Lie and Loft Adjustment Made Huge Difference!

[Golfnut15]

So I have been toying with the idea of getting new clubs off and on for about a year or so.  I do play with my current set that are Wilson Superpower Irons, probablly from the 70's, but I love...love...love the old smaller clubheads for irons ( I use modern-ish driver, 3 wood and 5 wood).  Long story short, I go to second swing to look around, and hit some balls with different clubs and one of the clubmakers there spent some time with me making small talk ( i was cool with this as I will chat with anyone) and anaylzed the data from my session.  So I tell him that I really dont want to spend alot of money on new clubs, as I love the old ones I have, but the issue is that they do not go very far (but I am accurate and comfortable with them).  For example, I hit the 7 iron around 130 ish with the old irons, and tried a few new ones, and hit the 7 around 160.  He told me with my swing speed (around 91 ish) I should be hitting current 7 irons around 170, which sounds insane to me.  Anyway, he informs me that they can adjust the lie according to my swing, which he did, as well as the loft, which he adjusted by a few degrees.  So major difference, as I hit 1970's 7 iron that I love about 155 - 160 ish, and hit every shot after his small adjustment really well.  So to anyone out there in the same boat as me, definitely go to a pro shop (I went to Second Swing in Delaware) and ask about this.  I did not get fitted, but he showed me how to analyze the data that came up for me on Trackman (way cool!!).  After he told me they can bend clubs real quick and it only costs about 10 bucks per club, which is far cheaper for me than spending on new clubs, and also allows me to continue to play my REALLY old irons.  Found that when I hit the newer clubs, it was basically just a 6 iron loft on a 7 iron, which I had no idea about until I started really researching this.  Anyway, again, definitely look into adjusting the lie and lofts if you can and you get to keep your irons and save some cash!!  So glad I stumbled upon this option.

[Vinsk]

17 minutes ago, Golfnut15 said:

ound that when I hit the newer clubs, it was basically just a 6 iron loft on a 7 iron,

Welcome to TST. First, please use paragraph breaks. It makes for a much easier read on the eyes😉. Second ..there’s a lot more to new irons than just putting a 6i loft on a 7i. If that’s what you read, you were reading some poor information. The COR, MOI and other parameters have been well researched with today’s technology. We still expect a 7i to behave like a 7i and to preserve proper gaps in our irons. With the new technology a 7i may have to have the loft of an older model 6i in order for it to maintain the expected trajectory. 

New irons are designed to get the ball in the air easier. So if a 7i were to have the same loft of a 7i of old...you’d have a 7i that hits as high as an 8i or 9i. So it’s not slapping a 6i loft on a 7i...it’s slapping a new 7i loft with the new performance parameters in mind.

[Typhoon92]

Another watch out when adjusting loft is you are affecting the bounce or the way the club reacts to the ground.  Too much of an adjustment and you could find yourself digging or the opposite.  

A lie adjustment is always a good thing.  Just be sure to be actually hitting balls when they make the adjustment, not doing a static lie fitting off your height and arm length.

[70sSanO]

Congrats on getting your irons setup for you.  I think it is great to be able to play those old Wilson irons well.

The good news is Wilson has really stepped up over the past 10 years or so, so if you want to stay with Wilson they do make some nice clubs.  Their FG series might be a modern equivalent.

For now keep hitting what you’ve got,

John

[Golfnut15]

On 9/13/2019 at 5:20 PM, 70sSanO said:

Congrats on getting your irons setup for you.  I think it is great to be able to play those old Wilson irons well.

The good news is Wilson has really stepped up over the past 10 years or so, so if you want to stay with Wilson they do make some nice clubs.  Their FG series might be a modern equivalent.

For now keep hitting what you’ve got,

John

Thanks John, I was thinking the same thing.  I also found a Wilson 3 wood at Play it Again Sports (Deep Red 3 Wood), for 15 bucks.  I dont know why, but I really like Wilsons.  I tried all the big names, and other than Titleist, which I would end up paying a fortune for, the Wilsons just fit me well for whatever reason.  I have seen some of the new models for Wilson, and I am thinking of getting new set after the holidays.  Weird thing though.  I have 90's era set of Golfsmith Jetstreams irons and they are pretty decent, but I tried the vintage blades (Wilsons I got off ebay for 30 bucks!!) and ever since I started with them I have shot an 80 - 81 - 80 - 81, as I am usually in mid to low 80's.  Had it not been for 2 or 3 holes I butcher up for some reason, haha, I would have been in the 70's which I have not been since I was in my 20's (45 now).  Anyway, thanks for the heads up with Wilson, have a good one!

 

[NHpro]

Great!

I recently adjusted my lofts 3 degrees strong on my old set of Golfsmith Tour Model IV irons from the late 80's.

The old loft angles were outdated so with this change, the irons are on a much better trajectory now.

 

 

[Double Mocha Man]

19 minutes ago, NHpro said:

Great!

I recently adjusted my lofts 3 degrees strong on my old set of Golfsmith Tour Model IV irons from the late 80's.

The old loft angles were outdated so with this change, the irons are on a much better trajectory now.

 

 

Better trajectory meaning lower trajectory?

[NHpro]

16 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Better trajectory meaning lower trajectory?

Yes lower.