Going from SGI to player's clubs

[lionking]

Here's a mid-handicapper's experience going form SGIs (2007 Cobra S9s graphite stiff) to player's clubs (ping i15 steel reg). I'm a decent ballstriker (~9 GIRs) with a 100-105 SS.

1) For all the talk about strong lofts with SGIs, i didn't see a much difference in distance. Maybe like 2-5 yards in carry depending on club.

2) Although the lofts are stronger with the Cobras, the balls go higher. For example, the 44 deg S9 PW goes higher than the 46 deg i15 PW. Same with the other irons. Don't know, might be the shaft.

3) Working the ball from L to R (fade) is easier with the i15s. Working the ball from R to L (draw) is about the same. Working the ball height wise is also about the same.

4) Forgiveness is negligible except for really bad shots (S9s obv. more forgiving)

5) Don't know if it's the new conforming grooves or the lack of height, but i had trouble getting the ball to land softly with the i15s, especially the 5 and 6 irons. Even a well struck PW from a tight lie rolled out much more than the S9s.

I played about 36 holes with the i15s and decided to put the old S9s back in. Got a lot of compliments on the i15s which made me feel good but at the end of the day, i just couldn't get over the trajectory and rollout.

Would be interested in other's thoughts/experience on playing/transitioning from SGIs to player's clubs.

PS: Haven't decided if i'm going to ebay the i15s or not... probably will let’em sit for awhile.

[alomar123]

Yeah the s9's were ultra improvement irons, so the move down to just game improvement(maltby ratings) will be different, but I think the change into steel shafts will be more of a factor.

[RandomRaiderTTU]

Very interesting to hear.

I'm looking to buy some i15s pretty soon and upgrade over my Big Bertha 2006s. When I was looking at new irons 2-3 years back, I narrowed it down to the BBs and the Cobra S9's. Loved them both, but went with the Big Berthas.

I've hit the i15 demo 7-iron a hundred times and I can agree that they are easier to work the ball. Like you, I had an easier time hitting a fade with the i15s and draws were about the same.

[drglew]

lionking, a few years ago when my index had steadily improved from 18 to ~13 i decided to make the jump to players irons, some nice Hogan Apex FTX's (transition set, true muscleback short irons to slight cavity in the longs). Wrecked my game & confidence; "workability" = "hookability" or "sliceability". Yes, when well struck, they felt like butter. But my swing wasn't good enough for them, and the relative lack of forgiveness killed me. Anyway, within a year my index soared back up to 18 or so.

Now i'm stuck with game improvement irons, and have worked my index down to 13-ish again. Until i get into single digits i hope i don't make the same mistake (although other threads about the excitement of new blades and also one on old Hogan's are again -- tempting -- me -- to -- dust -- them -- off....wooah, down boy!).