Which worse- missing 7-iron or one with different specs than rest of irons?

[jessb_55]

So i picked up a nice set of Ping E1 irons this summer for $100 and once I got home realized the set was missing both the 7 and PW irons. There was so many other wedges in the bag with it and I was so excited. The lady that sold them for her brother sold two sets and apparently they were sold with the other set. I've posted ads on CL hoping the other buyer would see but haven't had any luck,

Anyway, I really like the clubs and think I will keep them ( they are stiff shafts which makes me question if I will) but am worried about how big of a deal for both me and a prospective buyer not having the two clubs. I think the 7 iron is a bigger deal than the pitching wedge but maybe I'm wrong. So I've been watching ebay and there have been a couple single irons with stiff shaft and blue dot for around a $100 each which I think is redicoulous but this weekend someone posted one for $50 however discovered theirs has the Ping CFS shaft and mine have the Nippon Tour105 shaft on them.

 

That being said in your all opinions is it better to be missing a club or have a club with a different shaft? Or any other recommendations on where I could possibly find some matching single irons for sale?

 

Thanks in Advance

[gregsandiego]

Yeah I checked out eBay and if I'm looking at the same thing you got those super cheap.

But the answer to your question is rather easy: better to have a 7 than no 7 - even if the shaft is wrong. I

[Pretzel]

You got the clubs at a GREAT price, I would definitely pick up the 7 iron you saw for $50. For less than another $50 you can purchase a matching shaft and have it installed by your local pro if the club feels funny to you, but if it works I would just leave it be until you more comfortably have the funds.

To give you an idea of the reshafting cost, you can buy a brand new Nippon Tour 105 for $37, and, usually, have it installed for less than $10. If you looked at used shafts, you can probably get a better deal on the shaft, and if you installed it yourself the only cost is the $5 for a package of epoxy and 25 cents for a ferrule (and the epoxy lasts for multiple clubs). You could get shafting beads if you were so inclined, but it isn't a requirement.

Also, there are some golf forums with an active section for buying, selling, and trading golf equipment. I would think if you were to look up some sort of "golf Buy Sell Trade" forum, you might be able to find a place that you could post a free ad saying you want to buy an iE1 PW and 7i and you could expect to get a few offers within a day or two, from my experience. You could also post that you're looking for just the specific shaft you want, and you ought to get offers for that too if you need them.

[jessb_55]

Thanks so much guys, I was thinking that having a 7 iron is better than not ;) I think I'll try to pick it up then and is good to know that putting a matching shaft on wasn't that expensive either. 

 

Thanks again!

[Vinny Cap]

Missing the 7 is worse.  I like my 7i and if I were in your shoes, I would look for another one on Craigslist, Ebay or try sites like Clubfinder or 3 balls.  You should find something there.  If you have to reshaft that is better than no 7i in my opinion.

[sjduffers]

I am thinking the opposite.

I have lost, misplaced, or someone took it (as I don't remember using it at all the day it vanished) my 7 iron, well over a year ago. It is/was a model no longer made by the manufacturer and looking at the typical web sites yielded nothing with a similar (or close) shaft, which btw I don't think is sold to the general public anyway.

So, rather than getting another 7 iron which could behave either as my 8 or as my 6 iron, I adjusted and used either the 8 or the 6 as the situation demanded, and guess what? In over a year, I really missed having that 7 iron less than 5 times, and I played over 100 rounds in that time. In other words, I made do without and it hasn't hurt my game one bit, except I didn't get a hole-in-one with it (probably wouldn't have anyway if I had it, ah!).

[WUTiger]

A while back, I lost the 7i for a component-built set of irons from 1994. I found the most similar head was an 8i from a much newer component model. The lofts were only a degree apart.

I tested the new "8/7" against my 6i, and ended up having it the "8/7" bent 1* strong. It filled the distance gap nicely. (... the set has been in "museum storage" since 2008).

[Hacker James]

not exactly the same thing, but I once had a Hogan Edge 3 iron with graphite shaft that while over-testing for flex, I snapped it off at the hosel. I bore out the hosel, trimmed the shaft, put on a new ferrule and then had a 3 iron with a 6 iron length. Folks said it would be too stiff to use, but I found that not to be the case. I only used it on a couple of occasions, still have it, and may consider putting it back in the bag. Should be easier to hit than normal 3 Iron, but probably less distance. My thinking is, should not be so much  different than choking down on a normal 3 iron.

Edited December 15, 2016 by Hacker James

[jessb_55]

So after doublechecking my set I realized I didn't have the same shafts that the ebay 7 iron had, turns out I have Nippon Modus3 Tour 105 shafts. Then I asked the seller if he'd sell me just the clubhead and he agreed for $40. With this my thought was that I would buy a matching shaft and have it put on but to my dismay I couldn't find my shaft for less then $38, so now I'm back up to about $85 for this club as I'd have to pay someone to put the new shaft on as well.

 

So now I ask do I do it or learn how to play my 6 and 8 iron accordingly ;)

[Piz]

Personally, I would complete the set and be done with it.  It may seem expensive now; but the first time you come up short with an 8, or fly a green with a 6, you'll wish you at least had the option to use a 7.  Also, you might ask yourself what you would do if your 7 iron had broken.  Would you have it repaired?  Of course you would.

[jessb_55]

Okay Piz,

So I ask would you buy it as is with the CFS shaft that is standard length (mine are apparently +1) and use as is, or buy just the clubhead OR have the seller put a comparable shaft with +1 length on it for $?

 

:)

[Piz]

I think I'd buy it as is.  If the length or flex profile becomes a problem; you can address that later.  In the meantime you'll have a complete set.  I've a set of TaylorMade rac irons (4-LW) with two oddball shafts and it just doesn't make enough difference to bother with.  

[acerimusdux]

Buy as is. You can always have the shaft extended 1 inch at a later time, if you wish (extension goes in the grip end, you only need to replace the old grip).

[Hacker James]

47 minutes ago, acerimusdux said:

Buy as is. You can always have the shaft extended 1 inch at a later time, if you wish (extension goes in the grip end, you only need to replace the old grip).

or just choke up?  oops...belay that...got it backwards, haven't had my morning coffee yet.

Edited December 15, 2016 by Hacker James