GI Irons with the softest feel?

[Midpack]

I've tried the TM M2, Callaway XR & Apex, Titleist 716 AP1 & AP2 and Mizuno JPX900 HM's. I had myself talked into the AP1's on paper, but found the Mizuno's (that were barely on my radar) felt noticeably softer so they're top of my list so far. Are there other current GI iron makes/models I should consider if my criteria are 1) feel, 2) look, 3) forgiveness, 4) distance? My forged blade days with their wonderful feel when you hit dead center are over...sigh.

Edited June 29, 2017 by Midpack

[WUTiger]

Feel involves a lot more than the clubhead model. Shafts have a major impact on the feel of the clubs, in factors such as weight, tip dynamics, torque, and flex pattern.

In my current irons, I started out with the stock PX 5.0 Rifle Flighted shafts. These have an FCM = 5.5 (toward stiff), a firm tip, and weighed 115 grams.

But after a couple of years - during which I passed my 60th birthday - I had trouble some days getting through the ball.

I reshafted the irons in NS Pro 8950GH R-flex, with an FCM = 5.0. It has a medium tip, and weighs 97 grams. I have smoothed out my swing tempo, and I picked up about a club in length. (My high HDCP reflects residual long-club driver problems, which I am solving; about twice a year I will par all the par 3 holes when I play).

As others have said on TST, shaft is half the club. The X20 Tours are GI, but I can handle them with a lighter, livelier shaft.

Second note: there are dozens of fine iron models out there. When I replaced my iron set of 14 years in 2009, the big challenge was selecting a set that was best for me. Most of the major OEMs make at least one model of irons I could play as long as I had the right shaft in it.

So, hit some iron models, make a short list, and start final elimination with launch monitor data. This should get you down to two or three head-shaft combos which give you good data... from there, pick the one you like best (yes, there's an emotional element in the end game.) If you don't feel confidence in the set you pick, they won't work for you.

[MarvChamp]

The 900's are great, but I just bought a quite new set of JPX 800HD's with PX 5.0  after trying my friend's set. And I think they are actually better. Certainly higher on the MPF scale if such things are important. But that's just me and my game, maybe. 

-Marv

[Mr. Desmond]

I've only played graphite shafts in irons for the last 7 years, so I'd say check out the PXG 0311, 0311XF. Soft, soft all across the face, and I mean the whole face.

Tough to find, but if $$$ are no object ... or you want to justify it by not buying another set of irons for 5-7 years...

Edited June 30, 2017 by Mr. Desmond

[allenc]

13 hours ago, Mr. Desmond said:

I've only played graphite shafts in irons for the last 7 years, so I'd say check out the PXG 0311, 0311XF. Soft, soft all across the face, and I mean the whole face.

Tough to find, but if $$$ are no object ... or you want to justify it by not buying another set of irons for 5-7 years...

I hit the pxgs 0311 and Ping ie1s side by side in a fitting.  To me they were almost identical in both feel and how they looked from address.  And they were both excellent in both of those categories, although the pxg does get a tiny edge.  I would say they both are more of a small/midsize, semi player's style rather than a true game improvement style though.

Anyway, consider the Ping i rather than the pxg if you want to save money.

[KJG67]

Hi - been a lurker here on the forum, but I just went through this over the winter, and our handicaps are similar, so thought I would post.

For what it's worth to anyone else reading this - the first thing I did was have the golf instructor who knows my swing fit me for a shaft and lie angle. It seems that is the most overlooked aspect of picking any club, and I think that was the single best thing I ever did. Took about 15 minutes. Dynamic Gold S300, and 1up lie.

I hit every club you did, as well as Pings and few others. My criteria was feel, dispersion, then distance. Don't care what they look like provided they are accurate with good distance. I hit for weeks at the PGA Superstore over the winter. Some clubs I eliminated almost immediately due to feel, although always gave them two tries a week apart. I'm not sure if you hit the Callaway Steelhead XR though. I found it was a completely different club than the XR. The Steelhead was like butter, or putting on a old shoe comfortable for me.

I kept coming back to the JPX900 HM and the Callaway Steelhead XR. I really wanted to fall in love with the JPX, but jotting down the launch data it was absolutely clear that not only was the Callaway the best fit, it really was the most comfortable club. Today, I'm launching some of my best iron shots ever, accurate, and long. Ordering them direct from Callaway with my preferred grips was cheaper than buying them through PGA SS as well.

Hope something here is helpful for you. Good luck!

 

[Midpack]

I'll try the Steelhead XR's too thanks!

[Lanceromance]

19 hours ago, Midpack said:

I'll try the Steelhead XR's too thanks!

You can find the Steelhead XR's for a good price pre-owned if you are comfortable going that route. I am not sure if you tried the Apex, or the Apex CF16. I found the Apex CF 16 was a great GI club, all the distance of the XR models with the soft feel of a forged iron.

[onthehunt526]

@WUTiger might have seen this coming from me.

My irons, the Tour Edge Exotics EXi are soft. If you still want Forged with a GI clubhead, try the Mizuno JPX-EZ Forged... Which you can get on clearance right now... The '16 model didn't sell quite as well as the '14 model but either one feels great. Hell, I'd give up my EXi's for a set of EZ's...