Super Game Improvement Iron in a players set? Building your own progressive set?

[Mugs050]

I recently played golf down in Las Vegas, since it was only one round I didn't bring my own sticks. I use R9 TP's stiff all the way to 4 iron as I do not like hybrids, I tend to hook them too much. Anyway the rentals where speed blades, steel stiff shaft. I really liked how I hit the long irons (4,5,6) even after being a little haggard playing.

My question is, has anyone built there own progressive bag? I am thinking of looking to buy an individual speed blade or similar for my 4 iron and maybe 5 iron. Let me know what you think.

[saevel25]

I recently played golf down in Las Vegas, since it was only one round I didn't bring my own sticks. I use R9 TP's stiff all the way to 4 iron as I do not like hybrids, I tend to hook them too much. Anyway the rentals where speed blades, steel stiff shaft. I really liked how I hit the long irons (4,5,6) even after being a little haggard playing.

My question is, has anyone built there own progressive bag? I am thinking of looking to buy an individual speed blade or similar for my 4 iron and maybe 5 iron. Let me know what you think.

Sure. I have Mizuno MP-59 up to the 5 iron, then I added a JPX-Pro 4 iron because I wanted a tad more forgiveness and higher launch.

I am big fan of playing more GI style clubs in the long irons.

[rkim291968]

I recently played golf down in Las Vegas, since it was only one round I didn't bring my own sticks. I use R9 TP's stiff all the way to 4 iron as I do not like hybrids, I tend to hook them too much. Anyway the rentals where speed blades, steel stiff shaft. I really liked how I hit the long irons (4,5,6) even after being a little haggard playing.

My question is, has anyone built there own progressive bag? I am thinking of looking to buy an individual speed blade or similar for my 4 iron and maybe 5 iron. Let me know what you think.

I've done it more for the DIY fun of it (bought blow torch to remove club heads from shaft, shafts, shaft cutter, glue, the whole works).  If you don't DIY, I think it's easier to build but the question is "is that really necessary?"   IMHO, the cost effectiveness & effort do not justify building a progressive set for most golfers.

I have Taylormade Speedblade set if that's what you are referring to.  I get good distance separation up to 5i (I don't have 4i).

[WUTiger]

... My question is, has anyone built there own progressive bag? I am thinking of looking to buy an individual speed blade or similar for my 4 iron and maybe 5 iron. Let me know what you think.

It's been happening a long time. In the 1980s, Ping irons first hit the pro tour when players would use the Ping cavity-back 2i and 3i instead of their normal blades.

What you might do is the "gap analysis" that's normally used to see where hybrids should fit into your bag. Find the point in your irons where you're hitting clubs about the same distance.

Let's say you hit your 5i 180 yds. but only hit your 4i 183. In this case, you could plug in an SGI 4i.  If you can hit the 5i 180, but only when you catch it right, and you have a lot of mishits, then you might plug in an SGI 5i also.

The golf shops have lots of single SGI 3i and 4i available because buyers opt for hybrids at the low end.

Go into Golf Digest online and check "What's in the bag." Several pros have a GI 4i and 5i and Player's above that.

[Dave2512]

I did it with the Cleveland 588 TT and MT irons. Cool because it wasn't a huge difference in head design.

[Mugs050]

Awesome info guys! I am looking more for forgiveness and accuracy. I hit my 4i plenty long enough (210-220) but I hook it too much, with that being said if I could get a GI or SGI an extra 10-20 yards then I could use it as a off the tee club as well.

[Shindig]

Yep. In fact, that's what I have. My normal cavity-back irons P-6, and then larger cavities (Gliders) on 5 and 4, and a utility metal 3. Back when I was delusional enough to play players' irons, I experimented regularly with blade PW + 9, 8-5 players' cavities (MP-57), and then GI 4 iron. Brian Gay used to use something similar: blades from 8 or 9 on down, then players' cavities, and then MX-series irons for the longer ones. I think he was doing this back when he won 2-3 times in a short period.

[newtogolf]

Awesome info guys! I am looking more for forgiveness and accuracy. I hit my 4i plenty long enough (210-220) but I hook it too much, with that being said if I could get a GI or SGI an extra 10-20 yards then I could use it as a off the tee club as well.

With Mizuno you could create a combo set that considers of JPX-EZ Forged for long irons, JPX 850 Forged middle irons and MP-54 or MP-H5 for short irons

Titleist:  AP1 long irons, AP2 middle irons, CB or MB short irons.