Looking at getting some new irons and getting fitted at 5 of the top brands

I have been playing now for about 4 years and my Handicap is a 12. I am playing with the Taylormade Burner 2.0s and I really liked the feel of the new SpeedBlade but I do not want to blindly buy another Taylormade without ever trying anything else out there so I decided to get fitted by 4 other companies for comparison purposes before I make a final decision. In a perfect world I could rent a different set of clubs exactly the way I need them (+1 length, +2 lie, c-Taper shaft) and then play a few rounds before I make a final decision. Is there anything like that available or is it just trial and error? I want this next year to be the year I go into the single digits but I am going to need a break through to do it.

Thanks for the post Jake and the kind words. I would like to work the ball a little more and the GI clubs I have now make that a little harder. I have a lazy draw and consistency is pretty good when I am playing regularly. Right now I am working on my game daily so I was bound to make up some ground. I struggle with my consistency from about 80 yards and in so I try and leave myself with 120 yards and in for my lowest scores. I picked up some new wedges and am really trying to work hard on getting up and down from different distances and lies. My putting is pretty solid and I work on it the most so I guess that helps.

I spent a few hours with Mizuno today and hit their MP-54, MP-59, MP 69 and the JPX-EZ forged. I LOVED the MP-59, but struggled a little with the MP-54? The MP-69 was in between both of the other two for me and my swing but all of the clubs allowed me to move the ball in either direction. I struggle with the cut shot but these made it much easier. It was the first time I ever spent with Mizuno but I think I am going to add them to the list of companies I would like to be fitted by. I would rather spend a little more to get fitted by each company than run around buying sets of clubs and replacing them.

I tried many wedges and I decided to go with the Cleveland 588 RTX black pearl wedges with the KBS Hi-Rev S shafts. The jury is still out but I feel much more confident over the ball than the CG 14s they replaced.

I don't think you will be disappointed with the Clevelands

Here is a shot of the bag in its current state.

I admitted in a nearby thread that I sort of have the hot's for some new irons too.  But I am becoming more and more firmly of the belief that I still need game improvement clubs rather than "players" clubs like the Mizuno MPs.  I talk to myself about wanting to be able to work the ball, but honestly, most of the time what I really need to do is hit the darn things straight and consistent distances!  I can work my G20s some, but they fight it.  I think some clubs like the Titleist AP1 with lower offsets will probably get me where I want to be so far as workability and they're real pretty.

Somewhere on here (Golf Talk I think) there is a long thread on "how you got to a single digit handicap?"  Over and over and over the same answer comes up; it's the short game.  I want some new irons because they are shiny, but the ability to work an iron shot a little more one way or another won't push my game into the single digits.  Irons that punish my mishits (which I still make plenty of!) much more than what I currently own will definitely hurt my chances of achieving that goal though.

It pains me to say it, but I think most folks should play game improvement clubs until their game doesn't really need any more improvement...

...about 75% of the time, the other 25% is off the toe.

true but for me i hate hitting the biggest game improvement clubs. I think some of the biggest clubs i could use would be like the ping i20 or something. My dad has the rbz and i dont even want to hit it because i dont think i can. Also a smaller club helps me get throught the rough better.

If you want a game improvement club that is still easy to hit, check out the wilson staff ci9. Big but forgiving and cheap. Currently play them

I really liked the honesty of your post and think I agree with it but not knowing is the hard part. Maybe I do still need and benefit from GI irons and then again maybe I could get better by stepping up to some players clubs. If I am being honest with myself I do not think I hit it in the center of the face enough to make this move yet? That's why I wish there was a way to test clubs for a round or two while you decide if they are a fit or not. I think it would be a good direction for the club mnfg's too.

IMO, many people move to a player's iron well before they are ready because of the appeal factor. They look shiny and sexy, and you will get plenty of compliments on them, but none of that improves your scorecard. I'm currently in the market for new irons as well, and being about a 5 handicap, I'm still keeping an eye in the GI category. What I will likely do is put together a blended set that incorporates GI 3-5 irons and then a players cavity or MB for irons 6-PW. I make good solid contact NEARLY every time, especially with scoring irons, but I don't want to deal with the consequences of hitting a 4 iron blade just slightly off of the toe. With a GI iron you perhaps miss the green a little right and 20 yards short, but with a blade you may be in the woods and 80 yards short. Perhaps a blended set would fit your needs as well.

A combination I currently have my eye on is the Mizuno MP-H4 in the 3-5 irons, and then the MP-64's in irons 6-PW. Haven't had an opportunity to hit this combo yet though so I can't really comment on it. The only problem I really see with the blended set is that I typically shape my longer irons more frequently than the shorter ones, so that's where a long player's iron would come in handy. However, it doesn't matter how well you plan on shaping it if you can't square the ball up perfectly to begin with.

If you live near a PGA Tour Superstore and are willing to pony up the $99 or so for a Players Club Plus membership (mine has more than paid for itself just from using the Performance Practice bays during the winter, and free labor on club repairs/regripping), they have a demo program to borrow clubs for a 3 day period. They don't let out full sets, just a club or two. Here's the blurb from the web site:

"Demos: All Players Club Plus (PCP) members only are entitled to demo clubs and tennis racquets at no charge up to 3 days. PCP members can demo a maximum of two items at any one time. After three days, there will be a non-refundable $10 per item, per day late fee. Any demo item(s) not returned within seven days will be assumed stolen property. Any lost, stolen or damaged items are the responsibility of the customer. Customer will be charged fair market value in addition to any late fees for these items. Applies to labor fees only. Valid with the purchase of grips, shafts, string or other materials."

Thank you and this is what I was looking to do! I will look and see if there is a local PGA Tour Superstore.

This is an option I've also been contemplating, in my case Titleist AP1s in the long irons, and then AP2 in the shorts (probably 8 - GW), mostly to get away from the loft jacking that Titleist has done with the shorter AP1s.  They say the 714 AP2s are as forgiving as the original AP1, presumably much of that added forgiveness will show up in the shorter clubs, so that might be a path for me.  Nothing wrong with a mixed set if it performs.