The next step!?

[In the woods]

I currently play the Cobra s9 Irons and have been using them for the last few years. I really enjoy these clubs as they are designed to make you do just that. I hit them far and straight as advertised. They are truly a huge step over the GTS 2000 irons I was playing. The question I have is where would your next step be in regards to irons. I know the s9's are game improvement and they have improved my game. I am starting to wish I had a little more feel in my clubs. Things like mishits that I can't really tell are mishits, I feel, are causing me to slow in moving forward with my game. By no means do I need a pure blade but would like something that is not so game improving if that makes sense. What do you think? Thanks in advance.

[tweaky]

the BEST thing you can do is to find a certified clubmaker/fitter who'll work with you to help you find the best match.  By certified clubmaker/fitter i don't mean the guy at Golf Galaxy, Dick's Sporting Goods, or any of the "big box" stores unless they can build one club at a time for you to try before you buy.  failing that you're on your own as far as REAL improvement, even tho' you may come close with "off the shelf" stuff.

[Shindig]

Well, first, you can integrate a set if you want.  I don't know how well your lofts will match, but I suspect you can get your shorter irons replaced with the S2 forged (if you want to maintain a Cobra set).  This year's Cobra Pro CBs feel nice, too.  And Cobra does make blades, if you want your shortest irons to be blades.  There's no obligation for your entire iron set to be the same name, or even the same manufacturer.  And if you're comfortable with the less-game improving short irons, there's no reason you can't keep your longer irons from the set you have now.

I mentioned Cobra already, after seeing the irons in your bag now.  Other companies: Adams makes some nice sets;  I can see being very happy with a CB2-CB1-MB combination.  Callaway's players' irons feel great and are plenty forgiving;  look into the Razr TOUR and Razr X Forged.    Mizuno's forgings are famous;  look into the JPX 800 Forged and the MP-53s.    The Nike Pro Combos are nice (although if I were building a Nike mixed irons, it'd be this year's pro cavities and last year's blades).    Ping's S56 look like blades at address, and aren't bad for a cast iron.

You're in Oceanside... willing to make a bit of a car trip?  Wander up the 5 to Roger Dunn's huge Santa Ana store.  That place is huge, and you can probably try all of the above.  You can do that any day.

Or, if you're free next Fri/Sat, Carlsbad Golf Center ( http://www.carlsbadgolfcenter.com/ ) has a huge demo day.  That's, what, 15 minute drive from you?  I would be there if I didn't have something going on up here.  Go check that out (I went to their last one);  tell the various representatives that you're interested in a mixed set that includes some players' irons.  Take a notebook and write down what you think of the irons (feel, etc) and the representatives (if they're rude to you, they don't make a sale.  You want a better feeling club;  don't let them try to let you demo only the super-huge-cast-cavity clubs).

Some other notes:  make sure the club looks good to you at address and feels good when you hit it.  Make sure you get fit for the clubs -- at the demo day, any club you're considering, ask the representative what they suggest for shafts for you.  Some companies do a great job fitting you (Ping, Mizuno).  I've seen reps from other companies ask you how far you hit a particular club and then just list a flex.

Let me know if there's anything else I can help with.

[In the woods]

Thanks for the replies.

Shindig,

As you guessed, I do like the cobra irons and would really like to stick with the brand.  I like the S2 Forged but I do not know anyone who has played them or anything similar to them.  They appear from pictures to be slimmer looking at address, the S9's are starting to feel big when I look down at them in my stance.  As far as the demo day, I already plan on spending a lot of time out there.  I would like to see what Cobra has to offer and I was thinking about looking into some Callaway Irons(forged of course).  I was in Santa Ana a couple of weeks ago, where is that store located.  I know there is the huge Golfsmith just off the highway, is that what you are talking about or is that a different store completely?  Thanks for the advice.

[Shindig]

Originally Posted by In the woods

Thanks for the replies.

Shindig,

As you guessed, I do like the cobra irons and would really like to stick with the brand.  I like the S2 Forged but I do not know anyone who has played them or anything similar to them.  They appear from pictures to be slimmer looking at address, the S9's are starting to feel big when I look down at them in my stance.  As far as the demo day, I already plan on spending a lot of time out there.  I would like to see what Cobra has to offer and I was thinking about looking into some Callaway Irons(forged of course).  I was in Santa Ana a couple of weeks ago, where is that store located.  I know there is the huge Golfsmith just off the highway, is that what you are talking about or is that a different store completely?  Thanks for the advice.

I used to be a big fan of Cobra too.  A friend of mine just took up golf, and I gave him (to borrow, initially at least) my old F-speed driver, 3W, and 5W, along with two Baffler hybrids.   So I definitely understand the love.

The Santa Ana store is just off the 55.  Take the 5 to the 55, exit McFadden, make a left, then another left when you enter the parking lot.  Getting home is easy too:  exit parking lot, right onto 55, take that to 405, down to 5.

The GolfSmith you're thinking of is just off the 5, in Lake Forest (possibly at that exit), right near the Y interchange.  That's an awesome store too.

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone playing the S2s at the moment, so I can't really help you on that one.

[In the woods]

So what made you get away from Cobra?

[Shindig]

Originally Posted by In the woods

So what made you get away from Cobra?

Well, by early 2008, my handicap had dropped to the mid-20s, and I was ready for new irons.  My thought was to go from SGIs (my starter set) to GI irons.  I had my eye on the Cobra FPs.  I went to a few Cobra demo days, and the representative had his eye on selling a set of UFIs.  I was already a little iffy on the lofts of the FPs (my one complaint about the set itself), and the UFI PW was something like 43 degrees (by contrast, the set I ended up getting has a 9-iron with that loft).

In one demo day, I was able to try both, and thought the FPs felt and looked better too.  By the next fitting day (demo/fitting event), when my plan was to finalize my purchase decision and get fit for them, I had thought I'd give the forged CBs a try too, and try to mix a set.  It took some talking to get the representative (same guy) to let me take a few swings with the FPs.  Before it, and after each swing, he'd tell me how much higher and better I'd hit the UFIs.  Then I mentioned I was thinking of mixing the FPs with the Forged CBs.  Unfortunately, I had told the rep my handicap at one point, and he said an emphatic no, not with that handicap.  I put the FP back in the demo bin, told him I'll go with another brand, and walked away.

A few weeks later, I went to a golf show and demoed the clubs from various companies.  I did some research up front for which iron(s) I wanted to try from each company, and took notes on how they reacted (and what they let me try).  I ultimately ended up deciding on Mizuno MP-57s, although I had also entertained a few other options.

By the way, I've since tried Cobra clubs without issue, and I've since had a worse experience with TaylorMade.