Was I fitted incorrectly?

[ec_golo]

Hello,

I recently was fitted for Mizuno JPX 900 irons with a true temper XP 95 S300 shaft. During the fitting, i was told that my swing speed was around 85mph. On my long/mid irons (4-8 irons).  I can't seem to hold the greens as my ball just rolls off the back. I've only played two rounds. One round on greens that were recently punched. The other was on a very hot day and greens were very firm. I have played a round with a callaway chrome soft and a vice Pro which is a new ball. I have struck the ball fairly well and have placed the ball towards the front of my stance.

 

My question is, what recourse do i have to make these irons work? Should I bite the bullet and change the shafts? This will certainly will require more money, which would not be good. I don't think Rodger Dunn would swap out. Should i add a degree if loft? Im not even sure if this would ve an option. 

I know i may be overreacting very early, but this is frustrating as I paid about $1000 irons that aren't doing the job.

[dennyjones]

Welcome to TST.  We're glad you found us.  I'm not knowledgeable enough to answer your question but somebody will be along shortly to give you some good suggestions.   In the interim,  read the "how to" section, read, post and enjoy the site.

[klineka]

Which irons were you hitting when the ball rolled off the back?

Were you able to get printouts of your spin numbers with the various irons?

Were your shots landing on the front of the green and rolling the entire way off the back, or were they landing middle/back and rolling off?

We are similar handicaps and typically unless its really soft, 8 iron is the furthest club i can get to stop on the green. Its something I play with in mind and adjust. Especially since you said one of the rounds had hard firm greens, its not surprising you weren't able to stop the ball. I wouldnt change shafts after 2 rounds especially for the sole reason being unable to spin the ball

[colin007]

You stated that one day the greens were firm, so throw that one out. 

[Midpack]

It's an old thread, but most of these players said it took them months to get used to new clubs. I'd certainly let the fitter know you're first couple rounds haven't gone well, he/she might have some guidance, but it give it at least a month.

 

Edited June 30, 2017 by Midpack

[David in FL]

1 hour ago, colin007 said:

You stated that one day the greens were firm, so throw that one out. 

And the other one where the greens were punched...

 

[drmevo]

I've been playing lately with a really good player (~1 handicap) and the course we play usually has hard and fast greens. There are days when he has trouble getting a pitching wedge to stop near where it lands, and it's not for a lack of club fitting or skill. Just remember that new clubs aren't a silver bullet. I can see being frustrated that an 8-iron doesn't stop but it sounds like you can chalk it up to the conditions. Anything lower than 7-8 and you have to account for some amount of roll out depending. I'm not sure what your greens are like but at my course if you hit a downslope or other undulation on the green all bets are off.

[Golf Grouch]

The next time you play, I recommend that you take some of your old clubs with you and try to do a direct comparison on some holes.

[Dave2512]

GIR stats for a 15 HC is roughly 4. If you are close to that it's probably not the clubs. For me my stats are very close to the averages for my handicap. There are some greens I "hit" and the ball doesn't stay on the surface and though I wish it would it doesn't because it was mishit, some worse than others. My best strikes fly high and come down steep. One thing I see often is many amateurs don't hit the ball very high and the angle of descent isn't optimal for sticking it. If you were fit do you still have your numbers? I'd look at the apex if you do.

[Buckeyebowman]

I would ask you the following questions. Are you hitting the ball in the direction you intend? Are you hitting the ball the distance you intend? If you are, I would suggest the problem is not your clubs, and might suggest trying a different golf ball!

However, if you're already playing ProV-1's, and can't get those to stick, then I have no idea what to tell you!

[ec_golo]

15 hours ago, klineka said:

Which irons were you hitting when the ball rolled off the back?

Were you able to get printouts of your spin numbers with the various irons?

Were your shots landing on the front of the green and rolling the entire way off the back, or were they landing middle/back and rolling off?

We are similar handicaps and typically unless its really soft, 8 iron is the furthest club i can get to stop on the green. Its something I play with in mind and adjust. Especially since you said one of the rounds had hard firm greens, its not surprising you weren't able to stop the ball. I wouldnt change shafts after 2 rounds especially for the sole reason being unable to spin the ball

I hit a 4 iron, 5, and 8. Pure contact. 

No, i didnt get printouts. 

Most shots landed in the middle of the green and rolled off the back of the green. My 4 iron hit in the front of the green and rolled back...albeit it was a smaller green.

[WUTiger]

6 hours ago, Dave2512 said:

One thing I see often is many amateurs don't hit the ball very high and the angle of descent isn't optimal for sticking it.

My irons came with the stock ProjectX 5.0 Rifle Flighted shafts. After a couple of years, I changed to a friendlier shaft, the NS Pro 8950 GH in R-flex. The 8950 is a high launch, low spin shaft. The low spin means it carries fairly well into the wind, and being high launch, gets part of its stopping power from its steep descent angle.

I sometimes will back up a wedge or an 8i a little. For the most part, the ball hits the green and releases forward 3-10 feet. I know what expect if I hit a decent iron shot.

22 hours ago, ec_golo said:

 I can't seem to hold the greens as my ball just rolls off the back. I've only played two rounds.

  It may take some experience to figure out how to maximize the new irons. You might take a lesson, and among other things have the instructor check your ball position. Also, what ball do you play?

22 hours ago, ec_golo said:

I have struck the ball fairly well and have placed the ball towards the front of my stance.

"Front of my stance" is a little vague for us to work from.

[ec_golo]

2 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

I would ask you the following questions. Are you hitting the ball in the direction you intend? Are you hitting the ball the distance you intend? If you are, I would suggest the problem is not your clubs, and might suggest trying a different golf ball!

However, if you're already playing ProV-1's, and can't get those to stick, then I have no idea what to tell you!

Yes, i hit the distance and direction I intended. I will try playing a pro V1. I played a round with a chrome soft. 

10 minutes ago, WUTiger said:

My irons came with the stock ProjectX 5.0 Rifle Flighted shafts. After a couple of years, I changed to a friendlier shaft, the NS Pro 8950 GH in R-flex. The 8950 is a high launch, low spin shaft. The low spin means it carries fairly well into the wind, and being high launch, gets part of its stopping power from its steep descent angle.

I sometimes will back up a wedge or an 8i a little. For the most part, the ball hits the green and releases forward 3-10 feet. I know what expect if I hit a decent iron shot.

  It may take some experience to figure out how to maximize the new irons. You might take a lesson, and among other things have the instructor check your ball position. Also, what ball do you play?

"Front of my stance" is a little vague for us to work from.

I play a chrome soft. I position the ball just on the inside of my front door in hopes of higher flight. 

I am going to position ball closer to the middle in hopes of generating more spin. 

[WUTiger]

13 hours ago, ec_golo said:

I play a chrome soft. I position the ball just on the inside of my front door in hopes of higher flight. 

I am going to position ball closer to the middle in hopes of generating more spin.

Two primary schools of thought on ball position for full shots. Both methods were used by plenty of great players.

• Single position (à la Jack Nicklaus). Set up regular shots opposite the left heel.
• Varied positions (à la Ben Hogan): Start with driver and woods off left heel, and work the ball back toward center of stance as shafts get shorter.

Note: Both schools recommend narrowing the stance width as club shafts get shorter.

[billchao]

12 minutes ago, WUTiger said:

Varied positions (à la Ben Hogan): Start with driver and woods off left heel, and work the ball back toward center of stance as shafts get shorter.

I always thought Hogan was a fixed position guy.

[WUTiger]

34 minutes ago, billchao said:

I always thought Hogan was a fixed position guy.

Bill, you are correct. I got my sketches mixed up when searching online.

I have printed out your diagram, and paper-clipped it inside the cover of Ben Hogan's Five Lessons.

Good catch! 

[Hacker James]

9 hours ago, billchao said:

I always thought Hogan was a fixed position guy.

 

8 hours ago, WUTiger said:

Bill, you are correct. I got my sketches mixed up when searching online.

I have printed out your diagram, and paper-clipped it inside the cover of Ben Hogan's Five Lessons.

Good catch! 

This would have been a good illustration to refute the misinformation in that "other" thread re: " Building a golf swing..".(not that it would have done any good)

[Buckeyebowman]

Well, it's a fixed position relative to the left foot, Very similar to what Nicklaus did and what I copied in my early golfing life.