Who can tell the difference between a $300 and a $900 set of irons?

[EpicVelocity]

I suggest buying second hand, I did, and got an amazing set of lightly used (by a CPGA pro), Cobra Forged CBs for $200, with a complete New Decade re-grip on the house!

[KingCobra]

Definatly look into buying last years cobra fp iron set. You can get them for cheap and they are forgiving and workable.

[Lefty731PM]

I'd like to buy a set of graphite Pings ($900), but Wilsons ($300) are closer to my budget. So I'd like to ask: can anyone really tell the difference between a decent, inexpensive set and a top-of-the-line set?

In most cases, on a well hit shot, anyone who knows they're never going to be called upon to submit to a double blind test will confidently be able to tell which was which.

[Soup Fan]

I wouldn't know because I've never played a set that cost more than $200...

[AlCzervik]

you could buy some old model irons that have been marked down from $900 to $300 and you will be even better off

[cwcaesar]

I am not too sure whether or not I could tell the difference in a $900 set and a $300 set assuming they were similarly constructed, i.e. both cast or forged, both players irons or game improvement, etc. I can tell a difference between a forged iron and a cast iron. I can tell a huge difference between a players iron/blade and a game improvement iron.

[Righty to Lefty]

It depends which $900 clubs you are comparing the $300 clubs to. If the $900 set is forged, you will notice a difference in feel over the $300 set which will likely be cast.

Well said and that is probably the most important thing to ask yourself when you are going to buy irons. "What am I looking for and how much feedback do I want from the club." If you are ready to know just how well you are swingin the club then for sure forged cavity back clubs are great no matter what your handicap is. I switched from right to left hand in the past three months and I bought a set of the 2005 Callaway X Tour forged ($350 bucks used on Edwin Watts and in great condition) for my first set and was instantly amazed at how much feedback you get from the club, as opposed to the 2004 Callaway Big Bertha clubs that I played right handed. You don't even have to look up and watch the balll and you can tell where on the club face the ball was struck because it is transmitted through the club's shaft right to your hands. That is how you get better because you have to learn how to execute a good swing and you are not rewarded for getting lazy. If price is your main hurdle then I would look on sites like callaway preowned and find a set that match your specs (they have hundreds of used sets from all manufacturers in your price range just run a search on the specific club you are looking for) that are a couple years old and you can't go wrong. After hitting them and comparing a forged club to a cast game improvement club I think you will definately feel a difference between the different classes of clubs. I don't think you will feel much of a difference between the clubs within each class. Snake Eyes and Geotech clubs are nice too.

[tjy355]

Actually price is almost completely driven by supply and demand.

Except in the case of Scotty Cameron putters.

[tjy355]

It depends which $900 clubs you are comparing the $300 clubs to. If the $900 set is forged, you will notice a difference in feel over the $300 set which will likely be cast.

I wouldn't really consider a 20 handicap an accomplished player.

I do think a truly accomplished player could tell the difference but its my guess that that might amount to maybe 10% of all golfers. Like some of the others have suggested, look for a used set.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

It doesn't matter whether you can tell the difference between the clubs. It matters whether you can see a difference in the resulting ball flight. If the ball flies longer/straighter/more consistently, that's all you need to know.

-Andrew