New Iron distance

[tee4me]

I need to know something about Irons. I am just getting back into golf after a long break and was looking at getting some new irons. I have a set of callaway X 14 and was looking to upgrade. I went to the driving range after work today and after a bucket of balls went in to try some new irons. I took my 6 iron with me and hit five balls with it and hit it 160 to 162 yards. I hit the same five balls with a JPX 825 6 iron and hit it 178 to 182 yards. I am asking is this possible? Have irons come this far and should I be looking into new irons?

[wvaughn7]

The club technology has changed, but not to the point that it will give you that change in distance due to materials or construction. The main thing that changes your distances is that the newer clubs have been delofted by one to two clubs over their predecessors. In essence a 5 iron now is more like a 3 or 4 iron from years past. This is made up for now by players carrying extra wedges. It's all a marketing strategy to make you think your clubs are outdated and that it is time to buy new ones, when in reality all they have changed is the number stamped on the bottom.

[WUTiger]

Was able to find specs on both clubs:

JPX.825   6i = 28* loft, 37.25" steel shaft

X14    6i = 29* loft, 37.5" steel shaft (stock: constant weight steel, 108 gr., Midkick... possibly an early Uniflex?)

As far as raw specs go, the two are pretty much a wash. It's not like the JPX has one club stronger loft than the X14.

Modern JPX head probably gives a bit more lift on shots.... but... what shafts are you playing? Do the X14s have the stock (Uniflex?) shafts? What shaft is in the JPX? The model has several selections.

I would suspect a major part of the variance comes from different shafts.

Mizuno fitters offer the shaft optimizer gauge. Did you get a couple of recommended shafts from that?

[tee4me]

The X14 has the stock shafts Went back today and the pro was there and he said that someone left the club there and it was not a standard lie so the way I was holding the club I was changing the loft of it. The 825 fit the way I hold the club and the shaft was right for my swing. They do not the fitting system. He also showed me what I was doing wrong with my club and after hitting both a few times there was only 8 yards difference.