Irons: Sets or individually

[SteveSimp]

Kind of a weird question but.... do you guys buy your irons usually in sets or individually? I own 2 sets and it had just occurred to me to start buying a new set one club at a time.

Thoughts?

[bradabco]

i get fitted and buy my irons by the set.

[mcr23]

set for this guy, unless I find a particular wedge I like more

[jonnythan]

By the set. I wouldn't be able to stand having a mixed set of irons.

[SteveSimp]

Yeah I thought about how ugly that would look, but I figure function over form, right?

I've always bought my putters and drivers (LOTS of drivers) separately and kept everything else to sets. I'm trying to get more serious about my game though and want to try to keep the CoG of all my clubs relatively the same. I just kind of assumed that buying individual clubs would help me achieve that easier than a set.

[tjy355]

Yeah I thought about how ugly that would look, but I figure function over form, right?

I always assumed the opposite would be true. It would seem to me that a "set" would have a controlled and consistent progression from iron to iron.

Check with other golfers who are SERIOUS about their games and see how many play with mixed sets of irons.

[imtomtomim]

well, you could actually think about a combo set where the longer clubs are more forgiving and the shorter clubs are less forgiving and more workable for precision. the new burners are pretty much a combo set, mizuno makes them, srixon, and so on... You might want to look at that for an iron set. However, I do suggest you get those fitted because all these different club characteristics may not transition as smoothly from long to mid to short irons so loft and lie needs to be tweaked.

[Chipper]

i feel like it would hurt your game to get different irons. but i wouldn't be adverse to getting different brand hyrbid, wedge, fairway woods, and driver. beyond irons i think it all comes down to feel and what's more comfortable. if pricing is an issue you're not being patient enough! you can regularly find great deals on iron sets through ebay and craigslist.

[burnerboy05]

Buying irons by the set will benefit your game. If you buy a mixed set of irons (1-9), there will be inconsistancy in the feel, distance, etc. Although you can learn to hit different types of irons, it makes it more difficult when playing.

[TheWarHound]

In addition to having different feels, I think buying individual irons would cost a hellova lot more . . . unless you bought them from the bargain bin.

I would just hit several, and buy the set of the ones you hit best.

[Zeph]

Always sets. Clubs in a sest can be fitted differently. 3-5i and 6-9i having different specs, but always the same set. If I'd break them up, it would be to replace 3-5i with hybrids fi.

[bobsuruncle]

Kind of a weird question but.... do you guys buy your irons usually in sets or individually? I own 2 sets and it had just occurred to me to start buying a new set one club at a time.

it usually works out cheaper by the set, unless there are irons you want to replace (e.g. 3 & 4 for hybrids) or add (GW). but the newer sets should have options for the hybrids and GW as a set.

[Alohaed]

Another question on this subject. Since I already own a 3h and 4h, rather than a set I would really only need 5 iron - PW, MAYBE a gap wedge also. BUT, later on down the road, if I decide to upgrade and sell my current, irons, would it be easier to sell a full set 3-pw(or 4 - gw), rather than individual irons? Not to mention getting more money for the clubs?

[allin]

Another question on this subject. Since I already own a 3h and 4h, rather than a set I would really only need 5 iron - PW, MAYBE a gap wedge also. BUT, later on down the road, if I decide to upgrade and sell my current, irons, would it be easier to sell a full set 3-pw(or 4 - gw), rather than individual irons? Not to mention getting more money for the clubs?

If you order irons, you can order only the ones you want, if you trade in frequently this hurts trade in value, not as likely to be discounted either. If you want, 5I through wedge / gw. This is part of the reason more sets are being designed with hybrids as part of the set. I suppose there was no incentive when everybody bought the whole set and then added hybrids also. I have one set that I literally never hit the 3 iron. It makes a great tool to stir the compost pile though.

[becksfan2185]

I agree with most on here... keep them the same set.

But it's not uncommon amongst better golfers (not me) to play a blade or muscle-back, but use more forgiving longer irons (i.e. 3 & 4 iron in a cavity and the rest of the set a blade).

Aside from that, I wouldn't ever mix-and-match.

[allin]

I agree with most on here... keep them the same set.

I think you would find that the shafts are usually the same and frequency and swing weight are matched, except for hybrids. These guys clubs might look like ours but they are often seriously massaged.

[DriverTees]

The goal of a 6 iron, is to cover the gap between your 5 and 7 irons. If your 6 would actually hit LONGER than your 5 iron, it would obviously lose it's point. And even if it doesn't, with the same set you get more regular intervals. You should get irons up to PW in the same set, SW/GW/LW same set, hybrid is nice to have same as set but really not necessary and same goes for the rest of the clubs. Hope I have explained the matter enough.

[ramrockgolfer35]

To all those who buy wedges that match your irons: most pro's have mismatching wedges or at least a different series for their wedges. Most folks go for 3-pw as a set and then piece together their wedges.