Downgrade from players club to hybrid irons

[very handicap]

I'm a handicap 18 and have been playing with Mizuno MP-57. I'm not a very consistent ball stricker, even though i can still play with my irons fairly well.

Recently, i have come across a crazy idea. Golf is supposed to be enjoyable, why make my life so difficult using players' clubs when i can play the game with so much less stress using easier clubs. Hence, I have been thinking about switching to a super game improvement club like a hybrid irons set.

Anyone has experience downgrading from a players club to a super game improvement hybrid iron clubs? What is your experience with it? Is it the best decision you have made?

[DavidFehertysBike]

I made a semi decison to downgrade when i started using AP2 irons rather than the more traditional players iron i was using before. Im very happy that i did. Anything that makes the game more easy and enjoyable is ok in my book.

[zrlaegel]

try the mizuno mx200 it has the players club feel but its stupid forgiving and you wont lose any distance. but i would encourage holding onto your mp57s till you do become more consistant. another suggestion would be using the mx 200 in like 4-7 the mp57s in 8-pw,getting a 22*hybrid and a 3 and 5 wood. thats my setup except i use all mp57s. do what you think is best for you.... confidence goes a long way

cheers~Zach

[very handicap]

Thanks. I'm thinking of going one step further to go for hybrid irons. Not sure if I'm too extreme. Any comments?

[Leftygolfer]

I went from the MP60s to what I have. I am very happy I did. I believe that players irons mishit put you in a place where par is a rare. I made the switch the end of summer this year and had one of my best rounds and made in one month my index went down .5 after going up all year from a 8 to an 11.

I couldn't be happier with the decision. I believe unless you can play a ton and shoot in the 70s habitually you really should play something that lets you hit greens on mishits.

Golf is much more fun when things are going well. It is alot easier to make par and keep things going well when you are on the front of the green instead of 20 yards short on the mishit 8 iron you just hit.

[very handicap]

Leftygolfer,

Thanks for the reassurance. However, the titleist 775 CB doesn't seem to be an easier club than MP60 right?

[Leftygolfer]

Leftygolfer,

It is much much much more forgiving, particularly out towards the toe. The mizunos had no forgiveness on anything towards the toe or heel. Thin was ok.

The long irons of these are very oversized and have offset. The mid and short irons are midsize. Every iron is more forgiving. I have hit a great shot that felt ok but not pure, looked at where I hit it on the club when cleaning it and noticed I missed it towards the toe maybe a 1/4 inch. With the mizunos that is a missed green and with these it was a good look at birdie. They are also alot longer and I hit them much higher. I gained a full club since the switch. They aren't as soft on pure shots but besides that the Titleist outperform the mizunos in every way.

[WUTiger]

... Golf is supposed to be enjoyable, why make my life so difficult using players' clubs when i can play the game with so much less stress using easier clubs. Hence, I have been thinking about switching to a super game improvement club like a hybrid irons set. ...

I played in a scramble with a former small-college golfer who maintains an 8 HDCP. He uses game improvement clubs rather than his old players clubs because he doesn't have nearly as much practice time as he in college. He said the GI clubs give him consistency, which has more value for him now than the ability to pull off fancy shots.

[danieldrieberg]

Go for and never look back!!!

I have numerous sets of irons. Play to a 7 Hcp and a pretty good striker of the ball. I used to use Hogan Apex plus iron--forged blades. Then I found some Hogan CFT cavity backs and then went completely to the darkside with the original Nike Slingshots. As far as dropping my handicap perhaps 1.5 strokes. But what was more striking was my enjoyment of the game. No more wrist jolting mishits and a high confidence level addressing the ball.

Occasionally I will pull out the blades for a round. There is no better feeling in golf than puring a forged iron. Just plain sweet.

Those Slingshots are paired with some Aldila graphite shafts which I find just as responsive as my Traditional Rifles and Rifle PX. Graphite ron shafts have come a long way.

[Vance87]

I switched and they are great clubs.

[iammpspeer]

I'm not sure I would call an mp-57 a players club. Mp-67, yes, 57 no

[very handicap]

Iammpspeer,

You may be right about MP57, but for handicap 18, i was thinking if the club is too good for me, and will it benefit me more to switch to a GI club or stick to this and endure the learning process.

[iammpspeer]

I understand, they are less forgiving than some other clubs. If you are interested, I have some Taylor Made RAC OS2's 3-pw if you are looking for a great, game imporvement club, it's what I used for two-three seasons.

[jamo]

If i were you i wouldnt go all the way to SGI, i would go more like the Mizuno MX series.

But if you really want to you could try the Titleist AP1, or the Taylor Made Burner Plus or Burner XD, Or Callaway FT-i-Brids or X22, or Nike Slingshots. i, myself am not a Ping fan, but some people really like the G15 and Rapture V2.

If you want a lot of hybrid integration, you could get any number of Adams iron sets.

Good Luck.

[kleraudio]

Dude, I went through this SAME thing the past couple months. I hit a few draws, a few fades, stuck some greens and thought I was on my way to Q-school

I sold my really old clubs and bought some MP57's, thinking that I had too much game for a GI iron. Honeymoon period was awesome, shot my lowest round (80) with them. But after like 5 or 6 rounds, things got a little crazy. Misses were leaving me with some rediculous 20-30 yarders for par, which never happened, turned some of those into doubles actually.

My confidence went down the tubes and I wasnt having fun anymore. Anything outside of 150 terrified me.

I then said screw this, I wanna have fun again, I sold the 57's and got a set of Ping G10's. I could not be happier, I absolutely love these clubs. You can still miss obviously, but you'll be on the green with your miss instead of a greenside bunker.

The game is a lot of fun again and I have already dropped like 2 strokes off my cap this month.

Ive gamed em probably 144 holes, and they arent going anywhere in a while.

Anyways, thought I'd share that with you since I was in your shoes not long ago. Get yourself some GI or SGI irons and start hitting greens again!!!

Jim

[schigara]

I started playing SGI clubs and played them for 2 years. My best 18 hole score was an 83 and that happened only because my driving, chipping and putting was working well. My ball striking suffered with those giant headed, clumsy irons.

For 6 months, I have been playing Titleist 690.mb blades and I am in love with golf for the first time. I broke 80 after 72 holes and my ballstriking just keeps getting better. I wish I could say the same for my chipping and putting.

With the Adams Tech OS hybrid irons, I was lucky to hit greens from 130 yds out. With the blades, I am confident with approach shots as far as 160yds.

I know players and blades are considered "hard" to hit but it has been the opposite for me. The small face, thin top edge and sole just seems to fit my eye.

I used to struggle to shoot under 89 and now my bad scores 86-89.

Thank god for old technology.

[very handicap]

Dude, I went through this SAME thing the past couple months. I hit a few draws, a few fades, stuck some greens and thought I was on my way to Q-school

Jim, Thanks. You have just hit a nail in the head. That's exactly what I'm going through right now. Nothing wrong about MP57, just that it may be just too good for me. Seems like G10 or G15 may be a good solution for me. I specially like their custom fitting service. John

[walk18]

Iammpspeer,

A buddy of mine has a hybrid set, and it did not improve his ballstriking or scores at all, he should have spent the money on lessons. I'd be cautious with going ALL hybrids, does anyone really need a hybrid PW? Seems to me at least for the short irons you would not want to give up any control of those.