Shopping for Super Game Improvement( SGI) Irons

[golf4tito]

I'm a relatively new player and currently in the market for some SGI irons. I am really interested in the Taylormade Superlaunch set but would love to hear some opinions on this set and of course suggestions for other comprable SGI iron sets would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[mheier]

Adams Golf Idea Tech Forged V3, Callway Diablo Edge, Cobra S3 max, Ping K-15, Wilson Staff Di11

The sets listed above are all the newer irons out and all comparable to the Taylor Made Super Launch irons...Sorry but I have no experience with them. I would probably go with the Adams V3 just for the looks, but I am sure they also perform well. Sorry not much help.

[newtogolf]

Just purchased a set of SGI's after a winter of trying different ones out.  For me, it came down to;

• Callaway Diablo Edges (ones I bought)
• Mizuno JPX-800 (not really SGI, but really forgiving GI)
• Ping K-15
• Callaway RazrX

I pretty quickly eliminated the RAZR and K-15, the RAZR wasn't as forgiving as the others, and I didn't like how the K-15 felt and looked at address.

The choice between the JPX-800 and Diablo Edges was very tough, I thought the Mizuno's felt better and looked better at address, but the launch monitor showed I didn't hit them as far or straight as the Diablo Edges.  I went for two different fittings (different places), and tried the two head to head one additional time.  The launch monitors every time showed I hit the Diablo Edges longer and straighter, so I chose them, but I still wonder if I made the right choice because the JPX-800's felt better when you hit them right.

Definitely give the JPX-800's a try.

[WUTiger]

If you don't want to pay full price for new clubs, consider the Callaway X20. Solid club, but a lot of people are trading them in for newer models.

[golf4tito]

Thanks for all the input so far. I will certainly keep an open mind throughout this entire process. Any more input is greatly appreciated.

[DannyB215]

Own the JPX-800's..most forgiving club out there. Also try the S3 Max and The Razr X's! The S3 max will be the best club for the value ($400).

[boots1302]

i own the jpx 800's and although i love them, i do not think they compare with any of the other super game improvement irons as far as forgiveness. If i were looking for something super forgiving, i would start in the ping department, and make my way to the new cobras which look very nice. Also check out the adams offerings, cant recall the name right now, but heard they were pretty nice.

[Missouri Swede]

I got mine two seasons ago: Cobra SZ (now replaced by other models), and I like them.

My 17 year-old son got his last spring: TaylorMade Burner Plus. (Discounted because they were being phased out or replaced.)

Both of us had the same experience: You need to try the clubs. Some look great and have great reviews, but for whatever reason they won't feel quite right or strike as well--in YOUR hands. Some clubs are easy to eliminate right away (even if I really want them to work for me). For me, the Cobras were easily the best feeling club and gave the best results (at least as far as I could tell from the demo). For my son, it came down to two TaylorMade models, and he had a choice to make.

And don't be afraid of getting last year's models (if they demo well for you). Could save you a couple hundred dollars.

Spend the time with a pro to get fitted well. I've heard it said (whether true or not, I don't know) that the shaft can be more important than the clubhead. For my son, even getting it narrowed down to "two" irons, he had to demo two sets of shafts for each iron.

[delav]

Can't really go wrong with a used set of G15s.

[glk23]

Take a look at the Wilson Di9's, they can be have for around $200.  I have hit them a few time and they were quite easy to hit.  The lofts are jacked up and the set comes in 5-GW which is more like 4-GW.  For the price on a brand new set of irons, I think you can't go wrong.

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by glk23

Take a look at the Wilson Di9's, they can be have for around $200.  I have hit them a few time and they were quite easy to hit.  The lofts are jacked up and the set comes in 5-GW which is more like 4-GW.  For the price on a brand new set of irons, I think you can't go wrong.

I must admit, I demoed Wilson offerings from a couple of years ago, and WIlson makes some nice irons for the beginner and as stated above, you can find a new set (last year's model) for a great price. As a beginner, I'd look at Wilson for the price and an easy to hit iron.

Another used option is callawaypreowned.com. Callaway has a history of making great, forgiving irons. Their "like new" irons are new and the slightly used still look great.

If you're planning on improving your game rapidly and taking lessons from a decent instructor, I'd say go the less expensive route as you'll be moving up to GI irons within a year. Another suggestion - use a camera with video on the range - buy a tripod for $25 - seeing yourself on video is a heckuva lot better than banging balls without much feedback.

Good luck.

[tweaky]

Wishon 770CFEs are THE MOST FORGIVING SGIs on the market, BAR NONE.  Anyone who hasn't tried them just doesn't know.  if you can't get fitted for a set and you like the "feel" of forged then the Titleist AP2s are second or possibly Taylormade R7s.

[golf4tito]

Originally Posted by tweaky

Wishon 770CFEs are THE MOST FORGIVING SGIs on the market, BAR NONE.  Anyone who hasn't tried them just doesn't know.  if you can't get fitted for a set and you like the "feel" of forged then the Titleist AP2s are second or possibly Taylormade R7s.

How do the R7s stack up against Taylormade's Superlaunch iron set?

[tweaky]

Originally Posted by golf4tito

How do the R7s stack up against Taylormade's Superlaunch iron set?

i haven't hit the supperlaunchers yet, and i'm not inclined to unless i meet someone who has them.  someone else who is a TaylorMade fanatic will probly chime in here tho'.

[erock9174]

Ralph Maltby puts out his annual Playability Factor (or MPF).  According to the 2011 ratings, the Taylormade Superlaunch doesn't even qualify as Game Improvement, let alone SGI.  They rank as a 501 which is conventional.  Take it for what it's worth though.  Not trying to sway you one way or the other.  Nor do I even understand his metrics.  I just wanted to point this out because I finally got around to looking up my irons (TM Burner Plus).  I too thought I was buying game improvement irons.  Not according to Maltby.  Mine score as Conventional as well. Strange thing though on the simulator I tended to hit the Burner Plus better than the Cobra S2 Max (which he rates as Ultra GI) longer and less dispersion.  So who knows.  Have you tried hitting the superlaunch?  I hit them at golf galaxy and something about the head design turned me off.  Reminded me of a hybrid iron.  They seem real narrow face wise and wide.

Some of the ones that he rates as a high playability on his scale (or Ultra or Super Game Improvement) over the past 3 years:

Ping K15

Ping G15

Ping Rapture V2

Tour Edge Exotics XCG3

Tour Edge Bazooka HT Max

Callaway X22

Callaway Diablo Edge

Cleveland Launcher

Cleveland CG7

Cobra SZ

Cobra S2 Max

Nike Slingshot HL

Nike SQ Machspeed

Titleist AP1 710

[golf4tito]

You raise some excellent points erock. I am curious about the metrics involved in determining how a set of clubs fall within the game improvement spectrum, and not just from Maltby but from manufacturers, fitters, retailers and so on. It seems there is a degree of subjectivity when it comes to the classification of clubs.

[adam3205]

Originally Posted by glk23

Take a look at the Wilson Di9's, they can be have for around $200.  I have hit them a few time and they were quite easy to hit.  The lofts are jacked up and the set comes in 5-GW which is more like 4-GW.  For the price on a brand new set of irons, I think you can't go wrong.

This.  I just snagged a new set of Di9's off rockbottomgolf.com's ebay store for $130.  I didn't hit them first...only because I'm a lefty and couldn't find anything but Nike SS4D, Burner HT and Adam A3OS sets in stock in Dicks (the only golf retailer in my rural area).  For the price I figured they were worth the chance based on the slew of positive reviews.  I have yet to give them a thorough workout at the range, but they feel nice chipping around my yard.  They also look much cleaner and classier (to me) than most SGI's.

I started playing about 10 years ago, but played only a handful of times through the last 4 years while I was in college.  What I was looking for was a new set of irons that I can use to develop my swing back into good fashion.  I've been playing on a set of MacGregor's that are probably 15+ years old, handed down to me from my grandfather.  So I wanted to get back into current technology without spending so much that in a couple of years I won't be able to justify dropping more money on a higher level iron, if I choose to do so.

Definitely get what feels best to you, but don't be afraid to look past the big names on clubs.

[WUTiger]

Quote:

Ralph Maltby puts out his annual Playability Factor (or MPF). ...  Take it for what it's worth though.  Not trying to sway you one way or the other.  Nor do I even understand his metrics. ...

Maltby's MPF is a six-variable equation he gets by measuring an iron head (usually #6) which he gets from the club manufacturers. Basically, the MPF measures the user-friendliness of the clubhead design in terms of forgiveness - size of sweet spot - and getting the ball up in the air. If you go to a shop that sells GolfWorks components, you can pick up an MPF card which describes his six categories, the point spread for each, and what the categories mean.

SGI and UGI clubheads tend to get the ball up really well. If you have decent clubhead speed, SGI or UGI heads paired with a stock, high-launch shaft may get the ball up too much. When I tested clubs a couple of years ago, the Big Berthas and the G10s really ballooned the ball in the short irons. Ended up with X20s, a UGI head with a midkick Uniflex shaft.

Maltby cautions that the MPF only deals with the clubhead design. He reminds golfers that the shaft is the other half of the golf club, and that you need to assess both when selecting clubs. He uses the MPF to give golfers an idea of what models of clubs might work for them.

You can get annual updates on new club MPFs at http://www.ralphmaltby.com/