Mixing Old and New

[Esox]

I currently play some old Mizuno MX20's W/ DG R300 that I love. At least from the 7 iron down. With the 8 iron in my hand (155 yards) down through my 58 degree lob wedge, I seldom miss a green., and 120 in I can usually stick it inside 10' if it is a green light pin. The issue arises with the mid and long irons. I am struggling with the 3-6 irons, not so much off the tee as off the turf. Picked up a a 3 and 4 hybrid and despite them offending my eye and bruising my ego, we are getting along on occasion.. I recently played with a buddy who has the JPX  921 HM's, and we hit a lot of balls on a practically empty course. I was hitting his 4 iron very well, and the mid irons are rockets. Didn't care for the short irons, they don't spin worth a toot, even getting a TP5 or Pro V1 to stop on a receptive green is iffy. I am seriously considering changing my set make up to keeping the MX20's & Vokeys up to 7 iron (If it aint broke, don't fix it) then carry the HM 4-7. The 7 seems to be the perfect place to combine the sets and carry Two 7 irons as my MX20 6 iron has 29 degrees of loft, the same as the Hot Metal 7 iron.. The HM 7 iron is but .25" shorter than my MX20 6.  I can't think of any drawbacks to this other than that I haven't carried a cast iron, ever, and had a bit of trouble calling where I hit the ball on the HM's face. Does anyone have any insight into this as to why it would or wouldn't work? My buddy is back out of town so further real world testing to see how they actually gap cant happen till June. Thanks

[TourSpoon]

Google Bernhard Langer WITB 2020.  Seriously, the guy has a garage sale going on in his bag and I believe did pretty well in Augusta last year. 

As long as you score, the ball doesn't care what club hits it. Know your gapping and all is well. 

[ncates00]

1 hour ago, Esox said:

120 in I can usually stick it inside 10' if it is a green light pin.

Well, you're way better than the leader on Tour then. Even from 100 to 125, the leader averages 12'2".

 

1 hour ago, Esox said:

bruising my ego

I don't know why using hybrids would bruise your ego. Great players who actually make money playing this game use hybrids. Lydia Ko only has 145 mph of driver ball speed uses hybrids and shot a 62 in the final round of a major on a course of just over 6,700 yards. Yet, she got paid to play the game while the rest of us work a regular job. Hybrids are your friend.

 

1 hour ago, Esox said:

I am struggling with the 3-6 irons, not so much off the tee as off the turf.

You should get to the bottom of the struggle. Getting new clubs isn't going to be a magic fix for hitting these clubs off the turf, except for maybe replacing your 3 and 4; hybrids are the way to go there due to the forgiveness and steeper descent angle to hold greens. But as to a 5, 6, or 7? Getting new clubs isn't going to make you play better; those aren't that much harder to hit than 8i. Figure out the struggle and fix that. Sounds like you're having issues with your low point given the fact that you say the problem is off the turf but not on a tee. For what it's worth, my go-to feeling for approach shots is to feel the "whoosh" of the club head and striking the ground at the same time after the ball. Combining the "whoosh" and hitting the ground after the ball gets me to have a downward, ball-first blow through the ball, and with speed as well. 

However, if you are dead set on getting new clubs to remedy your ball-striking (good luck), then try the clubs out on a good launch monitor and compare your results. You need to make sure your gaps are where you need them.

1 hour ago, Esox said:

actually gap cant happen till June.

Might have to wait until that time then. Fix your ball-striking in the meantime. 🙂 

[Esox]

43 minutes ago, ncates00 said:

Well, you're way better than the leader on Tour then. Even from 100 to 125, the leader averages 12'2".

 

 

I am sure the greens they are hitting to are much faster and firmer and more undulating, and their idea of which pins are "OK" to attack  is a lot different than mine!

Edited April 6, 2021 by Esox

[Vinsk]

36 minutes ago, Esox said:

I am sure the greens they are hitting to are much faster and firmer and more undulating, and their idea of which pins are "OK" to attack  is a lot different than mine!

We’re not trying to be snobby here...but that’s not where @ncates00 was going with this....😉

[ncates00]

36 minutes ago, Esox said:

I am sure the greens they are hitting to are much faster and firmer and more undulating, and their idea of which pins are "OK" to attack  is a lot different than mine!

Perhaps, but folks who hit it inside of 10’ every time they get a green light from 120 yards are not the kind of folks looking to make an equipment change to fix their struggles with approach shots with 7i and up. Players who hit it close like that don’t struggle like that, and if they do have an issue, they know it’s technique-related. 
 

But again, I would test things out on a launch monitor before making a decision. Wait until June if need be. In the meantime, see if you can figure out your striking. 

[iacas]

11 hours ago, Esox said:

and 120 in I can usually stick it inside 10' if it is a green light pin.

I'll take that bet. No you can't.

I have a topic for you:

 

An oldie but a goodie.