New to golf...need help choosing clubs

[jaj23]

I'm going to sound like a major noob, but here goes...

I started playing golf for about 20 years ago, but I have never taken the sport seriously . That is about to change as I am looking to get more into it. I played baseball in college and have a powerful golf swing, but it is not a very consistent one.

I have taken a few lessons recently and the pros tell me that my biggest problem is that I have a decent swing but the wrong clubs. I had a club fitting and it was recommended that I get a set of irons with tour stiff shafts. My current irons are Spalding Molitor Regular Flex Steel shafts (old cheapies). My Callaway Big Bertha driver has a 55g shaft. It is labeled stiff, but aparently it is not...what do I know??

My driver:
I carry my driver about 280 (on average)
Swing speed is about 105
Ball speed is about 160
Launch angle is 10.0
Spin Rate is 2650

My 7 iron:
I carry my 7 iron 160
Recommended lie on 7 iron is 61.5 (I think that is pretty standard)
Recomendations for shafts are Stiff Flex Dynamic Gold X100, Project X 6.5. and KBS tour Stiff

I'm 5'10 and 210lbs.

Even though I haven't posted much, I've read quite a few threads to research this and I'm leaning towards player irons. I want to become fundamentally sound and I could care less what I score right now. It looks like Mizuno has a big following here. I'm looking for recommendations on irons and shafts. Thanks!!!

[ChappyEight]

Honestly, your best bet is to just go and demo as many brands as you possibly can. Most people here are going to hype up what they own, not that there is anything wrong with that. Me personally, the Cleveland brand seems to fit my eye and swing the best, Bridgestone clubs were a close second for me, and Srixon and Mizuno followed somewhere close to each other. I'm of a similar build to you and also played some ball. My numbers are very similar to yours so you may give the Cleveland's, or a couple of the others I mentioned, a shot.

Good luck with whatever you end up with and welcome back to the game.

[i-Guy]

I have helped quite a few friends acquire new irons and they have been very happy with their purchases. My process is always the same as follows:

1) Select possible irons you may like : Go to your nearest retailer and take a look at all the irons you think you may like…this means pick the club up and set it down at address like you are going to hit it and if it feels immediately like you could hit this club then put it on the list. YOU need to do this because no one on this website or any other person can tell you which club you feel confident looking down at address…to me this is very important…

2) Get Fitted : Once you have your top 3-5 sets of irons or how ever many sets adhere to step #1, (usually going through step one people narrow it down to two or three irons they really like)…go ahead and hit them at the store if you can and see what the fitter feels about ball flight and shaft (hopefully an experienced fitter). Also the fitter may ask you about your current handicap and what you expectations are for the game but be careful with this step as depending on the fitter they may not steer you exactly right (this may be where this website can help once you have been fitted...it may not be a bad thing to questions it and see what experienced players say)

3) Go hit them at the range : Once the fitter and you have agreed on a shaft flex, the next step is see if they can loan out the irons you like with the proper shafts and go hit them at the range…this is the real test to whether an iron is what you are looking for or not. If possible try different shafts manufacturers in the same flex to see how you like the ball trajectory at the range…

These steps (one - three) may need to be repeated until you find the set up (iron, shaft and fitting) that works best for you…good luck.

4) Once you have selected an iron get fitted for lie angle, length along with shaft flex and grip size…this way you can order them made for you as if you need these things adjusted later you will have additional expense and your irons (out of the box) might not play the way you anticipated…(see note below)

Note: If one of the clubs you like is a PING, and the place has the PING fit cart you will be able to hit a club real close to your exact specs (this is one thing that has made PING successful)…Mizuno also has a very cool system for fitting you into the proper shaft and then they have a fit cart with many shaft and head combos that you can put together to hit at the store but I doubt they will let you take any of these to the range?

[jaj23]

These are great suggestions. I definitely plan on trying out some irons and having a fitting. I am so unfamiliar with the latest products that I don't even know where to start. Can you suggest 4 or 5 irons that I should try? Sorry for my ignorance.

[jaj23]

Here are some of the irons I'm considering:

Cleveland CG7 Tour
Mizuno MP58
Ping i15
Taylor Made R9 TP
Titleist AP1
Titleist AP2

Are there any of these that I should not bother with or any that I should add to the list? Also, how do I know if they are forged or cast...and why are forged clubs better?

[ChappyEight]

I've got the CG7 Tour. My handicap doesn't indicate I should use a 'tour' type club but they are forgiving while at the same time letting me know if I'm not hitting the ball solid. I wish this year's Black Pearl version weren't so expensive, love the look of those.

[jaj23]

I've got the CG7 Tour. My handicap doesn't indicate I should use a 'tour' type club but they are forgiving while at the same time letting me know if I'm not hitting the ball solid. I wish this year's Black Pearl version weren't so expensive, love the look of those.

Yeah...the black pearl looks awesome. I don't even have a handicap established, but I want a 'tour' type club for the feedback it will give me. Ultimately I think a 'tour' type club will make me a better player...but what do I know...it could be a misconception I have.

[tngreg]

I'm just now getting serious about my game and upgraded from some early 90's cobra irons to 09 Nike Slingshot HL iron set with hybrids.

They are like night and day compared to my old irons. I love them and now i can start to concentrate on getting better. Got them half price since there 09 models. I'm just getting used to slowing down my swing and let these fine clubs do the work..I can increase my swing speed later when my ball striking improves.
Good Luck!

[i-Guy]

Here are some of the irons I'm considering:

Nice list but the AP1 irons are Game Improvement irons...I play the i15's because they are more forgiving then most player irons that I have had in the bag in the past...I have seen them called "tweeners" (Golf Digest) because they kind of fall between (tweener) Game Improvement and Player irons in that the 6-PW are smaller heads with less offset then the 5-3 irons have larger heads and more offset to help you hit the longer irons...

Also, how do I know if they are forged or cast...and why are forged clubs better?

The difference is a manufacturing process and it comes down to personal feel...so they say? I have played both types and really do not notice much difference...actually my i15 (cast) feel as smooth as any forged iron I have ever hit when it comes to hitting it on the sweet spot but I actually feel like my i15's feel better then a forged iron if I miss it toward the toe or heel...not that they provide more feedback but feel better in that my hands don't sting as bad on a real bad miss...again I don't think many can really tell a difference...

[jaj23]

Thanks guys...this was great information and just what I was looking for.

[Fozcycle]

How much do you want to spend on new irons????


i-guy has the right process......but you need to have a budget.

[jaj23]

How much do you want to spend on new irons????

My budget is somewhat flexible. I can see myself spending $499 to $699. If I really think it's worth it, I will go higher.

[etlreams]

As others have said, you're really going to have to go look at and hit a bunch to see what you like.

If you want a more "traditional" looking club with great feel, Mizuno is a great option.

I don't know about the playability of the Cleveland Black Pearl irons, but they do look sexy. I've never been a fan of Cleveland irons, though. Never got the feel for them. But that's just me.

Personally, I play the Titleist AP1s, but if you want more club, look at the AP2s. They are beyond your prefered $499-699 price range, but are great looking, playing and feeling clubs. The AP1s are good too. I like them very much. But the feel and playability would be better in the AP2 line.

Although I'm not a fan, the Taylor Made R7s seem to be incrediably popular. I know they do seem to play a little longer. Not sure if they are lofted stronger or just has a really hot face on it.

Cobra also seems to have some interesting offerings this year. I've always felt their heads were a little to rounded in shape to me, but their irons this year look very nice.

I love the look of Nike's clubs, but have never hit them, so I don't know what they are like. Nike seems to have lovers and haters and not much in between.

As for shafts, if it were me I'd look at the Project X line. They will probably be an upcharge. I like their mid trajectory better. The DG X100s seem to have a lower trajectory and are heavy.

Good luck!

[avguy]

Hello jaj23 and fellow AZ golfer. Just curious, are you aware of the practice complex & pro shop over in Mesa West of McKellips & Val Vista? It's the Golf Discount of Arizona, a large driving range, short par 3 nine holes, putting @ chipping, and good prices on clubs & gear. The reason I mention it is they frequently feature major manufacturer demo days where vans full of the big name clubs/reps show up and let you hit all their lineups off of real grass outside. I haven't tried it yet, but I will the next time they have one. Otherwise, from a smaller stature guy (Mike Wier size!) with less athletic talent than you, I still recommend Mizuno irons. I can really carry my MP-32's far and straight. My 7 also goes 160, I just don't drive as long as you.

I hope you are able to demo numerous clubs in your search for some better playing experiences ahead. I've gone with a wide variety in my bag, and part of that reason was I didn't want to feel less confident in any One of my clubs out on the course. If you have Mondays or Tuesdays available and can play Mesa and Gilbert courses during the hottest days in the summer (when I can afford them all) - drop me a post or message here.

[jaj23]

Hello jaj23 and fellow AZ golfer. Just curious, are you aware of the practice complex & pro shop over in Mesa West of McKellips & Val Vista? It's the Golf Discount of Arizona, a large driving range, short par 3 nine holes, putting @ chipping, and good prices on clubs & gear. The reason I mention it is they frequently feature major manufacturer demo days where vans full of the big name clubs/reps show up and let you hit all their lineups off of real grass outside. I haven't tried it yet, but I will the next time they have one. Otherwise, from a smaller stature guy (Mike Wier size!) with less athletic talent than you, I still recommend Mizuno irons. I can really carry my MP-32's far and straight. My 7 also goes 160, I just don't drive as long as you.

Yes...I played there once about 15 years ago. There was one hole that was so short I teed off with my putter. I didn't know about the good prices on clubs or the demo days. I will definitely check it out. Thanks.

[jaj23]

For those of you who were dying to know...I chose Mizuno MP57s with Project X Rifle 6.0 (non-flighted) shafts. Thanks for your help.

[i-Guy]

For those of you who were dying to know...I chose Mizuno MP57s with Project X Rifle 6.0 (non-flighted) shafts. Thanks for your help.

Congratulations!!! Mizuno makes a great product...

[MCC]

i-guy is right. You need to demo a bunch of clubs. Not too many though as it might become really confusing. Mizuno has a new tool called the Shaft Optimizer. I have heard really good things about it. You would have to go to a shop who carries Mizuno.

I carry my 7 iron 170. I have a 6-iron swing speed in the mid to high 80's which puts me right between a Project X 5.5-6.0. I have been told that you take your iron swing speed (say 85mph then you subtract 30 which equals 55 and then you would put a decimal in the middle 5.5) So, if you iron swing speed is 85mph you would be in a Project x 5.5. If it was 90mph you would be in a Project X 6.0. I hit the KBS shafts and did not like them at all. They felt way to whippy to me.

I play the AP2 irons with the Project X 6.0 Rifle shafts. They make the Project X shaft in two versions, rifle or flighted. Rifle is lower trajectory and flighted is higher trajectory. I love my AP2's and the shafts as well. I hope this helps.

I did not read far enough down the chain to see that you had made your choice before I responded. However, I think you made a great choice! It looks like you really did your research. It should pay off big time!