How to tell when you need new irons?

[cyclone98]

It's personal preference. I typically upgrade my irons 5-7 years and keep the replaced irons as backup. Also, I routinely have the irons' lie and loft checked to ensure they're correctly aligned since I hit off artificial turf at my local range.

[pavespawn]

I have a brand new set of Nike VR split cavities that I am benching to go back to my TM Firesoles. I sold my R7s thinking I would like the Nikes but I guess not. I will be looking to sell the Nikes whenever I get qualified here on the board. Once you get used to a set of irons it is really hard to let go (or at least it is for me). At one point I had traded in my Firesoles for some Mizunos and I went back the next day and returned them and bought my old clubs back.

[pavespawn]

I do have a related question: Does anyone ever get their grooves reconditioned?

[ohiolefty]

Piggybacking off of the previous post...

if you've got forged clubs...what do you, or CAN you, do when the grooves are fried?

[hero12]

I've had my titelists for a little over 4 years. Even though my pw-8 irons are getting very wore down, I don't want to change because I hit them well. Even if the victory red blades are really cheap now...

[James_Black]

Piggybacking off of the previous post...

use a groove sharpener.

[jsocas]

use a groove sharpener.

just curious, does the groove sharpener make the grooves deeper?? would this make the grooves too deep and not conform the rules?? talking bout pre and post 2010. I have a groove sharpner for my old wedges and every time I sharpen them I get a shred out of the bottom of the groove. Certainly does make a hudge difference the way the ball spins back after it is sharpened, but I wonder if those clubs will have groove volumes within the rules (either pre 2010 if you have square grooves in your irons or within 2010 rules if you have V shpe groves).

[James_Black]

just curious, does the groove sharpener make the grooves deeper?? would this make the grooves too deep and not conform the rules?? talking bout pre and post 2010. I have a groove sharpner for my old wedges and every time I sharpen them I get a shred out of the bottom of the groove. Certainly does make a hudge difference the way the ball spins back after it is sharpened, but I wonder if those clubs will have groove volumes within the rules (either pre 2010 if you have square grooves in your irons or within 2010 rules if you have V shpe groves).

I doubt they'd stay completely legal, but it's only a tenth of MM.

btw, the new grooves aren't V grooves. They're just slightly smaller and less sharp. Check out the titleist website.

[Wera285]

I have a old set of Wilson 1200 lt irons from the early eighties. I can hit them well, but I do have frequent miss hits. I was wondering if I should keep these clubs and just put on some new grips, or get something newer that might be easier to hit. I really like they way these feel when I hit a solid shot, but that doesnt always happen.

[WUTiger]

Most of my iron changes have reflected changes in my game/life.

Traded in Spalding TopFlites because they had regular flex shafts. Between age 18 and 21 I put on 30 lbs., and was hooking the ball. Got MacGregor MTs (stiff) to straighen out shots.

Traded in MTs because they were basically blades, and technology had changed. Got component Ping Eye-2 clones w/stiff TT Dynalite (high launch) shafts.

Traded in clones for X20s because I was nearing 60 years of age, and was losing distance bigtime AND - strangely - getting ball too high on short iron shots. Midkick Uniflex shaft functions as R or S, depending on how hard you swing. Smooth tempo has since returned to (most of) my iron shots - don't feel like I have to kill the ball to move it out.