Picking new irons

[Dables]

I'm currently playing JPX 800's and am looking to transition back to something a little smaller as my game is starting to come around. Can't go to the JPX Pro's as I'm a lefty, and I think I've got it narrowed down to the MP 54 and the AP2. I'm kind of leaning towards the MP's as they just feel better to me.

My question is around offset and shaft selection. My miss is always a draw that turns into a hook. Will the "Players" irons have less offset? at least on the simulator, I seem to hit them straighter. Also, how much does the shaft weight play in this? It's been mentioned to me that I might benefit from a heavier or lighter shaft than what I'm playing. Appreciate the responses.

[PirateJim]

I'm currently playing JPX 800's and am looking to transition back to something a little smaller as my game is starting to come around. Can't go to the JPX Pro's as I'm a lefty, and I think I've got it narrowed down to the MP 54 and the AP2. I'm kind of leaning towards the MP's as they just feel better to me.

My question is around offset and shaft selection. My miss is always a draw that turns into a hook. Will the "Players" irons have less offset? at least on the simulator, I seem to hit them straighter. Also, how much does the shaft weight play in this? It's been mentioned to me that I might benefit from a heavier or lighter shaft than what I'm playing. Appreciate the responses.

Whether you will benefit from "players" clubs depends a lot of the quality of your ball striking.  If you hit them pure pretty much all the time they should help with consistency (so I'm told).  If, like me, you don't always find the center of the face, they may do more harm than good.  The offset question should be easily answered from the specs on the manufacturer's web sites.

A different offset might help you.  Lighter shafts should increase club head speed and thus add a little distance, but if you are looking at players clubs you probably aren't looking for longest anyway.  Some think heavier shafts help with a more consistent swing or just feel better.  These are questions that only a good fitter can help to sort out though.

Good luck, but don't be in too much of a rush to ditch your game improvement clubs just because your game has been improving.

[Dables]

Whether you will benefit from "players" clubs depends a lot of the quality of your ball striking.  If you hit them pure pretty much all the time they should help with consistency (so I'm told).  If, like me, you don't always find the center of the face, they may do more harm than good.  The offset question should be easily answered from the specs on the manufacturer's web sites.

A different offset might help you.  Lighter shafts should increase club head speed and thus add a little distance, but if you are looking at players clubs you probably aren't looking for longest anyway.  Some think heavier shafts help with a more consistent swing or just feel better.  These are questions that only a good fitter can help to sort out though.

Good luck, but don't be in too much of a rush to ditch your game improvement clubs just because your game has been improving.

Thanks for the reply Jim. I'm not really looking for forgiveness, so to speak. I'm a pretty solid ball striker, I'd just really like to get dialed in. Up until my current clubs I've always played blades, and have a set of 690 MB's I pull out when I'm really feeling it. I'm really looking for something in between.

I guess my biggest question on the shaft is if I'm more or less likely to hook the ball with one shaft over another, assuming the same swing with each. I play a really consistant draw, but when it's a miss it's a hook, and I feel that the clubs I'm playing may play a role in that. Will definately have a fitter involved in my choices, just wondering if something may work better for me than the dynamic golds I've always played

[WUTiger]

Draw-hook miss tendencies... Several things could contribute:

• Too flexible a shaft
• Too light a shaft (leads to overswinging)
• Too much offset in clubhead (you tend to set up slightly closed)
• Grips that are too thin (allows too much hand action-rotation)

For your winter Science Fair Project, you can test for all four! Good luck, and let us know what happens.