Am I ready for Players' Irons?

SandCastle · November 11, 2014

I currently have the taylormade rocketballz irons. i am around a 10 handicap (mostly because i cant hit the fairway with my driver) I am in the market for some new clubs and I am wondering if I should get players irons or just get new game-improvement. I am pretty good with my irons and i can strike the ball pretty well. If i do have a problem with my irons is that i may tend to aim a little more left than normal but that doesnt have anything to do with how i am hitting the ball. If i need to, i can play a big hook or a big fade but getting the baby draw or baby fade i cant do mostly because they are game improvement and are more forgiving. Am i ready for players irons?

**boogielicious** · November 11, 2014

Welcome to the forum @SandCastle . I would suggest trying out a bunch of clubs and see what feels, looks and performs best for you. All three are factors in the proper choice and only you can tell what is right for you. Pay attention to the shafts as well.

**Lihu** · November 11, 2014

I currently have the taylormade rocketballz irons. i am around a 10 handicap (mostly because i cant hit the fairway with my driver) I am in the market for some new clubs and I am wondering if I should get players irons or just get new game-improvement. I am pretty good with my irons and i can strike the ball pretty well. If i do have a problem with my irons is that i may tend to aim a little more left than normal but that doesnt have anything to do with how i am hitting the ball. If i need to, i can play a big hook or a big fade but getting the baby draw or baby fade i cant do mostly because they are game improvement and are more forgiving. Am i ready for players irons?

Ready in what sense? Have you tried some of those players irons?

I have a wide assortment of clubs, and find that the game improvement irons are really forgiving compared to my hardest to hit irons (Cleveland CG Tour Blades). I did notice that when using my Burners that I did get sloppy and was not punished for it. Now, that I am using my Mizuno MP-32 again, I find that I mishit a lot of shots. They go short 10-20 yards, and feel much harsher on mishits.

Guessing you're ready to try them out, as even I am using these players irons with some success. Not sure if you will score worse with them or not, unless you try them.

**inthehole** · November 11, 2014

I thought I was ready for players irons & it was a huge and costly mistake. I went back to GI irons and am so much happier. Depends on if you really want to work on your game, or just play and make the most of what you have...

SandCastle · November 11, 2014

would i benefit more if i got players irons instead of using game improvement? i have hit the new titleist ap2 and the callaway musclebacks and both felt really nice. i was at a golfsmith so i couldnt see the ball flight but they were really nice and i liked the look of them.

**Golfingdad** · November 11, 2014

would i benefit more if i got players irons instead of using game improvement? i have hit the new titleist ap2 and the callaway musclebacks and both felt really nice. i was at a golfsmith so i couldnt see the ball flight but they were really nice and i liked the look of them.

Welcome to the forum!

I agree with what @boogielicious said. Try a bunch out and go with what works the best. A professional fitting is the best way if you don't mind paying a few bucks, but at the very least, just go to Golfsmith and hit everything.

I went for my last set of clubs thinking (mostly wishing) that I was "ready" for Titleist blades. I ended up with Ping's that are closer to GI than players. (They're technically players, but that's hogwash) I see that there would be very little benefit for me to switch to something more players-ish. (I still kinda want blades just cuz, but it's not sensible right now) There are guys on Tour who don't even play blades or musclebacks, so that should tell you something about that.

Good luck!

**Pretzel** · November 11, 2014

would i benefit more if i got players irons instead of using game improvement? i have hit the new titleist ap2 and the callaway musclebacks and both felt really nice. i was at a golfsmith so i couldnt see the ball flight but they were really nice and i liked the look of them.

The only way to really tell if you are "ready" is to go to a Golfsmith or other retailer that has a simulator and take a direct comparison. Hit all the clubs against your current ones and find which works best, then use those if they're within your budget (or if they're your own clubs even).

A couple recommendations to try out while you're searching by brand:

Titleist

- AP1 (they're not marketed as player's irons, but I've heard good things)

- AP2 (I hit them, but not very well. Titleist irons never fit me)

- CB or MB/CB combo set (the blades are pretty and feel great, but don't get them if you ever hit the ball thin)

Mizuno

- MP 59/15 (I loved the MP 59's, but didn't buy them because of the feel on a slightly thin shot and I couldn't test in a KBS)

- MP 64 (These are more blade-ish, but really aren't that hard to hit. A different feel for sure, equivalent to the Titleist CB's)

- MP 69/4 (If you're feeling ambitious go for these. Beautiful on well-struck shots, but the look can be intimidating to less than exceptional ballstrikers)

- MP 54 (One of Colorado's top high school players uses a combo mp 64/54 set, so they obviously work well. I haven't hit them myself, but I know that player likes them in the long irons)

Ping

- i25 (These are the continuation of the popular i series irons. I used to have the old eye 2's, and these irons are very similar but much more forgiving)

- s55 (Don't let Ping's "Tour" categorization scare you away. I found these just as easy to hit as the i25's with better feel and looks. I am biased towards these because I have them)

- Anser (If forged is a must for you, they have these as an option similar to the i25's crossed with the g25's)

Callaway

- Apex Pro (I nearly bought these the instant I hit them. I loved the feel on them and dispersion, along with the stock shaft, and the mishits don't hurt like some others)

- Apex (Similar design with a little more forgiveness. Still feels excellent)

- MB (I felt very ambivalent about these. They had the downfalls of a blade in the painful mishits, but they didn't have as nice a feel or performance as the Apex Pros for me)

Nike

- VR combo set (Should be selling at a discount with their recent release. I hit them but didn't find anything special for me about them)

- Vapor (I haven't hit these, but I am a fan of the lime green. Multiple models to look at as well)

Taylormade

- Rocketbladez Pro (I played with a couple people who had these, they seemed to like them. They did go quite far, but never hit them myself)

- Speedblade (I hit these a couple time for fun since they're the rentals at my home course. Didn't feel all that great to me)

- RSi irons (There's now another two pockets, Taylormade has a thing for those, to help with toe and heel misses. Never hit them)

- TP CB, MC, or MB's (I hit the MC's at a demo day, and thin shots spun like you wouldn't believe. Nothing else stood out that I can remember, except that they went a lot further due to lofts. I haven't hit the MB's or CB's before, but the MB's do look nice)

I won't list anything from Adams or Cleveland just because I don't know enough about their clubs to really provide anything of use about them.

The most important part of it all though is to get fit. Don't just buy something stock off the rack, because you'll end up playing better and more consistently with ones that are fit. Don't forget to try multiple shafts until you find what works best for you (KBS Tour x-stiff is the top performer for me, but some love the DG series and other prefer Project X). Go into the fitting and try all the irons, but don't get stuck on the idea that you "need" players irons. Use whatever works best for you and be honest about your ballstriking abilities so that you don't make an expensive mistake that you will regret.

What I did that I would recommend is I took pictures of the dispersion and numbers for each club I hit. Whenever I think back and wonder, "Did I make the right choice?" I can always look at the pictures and reassure myself that I have the best clubs on the market. It also helps to take the pictures home afterwords, once the "magic" of any particular club has worn off and look at the numbers to see what clubs work the best for you. For me two clubs performed equally (the MP-59 and the s55 were nearly identical) so I then went back and bought based on feel. I would suggest you do something similar to allow for a bit of feel/looks based input while still getting the best clubs for you.

SandCastle · November 11, 2014

Thank you guys for the great advice!

**onkey** · November 11, 2014

Welcome to the forum!

I agree with what @boogielicious said. Try a bunch out and go with what works the best. A professional fitting is the best way if you don't mind paying a few bucks, but at the very least, just go to Golfsmith and hit everything.

I went for my last set of clubs thinking (mostly wishing) that I was "ready" for Titleist blades. I ended up with Ping's that are closer to GI than players. (They're technically players, but that's hogwash) I see that there would be very little benefit for me to switch to something more players-ish. (I still kinda want blades just cuz, but it's not sensible right now) There are guys on Tour who don't even play blades or musclebacks, so that should tell you something about that.

Good luck!

From what I have read, most guys on tour do not play blades or muscle-backs. I've seen anywhere from 65-75% play cavity backs.

**Spitfisher** · November 11, 2014

I currently have the taylormade rocketballz irons. i am around a 10 handicap (mostly because i cant hit the fairway with my driver) I am in the market for some new clubs and I am wondering if I should get players irons or just get new game-improvement. I am pretty good with my irons and i can strike the ball pretty well. If i do have a problem with my irons is that i may tend to aim a little more left than normal but that doesnt have anything to do with how i am hitting the ball. If i need to, i can play a big hook or a big fade but getting the baby draw or baby fade i cant do mostly because they are game improvement and are more forgiving. Am i ready for players irons?

Sounds as though you need to concentrate on your driver, before new clubs. the rocketbladz head is fine, but the 85g shafts may not be ideal. The rocketbladz shoulda be fine for ...excuse the generalization but for handicaps 10-18. Get that ball in the fairway first, consistently......then look at irons with alittle less offset, less sole and a heavier shaft 90-100 grams

**AmazingWhacker** · November 11, 2014

I don't buy the whole "You can't work the ball with GI clubs" thing. In my experience, it just isn't true. My favorite irons are my ~2004 Callaway Big Berthas. They are definitely game improvement irons. I have no problem drawing the ball a little or a lot . . I don't do fades but that's not because of the clubs. Think about it - if you can come massively from the inside and make a big hook, you can come less from the inside and make a baby draw. I'm not saying you wont like players irons better or that you shouldn't try them - but in my opinion/experience, they don't really help in working the ball vs a GI iron.

I read that they give you better control over trajectory . .that may true . .but I don't have the skill/experience to vet that out. I have no control over my trajectory.

**Shorty** · November 12, 2014

I don't buy the whole "You can't work the ball with GI clubs" thing.

It's not a theory that holds any water at all. It is a myth. A lie. A conceit invented by people who don't know what they are talking about, but want you to know that they "work" the ball.

You can slice or hook or cut, fade, or draw the ball with any iron under the sun.

**Hammer 4** · November 12, 2014

The only way to really tell if you are "ready" is to go to a Golfsmith or other retailer that has a simulator and take a direct comparison. Hit all the clubs against your current ones and find which works best, then use those if they're within your budget (or if they're your own clubs even).

A couple recommendations to try out while you're searching by brand:

Titleist
- AP1 (they're not marketed as player's irons, but I've heard good things)
- AP2 (I hit them, but not very well. Titleist irons never fit me)
- CB or MB/CB combo set (the blades are pretty and feel great, but don't get them if you ever hit the ball thin)

Mizuno
- MP 59/15 (I loved the MP 59's, but didn't buy them because of the feel on a slightly thin shot and I couldn't test in a KBS)
- MP 64 (These are more blade-ish, but really aren't that hard to hit. A different feel for sure, equivalent to the Titleist CB's)
- MP 69/4 (If you're feeling ambitious go for these. Beautiful on well-struck shots, but the look can be intimidating to less than exceptional ballstrikers)
- MP 54 (One of Colorado's top high school players uses a combo mp 64/54 set, so they obviously work well. I haven't hit them myself, but I know that player likes them in the long irons)

Ping
- i25 (These are the continuation of the popular i series irons. I used to have the old eye 2's, and these irons are very similar but much more forgiving)
- s55 (Don't let Ping's "Tour" categorization scare you away. I found these just as easy to hit as the i25's with better feel and looks. I am biased towards these because I have them)
- Anser (If forged is a must for you, they have these as an option similar to the i25's crossed with the g25's)

Callaway
- Apex Pro (I nearly bought these the instant I hit them. I loved the feel on them and dispersion, along with the stock shaft, and the mishits don't hurt like some others)
- Apex (Similar design with a little more forgiveness. Still feels excellent)
- MB (I felt very ambivalent about these. They had the downfalls of a blade in the painful mishits, but they didn't have as nice a feel or performance as the Apex Pros for me)

Nike
- VR combo set (Should be selling at a discount with their recent release. I hit them but didn't find anything special for me about them)
- Vapor (I haven't hit these, but I am a fan of the lime green. Multiple models to look at as well)

Taylormade
- Rocketbladez Pro (I played with a couple people who had these, they seemed to like them. They did go quite far, but never hit them myself)
- Speedblade (I hit these a couple time for fun since they're the rentals at my home course. Didn't feel all that great to me)
- RSi irons (There's now another two pockets, Taylormade has a thing for those, to help with toe and heel misses. Never hit them)
- TP CB, MC, or MB's (I hit the MC's at a demo day, and thin shots spun like you wouldn't believe. Nothing else stood out that I can remember, except that they went a lot further due to lofts. I haven't hit the MB's or CB's before, but the MB's do look nice)

I won't list anything from Adams or Cleveland just because I don't know enough about their clubs to really provide anything of use about them.

The most important part of it all though is to get fit. Don't just buy something stock off the rack, because you'll end up playing better and more consistently with ones that are fit. Don't forget to try multiple shafts until you find what works best for you (KBS Tour x-stiff is the top performer for me, but some love the DG series and other prefer Project X). Go into the fitting and try all the irons, but don't get stuck on the idea that you "need" players irons. Use whatever works best for you and be honest about your ballstriking abilities so that you don't make an expensive mistake that you will regret.

What I did that I would recommend is I took pictures of the dispersion and numbers for each club I hit. Whenever I think back and wonder, "Did I make the right choice?" I can always look at the pictures and reassure myself that I have the best clubs on the market. It also helps to take the pictures home afterwords, once the "magic" of any particular club has worn off and look at the numbers to see what clubs work the best for you. For me two clubs performed equally (the MP-59 and the s55 were nearly identical) so I then went back and bought based on feel. I would suggest you do something similar to allow for a bit of feel/looks based input while still getting the best clubs for you.

All good advice, but the above should be taken very seriously. Great advice Pretzel

SandCastle · November 12, 2014

How much of a difference do shafts make? Maybe instead of getting all new irons i could maybe get new shafts in my irons

**Pretzel** · November 12, 2014

How much of a difference do shafts make? Maybe instead of getting all new irons i could maybe get new shafts in my irons

Shafts make a huge difference if your old ones don't match your swing well, and they were the first step I took (before I started to severely wear the grooves on certain irons). I went from playing with TT GS 95 shafts (a lighter weight shaft that really didn't fit me for a number of reasons) to the KBS tour shafts (which are the best fit for my swing I've found) and found a decrease of 10-15% in dispersion from that change alone. I personally can't hit the Dynamic Gold shafts very well at all, but I hit the KBS and Project X ones much better (with the KBS edging the Project X out by a little, that was mostly a personal feel decision).

If your clubheads are still in good shape I can't think of a reason not to at least test out different shaft options and install the best performer into your clubs (test them all in the same demo clubhead, to compare apples to apples). At the very least you can pull the shafts and put them in your new irons if you do decide to buy new ones, and then sell the stock shafts that came with the irons.

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