Just found out something about Forged Irons

[dbuck]

Seriously... I have a hard enough time just hitting the ball with the club. I should aim for the center but just a little bit towards the heel?

Ha ha, I think we all feel that way at one time or another!

Every club has a "sweet spot", and just as you should have a target you want your ball to hit, you should have in your mind to hit the sweet spot. If you have a target, the ball is more likely to go where you want than if you don't have a target. Same with the sweet spot--but what we are really saying is that you swing the club on a consistent path through the ball and that path should bring the sweet spot in contact with the ball. Practice makes perfect, or more appropriately, good practice makes you more consistent. I have a set of 1979 Wilson Staff Tour Blades--the quintessential "players club". If you hold the shaft and poke the face as described above, the center of gravity is slighty toward the heel from the center of the face. I have a set of 1992 Titleist DCI Gold. Part of the marketing for that club was the the center of gravity was in the center of the clubface "where most players address the ball". The cavities vary in shape and depth through the set for redistribution of weight. Sure enough, when the "poke test" is applied, the center of gravity seems closer to the center of the face. Now by center face in both instances, I mean the sanblasted and grooved area, not necessarily the center of the head from heel to toe. Also on older drivers, especially persimon, you'll find the center of gravity is a little low and slightly toward the heel. In all cases, by slightly, I mean much less than .5 inch.

[Shanks A Million]

In any case, it doesn't really matter. A few swings on the range will teach you where your sweet spot is, and to be honest, I've never really had any issues not being able to find the sweetspot, with the exception of those on Nickent clubs, which seem like they don't exist.

[OChack]

Um... id prefer to hit them on the center of the face and loose ten yards than hit the hossel and hit it right 150 yards... just saying...:)

[dbuck]

Um... id prefer to hit them on the center of the face and loose ten yards than hit the hossel and hit it right 150 yards... just saying...:)

Not talking about anywhere near the hosel, just slightly off center. If you ever hit it, believe me you will try to do it again.

But in reality, Shanks is right, a few swings will show you where an acceptable shot is.

[B Keller]

Seriously... I have a hard enough time just hitting the ball with the club. I should aim for the center but just a little bit towards the heel?

What I have found that works best for me is to line up the ball just a bit towards the heel. When I make my swing it promotes striking the ball more in the center of the club. When I line up in the middle I tend to hit it more on the toe.

[Shanks A Million]

What I have found that works best for me is to line up the ball just a bit towards the heel. When I make my swing it promotes striking the ball more in the center of the club. When I line up in the middle I tend to hit it more on the toe.

Again, you're overthinking it. Any of this promotes hitting at the ball, and not through it. All you need to do is take a few swings with a club, and your body should naturally adapt to the feel of it. Overthinking is the best way to ruin your game.

[WUTiger]

Club designer Ralph Maltby covers this in his analysis of clubheads. The Maltby Playability Factor (MPF) takes into account both the vertical center of gravity (VCOG) and the horizontal center of gravity (the C Dimension). The C Dimension measures where the sweet spot is on the heel-center-toe line. This varies from club model to model, regardless whether it is cast or forged.

I don't know what this guy was smoking. The method of manufacture has absolutely nothing to do with where the center of gravity is. That's like saying that cars made with metric sized parts are faster. The sweet spot on different clubs will be different, and it may be closer to the heel on one club, or closer to the toe on another.

[Shanks A Million]

Club designer Ralph Maltby covers this in his analysis of clubheads. The Maltby Playability Factor (MPF) takes into account both the vertical center of gravity (VCOG) and the horizontal center of gravity (the C Dimension). The C Dimension measures where the sweet spot is on the heel-center-toe line. This varies from club model to model, regardless whether it is cast or forged.

Yes, Malby considers a toe biased sweet spot to be more playable I believe. Of course, vertical COG is a major part of his MPF.

[iacas]

Again, you're overthinking it. Any of this promotes hitting at the ball, and not through it. All you need to do is take a few swings with a club, and your body should naturally adapt to the feel of it. Overthinking is the best way to ruin your game.

How is "I've found something that works for me so I just do that every time" overthinking anything?

[jamo]

Again, you're overthinking it. Any of this promotes hitting at the ball, and not through it. All you need to do is take a few swings with a club, and your body should naturally adapt to the feel of it. Overthinking is the best way to ruin your game.

What does this have to do with forged irons?

[JWL1957]

Interesting. I just cleaned my irons before going to the range the other day and noticed the ball marks were all slightly off center towards the heel. Does that mean I'm awesome? Just kidding.

NO...... it just means that you are getting closer to a shank. Heheeeeee just kidding pards.

I probably shouldnt even mention that word. I them them for almost a year one time and it was brutal.

[Shanks A Million]

What does this have to do with forged irons?

Nothing, that's my point. This whole thread has nothing to do with forged irons. With any iron set, you set up, take some swings, and find where the sweetspot is. When you find it, you alter your setup to fit. Not that many people return the club back exactly where it was at address, so setting up with the sweetspot right behind the ball is not always the best thing to do. I merely find the general lay of the club, then go from there. It's a fairly natural process.

[sean_miller]

Nothing, that's my point. This whole thread has nothing to do with forged irons. With any iron set, you set up, take some swings, and find where the sweetspot is. When you find it, you alter your setup to fit. Not that many people return the club back exactly where it was at address, so setting up with the sweetspot right behind the ball is not always the best thing to do. I merely find the general lay of the club, then go from there. It's a fairly natural process.

Different strokes for different folks. I just look at clubface alignment at this point in the game, but there was a time when I had ball position (relative to the heel or toe) on my preshot checklist. This is somewhat relevant if certain irons have the COG in a different place than another set - regardless of whether they're forged. One reason why buying slightly used (ball marks - but grooves not worn out) players irons is a great idea - some dude already found the sweet spot - just get the lofts and lies done.

[cookedonphonics]

Interesting. I just cleaned my irons before going to the range the other day and noticed the ball marks were all slightly off center towards the heel. Does that mean I'm awesome? Just kidding.

HAHA! Indeed you are, sir! lol