Irons - new tech vs old tech

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

The latest breed of irons are intended to work differently to traditional clubs.

Given the same distance to the pin (let's say 165 yards) which is likely to be the better real world shot? A a "high launch, low spin, towering trajectory" modern 7-iron, or the lower launching, lower trajectory but higher spinning traditional 6-iron.

My suspicion is that I'd rather play the second than the first. What do you think and why?

 

[Crow]

The second for me, because I enjoy playing old clubs, have I said that before?

I like the simplicity of a single piece casting or forging without the stick on bits, the funny face materials, the speed/power slots, the heavier metal sole inserts, etc.

 

[Orikoru]

Whatever's easier to hit the thing in the first place for me. Which is going to be the modern one I'm sure.

 

[need_my_wedge]

I'll play whichever does better for me. I suspect that is the modern iron - the Callaway Apex CF16 7 iron I use is a fantastic club, probably best (most confident club) in my bag. When I hit it properly, it produces a lovely high ball flight that doesn't seem to be affected too much by the wind (unless it's blowing a hoolie).

 

[LCW]

for me the older as you put it.

My issue with this high launch low spin "change in tech" for irons (older tech clubs as you put it) the spin model for me is more consistent out of a multitude of lies. I am quite a high spin player with decent speed so spin my irons in the thousands relative to the number on the club so I kind of know how it will react.

I have tested some newer tech clubs and used some on trips away and find when you get this low spin model using the clubs out of the rough for example becomes a complete lottery and they absolutely rocket or fall out of the sky because the spin can be none existent.

Having said that one is no better than the other & they completely do have a place in the market if you lack speed for example. No one can ever moan about too much choice

 

[Spear-Chucker]

I'm hopelessly old skool so would favour the second option. That's flying in the face of all the current thinking and ignoring the technological advances however so is most likely a daft choice. It just that I've been that way for so long I think.

I've tried numerous new irons but then go back to my old ones and the effect is instantaneous, there's no comparison for me.

 

[patricks148]

The latest breed of irons are intended to work differently to traditional clubs.

Given the same distance to the pin (let's say 165 yards) which is likely to be the better real world shot? A a "high launch, low spin, towering trajectory" modern 7-iron, or the lower launching, lower trajectory but higher spinning traditional 6-iron.

My suspicion is that I'd rather play the second than the first. What do you think and why?

6 iron on more realistically at the moment a 5 iron that distance.

Only find i find is with the GI irons the lack of spin on 9 and PW, i found it impossible to hit finesse shots high spinning punch shots.

 

[r0wly86]

What are we considering old school?

My irons are 15-16 years old Ping i3+ or are we talking more 1980-1990s McGreggor style?

I have had my irons since I was a junior so don't really know much else, but I hit the ball very high anyway, but with a lot of spin, so don't no if I can asnwer this question

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

...

Only find i find is with the GI irons the lack of spin on 9 and PW, i found it impossible to hit finesse shots high spinning punch shots.

So "new-tech" for 4-8 and "trad" thereafter?

Interestingly, if you tried to put together a set yourself you could end up with two 7-irons 5n/6n/7n/7o/8o/9o/PWo being essentially the same as 4-PW in trad.

How long before one of the manufacturers really thinks this through and offers a set of irons where the loft AND tech progressions are coherent? Like the cavity back blending to blade sets that were popular a few years ago.

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

What are we considering old school?

My irons are 15-16 years old Ping i3+ or are we talking more 1980-1990s McGreggor style?

I was trying to get more at the design characteristics than the age. My modern Mizuno set has a 33deg 7i and 29deg 6i. The new Ping G700s have the 7i at 29.5deg and the 6i at 26deg. Basically the clubs are one loft stronger all the way through the set. However I expect that the lower lofted Pings will launch higher than my Mizunos because of the low c-o-g etc.

For my 165 yard shot I can buy a new Ping G700 and go low spin / high flight or a new Mizuno and go lower flight / higher spin.

 

[patricks148]

So "new-tech" for 4-8 and "trad" thereafter?

Interestingly, if you tried to put together a set yourself you could end up with two 7-irons 5n/6n/7n/7o/8o/9o/PWo being essentially the same as 4-PW in trad.

How long before one of the manufacturers really thinks this through and offers a set of irons where the loft AND tech progressions are coherent? Like the cavity back blending to blade sets that were popular a few years ago.

i thought about it when i got my MP4, but had a big gap between the two types. Srixon sort of do this, i think you can mix 965 and 765. for me personally though i find i hit bladed clubs better than i did more forgiving irons

 

[duncan mackie]

How long before one of the manufacturers really thinks this through and offers a set of irons where the loft AND tech progressions are coherent? Like the cavity back blending to blade sets that were popular a few years ago.

Many already do; nothing new.

As an example the TM RBS Tour irons (and other models) lose the speed slot in the more lofted irons. There is absolutely no perception of the transition - in fact I couldn't even tell you for certain whether the 7 does, or doesn't, have the slot!

As to the general premise, you ignore the fact that 90% of golfers would absolutely love to have the choices you present. In reality they select the tools that enable them to enjoy their game by simply getting them round the course. Those that have mastered that, and have the clubhead sped to create spin and/or 30 yd apex heights have a choice.

 

[User101]

I went for a fitting of the Callaway CF's and ended up buying the apex pros instead as I don't want my 7 iron landing and running 30 yards further, yes the cf's were bombers, 175 carry on a 7 is just a bit mad for me, however if I was someone new to the game or struggled with distance and height, I recommend the bombers.

 

[patricks148]

I went for a fitting of the Callaway CF's and ended up buying the apex pros instead as I don't want my 7 iron landing and running 30 yards further, yes the cf's were bombers, 175 carry on a 7 is just a bit mad for me, however if I was someone new to the game or struggled with distance and height, I recommend the bombers.

guy that runs the bar at my place was raving at the start of last year about a set of TM irons he brought. was hitting the 7 iron 195 yards (i kid you not, though he does have a fair bit of Club head speed) they lasted a couple of months at most went a bought the same irons he had before and sold to pay for the TM ..

 

[User101]

guy that runs the bar at my place was raving at the start of last year about a set of TM irons he brought. was hitting the 7 iron 195 yards (i kid you not, though he does have a fair bit of Club head speed) they lasted a couple of months at most went a bought the same irons he had before and sold to pay for the TM ..

There was a guy on the Aberdeenshire Facebook selling page recently trying to get rid of his M2 irons, said they were just bombers and not for him.

 

[bobmac]

It's a bit like riding a bike.
A tricycle is easier than a 2 wheeler but a 2 wheeler is more fun.
I play golf for the challenge and for fun so it's old school blades for me

 

[HankMarvin]

It's a bit like riding a bike.
A tricycle is easier than a 2 wheeler but a 2 wheeler is more fun.
I play golf for the challenge and for fun so it's old school blades for me

Yep I agree with this blades are great to play with (Just not razor blades) but then again I have a set of Callaway X14"s that get an outing now and then and they are a pleasure to use

 

[Capella]

The second one is way cooler, of course. I mean, a ball which drops out of the sky from great height and then stops without much roll is just everyday physics. It's functional, of course, but there is no element of surprise to it. Now a ball which lands on a flatter trajectory and checks up anyway ... that's something. I mean, yeah, sure, if you disect it with a launch monitor, it is still physics, but to the naked eye it's just magic.

 

[need_my_wedge]

guy that runs the bar at my place was raving at the start of last year about a set of TM irons he brought. was hitting the 7 iron 195 yards (i kid you not, though he does have a fair bit of Club head speed) they lasted a couple of months at most went a bought the same irons he had before and sold to pay for the TM ..

Funny, had similar thoughts. When I got the Callaway's last year, I surprised myself on the third or 4th round playing them when I greened two of our par 5's in two. I hit the 7 iron over 200 yds for the second shot on both, it was absurd. Then managed to introduce a nice duck hook into my swing for the entire season, which completely screwed my year and affected all kinds of things when playing, not least my mind! I thought about going back to my old Ping G15's, they were pretty straight and I was playing well when I cashed them in. Been working on correcting the duck hook over the winter, it's starting to come back, and the seven iron is starting to fly further again, even in damp and muddy conditions. I think I'm gonna stick with them, once the swing is good, and I get a grip on the distances for each club, then it's just a case on knowing how far to hit before choosing which club to play.

 

[Reemul]

If people are hitting their 7 iron over 200 yards surely the driver must be pushing 400 at least