Irons - upgrade or keep what I have?

[kregan]

Hi guys,

Right now I am hitting a set of RAC OS-2's, 3-PW (R Flex) and I have been interested in upgrading to the TM Forged 2005 cavity back TP irons.

My current wedges are 52-56-60 degree TP MB. I hit the 52 with a full swing better then the OS A wedge (50 degree). The TP wedge just feels smoother and I make better contact with the ball. I think it is swing weigh that makes it feel better to me?

Do you think I should just go for the 2005 Forged Cavity back TP's? What do you think about the full TP blades like my wedges? To much for me or right now?

Thanks for the help.

[Stacey_E]

I wouldn't go blades just yet. But I think you are on to something with the swingweight thing. I know I play better with a D2 or higher swingweight. It really smooths me out, lets me know where the head is during the swing, and helps keep me from getting too quick. A lot of GI and SGI irons are at D0. Maybe try some lead tape on your iron heads. It doesn't matter where on the head you put the tape regardless of what you might hear.

[obsessedgolfer]

Hi guys,

I had the same feeling about my wedges so what i did was i bought the rac mb tp they look and fell just like your wedges but they are irons.

[kregan]

I hate this kind of decision! ;)

I really just want to be able to start working the ball and I think the 2005 Forged would do that for me and give me the extra swing weight ans a stiffer shaft - s300.

The Muscle backs are nice looking, but I just don't know if I could hit them properly.

I think a stiff shaft would fit my swing speed and tempo better then the regular flex in the OS2's.

[iWALK18]

What do you mean you hit the 52* better than the 50* A wedge? You mean you hit it farther or it feels better?

I don't have the TM A wedge, but my pw which I think is 45* on OS2s is my 140 club. I think thats a big pitching wedge by most standards. I'm guessing that would put me around 125-130 with the A wedge, which is a long shot than my current ping 50* wedge (115-120).

so I'm just wondering what kind of distances you get for your pitching wedge versus your A wedge etc...

Whats your swing speed? Maybe your shafts are holding you back.

[kregan]

My 52 feels smoother. I think the extra weight evens out my tempo and I strike the ball cleaner and hit it straighter.

My os2 PW (45) is 120-125 the A wedge (50) was 95-110 and my 52 TP is 100 almost every time with a smooth full swing.

What do you mean you hit the 52* better than the 50* A wedge? You mean you hit it farther or it feels better?

[kregan]

Not harsh at all, that is why I was asking. My goal isn't to work it a lot, I would just like to start messing with it and I can't seem to do it very good with the OS clubs unless I really exaggerate my setup...

Maybe I am turning into a club HO !! ;)

Honestly, I think working the ball shouldn't be the goal for a 24 handicap. I think creating a repeatable swing with a consistent shot shape should be, and your clubs (and mine) are completely fine clubs for that purpose. Unless you three putt most every hole...

[949 Golf]

Kelly, the thing that I consider when moving to a club that is less forgiving (Rac OS 2's to TP Blades ie.) is not how great they look in the bag or hot good you hit the PW or 8 iron. I think that it comes down to how good you hit the 3-6 irons. These are clubs that are crucial during a round. For example. Let's say you're 205 yards out on a long par 4(let's say that's your 3 irons distance) and you miss hit a shot off into the rough or into a bunker or hazard. You've instantly made a bad situation really bad. At best you're going to have to get up and down from 40-60 yards for par. Where those OS 2's or a oversized or cavity back club would have helped your out on that miss hit the blades absolutely will not. I like a cavity because it helps you out on those off days that we all have. Golf is such a hard game, don't make it harder! HA! Good luck with the decision!

[kregan]

Thanks for helping me out with this, here is what I did...

I found a nice set of LT2's on Ebay for 195.00 that had the following description...

----
This is a complete set of Taylormade Racs in 8 out of 10 condition. They have been cleaned and the shafts and grips are new. The grips are mid-sized Winn Soft DSI grips and the shafts are true temper TX steel and are Stiff flex. The shafts and grips alone are worth the asking price. This set was bought new in 2007 and currently costs $450.00 dollars retail, but have been upgraded with the shafts and grips. The lie and loft are standard, and I am selling them because I have bought a new set.
----

For that price I figured what the heck. Some of the 2005 Forged sets are going for 255 - 270 but some of your posts help me get back to reality.

I also looked at the specs and some pictures from address. The club has a thiner top line then the OS'2. They are a a little more workable but still GI irons.

Thanks again for your help.

[Teedub7]

i just upgraded to the i10s and although they are a players irons, but they have served me as a great game improvement iron. if you have a buget issues, look for the i5s on ebay. get fitted at a ping dealer, and look for your dot color on ebay. the fitting helps you so much.

UPGRADE, new clubs bring new confidence and confidence brings lower scores

[kregan]

Turns out the iron set was the original LT's not the LT2's so I passed on them.

[Magnus]

Nothing wrong with trying to improve your game, and maybe trying to hit a more demanding iron. Make no mistake the Rac Forged TP's are going to be more difficult to hit. I know you want to work the ball, but trust me you need to hit these consistently in the center of the club? Ask yourself if you can legitimately hit the center of the clubface more often then not?...But, you may not know unless you try. I say go ahead, but if your a 24 hdcp then you may need to 'grow' into these clubs, if you catch my drift. My advice - go to an outdoor dealer who has irons for you to try outside, and maybe demo a set of blades - and find out before you put your $$ down.

[kregan]

It is funny how things work out....

After the seller of the Lt's (Honest ebay seller) refunded my paypal account I started looking around again and bid on a set of 2005 RAC Forged just for grins. I ended up winning it for $290 3-PW in great shape. I had planned on keeping the OS2's anyway so you are correct, I can use the forged set to practice with and grow into them and keep gaming the OS2's for a while. I have hit the 2005 Forged once before. They only had a demo 3 iron and on the first ball I hit it perfectly and it felt like butter, I then mis hit the next ball and I could tell right away. I had what I call Ebay money (sold a bunch of stuff I no longer used) sitting in Paypal so it is not like I broke the bank or anything. Maybe I will just add the clubs little by little as I learn them. Ad the PW and 9 iron maybe and work up from that. How about a mixed set of OS2's and TP Forged... that would get some strange looks I bet!

Nothing wrong with trying to improve your game, and maybe trying to hit a more demanding iron. Make no mistake the Rac Forged TP's are going to be more difficult to hit. I know you want to work the ball, but trust me you need to hit these consistently in the center of the club? Ask yourself if you can legitimately hit the center of the clubface more often then not?...But, you may not know unless you try. I say go ahead, but if your a 24 hdcp then you may need to 'grow' into these clubs, if you catch my drift. My advice - go to an outdoor dealer who has irons for you to try outside, and maybe demo a set of blades - and find out before you put your $$ down.

[iWALK18]

I like the idea of that mixed set. Throw in the 8-9-pw and see how it goes.

I am almost certainly keeping my RAC 3-4-5irons in the bag when i get a new set.

[DJYoshi]

once you groove your swing & find what fits you best: shaft, club, etc, you'll fall in love with a forged set. they provide a feeling like no cast set does (imo). people told me I was stupid when I went from the x-16's to the mp60's. I was around a 20 hc last year when I switched, and after my 1st week, I saw instant results. Better ball flight, more controlable shots, they setup pretty damn nice, but they penalize you when you don't hit it right...ESPECIALLY on your 3 -5 irons.
I see a lot of people doing the mixed set & that might be a good idea to do for 3 - 5 until you completely groove into the club & find your swing.

It's a never-ending quest to be the best that we can, and I don't know why they have so many here-say rules as to who should swing a "players" iron compared to a "game improvement" iron. Personally, I feel if you can hit it, you're comfortable, then by all means, swing it.

I wouldn't suggest "working" the ball messing with draws and fades, trajectory, etc until you fully groove your swing. It's EASY to get lost into swinging a certain way.

I learned how to hit a draw this year & I was always someone that played a controled fade. It took me 3 weeks to get the draw out of my system and go back to just a straight shot. but it's a GREAT tool to know how to work the ball. good luck

[kregan]

OK guys, I know I did the right thing!!!

I stopped by the range tonight just to kill some time and I was hitting my OS2's a little wild. One ball would got straight then left then right kind of all over. Not spinning left or right just going that way. Driver and fairway woods were straight.

So I wondered over to the demo rack and found 3 RAC Forged 2005 TP 6 irons.

#1- regular flex - 2up, +.5"
#2- S300 stiff - 2up, +.5"
#3- S300 stiff - standard

#1 - first ball, I top it, not good I think!! second - sixth ball, PURE and buttery! ;) still a little left or right.

#2 - WOW what a feeling! balls would go nice and straight with a medium high ball flight and did I say straight!!!

#3 - same WOW factor but I think the 2 up might have been a hair better or I was just getting into a groove. Same ball flight and straight.

BTW my OS2's have R flex and I think that is the problem with the left right stuff.

Even with Rockflight range balls they feel wonderful!!! The sound is great and the feel!!!! I did hit a 2 shots out on the toe a little but the ball still went straight I just lost distance. No sting in the hands at all

Speaking of distance the 6 iron = my 7 iron in the OS2 which makes sense because the OS2 7 iron is 33* and the Forged 6 iron is 32*.

I am really glad I got the 2005 Forged set. I don't think I will have and problem with them at all.