Irons - why is a thin profile desirable?

[Dave H]

As someone who has only played "super game improvement" irons, what's the big deal with a thin profile? I see it mentioned a lot around here...thanks.

[kpaulhus]

I think it has grown on me. I think working the ball also is a big factor that is not as easy to do with SGI irons.

[enis750]

thin profile clubs usually are a MB (muscle back) or blade type iron
as mentioned above, w thinner top line (IMO purely an esthetic thing), thinner sole (for digging through all turf types), less offset, smaller head, promote workability etc...

usually they appeal to lower hcp players (not always, but usually) because of all the mentioned above

FOR ME - i like the thinner sole and top line
cant stand the shovel look of the GI or SGI clubs

[tws1098]

As a higher handicap I hate looking at big clubs. I think for someone who doesn't work the ball it is more about confidence and what looks good to you. For me I like the look of a thin top line and sole. I also have more confidence in a smaller head driver (can't stand some of the mammoth drivers out there)

[j_moo]

As a higher handicap I hate looking at big clubs. I think for someone who doesn't work the ball it is more about confidence and what looks good to you. For me I like the look of a thin top line and sole. I also have more confidence in a smaller head driver (can't stand some of the mammoth drivers out there)

How to put this nicely, you hate looking at big clubs, but don't mind looking at big scores? This is why there are "it's a manhood thing" comments.

Play with equipment that suits your game. Most PGA pros do not play with blades and even Tiger plays with a mammoth driver.

[motteler621]

How to put this nicely, you hate looking at big clubs, but don't mind looking at big scores? This is why there are "it's a manhood thing" comments.

I will play with whatever I feel I am hitting better. Im all about forgivness and hitting the ball better, If it was a womens club that was doing it I would probably use it,lol. Ive used bigger irons and while I hit ok with them, I just never got that great feeling out of them. When I was looking for new irons I tried the callaway x 22 irons because I always liked how they had a thicker topline and I thought it would help my shots. Well after playing with them for a week I found them to look clunky at address because the topline was so thick. When titleist came to do a demo they handed me the ap1 and ap2, right when I held the ap2 up to the ball, I was thinking "this is how an iron should look at address" and they felt great through impact the entire time I was hitting. I was converted to a thin top line iron after that,

[j_moo]

I will play with whatever I feel I am hitting better. Im all about forgivness and hitting the ball better, If it was a womens club that was doing it I would probably use it,lol. Ive used bigger irons and while I hit ok with them, I just never got that great feeling out of them. When I was looking for new irons I tried the callaway x 22 irons because I always liked how they had a thicker topline and I thought it would help my shots. Well after playing with them for a week I found them to look clunky at address because the topline was so thick. When titleist came to do a demo they handed me the ap1 and ap2, right when I held the ap2 up to the ball, I was thinking "this is how an iron should look at address" and they felt great through impact the entire time I was hitting. I was converted to a thin top line iron after that,

If you are hitting better with a player's club, you shouldn't be a 15 handicap.

[MasterP]

I'm just the opposite. A big meaty iron inspires confidence when I set up to the ball. I was hitting a demo G15 at the range the other day and I immediately felt comfortable with that shovel in front of me. It was truly hard to misshit, everything was long and straight.

[motteler621]

If you are hitting better with a player's club, you shouldn't be a 15 handicap.

I dont really think Im hitting better but its definitly not worse. I was hitting the ap1s exactly the same as the ap2s. The ap2s just felt better to me. I would be happy with either. I hit the x 22's ok too but I am a very visual person at adress and it wasnt doing it for me. Again honestly I have hit them all the same although I could really feel the insert on the sole of the titleist clubs helping the momentum of my iron shots through impact.

[j_moo]

I dont really think Im hitting better but its definitly not worse. I was hitting the ap1s exactly the same as the ap2s. The ap2s just felt better to me. I would be happy with either. I hit the x 22's ok too but I am a very visual person at adress and it wasnt doing it for me. Again honestly I have hit them all the same although I could really feel the insert on the sole of the titleist clubs helping the momentum of my iron shots through impact.

I was killing the Callaway Prototype iron at a demo. Doesn't mean I'll do the same during a round time after time. New clubs usually feel better, that's why people buy them. Then they find out the truth, that's why there are so many used clubs at Roger Dunn.

[motteler621]

I was killing the Callaway Prototype iron at a demo. Doesn't mean I'll do the same during a round time after time. New clubs usually feel better, that's why people buy them. Then they find out the truth, that's why there are so many used clubs at Roger Dunn.

yea thats true. I dont think Im going to hit these great everytime I go out but I want to work with them because I like how they feel. I feel that alot of player irons are more forgiving than they use to be. Now I wouldnt want to buy a set of solid blade clubs.

[etlreams]

As someone who has only played "super game improvement" irons, what's the big deal with a thin profile? I see it mentioned a lot around here...thanks.

I'm sorry to see nobody is really addressing your question directly, Dave. I'm curious to read answers on this, too. I've always read/heard that, primarily, a thick topline can affect your ability to "work" the ball. I've also found that it affects the "feel" factor. Can't feel if you hit it pure or not.

I've never been great at working the ball, so I can't say how relevant the topline is. Personally, I think offset has a larger affect than the topline.

[motteler621]

I'm sorry to see nobody is really addressing your question directly, Dave. I'm curious to read answers on this, too. I've always read/heard that, primarily, a thick topline can affect your ability to "work" the ball. I've also found that it affects the "feel" factor. Can't feel if you hit it pure or not.

yea sorry dave. basically on more forgiving irons they make the irons slightly larger and put more weight on the toe and heel of the club so when you mishit it they are more fogiving but you dont get that great feeling or distance that a solid shot will provide on a players iron. Most forgiving irons have a wider sole than a players club because most beginners need help getting the ball up and this will help.

[j_moo]

yea thats true. I dont think Im going to hit these great everytime I go out but I want to work with them because I like how they feel. I feel that alot of player irons are more forgiving than they use to be. Now I wouldnt want to buy a set of solid blade clubs.

Certainly technology has made clubs easier to hit. Just make sure you don't take on too much club. Actually, take on the challenge. That's why some places have good return policies.

[motteler621]

Certainly technology has made clubs easier to hit. Just make sure you don't take on too much club. Actually, take on the challenge. That's why some places have good return policies.

ha, yea if I went out and couldnt hit worth a darn on the course with the ap2's, I would have no problem taking them back and getting the ap1's.

[Shanks A Million]

I will tell you why I like a thinner topline. For me, it's all about turf interaction. I find that I have a hard time convincing myself to get down properly with a larger clubhead. I feel like smaller clubs have less resistance, and cut through the grass easier. I also like smaller fairway woods, and plan to upgrade to a smaller 3 and 5 wood (the Titleist 909D3 and its predecessors look good). When I feel confident, I can hit down better on the ball, and get it airborne easier. I can hit SGI shovels too, but to be honest, the only real effect they have is to forgive an off center hit, and I rarely hit the ball very far off center. Most of my misses are thin shots anyway.

That being said, I play mostly cavity backs, and I am damn proud of that. I would never want to play a full set of blades, and have no reason to. Even if I hit them perfectly, I like the high flight of a cavity, and I love the confidence of some forgiveness. We all need forgiveness, we're all prone to mistakes after all. But the aesthetics are important, and a thin topline lets my mind feel the club will tear down through the ground like a razor.

[j_moo]

ha, yea if I went out and couldnt hit worth a darn on the course with the ap2's, I would have no problem taking them back and getting the ap1's.

Do that a few times and you'll be hitting the big brick attached to the end of a stick that you should have bought in the first place

[motteler621]

I will tell you why I like a thinner topline. For me, it's all about turf interaction. I find that I have a hard time convincing myself to get down properly with a larger clubhead. I feel like smaller clubs have less resistance, and cut through the grass easier. I also like smaller fairway woods, and plan to upgrade to a smaller 3 and 5 wood (the Titleist 909D3 and its predecessors look good). When I feel confident, I can hit down better on the ball, and get it airborne easier. I can hit SGI shovels too, but to be honest, the only real effect they have is to forgive an off center hit, and I rarely hit the ball very far off center. Most of my misses are thin shots anyway.

I agree with what you said 100%. Thats exaclty how I feel.