Am I an Idiot: Or Should a High Handicaper Even Consider Mizuno MP-60s?

[worst_shot_ever]

So, I am on the beginning of what I hope will prove to be a rapid improvement in my game. I am not really a "high" handicapper so much as a no-handicapper -- I don't have enough 18-hole course scores to compute, but if I did, I assure you my index would exceed the USGA handicap ceiling.

That said, I am coming off a long break from golf. I am athletic and am voraciously reading the swing literature, watching the pros, and practicing as much as I can manage. I feel fairly confident I can break through the 90s this year. For the sake of this argument, let us just take that proposition as true.

I play currently on a set of 16+ year-old Cleveland 792 VAS irons that bug me. They have a funky offset, the shafts are too stiff, and I don't like the way they feel in the hand. Frankly, I've never loved them since the day in the summer of 1991 (or maybe 1992) when a friend who worked for Rossignol got me a deal on them. It is time to move onward and upward.

Here's the second premise: disposable cash is limited; that is, I am not interested in forking out multiple hundreds of dollars to replace clubs only to replace them again a few years down the road. I want some keepers.

Given these "facts," here's the question: is it insane for me to be considering MP-60s? I figure I might as well get the best; if I achieve my goal of rapidly improving to a reasonable mid-handicap status, I will appreciate them even more; and perhaps they will help move from mid- to low quicker once I get there. But of course I do not want to impede that progress by overshooting the mark on the equipment.

I plan to seek to find a place around town where I can demo a set of these and some of the more popular game-improvement clubs at the same time for comparison's sake, but I am curious what the people in the know really think about the supposed punitive nature of forged irons of this caliber for the simple reason that there is some exigency here -- I may have stumbled upon a good deal on a set of left-handed MP-60s, and I'd like to snatch them up if I can while the price is right. So, in short, I guess I'm looking for someone to provide the necessary validation for my self-delusion that I really ought to buy these bad boys. Any takers? Or is this just plain stupid?

[Dent]

I think instead of trying the 60's, give yourself a different question:

"Should I try the 57's?"

They are almost identical, with the 57's being a little more forgiving. I tried the 60's the other day and Didn't find them that different to the irons I play now.

Getting a more advanced iron gives you a ton of improvement room if you continue to play the game for a long time. In the long run you save money, and your game can't beat out these irons, only way you'd be even tempted to get rid of these is if some amazing technology comes out in the next year that kicks mizunos ass.

Tougher irons help with ball striking.

[tbirdscbrad]

I got some hand me downs that just didnt feel right but I was starting out so I didnt want to spend money if I didnt like it but they never felt right and thought it was just me. A buddy gave me his dads old set and they are great both are good brands but mentaly I think the other set buged me.
You could always try out a bunch of sets and find the one that feels the best mentaly

[onthehunt526]

why don't you try the MP-30s They are forged cavity more forgiving, but you can work the ball...

If I was a high handicapper, I would play something from the MX line however.

[scooterguitar]

I too am a high hdc. I played the MX series and recently switched to the 57's. Was going to snag the 60's, but the 57's are more forgiving. If oyu can, go for the 57's, but if your confident you'll dig them, go for it. Can always sell them!

[DJYoshi]

i'm going against the grain on this one. if your swing's consistent and you have ball striking skills...and the club feels right in your hands and when you hit the ball..then buy them and play them. I was around a 20 hc when I switched to the mp-60's last year.. with enough play, I got a swing down that was comfortable and consistent enough for me to drop to a 12.9. fast forward to 18 months into me playing this crazy game and I'm a 9.4. Just know that when you mishit, you'll know when you did. they can sting..especially on a cold day

[kafka01]

I bought my MP-67 (they are not so much different than the MP60s) after 3 months into my "golfing career". I´m not advising againt it, but as DJYoshi already said, and i expierenced that first hand - YOU WILL HURT YOURSELF - your wrists will be sore, on cold days if you mishit balls (especially thin) your hand palms get a nice slap and if you tend to hit fat shots you might get problems in your left arm/shoulder - if you are okay with taking the pain, then go with them, if not go with something that doesnt sting that much when you mishit balls.

[LottaBalata]

To the threadstarter. . .just curious, have you demo'd any of the Mizuno clubs at all?

I mean, they're a great manufacturer. But when I hit a couple Mizuno irons (couldn't even tell you what set), I just didn't like the feel or the look.

That's why I always suggest hitting as many as you can before you buy.

Hell, maybe you'll end up with a set of Wilsons or Macgregors. . .maybe a set of Nickents.

Just making a point, hope you demo!

[Eore]

if you like the clubs go for them/

but whats wrong with getting some cavity back irons? if you work down to a mid handicap, cavity backs like the ones i have are still great irons. you can work them decently, and they are forgiving

[worst_shot_ever]

All -- thanks for the tips.

DJ Yoshi -- I like the way you think!

Kafka and Eore -- both fair questions. I have not demo'd them. I have played some rental Callaways, both the '04 BBs and the X-18s, and liked them both ... the X-18s more than the Berthas. There's lots of others I'd like to try as well ...Titleist, Ping, Nike, Adams, etc. But I've heard so much good about the "buttery" feel of the forged Mizunos that when this offer for a relatively cheap used set came along it sounded too good to pass up, assuming it's not a total mis-club for me, and thus my question to the field. That said, I of all people should know that there's no point in buying clubs on the cheap if I'm not going to like them -- that's exactly what I did with my current set all those years ago. On the other hand, I guess I could also just buy them and flip them if I don't like 'em, as ScooterGuitar suggested.

[GaijinGolfer]

I wouldnt be the least bit shy to buy the MP-60s if thats what you want. They are a club that you can grow into over time as you skills develop.
Personally, Id go with an offseat cavity-back until you get your handicap below 20, but if you have your heart set on MP-60s, I say go for it.
Just know that they are clubs that are designed for a skilled player, so learning to hit them might be a very frustrating experience.

[steve8820]

Since you are playing with 16+ year old clubs definitely buy a new set. However, go with something more forgiving. The 60's might be too much of a stretch at this point. A friend of mine plays the MP-57's and those are hard enough for him to hit. He shoots in the low 80's. Take a look at something in the "game improvement" category. Don't make this game any harder than it already is..........

[Stacey_E]

I went from a 22 handicap with a very weak iron game playing the venerable X12's (which I liked) to a 14.5 with "player's irons" Cleveland CG2s in 6 months. I'm not endorsing any particular club, but with a players iron I have improved my iron play and thus my handicap. I get all kinds of flack about my irons, and how nobody should hit them but scratch golfers. But most of this comes from guys I end up beating anyway. They usually hit long and high, I hit straight.

Sure I hit fat shots, topped shots, etc., but I can close my eyes post impact and tell you exactly where the ball will end up. I'm a firm believer that players irons are the only "game improvement irons". The big club companies would hate me!

[GaijinGolfer]

I went from a 22 handicap with a very weak iron game playing the venerable X12's (which I liked) to a 14.5 with "player's irons" Cleveland CG2s in 6 months. I'm not endorsing any particular club, but with a players iron I have improved my iron play and thus my handicap. I get all kinds of flack about my irons, and how nobody should hit them but scratch golfers. But most of this comes from guys I end up beating anyway. They usually hit long and high, I hit straight.

Amen to that. Buy what you like, regardless of what other people think.

[phil.smith]

I went from the Callaway X12's to Titleist 690 CB's (S300 DG shafts) purely because as a relative beginner I wanted to groove a consistent swing. The X12's were great - a miss hit went nearly the same distance but that was never going to help me develop a consistent, repeatable swing. I have dropped 6 shots since then (from 16 to 10). Game improvement from my perspective is as much between the ears as in the hands. I recently bought the Titleist AP2's - they lasted 6 rounds before going back as I found out I am not a fan of ProjectX shafts no matter how many times I demo'd them. They are getting traded for MP57's. I think its about helping focus on what you're about to do, and having something that delivers on performance, aesthetics and function should do that.

[RX Phoenix]

In some cases blades will help a player goove their swing and improve, and in other cases their will be frustration over the lack of forgiveness, it all depends on the player and their upside.

If you feel you have the capacity to play the game very well then go for it, but if you don't get out very often get a more forgiving iron.

If you play a lot of different courses with different conditions, go for the more forgiving iron, but if you have a home course you play all the time, then blades could be a good choice.

Workability? . . . the best way to work the ball is to get consistent yardage, blades if mishit a bit will give you a problem with that.

[bobsuruncle]

have you considered making a set of irons? if you are looking at forged irons, golfworks is having a sale of the maltby M-05 (3-PW) heads for $125. get properly fitted, and you may be quite happy to use this set till you get down to a single digit hcap. you could use the couple hundred $ saved from a branded set to get some lessons too. whichever way you go, happy hunting. i believe that deciding on a set of irons/equipment is part of the fun of the game of golf.

[fusioncal]

Given these "facts," here's the question: is it insane for me to be considering MP-60s?

Totally insane

I've got a story here. There's this guy I used to know who only just started to play golf. Do you know what he bought as his first set? A brand new set of Mizuno MP-67. I don't think I should explain how he progressed in the end. You know from my standpoint I see similarity between golf and stairs. Before you reach the highest steps, you need to step on the lowest ones first to the highest until you can't anymore. Try skipping the first steps and reach the fifth steps right away for example. What would you get yourself into? Your legs are spread so wide you can't even move and making no progress at all. You're just stuck there. The same goes with golf. I agree tougher irons are good as they offer wider room to learn. However, you need to be realistic with yourself and know where you're standing at. I'm not saying you will never be able to hit MP-60, but understanding your story there I honestly believe the answer is "not yet." You also mentioned that you're athletic build, which is a plus for building a solid golf swing. One thing I'd like to ask is whether or not you're going to be committed into golf. If you're not then MP-60 isn't a very good choice. If you are go ahead get them, but not now. What you need to do, IMO is to build a solid and consistent swing first also proper swing fundamentals. The good thing is you don't need fancy irons to achieve that. Your good old ones would do. Once you got that, you could pretty much use any kind of irons and MP-60 would fit nicely. Second of all, the new MP-52 and MP-62 are coming this fall, supposedly. They *should* drive MP-60 prices down, thus you'll save more money. So those are my recommendations, but of course you could just ignore me and get MP-60 right away. Anyway, I wish you good luck and hope that helps.