Other Company's Version of Uber-Game Improvement

Greets,

This post is a bit long but I want to make sure if you have the time to read this, that I can get my message across, so here goes nothing...

As you may or may not know from my 'WITB' thread, I'm planning on replacing my Cleveland CG4's. I found I really couldn't feel the ball and had immense trouble controlling the shot.

I am taking a step back, and researching this next purchase. In the last few years, I've spent a small fortune on clubs and want to make this decision a longer term purchase (I guess I'm thinking 3 years? Maybe more?)

The easiest hitting iron I purchased to date was Callaway's 04 Big Berthas with steel shafts. Eventually I started to feel the limitation of the clubs and wanted something for more distance (it really was hard to stretch these things out).

As with every club I've purchased (except the Clevelands!) I intend on hitting these irons in a simulator at a local retailer that gets most of my business. BUT this time I want to make a 'short list' and I thought I could bounce some thoughts off of the crowd here at the forum.

So what am I looking for? I believe I am not near skilled enough to move out of game improvement, but using today's technology, I'd like to move into a 'newer' game improvement model that doesn't punish distance too much. Do I care about shaping the ball? To be honest, for me shaping the ball usually means losing it on a highway off the fairway.

I am eyeing up Callaway X-18's or Callaway Fusions Wide Soles (price is definintely a consideration which may make me drop the delusion of buying fusion). Since I enjoyed the Big Bertha's, the same brand is of course a natural pick (my 3wood is a Callaway X and I love it).

What I'm asking the forum members who want to help me out is what other companies would offer in that category. My driver is a Taylormade R7 460 with the MWT technology. (I can't hit it as far as my 3 wood though which appears to be *about* 220-240... I feel REALLY comfortable ripping my 3 wood). But nonetheless I want to possibly match up my Taylormade Driver to irons. Which models of Taylormade (recent and new) would match up with my Callaway selections?

Considering my criteria, here's some others that I think fall in the same category:

- Adams Idea/ Idea OS irons
- Mizuno MX-900's (these look a bit intimidating to me, they seem small)
- Nike Slingshot/Slingshot OS (these are coming down in price a lot lately)
- Ping G5 (never tried these. Super expensive up here... but Raptures may help bring down the price?)
- Cobra's new S9's (they almost look like toys)

And again, Taylormade has so many irons out, I'm not sure what they would offer in this line up.

Do these clubs really fall in line with what I'm considering? Is there anything, I mean anything you can think of that I should really consider that I've missed.

My plan is to make a short list, eliminate some and then go hit some balls. I'm in no rush as the season is ending here, but I will be doing as much indoor work as I can.

Thanks for reading this.

I'm kind of confused about your direction in buying irons as it seems all over the place, but here's the answer to your Taylormade iron question:

The R7 CGB is as much or even more game-improvement than the Big Bertha's, I wouldn't suggest them if you're trying to get away from that.


The R7 XD is marketed as a forgiving club that helps add distance, probably a good candidate as that seems to be what you're looking for


The RAC OS is last years game improvement iron, not as bad as the Big Bertha, probably pretty cheap, and a great club. I'd suggest looking at it as well.



The R7 from what I can tell is aimed to compete directly with the X18, I believe it's also replacing the OS


The Lt and the R7TP are a little bit more mid to low handicap player-directed. Regardless, I would highly suggest the Lt since it has quite a bit of forgiveness as well and it's a club you could grow with for quite some time. Of course I'm probaby a little biased

I am not sure if this opinion is usefuld or on point but, I would consider sets that vary the club through the set. Adams OS and the MX900s your examples. If you are looking to start improving your shot skills then these or otheres like Nickadent, one of the staff has a review in the equipment section. I would also look at golf online and golf digest equipment reviews from the early part of 06. (hot list?) They are even split out by game improvement and super game improvement styles on one of the sites. Game improvement clubs offer almost as much forgiveness and more workability. I tried the Wilson C1s and thought the were excellent. Would have bought them but something else came up and took my golf money.

Thanks for the Taylormade comparison.

I gave my irons another 2hour range session, but this time I took my Big Bertha's out again. I just hate to admit it, but I just can't hit the Clevelands and I think I'm still going to stick to a heavy game improvement oriented club. (when I focused on the Callaway BB's my shots straightened out again... but did drop about 15yards in length).

I saw the 'spy' shots of the new Callaway X-20's which look like they'll be a bit of an improvement over the X-18's.

Taylormade wise, if R7 CGB's are 'super' game improvement, then that means R7XD's -or- R7 are fall in the category of what I'm looking at?

The way I've been hitting the 3-4 iron lately, I admit I'm heavily contemplating Adam's Idea/ OS clubs. This is a set that gets fantastic reviews but I don't know a single a person who uses them. I don't know why. Personally I'm thinking of swallowing my pride and using a hybrid integrated set like these.