Should I avoid "game improvement irons"?

[BadGolfer]

When I posted that I was thinking about getting a draw driver, my thread exploded with people cautioning me against it. I took the advice and got a regular driver and by changing my swing my slice is pretty much gone without buying a special driver that might hurt me later on.

Now I'm looking at irons, and I have a wide choice in the $500-$600 range. I haven't been able to really test much yet, but I was wondering if the same thinking applied to game improvement irons. I'm referring to models like the Ping G15's which have a much wider sole which apparently allows for more forgiveness... but less shaping of the ball. I could just as easily go for more traditional irons like Taylormade Burners.

I don't know if my game will ever be at the point where I will be intentionally putting spins and draws and fades on the ball with my irons, but then again I never thought I was going to get rid of my slice.

So, will I be kicking myself 5 years from now if I buy PING irons? I'm not planning on buying new clubs for a loooooooooooooooooooooong time after this.

[motteler621]

i think you should get what you hit good and like as far as appearence no matter what. Just make sure you test them out extensivly. I know some sites have like a 30 day test trial or something on sets. You can always do that or go to a local store and ask to demo a set for awhile.

btw, you dont have to keep them for a long time, its kind of like an investment, not a very good one but still. You will be able to trade your irons in and get a few hundred for them when you want to switch.

[BadGolfer]

  motteler621 said:

i think you should get what you hit good and like as far as appearence no matter what. Just make sure you test them out extensivly. I know some sites have like a 30 day test trial or something on sets. You can always do that or go to a local store and ask to demo a set for awhile.

Yes I will definitely end up testing a lot and check around to see if I can try before I buy. I just wanted to check that this wasn't a big no-no like buying a draw driver when you are only 19.

I am still using my $200 starter set irons which just about break my wrists every time I hit with them. My hands are still sore from playing this morning.

[Gordon McTavish]

Find something that suits your eye, get a good demo session (on course if possible, to test them in a variety of lies / situation)... and then purchase the clubs that perform best for you.

"Game Improvement" really just means "Hides your flaws for a while," and even that is debatable. I can curve a G15 hybrid on a severe left-to-right path, so I don't know how these clubs are so "unworkable!"

If you are interested in Ping, check out the i15s as well. They aren't exactly "Tour Professionals only."

[BadGolfer]

Thanks. Yeah my handicap isn't 17, I put that on there when I first joined and though that was for 9 holes...

[Gordon McTavish]

  BadGolfer said:

Thanks. Yeah my handicap isn't 17, I put that on there when I first joined and though that was for 9 holes...

I've just corrected my post, but even so. I bought a set of i15s earlier in the year and have finally broken 100 (still looking for more consistency before the winter).

[sean_miller]

  Gordon McTavish said:

I've just corrected my post, but even so. I bought a set of i15s earlier in the year and have finally broken 100 (still looking for more consistency before the winter).

What did the broken version of your post look like?

New courses are really hard. I'm totally serious. There are too many forced carries and the way the set the pins nowadays would have got someone fired back in my day. If I was starting over, I'd go with all the game assistance I could get, as long as the irons weren't going to hold be back in a year or two.

[Gordon McTavish]

  sean_miller said:

What did the broken version of your post look like?

I made reference to BadGolfer being a 17 handicap. Then it was changed to 25 just after I posted, and now it's 30. I've heard of statistics tracking, but this is silly now!

[BadGolfer]

  Gordon McTavish said:

I made reference to BadGolfer being a 17 handicap. Then it was changed to 25 just after I posted, and now it's 30. I've heard of statistics tracking, but this is silly now!

I don't know my handicap! 25 seemed too low so I upped it. I wouldn't put too much stock in that handicap number I have, as I am still rapidly improving. When I get to my limit and am not improving a couple strokes each time I go out, I'll let you guys know. Just from buying my new driver and changing my swing to stack and tilt (or what I think stack and tilt is from watching videos) I have changed my drives from going 130 yards out and 40 yards to the left to hammering them straight out easily more than 200 yards fairly consistently. Which is why I really want new irons because I definitely feel like it would improve my game over the scrap metal I am playing with now.

[ks8829]

I would go to your golf store, tell them what you want out of new clubs and let them suggest a few brands and models and test and compare them with your irons and see what you notice and feel after hitting them. Do not buy them but think it over and hit as many different clubs that you might consider and after a couple of weeks you will know exactly what you want. Many golf stores also offer guarantee or you can exchange for other items or brand clubs.

[dmnoland]

You could do a split set like I am thinking about. I'm thinking about a 3 or 4 iron through 6 or 7 in a G15 and 7 or 8 through PW in a I15. My 58* is already a Ping Tour W and I'm also thinking about a 54* in the Tour line since the I15 line stops at PW or UW.

[mike295]

This is a really good question, I also would like to know as well. What are the benefits to these types of clubs? I am currently using some inherited Mizunos MX -23's. Which are ok, but they seem to be custom made for the previous owner. I tried out the Nike Machspeed irons and they felt very good fast off the club and got high real quick.

[talismand]

If tour pros can game G15s, you'll be able to as well. Plus, the GI aspect will allow you to enjoy the game more as you improve your swing. And as a previous poster said, you will most likely recoup a good portion of your purchase price back when (if?) you decide to move on.

[gspjeb]

honestly, it could be many years before you outgrew a set of G-15s if ever. I play with several scratch golfers that work the ball very well and at least 2 of them game G-15s. Several others have different GI irons. Point being, if you improve so much that you outgrow that set in a few years then I am sure you will be more than glad to pay for a different set. Good luck

[2bGood]

If you are just starting, I would buy used clubs. Your swing changes so much in the first year or so and you learn what you like in clubs, that I you will most likely want to to change clubs after a few years. Used clubs are way cheaper and work just as well. Best part is you can resell them with very
little loss

[zeg]

Good posts here. I definitely agree that used clubs are the way to go for a beginner, that way the cost if you decide you made a mistake will be that much lower.

I would definitely not avoid game improvement irons. Most of them are not as silly looking as they used to be, and while I'm sympathetic to the perspective that you can eventually benefit from learning to hit more demanding clubs, when you're just starting out there's no glory in adding difficulty. As long as you're comfortable with the appearance of the club, you will learn more by getting a decent result out of a decent swing than you will by being repeatedly reminded that you missed the sweet spot. Don't be misled, it's still darn hard to hit even a GI club well, so I'd think you'd be happy with them for a long time...

[xxsoultonesxx]

My first decent set of clubs were Callaway x18-r's. I played them until I felt like I needed a stiffer setup than what I learned to shovel turf with...I borrowed a few kinds of stiffer irons and decided that I liked more of a blade "look" at address, I found it to be confidence inspiring and demanding of a good swing. The clubs I have now are a cavity back blade style iron, somewhere in the middle of GI/Player-ish. I felt I could progress well with them and not feel like I was over-compensating for any swing flaws. I feel like they have forced me to play better. On the other hand, I still occasionally am reminded that I'm not a tour pro when I hit the ball poorly, and a big chubby iron might have gotten the ball a little further than my irons.

[Gerald]

  mike295 said:

This is a really good question, I also would like to know as well. What are the benefits to these types of clubs? I am currently using some inherited Mizunos MX -23's. Which are ok, but they seem to be custom made for the previous owner.

There is nothing wrong with the MX-23 and they can be easely changed to fit you, just visit a club fitter and get them fixed for you .... great clubs !