Getting back into the game - Need new iron recomendations

[xreyuk]

Hi, 

I'm recently coming back to golf after a couple of years of not playing. When I finished playing I was a 12 handicap.

I've been going to the range, have played a few rounds and have generally been playing well, around an 18-22 handicap. I've been striking the ball very well (just not hitting it too straight!), and am looking to get back into golf seriously.

When I finished playing last time, even though a 12 handicap I was still using 'beginner' irons that were very easy to hit. The only reason I didn't have new ones was because myself and my dad couldn't afford to buy them, so I just stuck with the ones I had. I feel as though I need some new irons to improve my distance, as these beginner irons were designed to help you get height on the ball (which I don't need anymore). I'd also think they'd help improve my accuracy/flight as my beginner irons are offset, which I also don't need anymore. 

All that being said, can anyone recommend a good set of mid handicapper irons which I could buy?

Price isn't an object at the moment, I'm more likely to weight the cost of irons against each based on benefit etc. I don't mind which brand, but have usually steered towards better-known brands (my driver and current irons are TaylorMade, woods and LW are Cleveland Golf).

Thanks for any input!

Edited June 3, 2017 by xreyuk

[onthehunt526]

Mid-handicap irons... Mizuno JPX-EZ forged come to mind as well as the JPX-900. Titleist AP1 or AP2 could also suit your game. I'm an 8.1 HDCP and I play Tour Edge EXi's... A very underrated iron for mid-cappers. However, get a fitting and try several models before you buy.

[Vinsk]

Ping G series are great clubs. i200's are fantastic and are what I play now. I know it's tempting to want them sooner than later, but a fitting can really answer your questions and allow you to get a feel of the irons you narrow down to try. I personally boycott Mizuno because they refuse to make certain models in left hand. Lol...that's purely on me. Titleist AP1-2 are great choices too. Ping G's are reasonably priced. If you went with a later model (G25-30) I'm sure you'd find a great price.

[xreyuk]

5 hours ago, onthehunt526 said:

Mid-handicap irons... Mizuno JPX-EZ forged come to mind as well as the JPX-900. Titleist AP1 or AP2 could also suit your game. I'm an 8.1 HDCP and I play Tour Edge EXi's... A very underrated iron for mid-cappers. However, get a fitting and try several models before you buy.

 

Thanks. I'd been thinking about the Titleist irons, I've never heard of Tour Edge so I'll take a look at those. 

I didn't realise shops would allow you to try irons, I thought you had to select what irons you wanted, then most did a free fitting for you. I don't know if you're in the UK, but can you recommend any places?

2 hours ago, Vinsk said:

Ping G series are great clubs. i200's are fantastic and are what I play now. I know it's tempting to want them sooner than later, but a fitting can really answer your questions and allow you to get a feel of the irons you narrow down to try. I personally boycott Mizuno because they refuse to make certain models in left hand. Lol...that's purely on me. Titleist AP1-2 are great choices too. Ping G's are reasonably priced. If you went with a later model (G25-30) I'm sure you'd find a great price.

 

Thanks, Ping is also another one I'd considered. I'll take a look! As above, I didn't realise they'd let you try various ones at a fitting. I'll have to see if I can find some places in the UK to have a fitting done. 

[WUTiger]

On 6/3/2017 at 10:13 AM, onthehunt526 said:

I play Tour Edge EXi's... A very underrated iron for mid-cappers. However, get a fitting and try several models before you buy.

With your skill background, also try the Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro Tungsten. I've gotten good play out of TE clubs before, just don't have any in bag right now.

If I could find the right mix of slightly used TE clubs, I might put together a Bag #2 using them.

From the Callaway side, try the Steelhead XR and Steelhead XR Pro irons. Ball really jumps off the clubface.

[Hacker James]

13 minutes ago, WUTiger said:

With your skill background, also try the Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro Tungsten. I've gotten good play out of TE clubs before, just don't have any in bag right now.

If I could find the right mix of slightly used TE clubs, I might put together a Bag #2 using them.

From the Callaway side, try the Steelhead XR and Steelhead XR Pro irons. Ball really jumps off the clubface.

+1 on the Exotics.  I have had only very recent experience but am very satisfied with them. My first purchase was the Tour Edge Hot Launch2 which is an offset model. I then purchased a  XCG7 Beta 3 wood and was sold on them so I complimented it with the XCG7 Adjustable Driver, switched the shafts, and play one or the other based on personal whim for the day.

[Vinsk]

13 hours ago, WUTiger said:

From the Callaway side, try the Steelhead XR and Steelhead XR Pro irons. Ball really jumps off the clubface.

I played the Steelhead XR until switching to Ping i200. Yeah, I have way too many sets. I actually liked the Steelheads, only strange thing was when I would flush an iron nice and solid, they made a weird "Clank" sound. I mentioned it to my pro and while hitting them I flushed a 7i while he was away at another practice station (about 30yds away). He  yelled "Was that the sound you were talking about?"...LOL...He thought it was odd too.

[Midpack]

Seems like an awfully personal choice to ask strangers. For example, a fitter would probably tell me to buy cast game improvement irons, as I am not that consistent yet. But I much prefer the feel of forged clubs over cast, though there may be cast clubs today that feel better than they used to. And though I have more than my share of mishits, I would rather know so I can develop my swing, instead of having clubs designed to cover/forgive more. And though no one else will care, I am disappointed that most manufacturers have delofted clubs mostly to make players think they are hitting the ball further, when in fact today's 5-iron will have the same loft as a 3- or 4-iron from 10-20 years ago. Knowing what distance you hit each club is what's important, not being able to say 'I hit a 5-iron XXX yards' when the club is really what would have been a 3- or 4-iron for most of the history of golf... YMMV

Edited June 5, 2017 by Midpack

[WUTiger]

3 hours ago, Vinsk said:

I played the Steelhead XR until switching to Ping i200. Yeah, I have way too many sets. I actually liked the Steelheads, only strange thing was when I would flush an iron nice and solid, they made a weird "Clank" sound.

Maybe a cautionary tale? Are the new thin-faced 360-cup irons turning into tuning forks?

Maybe if we lined up six good golfers with 4i through 9i, they could play music by hitting balls in sequence and getting a different-pitch clank from each iron.

Any chance Keith Richards could tune his guitar using the clank from a 7i?

[xreyuk]

Thanks for the replies.

I went to the range today and spoke to the pro there, based on my history he recommended trying the TaylorMade M2, Titleist AP2 and Mizuno JPX900. I also spotted the Ping i200 which I'm going to try next timeIHonestly, they all felt the same to me. I felt I got a bit more distance with the M2 than the others, but upon reading up online that's because they're designed like this and the clubs are delofted compared to the other two sets.

The AP2 felt like it had more feel to me, but was slightly more difficult to hit properly, not sure if this is due to it being thinner than the others. 

The JPX900 hits nice, but they're a bit expensive from what I can find online, so I'm leaning away towards them. 

I'm going to try the i200 next time and see how that hits. 

From the initial hitting, I'm leaning towards the AP2, because I hit the ball far enough already that I don't need 'extra distance' clubs (my current 8i is about 145y), but I have a bit more trouble stopping the ball on the greens quickly and imagine the lower lofted M2's give less spin/more shallow landing.

The main thing I found out from this is that I should have stiff shafts. I've always had regular shafts, but felt like I was hitting the ball with better flight on stiff shafts.

Any other clubs people can recommend would be appreciated, and I'll see if I can try them out, but I know the guy at the range quite well and he's said I can keep testing these clubs for the next few weeks whilst there.

[Midpack]

25 minutes ago, xreyuk said:

I went to the range today and spoke to the pro there, based on my history he recommended trying the TaylorMade M2, Titleist AP2 and Mizuno JPX900. I also spotted the Ping i200 which I'm going to try next timeIHonestly, they all felt the same to me. I felt I got a bit more distance with the M2 than the others, but upon reading up online that's because they're designed like this and the clubs are delofted compared to the other two sets.

The main thing I found out from this is that I should have stiff shafts. I've always had regular shafts, but felt like I was hitting the ball with better flight on stiff shafts.

It's good to see you recognize the games club manufacturers are now playing with substantially varying lofts. Too many players have been misled, or outright fooled.

And if not at your range, surely you can find someplace that can measure your club head speed. A good indicator as to what shaft flex will suit you best.

Good luck.

Edited June 5, 2017 by Midpack

[Joeyvee]

On 6/3/2017 at 4:43 PM, xreyuk said:

I thought you had to select what irons you wanted, then most did a free fitting for you.

That may be the case where you are, but it is backwards. I think people should be fit first and buy what gets you the best distance, ball flight, dispersion etc.. 

 

If you're having trouble hitting the AP-2's accurately you can try the AP1. they're a little more forgiving. 

Edited June 12, 2017 by Joeyvee

[xreyuk]

On 12/06/2017 at 1:29 PM, Joeyvee said:

That may be the case where you are, but it is backwards. I think people should be fit first and buy what gets you the best distance, ball flight, dispersion etc.. 

 

If you're having trouble hitting the AP-2's accurately you can try the AP1. they're a little more forgiving. 

 

Yeah I've spoken to a couple of places, they just charge you for a fitting but then take the cost of the fitting off irons if you buy within the next 14 days.

[Stick14ya]

I have a set of ping i5 green dots real cheap if you an it them 3-pw except the 8 iron let me know thanks chris