upgrading to better irons

Hi everyone,

I know that there are a lot of very knowledgeable members in the forum, before I go out and get fitted for irons, I would like to get some feedback.

I started playing golf last year, a friend recommended an inexpensive starter set: "Hippo" brand "BEAST" w/ John Daly signature irons. Reg graphite flex. I am 18 handicap already and getting better every week, I hit my 7 iron to about 145 yards, very high and straight, landing softly, quite consistently now. Pitching wedge goes very high and straight also to about 105 yards. I can slightly fade the ball with the long irons but had no success with learning to draw the ball. Most lessons and practice are already planned, of course. Could it be that these cavity back forgiving irons don't allow me to work the ball.

I would like to increase my distance and ability to draw or fade the ball on demand.

I am a strong athlete, 5-8, 160lbs. I tested my driver swing speed at GolfGalaxy yesterday, it varied between 96 to 111mph. I am assuming my iron swing speed would be a bit slower. BTW, GolfGalaxy charges $50 for an iron fitting if you don't buy the irons. I can buy a used set on ebay and modify them based on the iron fitting specs for lie, length and loft ???

I have read several comments about the Mizuno MX20's w/steel stiff shafts. I'll know what shaft is appropriate after the fitting. Is that a good choice to graduate to the next intermediate level of irons?

I would recommend the MP-57 irons. A lot of people may say that you game is not quite ready for them yet, but I think that if you continue to work at it these irons will be great and will suit you for a very long time.

MP-57 sell for about $600 used, used MX-20's are under $200, dot think I am ready to spend that much on irons yet!

i'd recommend spending 50 bucks to find out what line of clubs you hit best...then buying them used on ebay...then spending about 30 bucks to get them adjusted if you'd need so. Most likely..at 5'9''...you are standard lie and length....so you probably wouldnt even have to have them adjusted. In the fitting...they'd let you know.

my personal recommendation is the taylormade r7's. I have the TP versions and i love them...but the r7's are great clubs.

I havent hit them personally...but golf magazine and golf digest give the Cobras high reviews.

I'm 5'-8", 160lbs. have recently used several web sites for computer based online fittings, all show about -2 degree flat and -1/2 inch length with 1/16" larger grip size. Used to play a lot of cricket, so my right arm is one inch longer than left, will definately benefit from a proper fitting. I'll look at the taylormade r7's...

I am roughly your height (we are not even in the same league weight wise, unfortunately for me) and I was told to go with the same specs after two seperate dynamic fittings, other then the grip size.

Based on online fittings I was told to go mostly standard with the fittings and with the larger grip. I had midsize grips, but have gone back to standard size, and have been enjoying the standard size.

Definately get fitted before you buy a set and get it speced out.

Also, I have the MX-25s, have had them since I was a 26 and I won't get a new set until I get down to a 14 or below. They have worked out great for me, decent forgiveness but with enough feedback to let you know if you didn't catch it right. Not sure how the MX-20s compare, but if they are similar they would probably be a great deal at $200.

I believe he is actually saying that it cost 50 for them to fit the clubs as in doing all of the work and such... you could probably get them to tell you what loft, lie and length they recommend for you. and i agree with the r7's being a good choice in clubs, that or the new cobra FP's irons. the FP's have a very soft feel to them and are and easy club to hit. I believe the R7's and the FP's are about the same at 499. look at it this way your getting brand new clubs fitted to you and they will probably last for a long time. getting fitted to your clubs does help you if your swing will remain the same but if you are improving on your game and getting into the right swing plane and improving your clubface at impact then i would just get it lengthened/shortened. If you would like to draw the ball try going for the R7 Draw irons. the draw version is just weighting in the clubhead i really dont think it makes much of a difference but thats my opinion. Hope this Helps

Don't rule out component clubs such as golfsmith brand products. You get exactly what you want and i was blown away by how my clubs feel.

Or you could get them for 650 dollars new like me.

But yeah, I love the MP-57's. Look man, you should go out, try a bunch of sets, and just take some money out of your pocket for a new set. They'll last you a while, something you can 'grow into' and you can play with them for the next 20 years if you want to. lol. How is your swing speed 96-111 mph and you only hit the ball 145 with your 7 iron and 105 with a PW? Either your irons are really old technology, and for sure need new ones, or something is seriously messed up in your swing...My swing speed is like 90 mph with a driver and I hit the ball 140-145 with my 7 iron.

As I am improving my game and becoming a better golfer, I am confident to reach single digit handicap within a year or 2. I believe that I should get a used intermediate set of irons for now. I would spend top dollar for pro level irons at that point, such as the nike forged blades if my game warrants it.

Thanks for the input everyone, I'll try to demo the suggested brands over the next couple of weeks. I am still puzzled about my high swing speed and the short irons distances. The ball does go very very high from these irons. Maybe I am losing my distance there. My 6 years old technology 300cc driver goes 250-260 on the fly....

Than yeah that's a bit weird because I carry the ball about 200 maybe 210 and I hit my 7 iron about 140.