I've been playing the wrong equipment!

[walfice]

Sorry in advance for the long post.
I have been playing with S59's (zz65 stiff shaft) recently and been hitting them fine if not a little short. I went to the fitting centre at my club to check I was playing the correct setup and had some surprising results (using a 6 iron).
My swing speed was 88mph, carry 138 (it's very cold here! lol), launch angle 19* and spin 6100.
The guy said I would be more suited to a higher launching clubhead and shaft. He gave me a Nike VR full cavity with a DG S300 HL shaft with the following results:
Swing speed 83mph, carry 159, launch angle 23* and spin 4850.
I couldn't believe this club/shaft combo gave me 20 yards.
Is it a no brainer to change clubs? (If I can put my ego to one side to play GI irons off a 6 handicap lol)

[Kcas77]

I think you should try different GI irons but if the VR are still the best then get those

[hrossroth]

I also went to a fitting center recently. I went with my driver that I had not originally been fitted for. I was also told that to add more carry I needed a higher launch set up. He gave me the brand new model of the driver I had been using in 10.5 loft. I liked getting the new information and am going to now try the driver outside when I can. My old driver had been doing fine for me before I went on the monitor. Such experiences can change your perception of a certain club or clubs. The feel is different and often times I am left wanting the newer club. I would not say necessarily that I was playing the wrong club though. I say this because the right club is mostly your personal perception of what that is.
In your case if the extra distance is paramount, then look into the data by trying some different clubs. In the end the Nike cavity might be the right club for your needs. I don't think that means you were playing the wrong club, though.
To me feel is very important. I bet I am in a similar situation to you with my irons as well. Right now though my irons are good enough. You are allowed to feel the same way if you like the clubs you have, I would say. If not, get the full treatment and try a lot of clubs. I would be curious to know if the split cavity forged Nike fit your needs. Happy trails!

[AbsoluteZero]

I thought I read somewhere that 90+ percent of all clubs played are not the "right" clubs for the player. People always buy irons that aren't forgiving enough, drivers that don't have a high enough loft or the wrong shaft (stiffness or kickpoint), wedges that either have too much loft, or not enough bounce.

So it's not suprising that after getting fit, you found out that there was better equipment for you. I'd venture a guess that almost every person who hasn't been custom fit has at least one aspect of their bag that's not right for them. I was cutom fit for my driver and went from a 9.5 degree to a 10.5 degree head and started hitting much longer drives.

We could all take a lesson from the pros in the area of equipment. They get completely custom fit for their entire bag using launch, spin, etc. monitors that ensure they are getting the most out of their equipment. They change their loft, lie, length, shaft stiffness, etc, yet the average weekend duffer heads to the store and drops 1500+ on a bag of off the shelf items that are designed either for a really wide variety of players, or a specific type of player that they don't match.

It's no wonder we keep going back year after year to get the latest equipment. Perhaps if we had the right equipment in the first place, we wouldn't feel the need to get new equipment each year...

[Jay-Bird]

Is it a club fitter's job to fit you to clubs or sell you said fitted clubs?

A 6 iron carry of 138? Swing Speed 88? - A stiff shaft is too much. You're going to see more distance with a regular shaft.

There is nothing wrong with cavity backs. A lot of single digit players use MP-57s.

[RC]

And more than a few on the PGA tour use cavities.

[tim31x]

try the GI irons. like the nickname for em says, they improve your game! maybe consider trading in the s59's for a really nice set of VR's. and if you are kinda skeptical about going for the full cavity, try the split cavity and see the results.the best equipment for you can only hurt your wallet, not your game. remember that.

[miller72]

yea...in this case, maybe the nike is just a way more forgiving club.... I would try the Split cavity, because that will still be forgiving, but will still have (almost) the same amount of workability as your pings. I also really enjoy my mizzy's (see sig). They are workable and forgiving at the same time! Make sure (especially in this economy) that you are comfortable with what you are going to buy before you buy it.

[walfice]

I asked about the split cavities but he said I need a higher launching iron. I have no problem playing a GI iron, I just don't like the look of the thick top line on most of them, but if it does the job I'm sure I can get used to it. He also suggested the AP1. Which do most of you prefer between the two?

[Paradigm]

I asked about the split cavities but he said I need a higher launching iron. I have no problem playing a GI iron, I just don't like the look of the thick top line on most of them, but if it does the job I'm sure I can get used to it. He also suggested the AP1. Which do most of you prefer between the two?

Both are good clubs, but I have a feeling your responses will be a little one-sided.

[Kcas77]

I would rather the AP1. Have you considered the 09 burners or the tour burners? They seem to be the step up from the r7's which I have that have a ball flight that is way to high for me so they seem like they should work for you.

[golf_junkie27]

Did your fitter take those same Dynamic Gold Shafts and put them in your Pings?

IMHO, it's not a true fitting unless you use a single, clubhead with multiple shaft combinations. Otherwise, you don't have a true comparison.

[SALUKI LEFTY]

I asked about the split cavities but he said I need a higher launching iron. I have no problem playing a GI iron, I just don't like the look of the thick top line on most of them, but if it does the job I'm sure I can get used to it. He also suggested the AP1. Which do most of you prefer between the two?

The head does not determine the launch, it's mainly the shaft. You could get the split cavity VR's with the high launch DG shaft and I'm sure the #'s on the launch monitor would be the same. I had the AP1's and traded them in for the MP57's after only 1 month. I hated the thickness of the AP1's and I love my Mizzy's. Just make sure you find a club you like with the right shaft. Good luck !!