Some questions about Irons

[ADKBrew]

Looking for some iron information.

I have just gotten back into golf this fall after playing probably 5 times in the past 10 years. I have slowly started to replace some of the less expensive equipment and now I am looking at irons. So based on this I will have a few different questions that I will post here.

The first is what is the difference between Game Improvement Irons and Super Game Improvement?

I would look to get fitted for them but would like to go in with some better knowledge.

Also since I have never hit these types of clubs what difference would I see based on hitting my current 25-year (clubs I got when I was 12) old Wilson Super Power clubs.

Thanks,
Stephen

[chilly]

SGI irons will generally have a larger overall size, wider sole, and a thicker topline then a GI club. They may also have stronger lofts. In general they'll have a better "feel" on off center hits, and will hit the ball higher then a GI of equal loft as the center of gravity is generally lower.

Any newer club should be quite a bit more forgiving then your irons on off center hits(not familiar with your actual set, but this is a general observation based on hitting "older" clubs). The lofts are generally stronger so you'll get more distance from a given club, but due to the COG being lower you will still hit the ball with a high trajectory, basically giving the best of both worlds.

[allin]

SGI irons will generally have a larger overall size, wider sole, and a thicker topline then a GI club. They may also have stronger lofts. In general they'll have a better "feel" on off center hits, and will hit the ball higher then a GI of equal loft as the center of gravity is generally lower.

Good answer, I would add this, makers of SGI clubs tend to pair them with shafts that have a soft tip and lower kick point, on the soft end of the flex regular will be a pretty soft regular etc. Also they will tend to have more offset. If offset bothers you or you tend to hook the ball you would want to consider these factors.

[rockinrebel]

I'm in the same boat as you. I just got a set of Ping G10 irons which I really like.
You will definitely find the newer clubs easier to hit.

[ADKBrew]

Also they will tend to have more offset. If offset bothers you or you tend to hook the ball you would want to consider these factors.

I am gathering though that if I get fitted that this should be taken into account based on the findings. Would this be the case?

[sean_miller]

How high on the priority list would you put aesthetics?

If it makes the list at all, look at several brands. If the irons you like best are considered to be only for "bettter" players, they probably have something which looks similar that offers a bit more game improvement. A lot of lesser name clubmakers have some great looking irons (e.g. Wishon).

The reason I'm adding this "information" is that many golfers who've played a few dozen rounds find many new iron sets - especially SGI irons - to be rather fugly. Just an observation.

[ADKBrew]

How high on the priority list would you put aesthetics?

I am really open to anything, so aesthetics does not really matter to much to me at this time.

What I had been looking at have been the Callaway X-22, Callaway Big Bertha, Ping G10's and have been intregued by some of the discussion on the Mizzuno clubs though I am not sure which ones to look at. Price does matter a bit at this time so I will have to take that into account, but want to ensure that what ever I get I feel good with. Also if I progress I would be looking to upgrade in a few years.

[ControlJunkie]

Everything that's been said here so far is pretty much dead on, I just wanted to make sure you're aware of the side effects (for lack of a better term) of the features of the SGI/GI clubs. Because of the increased offset and/or extreme perimeter weighting, they will be less workable. I'm not saying that's something you should really be worried about right now, I just wanted to make sure you're aware of it.

You're definitely on the right track with getting fitted. Length and lie angle can make a pretty significant difference on how you strike the ball, and getting that taken care of will make it that much easier for you to hit crisp, flush shots.

You also have a huge selection of clubs to choose from. I could throw some suggestions out to you, but before I do that, I gotta ask how much you'd like to spend (if you don't mind me asking)?

[ADKBrew]

You also have a huge selection of clubs to choose from. I could throw some suggestions out to you, but before I do that, I gotta ask how much you'd like to spend (if you don't mind me asking)?

I would probably be looking to top out around $600, but would love to go less than that but again it would be based on what I hit and feel comfortable with.