MP-33 compared with MP-14 and MP-29

[roverT7]

Has anyone had the chance to play with each of these clubs enough to make a good comparison among the 3? I am currently playing the -33's, and I've enjoyed them very much. I continue to research the -14's and -29's, and I notice that some players very much prefer one of the 3 over the other two.

What I know about the -14's and -29's is very basic. The lofts on the -14's are weaker than the -29's by 2 degrees, and the -14 and -33 share the same lofts on the 6, 7, and 8 irons. Othewise the -14's are 1 degree weaker than the -33's.

Does anyone have any real experience to share to differentiate the clubs in areas such as feel, etc.

Thanks,

Rob

[tigerwoo]

I am not sure why you are thinking of going to 'older' clubs? I've had Mizuno MP29's for 8 years and have just recently replaced them with Clevelands that are a bit more forgiving. I have lost the 'feel' that the MP29's had but I have gained in forgiveness and I will accept that tradeoff for now. In terms of feel though I have yet to hit a club that was better than my MP29's. Though I have not hit either the 14's or 33's.

[cbe_golfer]

I play MP-14s even if many might think my handicap does not warrant it. I got here within a year of starting golf and am pleased as punch with that.
Bought mine off ebay for a steal. Put a nice swing on the ball and they are the best feeling in the world. I cant hit my 3 iron though...yet. Getting there.

http://equip2golf.com/specifications...uno_mp_14.html

[roverT7]

Tigerwoo, I am just looking at these clubs because everyone sings their praises and they are cheap. [I'm a grad student with no money:(]. Get the grips replaced and they will work as well for me as any new club. Plus, I think Mizuno's are the best looking clubs, but I am not yet sold on the "cut muscle" line of clubs. So it would be cool to pick up these 2 sets in the next couple of years just to take them to the range occassionally, see how the lofts and heads affect ball flight, let my kids play with them one day, etc. ;) Just basic collector stuff.

But don't worry, I also think about new sets. I cannot wait for when a set of used CG1 black pearls runs <$300. Have you ever hit those? Amazing clubs.

Yeah, cbe, I'm not "good enough" to play MP-33's either, if you subscribe to the theory that only very low handicaps should play blades. However, the good news for me is that I don't subscribe to that theory:) That's the other reason I want the -14's and -29's. Just so when someone tells me I'm not good enough to play mp-33's, I can respond "well, I've got -29's and -14's in the trunk? How about those?"

Really though, my biggest problem by far is alignment. Either because I am dense, or because I played for so long with incorrect form, it feels totally foreign for me to line up correctly. When I decided to try and get better, I realized that I would line up with my shoulders either on target line or just left of the line, while my feet were lined up well right of the target line. As a result, I would unknowingly compensate in the swing path, grip, etc...

I ended up over compensating for this problem by opening my stance instead of properly aligning both feet and shoulders just left of target line. Many fades followed...("Many bothans died to bring us this information." Cheasiest line ever from a great movie. Know what movie it was?)

So, I don't have a problem hitting the ball, I have a problem hitting it the right direction. This is what I work on every other day at the range, and I don't see how the clubs make a difference with regard to fixing this problem.

Thanks to you both for the feedback.

As for my impressions of the -33's (not stating much as I've only played them for about 3 months, and have only been playing for < 2 years):

- I don't seem to have any problem getting the ball in the air. If anything, I am concerned that the flight is too high. I would like to be able to lower the trajectory at will, with sufficient spin to stop the ball as it comes screaming into the fairway. But I am sure that this is a goal of most golfers...I know that the -29's are stronger, which may result in a lower ball flight. However, players 30 years ago could drive the ball into the wind with great speed, and their lofts were weaker than the -33's. Therefore, loft alone isn't the answer.

Tigerwoo, how does the ball flight compare between the -29's and your knew set?

- Distance is fine. ~130 w/pitching wedge moving up in 10 yard increments. However, I really have to be striking the ball well to make headway with the 3 and 4 irons. If I am not striking the ball well, the 3, 4, and 5 irons all seem to fly about ~180-190.

- I never try and work the ball, as I want to get consistent hitting it straight. So I have no idea about the ease of "workability".

Rob