a relatively high handicapper is more likely to do.

Totally agree that it is the workman and not the tools, but if you put some Ping G30s up against some Ping Zings I am more than happy to bet that the G30s will give a lot more forgiveness. Plus added distance, but I agree some of that will be the lofts which are not comparable between say the 7 irons in both sets.

I agree that swapping irons every two or so years is pointless, but swapping a 20 year old set for the latest set with the latest technology set will make the game easier, which is what most people want.

There's a pretty reasonable argument that, up to a point, a new starter should learn to play with a relatively unforgiving set! Or at least one where mis-hits are detectable.

Zings are pretty forgiving, even by todays standards - there are a lot of guys with Zing (and Eye2) 2-irons in their bags simply because of that fact! Certainly, longer term, a modern set should be beneficial - especially if properly fitted. But the benefit is nowhere near as great as with changing the Woods!