Switch from Mizuno MP57 to Ping G15

[very handicap]

Hi,

I have recently switched from a Mizuno mp57 to ping g15. i have been playing decent game with mp57, but i notice that during my bad day, the score can go up drastically. So i was in the opinion to buy a set of GI clubs that will not penalize me so much during my bad day, and that's why i chose the ping g15.

Since I've just received my g15 a few weeks, i'm still trying to get used to it. One thing i notice is the impact position. I used to be able to pronate my wrist and hit a descending blow on the ball and create a nice compression and divot on the ground. This is done by making sure the hand is leading the clubhead during impact. However, when i try this with the G15, i'm not able to get it on the sweetspot. I still hit the ball quite well and far but just don't get the sweetspot feel. On the other hand, when i come down on the ball with a natural swing, meaning the hand and the clubhead roughly form a straight line at impact, the impact and feel is mesmerizing. But since the clubhead is not "delofted", the distance is compromised.

Anyone can advise on this? Thanks.

[senorchipotle]

offset. i'm guessing the mp57 are most comparable to the new 58's. the offset in your new irons is 3X that of your old irons. a golfer who is used to playing with more aggressive irons is hindered by playing game improvement irons. i hate to say it, but it looks like you should have gone with the i15's or the S57's. maybe you can call them and see if they'll switch them out for you.

[very handicap]

Senorchipotle,,

What you said does make sense. But is offset really the reason? I'm interested to find out for those people who use Ping G10 or G15, do you have problem pronating your wrist during impact? By that i mean having the hand way ahead of the clubface during impact (in a way deloft the club) and create a powerful ball compressing position.

[senorchipotle]

here's my theory: the game improvement irons are meant for players who have more difficulty squaring the clubface, so there is a wider sole and the bounce is rounder to supplement the wider angle of the shaft and the forearm at impact. this being the case, the backside of the club is designed such that the ''sweet spot'' is lower on the face than with your musclebacks, which are designed to be struck with some degree of deloftation(i just made up a new word) and will be struck in the middle-top half of the face. so, since you already have your hands leading at the point of impact, compounded with the extra nanosecond the offset gives you to square up your clubface, i reckon you're hitting the ball on the top 15% of the face of your clubs, where the iron is thinnest and there's no cushion for the pushin'. just mho.

[Zeph]

The G15 should feel different than the MP-57. How is the ball flight compared to the Mizuno's? You should always have a descending blow with the irons, regardless of which model you use.

Is the only 'problem' that they feel different? Do they feel better if you get the hands behind the ball at impact?

[chuangyee]

I got the G15 irons to replace my Callaway x-forged 2 months ago. I know what you mean when you miss the sweet spot when you try to hit down and take a divot. I realise this is because of the offset built in. The clubs will somehow force you to make a sweeping stroke in order to hit it well (especially for the longer irons). Now I consciously take a steeper backswing and I do get a better contact and consistently straight shots out of the clubs.

However, I did swap out the W-7 for the I15s last month. I still use the G15 4-6 irons. Somehow I am not that confident using the G15 as compared to I15 for shots that demand more accuracy. I think its the offset issue again.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I might be in the minority here, but i think you should stick with your MP 57's. Youre used to the way they play and you have more expereince with them than with the pings. You can grow into your Mizunos with enough practice. If youre a recreational player who just enjoys the game every now and then, then the pings might be better. But if your goal is to improve and become a player id stick with the Mizunos

[Deryck Griffith]

I might be in the minority here, but i think you should stick with your MP 57's. Youre used to the way they play and you have more expereince with them than with the pings. You can grow into your Mizunos with enough practice. If youre a recreational player who just enjoys the game every now and then, then the pings might be better. But if your goal is to improve and become a player id stick with the Mizunos

I agree with this. Being that the MP57's are less forgiving, they would force you to "swing better" with the instant feedback that you get from a bad swing. I find game improvement irons give a false sense of securtiy with a swing. If you hit it bad, it still flies good...that in my opinion is not a good measuring stick to where you are in your swing.

Also, the difference in feel you are experiencing could be two things. A forged feel with minimal offset vs. a cast feel with a high offset (way less of the butter feel with a cast club) and the center of gravity on the club. The center of gravity on the G15's are much lower (promoting a higher ball flight) than the MP57's. That means that you will have to hit the club lower on the face consistently to get that nice feel.

[WUTiger]

However, I did swap out the W-7 for the I15s last month. I still use the G15 4-6 irons. Somehow I am not that confident using the G15 as compared to I15 for shots that demand more accuracy. I think its the offset issue again.

Reminds me of when the Ping I3 irons came out (1999?). I didn't buy any, but several of the competition amateurs where I played bought mixed sets: OSize I3 irons 3-6, and the blade I3 irons 7-W. Several Sand Trap sig lines show different mixes for short irons vs. longer irons.

[Leftygolfer]

I agree with this. Being that the MP57's are less forgiving, they would force you to "swing better" with the instant feedback that you get from a bad swing. I find game improvement irons give a false sense of securtiy with a swing. If you hit it bad, it still flies good...that in my opinion is not a good measuring stick to where you are in your swing.

I just don't agree with this. I have experience going from a GI iron to the Mizuno MP 60s based on this belief. I thought it would make me better or whatever. I watched my index rise 3 points in about 3 months. You just get punished. You don't have to play "players" irons to know when you strike it pure. My current set is pretty forgiving. I don't miss hit anymore because I can. I just have easier up and ins, instead of a 25 yard pitch short of the green. I like scoring, I don't need to make a bogey to know I didn't hit it how I wanted. To really play with those clubs you need to be hitting the center of the club face on a regular basis. Having confidence in yourself is a big part of golf. If you are over a shot and know you have to hit it almost perfect to hit the green and you only do that one every four like most 10 handicaps, you are going to have less confidence and score worse.

I think the offset has nothing to do with striking down on it. If you put any club in a good player's hands, he is going to take a divot. I'd try to get a look at your swing in video and seeing what you are doing. I think the problem is in the player and not the club.

[Deryck Griffith]

I think the offset has nothing to do with striking down on it. If you put any club in a good player's hands, he is going to take a divot. I'd try to get a look at your swing in video and seeing what you are doing. I think the problem is in the player and not the club.

Fair enough. Regardless, the G15's are fantastic clubs.

[Dub]

here's my theory: the game improvement irons are meant for players who have more difficulty squaring the clubface, so there is a wider sole and the bounce is rounder to supplement the wider angle of the shaft and the forearm at impact. this being the case, the backside of the club is designed such that the ''sweet spot'' is lower on the face than with your musclebacks, which are designed to be struck with some degree of deloftation(i just made up a new word) and will be struck in the middle-top half of the face. so, since you already have your hands leading at the point of impact, compounded with the extra nanosecond the offset gives you to square up your clubface, i reckon you're hitting the ball on the top 15% of the face of your clubs, where the iron is thinnest and there's no cushion for the pushin'. just mho.

Sounds reasonable to me.

[very handicap]

I just don't agree with this. I have experience going from a GI iron to the Mizuno MP 60s based on this belief. I thought it would make me better or whatever. I watched my index rise 3 points in about 3 months. You just get punished. You don't have to play "players" irons to know when you strike it pure. My current set is pretty forgiving. I don't miss hit anymore because I can. I just have easier up and ins, instead of a 25 yard pitch short of the green. I like scoring, I don't need to make a bogey to know I didn't hit it how I wanted. To really play with those clubs you need to be hitting the center of the club face on a regular basis. Having confidence in yourself is a big part of golf. If you are over a shot and know you have to hit it almost perfect to hit the green and you only do that one every four like most 10 handicaps, you are going to have less confidence and score worse.

This is the exact reason why i switched back to a GI. I know the feel and sound of the mizuno forged on the sweetspot is intoxicating compare to a cast iron. However, when I come near to the green, it is the sight of the ball on the green close to the flag that makes my day. For that reason, the Ping is going to stay with me for a while. Just need to learn to hit it better.

[Ash1974]

I would have to agree that maybe you should have gone for the i15's, they should sit well in between the MP's and G15's.

I switched from G10's to I15's and am a 17 handicapper, I hit the ball straighter with the I15's than I did with the G10's due to the offset and loosing them left all the time, and the i15 PW has so much more feel than the G10 PW that I now use the i15 PW for anything 115 and under, down to chipping and bump and runs around the green :)

[kevntri]

I just don't agree with this. I have experience going from a GI iron to the Mizuno MP 60s based on this belief. I thought it would make me better or whatever. I watched my index rise 3 points in about 3 months. You just get punished. You don't have to play "players" irons to know when you strike it pure. My current set is pretty forgiving. I don't miss hit anymore because I can. I just have easier up and ins, instead of a 25 yard pitch short of the green. I like scoring, I don't need to make a bogey to know I didn't hit it how I wanted. To really play with those clubs you need to be hitting the center of the club face on a regular basis. Having confidence in yourself is a big part of golf. If you are over a shot and know you have to hit it almost perfect to hit the green and you only do that one every four like most 10 handicaps, you are going to have less confidence and score worse.

I agree... I switched from MP67's to Callaway X20's

I like the feel of the forged pure hit when I got it....... But I like the feel of being on the green more % of the time better.....:)