Time to buy new irons..... opinions please

[Bullitt5339]

Well, my old Mizuno MX-23's are pretty much through. They've been through hell through the years, and even though I still love them, my short irons pretty much have no grooves left on them. I was debating sending them back to have them refinished, but with the price, I'm thinking about just ponying up for a new set of Mizunos now that I'm playing something that resembles golf.

I know my next set will be Mizunos, and I've hit a friend's MP-57's quite a few times, and they feel good, and I hit them pretty well. I've been eyeballing getting fitted for the MP-58s, They feel great and I seem to hit them well on the simulator, but I know that's not real golf. I'm just wondering if the MP-58's are where I should be looking as someone who's playing to a 12 handicap right now, and still improving. I only play 5-PW, so long iron performance doesn't affect me much at the current time.

Am I on the right track, or is there another option I should consider? I looked at the new JPX series, but just don't care for the looks at all.

[Danattherock]

A bit off subject, but Callaway Preowned will be having a big sale around Thanksgiving. "Black Thursday" or something. I got most of my clubs around this time last year and it was crazy cheap. I got my FT-9 driver for about $220, FT hybrids for about $75, and my X20 Tour irons for about $300. All were in "like new" condition and came to me brand new in shrink wrap. Just in case you are not certain on Mizunos, this could be a way to score good deals. Details are on the Callaway Preowned site of course. Lumber Bridge? I kayaked the Lumber River a few years ago. Pretty area.


-Dan

[GixxerTed]

I Hit every mizuno iron out there this past spring. I would do the same and see which one you liked the best. I ended up with the mp 52's and i'm happy. You def know when you flush one or miss it. The ball still goes a long way on the misses. I would suggest gettin which one you like hittin the best but i would def stay in the mp series.

[ghalfaire]

Around here they have a "manufactures' demo day" at one of the local course and you can try out most of the major brands on the range. If you don't have one where you live, try a PGA Tour Super Store or GolfSmith. They both have a pretty good set up to monitor club performance and you can directly on the same day compare clubs. But to me there is nothing like the range so I'd look for a manufactures' demo day in your area.

[Arsenal8807]

Man I want some Mizuno's lol.. Anyways, just go with what you like and I would stay with the MP series like Gix said, I think anyone below 15 can play MP's honestly and especially if your improving. If you hit the MP 58's well I would go with them and get fitted to make sure everything is just right.

[Bullitt5339]

Living just a few miles from Pinehurst, I'm lucky enough to get to hit whatever I want to, and there's like 4 Mizuno fitters within close driving distance to me. The real problem is that 90% of the time, I have to demo clubs on mats and a simulator, and I take some pretty nice divots when I play, so irons in the simulator give me no clue what they're really going to do for me on the course.

[sean_miller]

Man I want some Mizuno's lol.. Anyways, just go with what you like and I would stay with the MP series like Gix said, I think anyone below 15 can play MP's honestly and especially if your improving. If you hit the MP 58's well I would go with them and get fitted to make sure everything is just right.

I agree with the MP line being more user friendly than people think. After trying every set of blades I could get my hands on (in the early 1990s), I found the MP the easiest to hit well. That may still be the case. I'd also try the blades (no this isn't a blades discussion) from Adams, but they're about to become internet poser gear, so I'll stick with my Mizunos and Clevelands.

[wrx_junki]

Go to a Mizuno fitter if you have one available in your area. They can let you try all of their different heads with whatever shaft you want to try. If you know what club head and shaft you want, you might want to try a couple of reputable vendors on eBay for some real good deals. Think "timtheputterman" has MP-58's for like $500. Don't rule out those JPX irons from Mizuno, they might make your life much easier on the course who knows.

[Jaywun]

Check out KZG muscle backs. Real purty. Awesome clubs. You might actually hit them better. Good luck!

[Bullitt5339]

Well, I went to another local shop this afternoon, and they had 2 new sets of MP-57's on sale for $599 with Mizuno custom fitting, and a free Mizuno bag and 2 wedges. I may go that way, $200 bag, $200 worth of wedges, and a set of irons I know I hit well, I figure I can't lose.

[Arsenal8807]

Sounds good to me! Go for em man!

[Shindig]

Well, my old Mizuno MX-23's are pretty much through. They've been through hell through the years, and even though I still love them, my short irons pretty much have no grooves left on them. I was debating sending them back to have them refinished, but with the price, I'm thinking about just ponying up for a new set of Mizunos now that I'm playing something that resembles golf.

Sean is right about the MP-series (Mizuno's line of Game Enhancement irons) being very user friendly. I had no real problems with them (MP-57) when my handicap was in the mid-20s. The usual caveats of getting fit for them apply, but you should have no trouble with properly fitting irons (especially if you keep it as 5-P, as your current set of MX-23s are).

By the way, you mention the short irons haven't grooves left: how are the long irons? If you're hesitant, you could get the 8-P and keep your MX on the 5-7, and add those later. But unless you have a simply awesome short game, I suspect from your handicap that your iron striking is more than sufficient for the MP-series.

[Bullitt5339]

My short game definitely isn't anything I would call awesome, that's for sure.

[Shindig]

My short game definitely isn't anything I would call awesome, that's for sure.

Then you'll be fine with the MP-57s. And at the deal you mention above... well, if you need a bag and don't mind the new wedges.

(One side note: the PW for the -57 and -58 are at 47°, and you might want to consider your next wedges accordingly. The new -53s have a 46° )

[wrx_junki]

Well, I went to another local shop this afternoon, and they had 2 new sets of MP-57's on sale for $599 with Mizuno custom fitting, and a free Mizuno bag and 2 wedges. I may go that way, $200 bag, $200 worth of wedges, and a set of irons I know I hit well, I figure I can't lose.

That's an excellent deal. Just make sure they don't skimp you on the fitting just so they can unload whatever they have left in stock.

[Bullitt5339]

I doubt they would, I've been a good customer for a couple years with them, and they've always taken care of me.

I don't really "need" a new bag, but a nice Mizuno bag beats my old Callaway one....lol

[jest]

I just got a new set of jpx 800 pro irons and I love them. They look great and feel great. The only problem I have is they go where I aim them. No more compensating for off center shots. Also very workable as well.

[Gerald]

I have been hitting the JPX 800 (the non forged blue ones) and they were very friendly, the were a bit hard to work from left to right, but working them right to left wasn't a big problem and off center went almost as nice as a sound shot. Maybe I will buy these next year instead of the MP-57, but I still have to try out the JPX 800 Pro first......