Game Improvement vs. Players' Irons

[MCFung]

Hey gang,

So my question is, when did you decide you were ready to upgrade from Game Improvement irons to Players' Irons? Lately I've started to work the ball a little more, but I am not a pro at it by any stretch. I know the clubs are supposed to help you with that. Am I going to lose distance by switching to thes types of irons? Any advice would be great.

Thanks!

Mark

[tonyy]

By switching to more of a "player's" club, it'll be a lot less forgiving that GI irons. Therefore, your first few rounds may be a little shaky. You won't hit the sweetspot as much yielding less distance, miss hits, and so forth.

You'll be better in the long run though as you'll become a better ball striker.

[scooterguitar]

Maybe I can add some insight for ya...
I got back into the game after 7 years off, best I ever shot back then was low 90's.
This year I bought or tried every darn GI out there I think! Nothing helped. I swallowed my ego and got a lesson. He worked with me for two hours, fixed like 8 little things I have done wrong since I began. Instantly I was hitting my irons! Wow!

I thought it was a fluke for a few days, but sure enough my irons are pretty decent on most days. So I then decided I wanted to "know" when I was hitting the ball well or not. I got player's irons (MP 57) and love them. Instant feedback on where you hit and a general idea of how far it is going ot go, etc. Player's irons have gretaly helped me with my swing. Sure it can sting a wee bit when I mishit or I lose distance, etc on poor hits, but they truly aren't as hard to hit as you would assume.

I now am looking for a 2nd set of irons, thought maybe get some GI irons for that set, tried a few (the big names) and just hate them these days. So it will be a set of blades once again.

Everyone says it, but go get a lesson or two and see how much that helps your game. If you dig player's irons, buy them is all I can say. They help me from reverting back to old habits. SO instead of going a full round with a mediocre swing, the blades/musclebacks quickly remind me and get me swinging much better within a few shots, usually it only takes one poor swing.
Good luck.

[GaijinGolfer]

For me, I really didnt know I was ready. I had played the game for a couple years and wanted to move up from my $200 set of Wal-Mart clubs to a set of name-brand clubs.
If you are hitting your GI irons pretty straight, then Id say you are ready to move up to a set of player's irons.
Your first couple of rounds with them are going to be a little shakey because it takes a little time to get used to a new set of clubs, but once you used to swinging them, they will give you much more feedback on whether or not you are hitting the ball solidly.
You may find that you need to adjust some aspects of your swing that are flawed in order to hit those clubs well, but you will definetly know when you arent swinging the club well.

[goblue107501]

So my question is, when did you decide you were ready to upgrade from Game Improvement irons to Players' Irons?

If you are able to hit the ball on the sweet spot of a club the vast majority of the time then you can probably at least give them a try. If you still struggle a lot of the time making solid contact then it might not be a good idea. Another theory is who cares? There is no magic score or 7-iron distance that qualifies you for different clubs. If you want players irons go get some. You'll probably struggle a bit at first, but if you feel comfortable with that then go for it.

Am I going to lose distance by switching to thes types of irons?

More than likely yes, but not why you might think. If you look at the standard lofts for the Mizuno MX-25 (a GI iron) they are one degree stronger (6-PW) than the MP-57 and two degrees stronger than the MP-67 (both players irons). I don't have specifics for every iron made, but most are similar to this. That is where some of the extra distance comes from. However, making solid contact in the center of the clubface will eliminate some of the loft difference. Plus, if you can hit an MP-57/67 in the center of the clubface regularly, then you have a decent swing. If you have a decent enough swing the distance will be there because of that, not because of the loft.

[odstore]

More than likely yes, but not why you might think. If you look at the standard lofts for the Mizuno MX-25 (a GI iron) they are one degree stronger (6-PW) than the MP-57 and two degrees stronger than the MP-67 (both players irons). I don't have specifics for every iron made, but most are similar to this. That is where some of the extra distance comes from. However, making solid contact in the center of the clubface will eliminate some of the loft difference. Plus, if you can hit an MP-57/67 in the center of the clubface regularly, then you have a decent swing. If you have a decent enough swing the distance will be there because of that, not because of the loft.

If you get forged irons the lofts can be changed to what you want very easily so that wouldn't be my concern. "Players" irons are going to have a much smaller sweet spot so off center hits will cause a significant loss in distance. I would switch if you feel like your irons aren't letting you hit shots that you feel like you are capable of hitting and want to be able to hit.

[Stacey_E]

I switched to players irons when I realized most GI irons swing lighter than players irons. I was having to put a lot of lead tape on my GI irons to feel the clubhead and not get too quick. This was only after I got my swing speed up a little.

I'd say wait till you are a 15 or better, but each person is different. I was an unofficial 20 or so when I switched to players' about 6 months ago. This Friday I'll be down to a 13.6. Irons were the weakest part of my game. Now it is one of the strongest. I am just more consistant and straighter with my irons now. There is a learning curve and If you don't want to spend hours on end at the range, maybe not the best idea. But I am very stubborn and just love the look of most player's irons.

[whip_it_out]

The thing that threw me off the most, was that the head is significantly lighter than GI's, but the shaft is hevier to compensate. They weigh the same, but the placement is different.

the biggest difference? Chipping. SO much more feel than GI's. You can actually feel the ball coming off the face.

[Dub]

Oh how I'd love to make the jump....but the sad truth is that I don't hit the sweet spot of my irons near often enough to warrant the move.

I guess it's a personal thing.

[joshtpa]

I really believe that most people that play "players irons" would be vastly helped if they played game improvement clubs. I listened to Corey Pavin last night and he spoke about the balls being used today and how it is made to "fly straight and not be worked". He went on to say that of course you can still work the golf ball, but it isnt the same as it was years ago. More and more pros are using the the game improvement irons as well. They have come a long way.

[Saleen]

[QUOTE=scooterguitar;191880]
I thought it was a fluke for a few days, but sure enough my irons are pretty decent on most days. So I then decided I wanted to "know" when I was hitting the ball well or not. I got player's irons (MP 57) and love them. Instant feedback on where you hit and a general idea of how far it is going ot go, etc. Player's irons have gretaly helped me with my swing. Sure it can sting a wee bit when I mishit or I lose distance, etc on poor hits, but they truly aren't as hard to hit as you would assume.

I just bought a set of MP 57's as well. I think they are the perfect in between from a blade to GI irons. i was coming off DCI's and these seem more forgiving. I did lose some yardage at first, but now it is slowly coming back.

In my opinion, I good cavity back player type iron will teach you to be a better stricker. that's why i was so excited when these 57's came out. titleist has a few good ones as well.

[cfmgolf]

Hey gang,

Without knowing your budget (used or new) their are some very good combo sets out now. I moved from Callaway x-12 graphite to Miz M-60's steel and then back earlier this year to Cleveland CG Gold steel over the past 4 years. The m-60's were great when the swing was "on" but difficult when it wasn't. My personal opinion is that unless you are 7 Hcap or below I would recommend the game improvement. Not the super shovels, but something in between. In regards to working the ball, i like the dreaded straight shot the best. Knowing how to work the ball is great, but not having too is even better :)

i purchased the M-60's on ego, was lucky that they held value really well, and today i have a much more consistent iron game and can be more aggressive with the irons. Find a good retailer, be brutally honest with your game, and you should find a set that you will really enjoy.