Irons Head Size

[The Tin Man]

I'm finding a smaller head easier to hit. What say you?

[WUTiger]

It's more than just head size - what about head design?

GI and SGI clubs with cavity back and perimeter weighting tend to have "average" to larger heads.

Smaller to average heads tend to be in the Player's and GI categories. Smaller heads have encounter less turf resistance, and can cut through the rough better. But, it helps to have a better swing for the Player's clubs.

It's a matter of tradeoffs, how good your basic swing is, and how much time you have to work on your game. If you have a decent swing, you can hit a small-headed 6i out of the rough and go for the green. If your swing isn't so good, you may do better to hit a large-headed 8i that will pop you out of the rough, and leave you short with a 30-yard pitch shot into the green.

I made a bold move to X20 Tours last season (GI clubs shafted with benevolent PX 5.0 rifle flighted). On days I'm swinging decently, these clubs are great. On klunky days, I sometimes wish I still had the basic X20s.

[mosnas]

Originally Posted by WUTiger

It's more than just head size - what about head design?

GI and SGI clubs with cavity back and perimeter weighting tend to have "average" to larger heads.

Smaller to average heads tend to be in the Player's and GI categories. Smaller heads have encounter less turf resistance, and can cut through the rough better. But, it helps to have a better swing for the Player's clubs.

It's a matter of tradeoffs, how good your basic swing is, and how much time you have to work on your game. If you have a decent swing, you can hit a small-headed 6i out of the rough and go for the green. If your swing isn't so good, you may do better to hit a large-headed 8i that will pop you out of the rough, and leave you short with a 30-yard pitch shot into the green.

I made a bold move to X20 Tours last season (GI clubs shafted with benevolent PX 5.0 rifle flighted). On days I'm swinging decently, these clubs are great. On klunky days, I sometimes wish I still had the basic X20s.

May I ask what the difference between the tour X20's and regular X20s are? as far as weighting and playability and workability ect.  I've never hit either and am looking for a X20 3 iron just not sure if I should get the tours or regulars.

[drglew]

Originally Posted by mosnas

May I ask what the difference between the tour X20's and regular X20s are? as far as weighting and playability and workability ect.  I've never hit either and am looking for a X20 3 iron just not sure if I should get the tours or regulars.

...my old sticks.   The X20 tours have less offset, and a standard hosel as opposed to the bore-through; the combination of those raises the overall center of gravity.  I believe the head size is also a touch smaller and the sole narrower on the Tour.  (also, the Tours had Project X shafts standard).  Net result is less forgiveness and lower launch, but a bit more workability.  However, the Tours in my experience were still quite forgiving--they're nowhere near being a blade, and if you believe in Maltby ratings, they still landed in the SGI category i believe.

[mosnas]

Originally Posted by drglew

...my old sticks.   The X20 tours have less offset, and a standard hosel as opposed to the bore-through; the combination of those raises the overall center of gravity.  I believe the head size is also a touch smaller and the sole narrower on the Tour.  (also, the Tours had Project X shafts standard).  Net result is less forgiveness and lower launch, but a bit more workability.  However, the Tours in my experience were still quite forgiving--they're nowhere near being a blade, and if you believe in Maltby ratings, they still landed in the SGI category i believe.

Really the SGI? That seems crazy seeing how the Razr X tours have a much wider soul than even the regular X20's, I'd love to get my hands on a X20 3 iron but apparently they are hard to come buy.

[WUTiger]

Originally Posted by mosnas

May I ask what the difference between the tour X20's and regular X20s are? as far as weighting and playability and workability ect.  I've never hit either and am looking for a X20 3 iron just not sure if I should get the tours or regulars.

I played the regular X20s in 2009 and 2010, and switched to X20 Tours in 2011. We'll start with drglew's very good analysis, and then I'll add some more info.

Originally Posted by drglew

...my old sticks.   The X20 tours have less offset, and a standard hosel as opposed to the bore-through; the combination of those raises the overall center of gravity.  I believe the head size is also a touch smaller and the sole narrower on the Tour.  (also, the Tours had Project X shafts standard).  Net result is less forgiveness and lower launch, but a bit more workability.  However, the Tours in my experience were still quite forgiving--they're nowhere near being a blade, and if you believe in Maltby ratings, they still landed in the SGI category i believe.

In comparing the two models, I will use the original Maltby six-category MPF rating system. ( Golf Digest has a simpler variation which uses only three).

Model	X20	X20 Tour
Stock shaft	Uniflex	PX, DG S300
Shaft insert	Borethrough	Standard hosel
Wedges available	P, A, S, L	PW only
PW loft	45*	46*
PW offset / bounce	0.200 / 7*	0.075" / 7*
PW length (steel)	35.25"	35.5"
5i loft	27*	27*
5i offset	0.250" / 2*	0.115" / 2.5*
5i length (steel)	37.75"	38"       Super GI
MFP category	Ultra GI
MPF Score	1051	716
Vertical Center of Gravity	.635	.712

When I got the X20s, I was swapping out of irons I had used for 14 years, and dumping Stiff shafts in favor or Regular. I tried the X20 Tours and really liked them, especially on feel:  I could tell on impact if I had a good, OK or poor shot. But, I didn't want "too much club" in changeover.

The X20 Uniflex shaft is midkick, and low-mid torque. Thus, despite the UGI head design, the short irons didn't hang up in the wind like the Big Berthas and Ping G10s I tried. X20 irons got the ball up decently, but large heads tended to hang up in the rough.

When I stumbled across some X20 Tours shafted in PX 5.0 rifle flighted on Callaway Pre-Owned, I took the gamble. With the flighted shafts, you get a little extra loft boost on the longer irons. I can actually hit the 3i again - normally for tight tee shots - due to the lift boost. Also, the shafts feel livelier than the Uniflex on the X20s. The two shafts are about the same on weight. The heads on the X20 Tours are about 1/4" narrower on the face than the X20s, have a thinner sole, and cut through the rough better. Plus, there's better feel.

I had the X20 Tours measured this spring, and the shafts are about a quarter-inch shorter than they are supposed to be. This may explain why I tend to hit the irons out toward the toe.

On the short irons, I seem to get better distance control with the X20 Tours.

The X20 Tours are quite manageable if you have a little time to work on your game. Lots of sets are available with PX 6.0 shaft versions, but you need pretty good clubhead speed to handle the PX Stiff flex.

[mosnas]

Well I dont even know how stiff a 6.0 shaft is to be honest im pretty new to the whole customization but apparently my new clubs were fitted with 6.0 PX.  Anyways thanks very much for your assistnce after reading your review i think i might look for an x20 tour.

[mlf16507]

6.0 is betweem stiff and x-extra stiff

5.0  Reg

5.5 Stiff

6.5 Extra Stiff

Hope this helps

[rebby]

I'm finding a smaller head easier to hit. What say you?

Agree, 100%. As if my sig didn't imply that... ;-)

[GaijinGolfer]

If you can hit them, small heads are the way to go.  More feel, more control, more workability.  Not to mention they are just prettier clubs.