I'm a terrible golfer... but are "tour" irons for me?

I'm a very bad golfer, avg round about 107 but shooting 58-60 for 9 holes is not out of the question. I'm 36, play about 10-15 times per year, and have been struggling like this for about 15 years when I started. I was a little more serious about 12 years ago, took a 3-day golf school, a few lessons, played about 25 times that year, and managed to shoot a few 97's, 99's etc.

Basically, I know I'm never going to be really good, but I want to find clubs that will help me enjoy the game more. I've been playing the same irons (Nicklaus cavity-backed) for about 10 years.

Today I went to a big demo day, all the major companies were there. I was looking forward to trying out Ping G-15 irons. They felt OK, I also tried TM Burners. Basically, I was looking for "game improvement" clubs I might like. For the hell of it, I went over to Titleist to try to understand the different softer feel of "tour" irons. So I grab a forged MB 5-iron ("for the highly skilled golfer") and hit about 5 very pretty shots in a row. I mention to the rep that I like those shots, does it makes sense that a high-handicapper could hit the MB clean? He says I'd probably be better off with the AP2, again I hit some sweet shots. It was very windy so it was tough to judge distance, but I'd happily be straighter vs longer anyway.

I walk back over to Ping and try the S-57's, my shots are not as good as the Titleists but better than the G-15. Same thing at TM, the R9's performed better than the Burners did.

I know this was just one day at the range, lots of wind and kind of rushed, but I came away feeling that "tour" style irons were better for me than the "maximum forgiveness" ones. As a high-handicapper, very inconsistent hitter, low swing-speed, does this make any sense? Is it possible that the shape/weight/face of the tour irons just kind of force me to swing better/more consistently? Or if I buy the tour irons, will I quickly regret it once I get out on the course?

Thanks in advance for the advice. I know I can't "buy" a better game, I need to take lessons and play more, but if these clubs can help my game, it will make me more motivated to play more.

I would honestly say that what you experienced is all in your head. I think you wanted the players irons to feel better, and thus, you thought you hit them better than the GI irons.

With your skill level, and admittedly, inconsistent swing, how can you honestly think or say that you hit one set better over another?

Keep your Nicklaus cavity backed irons for now, take lessons and work all year on fixing what is bad about your game.

Buying nice clubs now would be like getting a new paint job on a rusted out vehicle.

Hey, welcome fellow terrible golfer. WE Need to stick together out there on the courses! Anyways, I score like you but have 10 years of age more and in the similar weather area that you have - play about the same frequency. Before my own plight on the right irons, here's a view from a PGA instructor I currently follow the regular advice. 1. Bigger clubheads like the cavity backs get hung up in the rough more or are slowed down in easier in divots. 2. A bigger face means more room to miss the sweet spot a & thus hit a bad shot. 3. The smaller and more compact tour blades put higher ratio of mass behind the sweet spot as opposed to cavity-backs that xfser the weight around the perimeter for stablity to reduce twisting on off-center shots. Think of getting punched in the nose with a sledge hammer vs. an iron skillet for visual on energy transfer being the product of mass X Velocity squared. If you can swing and hit a big head you can hit a small head.

I have hit larger game-improvement type for years until last summer. In fact, my last set was even considered a fine one in that category, my 2000 Titleist DCI 981 with graphite stiff shafts. I can actually hit the bladed Mizunos just as solid, may have lost some height on my pw and 9. I decided the Mizzy set looked great and that with golfers as myself that factor alone goes a long ways on the course. I do believe on flush shots, there is a noticeable difference in the blade forged iron. It seems like I don't even hit the ball, like a practice shot!

I would rather hit hybrids instead of 3 & 4 irons, but I doubt I would go back to cavity-back or even cast irons. My only exception could be Ping some day, as they don't do a forged iron.

Probably another factor that I really noticed was the degree offset. I have lots of it with my old Titleist, barely any on these Mizzy (which are a 2004 model). I can't stand that factor, I used to have some bad hooks on the mishits, I almost can't hook MP-32 and I never did slice my irons being a lefty who plays right-handed. Check the offset no's if you can, maybe you don't need it either.

Final point - forged irons require more babying, they can rust and do ding up. On desert rough-lined courses, I will carry an older cast Titleist in the bag just for that purpose, or play another provisional.

ps. I actually have a high swing speed - so my mishits with any club are what sink me into the bad scores - nasty lost shots!

I would have to agree that it could be a little on the mental side, that you did not hit them that well.

There is one other thing that could happen, witch happens to my dad when he plays.
Witch is: The "Game imp and Super Game Imp Irons" gave my dad a way to high lunch angle, witch then the higher the shot goes the more you see the miss hit. (usually not always)

But yea, I think you may just like the fact that you are using "Tour" Irons. Witch there is nothing wrong with anyways....

Anyways, good luck!

OK, that's a little bit harsh, don't you think? Anyway, I can say that I hit the Titleist blades better because, on this day, most of my shots were straight, high, and felt clean. With the G-15's I also hit some good ones, but also 2 that were thin and generally more fading/slicing. But if I went back tomorrow, the results could be switched, I admit that.

I do agree that much of this is mental. However there is something to be said for standing above the ball and knowing there is no excuse, I have to hit the ball clean and square, the club is not going to bail me out. I think that attitude is more likely to get me to focus correctly and help me out in the long run. The second mental part is the shot visualization. It just seems awkward to be swinging a fat sole through the ball rather than a thinner, sharper blade that is less likely to get "dragged down." Exactly as AVGUY described in point #1. When I was addressing the ball with the G-15's and Burners, and I could see the back of the clubs, it just didn't seem right. I've certainly not made a final decision, I will try both sets again. My main question was whether it was unheard of for high-handicappers like myself to prefer blades. I appreciate the responses so far. AVGUY, great to hear your experience.

Well it's not unheard, when i started golf, about 1 year ago, i used a combo set straight away, P-8 were blades and 7-4 were small cavititys. and i was playing off 26 then, i was not playing off 26 for long but i was playing off 26 when I got them. Jusst buy what you fell comfortable with, you will be more happy with that in the end!
I also have a friend who use the taylor made r9 TP's and hes a 27 HC.

I'm not trying to sound harsh or mean spirited. I'm just telling you how it is.

Why is a person w/ your skill level worrying about things such as looks at address of the club, or sole of the club digging into the ground? I remember being a bad golfer. I was more worried about hitting it flush more than anything. At least a quarter of the time I was duffing it six inches behind the ball. If I wasn't doing that, I was topping the ball. My drives were fifty yard slices. My approach shots were scalded thirty yards over the green. A person who is a 30 plus HCP knows all about doing those things, right? Why would you even contemplate wanting blades when GI irons are made to make the game easier? And why are you almost doubting that a GI iron might not even be easier to hit than a blade? Because of the fat sole dragging you down? There are so many things wrong w/ that line of thinking it's almost comical, especially from one who is an admitted terrible golfer. I admit the Ping GI irons are a little on the "big" size, but so what? Look at other kinds of GI irons if you''re stuck on looks so bad. There are plenty of GI irons that look great. But, don't take my word for it. Do a little research on GI irons and why they are easier to hit. There are multiple reasons. But, what do I know? Do whatever you want. It's your money, and it's your golf game.

Based on your title alone for this thread, my immediate answer is no. Here's why. If you are self-proclaimed 'horrible golfer' you in a sense answered your own question. They're not called 'horrible golfer' style irons. They may look pretty but if your swing isn't pretty and sound, your result won't be either. Save the money, get lessons, worry bout 'players' clubs when you get there....just an honest 2 cents

I say- go with what you feel comfortable with.
During a club fitting with a PGA pro I was hitting the I15 better than the G15.
I felt I was hitting the I15"s better than the G15 even though my handicap would indicate otherwise.
I compromised and purchased a "split set"- G15 for 4I thru 7I and I15 for 8I thru UW.
With lessons and practice- you will feel satisfied that you purchased the right set for you.

I'm with timatraw in a sense, you have a unique game and if you hit your irons in the sweet spot the vast majority of the time then maybe blades are for you. But if you struggle to find that sweet spot sometimes (like me), the game improvement irons really help with mishits. I have good days where I find the sweet spot every time, and on the range when you were hitting the Titleists may have been one of those days. I'm a bogey golfer, a decent ballstriker but I notice a big difference even playing with semi-cavity irons made for mid-handicappers. Definitely try them again and see what you think before you jump at them.

Just got restarted about 18 mos ago and for the first few months I played my 1986 Wilson Pro Staff blades. Then, I got a new set of Callaway X18s and hated them. Within a few weeks and 2 lessons I fell in love with them.

No matter what anyone tells you, play with what you feel confident in. Golf is a very mental game and confidence is huge. That being said, you HAVE to be completely honest with yourself. Do think your like a certain club just because it looks better to you?

Couple of thoughts on GI irons.

- They do have a larger sweet spot than blades. You'll notice the difference on heel shots.
- They also help you get the ball up in the air but where the weight is massed.
- The line between GI irons and blades have been really blurred over the last couple of years. There are many "player's irons" that have lots of forgiveness built in. You may want to check our something in between.

Another thought is to try the same club at the range on different days. Where GI can be really helpful is on your off day. The day you hit those blades, you may have been really on. What happens when you're not.

Hope that helps.

I agree. Play whatever clubs you like and are confident in.

I'm opposite than most people in this forum in that I like to play with SGI clubs. I like the "techy" aspect of how a club can help you with mishits. I'm not concerned with thickness or how they look at address. I think a lot of the mental aspect is ego. People like to feel that they hit a good shot...it was all them & not the help of the club. Also, I think a lot of people feel better about themselves by using "players irons".....which inspires confidence & causes a person to play better. My buddy messes with me because I play Adams & calls them "Old Man Clubs". It doesn't bother me...but it is funny...he never has a joke about the SGI clubs or "Old Man Clubs" if I shoot lower than him that day.

I think I'm in the same boat with the topic creator. I tend to hit "pros irons" better than my GI Mizunos. I loved playing a round with MP32s.

Go with what works best for you. I would hit them a few time over a week or two and after that get what you feel best with. It's nonsence to say no way you should buy what you feel best with! Good luck.

You could pull the trigger and go tour, but finding out they don't work after the demo day is over and $899.00 later, is a costly learning experience. If you truly feel you hit a particular club better, search on Ebay for it and buy the 6 iron or another iron individually. Take it to the range and hit it from the mat/tee/grass for a few weeks and see if it's still the club for you. Cost, 40 bucks and few buckets of balls. Then you'll have a better knowledge of knowing if that club truly works for you.

Whichever path you choose, good luck!

Dear Terrible Golfer,

Here is my bet. Buy a set of blades and you will be sorry in less than 3 months. I am saying this with full confidence not because of your high handicap, but because of the golf swing and golf habits you have described about yourself. The problem with blades is that they feel phenomenal when you hit them dead-center on the sweet spot, but for you that may happen 20% of the time, tops. With the other 80% of the off-the-center hits you will lose substantial distance with blades versus GI irons. Result? Probably 7-10 strokes more per round.

Do yourself a favor. Give it some calm, deep, RATIONAL thought before you commit to buying a new set.

When hitting clubs at a demo day, it's also important to know what shaft you are using. For example, your great experience with the Titleist irons could partially be due to hitting a regular or even a "senior" flex shaft, while the Ping irons you hit might have had stiff shafts. All things being equal, the whippier shaft should produce higher shots, with a "softer" feel. Different brands of shafts also behave differently. Before shelling out big bucks, I would advise you to hit more clubs, making sure the shafts are equivalent.