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

[SiamGolfer]

Just try some different ones out first and whatever feels the most comfortable. A decent set of full cavity-backs would last you for a long time, even if/when your handicap starts declining

On the Mp-60s though, I use these irons (and think they are great), but some of my friends (higher handicappers) who have tried them, did not get on with them at all ... just a thought ..

[titaniummd]

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?

Before any heavy thinking, you should try to hit them/demo them 1st. You may find that they don't work for you.

Falls Road Golf Course in Potomac fits people for Mizuno Irons. You can try whatever Mizunos that they carry but call 1st to see what they have. I am a high handicap player but I feel very comfortable with the MX line, personally. The only reason I got the MX-900s is that they were cheaper than the other MXs since the MX-950 was released.

[N.V.M.]

MP-60's are down in price now. less than $600 in most stores around here.

[Island Par]

To kinda sum up what most are saying:

1) Mizunos - great clubs but demo as many models as you can try the MP 30, 57, the 60 and 67 to get to know which of them would be suited for you, try also the MX lines (19, 25, 900, 950) which suited for high handicappers then compare then decide.

2) If you find that these dont work then work on the other brands too.

Its not insane that you would consider the MP 60, but what would be insane is to not actually demo it (and others) before making the decision to get them. I was insane once decided to buy, without demoing, a strong 3 wood because it looks good and "real men hit 13* 3 woods" and i wound up frustrated and sold it. Don't let that hapen to you.

But I'll tell you one thing....NOTHING BEATS THE FEEL OF A FORGED IRON!

[ks8829]

I would go on ebay and find a good set of clubs for under $150. Mizuno makes a forged oversize set call the Comp Ez that you can pick up with shipping for about $150 or less.

[KW2]

I am in the same boat as you and tried the MX-25s and the MP series of clubs. I am new to the game but I play 1 a week and go to the range 1-2 times a week trying to improve. I am a high handicapper right now but taking lessons and getting better every week.

I tried all types of clubs and finally settled in on the AP1s Titleist just came out with. The main reason I went with them was feel and forgiveness. Plus I knew I would have plenty of room to grow into them. I found the Mizzies a little to hard to hit well consistenly for me, but I started out wanting a set because they were very good looking at address.

I would say whatever you do go out and hit every set that you can think of and then chose and be sure to get fitted for them. The AP1s were the last club I demoed and I did not plan on buying them at all when I first started. I thought I would end up with the Ping G-10s or the Mizzies.

Have fun.

[N.V.M.]

i started a thread a week or so ago,'Clubs too good". i was pondering buying a nice set of blades(Mizuno's) but i stumbled on an awesome deal and got some Ping i5's. being stainless, they can be cleaned up to look like new(great for resale purposes), they hit awesome, and shot my first round in the 70's(78).

[SiamGolfer]

.. but i stumbled on an awesome deal and got some Ping i5's. being stainless, they can be cleaned up to look like new(great for resale purposes), they hit awesome, and shot my first round in the 70's(78).

You should not necessarily worry about your scores when playing with a certain set of irons (ie. you could be 'in-the-zone' on that one one time) but concentrate on the 'feel' and confidence with the clubs. ie. i have not beaten the score the poster above stated (78) but i only play off 'tips' every week on a course index 73.4 and slope 135, but i regurlarly shoot mid/low 80's with MP-60s. For me, the 'feel' is more important.

[DJYoshi]

i have not beaten the score the poster above stated (78) but i only play off 'tips' every week on a course index 73.4 and slope 135, but i regurlarly shoot mid/low 80's with MP-60s. For me, the 'feel' is more important.

that's a NASTY ass course then! what's the name of it? I'd love to see what it looks like. The hardest course I've played was like 72.9 and 133

[kafka01]

I'm a firm believer that players irons are the only "game improvement irons". The big club companies would hate me!

I agree on that too - but if you take on this journey you need to have a lot of time to practice and should be capable of knowing how to deal with a good amount of frustration. You cant imagine how often i was so frustrated with my irons, that i just wanted to go to the pro-shop buying me some easy game improvement clubs.

Somebody mentioned workabilty as an issue. Let me tell you a story about that - yesterday i was standing on the range and i overheard a conversation between our pro and a girl with +0.5 (age 14) - she plays Taylormade Burner XD - some really boring easy to hit clubs - and she complained about not beeing able to hook/slice the ball on purpose. So she tried some shots and her ballflight looked terrible - as she never done it before - she just couldnt work the ball. So i thought to myself, why on earth do i - as a 9hcp even worry about working the ball (actually i can do this better than what i saw since i practice stuff like this) when she got to +hcp without knowing about this stuff. So i think workability is just not an issue that should bother when we look at buying clubs.

[catfell]

I was in a very similar position about two years ago.

I played a bit of golf when I was in my teens, but "retired" sometime before college. I did not understand the game very well, but I managed a reasonable swing with my shorter irons.

My dear old next door neighbor, who always lent me his clubs to play, passed away and left me his clubs. 1948 Macgregor blades, and Wilson woods made of real wood.

I fell in love with golf about three years ago (I'm in my late 30's), and just played with my ancient blades for about a year, and decided it was time to get clubs from this century.

From obsessive online research (which is how I found thesandtrap.com) and magazine reading, I figured a progressive set (long irons=cavity backs through short irons=blades) would be the answer for me. With my old irons, I had no trouble with my short irons, but my 2-4 irons were very very unforgiving and hurt a lot when I made my usual mis-hit.

I tried some cavity backs and found them easy to hit, but there was no feeling of how I hit the ball. And I missed the reward of a well struck shot.

I went to Myrtle Beach (visiting the in-laws) and tried every club that I could get my hands on at the local mega-stores.

From my research I was sure that the Titleist 735's would be exactly what the doctor ordered. But when I tried them out, they were much harsher than I expected, and was very disappointed that the reality was not as good as the fantasy. I happened to also try a Mizuno MP-60 and really liked the feeling of the club. I was hitting into nets, so I had no real way of telling what kind of ball flight I was getting, but boy did they feel good.

Long story short, I found some barely used MP-60's on craigslist for $300 with the shafts I needed for my swingspeed, and I'm very happy with my clubs.

If you go for some kind of blade, make sure you like the feel. But it's going to take a lot of practice to get the buttery feeling on a regular basis.

If you're less patient (no judgement here, we are talking about a game right?) and are more interested in keeping the ball straight without as much practice, something more cavity backed might be a better club to buy.

But there is no "best" club to buy for your future self. Find something used that you like now, and so you don't hate what you're swinging. Why use a club that does not bring you pleasure, whether it be from a straight ball or the great feeling of hitting the sweet spot?

As for used clubs, my regular playing partner who shoots in the low 80's kicks my butt with some irons from the latter half of the 20th century, so the gear is only going to get you so far.

Good luck with your search.

[nasabogey24]

All things are relative my friend.

[Ghetto P]

That's nothing. My usual course is Gold: 73.6/141 www.quailcreekgolfclub.com

[worst_shot_ever]

I wanted to post a quick update and again thank those of you who were kind enough to offer advice. The MP-60 deal fell through, but I picked up a nice set of used MX-23s -- see the new siggy. I think I got a pretty good deal. After I put a few rounds on them I'll report back and let you know if I'm an idiot or not.