Things to know and clubs to consider when buying Irons.

[mactronix]

Hi,
I have researched a bit about irons and have learnt that different makes have different lofts for a given iron.
I am what I consider to be a competent golfer, I don't have a handicap and play infrequently scoring around 104 for a round.
This season I have started to take things a little more seriously,with help from this forum I have started the process of using new balls rather than seconds, with good results.
Now I am looking to replace the heart of my bag with new Irons.
So a few statements /questions.
Should I consider oversized improvement irons ?
I do have trouble with 4 Iron and don't have any lower in the bag, so I think I would be better looking at 5 iron upwards then hybrids or would you go 6 Iron up with hybrids below that ?
I looked at Callaway, they had a loft chart but others did not. is there a site that holds this information for comparison purposes ? It seems that drivers etc have this info on them but irons dont
So basically I am looking for recommendations and guidance with how to go.

Thanks
Mactronix

 

[brysoni23]

I have used this site a few times to find out the lofts of certain irons
Its not the best site as you can only see the lofts if they have the item in stock but might help you a little.

http://www.ironfinder.com/home.htm

 

[Foxholer]

I'd suggest you don't worry about the lofts, but find a set that feels right for you. Who cares what number is on the club that you hit to 3 feet from the pin!

Most manufacturers (OEMs) have equivalent models at about the same loft - 'Game Improvement' irons all seem stronger than 'Players' ones. It's only an issue when it comes to selecting wedges.

I think you are wise to forget the 4-iron an replace that and the 3 with hybrids. Not so sure about the 5 though - a good practice club if nothing else!

 

[mactronix]

Well the reason I was concerned about the lofts is that I don't want to buy a club with 5 stamped on it when its loft is the same as the 4 iron I am struggling to hit at the moment.
As an example Callaway X2 Hot Irons Vs Taylormade Burner super launch irons.
The Taylormade 5 has a loft of 26 while the Callaway is 23 the 6 is the equal to the Taylormade iron matching it at 26.
From research I have been lead to believe that its the loft that is the issue, as far as playability is concerned ?
So if the company has pushed up the range to make it seem that they have a 5 iron that hits as far as a 4 by simply printing a 5 on a 4 iron then I should look out for this and keep clear shouldn't I ?
Or is it more complicated than that and some brands of lower lofted clubs are easier to hit than others ?

Mactronix

 

[Foxholer]

It is indeed 'more complicated than that'.

The (only) thing that defines a particular iron head (say 7 iron) is the weight (270gms +/- 1 or so). It's not a case of simply stamping a different number on the club!

How the OEM manages that weight to optimise their goals for the club is up to them. By lowering the CoG, the flight will be higher, so strengthening loft is appropriate. There's obviously a lot more involved, but a 'modern' 5-iron should be easier to hit than an earlier 4-iron - even though the loft is the same.

So it's not just loft that is the issue. Another way of demonstrating/proving that is to consider GI clubs (strong lofted) against Blades (standard/weak lofted). By the 'it's only loft' argument, Blades should be easier to hit than GI clubs, but that's obviously not the case!

As I posted earlier, find a set you like - ignoring the lofts/numbers on the heads. Buy whichever of those you feel suits your game - and where you expect it to be at a reasonable time in the future. Fill the distance gaps between Driver and longest iron and shortest iron and Putter!

One further point to be aware of....Some sets come with a 'matching SW'. If going for a GI set, I'd suggest you consider a 'specialist' wedge (56* is the norm) for that function instead - possibly replacing it with a GW (or AW, the same thing).

 

[mactronix]

@Foxholer,
Thank you for taking the time to explain that to me.
Never really considered a GW but I have really started to get to grips with the PW recently with drills and practice, I used to be scared to hit it properly on the course, fearing a duff shot and sending it for miles on a flatter course than the putter usually.
I now realise what a vital part they play in the game and will take your advice on those.
I'm going to look at 5 Iron upwards with 3 wedges and fill in the driver to 5 iron with Hybrids.
Now all I need to do is work out my yardages to see how best to fill the Gap

Many thanks again
Mactronix

 

[drdel]

PING have an on-line 'fitting' app which would give you an idea of which of their clubs would suit you.

I'm not suggesting you buy PING but also on their website is the specifications for all their clubs so if you use the App you could then see the lofts of the clubs this App suggests and you'd have a starting position.

 

[mactronix]

I have used this site a few times to find out the lofts of certain irons
Its not the best site as you can only see the lofts if they have the item in stock but might help you a little.

http://www.ironfinder.com/home.htm

Thank you very much I have found this to be a great help in finding out not only loft but age of respective second hand sets.

Thanks also to everyone else who has assisted in this thread.
Mactronix

 

[mactronix]

Well I have to say I'm a little confused now.
I went down to my local range and tried using an of set graphite shafted Callaway X16 Iron that I had borrowed for the purpose.
Everything I had read and been told suggested that I would get a higher shot with possibly more distance compared to my old Texan 6 Iron.
Fact is even putting the balls on the tee I was reduced to slicing and duffing the ball, seriously my grandson is 7 has been to the range with me twice and can strike the ball better than I could with this club.
I did manage to get a couple of solid shots from it but I was seriously compensating for the wild duffing and slicing.
Switching back to the old Texan with its very slight (probably normal ) amount of offset had things back to normal.
Could it be that my swing just does not suit an offset club ? I'm going to borrow an X Hot Pro next week to see if this club is a better fit.
I'm not financially in a position at the moment to buy new clubs so am taking this loan route to try and find some clubs that I can get on with then hopefully I can get some second hand buy backs fitted at the range.
just wondered what peoples thoughts on the Offset issue were ? Is this a known issue ?

 

[the_coach]

no not really an offset iron if it was going to do anything at all would deliver a slightly higher flight. sorry but it's something you were doing in the swing motion here, not the club or shaft. if it was even a ways different in flex, that wouldn't make that much difference. certainly wouldn't cause a slice or fats.

something that you were doing on the day. easier for a player to square the face of an offset iron in many respects rather than a club with little of no offset.

 

[mactronix]

Thank you for that, I took the club on course today and started to use it half way around. Much better results today. I must say it just looks wrong, obviously this shows that it was me and not the club being not suited etc.
I enjoyed the higher flight and greater length even more from this 6 iron than I get from my 5 iron so it looks as if I can get some results from newer Irons at least.
Just need to find some that look, feel and work right.