New Irons for Fast Swing

[rmacnair]

First post so please be gentle.

I started playing 2 months ago having played briefly when I was 14 (I'm no 30). Had a couple of lessons on feeling good; slice is disappearing and getting plenty of loft on my irons.

Problem is I have a very fast swing. Not measured it but as an example i hit my 8iron about 180yards carry (no that's not a typo). I've recently bought a 2nd hand adams xtd which is great for me and hitting it well, but my irons are inherited callaway big Bertha x-12 with regular flex graphite shafts. So in the last few days 2 heads have snapped off the shafts (9i and 4i off the tee). I know I need steel shafts but what flex? S or xs.

I don't want to spend more than 400 but also don't need 3i or 2i as I have a 22deg hybrid that does a good job.

Any thoughts? Make, Model, where to buy

 

[xcore]

Get a basic fitting at American golf, it's free. Or go to a reputable fitter in your area

 

[fundy]

welcome to the madhouse

180 yards carry with an 8 iron after 2 months, you must be one helluva natural

Did you ask your pro for recommendations?

If those carry distances are consistent then its hard to think you want anything but X flex, but theres more to it than just flex. Weight is as if not more important and if you are swinging it super fast you may want something heavier too.

Are you tall? are you likely to need longer/more upright irons?

Ideally if you can try and get a fitting with no commitment to buy, that would give you a decent guide. If looking to buy off the shelf blind then I would try and find something with a heavyish x flex shaft in (but im guessing based on 2 numbers)

 

[HankMarvin]

stopped reading this when you said you hit an 8 iron 180 yards........

 

[the_coach]

would get on a Launch Monitor with the clubs you currently have with a PGA Pro hit 6 balls through the bag & find out what the true "average carry distance" for each club is (so not overall distance - but where the ball first lands)

then will have a better idea through the Pro's advice as to what 'spec' clubs you should be looking at - then with that knowledge can search through used club outlets

 

[Smiffy]

I'd buy something with very good grips.

 

[Fish]

It won't be expensive, he only needs to carry 6 clubs 😜😂😂

Welcome by the way, you'll fit in fine with those statements 😎

 

[Smiffy]

An 8 iron 180 yards?????
The only other person I've ever come across who can hit it that sort of distance is Paperboy.
And he's on the verge of giving up.

 

[Fish]

An 8 iron 180 yards?????
The only other person I've ever come across who can hit it that sort of distance is Paperboy.
And he's on the verge of giving up.

Are you sure, never had him down as a big iron hitter and played with him loads of times. Now Cameron yes, possibly Mendie but you can count them on 1 hand, unless you listen to the tripe some wield out on here then its most of the forum 😜

My clubs can A,B,C on them for me, as long as I know how far each one goes I don't care if it's an 8i or a pure 4i, as long as it gets me there.

 

[Smiffy]

Are you sure, never had him down as a big iron hitter and played with him loads of times.

Oh he's told me loads of times how far he can hit it.....

 

[Fish]

Oh he's told me loads of times how far he can hit it.....

But in which direction 😜😂😂

 

[ScienceBoy]

I've met a couple with those distances but both been lifelong golfers and single figure players.

Still, as new there is no reason not to take at face value.

IMO anyone who sits outside average Joe/Jo should seek specialist advice.

If your exceptionally tall, short, strong, etc

 

[Fish]

I've met a couple with those distances but both been lifelong golfers and single figure players.

Still, as new there is no reason not to take at face value.

IMO anyone who sits outside average Joe/Jo should seek specialist advice.

If your exceptionally tall, short, strong, etc

I played with a young lad (student) on Tuesday who was built for golf, 6ft 4", in very good shape for around 14 stone, he hit it a country mile, unfortunately his drives were only 30% accurate so he walked 3 holes and didn't complete loads but when he was on point he drove the 17th & 18th at Maxstoke with a driver then a wedge both for birdies 😜 It was obscene 😳

He also drove (apron) the 12th which was over 325yds.

However, even with that armoury he's only off 11 because he's wild and just attacks everything, he could easily go around a lot of courses I think with nothing more than a 4 iron and become a Cat1 easily as his iron play is very accurate but you can tell it's not in his nature to reign it in.

 

[rmacnair]

Just in case anyone is a bit sceptical. This was at american golf 2 weeks ago and was consistently this distance.

I'll get to american golf for a fitting and see actual average distances. Will post the results.

 

[Jates12]

Im struggling to believe thats 8 iron distances considering that Brooks Koepka hits 6 iron 200.

https://blog.trackmangolf.com/brooks-koepka-winner-us-open-2017/

 

[hovis]

View attachment 23050

Just in case anyone is a bit sceptical. This was at american golf 2 weeks ago and was consistently this distance.

I'll get to american golf for a fitting and see actual average distances. Will post the results.

unfortunately, giving proof of a trackman screen shot supplied by American golf just adds to the sceptical among us.
a guy i play with recent bought some clubs from American golf saying he Baught them as he was hitting his 7 iron 185 over his usual 155. he hit his 7 iron at the next par 3 and didn't even get it 150.

American golf or famous for massaging their numbers.

that screen shot also looks like the ones they use on the individual bays. it was saying i was hitting my pw 155. my pw is 135 all day. might hit it 155 if i use the leading edge to strike the equator of the ball😀

 

[kevingopher]

I would absolutely go to get fit. Preferably with someone that has no interest in selling you clubs (Titleist fitting center for example)

I play with a few lads that hit above average distances. We recently went to Golf Principles for a fitting. For me (very average) the fitting made little difference but for one of the lads (hitting 335 carry on trackman) the fitting process made a significant difference. It was quite an eye opener seeing how different club set ups can change the overall outcome for extreme swing speeds.

And before all of the usual suspects start banging on about 210 in the fairway etc. We are all low single figure golfers.. Some people really do hit it miles, a rare few hit it miles AND straight.

 

[rmacnair]

unfortunately, giving proof of a trackman screen shot supplied by American golf just adds to the sceptical among us.
a guy i play with recent bought some clubs from American golf saying he Baught them as he was hitting his 7 iron 185 over his usual 155. he hit his 7 iron at the next par 3 and didn't even get it 150.

American golf or famous for massaging their numbers.

Forgive my naivety, but even on other driving ranges it looks to be going that distance. I'm playing this afternoon so will track all my shots. If american Golf overegg it, will they do the same on the fitting?

 

[hovis]

Forgive my naivety, but even on other driving ranges it looks to be going that distance. I'm playing this afternoon so will track all my shots. If american Golf overegg it, will they do the same on the fitting?

i can't talk for all American golf shops but the 3 i have experience with have all bodged the figures on a large scale. i was hitting the callaway apex 180 according to them. my 7 iron is 170. he said "look how further your hitting that callaway". i said i wanted to hit alternate shots with the two clubs with him no where near the laptop. he refused and asked what i was accusing him of.
i said "if these figures are true i am going to buy these clubs right now so if you're telling the truth then you have nothing to worry about and I'm the one that's going to look like the idiot" he still refused so i left

 

[Coffey]

Forgive my naivety, but even on other driving ranges it looks to be going that distance. I'm playing this afternoon so will track all my shots. If american Golf overegg it, will they do the same on the fitting?

Yes they do, their machine always over estimates the distance. I went for a 3 wood fitting and was getting 255 carry off the deck with my 3wood. I have never ever hit a 3 wood that far and doubt i ever will, average on Game Golf is 214.

It is the same with the driver, on their machine (different store) I was getting most around the 280/290 mark and my average on Game Golf is 252.

When going to American golf, it is worth bringing your own club to test against, at least then you are getting a comparison between the two and you can work out the difference that way