T100 (2021) vs 620MB

[ThinBullet]

Background

Learned on blades in the early 90s (Pinseeker)
Currently 11.3 HC
Came down from 17 to 11 last season using split set of Mizuno MP-18 MBs.
Used every Mizuno MP and Titleist MB iron (apart from a 620)
Play twice a week, and 2 range sessions (100 balls each time)
I can 60/40 work the ball both ways, but 60% favour a fade
My day job is in IT, so everything is technical to me, and I can't not let it spill into golf

Issue

I recently put the 2021 version of Titleist's T100 in the bag with AMT Black S300 and Golf Pride MCC Align Standard grips.
Over the last 3 years i've bounced back and forth between players irons and blades. T100 is the 20th set so far in the last 3 years (It's not a flex, I just like everything about golf)

I've always been curious about the 620MB. I don't know how many times I've used the demo club at the range. Think i'll need to rent it from now on. This week, I've paid more attention to the differences between both the 7 iron in the T100 and the 620MB in the following configuration:

7 iron, T100, AMT Black S300, Golf Pride MCC Align (Standard length)
7 iron, 620 MB, AMT Black S300, Golf Pride Tour Velvet (Standard Length)

The first day, was just straight out the gate with a mild warm up, and the T100 first (In yellow). I hit 5 shots each club, alternating the clubs after 5 shots, and took a pic of the resulting dispersion.



T100 (Yellow)
620MB (Orange)

T100 (Highest ball speed) = 120mph
620mb (Highest ball speed) = 112mph

Launch angles with both where in the late teens to early 20s, and land angle was around the late 40s to 50s. I play at Dougalston in Glasgow, which has 20-30 yard fairways, no rough and every hole is lined with pine trees. The miss is short. I think it's important to note.

So, I go away on that first day with a sense of confusion. There's no much in it. The feel off the 620Mb is second to none, even with the same shaft. The T100 sweet spot felt higher, maybe 1-2 grooves higher was needed to get the same feel.

I revisit today, fresh off the warm up again, and hit the same T100 7 iron. But with a lot more shots. Luckily it's pissing down outside so I could see where I was hitting the face (towel dried after each shot).

It takes me 43 balls to find a strike above the second to third groove with the T100. I was thinning everything.

I switch to my driver to hit 5 shots to shake up the memory of hitting the iron, and it only takes me 11 balls to find the middle of the 620MB.

I say middle. I'm generally a vertical strike variance golfer with all my clubs. So it's either a thin middle or flushed.

What's going on?

What I experienced hitting the 620MB is very much like what I seen last season with the MP18 blades, and at the range. It's tighter left to right, and the miss is short. Out the toe it's punishing, but my miss is more heel side. The T100 out the toe creates a pretty sizable hook, with the compensation being a high right shot on the next one.
I genuinely don't know why I seem to perform better with a bladed iron in my hand, or whether I concentrate more on the shot, but it's a few times now where I've gone back to them, only to switch away because "I'm not meant to use blades". Usual slagging off other members type thing. Get call a bandit cause you're off 11 and using blades.

People say the T100 is a blade with forgiveness, but in my opinion, it feels nothing like a blade, unless the strike is 4/5 grooves up, it sounds nothing like a blade, and the idea of it being more forgiving, I just haven't seen so far in the last couple of weeks I've been using them.

I know some folk will think I'm off my head, and I'm looking too deep into a non issue, but I enjoy this sort of thing, and keeps my mind busy on anything but my job, so it's here to stay.

Just wonder of there's any fitting experience in the room that can pull apart the theory, or maybe alternative experience in the thinking that really blades are the true game improvement irons, and everyone should use them? (Don't flame me)

Cheers,
Paul

 

[Crow]

Play what you like and ignore what others say, we're playing for pleasure.

 

[ThinBullet]

Play what you like and ignore what others say, we're playing for pleasure.

You're right. Feel is more important to me than anything. If I shoot 90, but flush every iron, I'm grinning from cheek to cheek on my way to a coach to help me with my putting and short game.

 

[apj0524]

In my mind the 620MB give you more confidence as you like the feel of them in your hand, but the data suggests the dispersion is better with the T100 (Yellow) 10 yrds where as the 620 (Orange) is 30 yrds, if you can live with this play the 620s.

Personally I was have lesson with your pro and ask him why toy are thinning the the T100s before chopping out of the 620MBs and parting with £800

 

[ThinBullet]

In my mind the 620MB give you more confidence as you like the feel of them in your hand, but the data suggests the dispersion is better with the T100 (Yellow) 10 yrds where as the 620 (Orange) is 30 yrds, if you can live with this play the 620s.

Personally I was have lesson with your pro and ask him why toy are thinning the the T100s before chopping out of the 620MBs and parting with £800

From the data, it's the Orange (620) that's left to right 10 yards. It's the T100 (yellow) that's more left to right.

I have tried coaches before, but I opted not to do it during the season recently because it messes with things too much. Looking to employ in the off season. Hopefully one who doesn't say my head is full of mince.

 

[Maninblack4612]

The chart you've attached shows so much inconsistency that it's impossible to draw any conclusions. You hit three rank bad shots with the T100, but you can't blame the club for these. Looks as if the 620mb gives the best distance &, if I were you, I'd pick them for that reason.

In my view statistics for people as inconsistent as you, and me, don't tell you much at all.

 

[JamesR]

If I was to pick one I'd go for the yellow T100.
The pattern/numbers suggest that all strikes were of similar quality with the T100, but you need to work on accuracy.
The orange MB's suggest good strikes are good, but anything not straight out of the middle is losing a lot of distance (as you would expect from a blade).

 

[ThinBullet]

The chart you've attached shows so much inconsistency that it's impossible to draw any conclusions. You hit three rank bad shots with the T100, but you can't blame the club for these. Looks as if the 620mb gives the best distance &, if I were you, I'd pick them for that reason.

In my view statistics for people as inconsistent as you, and me, don't tell you much at all.

TopTracer view does tend to spread the shots out over a wider scope. Here's the actual results in the app view after you leave. I felt the 620MB dispersion was better with a smaller set of shots, so in the same range session I continued to hit the T100 to try and group them in better, but it got worse. Maybe fatigue?

T100 Dispersion



620MB Dispersion



Maybe unfair to say I'm inconsistent. We play a game of inconsistencies, and nothing is consistent about it. We're just trying to find the better bad shot.

 

[ThinBullet]

If I was to pick one I'd go for the yellow T100.
The pattern/numbers suggest that all strikes were of similar quality with the T100, but you need to work on accuracy.
The orange MB's suggest good strikes are good, but anything not straight out of the middle is losing a lot of distance (as you would expect from a blade).

Appreciate the reply.

 

[Imurg]

If I was to pick one I'd go for the yellow T100.
The pattern/numbers suggest that all strikes were of similar quality with the T100, but you need to work on accuracy.
The orange MB's suggest good strikes are good, but anything not straight out of the middle is losing a lot of distance (as you would expect from a blade).

This
I was told by a wizened old pro that front to back dispersion is the club
Side to side dispersion is you.

 

[ThinBullet]

This
I was told by a wizened old pro that front to back dispersion is the club
Side to side dispersion is you.

I've never heard that before. Interesting. So with that said, for some reason, I had more control of the blade as it's tighter left to right? Short I can live with as it's less trouble on my course. Going long left or right, is easy a shot dropped or a penalty, lost ball. Every single digit player up there says the miss is short.
I know i'm asking a lot off the back of a few shots with each club right enough.

 

[Maninblack4612]

This
I was told by a wizened old pro that front to back dispersion is the club
Side to side dispersion is you.

I would say that both are you.

 

[Crow]

This
I was told by a wizened old pro that front to back dispersion is the club
Side to side dispersion is you.

That's good to know, I'd always thought it was my fault when I fatted one 75 yards.

 

[jim8flog]

My question would be what are the longer clubs like?

With the T100 (2021) the 7 iron (from memory) is the point where it transitions from a blade to more of a cavity with tungsten weights in the heel and sole.

 

[ThinBullet]

My question would be what are the longer clubs like?

With the T100 (2021) the 7 iron (from memory) is the point where it transitions from a blade to more of a cavity with tungsten weights in the heel and sole.

My plan was the combo set with the 620 in the 7-PW. My long irons with the T100 are ok. No concerns. Only use 4/5 iron off the tee on 2 par 3 holes. Don’t get used thereafter. Most used are 7-PW by far.

 

[Bratty]

I'd be picking the 620MB and working with the pro to lower the launch angle. 7 iron should be around 16-17°, rather than in even the low 20s.
That's a general view and there will be some outliers, but a higher launch angle usually means you're not compressing the ball enough. I would bet the shortest 3 with the MBs had some of the highest launch angles.

 

[ThinBullet]

I'd be picking the 620MB and working with the pro to lower the launch angle. 7 iron should be around 16-17°, rather than in even the low 20s.
That's a general view and there will be some outliers, but a higher launch angle usually means you're not compressing the ball enough. I would bet the shortest 3 with the MBs had some of the highest launch angles.

Appreciate the reply. I’ve decided to stick with the T100 and get a coach. You are right. I get hardly any compression so a coach will do me the world of good.

 

[Jason.H]

So 7 ish sets of irons a year, that’s some going .
No surprise to see better front to back dispersion with the T100. That shows the tungsten weighting is doing it’s job.
Personally for my ability I’d chose the new T150 or the latest Mizuno JPX923 Tour irons.

 

[ThinBullet]

I did the same test today. This is after I took up a sort of mini lesson from a passing coach at the range. We've chatted for a while about lessons, but never really managed to sort out times, so always just gives me wee nuggets, of information. I'll absolutely be taking up lessons though.

T100 7 iron



620MB 7 iron



Same AMT Black S300 shaft used in both. The shot I was trying to play was a fade, but into a pretty stiff wind today. The 620 MB felt insanely good, and far better than the T100 IMO, and the sound of the T100 is enough to make me want to vomit, but results are results. I'm sure over time they'll crossover, as i've hit the T100 a lot more than the blade, but it's something i'll need to live with. I'm not happy about it, but scorecards are more important than golfing fantasies.

 

[Jason.H]

I did the same test today. This is after I took up a sort of mini lesson from a passing coach at the range. We've chatted for a while about lessons, but never really managed to sort out times, so always just gives me wee nuggets, of information. I'll absolutely be taking up lessons though.

T100 7 iron

View attachment 48774

620MB 7 iron

View attachment 48775

Same AMT Black S300 shaft used in both. The shot I was trying to play was a fade, but into a pretty stiff wind today. The 620 MB felt insanely good, and far better than the T100 IMO, and the sound of the T100 is enough to make me want to vomit, but results are results. I'm sure over time they'll crossover, as i've hit the T100 a lot more than the blade, but it's something i'll need to live with. I'm not happy about it, but scorecards are more important than golfing fantasies.

That’s tight dispersion with the T100, some other areas of your game must be rubbish to be off 11 ish